Chapter 52

An infiltration unit-what's he talking about?

Yaan looked puzzled at Kail's sudden remark, but Kail only smiled at him and then began explaining the plan to the assembled captains.

"Part of the main fleet will sortie against the pirates' base. If possible, using Count Zeke's flagship galleon will be most effective."

"That island lies in Janskarl's territorial waters. Taking a fleet there amounts to a show of force against Janskarl, does it not?"

"Exactly."

When Kail readily agreed with Count Zeke, the other captains signaled their opposition.

"Those pirates may be a headache, but we can't create friction with Janskarl over them."

"Agreed. The front against Alfraia is already expanding; if Janskarl turns against us as well, our fleet alone can't handle it."

"Besides...."

As diplomatic issues were raised, shadows fell across the captains' faces.

For several minutes the argument continued.

"...Is this the very situation Janskarl wants?"

The debate between the captains opposing and those supporting Kail halted at Yaan's quiet murmur.

"Ah, my apologies."

Thinking that he-a landlubber in naval matters-had interrupted, Yaan tried to step back.

"No, not at all. I'd like to hear the knights' opinion for once."

It was Count Zeke who gave Yaan the floor. With the fleet commander's permission, the other captains nodded reluctantly and looked to Yaan.

"...I've heard Janskarl profits by acting as middleman in trade between Alfraia and the Empire."

"A narrow view, but you're not wrong."

Hearing Count Zeke, Yaan spoke quietly to the captains.

"Then, short of outright invasion, Janskarl wouldn't want direct conflict with the Empire either, would they?"

Yaan had studied no proper strategy, tactics, let alone diplomacy.

His conclusion came solely from knowledge gleaned from the countless human dramas that passed through the Penal Corps he'd belonged to since childhood.

"Hmm!"

"The risk is too great. If we rashly demonstrate force, who knows what diplomatic steps Janskarl might take...."

"Even deploying an infiltration unit, only a cruiser has the mobility and transport capacity we need. Strip her guns and she can still carry just one."

"Expecting a single colossus to subdue an entire base-even the first Duke Lorenz couldn't do that."

The last remark came from the Belkuth knights.

Cain sighed softly at the words but made no other response.

"You're right. So we'll tell Janskarl we're chasing an unidentified vessel during exercises and request naval cooperation."

"A show of force and a hunt for the White Shark-pull Janskarl's navy in?"

Count Zeke asked, intrigued, and the other captains nodded in agreement.

"They may support from the shadows, but they're still an unauthorized military force."

"If they refuse, we can pressure Janskarl by accusing them of harboring pirates in their waters."

The captains added further explanations.

Janskarl's support for the pirates was only suspicion; without proof they couldn't openly protest.

The moment evidence or suspicion surfaced, Janskarl would have to watch its step unless it wished to declare hostility.

Kail stepped forward, having won the other captains' support.

"My ship Veloster is on standby for full refit. Disguised as a freighter, she'll infiltrate the pirate base."

"But one problem remains. How does a single colossus neutralize an entire island?"

Count Zeke's question sounded like a professor assigning homework; Kail walked over and slung an arm around Yaan's shoulder.

'What now?'

The man's familiarity was impossible to get used to.

"We have a colossus that single-handedly destroyed the White Shark and repelled their ambush alone, do we not?"

"You'll use Sir Verkut's colossus?"

The captains looked alarmed when Count Zeke said this.

Ignoring them, Kail continued confidently.

"Besides performance, Lieutenant Yaan's Frame is unknown to Janskarl. Its silhouette is utterly different from the Empire's Page."

"Remove the Empire's crest and add armor plating and it can pass for a mercenary or Free Knight's colossus."

"Exactly."

Disguised as irregulars, they'll wipe out the pirate base.

The Empire stages a show of force under the guise of investigation, avoids violating Janskarl's territory, and eliminates pirates backed by Janskarl-leaving Janskarl unable to protest.

'An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.'

Irregular guerrillas against irregular guerrillas.

