09 Surprise Attack

"Anyway, his ether output is completely erratic."

"Guess so..."

"It's not just that. Remember the Queen from Melce."

"Something happened...?"

Jin tilts his head, trying to recall.

Sharon's expression says, Why would you forget?

"The number of processors! That Queen had two processors! Do you remember?"

"Recalling it. Recalling it. Yes, that's right—she was the one causing trouble."

Jin nods, recalling something that can't quite be called a joint operation with the Cyborg Squadron.

They were suspicious, certainly, but he can't deny the usefulness of such forces when needed.

Timing's just bad, that's all.

"Given that massive frame, it probably has two—maybe three—processors, like Melce. Possibly more."

"Chills creep up. Hunting for a tiny point inside that enormous body? Disgusting."

Kou makes a weary expression.

Like Jin, who was also a teacher, he seemed ill at ease with problems that could not be solved by force.

"Shall we start by locating it, then?"

"Yes, sir. What about targeting the Reactor directly? I think there’s only one."

The training exercise from earlier still lingers.

Yuria raises her hand with the question, and this time, Shirley’s expression turns grim.

"Directly destroying the Reactor... is not advisable."

"Why is that?"

"Output is ten thousand Lammy. If damaged improperly, the runaway Ether will incinerate everything nearby."

They nod in agreement.

"Even if dispersed, it’s still an immense source. Only a Longinus-class vessel could endure it. A Lombardia-class might survive—but barely."

It would not be easily destroyed. They vowed firmly not to risk a misfire.

The Longinus-class mobile battleship is the sole one. The others are Lombardia-class battleships and Rosario-class cruisers.

And the latter would undoubtedly not survive the explosion.

Nearly half of the current operation consists of Rosario-class cruisers.

If reactor destruction occurs, the expeditionary force could suffer catastrophic failure.

"Still, it's just a prediction... but a fairly accurate one, I think. So please, avoid it if possible."

"Absolutely not. Kou, you absolutely won't do it either?"

"Wouldn't dream of it."

"But in the end, it's just a prediction based on limited footage and sparse observational data. Something unexpected is likely to emerge at any moment."

"I'd rather not imagine a lethal surprise..."

The unexpected is undoubtedly coming for our lives.

A joke item, at best.

"Right. Captain. The unit adjustment is due."

"Right, that's what it was about. Still, the unit adjustment should be complete before launch. Enemy contact is predicted for several days from now. Don't get so worked up."

"The one who struggled to fulfill your unreasonable request has arrived. The mounting on the frame is complete."

"...Wait. You actually made it?"

"What are you talking about 'actually'? You were the one who asked for it!"

"No, I mean... it was just a joke, you know, at the drinking party... I never thought you'd actually build it."

Jin’s flustered expression sparked curiosity in Yuriya.

She asked.

"What is it? What's that?"

"Prepare yourself. The Captain here—back when he was a Lieutenant—had once experienced something similar with Lieutenant Nastin—"

Pride mixed with complaint.

Sharon began to speak in that tone when—

The alarm sounded.

"Enemy contact predicted for several days from now... that's what it should have been."

"Something that surpassed the usual forecast, perhaps..."

"Yuria. Let's go!"

"The Instructor too—later!"

The two younger operatives spring forward as if launched.

"That's why I'm not the Instructor."

"What shall we do? Shall we remove it?"

New equipment hastily bolted on.

Normally, something with such questionable reliability should be removed immediately.

"...No. Leave it as is."

Something told him it would be necessary in the coming battle.

"Understood. It can be purged from the unit side, at least."

"Good."

No test. No rehearsal. Just straight into action.

Ren reconsidered—this was nothing new.

Sharon's modifications had transformed Jin's Raven once again.

Based on the Phalanx Package, additional thrusters now included the leg section of the Orbit Package.

The Ether Cannon from the Ground Package is also mounted at the waist, enhancing firepower.

