Ch.115115. Kupan Space Station

Kupan Planetary System.

Located near the Golden World planetary system, where 44% of the entire planet is made of gold, as well as various mining planets, it serves as the logistics hub of the Human Federation, situated close to a planet with psychic knight open-pit mines.

Thanks to being a kind of transportation hub where cosmic-scale psychic flows—comparable to ocean currents—converge and disperse, the Kupan Planetary System houses the Kupan Space Station, the largest existing space station with an area even larger than Earth’s surface.

Cargo ships 40km in length enter and exit at least 400 times daily, and for transporting cargo, the interior maintains zero-gravity spaces equipped with thousands of 10km-long super cranes that move minerals and other materials.

While its priority as a military stronghold may be lower, as a hub for resource and material movement, it’s considered the most important logistics center after Earth.

This is the status that the Kupan Space Station holds within the Human Federation.

For this reason, the Kupan Space Station has not only more than 80 Independent-class battleships stationed permanently—whereas other planetary systems would be lucky to have 10—but also four of humanity’s pride, the latest battleships known as Enterprise-class.

With a hull length of 35km protected by psychic blocking fields and solid adamantium-plasteel alloy armor plating, these ships can withstand hits from their own main guns without significant damage. Unlike previous battleships that served as carriers, these focus entirely on firepower, with escort carriers built separately to handle carrier duties.

The main guns are planet-buster class laser cannons equipped with psychic knights, while the side guns are laser cannons typically used as main weapons on escort ships.

Additionally, it’s equipped with laser anti-aircraft guns for air defense and plasma cannons for close-range bombardment—all installed in such abundance that the ship resembles a hedgehog, clearly reflecting the firepower-centric philosophy of Stella Comet, the current chairman of Nano-Tech.

The Enterprise-class battleship, which emerged after 2,800 years without spacecraft exceeding 20km in size due to fuel efficiency and engine issues, has served as an excellent weapon with numerous achievements over the past 20 years.

Therefore, under normal circumstances—unless the monsters brought strategic weapons of satellite-class—87 Hive Ships could be handled adequately using the weapons installed on the space station.

The problem is that, of all times, they’ve changed their destination at this very moment.

In the process of temporarily moving countless battleships to the Taulian Planetary System to intercept those 87 interstellar Hive Ships without losses, about half of the Kupan Planetary System’s fleet has been relocated to protect the Taulian Planetary System.

Since the Human Federation’s space navigation is inferior to the monsters’ in both convenience and speed, by the time the dispatched fleet arrives to provide support, the Hive fleet will have already attacked the space station with time to spare.

Yet they can’t divert fleets from nearby planetary systems either, as those fleets are absolutely necessary to defend against space pirates and small-scale Hive fleets.

Therefore, the Kupan system must repel the Hive fleet with only half its remaining fleet and its own defense systems… which raises a question.

Could the defense systems installed at such an important facility really fail to repel a fleet of about 87 ships?

The answer is, of course, “No.”

Unlike ordinary vessels that must store massive energy for interstellar travel, consume large amounts of energy for ship defense, and are limited in size due to navigation requirements, a space station that simply rotates along its orbit with no plans for space travel has vast amounts of excess energy.

Given that space pirates targeting space stations can be quite formidable, modern space stations install various defense systems to protect themselves from external threats.

The space station’s plasma fields, which can be deployed generously using surplus energy, not only block passing meteorites and space debris but can also seal off intruders or actively concentrate to defend against bombardment.

Anti-aircraft guns arranged like a hedgehog across the surface are designed to counter small, high-speed vessels—the natural enemy of large, immobile spacecraft—while state-of-the-art laser main guns for hunting large ships are installed throughout.

If one were to compare such a space station to something, it would be a fortress. Immobile, but with overwhelming defensive capabilities, firepower, and above all, superior “size.” While there might be damage, repelling the attack might be possible…

But right now, that “damage” is precisely the problem.

If the Kupan Space Station’s operations are suspended even briefly, it would severely disrupt logistics throughout the galaxy—especially the transport of metal raw materials. Moreover, if even one enemy ship manages to penetrate the plasma field, it would undoubtedly turn into a prolonged battle.

Considering the vast size of the space station—as large as Earth’s surface—there’s a possibility that enemies could hide in abandoned areas and build up their forces in the worst-case scenario. In fact, an entire space station was lost due to this very issue.

Thus, while the Human Federation must somehow achieve a complete victory in this unreasonable situation—

‘I want to retire…’

Arthur Petra (147, male), the highest authority of the space station, clutched his churning stomach from the pressure as he sat in his office chair thinking this.

※ ※ ※

‘Why did this have to happen during my term as the person in charge?’

Arthur Petra, feeling resentful toward the world, was a Spaceborn—someone born on a spacecraft or space station rather than a planet or moon, which was common in this era.

Born as the eldest son of the head of the Petra family—which had been in charge of the Kupan Space Station for generations and was considered sufficiently prestigious even by Federation standards—he entered the Human Federation Navy’s officer academy to build his career.

Thanks to the gifted education he received from childhood, he easily entered the academy. With his strong connections and lineage, along with being reasonably competent and having an inoffensive personality that met the average standard, he advanced through the ranks quickly.

At just 71 years old, he was appointed captain of a cruiser with the rank of colonel—a position others might struggle to reach even after living 100 years. Believing further promotion unnecessary given his future responsibilities at the space station, he began preparing for retirement.

He settled into the position of a “LGUC” (Lieutenant General-Unwilling Colonel), generously treating his crew members and earning their affection, when—

“Target destroyed, target destroyed!”

“…Huh?”

During what had become an annual invasion by the alien race Orukia, he accidentally destroyed the Orukia fleet’s flagship with a plasma torpedo. For this achievement, he was suddenly promoted to brigadier general.

Although Arthur desperately wanted retirement rather than promotion, in an era that needed heroes and idols, someone who had accomplished such a feat and was well-regarded by his subordinates couldn’t retire at will.

Moreover, unlike Arthur who wanted to retire, the elders of his family wanted him to build connections as a general, so he was essentially forced to serve in the military until he was 140 years old.

Well, at least when he turned 140, he fulfilled his 100-year service requirement for generals below lieutenant general rank and returned home. After a five-year vacation, he inherited the family headship from his father and officially became the highest authority of the Kupan Space Station.

Though it was an extremely high position even within the Human Federation—equivalent to the president of a planetary system state—Arthur, who had given up hope after being forcibly promoted to major general despite his refusal, felt neither responsibility nor achievement. Instead, he approached the two-year handover process with detachment.

And on the 18th day after the handover process ended and he officially began his duties—

“…So, they’re invading? Now?”

“Y-yes, Master! Q-quickly, evacuate… evacuate!”

News about the monster fleet’s invasion was reaching him.

“…Evacuate?”

“Yes! Master, you must not perish at all costs! Leave the command to the experts—”

Melona, his childhood friend, maid, and secretary assigned by the family, tried to evacuate Arthur, but this action triggered his sense of responsibility—

“No, I’m staying.”

“Yes… what? No! Master, you—”

“This space station is mine! Should the owner flee his home when robbers come?!”

He ultimately decided to stay and personally command the defense fleet.