Chapter 78

Earth Orbit, Third Interstellar Navigation Fleet.

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The fleet, lying dormant amid the vastness of space, awakens.

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“Personnel are to proceed according to the cryosleep recovery protocol, while the infantry will remain on standby and check their armaments!”

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The shouts of the non-commissioned officers echoing throughout the ship.

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Following those instructions, a group of aliens heads towards the room with recovery capsules.

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Aliens in the finished recovery batch now entrust their bodies to treatment capsules, while those who’ve just recovered proceed to another room where chairs are prepared.

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Medication with a straw lies on each seat.

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The crewmembers, only just revived, swallow the drug without hesitation. Once all personnel have consumed the stimulant, an officer speaks up.

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“Alright, I’ll give a brief overview of the current situation and our upcoming operation. Everyone, pay attention.”

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““““Yes!””””

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At the same time,

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Inside the hangar, the non-commissioned officers who completed treatment first are finishing their weapons inspection, and behind them, the Tripods slowly begin to rise.

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“Wooh— Whiiing….”

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The Tripods, emitting a menacing sound, flash their front sensors.

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And from behind, more Tripods rise, spreading the same threatening noise.

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“How’s the equipment status?”

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“We’re checking, but with a few exceptions, most should be ready for use.”

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“Good, this will be a large-scale operation. Make sure everything is perfectly prepared.”

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“Understood!”

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The NCOs and officers inspecting the equipment.

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Above their heads, disc-shaped weapons hum as they slide into the void of space.

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“Alright, now let’s organize the infantry….”

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“Main gun maneuver, maintain maximum output to be ready for fire at any moment!”

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“Alright, Tripods to cargo shuttles, and the ready infantry divide into landing shuttles and assault shuttles!”

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Various voices echoing throughout the ship.

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And in the command bridge where all this information converges, Susa-Jo’s eyes gleam.

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The terrifying appearance, resembling an alligator fused with a lizard, contorts unpleasantly, reflecting his foul mood, and the air around him becomes menacing.

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Approaching him without hesitation is the executive officer.

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The chitinous exoskeleton of their brown, segmented body glistens as the pincers move restlessly.

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“Admiral.”

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“You’re here. How about the fleet’s combat readiness and operational status?”

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“Yes, the three Plamon-class assault carriers, six Trüget-class assault battleships, eleven Ziheld-class landing cruisers, and forty-eight Mund-class assault transports are all ready for battle at any time.”

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At the executive officer’s report, a sardonic smile appears on Susa-Jo’s face.

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“Good, and the destroyers?”

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“Per your orders, we’ve summoned the assault destroyers from all the colonies and occupied territories, but with their accumulated fatigue, they might not be able to fight effectively.”

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An unfiltered blunt report.

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And precisely because of that, Susa-Jo doesn’t overreact and calmly responds.

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“That’s fine; the main ships will handle that anyway. They can just deal with the gnats.”

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“Then how about we order the destroyers to rest and wait, and include them in the operation as they recover?”

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“Permission granted.”

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“Understood, Admiral.”

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The executive officer bows their head and moves away.

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And as time flows, the moment arrives.

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“Admiral, all ships are ready.”

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“Good.”

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Susa-Jo slowly opens his eyes which had been closed upon hearing the captain’s words.

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His pupils burn with rage.

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“Entire fleet, descend.”

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“Fleet descent! Form the ranks and initiate the descent sequence. Bridge closure! Proceed to enter the atmosphere immediately upon all preparations being completed!!”

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The executive officer acknowledges the order and repeats it.

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“Fleet maneuver, initiating descent sequence.”

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“Bridge closure, prepare for atmosphere entry!”

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The soldiers complete each task one by one and shout their acknowledgment, and Susa-Jo, who quietly observed this, raises his voice.

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“The empire’s hammer against the inferior! Lord Bohorok will surely be watching us!!”

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Cuu-kung –

Kiing –

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The wings and armaments of the ships folding back into place one by one.

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The ships, having finished their preparations, launch into the atmosphere in sequence.