A rational plan.

"This is absurd!"

The objection came from the knights-specifically, from the Belkuth knights watching.

"Strip a knight of his crest? Cover an Imperial knight in filth?"

"There must be another way! As knights we cannot accept such dishonor!"

"What of Sir Verkut's own willingness? We are not pieces to be moved at the navy's whim!"

Knights injured in the last bombardment voiced their anger, and the captains raised their voices too.

"They froze the entire front for two years! We have no time for niceties!"

"In other words, you admit the navy's incompetence!"

"What?! Withdraw that remark!"

"Retract that insolent demand to strip a knight of his crest!"

"Those who've won no victories dare speak of incompetence-!"

"Enough-!"

Count Zeke's shout silenced the knights and captains.

"Knights, stand down! Fighting among ourselves won't help."

Cain restrained the Belkuth knights and approached Count Zeke.

"Our words were discourteous. Please forgive us."

"Not at all. We were at fault for ignoring the knights' wishes."

Only when the leaders of both sides bowed did the argument end.

Watching, Yaan looked at Kail, who had proposed the plan.

"Tch, so old-fashioned."

Hearing Kail's mutter, Yaan sighed softly and stepped forward.

"If I agree, will the plan be approved?"

"S-Sir Verkut!"

"This is dishonorable! Removing the Empire's crest-!"

Injured Belkuth knights tried to stop him, but Yaan looked only at Kail.

"Sir Verkut's Frame is enough. To keep a White Shark-class Frame running, even Janskarl won't have resources to spare elsewhere."

"Then I'll do it. Add armor plating to the Frame."

The captains wavered at Yaan's unhesitating words.

"S-Sir Verkut, are you sure?"

"An irregular mission without the Empire's crest won't count as an official record."

"We're grateful, but please reconsider-"

The captains expressed concern before the Belkuth knights; Yaan's calm reply took them aback.

"After those pirates, Alfraia's main fleet remains. Delay drags the front into a quagmire."

"...Thank you. The navy is in your debt."

Count Zeke turned to the captains.

"We sail tomorrow noon. Cruiser Velka, two Saxen-class, and escort destroyers. Flagship galleon leads!"

"Detached force: cruiser Veloster alone infiltrates. Main fleet also disguised as merchantmen."

"Make haste."

***

"That was a hard decision."

Disguise work on Veloster was underway.

To meet sailing time, most of the port's personnel worked on Veloster, stripping away her identity.

"You planned this with me in mind from the start."

"Still, I didn't think you'd accept so readily."

Kail offered a bottle, then recalled Yaan didn't drink and quietly took a swig himself.

"Why did you accept this plan? Loyalty? Ambition?"

"Think whatever you like."

A cigarette between his lips, Yaan stared at the Veloster under work, then pulled a match from his pocket and struck it.

"Ha, what? The army still uses matches?"

"This is all the supply line gives."

Having said that, Yaan lit the cigarette, inhaled the smoke, and exhaled it.

As he gazed vacantly at the spreading smoke, something flew toward Yaan.

Tap.

"A lighter?"

A steel lighter, full of fuel and kept in excellent condition-a high-grade item.

"It came from the booty we recovered on White Shark. I don't smoke, you see."

"Looks expensive."

"Consider it thanks for approving the operation. Thanks to that, Father-Count-won't have to lose face."

Recalling Count Zeke shaking hands with Cain, Yaan flicked the lighter a few times and lit it.

"Ambition, huh."

"All that for one lighter?"

At Yaan's words Kail snorted a laugh, emptied the bottle in one go, and tossed it into the sea.

"How was the briefing?"

"What about it."

"Those knights and their precious honor-ridiculous. Meanwhile the pirates and elves keep pressing the front line."

At the word honor, Kail clenched his teeth, remembering the Belkuth knights who had demanded the plan be redrawn for that reason alone.

"It's not just those guys. Most would do the same."

Thinking of Randel and the knights who followed him, Yaan gave a small shrug.

