41. Cosmic Battleship Agirakana 2

It had been years—years—since, shortly before his father passed, the two of them had shared a moment of clarity, a brief conversation, and a promise made in the quiet of that final stretch.

“Keiichi… is there a girl named Ichijō Sae working at your company?”

“Know her well. She was assigned to me last year. What about her?”

“Keiichi… if anything happens to her, look out for her, will you?”

“Why me?”

“Adult matters. You’ll understand.”

“Don’t know much, but it’s your last request. I’ll do it.”

“Please…”

What the adult matters were, I could only guess. Still, I’d made a fool’s promise. But then I remembered that Ichijō had once said both her parents had already passed. So, this was my father’s final request. I’d do what I could.

By clustering multiple gravity thrusters and combining them with counter-gravity thrusters designed to resist the pull of a gravity well—efficiently constructed to trap and destroy Zeno—the system was named the Zeno Blaster and mounted on combat vessels of light cruiser class and above. Large warships with surplus capacity would be equipped with multiple Zeno Blasters. That said, the counter-gravity thrusters could potentially be dispensed with if the positions of multiple gravity wells were properly coordinated—a point worth considering.

The device designed to induce gravitational collapse in a neutron star, transforming it into a black hole, was named the NS Collapser (Neutron Star Collapse Cannon). Though referred to as a "cannon," it possesses no barrel, of course. It is a weapons system composed of twenty-four massive gravity thrusters, along with associated energy, targeting, and control apparatus.

At Agirakana, work was underway not only to attach the NS Corruptor suite and numerous Zeno Blasters, but also to install a jump drive. While the work progressed, they had purchased vast quantities of content—movies, dramas, anime—to pass the time during the twenty-four-year round trip. Food was included, of course. Apparently, food could be preserved for remarkably long periods under oxygen-free freezing conditions. Well, if it ran out, it ran out—according to the crew, the necessary biological information for key flora and fauna was on hand, so production could be easily re-established inside Agirakana.

“Ichijō, I’ll be away for a bit longer starting tomorrow. While I’m gone, make sure to consult with Ain and keep things running smoothly.”

“Understood—!”

As always, Ichijō replied with her usual energy. Do your best.

“And, senior—thank you for everything, up until now.”

Ichijō bowed deeply, then descended to the seventh floor. Perhaps she was going to ask Ain about the situation.

Ain, the members of the Secretary's Office, the assault carrier, and the landing ship AA-0001 Blaze were all to remain in the Sol system. Blaze had originally been short one infantry battalion, but now carried four fully staffed battalions plus eight squads, and an additional reinforced regiment—three thousand six hundred ground troops. If I return to Earth in twenty-five years, Ichijō might be Earth’s President. Multiple large transport ships, loaded with metal resources for Japan during Agirakana’s absence, were already prepared—so that side of things should be fine too.

Round trip: twenty-four years…

“Jump drive initiated. Target: 4U 0142+61. Approaching closest possible point.”

"Target: 4U 0142+61, closest possible approach. Jump drive initiating—twenty seconds remaining, nineteen, eighteen, … three, two, one, initiate!"

Twelve years since then. In one word: boring. So I wrote a lot of terrible novels. I’ll be a novelist when I get back. Hmm? That’s a bad sign, isn’t it? No, probably not.

Pseudonym—how about this: someone playing at the foot of the mountain, Yamaguchi Yūshi. Not bad at all. A novel written by the current Agirakana representative—shouldn’t be selling poorly.

Agirakana will reach the target point in just a few minutes and return to normal space. The hyperspace outside the ship is supposedly unobservable. I’m monitoring the situation from the captain’s chair in Agirakana’s central command deck. Once we re-enter normal space, we’ll be in what could be called Zeno’s headquarters. The operation will begin immediately. I’ve been swept along by the current until I’ve ended up here. Time to pull myself together.

"Your Excellency, may I have a word as we begin the operation?"

Admiral Amanda of the Aerospace Force. She has served as my second-in-command throughout this long campaign.

