episode_0024

The preparation process is always successful, but even though I think I always did my best, there are still some shortcomings.

But what should I do?

The departure time is fixed, and time flows equally for everyone.

“It’s finally time to compete.”

“Ah, that’s right. Rather…it’s a little strange for you to be sitting there.”

Professor Edmund, who was sitting in the captain’s seat on the bridge of Gargantia’s third ship, [Starpeace], smiled and pointed to my seat.

“You are my lieutenant.”

“Not a vice captain or adjutant, just a commander of the armored suit tactical mobile team.”

“Hehehe, yes. Those words alone are trustworthy.”

There are still only two people on the bridge, the captain and I.

“I hope you achieve great results in this patrol training, Instructor Cloud.”

“Yes, Captain.”

Since conversations on the bridge are recorded in real time, important confidential information must be hidden as much as possible.

“Now that I think about it, you said that the Colony Defense Force is also providing support this time, right?”

“That’s right. In addition to Ensign Natalia, whom you are familiar with, other combat pilots will also be boarding this ship. Although the number is small.”

“If you don’t ride much, you will be attracted to aggro.”

“Uh huh. If anyone hears this, they’ll probably misunderstand it as if I’m hoping that the ship will be attacked.”

“…Hehe.”

I sat down in the tactical commander’s seat, trying hard to suppress laughter.

“…Um.”

And then I realized that my reflection on the bridge was quite suspicious.

Perhaps because of the half-mask, my face reflected in the special glass was the suspicious masked man A himself, plotting something sinister.

Of course, an evil plan is an evil plan.

However, this is an educational perspective, and there is no intention to pursue self-interest.

One of my luxuries is to drink a cup of delicious coffee with that little extra money when I get a bonus.

“It’s almost time for the crew to board. Captain. Is the bridge reliable?”

“It may not be as good as during active duty, but it can be said to be the best output in the colony.”

“…….”

“Don’t frown like that. You can tell the expression just by looking at the shape of the mouth. Aren’t we risking the fate of humanity and waging a war with life forms flying from outer space?”

“Sorry.”

Is it too obvious?

“When I thought that my life was at stake, I became a little more serious.”

“It’s not wrong. If you cross the colony safety zone, they will immediately attack you. Of course, I have no intention of being treated obediently.”

Captain Edmund pointed to several wires connected to the captain’s seat.

The ends of the lines had wide plates as if they were attached to various parts of the human body, and some of them were in a position where they would stick to the back of the neck when a person sat in the captain’s seat.

“If a dangerous situation arises, I will sacrifice my life to make an emergency warp or run away at high speed, so please allow us to store our aircraft in the ship’s hangar before such a situation occurs.”

“We will follow the headquarters. But what can I do about ‘disobeying orders’?”

Captain Edmund laughed bitterly at my quiet warning.

“I can only hope that your worries turn out to be unfounded.”

today.

There are a total of 9 pilots aboard the 3rd Gargantia ship, the Starpiece Edmund.

Excluding the escort force of four colony defense forces, including Ensign Natalia, the remaining five pilots are all members of the special forces ‘Green Camp’.

Four are reserve units.

I saw one person.

The background to their being able to ride was Lavender Whiteley’s ‘permission’.

-are you okay. Even if Team A goes together.

She set the condition that the units be operated separately and that all instructions follow Trev Cloud.

And surprisingly, they accepted those conditions.

So I was more anxious.

‘These aren’t the kind of guys you can accept easily.’

I thought they wouldn’t follow because their feelings were hurt, but in the end, all four of them ended up on board the Edmund.

The background is probably Instructor Aria.

The background to why they boarded this ship is clearly…

* * *

“Write a report on Lavender Whitely’s operation of Harcon. That is the goal of this ‘observation class’.”

Instructor Aria declared to Team A gathered in the small briefing room.

“I assure you. Give up. There will be no need to put you on Harkon.”

“Instructor!”

Jesse, the most nervous and energetic pilot, jumped up from his seat.

“Harkon has brought as many pilots as there are pilots, so are you telling us to just sit back and watch?!”

“The Harkon in the hangar does not belong to the Academy. It’s from the Colony Defense Force.”

“I know there’s more on board the ship!”

“Hoo. This may be information that is not yet known to students.”

When Instructor Aria glared at Jesse with a cold gaze, Jesse turned his head to the side and trembled.

“I won’t ask how you knew. Understanding information is also an important competency of a pilot. Instead of questioning how you guys got the information, we should blame the maintenance students who were caught bringing in Harkon through a reconnaissance drone planted by a classmate.”

“…….”

