Chapter 53

Toowang!

With a metallic shriek the cannon on the hilltop belched fire. Yaan, who had leapt backward and dodged easily, could not help but curse.

"So they said there was no need for coastal defenses."

It commands the high ground, covers the entire island, and its firepower is superb.

If I had not moved first, Veloster would have been reduced to dust.

"Now it's certain. Janskarl is behind these pirates."

Response speed that no irregulars could match. Having confirmed it, Yaan twisted his lips.

Handling an Ancient relic as pirates had already decided the sequence of events, but now he had the evidence on record.

"Keep drawing its attention. If we break off carelessly the cruiser will sink."

[Acknowledged.]

At Yaan's command Glaepnir surged forward. The particle cannon, moving too late and plainly rattled by a reaction speed no colossus they had faced until now could match, nevertheless fired with precision.

Kwaang-!

With the roar the ground melted away in sheets. Marveling at the overwhelming heat, Yaan began to hurl his body left and right, pulling the cannon's gaze.

"Any closer and we'll take a direct hit."

[Four minutes elapsed of estimated operation time.]

"Shit."

Swearing under his breath, Yaan glared at the battery. If the Janskarl fleet intervened while he hesitated, he would lose the chance to catch the pirates.

While they stall with diplomacy, the submarines and the Alfraian fleet will arrive and the battlefield will sink back into the mire.

'If the operation fails the unit's reputation will be stained.'

Independent Company, directly under a prince-no matter what florid phrases they used, the Penal Corps were still a band of criminals.

The smallest blemish would be exaggerated, distorted, and leave a massive scar.

And he, the company commander, bore responsibility for that fragile prestige. The unit's life hung on Yaan's actions and results.

'No failure. Whatever it takes.'

Such was his thought.

Tudung-!

The boom of naval guns from the coast snapped him back; Yaan spun around.

The stern guns of the cruiser hidden in a container to shelter and disguise the colossus were now spitting flame.

Pshoo-!

At the same instant a flare shot skyward.

"What the- that little... he even knows the army's flare signals?"

Time was short. Move.

Having recognized the cruiser's flare, Yaan looked up at the particle cannon on the summit.

Kiiiiing-!

The particle cannon, its attention momentarily on Veloster by the gunfire, began to track.

"Fine. Let's dance!"

Reading Kail's intent, Yaan hoisted the Rail Cannon mounted on his back.

[Warning. Additional time required for aim correction-]

"Switch to manual! I just need to stop that thing!"

Trusting instinct, Yaan squeezed the trigger. At the same moment the particle cannon on the peak fired.

Toowaaang-!

Kuuu-!

Two beams streaked toward each other. Yet Yaan's target was not the cannon itself. Where they met, the particle beam and the rail slug crossed, triggering a massive explosion.

Beeeep-!

The blast was deafening, but the result was stunning.

The blast wave and pressure at the intersection scattered the particle beam aimed at Veloster, shredding it apart.

"What the hell...!"

Sailors on Veloster muttered, dumbfounded by the sight.

Yaan, far beyond earshot, ignored them and stowed the Rail Cannon.

"Nill. Boost the Frame's output. All the way."

As Yaan focused, Nill began to peel back Glaepnir's armor.

[Synchronization lock released. Operating at maximum output.]

"Good. No one's lecturing me about safety now."

With a short remark Yaan hurled himself straight at the battery-not in an evasive curve to dodge the cannon, but on a direct course.

Shraaaak-!

"Wh-what the hell-!"

"What is that thing!?"

While pirates manning the cannon recoiled at the tearing wind, Glaepnir was already within arm's reach.

Thud-!

Not the tidy armor of knights, but the raw mane of a beast.

Petrified, the pirates abandoned the cannon and ran.

"Battery neutralized. How much time left?"

[Seven minutes of operation time elapsed.]

"Damn. All this running around and I've only managed to smash a submarine."

The earlier blast would have alerted the Janskarl navy; he could not delay any longer if he meant to slip away still disguised.

[Tactical proposal.]

Nill's voice cut in as Yaan frowned.

A proposal? From this guy?

Skeptical, Yaan nonetheless watched as Nill projected the schematics of the neutralized particle cannon in front of him.

[This particle cannon retains full function and bears a Human Federation designation. Scan confirms user-authority control is possible.]

"Which means we can capture it?"

[Affirmative.]

Without hesitation Yaan thrust Glaepnir's hand into the indicated port.

Clack-!

As the hand entered the cannon and triggered the recognition device, Nill issued a command.

[Forced takeover of K-9 particle cannon control complete. Emergency requisition by Human Federation forces confirmed.]

A voice never heard before echoed through Glaepnir's cockpit.

[Designation K-9 00782. Recognizing superior AI personality data. Transfer of control authority initiated.]

"That cannon has an AI like you?"

[Irrelevant. Issuing deletion command for traffic-controller personality. Control authority secured.]

[Glory to humanity.]

[Glory to humanity.]

A reticle appeared on the screen; Glaepnir's right arm and the particle cannon were now linked by the brief salute.

"Requisition-nice touch."

