Two-Person Galactic Journey: Earth Was Destroyed While Imprisoned in Space Prison

Chapter 177

Chapter 177

Materials for the Worker Bees were transported from the sunken large ship. Mass-produced through psychic power, the Worker Bees increased in number at an accelerating rate.

Worker Bees used in battle are consumed quickly. Besides, a major target awaits after this—no matter how many Worker Bees they have, it will never be enough.

'Captain. Are you not going to launch the Psionic Launcher?'

"I'd love to, but if we use it in this situation, it won't count as a 'moderate culling' anymore."

'True enough.'

As for the Divin, there was a small matter to attend to. He wanted to avoid reducing their numbers too much.

Federation elites were nearby, and Di-Kigaia Zarmos was also present. Against this force, the outdated ships of the Divin would only continue to dwindle.

That said, getting too close would invite fire from the main cannon of the artificial celestial body. Originally, Sarunzarek was supposed to strike the artificial celestial body, but perhaps wary of that, the Divin had clearly redirected a large number of ships toward Sarunzarek.

Kait had a vague sense that he would have to deal with that artificial celestial body himself. It was likely the Divin's last stronghold.

His original mission was to capture the Emperor. However, he couldn't shake his concern about the artificial celestial body. His sharpened intuition, enhanced by psychic power, told him it must not be ignored.

"Well, either way—"

Terapolapaneshio's encirclement was perfect. Unless it was broken, the Divin would not be able to escape.

Kait sent the Worker Bees without hesitation toward the surrounding ships targeting him. Emotion was trying to scan the inside of the artificial celestial body, but it seemed there was powerful interference, preventing any analysis so far.

"The Emperor can wait. First, let's bring down that artificial celestial body."

'Will that be alright? Without the Psionic Launcher, I'm concerned we may lack firepower.'

"We'll manage somehow. As long as that thing is there, we're at a disadvantage even with the encirclement."

With a fortress-class artificial celestial body present, even Federation ships couldn't easily get close enough to sink the Divin. Naturally, fewer ships were needed around the artificial celestial body. On the other hand, the Divin could allocate many combat vessels to Sarunzarek.

As a result, the battlefront leaned toward Sarunzarek. Federation and Divin ships clashed in a chaotic melee near Sarunzarek's defense line. This prevented Sarunzarek from unleashing its full firepower.

The Queen Bee was at the center, and Di-Kigaia Zarmos was shadowed by a Royal ship. It wasn't an attack, but a blockade. They were preventing reinforcements from reaching Sarunzarek. For the Federation, the staff aboard the Royal ships were not targets for destruction but for capture. Naturally, they had to ease off on their attacks.

Since they didn't want full-scale war, the number of Di-Kigaia Zarmos ships was kept low. It seemed the enemy had exploited that gap.

'I see. The Divin's losses are mostly on the outer perimeter. The Federation's losses are minimal, though...'

"It's more of a stalemate than expected, isn't it? How do you interpret their intentions?"

The Worker Bees completely engulfed a small combat vessel. Kait forced the Queen Bee forward to make a connection. He then rammed into a large ship that had its cannons aimed at them.

A jolt of impact ran through them. Without hesitation, Kait also directed the Worker Bees at the large ship.

Emotion took control of the ship and connected it as the new bow. The Divin people inside must have felt like they were in a nightmare.

'It's obvious, but they must understand they're surrounded. There's no escape.'

"Despite having no escape, they haven't isolated the Emperor and other nobles elsewhere."

He searched for a ship larger than the captured one. The Royal ship was out of the question.

'And they're using the advantage of the artificial celestial body to limit the battlefield. The moment the Captain appeared, the Emperor exposed his location...'

"It's resistance, plain and simple. Just as they said they would."

He found it. A ship likely used for resupplying and housing small combat vessels. It wasn't large enough to be a Corporation Branch Director-class, but among visible ships, it was extremely big.

'The attacks on the Captain are fierce, but they're keeping their distance. Since it's within the artificial celestial body's range, if they really wanted to kill him, they'd just fire.'

"Any lock-on alerts?"

'None. Its cannons aren't powered.'

So, it's just for show at the moment. He wondered what they'd do if Sarunzarek approached, but at least it wasn't targeting Kait or the Queen Bee.

