47: Breaking News

"Shall we continue with the factory tour this afternoon?"

"Yes, that's the plan. The very place where Sata was eating shortbread just a moment ago..."

Vilijanila and I take a sip of warm barley tea and relax for a moment.

That concludes lunch.

With that, Vilijanila begins to talk about her afternoon plans.

Gyuin! Gyuin! Gyuin!!!

And just as that was said, an intentionally annoying alarm sound suddenly blared through the cafeteria.

"!?!"

Reacting immediately to the alarm, Me'mokshi and I swiftly stood up to protect Vilijanila, scanning our surroundings for danger.

Most people's gazes were directed toward the monitor emitting the alarm or their own information terminals.

A few individuals—likely those whose job it is to provide security and protection—were maintaining heightened alertness, prepared for anything that might happen, while simultaneously checking evacuation routes.

"..."

Vilijanila turned her gaze toward multiple monitors.

Where each monitor had previously displayed different images, they now all showed a single news program—the dedicated broadcast for emergency alerts.

"Breaking news: One of the rocket corn farms located in the asteroid belt farms of the Glogrobeta system has been seized by terrorists claiming to be the 'Imperial People's Liberation Front.'

'Terrorism? Unusual.'

'Indeed. Unusual in more ways than one.'

'A rocket corn farm? Let me look into that a bit.'

The occurrence of a terrorist incident is rare.

And it's even rarer for it to be reported before it's resolved.

In addition to terrorists seeking publicity, there's also the risk of leaking information to them through media coverage.

And it's a rocket corn farm that's been seized...

Memoqui seems to have already looked into it, but considering the emergency bulletin broadcast as well, I can't shake a bad feeling.

And unfortunately, that bad feeling turns out to be correct.

"The terrorists' demands remain unclear, but they claim to be demonstrating their seriousness by having already launched several dozen rocket cones. Currently, security forces are attempting to intercept the launched rocket cones, but we have not yet been able to confirm the trajectories of all of them."

I can feel the surrounding area growing restless.

Therefore, an emergency alert has been broadcast to all colonies, planets, and spacecraft within the Glogrobeta system. Those who are seeing this broadcast should immediately begin taking action to protect themselves and those around them. Repeat: an emergency has been declared throughout the Glogrobeta system. This broadcast...

"Please stay calm! The Triticam Factory has ample evacuation areas here, more than enough to accommodate everyone present! We still have plenty of time! Please follow the staff's instructions and begin moving calmly and safely!"

Just as the murmurs were about to erupt into chaos, the factory staff's words brought the tension down.

Then it should be alright.

Those in the cafeteria began to move slowly and steadily.

"Vee-sama. Confirmation received. The Rocketcorn Farm has indeed been occupied."

"Understood. Proceed with non-verbal communication from here."

"Yes."

Information was sent from Memoqsi to both Vilejaniara and my personal device. Vilejaniara confirmed it on a monitor so small it would be completely invisible from the surrounding area.

I also checked the information on my main device.

I see.

The occupied Rocketcorn Farms are not just one, but three.

However, two of the three were apparently already known to the military and security forces, who had suppressed them before the incidents could fully unfold.

The remaining one, however, seemed to have acted on sudden impulse, making it impossible to contain.

Moreover, given that these were people prone to spontaneous actions—impulsive, even—what made matters worse was that they managed to launch a Rocketcorn with shocking speed.

Most of the launched Rocketcorns have already been shot down... but a few remain unaccounted for.

Based on launch angles and other estimates, it's highly likely they're heading toward the Tritycamm Factory's corporate colony—directly toward us.

"Lord Vee, Lady Sata, we have further updates."

"...I see. So that's how it connects here."

"What a nasty connection... Who even are these people? The perpetrator might have acted on impulse, but whoever planned this is quite something."

The follow-up report suggested that the launched rocket cone had likely been tampered with.

Specifically, it appeared highly probable that the metal with the shield-penetrating mod was wrapping the entire rocket cone in a thin layer.

That means, if the rocket cone currently approaching directly strikes the corporate colony... it's highly likely to penetrate the shield protecting the colony from space debris and asteroid impacts, causing destruction.

"Satā, memo. Heading to the Trithicam Factory control room. Let's attempt to intercept the rocket cone."

"As you wish. Vee."

"As you wish, Vee-sama."

I see. This is the true nature of the threat that Vilegianira had been sensing all along.

Her eyes told us this was the best place for us to be.

Then, from here on out, it's my job.

Come now, time to reap the harvest.

10/07 Correction of typo