“Look at this! It’s footage received through an emergency channel.”
The soldier tapped on a small terminal device attached to the inside of their wrist, part of the reinforced exoskeleton they wore.
A holographic screen appeared in front of the group, but due to the harsh electric light, the image appeared blurry.
“Hold on for a moment.”
Ms. Seol turned off the lights in the room.
With the considerate action, the formerly blurry screen came into clear view.
“…”
“…Oh my.”
Ms. Freya grimaced while the President let out a small sigh.
After quietly staring at the holographic screen, Ms. Freya slowly opened her mouth.
“Is this the secondary defense line?”
“The information we’ve received confirms that.”
Despite asking for confirmation, Ms. Freya didn’t take her eyes off the screen. Meanwhile, the image kept changing.
Melted ground and rising flames could be seen. Blackened, burned remains were scattered everywhere, and beyond the traces of destruction stood red sensors.
“Edu, is this-”
“…Yes, it’s a plasma cannon attack.”
The high temperature dissolving the target and leaving fire on the ground was a characteristic of plasma from the AOE universe.
And the only thing capable of such a large-scale plasma bombardment was that thing.
“Megabase…”
The formidable opponent we’ve finally come face to face with. The President, who knows better than anyone else the strength of that thing, had a shadow cast over their face.
“Could it be that it destroyed the mountain range?”
“…Looks like it. Any other information?”
“That’s all the footage we have.”
“Hmm…”
Ms. Freya lost in thought.
However, as always, her worrying doesn’t last long.
“To the forward base then, President, what will you do?”
“I’ll go along as well.”
“Simonia? What about you?”
She nodded her head toward the President in lieu of an answer while asking Simonia.
“I’ll stay since I have things to do. Just call if you need anything.”
“That’s great. President, we’ll go to the ship deck and take a transport-”
“Wait a moment.”
Interrupting Ms. Freya’s words, I enter the conversation.
“Edu?”
“Ms. Freya, instead of needlessly looking for a transport ship, isn’t it better to ride my ship?”
“Edu’s ship? Do you mean Jason?”
“Yes.”
After all, transport ships were designed for transporting goods, not for quick movement. And since this is an important situation, I believe I should also head to the forward base.
“Is it alright? Aren’t your friends or colleagues resting?”
“True, but it’s an emergency, and the AI will cover for any shortcomings, so don’t worry.”
“Then can I ask you for a favor?”
“Of course.”
Answering with a nod and looking toward Nisia.
“Nisia, can you contact the friends? I’ll contact Mili and Sita.”
“Alright, understood!”
…
The hurriedly approached forward base.
As soon as we disembarked from Jason, Freya’s aide saluted our group, who had come out to meet us.
“Commander, President, Colonel Edu, welcome. You arrived earlier than expected.”
“Thanks to Edu’s ship, now what’s going on?”
“Megabase is advancing. We’ll talk about the details while heading to the command center.”
“That’s better. President, Edu?”
“Hmm.”
“Yes.”
The two of them boarded the vehicle behind the aide. Nisia helped me into the car first and then got in with Seoli.
“Then I’ll be going for a bit. Rest well, everyone.”
“Yes, sister.”
“Yes, good luck, sister!”
Nods from Mili and Sita.
“Yeah, come back safely.”
“Come back safely, sister, Edu!”
The car started while receiving farewells from our friends.
“So, what happened?”
“The footage showed Megabase has started its attack. We don’t know the reason, but it has significantly changed its expected invasion route and is forging a path.”
“A path?”
“Yes, please look at these photos.”
She skillfully operated the device attached to the car with her right hand while driving with her left. A holographic screen appeared near the front seat of the car, and several photos expanded one after another.
The first photo wasn’t much different from the video we had seen before, showing a melted terrain with Megabase visible in the distance.
In the next magnified image, the terrain in front of it could be seen being melted by plasma.
“…Casualties among our forces?”
“Thankfully, there haven’t been many casualties thanks to the guidelines you, Colonel Edu, provided. However, most of the ground-installed facilities were heavily damaged, and the defense line has lost its function.”
The aide slightly bowed their head toward us.
I also bowed my head in acknowledgment, and the aide’s face broke into a faint smile.
“Though…losing the facilities is unfortunate, considering only facilities were lost, it’s lucky. What about the troops stationed there?”
Unfortunate but, lucky.
My head nodded at that phrase too.
What’s important for us now isn’t the weapons but the people who can use them—human resources.
“According to the commanding officer’s discretion, the planned retreat is ongoing.”
“Alright, support the retreat as much as possible from the third defense line. And if there’s any support the forward base can provide, respond to the requests as much as possible.”
“Understood.”
The car had already arrived at the Obelisk.
The aide and Ms. Freya got out of the car first, followed by the President heading this way and offering their back to me.
“Edu, hop on.”
