Story Reader / Main Story / 09 Fallen Star / Story
Incoming! The next wave of beyond-visual-range strike will hit soon! Interception rate 73%!
Celica! Tell all departments to prepare for impact!
Roger!
...
The alarm temporarily stops after a fierce collision.
The interception rate is dropping...
If this type of attack comes more often, Babylonia needs to increase the orbital height again... Which will make our communication to the ground even worse.
Celica, continue your loss report!
Okay.
The door of the command room opens as a young man in senior lab uniform shows up.
Based on our analysis of the observation results—ah, hey!
Asimov, the Chief Tech Officer of the Babylonia Science Council, is pushed away by someone from behind.
Oy of the way!
Hey! You—
Oh, Karen. Did something happen on your end?
I should be the one asking you that! Why is nothing happening here?!
Why's it still moving?! If this keeps going on—
Then we won't be able to use "that thing"!
Calm down. We tried everything we can, but none of our attacks could destroy the space station from outside...
The landing operation will start once Babylonia withstands this wave of attack.
It will be your time to shine once our ground forces find the enemy's weak point.
Wait a sec, why is someone like her operating "that thing"?
Cosmos Technician Union specifically asked Karen to do it because she's good at... creating explosions.
Such nonsense... All she needs to do is to press a button!
I thought humans had entered the automated era in the 21st century.
"Press a button"? Do you know how difficult it is to control that thing?!
You know nothing! Want me to show you now?
Hah.
...
S-speaking of! Gray Raven...
Karenina puts her cannon down and turns to Celica.
Hah! Right, where are the Gray Raven guys?
Swayed by Celica, Karenina is brought toward the main control room while Asimov straightens his shirt nonchalantly.
Hassen pinches the bridge of his nose.
As we all know, the space station has been broadcasting strong signal interference. The strength of interference varies periodically...
Our forecast shows the interference will soon be reduced to a historical low.
I know what you mean.
Hmph, that's right. I need you to allocate more manpower to escort a satellite to a position closer to the space station so we can study it better.
...Manpower.
Alright, fine.
Don't worry, the findings will be worth it. After all...
I'm confident that this time I can find more truth about the Punishing Virus...
Commandant, we are 300km away from the space station.
According to the mission brief, we will begin engaging Punishing-corrupted drones...
Don't worry, we'll escort you.
Thank you very much.
I still don't like shuttles... This feeling of not being in control...
Commandant, how are you feeling?
"Fenrir" is a space-plane that can operate in both the atmosphere and space. It takes a high toll on the pilot's physical strength—usually, only Constructs can operate it...
Even as a passenger, humans often feel sick. If there is anything wrong with your body...
Please, you must tell me.
What's wrong? I've brought some serum and basic medical devices.
Liv does not perform the routine scan. Instead, she reaches over, as if she was trying to offer support.
Boom—
Commandant!
What was that?!
A nearby ally aircraft is shot and forced to retreat.
Hold on! We'll buy you time!
The next few shells barely miss the wings of the shuttle and explode not far behind.
A few Corrupted drones are already visible and are approaching at a high speed.
Zoom—
Before engaging with Gray Raven, Corrupted drones are distracted by ally aircraft and a dogfight ensues.
Full speed ahead, Gray Raven! Break through, do not change your direction!
...
Your mission... is to land on the Corrupted space station.
As the engine puts out more power, the shuttle quickly accelerates, leaving the explosions and signals far behind.
Once the deceleration is over, the corrupted space station is mere inches away from you, completely obscuring your vision.
It's huge... even though it's technically much smaller than Babylonia...
Indeed...
I can barely see any allies nearby... I'm not getting any signal either...
Perhaps it's due to the interference... I'm sure we aren't the first squad to arrive here.
Commandant, bad news... We're being locked on by multiple weapon systems.
Tsh, it's the space station's short-range interceptors. No wonder there's no one staying in this space.
As he says it, multiple flares fly toward the lone ship you are on, their tails crossing and trailing one another.
Incoming!
BOOM—
Ugh! We're hit! Initiating emergency landing, Commandant!
Commandant, the hull is breached! We'll be exposed to a vacuum shortly—
Please activate your space combat outfit immediately!
With your outfit activated, your helmet veils your vision once more before the air pressure drops, inside it a slight overabundance of oxygen.
——
You can no longer hear what Lucia is shouting at this point.
An anxious Lucia gestures you to communicate with your Mind Beacon.
Can you hear me?
Commandant's not injured, and the readings are fine.
We're alright.
We're approaching the surface! Prepare for a rough landing!
