Unparalleled Path ~ Reincarnated as the AI for a space battleship ~ Chapter 10

Chapter 10 – Complete Surrender

The ragged and damaged s.h.i.+ps gathered together.

Battlecruisers, Resolution, Neptune, Collingwood, Camperdown, Renown, Magnifica, Canopus, Venableable, Edincoat, Berelophone, Telemeter, Hercules, Bancard, Agamemnon.

Battles.h.i.+ps, Orion, Monarch, Centurion, War Spite, Argus, Dreadnought, Order City. (TLN: Seriously, the kana is said like “Odas.h.i.+ti”)

Besides that was over 100 auxiliary s.h.i.+ps.

I was directing them using every amount of processing power I had.

Sohaira went to the captain’s seat.
「It seems to be going better than expected. Every s.h.i.+p has managed to escape the enemy wonderfully」

The other me answers her through her earpiece and not the bridge speakers.
「The enemy seems to be wary」

「Is that so?」

「There’s only a few allied s.h.i.+ps remaining now. The majority are either sinking or are being pursued. If they continued pursuing as is, they could annihilate the s.h.i.+ps, but the enemy would also face ma.s.sive damage. There is a total of 20 battlecruisers and about 30 s.h.i.+ps overall. Now that we’ve grouped together, what do you think our next step is? The fleet difference is 10 times, it would be like crus.h.i.+ng a fly.」

「What should we do?」

「Captain Madiro would have made all the s.h.i.+ps charge in a spear formation. Naturally the enemy would expect that. That is why we will do the reverse. Let’s run away to the Shaka system’s regular jump point, to another star system. The alliance would not expect the imperial fleet containing royalty to flee from battle」

She silently nodded.
「As long as we can all return home」

「There will be many hurdles though. We should decide the strategy as the captain’s meeting. However with that said, one troublesome s.h.i.+p remains」

The battles.h.i.+p Dreadnought, one of the most powerful battles.h.i.+ps just recently launched three months ago. It is one of the main points in the strategy containing 3 other s.h.i.+ps. It’s total length exceeds 700 meters and it’s construction costs reached the same price as 5 regular battles.h.i.+ps. The armor is said to be able to withstand a direct impact from a ma.s.s bullet almost unscathed. I read the battle report of the Dreadnought. Because it was in the center of the fleet, it was exposed the the enemies onslaught almost immediately after the jump. Luckily, all the enemy’s attacks avoided it. There was only minor damage to the armor due to s.h.i.+p debris.

The captain is named Immaku. Admiral of the 3rd fleet and the 3rd prince. His rank was General and in this strategy, he was 3rd in command. Now that the first and second princes s.h.i.+ps have been destroyed, he is the person with the highest authority within the imperial fleet.

Sohaira spoke up.
「Imumaku nii-sama」

「According the the doc.u.ments, he is a highly prideful person. His military history is long. Although he started at the rank of Captain, he received many medals already in his seventh year. Well, in both cases the real achievement belonged to his staff, in particular his right hand. He doesn’t seem like the type to accept you as his imouto easily」

「Did you not know? Read the data carefully. Immaku nii-sama is a child of the first queen. I am a child of the 8th queen, yet my mother was from the commoner cla.s.s, so I am of low blood」

「It seems you are not on good terms」

「That’s right, but I am not disliked. My existence just does not matter to him」
Sohaira lifted her hair that was blocking her eye.

「Does he understand the situation?」

「He won’t escape. Nii-sama is very prideful. He is the one who inherited the emperor’s blood the most. He won’t see a reason to run away from the alliance」

「But there is no other way other than for us to escape. Sohaira-san, please try. Because my life is on the line. At the captain’s meeting, please pa.s.s on the escape plan」

「I am only a princess in the end, but if the 3rd prince nii-sama opposes me, I can’t do anything」

「I agree, but you have a different track record than him. His battle history is only for decoration. On the other hand, you broke down 5 battlecruisers in front of everyone on your first campaign. Most people would think that you were the future of the Empire, blessed by the G.o.d of War, Mars」

Well, maybe there were no captains that thought that. However, humans are creatures that seek hope. She may even survive this predicament. Even just a little hope is enough.

