Ch.333Ouroboros (2)

The exterior of the ship displayed on the main screen inside the base command center was, how should I put it…

It resembled the Earth Federation-style super-large vessels like the Hresvelgr currently docked at our base facilities, but…

Comparing it to the surrounding ships in the photo, even at the most conservative estimate, it was at least equal to the Hresvelgr or larger?

And seeing that bizarre, unbalanced appearance with what looked like a massive cannon or a “crossbow” with its string and body reversed attached to the hull… how should I say it.

‘The Earth Federation may have a fetish for big ships with big guns, but I don’t think they had big ships with big guns quite like that…?’

It felt like finding my wife showing an expression to Gold Sun at a motel that she’d never show me.

But it wasn’t quite like those human ships from that SF game where the Chief Warrant Officer is famous for destroying everything, with just cannons attached to a bridge and engine. It gave me a very subtle feeling.

Meanwhile, in another photo and video, the gun barrel located at the bottom of the hull and the connected armor plates opened up, and heat sinks unfolded.

And from what looked like ventilation ports(?) installed throughout, large amounts of what seemed to be steam gushed out, instantly crystallizing into ice due to the temperature of space.

To stabilize the hull shaking from emitting that smoke, thrusters for attitude control continuously fired from the opposite side of the heat dissipation(?).

Seeing that, I thought that mechanical geeks who love complexity would fall for it at first sight.

But that wasn’t what mattered right now.

“Hmm… no matter how much I think about it, I don’t remember it.”

“Then perhaps it was ‘updated’ during the time when you were taking a break, Commander?”

“That’s certainly a strong possibility.”

As Jessica said, if it was a ship updated during the time I had quit the game, it would be natural that I wouldn’t know about it.

“Wouldn’t Commander Arcadia know something about that ship?”

“True, since Arcadia probably came in while playing this game… she might know something.”

I was about to open a chat window with Arcadia to ask about that ship.

But at that moment, a question suddenly popped into my mind…

“Wait, but wouldn’t Arcadia find it strange if I, of all people, asked?”

“What? What do you mean?”

“Well, I just realized, if I, as a higher-ranked player, admit I don’t know something, it might hurt my pride.”

“…”

At my protest, Jessica’s expression clearly said, ‘Why don’t you throw away that kind of thinking once in a while?’

But only for a moment.

“I’m joking, Jessica.”

“…”

“It’s always best not to reveal to others what I don’t know.”

“Well… that’s true.”

If many-many users found out that I don’t know about most of the latest ships?

Then later when doing PVP or something, they could bring unusual ships I’ve never seen before.

And use unconventional tactics to mess with me.

Of course, now with my solid fleet of Kraken, Hresvelgr, and Neranzara, plus tens of thousands of mercenaries I could mobilize if annoyed, to crush them with sheer numbers, it’s not a big problem…

Well, there’s no need to invite unnecessary trouble.

So I decided to first ask Arcadia for permission to post the images of her ship in the ‘Gallery’.

—————————————–

<Event Exclusive Chat Window>

-[You]

-[May I ask if I may ask if I may ask whether it would be alright to post this in the gallery for verification?](Icarus)

-[Huh? Yes, of course.](Arcadia)

-[Thx](Icarus)

—————————————–

As soon as I got permission, I immediately threw the image into the gallery, hoping our pranksters would take the bait on their own.

“What are you trying to do, Commander?”

“If someone who knows the ship’s name shows up, I’ll collect information that way.”

“I see.”

Of course, if the community-gallery had an ‘image search function’, such effort wouldn’t be necessary.

But whether the people who kidnap the minds of hundreds of thousands of users lack the ability to add an image search function,

Or they’re just too lazy to do it, such a function still didn’t exist…

So I was putting in this truly annoying effort to collect information.

==========

Meanwhile, at the same time Icarus was focusing on collecting information(?).

Looking at the content of the chat room where Icarus had asked his question, Arcadia had a sulky face.

And the reason for that was:

“I know… that he doesn’t know…”

Everyone who needed to know already knew that Icarus belonged to the group who had quit the game and come back.

Moreover, since Arcadia even knew exactly ‘when’ our protagonist had quit the game,

She went along with Icarus’s obvious attempts to hide it.

But she could have given him detailed information if he had just asked her directly, without having to search through the gallery.

She was crying “hingnging” to herself. Of course, unless Arcadia revealed it herself, Icarus would never know about her displaying such pure love.

And while our obsessively devoted Arcadia was wailing with empty affection toward Icarus and being comforted by her adjutant…

==========

—————————————–

Title: 5th Round Boss Special.jpg

Author: Icarus

Content: [One direct hit obliterates ships, splash damage affects nearby vessels, wiping out a third of the fleet.jpg]

Pain

Much pain

[Ship image taken by Arcadia’s patrol ship.jpg], [Ship image taken by Arcadia’s patrol ship2.jpg], [Ship image taken by Arcadia’s patrol ship3.jpg]

Looking at the size of that gun barrel, it would hurt irl

Comments

-[This seems too serious to just say it hurts]

-[What fight are you in now?]

-[Wow that gun barrel is huge af]

-[How is that beam so thick, wiping out a third of the fleet when they’re so spread out lol]

-˪[Isn’t it an annihilation ship? That attack style is exactly like an annihilation ship]

-˪[It’s similar but bigger than most annihilation ships, not sure what kind of ship it is]

-[Holy moly]

-[After controversy “It hurts.”]

-˪[I don’t think that’s the right meme to use here;;;]

—————————————–

“The reactions are different from what I expected.”

“You’re right, Commander. It seems like more people don’t know about this ship than we thought.”

Having received permission to use the images,

I immediately posted on the gallery… well, actually, I first processed all the reported posts that had piled up.

Then I posted something like that, waiting for someone to mention the ship’s name…

But contrary to expectations, just like the pranksters who have never been helpful before,

This time too, most users were far from helpful, just going “hoeeeng” like elementary school girls.

I could only shake my head.

‘Your name is.’

But just as something that sinks in water will rise when it hits bottom,

Just when my expectations were diving into the mantle, finally a veteran player passing by mentioned the ship’s name.

—————————————–

Title: Isn’t that an Ouroboros-class in Icarus’s photo?

Author: GrandFarmingMaster

Content: [Screenshot of Icarus’s post.jpg]

Looking at those distinctive tactical heat sink deployments, I think it’s right

Comments

-[Probably correct]

-[The overall appearance is similar, and according to Icarus’s description of the firepower, it feels similar to when it goes into focus mode]

-[Hya that was really fucking annoying during the event, seeing it again here]

—————————————–

“Ouroboros-class, huh.”

“We’ve recovered its name.”

After waiting for a long time (3 minutes) for this benefactor to appear, I secretly sent telepathic(?) thanks.

Then while managing the fleet, I simultaneously decided to search what exactly an Ouroboros was in the gallery’s wiki tab.

And after reading through the information about the ship.

“Partia.”

-“Yes, Savior.”

“Let’s take that ship.”

-“Leave it to me. I will ensure that ship falls into your arms, Savior.”

I could feel a very intense desire to possess that big-fucking-beam-shooting ship.