"Men and women, you've endured twelve years of hardship. Now comes the decisive moment. Let us succeed in this mission and eradicate Zeno's lingering curse."

"Agirakana, returning to normal space... ten, nine, eight... two, one—now!"

On the gray screen, the neutron star 4U 0142+61 flared into sharp, icy blue brilliance.

"...Agirakana, all ships nominal. Distance to 4U 0142+61: 0.5 AU."

After reemerging into normal space, Agirakana exchanged a brief hyperspace transmission with Ain, left behind on Earth, confirming both parties were unharmed.

On the screen, gas expelled from a companion star long ago and shattered planetary debris spiraled toward a pale blue neutron star, pulled in by its immense gravity after the primary star’s supernova explosion.

Solid matter, as it approached the neutron star—its diameter twenty kilometers—was crushed by the intense gravity, disintegrating into plasma gas. Yet, just as the footage had shown from the earlier probe, this plasma gas gradually condensed, forming a shape, and giving rise to Zeno. The newly born Zeno slowly accelerated away from the neutron star, merging into a gathering of other Zeno ahead. These Zeno emerged from the vicinity of the neutron star, like bubbles rising from a deep well.

The plan for this operation is to approach the neutron star while excluding Zeno, using the NS Collapser to gravitationally collapse the neutron star 4U 0142+61 all the way down to a black hole, and then withdraw promptly. Zeno’s destruction is not the objective, and due to the need for a swift withdrawal, no attack squadrons will be deployed. The operation will proceed using light cruisers or larger combat vessels capable of carrying Agirakana and Zeno Blasters.

Twelve years of hyperspace travel had significantly bolstered their combat capabilities.

Mine Cruiser 72

Light cruiser 42 (equipped with four Zeno Blasters, vertex count of a regular tetrahedron)

Heavy cruiser 36 (equipped with twelve Zeno Blasters, twenty vertices of a regular icosahedron)

Heavy Cruiser Type-4 (equipped with twenty Zeno Blasters, number of vertices corresponding to a regular dodecahedron)

and the interstellar battleship Agirakana (numerous Zeno Blasters plus NS Collapse Drive)

"Eliminate approaching Zeno units while closing in on the neutron star 4U 0142+61."

"Agirakana, advance at minimal speed."

"Sir, the Zeno units approaching from ahead appear stubborn, as expected." Admiral Amanda of the Aerospace Fleet—once again serving as my second-in-command.

"Final stretch. Let’s just push through."

"Total number of Zeno units within one AU of Agirakana: seven million two hundred thousand—still increasing, closing in."

"Full shafts deployed!"

Agirakana featured multiple hexagonal prismatic shafts, each side measuring sixty kilometers, armored with hull-grade material and connecting external spaceports to internal ones. These shafts had been sealed at their entrances and at several points within by armored plates made of the same hull material; now, those plates folded back, and the shafts unfolded.

"Deploy all mine vessels!"

Seventy-two mine vessels were launched from Agirakana in a full-circle dispersion.

Zeno, approaching as if magnetized to the mine vessels, was intercepted by counter-explosive rounds, flaring with light before disintegrating. The density of Zeno around Agirakana gradually diminished.

“All ships, deploy. After deployment, immediately activate Zeno Blasters and eliminate approaching Zeno.”

“All ships launched. Closing all shafts.”

“All shafts confirmed closed.”

“All ships deploying while eliminating Zeno.”

Light cruisers deployed four Zeno Blaster gravity wells at the vertices of a regular tetrahedron around their hulls, maintaining equilibrium. Heavy cruisers deployed twelve gravity wells at the vertices of a regular icosahedron around their hulls. The special-class heavy cruisers deployed twenty gravity wells at the vertices of a regular dodecahedron around their hulls.

Each ship rotated its surrounding gravity wells in intricate patterns, while simultaneously maneuvering the Zeno blasters—each carefully avoiding interference with the others—along complex trajectories around Agirakana, entangling the Zeno.

