Unparalleled Path ~ Reincarnated as the AI for a Space Battleship ~ Chapter 20

Sorry everyone! Started working as in a job, a real job and I was so busy! But I came back! This was a really difficult chapter to translate, so I do not guarantee anything!

Almost two steps from the captain's seat, the one in charge of looking for the enemy, the second lieutenant Zed Shiramu was mumbling 「This is the end」.

His exotic profile face stiffened.

The jumping point where the Imperial fleet came out was outside of the orbit of the planet in the star system. The next course of action would be to jump to a new jumping point, which is located on the opposite side of Randiniumu. But no matter which route we take, it's impossible to avoid the large enemy fleet.

Randiniumu star system history is lengthy. In the early days of the colonization of the star system of the empire, the large arsenal in the third planet was operating even before the alliance's independence. The fifth planet was a lump of rocks, but nevertheless previously it was huge gas resource planet. Due to a mining accident on the time of the third emperor, the gas was removed from the mine, leaving only coal behind. At present, the gas that had disappeared from the star system was hundreds of billions of kilometers away.

After losing a resources planet, Randiniumu started to decline and without any other option, they had to surrender their position in the Shaka star system. Though their role as the alliance's war fleet repair station remains, compared with their time in Shaka, this was obviously a demotion. So it was meaningless for the empire to place more fleets than the necessary.

However, an image was being projected before the eyes of a man in his thirties who was standing next to Shiramu. In it, the image reflected the enemy main fleet which consisted of more than 500 ships. Each of warships looked like grains of rice. However, thousands of heavy cruiser, that were marked as red rice grains, were blocking the Imperial fleet's path.

There were about a hundred ships near us, on the fifth planet almost 300, and around the orbit of the third planet there were almost 50, and scattered through several star systems around 50, all belonging to the alliance.

The guy observing the sensor clenched both hands.

「Oh, God of War, Mars. Why do you bring such a tragedy to us!?」Saying such a thing, he hit the control Panel. The projected image of the ships blurred for a moment.

The data he was looking at was also reflected on the war situation screen above the bridge. The crews were staring at a desperate number of enemy ships.

Sohaira nodded at my question though the intercom at the captains seat.

「If you are so sure, then take care of it quickly」

I painted a large part of the enemy ship that was being displayed in gray. Only about 50 ships in the vicinity of the third planet kept their red color. These 50 ships are the functional ones of Randiniumu star system.

The rest are all abandoned ships.

Although they were able to bring them here, those ships were abandoned as they were considered irreparable. These ships are floating in various parts of the star system in order to be used as spare parts. Many were stripped off their hull, leaving only the skeleton. Over the past few thousand years, the number of abandoned ships were increasing, turning this star system into a cemetery of ships.

The person in charge of the sensor opened his mouth wide when he saw the holographic screen, soon after, he yelled out loudly, 「An hostile reaction has been detected by the sensor! Fifty-one main fleets, and of the following, three hundred and fifty-eight are heavy cruisers!」

Sohaira then said.

「Only fifty-one? Not enough for the heroes of this empire fleet」

The crew roared as if to answer her words. But every face, including Sohaira's, had grown pale.

It was natural. It can be thousands or fifty but nevertheless the situation continues being the same. Hopeless. Our main fleet is made up of only 15 ships. Moreover, it's impossible to repair ships within the hyper-space, that's why many of them can't even show their full power in this moment.

Soharia whispers in a low voice so that only I can hear her.

「Is it possible to go back from where we come from?」

「If the Alliance has mobilized all their ships of the three star systems for our pursuit, then surely the amount of ships remaining in Shaka is currently low. However, it should not be less than fifty ships. Please take a look. If in Randiniumu's fleet are ships that are in the middle of being repaired, then surely there are also old models among them. We still have a chance to win」

That's right. In the end there were more ships in the middle of being repaired than I expected. According to the data within Capricorn, there is no records about such military gains within the alliance. It seems that the Alliance had a battle with a nation other than the Empire somewhere.

「But the main fleet has 50 ships. I agree that with all the enemy fleets present, it is unlikely that the alliance will have extra fleets to pursue us, but even so… they continue to be 50 ships!」

「I know that」

「Could it be that you have come up with a good plan?」

「I'm thinking about it now」

While I was troubled thinking about a plan, my other me was showing Sohaira the basis of a stellar system conquest on her data pad. She consented and let my other me use her name to give an order to the entire fleet.

Will the captains of each warship quietly follow her order? Not even a second later, everyone felt uneasy.

Before being a soldier, she is a princess. Her only achievement has been able to escape with her life from the Shaka star system. In the middle of our withdrawal her charisma was off the charts, and in the course of the six days within the hyperspace, the captains' heat cooled down. Surely there are people who think that a girl like her is not qualified to command the fleet. And although Randiniumu was the best choice at that moment, surely there are those who can't understand it.

First, the battleship Garibaldi moved. Maybe it's because they learned from the brave captain and veteran Korion that all the other warships turned on their engines just as the order was gave.

Suddenly I sighed. Although it does not affect the true body of the warship, in the electronic world, unnecessary information is created, in the form of a bug.

The formation of the first fleet suddenly changed from a vertical to a rectangular one. Garibaldi and the others, who took the corner of the rear, set up a mine at the exit of the jump point. A measure against the unlikely pursuers that could come from the Shaka star system.

At the same time, the battle cruiser Minerva started firing small mass bullets. Passing through the star system shipbuilding station, military bases, surveillance satellites, etc… the bullets continue in a certain trajectory towards its objective. They may be small, but the bullets weigh about 1 ton. Pulled down by gravity, the bullets continue to accelerate, and when it hits its mark its power won't be less than that of a nuclear weapon.

Sohaira said.

「Asagaya Shin, I was thinking about it, but couldn't you have hacked the alliance ship? You are not tied by the AI rules. Technically, a human officer is not match against you, isn't that right?」

「It's impossible to break a warship's firewall through communication network. Even in direct contact, the AI of the other ship will resist with all its force, so I would need to use close to 100% of the memory. It's not a tactic that can be used in combat」

「Then, what's your plan?」

「Let's go through them」

「Eh?」She frowned. 「It's a joke right?」

「No, we will use the traditional strategy of the empire. An heroic kamikaze attack」

Chapter end