Final Battle 4

【Fubuki: Bridge】

"Master, we're going to be caught by Planet Carpa's gravity if we continue like this."

"I know. That scenario was already accounted for as the worst-case outcome."

"Planning for the worst-case scenario doesn't mean we should end up in it."

"....Shut up."

A warning alarm blares through Fubuki's bridge— the ship's attitude control against the planet's gravity is failing.

Originally designed to handle atmospheric entry and exit, but maintaining the correct orientation relative to the planet's gravity is essential for this function.

Without proper orientation, the ship cannot control its descent speed or escape the planet's gravitational pull, resulting in it being dragged back into the atmosphere and burned up.

Due to attacks from Velvet and others pushing the Fubuki into the atmosphere, the ship cannot break away from the planet or stabilize its orientation.

We're caught in the planet's gravity. Altitude is decreasing.

We can't assume a gravity-escape posture because we're taking concentrated attacks. We'll descend as is!

Assuming a descent posture is also dangerous.

Descending is better than ascending—our distance from the enemy will increase. If you want to push us into the atmosphere, fine. We'll keep evading until the very last moment, then dive in.

Understood.

The enemy's gunfire continues unabated, but they're determined at all costs not to let the Fubuki rise above the atmosphere.

Fubuki, already caught in the planet's gravity, cannot make sharp maneuvers.

Shin nosuke dodges the enemy attacks with minimal movement.

"Approaching dangerous speed. Maintain attitude control."

"Understood! Nose-up angle 60 degrees."

The air compressed by the descending hull had heated to a dangerously high temperature, enveloping the thrusters in a red glow.

Shin Nosuke rotated the hull while raising the bow.

Having already reached a dangerously high speed and temperature, the enemy ship would likely perceive it as falling uncontrollably, pulled down by gravity.

"Observing the ionosphere. Initiating entry. Instruments such as radar will be limited."

Planet Karpa is enveloped by an extremely strong and thick ionosphere.

Upon entering the electromagnetic layer, Fubuki's radar and other instruments ceased functioning, causing the enemy ship's response to vanish from radar monitors.

Naturally, Fubuki's signal also disappeared from Velvet's radar, and given the sequence of events up to that point, it appeared as though Fubuki had burned up in the atmosphere.

[Black Rose II: Bridge]

"Can't see it. Has she really burned up completely?"

On Black Rose II's bridge, Velvet stared with her forehead eye at the spot where Fubuki's signal had vanished.

Using her third eye—the power of foresight—she was trying to glimpse Fubuki's fate, but saw nothing at all.

Having no prior experience with atmospheric reentry under combat conditions, Velvet mistakenly assumed that Fubuki had been pushed into the atmosphere, causing her precognitive ability to be influenced by wishful thinking, preventing her from accurately determining Fubuki's true situation.

"Looks like she'll be alright..."

"Big sister! New contact on radar—fast-moving vessel approaching!"

"New threat?"

"Probably... forced communication from a high-speed vessel. Standard warning. Escort ship."

"Such a pity, just when we had our prey cornered. Oh well, let them deal with it. Five ships should be more than enough."

"Aisar."

Following Velvet's command, five pirate ships opened fire toward the newly appeared escort vessel.

【PIRATE KILLER: BRIDGE】

"Wait a minute? Is Shinnosuke's guy down on the planet? Doesn't matter—thanks to that, there's plenty left for us to take. Time to make some real money."

Zany sent out a distress signal and combat alert simultaneously, then forced a communication broadcast to the pirate ships.

"Listen up, you pirates! This is the escort vessel Pirates Killer, affiliated with the Salius Stellar Province of the Aclenia Galactic Federation! Cease your engines and surrender, or you'll regret it! I'm not warning you again—don't make me regret not holding back!"

More threat than warning, but that was precisely the required procedure.

Now it just depended on how the pirate ships would respond. In this situation, it was unthinkable that the space pirates would obey the warning.

As expected, five pirate ships that had drifted away from the group began attacking the Pirate Killer.

"Can't be boring if we don't do this! Let's go!"

Zanny pulled the trigger.

[BLACK ROSE II: BRIDGE]

"Miss, the escort ship is firing back. Four missiles and two space torpedoes... The Greyhound and Scorpio, which were heading toward the escort ship, have been destroyed. The escort ship has broken through the encirclement of the other three vessels and is now advancing toward us."

"That's a high-speed missile boat. A bit troublesome, isn't it? Let's just make a run for it. Emperor, Kraken, Trident, and Lucky Card—stick to guarding Black Rose II. The rest of you, hold that escort ship in place. We've achieved our objective, so no need to push further. Once we disengage, you're free to retreat however you like. If you want the reward, make sure you survive by doing your jobs properly!"

Velvet reversed course and attempted to retreat, leading four pirate ships with her.

At that moment, an alarm blared on the bridge of Black Rose II, and Velvet immediately turned the steering wheel.

A beam cannon's light grazed the front of Black Rose II.

"Whoa, dangerous! Where's the attack coming from?"

Velvet instinctively dodged the attack, but the radar monitor showed no new readings.

"Sorry, I can't detect... new bombardment! Emperor hit! We've been struck—coming from within the atmosphere of Planet Carpa!"

"Damn it! Hurry up and pinpoint the enemy's position!"

"Aisya!"

"What? Still alive, huh? You really are persistent, aren't you?"

Velvet turned Black Rose II toward Planet Carpa.