Assault Colossus of the Nemesis Warfront

「Is this place actually heaven?」

Kurose wondered aloud in astonishment.  He was now having a meal inside the Astraea.

Specifically, he was having katsu curry for dinner.

「Please feel free to ask for seconds if you like the curry, everyone.」

The one who said that was Ponko.

「This is definitely heaven. There’s no doubt about that.」

One of his female subordinates nodded in affirmation.

「A private room complete with a shower and bathtub.  Cutlet curry and a salad bar. You can even freely choose between cream or miso soup.  I don’t wanna go back anymore. Also……」

「Here’s a melon soda for you, young lady.」

The other female Pleiades members were also staring in a smitten manner.  The young woman was handed a melon soda by a decidedly dashing fox-eared young man.  However, the other women made sure their gazes weren’t too intrusive, and they just checked the young man out from a short distance.

Besides, there were lots of other handsome young men all around them. Some had fox ears while some had cat ears.  They had effortlessly made the female Pleiades members almost fall head over heels for them with their casual attentiveness.

The male members were also chatting up the female Therianthropes.  They did feel closer after the experience of fighting together, but the Therianthropes seemed especially favorable to them.

Eira was also right in front of Kurose.

「It seems like in the era Kou-sama lived in, there was such a thing called a mixer where pairs of men and women mingled together freely.  How about we also group ourselves into pairs?」

The one who made such a proposal was a cat-eared male Therianthrope.

「I agree! Let’s do it!」

All the women were in agreement.

「I’d really like to form pairs, but we have a lot more men with us.」

「If you’re fine with Therianthropes, I can gather up more women to participate once we return to Fortress Area P336. So, please don’t worry.」

「Actually, we’d really like to get along more with Therianthropes.」

「As expected of people from Kou-sama’s hometown! Please leave it to me!」

Apparently, ‘Kou-sama’ was a fellow Japanese who was basically the object of the Therianthrope’s faith.  The male Pleiades members were truly thankful to Kou for raising all their brownie points with the Therianthrope ladies.

But right after the cat-eared Therianthrope tried to decide the matter, someone raised an objection.

「Wait. It seems that Kou-sama himself has never participated in a mixer before. Wouldn’t it be rude of us to take the lead?」

Another Therianthrope expressed his concern.  A secret Kou didn’t want to be known was revealed to others in such a strange way.

At least participate in a mixer once, Kou-sama, the male Pleiades members yelled in their hearts.

「Then, how about we organize a social gathering instead? Besides, Kou-sama did say he wasn’t good with crowds.  Kou-sama already has Aki and Nyanta anyway.」

「Come to think of it, you’re right. I guess there’s no problem then. Let’s split into two groups.」

A dog-eared Therianthrope lady immediately proposed an alternative and the male Therianthrope who objected earlier agreed.

「We’re definitely gonna attend the social gathering!」

The male Pleiades members raised their voices in agreement.  It didn’t matter what the event was called as long as they could socialize with the ladies.

「But it seems Kurose-san and Eira can’t participate. It’s said that it’s easy to get into trouble if you participate in such events while already having a partner.」

The dog-eared young Therianthrope lady quipped with an impish grin.

「That’s what she said, Kurose-san. How about we take a walk together while eating? Or would you prefer to attend the social gathering instead?」

「Eat while walking! That’s the best! Just the two of us, please!」

「Alright. Let’s do that then.」

Eira smiled happily.  Kurose thought she was truly a goddess.  And the place they were in was undoubtedly heaven.

Kurose was deeply thankful for the consideration of the dog-eared Therianthrope girl.

The next morning, a joint transmission conference was held between three ships – Astraea, Cimon, and Aristides.

Only Rick participated using his tank’s MCS.

A map of the area surrounding Fortress Area P336 was displayed on a screen.

「We have finally been able to launch patrol aircraft.  The estimated time of the Murder’s arrival is before noon tomorrow.  Well, they might be faking their current marching speed, so they could arrive by midnight or early morning instead.」

「Is the enemy’s combat strength still unknown to us until now?」

Rick inquired after hearing Barry’s briefing.

「The Ant types have already become completely obsolete.  And even the Mantis types have no choice but to engage in close combat. The Stones might be simply clearing out their inventory.」

「But they’re really overestimating us by sending in such numbers.   Apart from our own troops, electromagnetic armor isn’t that widespread yet.   There are also just a few forces with large metallic hydrogen generation reactors in their possession.」

「That’s why they treat us as their greatest enemy.」

Barry displayed a bitter smile.

Astraea, Cimon, and Aristides.  Every single one of these ships was capable of generating metallic hydrogen for use in weapons.

The same applied to Fortress Area P336 and the Silhouette Base.  They were powerful enough for the Argonauts to treat them as a major threat.

「Commander, an emergency transmission just came in. A rescue request has just been made!」

「Haah?」

Everyone displayed doubtful expressions after hearing Aki’s tense announcement.  Barry’s irritation seemed to have increased all at once.

They were currently in the middle of fighting a war, so what was the deal with sending a rescue request to Metal Iris at a time like this?

「Where is it from?」

「The Mercenary Association headquarters.  Currently, a large number of Murders are attacking Fortress Area A001. They seem to be in the middle of engaging in a defensive battle right now.」

「A001?! Isn’t that where humanity’s last orbital elevator is located?!」

「There are more than twenty mid-sized Underground Forces based there, not to mention the first to third-ranked Underground Forces on Planet Asia.」

Jenny was also stunned by the matter.

Fortress Area A001 was located in the Scheelite continent just like P336 and was where the last orbital elevator left in human control was located.  Another two orbital elevators were controlled by the Stones.

There was a total of three orbital elevators.  A001, G001 which was under the Stone’s control, and R001, which was being used as one of the bases of the Argonauts that declared war on Fortress Area P336.

It was also a priority protection target comparable to the planetary management and maintenance AI Asia.

It was also the location of the Mercenary Association headquarters that employs the most influential and powerful Underground Forces on Planet Asia.

The 1st rank『Roche Phalanx』had in its possession the largest two-kilometer-class space carrier that was used in the Interplanetary War era, two aircraft carriers, and one amphibious assault ship. At least, those were the ones that have been fully disclosed to the public.   It was said to be the strongest Underground Force with tens of thousands under its employ.

The 2nd ranked『Highlander』also had multiple medium-sized ships in addition to a space carrier.

The 3rd ranked『Red Fox』owned a 600-meter amphibious assault ship.

Currently, Metal Iris was rapidly gaining strength.  Even though it had most likely surpassed the other three in terms of the quality of its weapons, in the eyes of Planet Asia’s citizens, the three ranked teams were still more highly regarded.

In other words, A001 was so important that they had to concentrate that many powerful forces within it in order to protect it. It was akin to humankind’s last hope.

「Fortress Area A051 which was formerly under John Arms is quite close in location.  Because it fell to the enemy, it made it easier to launch an attack on A001.  I don’t think it would fall that easily with the presence of Roche Phalanx though.」

Rick related his conjecture.  John Arms was the only company led by an A-Class Development Engineer in that area.  The rest were actually companies affiliated with it.

「What is Roche Phalanx doing anyway?」

Aki hesitated to speak.

「……I couldn’t believe it myself, but they are actually in the middle of evacuating the Mercenary Association headquarters, with Highlander and Red Fox acting as their escorts.」

「Are you kidding me?!」

It was such a ridiculous farce.   With the strength they had at their disposal, there should have been a good chance of winning.