CH 278

Assault on the Supply Base

Although they called it a supply base, the only thing visible from outside the base itself is a metal shutter installed halfway up an iceberg. Most of the facilities are set up underground and even the most conspicuous facility, the mass driver itself which is a mass ejection device that looks like a roller coaster rail is retracted and camouflaged inside an armored dome.

“Hmm, as far as I can see there’s nothing unusual here though……”

At the base’s front gate, Diaroze groaned to herself. The armored shutter gate was shut close and there was not even a single scratch on it. No sign of anyone trying to force their way in either.

“…..I’ve checked the sensors and the logs show no record of anyone entering or leaving this place in the 24 hours.”

Said Schleer as she removed the cable connecting the terminal next to the shutter to her [Mistilteinn]. Naturally, the base is equipped with a security system to keep away intruders. However, everything here says that there are no abnormalities. Neither the infrared sensor nor the vibration sensor seemed to detect anything out of the ordinary.

“Do you think…..we are wrong?”

The Empress should already know the locations of all the bases on Galea-E. After all, albeit only for a brief period, this place was under the control of Nored for a time. Naturally, they would have mapped out the whole planet and such information should have already been sent to the Empress’s personal vessel.

That’s why if the Empress plans to use the escape plan that Diaroze predicted, she would definitely visit this place. However, since there’s no sign of intruders here, they need to entertain the idea that Diaroze’s prediction might be off.

“Hmm…….one question though. Is this place currently manned?”

“Yes. Naturally, I’d stationed people here but…….since the planned drop site for the satellite is not that far from here, I’ve issued a withdrawal order to them just in case.”

“So it’s unmanned right now? Then that would be strange isn’t it.”

Kisei frowned at Schleer’s reply. He lightly pushed his control stick forward and continued.

“I can feel faint signs of people here. I don’t think this place is deserted.”

“Hm? My Love, did you not say that there was no sign of the enemy here earlier?”

Valentina asked. Their current strategy relies on Kisei’s unnatural detection ability. Of course, when they arrived at the supply base, they had him check for any hostile presence. And the reply they got from him was that there were no enemies around.

“I didn’t judge them as enemies because I don’t feel the hostility or murderous intent from them……rather, their fighting spirit is just so weak that I don’t think it belongs to front line soldiers. That’s why I thought they were staff we stationed in the rear.”

“There’s no way that’s the case……all soldiers and staff of this base should have already been transferred to the rear already. So if there’s truly someone here I think that they are the enemy.”

Schleer tilted her head and frowned. She would never question Kisei’s ability. If he said something is there it’s there. With that in mind, her expression immediately turned grim.

“It’s probably the Empress.”

Valentina crossed her arms and turned her gaze at the gate’s terminal.

“Electronic warfare is one of the Noredian army’s specialties. It would not be strange for them to be capable of fabricating the logs of an outdated security system like this one.”

They hacked the security system, walked through the front door, and faked the logs……….that’s what you’re saying?”

Schleer’s face turned bitter. Unfortunately, the security system here is quite old-fashioned. An ultra-high performance system of the Empress’s personal striker should be able to easily hack it, it might even be able to do that automatically.

“But it’s strange that Master doesn’t feel any hostility or fighting spirit from them at all. If it’s just the Empress then, well, I say that it might be possible if she simply wants to escape. That woman is quite a coward after all.”

“True, she’s the mother of someone who ran from a duel without hesitation after all. It’s scary how these traits are so inheritable.”

“……you were supposed to come out of the same womb as I though?……well, whatever.”

Diaroze’s face turned a little sad at the fact that even at a time like this, Valentina still remembers to chide her but she simply let out a sigh and switched her mood.

“The Empress aside, the problem here is dealing with her guards. Considering her personality, it’s impossible that she took separate action and left herself unprotected. In other words, it would be better to think that those guarding her right now are someone who bore neither hostility nor fighting spirit on the battlefield.”

“You mean the clone soldiers you mentioned before? Well, they’ve already broken the biological experiment pact by creating them. It wouldn’t be strange if they go a step further and tamper with their emotions too.”

Kisei frowned. As someone who rather enjoys the feelings of people on the battlefield, it’s hard for him to forgive such an act.

“That’s highly likely…..anyway, it’s certain that the enemies are inside. It would be troublesome if they manage to use the mass driver to get to the satellite orbit. We’re going in.”

After confirming the time on her watch, Diaroze said so and everyone nodded in agreement.