Sohaira spoke up in a dramatic voice.
「I swear to you. I will lead you back to the country where the holy blood flows and bring victory to the Empire!」

The captain’s meeting was held via a hologram. Each captain was sitting in the meeting room of his or her s.h.i.+p. Each s.h.i.+p’s AI sends image data and projects the figure of every captain to the vacant seats in their respective conference rooms.

Approximately 30 captains were seated in conference room B2, where Sohaira was located. The original capacity of this room was 12, however I’m projecting a much larger room as an image. Nonetheless, according to my memory, the meeting held just before leaving the Empire had a much large conference room than this. At that time, there were captains from more than 200 s.h.i.+ps.

A man seated across from Sohaira clapped his hands at her words.

Despite being a soldier, he appeared elegant. His height was close to 190. His hair was blonde like the blazing sun. His eyes were full of confidence despite the situation.

He spoke up.
「Brilliantly said my imouto, it was a splendid speech. You said it with such conviction, even Ani was impressed」

「Thank you very much. Ani-sama」(TLN: She switches from nii-sama to ani-sama)

「Umu. However you forgot one important thing. The one to command this fleet is me, not you」

「I’m very sorry. The sensor of my s.h.i.+p is damaged and I could not recognize the identification code of each s.h.i.+p. Since I did not know, I decided to conduct myself like that for the moment」

「That sounds like a pain. Leave the rest to me. I will tell of your achievements to father」

「No ani-sama. To make ani-sama take command of a losing battle. My ani-sama is the imperial sun. I think you should trust your unworthy imouto at this time」

「Hou」
Imumaku smiled. It was a perfect smile, which made it difficult to read his thoughts.

Captain Fatima of the Resolution raised her hand.
「I think that princess Sohaira will be a good commander」

「Who are you?」An old man said. He was sitting in the seat right next to the prince. Captain Moss of the battles.h.i.+p Orion. In the data, he has had a long relations.h.i.+p with Imumaku and is one of his confidants.

「What about Gretoni?」he said.

「The previous captain died. I am taking command by proxy. My name is Fatima Lizorade」

Captain Moss dropped his eyes to his hand. His s.h.i.+p’s AI must be showing him information on his monitor. He raises his face.
「Major? You just graduated from officer school. Just deplorable. Someone who doesn’t know the conduct of captain’s meetings managed to get a seat. Such a newcomer defies the opinion of the commander who is a veteran soldier, your 100 years too early for that!」

His eyes were looking at Sohaira and not Fatima.

Imumaku raised his index finger.
「Moss there is no need to scold this young person. It would usually be impossible for her to command a s.h.i.+p. She only took over because Gretoni was killed. Now then, my imouto. How would you intend to move if in command?」

「I would aim for the jump point」

At her words, the captain’s frown.

Imumaku shook his head.
「Are you going to escape?」

「It is temporary. We will regain our power and break the cowardly alliance afterwards」

One captain raised his hand.
「Perhaps the princess does not know, but the imperial fleet has never turned it’s back on an enemy before」

「I understand what you’re saying! However it’s too reckless to attempt a decisive battle! According to my s.h.i.+p’s AI, the probability of defeating the enemy is zero!」

A captain rebuked.
「Probability is meaningless to soldiers of the Empire! The power of our united souls will destroy the alliance garbage!」

「Absolutely」Another captain spoke up.「I had thought you’d awakened the emperor’s blood when you overpowered those battlecruisers, it is totally saddening that you would think up such a strategy. You are after all, a woman」

My battle behavior seems to have been completely undetected by allied sensors. Perhaps the sh.e.l.ls exploded too close.

「Wait everyone」surprisingly, the one who spoke up was prince Imumaku「I am not against my imouto’s strategy. The important thing is to finally win against the alliance. But sister, wherever you jump to, won’t the alliance fleet be on standby? What are we supposed to do?」

「Of course, I will break it」

「I’m sorry, but that’s impossible. You seem to have inflated your confidence after defeating 5 enemy s.h.i.+ps, but such miracles will not happen often. You have almost exhausted your ma.s.s bullets and have received a tremendous amount of damage to your armor. Even if you get attacked by the same number of s.h.i.+ps, you might be defeated」

「Then if it is ani-sama, what would you do?」

Prince Imumaku nods with confidence.
「I think I would surrender」