Chapter 41
The initial strategy was formulated by the Corporation, based on Gorou's hypothesis that the space eel possesses a sense akin to vision.
The optical weapons mounted on the Corporation's ships—by reducing their output and aligning the ships to emit light collectively, they would form a concentrated beam.
The primary goal was to signal the existence of a creature capable of emitting light similar to a star. Even if that failed, the secondary goal was to mislead the space eel into thinking a star was nearby and drive it away from this star system.
Even if both objectives failed, the Corporation remained optimistic, believing it would still contribute to the study of the space eel's biology.
'Sorry, Captain. It seems a lot of people in the Corporation have been rude to you out of some kind of rivalry or resentment.'
"Don't worry about it, professor. Rudeness goes both ways."
'Both ways?'
"Thinking that way helps keep the peace in the world. More importantly, be careful. It might get excited by the light and attack."
At Kait's words, Gorou also stiffened his expression. The researchers, including Gorou, would not board the ships doing the irradiation, as they were there to observe the space eel's behavior.
The Corporation's mothership, nicknamed "Eanipol," naturally held the most optical weapons and was positioned at the center of the irradiation fleet. The researchers, including Gorou, were in the process of moving their research equipment from Eanipol to other ships.
Kait offered to help, but was refused. Apparently, they suspected he might tamper with the research equipment. But with Namibif 6 right behind them, they had no time for such nonsense.
'I understand, Captain. I've already informed the higher-ups about the potential danger.'
"What was their response?"
'They said they'd take it under consideration. When I met you, someone apparently overheard that you had relatives in the Federation. It's made things a bit awkward for me too.'
"If things get difficult, come to the Federation. You're welcome anytime."
'Whoa, no headhunting in a place like this, please. That'd make things even more awkward.'
"My bad."
They both shrugged and ended the communication.
It seemed someone had been spreading rumors that Gorou was close to the Federation, or to Kait. At first, Kait thought it was meaningless, but then reconsidered—it did have meaning. If one wanted more benefits, knocking down the competition made sense.
The world is a harsh place. Gorou never said it outright, but he seemed interested. The Federation's atmosphere would likely suit a scholar well.
"Captain. What's your take?"
"On whether it'll work?"
"Yes."
"Hmm."
In response to Emotion's question, Kait wanted to avoid giving a definitive answer.
He had a feeling it would fail. Just a feeling, with no real basis.
Still, since he'd been asked, he couldn't stay silent. Especially with Radia's staff watching him with such curiosity.
"I don't think the professor's hypothesis is off base. If we shine light on them, it wouldn't be strange for the space eel to recognize the Corporation's fleet as alive."
"Then you think it'll succeed?"
"Assuming it perceives the Corporation's fleet as 'light-emitting creatures.'"
"Right."
"But do you think ships look like organic lifeforms?"
"...Ah."
"Wouldn't it recognize them as metal lumps, or maybe as small creatures like itself?"
"So, it'll fail."
"Or maybe, it'll try to communicate with us instead."
As Kait predicted failure, a strange sense of relief seemed to spread.
No, what mattered was that the space eel left. There was no need to worry about the Federation or the Corporation.
Well, maybe some people just didn't like the Corporation's branch manager's rude attitude. That could be another reason.
But even so, there was a strange unease.
***
On the monitor, the Corporation's fleet had formed a formation between Namibif 6 and Namibif 10. A bit farther away was the observation fleet—fewer in number and mostly smaller ships.
The Prosecutor MacDonnell was apparently aboard one of the irradiation ships. Not surprising, since he wasn't a scholar.
"Representative Stomato. During the initial communication, was light-based communication attempted?"
"Yes. Light, heat, sound, electromagnetic waves—we tested various responses."
"And it reacted to the light?"
"Yes. It stopped eating and came toward us. It didn't seem to react to heat, sound, or radio waves."
"Did that lead to a battle?"
"No. Since it didn't change behavior even when the light intensity changed, we judged it as an instinctive reaction and stopped the irradiation midway. When the light stopped, it seemed to lose sight of us and returned to eating—at least that's what the records say. ...A battle, you ask?"
At Stomato's question, Kait nodded, unable to hide his unease.
Something was bothering him. Not about the light, but something more fundamental.
He ran through the recorded events in his mind, speaking aloud to give shape to the unease.
"Throwing rocks, releasing air to create vibrations... Representative Stomato, based on the space eel's actions so far, is it possible for it to annihilate the Corporation's fleet?"
"Annihilate? No, I don't think so. Air vibrations could be a threat at close range, but not enough to wipe out a fleet."