Instead of additional armor, the chest armor of the orbit package.

The same equipment is fitted to each Raven unit in the Instructional Squadron.

Another disc-shaped apparatus was mounted on the back of Jin's机体.

The figure visible at a distance is noticeably larger than the other Ravens—by a factor of one or two.

Could that be the one we were just talking about?

Kou and Yuria begin their conversation as they advance toward their respective mechs.

Regardless, their turn with the assault frame unit had not yet come.

Typically, Jin would lead the assault in a standard ASID engagement—this time, however, circumstances differ slightly.

Thus, she had calmed somewhat.

That’s right. Feels like they’ve scavenged gear from all sorts of packages.

“Hmm. Raven can’t cover all domains like a griffon, so they went with specialized equipment, right? Isn’t that counterproductive?”

“…Don’t know. But the added gear’s probably detached right away. Just a one-time function—maybe that’s all it’s meant to do.”

“I see, I see. Kou’s actually thinking things through…?”

“Don’t you dare hit me.”

Then, Yuriya pointed at the pack mounted on what looked like Jin’s unit.

“What’s that?”

“Nah, I don’t know. Never seen anything like that before.”

“You said it was hastily prepared a moment ago.”

“Doesn’t look like a weapon platform either… Seriously, what the hell is it?”

At first glance, it didn’t seem capable of serving as armament.

It was attached with deliberate care. It couldn’t possibly be just a weight.

Yet it remained undeniably incomprehensible to ordinary personnel.

"Something that big would shift the center of mass significantly, wouldn't it?"

"Yes... I’d probably struggle just keeping balance."

"Same here."

Even two of the most skilled among the junior ranks couldn’t discern its purpose—.

"Whatever that guy does, it’s probably another one of his eccentric, alien-like stunts."

"Sure, sure. You’re just as much of an alien as he is, partner."

"Know this—your reputation’s just as alien as his, partner."

On the battlefield, their five-year partnership culminated in a fist bump, then both climbed into their respective frames.

Watching from the shadow of his own machine, Jin nodded slightly, impressed.

"Never thought they’d be this skilled back during training."

"Really?"

While making final adjustments to the hastily mounted equipment, Shirley asks without lifting her eyes from the screen.

It was more of a noncommittal reply. Her gaze darts across the display without pause. Her fingertips tap the keyboard with effortless precision.

"Turned out to be the opposite, after all."

"Is that so."

She didn’t seem particularly interested.

Jin closes his mouth as the empty response returns.

He must not speak again—disturbance is unwelcome.

"Alright! Settings complete!"

"Thanks, Shirley. I wouldn’t have made it this far without you."

He had said otherwise earlier, but he means it now.

If this works as intended, survival probability increases significantly.

Shirley must have felt the same—she’d rushed to finish the prototype.

He climbs into the frame.

"Jin."

Softly, a crown of flowers drifts through the weightlessness.

She catches it gently as it drifts down, petals scattering, onto Jin’s chest.

“A charm.”

The old ace’s gen-carrying.

Once before, like this, it was handed over.

Certainly now. In this hangar too. Countless floral crowns are being passed, praying for victory.

“Please come back. I won’t tell you not to take risks. But come back alive—no matter what.”

“…Yeah. I know.”

So.

“Don’t cry.”

“I’m not crying…”

She chokes out, her voice cracking, as Jin forces a faint smile.

“I don’t know how to respond when someone’s crying.”

“So I’m not crying.”

“Fine. Then we’ll say that’s what it is.”

The assault frame unit will launch in less than an hour.

She searches for words to say.

But swallows them all.

No intention of dying.

Everything that needs to be said can wait until after return.

“…Then I’ll see you later.”

Yes. See you later!

Sealing the cockpit hatch.

Confirming the ring’s sensation through the pilot suit.

"Watch over me, Rei..."

Whether Rei would rejoice at seeing Jin, intent on vengeance.

That was all that mattered to Jin.