58. Imperial Survey Bureau 2

I am Vasca, Director of the Survey Bureau within the Imperial Survey Ministry.

Several years ago, all information concerning a particular star system—where planetary development was underway—was placed under strict secrecy, and the personnel responsible within the Survey Ministry were reassigned. From that point onward, the Survey Ministry began receiving generous budget allocations, and was instructed by the Imperial Council of State to advance the exploration of Aarzen-class planets.

The Imperial Council of State is, in form, merely an advisory body to the Emperor, though in practice it consists of senior statesmen who assist the Emperor in governance. It is the government’s duty to carry out the will of both the Emperor and the Imperial Council of State, and one of the ministries that makes up this government is the Survey Ministry.

Optical observations over an extended period had already revealed that one of the planets orbiting a G-type star roughly 300 light-years away was an Aseren-type planet. The newly developed jump drive was successfully integrated into the latest planetary survey vessel, which was dispatched to the star system.

This latest deployment of a planetary survey vessel had been carried out in response to strong requests from the Imperial Privy Council—but unfortunately, the survey vessel was lost during the initial phase of the system exploration. Still, the survey ministry confirmed the presence of intelligent life on the sole Aseren-type planet within the system, now designated G013. Naturally, further investigation was deemed necessary. However, by imperial decree alone, a fleet was dispatched from the space navy to the G013 system.

The fleet, having safely jumped out into the G013 system, had been transmitting observational data to both the Space Navy and the Survey Ministry. Yet it appeared the fleet had stumbled upon a planet previously overlooked by the prior survey vessel. The newly discovered planet, it seemed, was entirely covered in an unknown metal whose composition defied analysis.

At first, the team speculated it might have been a mirror-like surface misread during analysis—some sort of optical illusion, perhaps—but that explanation no longer held.

Then, the lead analyst began raising alarms over a material possibly composed of a single atom at ultra-high density. A substance, they insisted, that could not possibly exist in nature, yet entirely coated the planet’s surface.

After a period of silence, the Survey Ministry suddenly ceased receiving transmissions from the fleet altogether. Attempts to contact the Space Navy yielded only vague, unhelpful replies.

Rumors began to circulate—some said the Space Navy had ordered its fleet to concentrate at Azeren; others claimed the Army had been instructed to stand by. The chief of staff, Loar, seemed to know as little as anyone else. But what exactly was happening? Was the sudden halt in transmissions from the dispatched fleet somehow connected to the military’s unexpected movements?

The chief was expected back from the cabinet meeting momentarily. There might be news—some development, at the very least.

“Vaska, could you come to my office?”

Just as I was pondering these things, a call came through from the chief.

“Understood. I’ll be right there.”

“Vaska, this is serious. What was a joke before the fleet’s deployment—what we said in jest—has become reality.”

“Chief, what do you mean by that?”

“The dispatched fleet has surrendered to Agirakana, the interstellar state that named itself. The fleet surrendered without engaging in a single battle. Agirakana is likely a Level 5 civilization, evolutionarily speaking.

We’re currently analyzing the situation in the Space Forces, but Agirakana’s military strength appears overwhelming. The dispatched fleet was apparently surrounded by a massive fleet without realizing it, and received a surrender ultimatum in Alze—Alze, of all languages! And incidentally, the planet newly discovered by the fleet in the G013 system turns out to be Agirakana’s home world. Care to see this? This is the largest of Agirakana’s ships that surrounded the dispatched fleet.”

The chief said, handing me a printed-out image—a sphere-shaped spacecraft?

“Their vessel has a diameter of 1,800 meters,” the chief said, handing me a printed image—a sphere-shaped spacecraft? “This one here is their smallest ship. Even so, it’s the size of one of our heavy cruisers.”

Here, the printout showed a pyramid-shaped spacecraft.

“In cabinet meetings, some criticized Admiral Marco for surrendering without even fighting a battle. But from my point of view, I was thoroughly impressed—admirable, really. No unnecessary casualties. If even one engagement had occurred, neither side would have been able to back down. Invading someone else’s territory barefoot and then causing a scene? The other side wouldn’t have hesitated to wipe us out. Worst case, the Empire itself might have ceased to exist.

Since the surrender, there’s been no communication from the dispatched fleet. But the Empire has gone into defensive readiness—no, not even readiness, full-scale defense posture. All surplus production capacity is being redirected there. This, however, remains a secret from the general public. Please, be careful. Keep it to yourself.”

[Supplementary Explanation]

Classified Information: Information so sensitive that even its existence is concealed at the national level—of paramount importance.