At various points in space near Agirakana, Zeno units swallowed by Zeno blasters shattered with blinding flashes. Those piercing through the gaps between Zeno blasters were reduced to ruin by concentrated fire from proximity-defense annihilation rounds.

"Agirakana, full Zeno blaster activation warning. Five seconds to activation—three, two, one—activation."

Agirakana issued a warning to the ships clearing Zeno from its vicinity, deploying multiple gravity wells around itself.

"Agirakana, all Zeno blasters activated."

The entire ship shimmers, distorted by the gravitational lensing effect of the Zeno blasters' gravity wells.

Agirakana continued its approach toward the neutron star. And then:

"Acquired 4U 0142+61's core within NS Collapser range."

"Agirakana, halt. Maintain relative position to neutron star."

"Agirakana, halt. Position fixed."

……

If we can trigger the neutron star’s gravitational collapse with the NS Collapser before we sink, we win. Agirakana, everyone in the fleet—hold on.

…

On the screen before them, the neutron star glows pale blue and radiant, its surroundings warped by gravitational lensing. The command room is bathed in that same pale blue light. The surrounding space is filled with flashes—blinding bursts emitted as Zeno’s gravity wells pull in and collapse the surrounding matter.

"Mine vessel DM-0024 signal terminated. Mass dispersion confirmed. Destroyed."

"Mine vessel DM-—"

"……Agirakana reporting completion of Zeno sweep within 0.1 AU radius. Remaining mine vessels: 27."

"Light cruiser LC-0024, mass dispersion confirmed. Sunk."

……

Light cruiser LC-0001—Hoolinkha, command deck. Captain Kabra Hainante.

The screen directly ahead displays Agirakana, the target to be protected. The white hull reflects the pale blue light emanating from the neutron star, making Agirakana shimmer unnaturally bright—its surface writhing with gravitational wells forged by numerous Zeno Blasters, twisting the light into spirals. Across the background of space, flashes—like the collapse of Zeno—flicker at random intervals.

Doggogogoo!

A thunderous boom echoed through the ship, and the vessel shuddered violently. The fact that a ship normally silent and stable was now shaking and roaring like a dying beast suggested that several Gravity Control Devices had failed.

“Captain, the hull joints in sectors U2 and U3 have been breached. Adjacent bulkheads appear to be compromised.”

The main screen flickered and switched to a schematic of LC-0001. Red indicators—marking the damage—spread rapidly across the display. The section labeled “Sub-Command Center” was already red. Lieutenant Commander Arthur had likely been lost.

“Two Zeno Blasters offline. Main generator output down to sixty percent. Auxiliary generators activated… currently at seventy-five percent. Degrading gradually.”

“One more Zeno Blaster offline. Zeno Blaster currently active—counter-thruster alignment corrected.”

"Zeno, incoming from upper two o'clock."

"Close-range defense—fire every available annihilation round."

One more hit to the same spot and the ship goes down. Please, take it out. With only one Zeno Blaster operational, the ship will eventually sink. I worry whether this vessel—designated as the Agirakana fleet commander’s personal ship, and the first in the Aerospace Fleet to earn the individual name Furinkan—has lived up to its name in this battle, but I have no regrets.

Just before impact, countless flashes streak across the front of the Zeno. Finally, the outer shell ruptures, and the Zeno’s collapse accelerates uncontrollably. From within the cascade of destruction, another Zeno emerges—followed by several more from behind—then vanishes entirely into the damaged section ahead of LC-0001.

"Light Cruiser LC-0001-Furinka, Zeno detonation attacks concentrated. Communication lost."

"……Light Cruiser LC-0001-Furinka, mass dispersion confirmed. Sunk."