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The rapidly rising external temperature.

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The heated air constantly rubbing generates a luminous white light.

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It’s a meteor shower.

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A group of stars descends towards Earth.

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An unknowing observer might unintentionally make a wish upon the beautiful sight.

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But what this light harbors is a horrifying malevolence.

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One by one, the ships of the Third Fleet penetrate the atmosphere.

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“Atmosphere entry confirmed, entering the safety zone of gravity.”

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“Engines decelerating, returning the ships to horizontal positioning.”

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The soldiers confirm each task step-by-step, finishing the descent sequence.

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“Eh…?”

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Suddenly, a soldier’s brief cry cuts through the air, and the once-perfectly-functioning mechanisms begin to falter.

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Kurrrrrung –

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A deafening roar like the roar of a massive creature.

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But Susa-Jo knows exactly what is happening just by the sound.

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“Foolish…!”

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That sound is unmistakably the cannonade from an ally’s Trüget-class battleship’s main gun.

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But they’ve just broken through the atmosphere.

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With the ship’s temperature still excessively heated, making use of weaponry is impossible— yet the sound of the main gun firing could mean only one thing.

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“Have they locked onto the descent point…?!”

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The only ships that could wield armaments at this time would be those hijacked by the enemy.

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“Use monitoring equipment to assess the external situation! Immediately!!”

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“A, Acknowledged!”

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At Susa-Jo’s shout, the soldier swiftly springs into action.

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The exterior scene appears on the ships’ internal displays.

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As the once-blurry image becomes clearer, the soldiers’ faces grow increasingly pale.

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The shape of the enemy becomes evident.

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Three cruisers neatly lined up, gun barrels aimed here, with a battleship at the center.

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All the ships stolen from allied forces.

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“Huh….”

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“How—”

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The soldiers gape in shock.

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On the other hand, Susa-Jo’s anger boils as memories of the prior day resurface.

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“Guess we’ll borrow the ships! Thanks in advance, Admiral, who’s atrociously bad at fighting!”

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“Kheeeh…!”

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His fists instinctively clench.

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“This is absurd… Unacceptable!”

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The rage doubles with the incomprehensible situation, and Susa-Jo’s trembling body.

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But the situation has already unfolded.

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So Susa-Jo desperately restrains his fury and attempts to maintain command.

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“Pull yourself together! Are you still soldiers of the Empire??!”

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Susa-Jo’s stern voice resounds across the bridge, finally snapping the soldiers out of their confusion.

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Just then, artillery fire from the enemy fleet comes hurtling in.

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With a thunderous sound, an intense beam from the long-range main gun streaks through the sky.

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A lightning-fast attack.

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It cleanly penetrates the main gun of the friendly battleship stationed beside the flagship.

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Poooh, Kwaang!!

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The explosion erupts.

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Following this, the three cruisers unleash their barrage.

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Rapid-fire from the massive beam cannons and large-caliber guns bombard uncontrollably.

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The attack engulfs the unguarded fleet, causing successive explosions.

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“Admiral! The enemy fleet—”

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“Don’t hesitate! We outnumber them overwhelmingly! Don’t panic and—”

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Susa-Jo’s voice doesn’t finish.

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Kuuuuuuuung -!!

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A fierce impact engulfs the ship.

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Though everyone in the bridge was strapped in, prepared for combat, they’re jolted by the sheer intensity of the collision.

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“Damn it, initiate evasive maneuvers! How much longer until the barriers and armaments are ready?”

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“We need about two more minutes!”

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“Damn it…!”

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The continued barrage of enemy artillery.

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Even with overwhelming strength, they remain in this unjust situation, forced to absorb one-sided attacks. Once again, Susa-Jo’s anger boils.

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But right now, there’s nothing Susa-Jo can do.

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A hellish time.

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The enemy’s relentless barrage mercilessly pelts the fleet.

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‘Just a little more, just a little more…!’

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Susa-Jo grits his teeth while enduring, and that instant,

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The enemy ships abruptly turn their bows.

