Unparalleled Path ~ Reincarnated as the AI for a space battleship ~ Chapter 15

Translator’s Note:

Sorry for my inactivity! I had a few personal things to take care of over the past few days.

Enjoy!

Chapter 15 – Mexican Stand-Off

It’s not time to shoot. The distance between Sohaira’s fleet and Immaku’s will keep increasing until it’s time to shoot.

I wonder when it will begin? Although we’ve now escaped the explosion zone, the distance is still close. It’s tens of kilometers. If the enemy shoots now, the projectile would hit it’s target in seconds.

One bullet. I turn my attention to the sensor. If just one s.h.i.+p begins shooting, they would have no time to avoid an attack at this distance. 90% of the s.h.i.+p would be hit in the first 10 seconds and get destroyed.

Which s.h.i.+p will shoot first?

The distance between the fleets slowly increases.

Sohaira turned to me and murmured.
「Are you not going to shoot?」

The other me responded.
「I cannot shoot. Right now everyone is in the striking range of everyone else. If we shoot at an opponent that opponent will die, but we will also die」

「I see. At least Imumaku-oniisama will not be able to take the first step. It’s impossible that he’d take the risk of hurting himself. It makes me wonder if he really is the emperor’s son. Why isn’t captain Korion shooting?」

「It seems that his desire to utilize you is better than his revenge for the 1st prince」

The combined fleet that had just been just looking until then, began to move the remaining 20,000km to the jump point. Approximately 300 battles.h.i.+ps/battlecruisers, plus countless auxiliary s.h.i.+ps traveled at a furious speed.

来る。ぼくは思った。ドレッドノートが口火を切る。いま、互いの距離は2000キロ、まさに戦いごろだ。イムマクも覚悟を決める。むざむざ逃しては、彼自身の身が危うくなる。連合に意図的に手出しを控えたと思われれば、あの300艦が彼の艦隊を粉砕する。

My sensor picked up the firing of ma.s.s bullets.

The dreadnought had shot at the warspite.

Both fleets rained down ma.s.s bullets. Hundreds of sh.e.l.ls rushed forward towards each side.

I immediately moved the s.h.i.+p.

The resolution moved in front of me, the warspite before that. Destroyers enter between the battles.h.i.+ps and battlecruisers. We’ve become like a snake, with me at the tail.

Ma.s.s bullets approach like a storm. I moved almost all my reactor energy into the defensive s.h.i.+eld. The shape of the field is a cone, with the b.u.t.t end being near my engines.

It begins to rain.

2 destroyers received a total of 7 direct hits. Although the defensive fields were enabled, a significant amount of power was used to block the first bullet and the rest managed to puncture through. One of the bullets managed to pierce into the armory, igniting the missiles in storage and causing a secondary explosion. The hull broke into three pieces and spun around and around. I could not hear anything in the vacuum of s.p.a.ce, but I felt like I could hear the screams of the crew.

Ma.s.s bullets came towards me one after another. As they collide with my defensive s.h.i.+eld, a small amount of energy is drained.

Every single shot swayed the s.h.i.+p violently. The 8th shot managed to cause damage, breaking an exhaust duct and cracking the floor. In the officer’s private room, the mattress sprung up into the air, smas.h.i.+ng a light fixture. On the bridge, Sohaira and Vega grovelled on the floor.

The power of the defensive field fell. 80%, 50%, 20%.

We might die. As I thought that, the bullets stopped at the field fell to 3%.

My body is no longer rattling and engine output has dropped to 47%.

The other major s.h.i.+ps are alright. Although Edincoat had lost it’s second main gun, there was not conspicuous damage to the other s.h.i.+ps. The remaining power of their defensive field had reduced by a certain percent. (TLN: Forgot what we decided the name Edincoat was :S)

Unfortunately, the 3 destroyers had ma.s.s bullets penetrate their defensive fields. Causing fatal damage to their drive system.

Sohaira crawled up to the captain’s seat. She had hit the monitor in front of her, there was a blue bruise on her forehead. She spoke as she rubbed it with her hand.
「Asagaya Makato, do you have any ideas?」

I answered through the bridge speakers.
「There is a harness under your seat. Well, the habit of harnessing seems to have been abandoned roughly 300 years ago」

「Harness?」
She explored under her seat and pulled out a belt. After adjusting it slightly, it was fixed to her waist and lower back.

In a place several steps from the captain’s seat on the top row, a weapon’s controller murmured 「For someone who is the successor of the throne to be this weak」

The young officers, the steering officer Nate and the AI technical officer Vega also followed Sohaira and attached harnesses.

Sohaira stared at the battle screen.

She placed her arm across her chest.

The crew face the screen, looking at the almost intact fleet.

「Your fleet formation was very good, exquisite control. Of course, the field officer worked hard as well」 I said.

She switched to the intercom and said in a loud voice.
「My idea? Because I hit my head, perhaps I lost my memory?」

「It’s a strategy to reincarnate you as a G.o.d of war. As you command the fleet successfully, you’ll build up achievements. People here know that I am not ordinary, but that doesn’t mean I have to take the credit for everything. By the way, all communications with the fleet have been in your name」

「I don’t like the idea of stealing credit」

「The plan was due to your order though」

「Then it can’t be helped」
As she sighed, my warning sensor screamed.

The 2nd volley from Imumaku’s fleet was displayed.

The battles.h.i.+p warspite which had been ahead of me, left the formation and returned to me. Captain Corion called, his face appeared on the edge of the battle screen.
「Princess, can you send the field you used previously to us?」

Sohaira nodded, the dignity shown only by the imperial family was oozing from her.
「Please」

I sent the data of the cone defensive s.h.i.+eld I used earlier to the warspite AI. Because he is limited by the AI model, he can’t change the form of the defensive s.h.i.+eld without the help of the field officer.

The warspite endured the second volley. However, as the number of enemy s.h.i.+ps fell rapidly, only 3 actually hit the defensive s.h.i.+eld.

The jump point was before my eyes

Sohaira spoke to me over the intercom.
「Finally. With this we can fly to the Ospra system」

Ospra is not in imperial territory and is adjacent to the Shaka star system. Although it is owned by the alliance, it is mainly used for agriculture and it’s defensive strength is not large. From there, it leads to the Bratar star system, Vicide star system, Napolium star system, Tyltil star system, Sylvania star system, Azan star system, the neutral Daman star system and finally the Imperial frontier system, El Gaza.

When invadind Shaka, due to the special jump point. We could quickly jump from Daman. However, it cannot be used on the return back.

There is one more place to fly to from the Shaka star system. That is the Lundinium system. It contains a s.h.i.+p repair station owned by the alliance. According to the data, a large amount of resources are transferred from Lundinium to Shaka. Naturally, although it’s defenses aren’t as strong as Shaka’s, it still contains a powerful garrison. Imperial intelligence suggests it is protected by 10 strong s.h.i.+ps.

Which one should I choose? There is no need to even think about it. I said.
「The destination is Lundinium」