Episode 3: Now It’s the Federation’s Turn
The Corporation’s observation fleet was to be temporarily received by Radia.
They had been in the best position to see how the Space Eel’s heat wave was radiated. Kaito, who had returned to Radia first, went to see Gorou after the Corporation ships had finished being accommodated.
“That was quite a disaster, Sensei.”
“Ah, Captain… I think it would be better if you didn’t come here right now.”
Gorou looked genuinely haggard, as one would expect.
The harsh stares from those around were probably part of it, but for Kaito, that wasn’t the main concern. Ignoring the hostility directed at him, he asked Gorou for his assessment.
“This isn’t really the time to be saying such things. Do you think that was the same attack that annihilated the Corporation’s fleet before?”
“…Most likely. The transparent material front screens melted instantly from the heat wave, and the crew on the bridge seemed to vaporize in an instant. It’s understandable that no one was able to grasp what that attack actually was.”
The ship that exploded was left behind, and Eanipol was devoured. Was that due to size, or were there other factors?
Gorou honestly didn’t know about that part. The biologists around who were glaring at them seemed to share the same opinion, as none of them offered any theories.
Then, one of them approached Kaito aggressively and asked:
“Did you know?”
“Know what?”
“That that attack was coming! You let the branch managers die!”
What was he even saying?
Kaito let out a small sigh and shook his head.
“I’ll chalk that up to a moment of confusion. It was speculation based on past data. I had no certainty that an attack would come, and my deploying the barrier behind was just a precautionary measure to ensure Namibif 6 wouldn’t be affected in any way. Besides, I only realized the possibility after you had deployed your formation. I believe there should be records of this—shall I have them submitted?”
“If you realized it, you could have contacted us. Then we could have called it off—”
“I did inform you, at least initially.”
There was no response to Kaito’s counter-question. Perhaps thinking it was somewhat like making false accusations, the person averted their gaze and fell silent.
At least they had learned that light stimulation encouraged the creature’s aggressive behavior. It felt like the damage was too great for what they had learned, but there was no choice but to accept it as unavoidable.
However, it seemed there were things the Corporation side couldn’t accept. Another researcher spoke up:
“You could have deployed the barrier in front of our fleet!”
“And have me get eaten? That would be quite unreasonable, wouldn’t it?”
“But you can resurrect for free, can’t you? We have to pay for it—half of what we’ve earned so far just went up in smoke!”
“Now that’s a story that’s convenient for your side. Your purpose and ours were different from the start. Sorry, but I don’t think we’re obligated to look after you to that extent.”
“Different?”
“Yes. You’re here for Space Eel protection, we’re here to protect the lives living on Namibif 6. While I sympathize with your fleet members who suffered damage and offer my condolences, it seems the past experience of being annihilated while trying to protect that thing didn’t prove useful, did it?”
The Corporation’s Space Eel protection operation had failed in the past. It would be troublesome for Kaito to be blamed for the fact that those lessons hadn’t been applied.
But certainly, in this state, it seemed impossible to have any constructive discussion. Gorou’s assessment had been correct.
Kaito scratched his head while turning toward Gorou.
“Sensei, it does seem it was better not to approach right now. If you have any footage of the Space Eel you managed to record, please provide it to Radia’s staff when things calm down—that would be helpful.”
“A-ah. Understood.”
As he tried to leave, a voice filled with hatred flew at his back:
“This is going to become a problem between the Corporation and the Federation, Captain Kaito. I’ll be reporting this to headquarters!”
“After this matter is resolved, please feel free to do as you like.”
Kaito didn’t turn around.
If they wanted to pick a fight, he’d be more than happy to buy it.
Now, with the Corporation’s interference out of the way, it was certainly easier to proceed, including with the Space Eel’s extermination.
There was a possibility the Corporation might send another fleet, but when that time came, it would come.
“Well, now it’s the Federation’s turn.”
“Do you have any ideas, Captain?”
“Nothing particularly concrete.”
After all, the Space Eel had blown away the Corporation’s fleet before there was time to think. The Space Eel had returned to feeding on Namibif 10. There were three planets remaining until Namibif 6, but due to orbital periods, some planets were on the other side across the star Namibif, so it would be better to consider that there were two in between.
