I Reincarnated as the Captain of a Battleship in a Robot Anime, but at This Rate, I’m Going to Be Assassinated – Chapter 31

Chapter 31: The Splendor of Exchanging Words Rather Than Gunfire, But We’re Pointing Guns Here
[space_man][space_man]”I’d really like to punch the Base Commander in the face once.”
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]This had become Janet’s favorite phrase for the past few days.
[space_man][space_man]For the past few days, from Janet’s perspective, only incomprehensible orders had been flying in.
[space_man][space_man]The same was true for this pursuit operation.
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Sudden troop deployment changes…… not to mention the raid on the Rebel base……”
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]From the start, Major Janet wasn’t enthusiastic about this mission. Perhaps it should be said that it wasn’t because it was unmilitary-like, but because incomprehensible instructions had come in.
[space_man][space_man]To crush the hidden Rebel Army. That’s fine. It’s the content of the mission, and even though Earth is in an uproar for some reason, it’s important to stabilize the surrounding space.
[space_man][space_man]The fact that the Rebel Army was hiding on the planet Belbeck was discovered during the previous capture on Byblos. It was still understandable that they would advance to pursue them.
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”And what’s with the combat部隊, they’re a mess……”
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]But instead of the combat troops at hand, sixteen mobile weapon pilots came from somewhere, with no affiliation, claiming to be directly under the Commander’s command, and if one of them was a man with a suspicious mask, it would raise suspicion.
[space_man][space_man]Moreover, they were a mess just because a single cruiser appeared.
[space_man][space_man]But still, the biggest doubt was that exposé video.
[space_man][space_man]A group calling themselves pirates exposed the misdeeds of Colonel Anferu of New Balance. Janet didn’t know if it was true. She had never heard of New Balance destroying a planet.
[space_man][space_man]No, to be precise, she had heard it as a rumor in the underground, but most of those kinds of stories were exaggerated lies. There was no evidence.
[space_man][space_man]But that broadcast was different. It wasn’t strong evidence, but the voice data was shocking.
[space_man][space_man]Moreover, the headquarters remained silent. They were dealing with the public with the usual parade of excuses, but perhaps it was the momentum that had been ignited, or perhaps the public’s gaze toward the military had suddenly become cold.
[space_man][space_man]”Captain…… a communication from the enemy ship…… they’re requesting negotiations.”
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Suppressing the urge to shout at her trembling subordinate, Janet said while pressing her temples.
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Put them through. We have no other choice.”
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]She might be a hawk, but she didn’t think they should fight to the death no matter what. In the current situation, the fear that the enemy’s beam might fly in at close range was the strongest.
[space_man][space_man]She had to ensure the safety of her subordinates at all costs.
[space_man][space_man]At the same time, she also needed to get through this. She was still tracking the masked man’s mecha that had flown off somewhere, and she had to retrieve it.
[space_man][space_man]But first, the negotiations at hand.
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]『──Well, should I say it’s been a while?』
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Seeing the man’s face on the screen, Janet couldn’t help but want to click her tongue.
[space_man][space_man]He was the man who had made a fool of them. Due to the delay in their fleet’s advance caused by the fleet’s dysfunction, they had failed to recapture the new Teurugia and arrest the ringleaders, and they had been completely escaped.
[space_man][space_man]Fortunately, they were able to seize the destroyer that had remained on Byblos and capture the remaining Rebel members.
[space_man][space_man]But the evaluation from headquarters wasn’t favorable. They knew who was giving them instructions. It was New Balance behind them. Apparently, the recapture of the new machine had a higher priority than the Rebel Army for them.
[space_man][space_man]It was only natural that the criticism would be harsh since they had failed……
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]’What are the higher-ups thinking? They want to destroy, they want to recapture, their reasons change all the time. It’s as if their movements are centered around that Trismegistus machine.’
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]And she was also concerned about the truth.
[space_man][space_man]She didn’t believe everything in the pirate broadcast, but the military headquarters’ recent movements seemed to be trying to distract the soldiers’ attention from the incident.
[space_man][space_man]At the same time, she felt another, different will. She didn’t know what it was. It was frustrating and at the same time, it fueled her anxiety.
[space_man][space_man]There had to be some dissonance somewhere, but she couldn’t figure it out.
[space_man][space_man]As she was thinking this, on the other side of the screen, Lieutenant Commander Jowain, who had betrayed New Balance, continued speaking.
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]『I’m not very good at beating around the bush. So, I’ll get straight to the point, I have two requests. I’d personally be happy if you could grant me even one of them.』
[space_man][space_man]”……What are they? We don’t have the right to refuse. It’s regrettable, but……”
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Negotiations with a gun barrel…… no, a main gun pointed at them was a first for Janet. It wasn’t that she wasn’t afraid. In addition to that, Janet’s honest impression was that Jowain’s face was somehow irritating.
