I Reincarnated as the Captain of a Battleship in a Robot Anime, but at This Rate, I’m Going to Be Assassinated – Chapter 38

Chapter 38: I really want to get into a fluffy bed and a hot bath, but there’s just too much to do
  Shougo’s vision of victory wasn’t a victory achieved through military force.
  Of course, if Trismegistus unleashed its full potential for attack, the battle would end, at least for now.
  However, that would only create a new threat, and the boy who gained that power would be burdened with responsibilities, whether he wanted them or not.
  
  A machine that can freely manipulate any energy and has the potential to destroy a star single-handedly. And a human who is the only one capable of piloting it. In reality, there are no such restrictions, and there’s even the danger of the machine moving on its own, but only they know that.
  Ordinary people don’t care about such things.
  They only see a terrifying machine and its pilot.
  
  That wouldn’t be meaningful. The object of fear would simply shift from New Balance to Trismegistus.
  So, what should they aim for in overthrowing New Balance?
  It’s public opinion. New Balance is a formidable organization, and the wishes, thoughts, and desires of the people who believe that their existence should not be tolerated must be brought to the forefront.
  That’s not something that can be achieved just by pointing guns at each other. They need information. If they can control information beforehand, even fabrication or exaggeration would be fine.
  Shougo believes that’s the best way to avoid bloodshed.
  Of course, even if they were to do that, they would still need to use a minimum amount of military force.
  It was a contradiction.
  
  ‘But, racking my brains, to avoid killing and being killed as much as possible, I have to make such an idealistic theory a reality. And if I use the power of Trismegistus in that direction, it might be possible.’
  
  Was it by chance or by design?
  Trismegistus is developing its capabilities in areas other than attack.
  It’s specializing in electronic and information warfare, and the reports say it’s trying to evolve in terms of defense and survival.
  Of course, there’s still a possibility that it could become specialized in attack power depending on its future learning, but for now, it seems like it’s on a good educational path.
  
  ‘Well, if it evolves in that direction, there’s also the danger of it taking control of the social structure that relies on the network…… We’ll deal with that when the time comes.’
  
  Honestly, it’s unavoidable that they have to continue relying on the biggest source of their troubles.
  
  “──Is this alright?”
  
  Suddenly, that voice brought Shougo’s consciousness back from the depths of his thoughts.
  Franny was looking at him with a curious expression.
  Franny’s survival report and a kind of declaration of war to Earth. This was now complete.
  
  “Ah, thank you. You could have said more, you know?”
  “No. I’ll do that after I meet my father. I should hear it directly from him and question him. Besides, if it wasn’t my father who targeted me, then I’ll make whoever did it pay the price.”
  “Oh, scary. As expected of the daughter of the man who controls the military. You have guts.”
  “Ufufu, I’m a maiden in love.”
  
  Oh dear, Yuuki has fallen for a troublesome woman.
  Feeling that way, Shougo focused his attention on the matter at hand.
  Janet’s control of the fortress probably wasn’t complete, but it was a big deal that they were able to seize the central hub.
  He didn’t know how the other military personnel who didn’t know the situation would react. They couldn’t let their guard down.
  If they were attacked by them all at once, it would be the end.
  
  ‘This is a terrible gamble, really.’
  
  In the end, what Shougo was relying on in this operation was the performance of Trismegistus, sympathy for Franny, and distrust of New Balance. It was frustrating that all of these were uncertain factors.
  It was like praying to the gods, hoping that at least one of them would resonate with the other side.
  If so, should he give it one more push?
  He really wanted to rest properly.
  
  “Well…… We might have no choice but to watch the situation for now, but……”
  『Captain. We might have some trouble.』
  
  It was a communication from Yuuki.
  Shougo slumped his shoulders. It was always like this. Whenever something was about to go well, something would always get in the way. It was as if he was under some kind of unlucky star.
  
  “I don’t want to hear it, but what is it?”
  『Trismegistus…… Thoth is getting excited. And I’m detecting jamming. I think the enemy is coming……!』
  “All ships, all-around alert. Prepare to launch beam smoke, even though we’re running low. Taking advantage of this, it’s not impossible that the guys at the fortress base will attack us. The possibility of New Balance sympathizers among them isn’t zero.”
  