"Right. But the Corporation's fleet has been annihilated before. And they never figured out the cause. In other words, the battle started and ended so quickly—"
"That can't be. The Corporation's fleet is on par with the Federation's in terms of strength. You're saying it was..."
His unease began to take form.
Kait looked behind him. He visualized the positions of Namibif 6, Radia, the Corporation's irradiation fleet, and the space eel, then shot a sharp look at Stomato.
"Representative Stomato. Move Radia out of the direct line connecting the space eel and the fleet. Emotion, how long until irradiation?"
"About fifteen minutes in Earth time, I think."
"Based on Namibif 6's orbital speed and position—if the Corporation uses optical weapons powerful enough to destroy a fleet, would Namibif 6 be affected?"
"Depending on the scale, yes."
"Deploy the Queen Bee!"
Kait didn't hesitate. Issuing the command to Stomato without waiting for approval, he transferred to the Queen Bee with Emotion.
As soon as the Queen Bee was activated, a transmission came from Stomato.
'Kait, Third-Rank Citizen (Enec Lagif)!? What is going on!?'
"When the Federation fleet went to subjugate the space eel, the Corporation's fleet had already been destroyed, right?"
'Yes. Why?'
"The Corporation has the same system as the Federation. That means the crew on the destroyed ships must have seen the space eel's attack."
'There was nothing in the records. In fact, the Federation accused us of ambushing the Corporation's fleet... Don't tell me—'
At that moment, Stomato seemed to realize what Kait's words implied.
Kait nodded and continued.
"The Corporation tried to protect it. That means they tried to control its movements to some extent. If they read the Federation's records, they would've known it reacts to light."
'They tried to control it by shining light. But the fleet was annihilated before they could even record the attack method...?'
Stomato's voice trembled. Urgent orders were issued to move Radia.
Kait transferred the ship outside Radia and focused his power. Cloaked in violet electricity, he exited the ship. Standing on the pedestal at the front of the hull, he moved the Queen Bee behind the irradiation fleet.
'Captain. A transmission from Eanipol. They're asking what we're doing behind them.'
"Tell them we're just setting up a barrier on the Namibif 6 side. Worker Bees, deploy."
Without hesitation, he deployed the steel plates. They connected with invisible force to form a barrier, angled to deflect away from Namibif 6 and Radia.
Just in time. Kait exhaled and gave Emotion an order.
"Emotion. Contact Professor Gorou. Depending on the light intensity, the space eel might attack. Tell him to move the observation fleet farther away."
'Understood.'
A small portion of the observation fleet could be seen retreating slightly. Not all of them. Understandably so.
'Irradiation commencing.'
"Yeah."
The Corporation also seemed concerned about the rear, but confirmed it was just a barrier and began irradiation on schedule.
The fleet blocked the view, but the space eel's reaction was palpable.
In an instant.
An invisible, massive pressure slammed into the barrier set up by the Queen Bee.
"I knew it was coming!"
It wasn't light. There was no blinding brightness. But the pressure definitely hit the barrier. Meaning, it had passed through the Corporation's fleet.
"Emotion, analysis!"
'It's heat. A heatwave accompanied by pressure was emitted from the space eel.'
"A heatwave!?"
As if to confirm her words, the Corporation's fleet began to melt and collapse. Explosions erupted in places, gradually revealing the other side.
The central Eanipol was still intact. Just as Kait thought, "As expected of that giant ship—"
'⁉'
Emotion reacted in shock. Understandably so. Kait was shocked too.
Right before their eyes, Eanipol was literally devoured.
The space eel's mouth, split into four parts, closed in on Eanipol with astonishing speed and clamped shut.
There must have been an explosion inside its mouth. The space eel opened its mouth in surprise and fled into the star it had been feeding on.
"Emotion"
'Yes'
"What about the impact on Namibif 6?"
'None at all'
"......That's a relief"
She glanced to the side. Compared to the literally obliterated irradiation fleet, the observation fleet seemed to have remained intact.
A few ships appeared to have sustained damage from the heatwave, but none had been sunk.
"Will the Federation be billed for those repairs too?"
'Well, who knows?'
A bit of escapism.
The unpleasant branch manager, the clerical staff who had cowered before Kait, and even Prosecutor MacDonnell who had radiated hostility.
In that instant, they were reduced to cosmic dust. There's no way they survived. It's unclear how long it will take them to recover, but the Corporation's headquarters will likely be the new base. They won't be present for what's to come.
For now, the Corporation's operation has failed. That's all that can be said for certain.