episode_0030

Three hours later, in the briefing room on the ship.

“There are 15 people in total.”

After leaving the battleship in autonomous mode for a while, Captain Edmund summoned everyone on board to the briefing room.

“It’s difficult. It’s very difficult.”

What is difficult?

“How can there be so many young people in their early to mid 20s?”

“There is also one person here in his late 20s.”

“It’s noisy, Instructor Cloud.”

I joked to lighten the load, but Captain Edmund looked very frustrated, covering his face with his hands.

“Haaa….”

I sigh deeply.

Even though I made a light joke, I don’t see much of a way to relieve the burden.

but.

Let’s take a look at each aspect.

Three on the bridge. (3 / 15)

Captain Edmund, one helmsman, and one operator.

There are as many as ten pilots. (13 / 15)

4 members of Green Camp Team A, 1 member of Green Camp Team B, and 5 members of the Colony Defense Force.

Two academy instructors. (15 / 15)

“Is it fortunate that the students who were assigned to the support department were eliminated?”

Jiwon and the students who had boarded our ship before the ether explosion occurred, fortunately did not board our ship together.

They happened to be on a ship transporting ether collected from the ether monsters that Lavender had hunted towards the colony, and before they could return, Fenrir and Red Moon appeared and caused a stir.

As a result, our warships currently have an abnormal crew ratio of as many as 10 pilots.

But the ship rolls.

Just as the ship is currently running autonomously while everyone is gathered here in the briefing room, the ship can run without humans.

“If it weren’t for the Android crew, I would have really died.”

It is said that tens or hundreds of people are needed to operate a battleship, but technological advancements have made it possible to replace human resources with robots and AI.

” In fact, without them, this ship won’t go back. ”

Captain Edmund glanced at the android robots that appeared to be about 20 people standing in the back of the briefing room.

Mecha maintenance team, resource management team, drone management team, battleship management team, etc.

The blessing of ether brought about the rapid development of semiconductor technology, which allowed humanity to rapidly develop robotics and AI.

In an era where robots tens of meters long make interstellar warps, it is not unusual for AI robots to act as crew members instead of humans.

So there are dozens of people on this ship, but only 15.

“…hu. Cloud instructor. I’m sorry. Since it is a dangerous situation, I think we need to talk clearly and move on.”

“I understand.”

Before Captain Edmund declared anything, he first asked for my understanding.

“Hey instructor…?”

“Wait, Lavender. Until the captain’s words are finished.”

“Yes.”

Lavender wanted to answer the question right away behind my back, but now is the time for everyone to listen to the question in detail together.

“Before the current situation, let me introduce myself again. I am the head of the faculty department at Starlight Academy in Starlight Colony, but that is a kind of disguise.”

The students open their eyes wide and are surprised.

“My name is Administrator Edmund Ducast Hwang. I am a brigadier general, belonging to the Space Federation Command’s 0th Corps [Galaxy] Unit.”

Some people are surprised by his long full name.

Some people are surprised that his affiliation is the ‘Galaxy’ unit.

Some people are very surprised that his rank is ‘Brigadier General’.

“Space Federation Command…?”

“Joo, Brigadier General…?!”

In particular, the young men of the National Guard were embarrassed and began to look at each other.

I guess so.

It must be strange to have the title of Dean of Faculty.

“Oh, no. Why is the central brigadier general who has to put the Zodiac Federation on his side…?”

“I’m sorry for tricking you, Instructor Aria. But isn’t there a reason why they hid their identity? Rest assured. The vice principal knows everything.”

“Then only two people know…!”

Strict control.

Only the principal and vice principal, the two de facto representatives of the colony, know.

“Cloud instructor…?”

No.

“By any chance, are you…?”

“Although it is confidential under federal law, it is interpreted that there is room for extenuating circumstances under the confidentiality oath as it became a space lost child due to a battle between two Genesis Beasts.”

I slowly got up, stood in front of the monitor, and turned my back.

“Nice to meet you, gentlemen. My name is Trev Cloud.”

“Ho, maybe the instructor…?!”

” Formerly a member of the Galactic Forces, and currently a special forces instructor at Starlight Academy.”

“…..Yes?”

“This is a former job. I’m retired. Since I left the military base, I kept it confidential.”

I respond with a slight smile to Lavender, who is looking at me with a confused face.