“Thank you.”
I performed a small jump and merged with the President’s back.
Lastly, Nisia got out of the car, holding Seoli, and the aide led the way for us.
“Welcome!”
“All three have worked hard.”
People from the forward base hurriedly moved around while recognizing our group and saluted.
However, people who noticed my clothes widened their eyes before softening with warmth.
“Ugh…should I have changed clothes?”
Lowering my gaze to check my body, instead of the white military uniform I usually wore, there was a frilled skirt and a rounded blouse.
Despite the situation being urgent, I couldn’t help but forget to change clothes, but seeing people’s reactions made me somewhat shy.
“Uncle or Aunt Edu! You look pretty!”
“…Yes, thank you, Seoli.”
“Hehehe.”
It’s not an issue of whether it suits or not, but patting Seoli’s head for saying such kind words.
Meanwhile, the group entered the command room.
“Commander, the President is here too.”
Mr. Freya and the President received salutes from the young man.
Likewise, everyone in the command room followed the lead and saluted.
“Yeah. While coming here, I heard roughly what happened. Can you tell me the exact situation?”
“Understood. About an hour ago, Megabase, which was advancing toward us, started to bombard the second defense line, but its power was overwhelmingly stronger than before.”
“Judging from the footage, it seems like it blew away a mountain range.”
“That’s correct, President. However, it appears that this bombardment wasn’t due to an enhancement in Megabase’s performance but rather an unconventional operation under limited circumstances. Everyone, please look at this photo.”
When the deputy commander turned their head, an image of Megabase appeared.
Although somewhat blurry, the distinctive pyramid shape of Megabase and the many cables surrounding it, as well as the bulky vehicles connected to them, were visible.
‘Supply trucks.’
Supply trucks.
A phrase used by long-time AOE players to refer to the Invaders’ energy and material supply vehicles.
“As you can see, those vehicles are their supply equipment, and an unusually large number of them are being operated.”
“Did they harness the energy from that equipment to fortify the fortress?”
“That’s what we suspect.”
Hearing the deputy commander’s answer, the President and Ms. Freya looked at me.
I was already aware of that attack method.
It’s a secondary event triggered when Megabase is intercepted but not destroyed.
During that event, Megabase summoned numerous supply trucks, connected them, and unleashed merciless bombardments in a desperate move.
‘Though it’s different in that they used the supply trucks beforehand, the deduction itself is correct.’
After organizing my thoughts, I nodded once to the questioning gaze of the two.
Ms. Freya also nodded and then turned to the deputy commander.
“They’re forging a path, you said? What does that mean?”
“Take a look at this.”
The photo shifted, and a mass of dark Invaders covering the melted ground appeared.
The Invaders were busily moving about in front of Megabase, installing something.
“Construction units, perhaps?”
“That’s correct; it seems like they’re building foundations to advance Megabase.”
“How large is the enemy force?”
Frowning while asking, she.
“It’s an enormous scale. I suspect it might be equivalent to or even exceed the minimum forces during the 4th major counter-attack operation.”
“…They’re swarming.”
“Yes, it seems they’re putting in their best effort.”
Sighing, Ms. Freya looked seriously at the deputy commander.
“What’s the status of the evacuation from the secondary defense line?”
“About 60% is complete. We’ve deployed the artillery units from the tertiary defense line forward to cover the retreat, but there hasn’t been any major counterattack.”
“They’re probably paving the way to rush in at once. Keep an eye on them and have the tertiary defense line troops ready.”
“Yes, Commander.”
The deputy commander saluted again and concentrated on the command.
The group’s gaze turned toward me.
“Finally, the day has come.”
“Hmm.”
A somewhat heavy voice from the two of them.
Facing Ms. Freya and the President, I tapped my chest lightly in response.
“It’s alright, we can win.”
“Edu?”
“We’ve been preparing until now for this day, right? Let’s go with determination!”
Raiding enemy ships to bolster our insufficient forces, subduing the Fallen to recruit them or securing long-dormant weapons were all preparations for this moment.
Did my resolve reach them? The shadow over Ms. Freya’s and the President’s faces lifted slightly.
“Hmm, that’s true.”
“That’s right; that’s how it has to be.”
The two nodded.
I nodded in return, then spoke.
“First, we should deploy the Fallen who have completed their training and contact the 4th Interstellar Fleet to send reinforcements.”
“Alright, let’s do that.”
“Since the two of you are busy, I and my unit can handle gathering the Fallen, and while doing that, there’s something I want to confirm as well.”
“Something you want to confirm?”
“Yes.”
Ms. Freya tilted her head slightly, intrigued.
“You’ll find out soon.”
We’re not lacking in manpower or supplies, but what we lack now is that final decisive blow.
And now, with the Invaders’ attention drawn elsewhere, it’s the perfect time to prepare for that decisive blow.
