One week later, inside the transport ship heading toward the forward base.
Now used to the swaying of the transport, I nod off, when in my drowsy state, Nisia’s voice reaches my ears.
“Edu, Edu?”
Her hand gently shakes my body.
I rub my eyes and shift my gaze toward the direction of the voice.
“Umm? Nisia…?”
“We’re almost at the forward base.”
“Mm… thank you for waking me.”
I reply that way and stretch my arms and legs as I yawn.
Someone once said that humans are creatures of adaptation, and it seems that statement is indeed correct. The first time I boarded the transport, I couldn’t sleep due to the excitement and irregular vibrations, yet now I find myself dozing off like this after a few trips.
While I’m lost in thought, the slightly tilted transport ship regains its balance in no time.
It seems we’ve just landed.
“We seem to have arrived; let’s get down slowly.”
“Yes.”
I hop off the transport ship on Nisia’s back.
At that moment,
“Attention! Salute!”
A loud voice accompanies an unexpected scene that unfolds before us.
Rows upon rows of soldiers that fill one side of the landing zone.
With hundreds of people, it feels like their movements are perfectly synchronized, akin to choreographed dance.
And behind them, lined up is a group of humanoid combat weapons—armored suits.
“Whoa?”
An armored suit.
A one-person mobile weapon, roughly 3 to 4 meters tall.
To be honest, I’d consider it closer to a large powered exoskeleton, but the mere fact that it’s humanoid mech makes it special in its own right.
Anyway, the sight of robots after so long is enough to make me happy, but what really catches my eye is how drastically different these armored suits look from the ones in my memory.
They’re coated in a dark finish, as if they were redesigned for stealth operations, and they have sharp structures resembling the wings of an aircraft installed in various places.
There’s also a protruding, angular cone-shaped structure near the center of the body, which has a striking resemblance to the heavy lances of medieval pikemen.
“Wow!”
My involuntary exclamation and the sudden disappearance of sleepiness.
While I’m standing there with my mouth agape due to the sudden surge of mech enthusiasm, Freya, who’s standing in front of the soldiers, walks over to us.
“Welcome, President.”
“Mm.”
Freya greets us with a cheerful smile.
By her side is Banetta, who has developed deep dark circles over the past week.
“Welcome…”
Though her voice is weak and her body sways, her eyes shine brightly, more so than any time I’ve seen her before.
“Hi, Edu and Nisia too.”
“Hello, Freya-san.”
“Ah, hello!”
After greeting Freya, she places her hand on my head and gently strokes it.
After watching that for a moment, Ryuje looks around and then speaks to Freya.
“What is all this commotion?”
“Didn’t I mention this before? This is it.”
“Eh?”
Ryuje tilts his head, confused by Freya’s explanation.
I, too, strain my ears to hear her explanation.
“It was said that this was just the beginning, right? So, we’re going to do our best to cooperate as much as possible.”
As she says this, Freya points to our captured enemy destroyer, which is floating in the middle of the forward base.
“Hoo, explain it more specifically.”
“Yes, Edu should listen too.”
“Got it, I’m listening!”
Again, the pronunciation slightly drifts due to the excitement of seeing robots after so long.
Upon hearing that, Freya chuckles and lightly taps my head.
“An assault-type armored suit battalion. These have been painted with stealth coatings for infiltration and covert operations and have been modified for limited aerial combat capabilities.”
“Did you prepare those in a week?”
“Of course not! We’ve just adapted soldiers who were already part of strike units.”
“Indeed, you’re not amateurs after all.”
Ryuje nods in understanding.
“And there’s one more good piece of news.”
When Freya raises her right hand and points behind her, Banetta steps forward from where she was standing at the back.
“Hmm, I’ll explain then. I don’t have energy for two rounds, so please focus…”
“Understood.”
Ryuje responds on behalf of all of us, and I nod in agreement.
“We checked the equipment you brought over in various ways and roughly mapped out the alien communication devices. Simply put, they use a combination of radio waves and light signals…”
Banetta’s body suddenly stops mid-explanation.
“Well, explaining would be difficult to understand anyway, so let me get to the point. First, we found a way to interfere with the alien signals.”
“Hoo, it’s done already?”