“There’s nothing strange about it because it’s called the Galaxy Unit. All I was doing was suppressing a colony that was trying to start a nuclear war, eradicating monsters from outer space, and exterminating a crazy group that was trying to fire a colony laser. Now I’m just a retired soldier with a disability.”

“Oh, no…!”

“But I think I can say this one thing clearly. Even though I retired, the time I spent in the field and in ‘actual combat’ was longer than anyone else except Captain Edmund.”

I strained my eyes and looked at the Colony Defense Force – although they couldn’t see it because of the visor.

“Because I am not currently in the military, I cannot give instructions or orders to the National Guard. However, I cannot wait and see what the Brigadier General of the Space Federation Command is going to do, thinking that he is simply the head of the professor department.”

“!!”

“Follow the control of the military unit. Although everyone here is an adult, there are many students, and the age difference between all the National Guard members and the students is not that big.”

The only one who is older is Lieutenant Natalia.

The rest are all people who graduated from high school and enlisted in the National Guard immediately without going on to the academy.

“So, please think carefully when I treat you with such respect. If not.”

I pressed the side of the visor with my thumb.

Clunk, clank, clank!

“Huh, wow…!?!”

“Robots, all…?!”

“As a member of the Galaxy Unit, make sure there is no situation where you have to activate the emergency protocol.”

By using the ‘special authority’, the androids were made to take a pose all at once.

“Seeing is worth hearing. Although he is a retired soldier, it does not mean he cannot use his authority.”

“Uh, how…?”

“Some authority has been granted by Captain Edmund, and even if not, there are special protocols that this instructor can utilize on his own. People from the Galaxy Unit can do more than you think.”

The most surprised Special Forces Team A students look at me with eyes full of fear.

You must be scared because there is a person right in front of you who can give orders to robots.

-Break their necks right now.

If you give an instruction, the robots will follow your instructions without any hesitation.

“As of this time, Captain Edmund has authority over all androids-”

“He has the final authority, but the use of it must be delegated and authorized to the Trev Cloud instructor.”

“…Captain?”

Captain Edmund’s words, which remained silent, sent a chill down my spine.

“What do you mean by that?”

“I am the captain and commodore. Cloud instructor.”

“…….”

“And I’m 20 years older than you.”

“…….”

Classes. age. property. Etc.

The first reason why I outnumber Captain Edmund is probably because of the number of hairs.

“…Okay. Then I will take care of it. Hmm. Then.”

I cleared my throat once.

“From the perspective of this instructor, the five members of the National Guard are no different from other students. In fact, Lavender’s skills as a pilot are the most outstanding. Therefore, this instructor will treat you as the same class as the academy students.”

“That’s right!”

“A violent act? If you have skills, you will be treated better. This is a real situation, an emergency situation.”

so.

“Please understand. What if I don’t understand? Because the situation is not easy for us to overcome this crisis based on faith and trust in each other. Android, power.”

There is something to do first.

” Seize the weapons of the Special Forces and National Guard. Implementation.”

Confiscation of personal pistols and bayonets.

“Private rooms, everything in the warehouse. …We also collect everything hidden in the bathroom.”

It’s a coup, a takeover.

* * *

After a while.

“Hu.”

After standing in the space where the display was flashing for so long, my eyes felt a little sore, so I went outside.

[In accordance with…, we request your cooperation….]

Inside the briefing room, Captain Edmund is comforting the chicks.

‘This is good cop and bad cop.’

Both can’t be trash.

Even when I think back to my time as a soldier, if the platoon leader is evil, then the company commander must also be good.

I will be like an ‘executive’ to them, but in an emergency situation like this, I have to do it.

okay.

“I had no intention of deceiving you, but did I end up betraying you?”

“…….”

“Instructor Aria Milky Way. Do you have something to say?”

Even if I made the people here uncomfortable for a moment.

“I didn’t cheat. But you know-”

“Those who become part of the galaxy will become ghosts that do not exist even after death.”

“…….”

“Aria Milky Way, let me just say a word as an individual.”

Aria stood straight at attention and saluted me.

“It is an honor to meet the respected special forces pilot. Above.”

“…I don’t think it’s just one word.”

“Think of it as an idiom. Um.”

Aria immediately saluted.

“…I think you can speak comfortably.”

He said while scratching his cheek.

“In the current situation, I don’t think we can save everyone without Instructor Cloud’s help.”

“Okay. Let’s help each other.”

What we should prioritize.

“I think it will be quite a long field trip.”

Student safety.

“Please take care of me, Instructor Aria.”

“That’s me.”