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“Huh? The enemy fleet has ceased firing and is turning!”

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The enemy fleet continues to rotate.

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With no room for hesitation, the enemies accelerate with full power, exposing their engines.

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The enemy fleet disengages from this airspace.

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“Hmph.”

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“We’re alive….”

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The soldiers voice their bemused relief.

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At that sight, Susa-Jo’s fist strikes violently into the chair designated for the admiral.

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Kung!

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“?!?”

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Everyone in the bridge winces and looks at Susa-Jo.

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“Alive? What nonsense are you all spouting! Aren’t those contemptible bastards attacking arbitrarily and fleeing?!”

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“…”

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The soldiers tread carefully due to his anger.

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“Instead of babbling meaningless words, check the damage to our allied fleet first!”

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At Susa-Jo’s shout, the soldiers start moving quickly, and the fleet’s information gradually gathers.

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“Main gun wrecked, abnormalities in the power system….”

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“Bridge hit, everyone including the captain—?!”

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Alarming reports echo everywhere.

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The executive officer brings together all that information and approaches Susa-Jo.

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“Admiral.”

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“Speak.”

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“Yes, of the three carriers, there are no damages. Of the six battleships, the main guns on Breg and Derdeha are heavily damaged, but limited combat might still be possible.”

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A deliberately targeted attack; damage inflicted on the main guns of two out of six battleships leaves no other plausible explanation.

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Though irritation creeps up again, Susa-Jo restrains himself and takes a deep breath.

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“Hmph… And the rest of the ships?”

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“The cruisers have two completely wrecked; three others have suffered critical damage as well. The number of ships capable of proper maneuvering could be limited to six.”

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“…What about the smaller ships?”

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“No significant damage to the destroyers and transport ships.”

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“Damn it…!”

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A strike clearly targeting their main combat power.

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After just one surprise attack, the fleet’s strength has been decimated by about half.

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Susa-Jo’s anger continues to grow.

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‘Those filthy bastards…!’

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But even so, the Third Fleet still holds the advantage in terms of power.

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The bastards must have fled quickly to avoid retaliation because they know that too.

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‘I won’t let them get away with this…! I’ll capture them alive and make them beg for death!!’

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Clutching his fists tightly, Susa-Jo vows like so.

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Then the executive officer’s voice rings out.

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“By the way, this is rather strange.”

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“What’s strange about it?”

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“The enemy fleet doesn’t have any destroyers.”

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At the executive officer’s words, Susa-Jo recalls the scene from earlier.

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That’s right— the enemy fleet lacked destroyers.

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But Susa-Jo dismisses it nonchalantly with a wave of his hand.

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“Destroyers? Who cares about those. They’re smaller ships, so they might’ve just left them behind.”

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“That’s true.”

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The executive officer nods in agreement.

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And Susa-Jo raises his voice again.

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“Fleet, set sail! Chase after those bastards!!”

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“Understood. Fleet, set sail! We’ll chase them down!!”

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…

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At the same time, aboard the command bridge of the captured battleship,

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The excited soldiers clenched their fists towards Freya seated in the captain’s chair.

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“Massive success, Commander!”

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“Yeah, it sure is.”

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Edu had provided the landing point.

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Freya recalls the past day.

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“Perhaps they’ll come here.”

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“Uh…? You know where the enemy will come too?”

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“After all, it’s the place where the Third Fleet was meant to fight. It’s not 100%, but it’s the most likely spot.”

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“Ah…?”

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Although Freya wasn’t entirely trusting Edu, she still had a slight thought that maybe the enemies won’t actually show up.

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But the aliens indeed appeared there.

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“Seriously, that kid is amazing…”

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She mutters under her breath quietly.

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Freya adjusts her cap slightly and focuses on commanding.

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“Then—are they following?”

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“Yes, they’re speeding up and following us.”

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Freya nods her head.

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A fierce smile spreads across her previously calm face.

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“Alright, now this is important, so let’s put in our full effort!!”

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““““Yes!”””

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