Chapter 73

The eyebrows of the cruiser captain twitched in response.

“Wait, did you say you’re the captain of Destroyer 44?”

[That’s correct.]

The response came back in a very calm tone.

This was precisely why the cruiser captain couldn’t make sense of the situation.

“Are you really the captain of the Destroyer 44 that has gone missing?”

[That’s correct, but gone missing?]

The reply came back with an air of genuine confusion, now questioning the cruiser captain.

At this response, the cruiser captain frowned.

“…Your ship didn’t make regular contact with the fleet, and communication with your subordinates was also impossible, which is why our fleet was dispatched. You can’t possibly be unaware of this, can you?”

[ Excuse me? Is there some kind of mistake? We’ve been in regular contact with the fleet at the designated times.]

“….”

The smooth reply.

Still, due to this, the current situation was not progressing logically, and the cruiser captain was feeling a great deal of confusion because Toric was recounting stories entirely opposite to the information he had been given.

After briefly hanging up, the cruiser captain shifted his gaze, and the first mate quickly approached and stood beside him.

“First mate, check the military record and voice data of this person named Toric. We should compare the voices.”

“Understood, Captain.”

The first mate bowed his head and moved to the opposite side, and the cruiser captain put the receiver back to his ear.

“Toric captain, does this mean there are no problems with your ship and crew?”

[That’s correct.]

“Hmm…?”

A story completely opposite to what the fleet had informed him. One of them was lying, that was certain, but the question was why.

‘Could it be a minor error?’

The cruiser captain knew that there could be various reasons why communications were interrupted or failed to be delivered properly.

Moreover, the Third Interstellar Assault Fleet specialized in mobile warfare and large-scale drop operations. Because of this, they did not use slow-moving orbital stations or mothership-class vessels as flagships, and the cruiser captain was also well aware that this disparity in movement caused the shortcomings in the communication system.

‘Hmm….’

Should he confirm with the main fleet?

But even if he contacted the fleet, the communication delay would at least take several dozen minutes.

‘What should I do…’

The troubled cruiser captain.

With the changed situation and growing unease, the creases on his forehead continued to deepen.

“…Captain Toric, is what you’re saying true?”

[That’s correct. I have no reason to lie, do I?]

“….”

Of course. This was precisely why the more they conversed, the more confused the cruiser captain became.

At that moment, the first mate approached the cruiser captain.

“Captain, I’ve finished checking.”

“Hm.”

The cruiser captain picked up the small terminal handed to him by the first mate.

Contained within were all the detailed military records and other relevant important information about Toric, without omission.

In addition, Toric’s voice data.

After confirming, the cruiser captain connected the terminal to the communication device and swiftly transferred Toric’s voice data to the communication equipment.

The communication soldier quickly activated the voice comparison feature of the equipment as the voice data was being transferred.

Then the cruiser captain spoke again.

“Captain Toric.”

[Yes, what is it, sir?]

As Toric’s voice echoed, the cruiser captain looked to the communication soldier.

“No issues, it’s indeed Captain Toric.”

The communication soldier whispered softly.

Still feeling somewhat confused, the cruiser captain asked him one final method of verification:

“…Captain Toric. Though I apologize for continuing my doubts, could you tell me your military record?”

[My military record, you say?]

“That’s right.”

[…Understood. Then—]

Toric quickly recited his military record.

After confirming that all the contents of his words matched the data, the cruiser captain resolved to trust him.

“Captain Toric, then, where are you, your ship, and your subordinates currently?”

[Naturally, we’re hovering above the colonial city we’re responsible for.]

“I understand. Though I am not questioning you, we have also received orders from the fleet, so we will proceed there first.”

[Understood. Please do so.]

The transmission ended with that response.

The cruiser captain collected his thoughts.

Whatever happened, he didn’t know exactly how, but this side was a task force of three cruisers, and the other side just one destroyer.

Even if something were to happen, there was no way their forces could be insufficient.

“All fleet ships, proceed at full speed to the target area.”

“Understood, Captain. All ships, proceed at full speed to the target region!”

The first mate confirmed and repeated the command.

Having issued this order and about to return to his captain’s chair, the cruiser captain turned back to the communication soldier.

“And send a communication to the fleet to reconfirm the status of Destroyer 44 and this assignment.”

“Understood!”

…

Three cruisers carving through the skies.

The task force moved swiftly, and finally, their destination came into view.

The primitive town built by the native organisms and the golden warship hovering loftily above it.

“Identification code matches Destroyer 44.”

“Hmm, everything seems fine on the surface… Captain, what do you intend to do?”

In response to the first mate’s question, all eyes inside the command bridge turned toward the cruiser captain.

The main guns of the ship were already aimed at Destroyer 44, and with just a command, they could obliterate the destroyer in a single burst.

“Proceed at a slow speed and approach Destroyer 44. Prepare all troops on shuttles and have everyone prepare for combat.”

“Captain, do you intend to send combat troops to the destroyer?”

The first mate questioned him back in a slightly startled voice.

Though not prohibited by doctrine, sending combat troops to a ship where one isn’t assigned, even among fellow soldiers of the Empire, is considered a rather disrespectful action.

Of course, the cruiser captain was well aware of this tacit rule, but he had no intention of stepping back.

“Yes, it would be faster to check directly.”

“Isn’t that a bit aggressive?”

“We are merely carrying out our assigned mission.”

Despite the first mate’s apprehensive words, the cruiser captain reacted with firmness.

The first mate bowed his head in response to that stance.

