128 Expedition Arc 13 Re-invasion 4

"This is Prince Akira, Sixth Heir. I've conducted a delaying engagement against twenty enemy capital-class vessels.

The enemy capital-class vessels heading toward the 8B system now number thirteen, with six hundred and fifty thousand vessels aboard.

I destroyed enemy capital-class vessel three, along with all vessels aboard it. I rendered enemy capital-class vessel four unable to perform dimensional jump (warp).

Since the immobilized enemy capital-class vessel four is being supplied via piston transport by the surviving enemy capital-class vessel four, the enemy won't reach the 8B system until two days after their expected arrival.

The next day, fifteen thousand reinforcements will arrive. The day after that, five thousand more. That's all."

"Main fleet here. Understood. We're scheduled to arrive at the 8B system in one and a half days. We'll make it."

I sent a transmission to the Emperor's main fleet confirming the end of my delaying engagement.

The main fleet seems likely to arrive before the enemy's invasion of the 8B system.

I bought enough time for the system’s inhabitants to evacuate—and for the main fleet to arrive.

Your move. Absolutely no resting!

Out from the Dimensional Jump Gate in the 8B system comes the Emperor’s main fleet: 1.2 million ships.

I’d parked my Personal Ship toward the enemy’s flagship-class invasion vector, just watching the spectacle.

Zoning out, the Emperor’s flagship—the flagship of flags—pulled up beside me.

Then, from that flagship as the anchor, the entire 1.2 million-ship fleet began forming ranks.

I was flanked by the Emperor’s flagship and the Imperial Guard fleet.

‘Sorry. I’m stepping out now.’

I read the room and started to drift away.

Then—every single one of the 1.2 million ships shifted position, pivoting as a whole, in perfect sync with me.

‘What kind of joke is this?’

‘Don’t move.’

‘Huh?’

‘Akira, you’re the pivot point. Don’t move.’

‘Yes…’

Seems like the Emperor’s given me some inconvenient trouble.

Better keep myself from making a move with dimensional jump—warp—right here.

‘Well done.’

Suddenly, I get words of praise from the Emperor.

‘Didn’t expect this level of result.’

‘Huh.’

‘Enjoy the full experience of being flagship.’

‘Such a blessed burden… (literally a stick)’

So, basically, my Personal Ship is the current flagship base point.

Honorable reward, I suppose—but what I really want is practical gain.

‘Base point解除. Return to normal.’

Looks like I’m finally free.

‘By the way, Akira. You can read the enemy’s movements, right?’

‘Yes. Enemy flagship-class vessels are entering their final dimensional jump—warp. Number: thirteen.’

Enemy flagship-class vessels are scheduled to warp out one thousand kilometers ahead—six hours from now.'

'Good. Use your secret weapon to annihilate them.'

The emperor’s asking for the impossible. I panic and protest that it’s out of the question.

'Just to clarify—enemy flagship-class vessels will all emerge from warp simultaneously.

If they launch tens of thousands of carrier vessels at once, we won’t even have time to fire a shot.'

'That’s exactly why we have 1.2 million ships. Use them as a shield.'

The emperor says something utterly insane.

But… if the entire fleet of 1.2 million ships is covering us, maybe it’s not impossible after all.

'Then it might be possible—provided we don’t block the firing arcs.'

'That’s precisely why we’ve maintained flawless fleet coordination. Make full use of it. I’m handing over command authority.'

No way to refuse after that.

'Understood. Let’s do it.'

If we miss a few, it’s fine—we’ll just annihilate them all with 1.2 million ships.

I took it lightly at first, but the weight of command sank in later, slow and steady.

I’ve been given command of the Emperor’s main fleet flagship.

Once I activate the Tactical Weapon Integration Control System, I command all 1.2 million vessels.

Now, let’s pull them out of the firing line.