065 Drifting Arc 5: United Front 1

Sorry I’m late.

Got carried away writing a third-person short story and ended up messing up the main plot.

Adjusted Commander Sanders’s actions slightly from 063.

Last version made him look like a brainless musclehead acting without evidence…

Since we arrived at Anoi Fortress, I’ve been holed up in the office every day.

They gave me a dedicated section for Brushlips Fleet personnel—conveniently located just a two-minute walk from home.

Also, if there’s an emergency sortie, it’s faster to go from the office basement straight to the hangar.

And, well… sometimes the crew shows up, so I’d rather not be completely alone… sad reason, I know…

Anyway, Miu, the one who loves being alone, won’t come unless she’s called.

She won’t eat unless she’s called, so I’m basically begging her to come over.

Anyway, in this boring office where we just drift through days like clockwork, Ai, the organic terminal AI, moved in as a resident.

I ask her all sorts of random questions to pass the time.

"AI, why can we talk directly with Imperial people?"

"Actually, we aren’t speaking directly. Some Imperial people wear translation devices, so it just *looks* like we’re talking face-to-face.

The translator makes Earthlings sound like they’re speaking Imperial Standard to the Imperials.

And when Imperials speak Imperial Standard, the sound gets translated in real time and delivered to the other person’s ears."

"So… we can’t talk to anyone who doesn’t have a translator?"

"Yeah, Imperial citizens speak Imperial Standard all the way down to their colonies. We translate it into Terranese via translator devices. Without one, conversation’s impossible."

"Terranese? We’re Japanese, so shouldn’t it be Japanese? Is it English if you’re American?"

"Exactly. It’s been over two hundred years since our Empire first made contact with Earth. In that time, the major languages of Earth have all been made translatable."

"By the way, I’m speaking Japanese right now."

"Huh. So the deposition we saw yesterday was in Japanese? Was that translated too?"

"That was an actual Japanese document. If you project another text onto it, you could falsify evidence—so it’s inadmissible as proof."

"Ah. I see."

Ayame’s always thorough. Gives you every non-controversial detail, no gaps.

But bring up anything political, and suddenly—

"How much military power does the Empire have?"

"That is a prohibited matter. I cannot answer."

"Then how much territory does the Empire control?"

"That is a prohibited matter. I cannot answer."

"Ah. Got it. Sorry about that. I might ask something weird again—please forgive me."

"No problem. I simply can't answer."

Can't answer? Then can't answer.

Lately, I've found it oddly entertaining to figure out where exactly this red line is.

"So the Empire's an empire, right? That means there's an emperor, correct?"

"Yes, Your Imperial Majesty resides."

(Well, that's just basic info.) "Then how come there aren't any complicated succession issues?"

"That is a prohibited matter. I cannot answer."

(Nope.) "So there must be princes with claim to the throne, right?"

"Yes, there are princes with claim to the throne."

"(So this is okay?) How many are there?"

"Sixteen, now—just one more added recently."

"Huh. So the heir's been born."

"No—new claimants to the throne have recently emerged."

"(What's that?) How exactly do you even get a claim to the throne?"

"That is a prohibited matter. I cannot answer."

"So the Prince from Earth Administration—is he a prince, then?"

"That is a prohibited matter. I cannot answer."

"Huh. (Did I overdo it?)"

Well, that was a decently spicy bit of gossip.

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Received a summons from Commander Sanders.

They said they wanted people to join in the real play together.

President Kamizawa checked with the 182 Earthlings—seven of us were the remainder—about their participation, then directed those who agreed to gather at the Executive Office.

Incidentally, only three from the Brushlips crew are participating: the president, me, and Ayame, who owes money to the Executive Office (the Empire).

Self-proclaimed自治会? Whatever. Don’t care.

One hundred forty-one confirmed participation. Seventy-four mercenaries, six veterans of real play, seven-person fleet from the real play group, five-person fleet from the virtual play group.

Fleet participation seemed easier than going solo.

Later I heard they’d reorganized to fill the gaps, merging the groups into one seven-person fleet and one five-person fleet.

Including us three, that made 144 total.

We headed toward the Executive Office.

When we arrived, we were escorted into the grand conference room.

We scattered around, leaning together in loose groups—mostly by fleet units—standing there like we’d lost our purpose.

Then, a noisy bunch showed up.

The self-proclaimed自治会 crew.

“Who the hell summoned us?!”

(Actually, we didn’t.)

Sato’s yelps are just background noise. Ignore them.

“Everyone gathered, I assume?”

Commander Sanders and three officers stepped onto the dais at the front.

Probably the three regional commanders.

“Today, we’re doing a real-time drill together—so I figured it’d be good to meet the top brass of the three armies.”

Commander Sanders slowly scanned the crowd with his eyes.

Then he introduced the three commanders.

“First, on the left—Noa, commander of the Caprius Regional Fleet.”

Noa’s a catfolk. Black hair—so remember him as Noa, from “Noir.”

“Next, in the center—John, commander of the Minor Territories Combined Forces.”

John’s a chimeric, but what kind exactly? Hard to say.

Call him John Smith—unknown origin.

“On the right: Hunter, commander of the Graul Dominion Forces.”

Hunter’s a dogfolk. Hound, maybe? Don’t say “direct hound” though—would piss him off.

“Earth-born, you’ll fall under the Minor Territories Combined Forces command.”

Then some idiot yelled.

“Say we’re to be led by a beastman?!”

Sato. One second, the air freezes. Didn’t you hear “beastman” is a slur?

Right. He hasn’t talked to Auntie Ayame.

“Shut up, Sato! You’re on parole for misconduct—no representative status. Now serve your sentence!”

President Kamizawa snaps at Sato. Classic move: “Intimidation” skill, as expected.

Once Sato shuts up, President Kamizawa offers an apology.

"I apologize. He is a criminal. Not someone who should be speaking here, in this place.

Words of insult—shameful for a human being. I offer my apologies."

"I know that bastard—Sato—better than anyone. I accept the human’s apology. This wasn’t discrimination from a human. It was a criminal’s outburst. That’ll do."

Three of the military commanders nodded in agreement, accepting the apology.

Sato was seized by security guards, his arms locked, and dragged out of the grand chamber.

"Right. Now that we’ve had a bit of interference, let’s restart.

The humans are part of the minor territory combined forces. Within that, they’re the Earth Army.

John’ll be the nominal superior, but you can think of the Earth Army as independent in command authority. That’s fine."

We’d appreciate your support if we end up fighting enemy forces.

We’ll be excusing ourselves, but please go over the details with John for a bit.”

Commander Sanders, Hunter, and Noah stepped out, leaving the room empty for a moment.

Guess it’s true—dog and cat tribes really don’t get along.

“Do we even need everyone for this part?”

Everyone nods in agreement to my comment.

“Then who’s gonna speak for us?”

President Kamizawa’s question brings every single one of us pointing at her.

“Me?”

“Yep. Unanimous.”

“Ugh. Fine, whatever.”

I leave the details to President Kamizawa and head back to the office.

Added a note about document translation.