“Understood, Captain. Proceed at a slow speed and approach the destroyer! Ground troops, board the shuttles! All crew members, prepare for combat!”

“The bridge is transmitting. Ground troops, board the shuttles! All ship personnel, prepare for combat!”

The task force of cruisers accelerated.

Finally, the three cruisers surrounded the smaller destroyer and came to a stop mid-air.

“Very well. Communicator, call Destroyer 44.”

“Understood!”

The communicator skillfully operated the equipment, then handed the round receiver to the cruiser captain.

As he placed the receiver to his ear, a familiar voice rang out from the other side.

[Destroyer 44 captain, Toric speaking.]

“Captain Toric. This is Task Force 3 Cruiser Division, flagship Grudel. I intend to dispatch troops to your ship immediately.”

[Troops?]

Toric asked back.

At the slightly bewildered response, the cruiser captain, for the first time, felt satisfaction that the situation was unfolding as he had planned.

The reason the cruiser captain was willing to break the tacit rule to send combat troops to the destroyer was because he wished to probe the situation while directly checking any issues.

Right now, he was both the commander and captain of the cruiser division that descended to the planet upon orders from the fleet.

He had the higher authority, and if Toric refused this request, it would almost admit to some suspicious activity.

On the other hand, if Toric casually allowed the troops onboard, he could personally command an investigation to uncover any problems.

No matter which way things went, there would be no disadvantage to him.

“Understood, right? We have orders from the fleet, so we cannot return merely on your word. I hope you make the wise choice.”

With that hint, he pressed for a decision.

[Understood, then I will open the arsenal.]

Toric readily agreed much more smoothly than expected.

“Thank you.”

Thus, he concluded and handed the receiver back to the communicator.

Could it really have been a communication glitch? Or, no, that’s something we can verify now.

The cruiser captain shook his head, clearing away that doubt.

Reopening his mouth, he issued further orders:

“Very well, relay this to all ships. Each ship will monitor Destroyer 44 with all available surveillance equipment and remain vigilant for even the slightest sign of movement.”

“Yes! Captain. All ship surveillance equipment will monitor Destroyer 44!”

The first mate loudly responded and then relayed the captain’s instructions.

“The bridge is transmitting. All ship surveillance equipment will remain vigilant of Destroyer 44. The bridge is transmitting… .”

The communicator first relayed the order inside the ship.

Next, after another operation on the equipment, the communicator transmitted a signal to the other ships.

“From flagship Grudel to all ships. Monitor Destroyer 44 using all surveillance equipment available on your ships.”

[Received well, flagship Festbliche.]

[Received well, flagship Nudelran.]

Responses came back from each ship, and the command bridge of the flagship displayed the appearance of Destroyer 44.

According to the previous conversation, the destroyer’s arsenal was already open.

“Very well, launch the shuttles.”

“Understood, Captain. Launching the shuttles!”

“The bridge is transmitting. Launching shuttles. Launching shuttles.”

A shimmering golden stream shot out from the cruiser.

Several shuttles advanced toward the destroyer, but no reaction came from the destroyer.

The shuttles soon arrived at the open arsenal of the destroyer.

Afterwards, the soldiers disembarked from the landed shuttles and moved toward the destroyer’s command bridge.

After watching this for a moment, the cruiser captain turned to the communicator:

“Communicator, connect me to the troops within the destroyer. I will command them directly.”

“Understood.”

The communicator adjusted the equipment again.

The cruiser captain waited for the old-fashioned curved receiver to be handed quickly, but the communicator continued tinkering with the equipment instead of handing it over.

“Uh…?”

Perplexed, the communicator fidgeted around with the equipment.

Seeing the sight, the first mate swiftly approached.

“What are you doing?”

“First Mate, the equipment isn’t responding.”

“Huh? The equipment is malfunctioning?”

“Yes.”

Only moments ago, the equipment was working perfectly, so how could it be malfunctioning now?

“Let me check.”

“Yes.”

The first mate moved seats with the communicator.

Even with the first mate deftly handling the equipment, the rounded receiver was not handed to the cruiser captain.

“… What’s wrong?”

Unable to bear it, the cruiser captain questioned.

“It’s strange, the communication equipment doesn’t seem to be functioning properly.”

“The communication equipment?”

“Yes.”

As the first mate handed over the round receiver while saying so,

the cruiser captain took it and placed it to his ear.

Zzzzzt—

“…?”

An unpleasant noise.

Frowning and removing the receiver, the cruiser captain handed it back to the first mate.

“Why is this happening? What about the other equipment?”

“I’ll check that.”

The first mate stood up.

Taking a quick round around the command bridge, he returned to the cruiser captain.

“The other equipment is working fine.”

“Hmm…?”

At that moment, an inexplicable ominous feeling arose in the cruiser captain’s heart.

With so much equipment, why only the communication equipment…?

Isn’t it like… Someone is intentionally blocking our communication?

“AAAHHH!?”

A scream broke his thoughts.

“What’s the matter?”

As the cruiser captain turned at the sound, he couldn’t help but gape at the sight that greeted his eyes.

– knock knock.

In front of the bridge floated black-colored weapons resembling the native species of the planet.

And sitting in front of the window was the sight of a fully grown female livestock.

The slowly raised left arm.

The long red fur billowed in the wind.

“What, what in the…?!”

Though he couldn’t exactly comprehend the situation, something was about to happen.

“Raise, raise the shield!”

In the hurry of the shout.

Before anyone could respond, the fist slammed down onto the bridge window.