Depending on the planet, there might be tidal effects that could impact Namibif 6’s ecosystem, so it was certainly best to deal with this as quickly as possible.
“The noisy bunch won’t be saying noisy things anymore, so let’s try something.”
“Try something… meaning?”
“Nothing major, Representative Stomato.”
Right. With the Corporation’s eyes not watching, they wouldn’t be criticized for some poking around.
The mass difference between them was overwhelming. It was like a fight between an elephant and a mosquito. According to Emotion, it might be expressed as a dinosaur versus a virus. Now it might say something like a space jellyfish versus a virus.
But insect bites are itchy.
“Let’s see if a bee’s sting might work.”
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They approached Namibif 10 with Queenbee.
The fragments of the star crushed by vibrations were each smaller than Queenbee. It had been crushed quite thoroughly.
[Captain. Why do you think Eanipol was eaten?]
“Who knows. Maybe it looked delicious?”
[Delicious?]
“Look, Space Eels don’t eat planets themselves. They contain metals and rocks and such.”
[Yes.]
“A fleet’s ships are basically chunks of metal and materials. If they’re there glittering with light nearby, wouldn’t you think there’s some tasty prey around?”
At Kaito’s answer, Emotion made a whirring sound. Rather than dissatisfaction, it seemed like a reaction of contemplating the Space Eel’s ecology itself.
The Space Eel would probably emerge next when it spit out the rocks it had eaten. What was all that about anyway? If Gorou and the others had been calm, they might have been able to provide data about that.
“Emotion, could you also analyze the composition of the floating dust?”
[Understood.]
“And include the differences from Namibif 10’s composition too.”
[To confirm what it mainly feeds on among the planet’s constituent elements?]
“Just in case.”
However, that itself wasn’t really related to their current objective. After giving the instructions, Kaito looked at the surface of Namibif 10 as they approached. It was more full of holes than he’d expected.
Now, he had to make a decision.
Wait for the Space Eel to come out, or pursue the Space Eel into Namibif 10.
Waiting would be relatively safe, but if the Space Eel had finished feeding on Namibif 10, when it emerged would be when it moved to the next planet. Namibif 9 or 7, or perhaps Namibif 6 might become the target in one leap.
Having felt such anxiety, there was only one choice for Kaito to make.
“Well now, will a demon come out, or a snake?”
[A Space Eel, wouldn’t it be?]
“You’re right about that.”
With a wry smile at Emotion’s calm comment, Kaito launched Queenbee into the great hole of Namibif 10.
Namibif 10’s gravity didn’t seem to have completely disappeared yet. The air expelled by the Space Eel seemed to have become a temporary atmosphere, and the tremendous sound of the planet itself being carved could be heard.
“This is terrible. Emotion, soundproofing please.”
[Roger.]
The sound disappeared, leaving only vibrations resonating through Queenbee’s hull. With the sound gone, the vibration’s effects seemed more pronounced.
“I can see it.”
Writhing and coiling, the Space Eel’s massive body was squirming in what was becoming a hollow space.
It was like a nest. But once the heat source it was devouring and sucking up was gone, this Space Eel would surely do the same to the next feeding ground.
It could do as it pleased, but preferably somewhere without organic life forms.
“Well then, Workers. Time for work.”
Several steel plates that had been attached to Queenbee’s outer wall separated from the hull.
The steel plates—Workers—controlled and operated by Kaito’s power accelerated toward the Space Eel’s surface skin along their respective trajectories.
They pierced through.
For an instant, the Space Eel’s movement stopped.
“Did it react?”
Kaito watched expectantly, but the next moment he realized it had failed.
Rather than fidgeting from itchiness or anything, the Workers themselves sank into the Space Eel’s surface skin with a squishing sound.
By that point they no longer responded to control, and it seemed they had only gained the knowledge that Space Eels could feed not just through their mouths but through their skin as well.
Even if he fired all the remaining Workers together, the result would be the same. The mass difference between them was too great. In that case, it would be better to have Radia fire asteroids at it.
“Ah, there’s that option.”
Since the next idea had occurred to him, there was no need to linger here.
“Withdrawal.”
[…Roger.]
Probably quite reluctantly, Emotion made a dissatisfied whirring sound.
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