Please support the translation by reading the translation and commenting on otakutl official site.
Thank you.
Everyone from Otaku Translation
Chapter 28: Planet Namie
"Captain, the other party is requesting communication," the communications officer suddenly announced loudly, snapping the crew on the bridge out of their daze.
"Patch it through to the main screen."
“Yes,” the communications officer replied.
With that, the main screen on the bridge flickered, and the stern face of a middle-aged man in his forties appeared. His expression was unsmiling, almost carved from stone.
“So, you’re Joanna, the captain of the research vessel Archimedes?” he asked.
“That’s correct. And may I ask who you are, sir?” Joanna glanced at the insignia on his shoulder, then quickly rose from her command seat.
“I am Alfred Leonard, commander of the Tiger Shark Squadron under the Thunder Fleet.”
“Colonel Alfred, it’s an honor,” Joanna said respectfully.
“Enough pleasantries,” Alfred cut in. “Was that distress signal we received half an hour ago sent by your ship?”
Joanna nodded. “Yes, it was! Did you come because of our distress call, Colonel?”
Alfred shook his head dismissively. “Just a few bugs. Not worth my time.”
“Then… why are you here?” Joanna looked at him, confusion written across her face.
“This is a Pioneer-class research vessel, correct?”
“Yes, it is.”
“Good. Then let me make this clear. For the next several months, His Highness the Prince will be requisitioning this ship, along with all personnel aboard.”
“What?” Joanna’s eyes widened in shock. “Requisition?”
“Yes, requisition.”
“But… but we have our own mission!”
“No mission is more important than what we’re about to undertake.”
At that moment, the communications officer transferred a classified file to Joanna’s personal terminal. “Captain, Colonel Alfred has sent over a confidential document.”
Joanna opened it with a casual swipe. As she scanned its contents, her face paled. “Colonel Alfred, to be honest, there are over a hundred researchers and logistics personnel aboard my ship…”
“All the better,” Alfred interrupted, his tone brooking no argument. “The more scientists, the faster we might crack the code. They’ll join the operation.”
“What about Planet 5? All data suggests it contains traces of Element Zero.”
“The military has other plans for that. You needn’t concern yourself.”
“Uh… I suppose there’s nothing else to say.”
Alfred nodded. “You have thirty minutes to prepare. After that, I’ll guide you to the destination.” With that, he terminated the communication.
The crew on the bridge exchanged uneasy glances. What exactly had just happened? Why would the Thunder Fleet, under Prince Walker Stuart, requisition their humble research vessel?
This wasn’t a warship—it was a research vessel, designed for space exploration and scientific study. Its combat capabilities were inferior even to a small escort ship. What could such a fleet possibly want with a research ship?
“What’s going on?” Kraftmann approached Joanna, his voice low.
Joanna sighed deeply. “See for yourself.” She swiped the interface, bringing up the document signed jointly by Prince Walker Stuart and the Prime Minister.
Kraftmann’s breath hitched as he finished reading. “…No wonder.”
Joanna exhaled heavily. “But the Archimedes is just a research vessel. If something goes wrong…”
“Don’t worry,” Kraftmann reassured her. “The Thunder Fleet will handle the fighting. Your job is to lead the scientists in decryption work.”
“For now, that’s all we can do.”
After offering a few more words of comfort, Kraftmann turned to Tang Fang, his expression cold. “If it weren’t for the fact that you saved the research data—and my life—I’d shoot you where you stand.”
“Guards, take them away and keep them under close watch.”
“Yes, sir.” Several armed guards gestured toward the door, and Tang Fang and his companions obediently followed.
On the way, Housen leaned in close to Tang Fang and whispered, “Did you understand their conversation? What’s going on?”
“How should I know?” Tang Fang shot him an irritated glance. “If you’re so curious, go ask them yourself.”
“Uh…” Housen backed off immediately. Asking questions while Kraftmann was in such a foul mood would be suicidal.
As they walked, Tang Fang mulled over the conversation between Alfred and Joanna. Though he didn’t fully grasp the situation, Joanna’s worried expression suggested trouble ahead.
Of course, accepting the requisition wasn’t their only option. He could unleash Zerglings to hijack the research vessel, activate the warp drive, and flee. But who knew how far Alfred would go to pursue them? Perhaps he’d even sink the entire ship in a fit of desperation.
Compared to a full-fledged space fleet, Tang Fang’s current strength was laughable. Fleet battles were still far beyond his reach.
As the old saying goes, “A loss may turn out to be a gain.” This journey might be fraught with danger, but challenges and opportunities often went hand in hand. With the Terran base now unlocked, his survival capabilities had greatly improved. In this situation, it might be worth taking the risk. A real man needed to push himself to the limit!
Thirty minutes later, the Archimedes retracted its scattered research drones, ignited its thrusters, and adjusted its heading. With a flash of cyan light, it accelerated rapidly, vanishing from sight in the blink of an eye.
Behind it, Alfred’s Tiger Shark-class destroyer followed suit, disappearing into hyperspace after a brilliant flash.
---
For nearly three decades, the conflict between the Monya Empire and its neighbor, the Sulru Empire, had raged on. Only recently, due to the rapid rise of their mutual enemy—the Charles Federation—had the two imperial nations been forced to set aside their animosity. Faced with the dual pressures of internal politics and economics, as well as the looming threat of their shared adversary, they finally sat down at the negotiating table and signed a ceasefire agreement, ending the protracted tug-of-war along their borders.
However, decades of enmity couldn’t be resolved by a mere piece of paper. Disputes over territorial sovereignty, resource exploitation, and the use of space persisted. Like quarreling housewives fighting over a bundle of fresh spinach, neither side was willing to back down without a fight.
Eventually, they signed an additional agreement. For contested regions, disputes would be settled through warfare—but to prevent escalation, fleet battles were prohibited. Instead, the outcome of ground campaigns would determine control over resources. Each resource-rich planet was limited to deploying no more than one army division per side.
To Tang Fang, this arrangement resembled the unsavory duels of martial arts novels. But given the internal conditions of both empires and the rising power of the Charles Federation, it was perhaps the simplest and most effective solution. Compared to the trillions of citizens in each empire, the potential casualties of a single division—up to ten thousand soldiers—were negligible.
---
In the disputed zone between the Monya and Sulru Empires, within the tranquil star system, the dying star burned quietly, its light spilling over Namie’s moon, Elizabeth, like a rising tide engulfing the surrounding void.
From orbit, Planet Namie appeared pockmarked, resembling a face covered in acne. Two massive fleets occupied opposite hemispheres of the planet. In the northern hemisphere loomed the Thunder Fleet of the Monya Empire, while in the southern hemisphere stood the Saint Violet Fleet of the Sulru Empire. The standoff had lasted seven days, and the armored divisions of both sides had completed their landings the previous night.
Namie was a barren world devoid of lakes or oceans, its surface dominated by bare rock, deserts, and acidic steam zones. Along the equator, between the 89th and 95th meridians, stretched a 1,200-kilometer demilitarized zone. To the north lay the 3789th Armored Division of the Thunder Fleet; to the south, the elite Silverwing Tempest Infantry Division of the Saint Violet Fleet. Both forces were busy constructing command centers, logistics bases, and defensive fortifications.
On this ancient planet, devoid of an atmosphere, the tension was palpable. War was imminent.
Please vote for this novel at
If you would like to support this translation, you may choose any one of the options below.
How to find a list of chapters
Please find the chapter label next to your favorite translator's name, and click the label.
No comments:
Post a Comment