[space_man][space_man]She couldn’t say there was no personal grudge there.
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”We can’t refuse negotiations when a gun is pointed at us at close range.”
[space_man][space_man]『Well, I guess that’s true when you put it that way.』
[space_man][space_man]”……?”
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]He readily agreed.
[space_man][space_man]She had intended it as sarcasm.
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]『It’s just a precaution on our part. If you grant my requests, I promise that at least neither of us will suffer any immediate losses.』
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]It was a very suspicious deal if you only listened to the words.
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”……I’ve had you investigated thoroughly.”
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Therefore, Janet tried to read the enemy’s thoughts as much as possible.
[space_man][space_man]The man named Jowain had a strong impression of being a plain, inconspicuous man who always hid behind Colonel Anferu and Commander Fauden.
[space_man][space_man]And yet, now, he had unexpectedly rebelled, stalled her, and was now threatening her.
[space_man][space_man]It wasn’t a joke, but he was like a changed man.
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]『……Nothing interesting will come out of that, will it?』
[space_man][space_man]”Yes, to be frank, you’re bland and odorless. Just a man who clings to those in power.”
[space_man][space_man]『Hahaha! No, you’re right. That’s exactly it. That’s exactly what the man named Jowain is.』
[space_man][space_man]’The way he says it…… it’s as if he’s saying he’s not like that, he’s not Jowain. What is this man? I don’t understand…… are all the upper echelons of New Balance like this?’
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]She even found it eerie.
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]『Well, we have various goals. We’re acting to achieve them, but it’s not about killing people. It’s just…… how should I put it, we’re going to settle the score for power harassment, or something like that. The people here are, so to speak, exiles from the military. They were fired for complaining about their superiors’ power harassment, and now they’re about to be killed. So, well, you know. We’re thinking of going to punch them.』
[space_man][space_man]”H, huh……?”
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]She didn’t understand even more.
[space_man][space_man]She had lived for thirty-five years and had experienced a fair amount of scheming. She had seen the unpleasant collusion and corruption of the military society, and she had despised it. She had even made accusations when necessary. It was true that she had been banished to the frontier because of that, but she didn’t regret it.
[space_man][space_man]But even Janet, with all her experience, couldn’t understand the man in front of her.
[space_man][space_man]Because his words were his true feelings, without any lies.
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]『So, yeah. Captain Janet. First of all, I want you to let us go. We’ll also persuade the Rebel Army not to attack. If they don’t keep their word, we promise to disable the Rebel fleet. And secondly, I recommend this, but…… I want you to join us. I believe you’re an upright soldier. Then, you must have some doubts about the current state of New Balance. That’s why I want you to help us.』
[space_man][space_man]”You want me to betray the organization?”
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]The first proposal was rather favorable.
[space_man][space_man]But what was the second one? Join them? It was like telling her to revolt.
[space_man][space_man]Did he understand how absurd that was?
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Do you understand what you’re saying?”
[space_man][space_man]『I wouldn’t be able to say such a thing if I wasn’t sober. Besides, you saw it on Byblos, didn’t you? The mysterious warship that attacked us. And the misdeeds of Anferu in the pirate broadcast, not to mention the rumor that Commander Fauden’s daughter was assassinated.』
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Of course, she knew.
[space_man][space_man]Therefore, her doubts were endless.
[space_man][space_man]However, that didn’t mean that she could easily agree to the act of betraying the military.
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”……So, you guys were the ones who did that broadcast. I don’t know how you did it…… and if you say that the Commander’s daughter is alive, you should be able to show proof. If that’s the case……”
[space_man][space_man]『Did you call for me?』
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]A girl appeared on the screen.
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Wha……!”
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]It was exactly the same as the face photo of Commander Fauden’s daughter that was presented along with Anferu’s speech. Her face had been plastered all over the news day and night. It could be said that she had become the most famous girl in space.
[space_man][space_man]And the tragic heroine who was said to be dead. She appeared there as if nothing had happened.
[space_man][space_man]It was certainly surprising.
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”A, a fake……”
[space_man][space_man]『It might be difficult to distinguish between the real and the fake. But I can only say that I am Franny, and the daughter of the Commander of New Balance. I’m alive like this. I have both my legs, you know?』
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]It might be that she was the real one.
[space_man][space_man]Even if they had performed plastic surgery, it would take time to make her look so much alike.
[space_man][space_man]And…… if she was the real one, it would be a serious matter, and at the same time, Janet would have to reconsider her trust in the military.
[space_man][space_man]Because it would mean that the military hadn’t told her a single truth.
