05 The Thing That Emerged From a Nightmare 2

No matter how detached from reality the order was, Jin could not defy it.

To Jin, it was a suicide mission—but that did not permit refusal.

If each acted on whim, the military, the organization, could not function.

"Captain, are you familiar with that entity?"

"...Yes."

He answers hesitantly, to the squad member's question.

In the absence of physical evidence, disbelief was inevitable—not disbelief, but unwillingness to believe.

Yet now that the object was present, Jin spoke from his own experience: the credibility was different.

"I encountered it once ten years ago. A super-long-range artillery strike piercing an etherfield of cruiser-class magnitude, followed by sustained area suppression fire lasting over a minute."

"...Where, exactly, was the joke in that?"

"Regrettably, humor is zero percent."

"Isn't it a monster?"

It's not unreasonable for team members to think the absurd specifications are a joke upon hearing them.

"Seeing that ridiculous bulk, one might as well say they're asleep."

"Honestly, even after seeing it, I'm not sure I'm fully awake myself."

"Coincidentally. I feel the same."

A dry laugh echoes through the briefing room.

Whether it came from Jin or from the team members—unclear.

"……In any case, it's not an opponent worth fighting head-on. Prioritize survival."

Practically speaking, such a massive frame would likely have substantial defense even without ether.

It's unlikely that assault frame-level firepower could make a difference.

"Prepare the Phalanx Package. All personnel, ready for deployment."

Equipment currently in experimental use by the教导 unit. Whether it surpasses the Astral Package in this situation remains debatable.

The教导 unit has been operating this equipment for some time now.

It will perform better in both maintenance and piloting than suddenly equipping the Astral Package.

Whether this marginal difference contributes to survival rates remained uncertain in Jin’s mind.

The thing referred to as 'Starter' exists on a different plane entirely.

If that is what Shirley meant by the Queen of beginnings, then that explanation holds.

No one knows when ASID first appeared in this cosmos, but among them, it is the oldest.

It can be described as an enormous pest that has ravaged cosmic life since before even the Queen-type entities previously encountered.

Can it be defeated?

Doubt surfaces.

The last encounter was already ten years ago.

Back then, no battle occurred at all.

Will this one end the same way?

Jin feels that defeating it requires a strategy unlike that used against ordinary Queens.

Even in the midst of frustration, Jin mounts the cockpit of his Raven.

"Captain. Standard configuration."

"Thank you, Sergeant."

He acknowledges Shirley, who has risen to captaincy over these eight years.

There is no time for further words.

The new equipment, designated the Phalanx Package.

A weapon set designed to emulate the Queen extermination tactics of the Second Fleet's assault frame unit.

Thrusters added to various points on the frame.

A shield housing a large Ether Field generator, held in the left hand.

A focused Ether Cannon gripped in the right.

A supplementary Ether Reactor and large tank to compensate for increased Ether consumption.

The added offensive and defensive systems are experimental, designed to achieve higher effectiveness when coordinated across multiple units.

As Shirley, who informed him of the equipment's introduction, put it:

When I asked my family if there was anything good, they showed up afterward to sell it.

Seems so. After that.

I had a hard time returning them all—she left so many engagement photos lying around as if by accident.

was complained about. Jin had still not provided an answer, so he could only keep silent.

It appears the Byron family has entrusted the future of the clan to their youngest child.

The circumstances are somewhat irregular, but in terms of tactical deployment, it can be said to be a notably powerful piece of equipment.

A different kind of coordination—necessitating unit cohesion, yet expanding tactical possibilities.

Jin personally had most of his equipment rendered inert, so the standard astral package was easier to use.

Twelve Raven units equipped with Phalanx packages are launched into space.

They are not carrier-based aircraft; this time, they are defending the convoy's perimeter.

If that one is a Queen, it should be leading its swarm.

It must not be allowed to latch onto us.

Yet—

……not here.

『Seems just one of those massive ones, Captain』

'Ah. Strange one.'

A Queen acting alone—this is unprecedented.

Is this peculiarity unique to this original?

Or is it specific only to this 'Stalt'?

Insufficient data to determine.

'CP. No sign of the expected swarm. Requesting instructions.'

From a tactical standpoint, we should advance.

But ultimately, we cannot judge whether we count as viable combat assets.

Jin, who normally seeks permission to move forward, now requests guidance.

This in itself is an abnormality.

『This is CP. Rear guard maintains alert status until further notice. End.』

……Something’s sluggish.

That’s right…

A sense of disarray permeates the command post and headquarters.

Jin thinks it’s an ominous sign.

When things unfold this way, forces idle, and orders lack consistency.

They’re already in that state themselves—no room for laughter.

Or perhaps it’s simpler: command above is uncertain how to respond.

At once, the sensor ether reaction surges.

It surpasses the detection limit of assault frames by a wide margin—undoubtedly a prelude to attack.

A light intensifies from five thousand kilometers away, targeting them.

—Captain!

All units, evade!

The order is issued instinctively. How meaningful is it, though?

The enemy’s attack range remains unknown.

A bombardment from two and a half times the distance of their last engagement.

The enemy’s attack range is deeper than what was observed last time.

How does one avoid something like that?

And the ignited apex shifted—transforming into a torrent.

“…Missed?”

Jin spoke in a voice devoid of tension, as the projectile veered off in a direction entirely different from the fleet.

A pillar of ether, born from nothing.

In this region devoid of stars, light fell like dawn.

A scene that evoked a kind of sacred awe.

‘Estimated range from visual data… approximately five thousand kilometers.’

“Given the size, the range is on the shorter side…”

It only reached about twenty times his own range.

Compared to human standards, that ratio was negligible.

Jin knew full well such a margin offered no comfort—only evasion.

‘Projectile diameter is approximately five kilometers. Avoidance is unlikely…’

“Yeah…”

To escape the target zone instantaneously, by reading the enemy’s aim and moving outside its range.

If the target is dead center, a movement of two and a half kilometers must be completed in an instant.

Impractical.

“But why miss…?”

‘Perhaps a warning shot.’

‘Don’t know.’

Jin and the others raise questions toward the cannon fire, aimed entirely away from the fleet.

The Third Fleet had no way of knowing—

the shot was not a warning.

It was aimed directly at a target.

A Lombardia-modified warship equipped with optical camouflage.

One such vessel, owned by the Second Fleet, had been monitoring the Third Fleet continuously.

Naturally, Harold’s doing. The ship also maintained several unofficial facilities, including research installations, within Third Fleet territory.

The vessel had approached to measure data on a super-sized specimen—

and was detected, then destroyed by a direct hit.

The Third Fleet did not perceive the existence of that ship—consumed entirely in an instant.

……Squadron, hold fast to the convoy. Emergency override is being executed.

To make the decision to engage in combat at this range after witnessing that strike—only a person of exceptional audacity could do so.

A person with proper sensibility would not choose to fight when confronted with such a thing at their feet.

Don’t get thrown off—there won’t be anyone coming back to pick you up later.

Jin exhaled a small breath of relief, still clinging to the convoy.

He froze, realizing he had just vomited.

It was good that it could be avoided without fighting.

This was an experience unlike any before.

Trembling at the defeat already etched into oneself—once more fleeing from the colossal entity known as 'Stalt.'