  Elements of anxiety just kept popping up.
  But right now, the priority was the mysterious attacker. Though he said “mysterious,” it was obvious that they were most likely people connected to New Balance.
  
  “Thermal reaction detected! Long-range beam sniping, incoming!”
  “Deploy smoke! Brace for impact!”
  
  Billowing beam smoke was scattered. However, it took time for this equipment to spread over a wide area. It wasn’t necessarily going to be deployed to all the surrounding allies, let alone their own ship.
  However, this equipment should be standard on all spaceships. If they heeded their advice and deployed this, there shouldn’t be a problem, but……
  As he was thinking that, an intense flash of light that could even blow away the smoke passed through from the right side. It missed the Mirandora by a wide margin, but it pierced through a nearby military warship, sinking it with a roar.
  
  “Whoa!? Isn’t that a bit much for a battleship’s main gun!?”
  “Six beams! With this power, are they equipped with a particle accelerator or something!?”
  
  At Clart’s scream, Shougo recalled Jowain’s knowledge.
  Particle accelerators were the energy source for the main guns installed on battleships. But at the same time, his knowledge pointed to something else.
  They should have been developing them as firepower enhancement equipment for Teurugia as well. They should still be in the prototype stage.
  
  “Next shot, incoming!”
  “Rapid fire!?”
  
  Six flashes of light pierced through again. Another new ship took a direct hit.
  The warships moved erratically due to the impact of the explosions. Some of them collided with each other, while others managed to escape the battle line, but the damage was greater.
  
  “The smoke is being blown away by the explosions!”
  “D*mn it, destroying the engine backfired! The recording is working, right?”
  “Yes!”
  “It’s cowardly, but this is also video evidence. What’s the status of the jamming!?”
  
  This carnage could be used as a weapon.
  He thought it was despicable of him to try to take advantage of it, but he had decided to use whatever he could.
  He was still contradicting himself. He said he didn’t want bloodshed, but if there was bloodshed, he would use it.
  
  ‘If you look at it from a different perspective, I’m the biggest villain…… But who cares? I’m a space pirate. If I’m going to get a justification……! But, this act cannot be forgiven!’
  
  On the one hand, he wanted to use it. On the other hand, he couldn’t forgive the evil deed.
  These emotions coexisted.
  In other words, he was selfish, but who cared?
  From the beginning, this battle was a fight for survival, and now it was a fight to punch his annoying boss. He was representing the anger of those who were caught up in it and fighting back against those who were doing as they pleased. That was all it was.
  
  “Ships that can move, provide support. This is the truth! Mirandora, move forward. If we don’t take the initiative to fight, this situation won’t change.”
  
  Under the command, the Mirandora began a solo charge. Three rebel warships hurriedly followed. As for how the rest of the fleet would move, they had no choice but to leave it to the flow.
  
  “Fire all missiles towards the direction of the attack. Deflect the particles with the explosions. At the same time, perform evasive maneuvers.”
  
  Under Kes’s instructions, the Mirandora fired all the missiles it had. They were already almost at the bottom of their supply.
  
  “Announcement to all Teurugia units. We’re going to take out the enemy long-range bombardment unit. We’ll launch an attack from two directions……”
  
  Before the last announcement could be made, the beams flew again.
  They missed the Mirandora by a wide margin and hit the fleet behind them.
  Even though they should have, an explosion occurred near the Mirandora.
  
  “……! Kivun has been shot down!”
  “What!?”
  
  He should have been one of the Teurugia units.
  One of those who had survived up to this point. He was a man he hadn’t talked to much, but he was easily shot down.
  However, Shougo was more surprised than shocked. Normally, it would be difficult to take down a small flying object like a Teurugia with a single shot from a long-range sniper unless it was a very skilled sniper.
  But it didn’t look like it had been hit directly by a beam.
  
  “All units, disperse!”
  
  New beams flew.
  Again, they were aimed at the fleet behind them.
  And yet.
  
  “Birene, lost!”
  “It’s too consistent to be a lucky shot!”
  
  Another member was shot down.
  Again, it was a crew member he hadn’t really talked to.
  And this wasn’t a beam snipe either.
  
  “Is there another sniper!?”
  
  That would be the most logical conclusion.
  
  “This attack happened as soon as we moved out. It’s as if this was the aim from the beginning.”
  “Anferu wouldn’t think of something so roundabout.”
  
