Intruder

【Fubuki: Bridge】

"Enemy vessel has collided with our starboard side. We estimate their intent is to forcibly board us."

"Trying to seize Fubuki? Marks, I can't leave the bridge—sorry, but take care of the defense."

"Understood. I'll head to intercept."

"Count on me. Be careful."

"Understood."

After Marks left the bridge, Shinosuke attempted to disengage from the collided Black Rose II.

However, Fukubuki herself sustained no fatal damage, but due to the collision point being locked in place and multiple anchors already driven in, she couldn't disengage.

Immediately afterward, a breach was forced into Fukubuki's starboard side from Black Rose II.

"Marks, starboard passage! They're breaking in!"

'Understood. I'll await them at the breach and suppress the intruder.'

'Got it. I'm counting on you.'

'Got it... Intruder!... Mei, do—...'

Suddenly, communication with Marks cuts out.

"Marks! Hey, what's going on! Mei, what the hell was that! Damn it!"

Judging from the monitor displaying the ship's layout, Marks had definitely come into contact with someone near the breached entry point.

Marks had fired, but immediately after, contact was lost—meaning Marks had been overwhelmed in an instant.

Moreover, the breached Marks showed no sign of pursuit—the marker indicating Marks had halted near the breach point.

Marks, though a general-purpose model, is also used by military forces and possesses strong close-combat capabilities.

The fact that Marks was breached means the opponent must be extremely dangerous.

And the reaction from the breach is heading straight toward the bridge where Shinosuke is located.

"Things might be bad..."

For security reasons, no firearms such as the blast rifle are stored on Fuuki's bridge.

These weapons are kept in a storage locker along the corridor outside the bridge, but there's no time to retrieve them.

Shinosuke drew his Lagza VX67 automatic pistol from the holster at his waist and racked the slide to load a round.

He considered whether to lock the bridge door, but whoever the enemy was—whether it was Marks or someone else—they had already proven unstoppable.

Even the reinforced bridge door would be easily breached.

Moreover, the shrapnel from a breach would scatter inside the bridge, making it even more dangerous, and more importantly, it would be too late already.

The enemy was already right at the bridge's threshold.

Shin nosuke raised his gun toward the door.

...Shut!

The bridge door opened in response to the approaching object.

In the next instant, someone tumbled into the bridge.

The figure lunged at Shinosuke, holding combat knives in both hands.

Incredible speed.

"Eh? Mei, do—!"

Shinosuke instinctively pulled the trigger.

Bang! Bang-bang!

Immediately afterward, the bridge was wrapped in silence.

[BLACK ROSE II: BRIDGE]

"...Thirty minutes have passed. How’s it going?"

"The enemy ship isn't showing any signs of attacking or retreating, nor is it approaching from the infiltration route."

Velvet picked up the blaster rifle hanging on the bridge wall.

"It's been over thirty minutes since the boarding began—beyond their operational limits by now. And with no movement from their side... It looks like we've successfully secured the ship. Then, let's go claim their vessel. Everyone, grab your weapons and follow me."

Following Velvet, who marched forward with her rifle slung over her shoulder, the three female crew members, each armed, fell in behind her.

Velvet met up with another crew member waiting at the entrance corridor after exiting the bridge.

"How's it going?"

" gunfire was heard on the other side of the airlock right after we breached, but it stopped shortly after. Since then, it's been quiet."

Velvet advanced with two of her subordinates leading the way, approaching the airlock leading to the fuselage.

"We're going in. Be careful."

First, the two ahead cautiously opened the airlock, scanning ahead to check the situation.

"There are broken dolls lying in the corridor. No sign of enemies elsewhere."

After her subordinates confirmed it was safe, Velvet boarded the fuselage via the hatch.

As reported, one doll lay toppled in the passage.

The right half of its head and right arm were severed at the shoulder, with the detached arm and a blaster rifle, also cleanly split in two, lying nearby.

The cut surfaces were extremely sharp.

"This is the doll following that Shinosuke fellow, as mentioned in the client's information. A military-grade doll in this condition? How frightening."

Velvet gazed ahead down the passage, a cruel smile playing on her lips.

Beyond that lies a bridge.