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]『So that’s it. Captain Janet. I want to negotiate. What do you say?』
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]The man who called himself Jowain seemed to smile.
[space_man][space_man]To Janet, it looked terribly hideous.
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]’What is this guy…… who is this guy?’
[space_man][space_man]
✼✼✼
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]The man named Anferu was ambitious and hawkish, but at the same time, he had a cowardly side. It was because he was aware of this that he had the confidence to have risen to the number two position in the organization.
[space_man][space_man]He believed he was well-versed in the use of power. Push when you should push, obey when you should obey. However, humans seek more when they get used to their environment.
[space_man][space_man]Anferu was no exception.
[space_man][space_man]Over fifty years old, the man who was on the verge of becoming an old man was still energetic and capable.
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”No decent reports coming in?”
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]It was because he was such a man that he showed blatant irritation when things didn’t go his way.
[space_man][space_man]When was it that things went wrong? Every time he thought about it, the veins in his forehead bulged.
[space_man][space_man]Moreover, the fact that he repeatedly recalled it, even though he should have stopped, was because he didn’t want to acknowledge the stain he wanted to erase.
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”What happened to Jowain? What about that Trismegistus machine? Why aren’t there any reports? That means there are no results, doesn’t it?”
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]A high-quality wooden desk. Anferu didn’t know what kind of wood it was made of.
[space_man][space_man]He tapped it while glaring at his new subordinate who was cowering in front of him.
[space_man][space_man]He hadn’t been able to appear in public for a while since that speech. But Anferu didn’t care about that. He could leave the public work to the public.
[space_man][space_man]He was relieved to think that the unnecessary work was gone.
[space_man][space_man]But…… then what about his main job? Even here, there were no results.
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”W, well, that is. After all, the internal confusion is intense…… information transmission and sharing are still not perfect……”
[space_man][space_man]”It’s your job to adjust that. Why is something that we’ve been able to suppress until now being spread by the words of some idiot calling themselves pirates? What do you mean the damage control isn’t working?”
[space_man][space_man]”Th, that is…… the public’s, the people’s enthusiasm, or momentum, or…… the speed of network dissemination is tremendous even in past eras……”
[space_man][space_man]”I’m tired of hearing that. Can’t you silence the relay stations, the main stations, or whatever? Account deletion, freezing, there are plenty of ways, aren’t there?”
[space_man][space_man]”We’re doing it. But it’s like a game of whack-a-mole.”
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]This was it.
[space_man][space_man]Ever since Jowain had bitten him, unnecessary failures had been clinging to him.
[space_man][space_man]It wasn’t fun.
[space_man][space_man]For Anferu, power and war were entertainment.
[space_man][space_man]It was because he was in a position to exercise them that he had come this far. He could do it because it was fun. It was an exquisite pleasure to be able to move armies with a single word, a single fingertip.
[space_man][space_man]In that sense, the incomprehensible reasoning of that old man Fauden had been his barrier. The principle he advocated and the pretense of cooperating with it through military force was a very delicious thing.
[space_man][space_man]As long as he could do that, he didn’t care what Fauden did or thought.
[space_man][space_man]But…… now even that could be restricted.
[space_man][space_man]Then what should he do?
[space_man][space_man]He had no choice but to eliminate the obstacles.
[space_man][space_man]”……Hmph, so what about Babel? What’s the progress?”
[space_man][space_man]”Yes, the construction hasn’t been ordered to stop…… so it’s about 60 percent complete.”
[space_man][space_man]”That’s slow, isn’t it?”
[space_man][space_man]”It’s a large-scale construction…… after all, time is inevitably…… and we don’t have enough engineers.”
[space_man][space_man]”Then pull them from the colony planets. They’re just a bunch of freeloaders anyway.”
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Babel was, so to speak, a super-giant particle accelerator cannon.
[space_man][space_man]Theoretically, it had the power to destroy an urban area on Earth in a single blow. At the same time, it had the properties of a mobile fortress.
[space_man][space_man]It was the logic of a man like Anferu to want to use such a weapon.
[space_man][space_man]And he had plenty of targets to fire it at now.
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”With the capabilities of the Trismegistus, we should have been able to neutralize Babel’s gravity weapon.”
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]It was a castle.
[space_man][space_man]A person in power needs a castle. A general needs a warship. In any case, Anferu wanted something huge that embodied his ambition.
[space_man][space_man]And he still had enough power to do it.
[space_man][space_man]To put it another way, if he could fire Babel even once, it would all be settled.
[space_man][space_man]But the only regret in that was the Trismegistus.
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]’Why did that old geezer Fauden have such a thing built?’
[space_man][space_man]
[space_man][space_man]That was also on Anferu’s mind.