“Yes. The technology used in their ships and some parts is highly advanced, but the technology in the communication devices themselves wasn’t as significantly different as expected.”
Clap clap.
When Banetta claps, about thirty people with similarly exhausted faces approach, all dressed in white lab coats, each holding a flashlight.
They spread out at a measured distance, waving their flashlights, and guide something toward us.
From the far end of the airfield, slowly comes into view Banetta’s research APC.
Towed behind it is a large trailer carrying what appears to be a towering steel structure.
At first glance, it looks like several steel rods joined together, but as it moves downward, countless wires and intricate machinery become visible, exuding an aura that’s far from ordinary.
“It’s a prototype jammer we just completed. It consumes a bit of power, but it should work just fine if mounted on the destroyer.”
“Excellent, did you pull an all-nighter making this?”
“Yes, everyone worked hard.”
Banetta says that and nods toward the people holding the flashlights, who, in turn, smile sheepishly as they bow toward us.
I reciprocate with a slight bow.
“So, with this, we’re done with the preparations. Should we have a launch ceremony?”
“Hmm? Launch ceremony?”
“Yes, starting from now, President, Edu, and Nisia will join these people in a special operation authorized by the Supreme Commander of the Ground Recapture Force.”
“Eeeh?”
Ryuje seems flustered by the grandiosity of the situation, his eyebrows twitching as he trails off.
Is it because she almost always acts without flaws? That little gap in her usual composure somehow makes her look cute.
“Special operation?”
“Yes, isn’t it all part of the preparations to fight against the Megabase? Long-term, this counts as part of the reclamation of the surface.”
“That may be true, but isn’t the whole launch ceremony and whatnot a bit too grand?”
Ryuje’s objection is met with Freya shaking her head firmly.
“Come now, you say that again. This kind of thing is all about morale; we’ll all cheer together and get that motivation going, enhancing our unity!”
“Hmm…”
As an aside, the operation leader is Edu.”
“Huh?”
An enormous responsibility is suddenly thrust upon me as I was watching from across the river.
“Ah, no, just a second Freya-san.”
“What is it, Edu?”
Freya turns and asks, looking at my face.
“No, no, it’s inappropriate to entrust command to a student who hasn’t even graduated from the academy yet. Such a case would be—”
“Isn’t it right here?”
“Eh?”
“I took command when I was a first-year student at the academy.”
“???”
What a monster is this.
She’s even more incredible than I imagined.
Moreover, that look in Freya’s eyes…
I quickly think about it.
“…Even so, taking command with the president here would not look good—”
“Does it matter to me?”
“What?!”
Why, President?
I think that while looking intensely at Ryuje’s face.
“Hmm?”
Upon receiving my gaze, Ryuje seems to think for a while then nods.
Did my intentions get through?
Yes, regardless of that, it’s inappropriate to—”
“Actually, upon reflection, there’s no one more suitable than Edu. I agree.”
“Aren’t you kidding, President?”
“…Excuse me?”
And when I look at both of them while saying this, they’re smiling mischievously.
Their faces full of teasing.
Aren’t these two… teasing me like a child?
“…Don’t make fun of me.”
When I puff out my cheeks and say that, Freya bursts into soft laughter.
Then she gently rubs my plump cheeks.
“Sorry, sorry, I went too far?”
“Yes, I was really surprised.”
“Still, Edu being the operation leader is a settled matter.”
“…Eh?”
But you said it was a joke just now!
When I try to protest, Freya cuts me off first.
“Come now, don’t be mad. There’s a reason that Edu must be the operation leader so, will you hear me out?”
“…A reason?”
“Yes.”
As Freya says that while waiting for my response, I hesitate for a moment and bow my head.
“Um, please explain.”
“Alright, let me explain. First, about this plan—didn’t Edu come up with this method and execute it? The president only helped Edu.”
Inher logical explanation, my head nods involuntarily.
“…Isn’t that right?”
“Yes, so the person who understands this mission the most should naturally be Edu, and you know a lot about it.”
And as she says that, Freya taps her head.
Though her expression was symbolic, I understood what she was referring to — the knowledge I have about AOE in my head.
“And this operation is different from regular missions from the very beginning, isn’t it? It’s also quite risky.”
“Yes.”
A point-by-point agreement.