"You seemed friendly with the Belkuth knights. They dragged their half-dead bodies all the way here..."

"Friendly my ass. They're the ones acting chummy."

At the sudden curse Kail burst out laughing and, clearly satisfied, clapped Yaan on the shoulder.

In the entire Empire no knight besides Yaan would speak so slightingly of knights from the greatest house of Belkuth.

If anyone came close, perhaps Lorenz.

"More I see you, more I like you."

"Since when were we friends-"

Yaan started to protest at the casual remark, but Kail simply walked away toward his ship.

"We sail tomorrow-get some rest!"

After saying that, Kail headed for the Veloster and began urging sailors and mechanics to finish the work.

"...Damn, he really gets on my nerves."

With that Yaan turned and walked toward the quarters.

***

Whoooo-!

The whistle halted Count Zeke's advancing fleet.

Before them stood a patrol craft of the Janskarl navy.

"Signal reads: Your fleet is entering Janskarl Kingdom territorial waters. For joint operation, hold position. End."

"Ignore the signal. Fleet advance. Do not fire first under any circumstances."

"Aye, sir. Fleet advance! Hold fire!"

The first officer's commands echoed through the ship, and the signalman began waving flags to the fleet.

"Wh-what? Advance? Those Vailsar bastards are crazy!"

"Turn the ship! Hurry! At this rate we'll collide!"

Caught off guard, the patrol craft spun her bow and pulled away from the fleet.

"Any reaction from Janskarl navy?"

"None yet. Even if they sortie now, they can't arrive before the operation window."

"Good. Hold for three hours then withdraw. Maintain strict alert."

"Aye, sir."

Unless it was an outright invasion, no nation would raise its voice against the Vailsar Empire merely for violating territorial waters.

Not even Janskarl, who claimed neutrality.

It was a clear statement: the Empire could overturn the entire board if it wished, even while profiting from the war.

"I never thought they'd be this blatant...!"

While the Janskarl fleet commander muttered, far off a single merchant ship slowly entered the island's operational harbor.

[Enemy Frame detected. Stored 20 km ahead in port facility. No engine signature.]

"Didn't think the disguise would work this well."

Hidden inside a cargo container, Yaan in Glaepnir found the total lack of security surprising.

Thud-!

A knock on the container-signal to begin.

"Whatever the case, we'll know once we go."

[Signal confirmed. Glaepnir switching to combat output. Synchronization locked.]

With Nill's voice the disguised cruiser's containers burst open and Glaepnir's giant Frame appeared.

All Imperial insignia erased, the whole body wrapped in black cloth.

"Intruders! Battle stations!"

Rrrrrr...!

As Glaepnir rose, sirens wailed across the island.

Whoooo-!

"Hah, not just a pirate base after all."

[Affirmative. Facilities here designed and built by professionals.]

It was immediately clear who was backing-perhaps directly commanding-these pirates.

"Display White Shark Frames and production facility."

[Acknowledged.]

Thoom-!

The instant the locations were fixed, Glaepnir leapt.

"The ship's rocking!"

"I told him to take it easy-damn knights!"

A leap impossible for any other colossus.

Missiles launched from the anchored White Shark rained toward Glaepnir.

[Flares deploying.]

Fwoosh-!

Wings of an angel.

The image someone once described now unfurled behind Glaepnir.

"Top priority: destroy White Shark production facility beyond repair. Then-"

Yaan gave Nill the orders, but at that moment Nill's emblem flashed red with a warning.

[Warning. Heat signature detected. Switching to evasive maneuvers.]

"What?"

Even as Glaepnir twisted mid-air-

Whoooom-!

A massive beam of light lanced through the spot Glaepnir had occupied.

As the overwhelming energy source bled a curse, Yaan spotted something rising from a nearby hill.

"What the hell is that now?"

A white body unlike anything of the Empire or Alfraia, crackling with sparks.

Watching it, Yaan heard Nill's voice.

[Scan complete. Designation K-9, prototype sub-particle cannon confirmed.]

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.