[An AI aware it belongs to the Human Federation attacked this Frame. Deletion of the cannon's control AI is the prescribed sanction.]

In short, it had been bullied into submission by rank and force.

'A kind of insubordination, then. Is that why it's pissed?'

He wondered if the AI had a worse temper than expected, but said nothing.

[Switching to doll-weapon mode. Trigger deploying.]

Psssh-!

A handle and trigger sized for Glaepnir extended from the cannon's side. Taking hold, he swung the muzzle around.

"Killed by their own weapon-can't get more ironic."

So saying, Yaan looked down at the factory and submarine below.

"Destroy everything as fast as possible and pull out. Overload the battery. Maximum firepower."

[Order confirmed. Aim correction complete. Particle cannon at maximum critical. Firing mode set to rapid.]

Krrrrk-!

A ghastly mechanical groan; light gathered along the cannon's barrel.

The buried reactor overheated, threatening to explode at any moment.

"H-hey... that..."

Submarine base.

Pirates boarding the sub stared up at the particle cannon on the peak and muttered in despair.

"The colossus, it's lifting a cannon..."

"And aiming it this way...?"

The instant those words were spoken,

Boom-!

Under the pouring light, the center of the White Shark submarine moored in the harbor melted away.

Bang! Boom-boom-! Kraaaang-!

One shot into the barracks.

One shot into the factory facility.

One shot into the command center.

The dining area, the mooring station, the supply transport tunnels....

As if it were a machine gun, the light of the sub-particle cannon rained down madly, and Janskarl's famously sturdy facilities melted and exploded.

[Scan complete. Underground escape route confirmed. Ten escaping biological signatures detected.]

"Base status?"

[Destruction rate 97%. Recovery impossible.]

Yaan nodded in satisfaction as he gazed at the sub-particle cannon slung across Glaepnir's back.

Sss! Sssss!

The barrel glowing red and heat rising from below.

One last shot, and that'll be the end of this cannon's life.

[Target the escaping personnel. They'll be Janskarl's people.]

Taking them alive would have been best, but there was no time.

If he tore through the underground trying to capture them, the Janskarl navy would spot Glaepnir in the meantime.

Having already pinpointed every living pirate with Nill's scanner, Yaan's eyes gleamed.

"Any human who's seen this Frame will be eliminated."

Dozens of muzzles sprouted from Glaepnir's arms.

Compact machine guns designed purely for anti-personnel slaughter.

Kwooooh-!

The pirates staring at the heat beam carving toward the underground escape route trembled in fear.

"Hey, that..."

"It's the last tunnel connected to the mainland... We're trapped on this island now!"

Thud-!

Moments later, Glaepnir's frame crashed down atop the soldiers who had spoken.

"Aaaah! Aaaaah!"

"The colossus is here! Run!"

"Everything's blocked-where are we supposed to run!?"

Pirates hiding inside buildings were blasted away with the structures; those who burrowed into holes were crushed underfoot.

"Surrender! We surrender!"

"We-we're soldiers of Janskarl! We demand treatment under the Jenar Accords...!"

-Janskarl soldiers? What are you talking about?

What came down on the pirates begging for their lives was Yaan's sneering laugh.

-You're pirates. Who ever applied international law to pirates?

The soldiers' eyes widened at those words.

"Th-that's not it, we're...!"

-Impersonating soldiers of the sovereign nation Janskarl on top of everything else-you deserve to die.

The answer to their pleas came from the machine guns.

Brrrraaaah-!

Remaining operation time: about 8 minutes. Of the 3,000 pirates on the island, not one would escape alive.

***

"Ship data confirmed! It's the Veloster!"

"Confirm the signal! How did the operation go!?"

Count Zeke's fleet had returned to port two days after the show of force disguised as a training exercise.

Count Zeke, aboard the Second Fleet's flagship galleon, asked; the sailor with the telescope, still watching the Veloster, broke into a grin.

"Signal confirmed! Operation success! Enemy base and submarine completely neutralized! For the Empire! Over!"

"Oh!"

"Yes!"

The captains clenched their fists and cheered at the sailor's report.

A great victory achieved at Count Zeke's base after the naval battle with Alfraia. With command of the sea-long since within grasp-now secured, the navy could not help but celebrate.

"Who knew he'd really wipe out the pirates alone...!"

"Astounding results!"

"We have to admit it. This time, we owe the knightly order a great debt."

"Agreed."

Count Zeke nodded at his officers' words, watching the Veloster draw nearer.

"Second Fleet Commander Count Zeke Wenli orders. All ships. Alter formation to welcome the hero of this battle. Over."

"Aye! Understood!"

The signalman nodded at the commander's direct order and vigorously waved the flag.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

From the Veloster's deck, Yaan, gazing vacantly at the sea, asked Kail, who had approached.

The fleet, arrayed for battle, was splitting into two columns.

"Father really does things that don't suit him."

Kail gave only a wry smile at that.

Soon the Veloster gradually joined the fleet.

Led by Count Zeke's flagship, the ships lined up on either side as if clearing a path for the Veloster.

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