Instructor Aria’s gaze fell on the girl who was still, Hanae, but Hanae was just fiddling with her terminal without saying a word.

“This training was for Team B, and we only observed the training. Just keep in mind. We are now on this ship as ‘guests’.”

“Instructor….”

“It is quite unpleasant to view this instructor with suspicion. Well, it doesn’t matter. If you are disappointed with your instructor over this incident, you can go to instructor Trev Cloud and ask him to accept you.”

“Instructor, instructor! That’s not my intention…!”

“But keep in mind. The reason you can’t board Harkon is for no other reason.”

Instructor Aria continued speaking in a cold voice.

“Because your skills are still lacking. Especially when it comes to ‘real life’.”

“…….”

“The report form and materials were left in front of you. more. After each break, please write a report to the assistant officers following Lavender Whiteley’s sortie.”

Grumble.

The door closed, and Instructor Aria left the briefing room.

Even the moment she left, she was so cold that she couldn’t say a single word.

“…Instructor, you must be very angry.”

“What? Captain Andy. What are you talking about? When we get angry, it’s up to us. What kind of idiots are we?”

“Ma, that’s right. Anyway, it’s obviously strange that we brought Tal Harkon with us and then just watched. It’s not like they leave food in front of you and torture you so you can’t eat it…”

Despite Jace’s somewhat strange analogy, Team A huffed and blushed as if they were actually facing such a situation.

“Ether monster? Ha, it doesn’t matter how many come. It’s not like we’re weak…!”

“Yes. That guy’s fighting style is extremely dangerous, right? I will fill one page before even writing the report. About the dangers of a gliding aircraft that engages in ultra-close combat without long-distance armament.”

“…….”

“Hanae. What are you looking at like that from earlier?”

“I was just wondering if the rumors were true.”

Hanae, who was just looking at the terminal without saying a word, played the last drone video she shot before bringing it into the aircraft.

[…Monster…hunting…Fenrir….]

[That’s right…. space…. actual battle…. pirates….]

“What is this?”

“Conversation between work technicians while moving Harkon to the hangar.”

“Monster hunting…?”

“Yes. This ship is going to hunt the ether monster. I’m sure.”

“I wonder how long it has been since the actual training before going out into space again…”

“More than that.”

Hanae played the last phrase one more time.

“Listen to this.”

“…Pirates?”

“Okay. This may actually be a ship going to catch pirates.”

“…Isn’t that dangerous?”

“Well.”

Despite Jace’s worries, Hana stroked her chin with her hand as if she had some faith in her.

“There won’t be a problem if space pirates appear, right? That’s right….”

* * *

“I trust Instructor Aria, but Instructor Aria will never become a pilot. Even if space pirates appear.”

I made a threat in advance to Instructor Aria who came to the bridge.

“Yes. Same goes for me.”

Instructor Aria obediently nodded yes and sat down on the chair next to me.

“Space pirates are like bandits in old times. If a situation arises where I have to step in because I cannot deal with such people, one of two things happens. ”

” Either an enemy big enough to be dealt with by the best ace pilot from Virgo Colony, or some kind of creaking beast appears.”

“…Neither of these situations can happen, so there is no need to be anxious. Cloud instructor.”

“Keuhm.”

As I stayed still, Captain Edmund next to me cleared his throat and called for my attention.

“Are these two people getting along well or is it bad?”

“There are some differences of opinion in terms of education, but our relationship is neither particularly good nor bad. I am personally grateful for this companionship.”

“Thank you…?”

“In this field training, instead of holding back my team as an assistant.”

Instructor Aria looked at my mask and her eyes lit up.

“You have decided to hand over very important information to me.”

“…Uh, um, okay. It’s great to see young people working together.”

The captain did not ask for details.

Grumble.

“Report! Helmsman Estra-”

“Ah, yes. Please take a seat.”

“…Yes.”

After Aestra and several students dispatched from the support department sat down in their seats.

“Ah.”

Captain Edmund grabbed the microphone that came down from above and cleared his throat.

“The bridge situation is good. Reply, Lavender.”

[This is lavender! Waiting…waiting!]

Lavender’s lively voice echoes across the bridge.

That voice is full of confidence, without any hesitation.

“Good. We will depart as soon as we leave the area, so please keep boarding.”

[Yes, Captain!]

“Instructor. Is there anything else you want to say?”

“I have nothing to say…the captain has something to say, right?”

“Hehe.”

As of yet, the ship has not departed from the colony.

“Then, I guess I should say it.”

So, from now on.

“Gargantia’s 3rd ship, Starpiece-Edmund. Rashㅡ!”

go to space