  At Kes’s words, Shougo bit his lip.
  Only that man would do something so cowardly.
  
  “Phoenix…… It must be him.”
  
  Shougo now saw Phoenix as a villain.
  He didn’t know his true intentions. But he could guess that what he was trying to do was part of a performance test for Trismegistus.
  Even in the anime, if you think about his inexplicable actions, everything falls into place.
  
  ‘The troublesome thing about this type of guy is that even if he dies, as long as he gets a satisfactory result, he’s fine with it. It’s not recklessness. It’s an unnecessarily troublesome kind of resolve.’
  
  Besides, only this man could probably make a prototype weapon usable.
  Phoenix’s whereabouts after he parted ways with Trismegistus and was captured by the military were unknown. It was nothing more than speculation, but he could probably prepare something like this in a few days.
  
  “If he’s jamming, it means he’s not just blocking communication with Earth. There must be a ship somewhere with him on it, but……!”
  
  However, they weren’t in a situation where they could leisurely search for it.
  Even if they could somehow avoid the beams, the mysterious sniping was terrifying.
  
  『Captain, I’ll go to the front……!』
  
  It was Yuuki.
  
  “Idiot. If this attack is Phoenix’s doing, you’ll be the focus of the attack…… No, wait, if that’s the case, why? If he can snipe with such high precision, why isn’t he aiming for Trismegistus?”
  “Aronzo, hit!”
  “D*mn it, we’re being worn down. What is this sniping……? But, I feel like he’s only targeting the Teurugia……!”
  
  He felt like he was close to understanding something, but he couldn’t grasp it.
  If they continued like this, they would just be targeted one by one. Furthermore, the stress could cause them to neglect evading the beam attacks.
  
  『It’s thermal detection sniping!』
  
  Suddenly, he thought he heard Lopes’s voice, and then missiles were scattered around the Mirandora, self-destructing.
  
  『Emit heat, anything to create a distraction!』
  “Captain Lopes!? Did you eject!?”
  
  The Mirandora caught the identification signal. The destroyer Savona was rapidly approaching.
  And it was a barrage of missiles, probably taken from the fortress. The accompanying Teurugia were also firing explosives.
  
  “Can they achieve this level of accuracy with thermal detection? While they’re also fighting!?”
  『I don’t know. But from the fact that they’re only piercing through the Teurugia and not prioritizing Trismegistus, it makes sense. Thermal detection sniping doesn’t see the target’s form. It just captures the heat and shoots it down. It’s an old system. If the heat is big, it’s a ship, if it’s small, it’s a carrier-based aircraft!』
  “I see……! But even so, there are other heat sources besides the Teurugia……”
  『There must be a smart scholar there, right!? He’s doing something, I’m sure! That’s why we’re doing this!』
  
  A single Georg was launched from the Savona. It moved erratically but passed through the explosion.
  At that moment, the Georg was sniped.
  
  『Ha! I’m saying it’s a drone. We’ll determine the position from the sniper’s trajectory! We’ll blast it with all our beams. We’ll dig him out like a potato!』
  
  The Savona’s movements were swift.
  Even with the destroyer’s few cannons, they were battleship main guns. Powerful beams were fired into the distance.
  There was no explosion. But even after the explosion cleared, no sniping came.
  
  『One more missile barrier! I’m telling you, we can only do this twice more!』
  “Establish a data link. Send all that information to Trismegistus! Yuuki, put Thoth to work, take out the sniper first. Phoenix should be there too!”
  
  Ah, he wanted to finish this quickly and get into the bath that should be in the fortress.
  Shougo watched the explosion as he wished for that.
  
  『Found him…… On the other side of the jamming……!』
  
  Yuuki shouted.
  
  『That blue Rabi Reivu……! Is that Percy!?』
  
  The silhouette that Trismegistus captured.
  It had a different configuration than the one from before, but the color scheme was similar to the machine Percy piloted.
  A huge rifle integrated with the gun camera was attached to his right arm…… No, it looked like the body was built as a part of the sniper rifle. He could see auxiliary sensors floating around it.
  
  “That guy’s in trouble too…… Yuuki! Can you take him down!?”
  
  Percy was no longer sane.
  Then, there was only one way to free him.