61. Future Strategy

Having returned to Agirakana with Maria, to meet with the commander of the surrendered Arze Fleet, I decided to first organize my thoughts on future strategy. I summoned the usual team to the operations conference room for discussion.

Major Amanda of the Aerospace Force, Lieutenant Colonel Eris of the Ground Combat Unit, Lieutenant Colonel Floris of the Logistics Division, and Major Dora of the Survey Division spoke in turn.

Based on data from the reconnaissance probes and the current composition of the Arze Fleet, the Aerospace Force concludes that destroying the Arze Empire’s aerospace combat capability is extremely feasible. It appears the Arze Empire has concentrated its aerospace forces near the central star system, Hamirapiratra—ideal conditions for complete annihilation of enemy assets. In any case, once our fleet approaches the enemy’s capital planet, they will be forced to intercept. Sustained destruction of those forces should hasten their surrender.

The Ground Combat Unit can currently deploy three battalions. Provided the Aerospace Force eliminates the Arze Empire’s aerospace forces, full deployment of these three battalions would require three to five days to secure control of the Arze Empire’s capital planet, Arzēn. This window will narrow as further intelligence is gathered.

"Major Amanda, Lieutenant Eris. We haven't officially decided to go to war with the Arze Empire yet."

"Apologies." "Apologies."

"Not at all. It's essential to plan for combat, even if we haven't committed."

"Thank you." "Thank you."

"Logistics Division reports nothing unusual. Strategic reserves— including antimatter—are fully stocked. Mining vessels are coming online as scheduled, and primary resource collection is proceeding smoothly."

"From Recon: one point. We've already launched surveillance probes from Agirakana to intercept a Zeno believed to have fled the recently destroyed star system. The delay was due to the recent acquisition of Zeno-related intelligence from within the Arze Empire. Deployment of the probes along the route from the affected system to adjacent systems is scheduled for five days from now."

Regarding the Zeno within the recently devastated planet Shinō: the total number observed by the deployed probes is approximately fifty thousand. Judging from their mass distribution, the collective appears significantly depleted; if they’ve already consumed the planet’s metallic resources, they may exceed their reproductive limits. Even under the most optimistic projection, their post-reproduction total would reach around three million—assuming an eight-year growth period.

Since Agirakana has now achieved hyperspace-capable travel, we propose bypassing a fleet ambush operation altogether. Instead, as both test and execution, we deploy Agirakana’s main cannon to destroy the planet, expel the reproducing Zeno from their habitat, and subsequently eliminate them via coordinated fire from the fleet and Agirakana’s Zeno Blasters, achieving mutual annihilation.

It’ll take its time—five million to three million, no less. Waiting for the Zeno to reactivate is no small burden, and if we could just eliminate them immediately, that’d be preferable.

“Can Agirakana’s main cannon destroy the planet?”

“Affirmative. Planet Zeno has a diameter of roughly ten thousand kilometers. If the main cannon shell penetrates more than four thousand kilometers into the planet, a single anti-annihilation round will suffice to destroy it. With all six cannons firing in unison, penetration of just five hundred kilometers into the planet’s interior is enough to obliterate it entirely.”

“Firing six anti-annihilation rounds from Agirakana’s main cannons—what we call a salvo—consumes thirty percent of our stored antimatter reserves.”

“That’s quite a significant amount.”

“The projectile itself isn’t particularly large—given the main cannon’s 13,000-kilometer barrel length—but it still measures six hundred meters in diameter and thirty kilometers in length. Furthermore, the current stockpile of anti-annihilation rounds amounts to only twelve rounds. That number could be increased immediately if needed.”

“Twelve should be more than enough. Speaking of which, couldn’t we just use the transfer device to send antimatter straight into the planet’s core? Wouldn’t that be simpler?”

“Transfer is only possible if there’s a low-density space—what we’d call a cavity—within the planet. But given the current state of planetary liquefaction, such spaces are unlikely to exist. Therefore, directly transferring antimatter into the planet’s interior is effectively impossible.”

"Understood. Then, first, we’ll expose the Zeno concealed within Planet Shino by stripping it bare with Agirakana’s main cannon, destroy it individually, then intercept the Zeno currently moving through interstellar space and eliminate it promptly. The negotiations with Arze Prime will follow, after our meeting with the commander of the Arze Fleet. Even if the talks with the opposing side end in failure and they express dissatisfaction with our intervention—well, we’ll still proceed with destroying the Zeno."

A routine cannon-diplomacy approach would likely be too jarring for the other party, and we have no idea how they’ll react. It’s unfortunate for the Arze Fleet commander, but we’ll have them act as intermediaries between us and the Arze government.

Short SF: "I, Have Successfully Executed the Ambush"

https://ncode.syosetu.com/n9346gb/

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