……

"Special Heavy Cruiser HL-0001-Inspira, heavily damaged"

"Heavy Cruiser HL-0004, heavily damaged"

……

"NS Collapsar focus, set to center of 4U 0142+61"

"Setting complete"

"NS Collapsar activated, counter-thrusters engaged"

"All NS Collapsars activated, counter-thrusters engaged"

"NS Collapsar output rising. Currently twenty percent, twenty-five percent…… one hundred percent"

"Pressure at the center of 4U 0142+61 rising. Fifty percent to critical, fifty-five percent... 4U 0142+61 center pressure reached gravitational collapse threshold. Gravitational collapse initiated. Current Schwarzschild radius: 0.2 kilometers, increasing gradually."

"Zeno's emergence has ceased."

"Schwarzschild radius: three, six point five, twelve... nineteen—exceeding the diameter of 4U 0142+61."

4U 0142+61 flared with a flash across its entire circumference, then was swallowed by darkness.

Ahead, the neutron star 4U 0142+61 vanished into its event horizon—what remained was a single, pitch-black disk. For the duration, the forward screen had dimmed drastically to capture the neutron star, rendering the background stars invisible. But now that the star’s light had extinguished, the distant stars appeared warped into circular arcs around the event horizon, lensed by the extreme gravity. Surrounding matter, and the stragglers of Zeno, flashed into plasma as they were consumed—glowing briefly, then fading into a dull red before vanishing entirely.

“The operation succeeded. Prioritize damaged vessels. All ships, evacuate immediately to Agirakana.”

“All shafts open…”

Light cruiser: 28 remaining, 14 lost

Heavy cruiser: 34 remaining (8 severely damaged), 2 lost

Special-class heavy cruiser: 4 remaining (1 severely damaged)

Minehunter: 6 remaining, 66 lost

Many ships and bio-androids were lost in this operation.

"Your Excellency, they fulfilled their duty. No need to dwell on it."

Turning to Major Amanda, who had spoken.

"Your Excellency, you may recall that Dora, Floreis, Eris, and I are first-generation bio-androids. We were the original crew when Agirakana departed from Arsen. Countless comrades fell in battle against Zeno, defending this Agirakana. Of those who survived, most simply reached the end of their natural lifespans. But we chose to enter hibernation, believing in a future where Arsen would triumph over Zeno. And thanks to Your Excellency, we have awakened from that hibernation, and now grasp that future. …We are grateful.

Let us hold a grand victory celebration at Your Excellency’s Private Residence today."

The success of the operation was relayed to Ain on Earth. "Congratulations," Ain said, her voice slightly strained.

"…All vessels within Agirakana contained and confirmed."

"All shafts sealed!"

"All shafts sealed—confirmed."

"Agirakana, all vessels nominal."

"Jump drive initiated. Target: outer edge of the Solar System, twenty AU beyond Earth."

"Target: outer edge of the Solar System, twenty AU beyond Earth. Jump drive initiating in twenty seconds—nineteen, eighteen, ……, two, one, initiate!"

[Supplementary Explanation]

Bio-Android

A biological robot optimized for functions derived from combining the biological information of numerous Arsenians. Individual variants are highly numerous to accommodate environmental changes, with redundancy built in. Bio-androids produced under the Arsen Charter lack reproductive capabilities, but those produced under the Agirakana Charter are granted such functions. Strong conditioning is imposed regarding the fulfillment of duty. While individual lifespans are approximately one hundred and thirty years, many choose self-termination around the age of one hundred, when functionality begins to decline sharply.

Comedy: *Agirakana Side Story, Reika of Hōzōin — The Invincible Young Lady —*

URL: https://ncode.syosetu.com/n4131fy/ Thank you kindly. The side story begins roughly a few episodes before the thirty-first episode of the main series, in terms of chronology.

Short Story Collection: *Yūsai Shiki*

https://ncode.syosetu.com/n0032fy/ Thank you kindly.

Addendum

Incidentally, the Latin alphabet rendering of Agirakana is a-gi-r-a-k-a-n-a.

Maria is an avatar of the Secondary Core, the several hundredth iteration of Maria. Ain’s lineage, we leave to your imagination.

Agirakana is scheduled to arrive in the Sol system twelve years from now. What will Earth and Japan be like then? We leave that to your imagination as well.