"Is there a route to slip past the guard and reach the Royal ship carrying the Emperor?"

'...There is. It's complex, but I see three possible paths.'

"Then it's settled."

Kait made his decision. He directed the three ships connected to the Queen Bee's bow toward the Divin's artificial celestial body.

"The Divin's weak point is likely that artificial celestial body."

'Why do you think that?'

"It doesn't carry the Emperor. The Emperor is important, but probably not essential. I think they're trying to divert attention from the artificial celestial body."

With a grunt, they began accelerating. The shelling intensified to a bizarre degree. It seemed his guess was correct. Normally, you wouldn't leave a gap for someone to slip past the guard. In other words, the Emperor was a decoy.

Once the Emperor was captured, the Divin would surrender. The more stubborn their resistance, the better. And if they insisted the artificial celestial body only housed living quarters, disarmament and follow-up actions might be delayed.

Then, once the Federation lifted the siege, they'd attempt a transfer. Likely not the entire artificial celestial body, but just the essential contents. By the time anyone noticed, they'd have escaped. This was the Divin's only shot at revival.

"I see. That must be where the resurrection device is."

'I see!'

A powerful barrier deployed. Its scale was immense. The transport ship at the bow was instantly shredded. It was likely a countermeasure not against Kait's Psionic Launcher, but against Sarunzarek's main cannon.

After blocking a few shots, they'd probably claim surrender for the sake of non-combatants inside. The Federation likely wouldn't doubt it.

The large ship was also shredded. However, the barrier weakened slightly. Kait accelerated the Queen Bee and forced it into the barrier.

The interfering light vanished. As energy tried to restore the barrier, Kait deployed the remaining Worker Bees to block it and slipped through.

"Charge!"

'Aye aye, sir!'

The last remaining bow—the small ship—was slammed into the wall of the artificial celestial body. Pressing it along the surface, he scraped the small ship down the structure.

Explosion. Kait turned the bow and sent the diminished Worker Bees surging into the blast site. He also made sure to replenish them with fragments from the shattered small ship.

'Stop! Cease this at once!'

A transmission from the Emperor was forced through. He had finally lost his composure.

At last, a hole opened in the wall of the artificial celestial body. As Kait drove the Queen Bee inside, he found—just as expected—a sphere much smaller than the exterior, floating within. It glowed like a moon or a miniature sun. Along the inner wall were buildings resembling a cityscape, perhaps for camouflage. It seemed they had built a residential area inside the artificial celestial body. There were almost no life signs. It meant people of all ages and genders were aboard ships fighting the Federation.

"Emperor Volparek. Let's hear your answer."

'W-what is it?'

"Shall I destroy that sun-like sphere right now?"

'What are you...!?'

Volparek's voice trembled with intense agitation.

Kait confirmed that the Federation's communication network was still active, then continued.

"We probably can't move the cityscape, but that sphere might be able to transfer on its own. What do you think?"

'You... You knew all along!'

"What are you talking about? That you didn't give orders from that palace because the real command center is the sphere? Shall I shoot it down and see what's inside? Maybe a resurrection device, for example."

'Stop... Fine.'

Defeat, despair, and resignation.

As if he had aged decades, Volparek fell to his knees.

'We surrender. Divin surrenders unconditionally. So please... please don't destroy that.'

"Understood. Can you hear me, Representative Nijerio?"

'I hear you. All ships, cease combat. Cease all combat. Any further attacks will result in immediate destruction, regardless of faction.'

The outside view was unclear, but no angry shouts came through the communication network. It seemed no ships attempted anything foolish.

The sphere had to be dealt with before disarmament began.

"Now then, Emperor, would you kindly ensure that sphere doesn't transfer?"

'Understood. I understand. So please—'

Suddenly, a ship appeared before Kait and the Queen Bee. It was Di-Kigaia Zarmos.

'No need to worry, Kait, Third-Rank Citizen Enec Lagif. That sphere can no longer escape.'

"That's reassuring. Thank you."

'A-ah... Aaaaah!'

Letting out a groan of despair, Volparek collapsed to the floor. The Divin people behind him followed suit.

Apparently, they had still been preparing some way to let the sphere escape. Truly, they were tenacious to the bitter end.