However, for some reason, it feels like I’m being skillfully led somewhere.
“So we’re asking Edu. If something happens, could either me or the president respond as quickly as Edu could? It would likely prove difficult, wouldn’t it?”
“Hmm…”
“So that’s why Edu is the leader, agreed?”
“Grr…”
I want to argue, but her argument filled with inescapable facts leaves me without words.
“That… can someone like me do it properly?”
“Why give up before even trying? Isn’t this the case with this matter?”
“Exactly, try it first and see. You can think about it later when the time comes. We can help if necessary.”
“Eh…”
Oh no.
Self-inflicted wounds are meant to be used for situations like this.
I can feel the heavy responsibility slowly creeping towards my shoulders.
Ah, no!
“That… despite that, a kid with no rank shouldn’t—”
“Ah, that? I’ll promote you to Lieutenant Colonel under my authority.”
“What?! What is this—”
A parachutist lieutenant colonel?!
At the moment I was about to protest, I spot something in Freya’s hands.
It’s the shining emblem of a lieutenant colonel shaped like a closed fist.
…Did she prepare this in advance?
“Here, wait!! Are the members in agreement?”
“Of course, are they all in agreement?”
Freya turns her head and loudly asks her subordinates who are gathered.
““““““Yes! Commander-in-chief!!!””””””
An answer so loud it feels like they coordinated beforehand.
Startled by that sound, their gazes turn toward me.
For some reason, the subtle goodwill I sense in their eyes makes me wonder.
What? Why are you all acting like that?
“Understood? There’s no need to worry.”
With those words, the emblem is presented to me once again.
“Aw…”
Having no choice, I reluctantly take it.
The emblem feels rather heavy due to my lack of strength.
As Freya starts clapping, applause loud enough to make one’s ears hurt echoes around.
“Well then, Commander, shouldn’t you say a few words to the subordinates?”
“Fuu… Can Freya-san say it for me?”
“Ah, a subordinate cannot do that instead of the commander.”
“Nh… Really?”
The absurd statement makes my pronunciation slip.
Subordinates? What nonsense is this?
“Ah, did I not mention it? I will also join this team as part of the support personnel.”
“Who commands then?”
“That can be managed sufficiently by frontline commanders, and we have made all the necessary preparations.”
“Whew…”
With the president of the academy on my left…
And the supreme commander on my right…
Not two flowers, but high-ranked figures on both sides… I unknowingly bang my head against my forehead at the dizzying situation.
Now I have no idea what’s going on.
Ah, I don’t care! Somehow, it’ll work out.
“Alright, I’ll do it… but just to say in advance, I can’t give a very impressive speech…”
“That’s fine, sincerity is what matters!”
Freya answers that way while giving me a thumbs-up.
I take a deep breath and climb onto the podium prepared sometime while I wasn’t looking with the help of Nisia.
The gazes of everyone focusing on me.
Nisia, who joins me on the podium, stands behind me and adjusts the microphone near my lips.
“Hmm, hello. My name is Edu Numbersday, just appointed as a lieutenant colonel and commander…”
My voice spreading throughout the landing zone.
Though I’m conscious of what I’m saying, I simply continue.
“I may be insufficient in many ways and uncertain if I can meet your expectations, but I’ll work hard…”
…Hmm, sounds too much like an excuse.
As I glance around nervously with that thought, the team members seriously watch me, encouraging me.
A mix of guilt and restlessness.
Indeed, I should say something motivational here…
While lost in thought, I suddenly realize I’m making this too complicated.
Ah, all we need to do is share a mindset where we can all give our best effort, right?
Screw it, I raise my voice.
“We’ve endured so much, haven’t we? So this time, let’s repay them! Let’s raid their ships clean!!!”
An abrupt shout.
And in the next beat, the cries echo.
““““““Waaaaa!!!””””””
Hearing the loud cheers in response, Edu’s previously hesitant face breaks into a smile.
And stepping back from the podium, Freya watching with Ryuje smiles too.
“By the way, the team name is ‘Edu’s Pirates’.”
“…Is such a name appropriate?”
“Why not? It’s cute and easy to understand.”
“It is cute, but…”
Would Edu like that name?
Ryuje quietly swallows the question in his mind.
