Chapter 137 – What Fine Nerve You Have — Very Well, I Shall Come at You Without Holding Back!

"Yes, we've received word from the unit conducting undercover reconnaissance in Coroshe."

Priscilla nodded quietly, then projected a holographic map from her terminal onto the desk and began explaining to Grain.

◆◆◆

The next day.

The outer edge of Seldia's territory -- through the silent darkness where countless asteroids and pieces of debris drifted, the Vigilante Corps' Makina, led by Letaria and Grain, advanced. The lineup included Steshia, Retta, Aland, and others.

"According to information from Lieutenant Priscilla, we've received word of an unidentified structure in this vicinity -- specifically, within the neutral zone situated exactly between the autonomous territories of Seldia and Coroshe."

Listening to Grain's explanation over the comm, Letaria tilted her head inside her own cockpit.

"Are those unscrupulous scoundrels from the other day at that location?"

"Well, that's not far off. But to be precise, the intel says it's an Argria testing unit... It seems highly likely they're conducting experiments on new weapons."

At those words, Retta reacted with a dubious look.

"Lieutenant Priscilla and the others aren't coming along with us, huh. I thought they'd be reassuring allies to have."

"Right, we can't risk Coroshe's side realizing that homeland military units are operating directly out of Seldia. For the time being, they're sticking strictly to backup support from the rear."

Grain answered Retta's question.

"So even though this whole thing came as a request from their side, we're the ones actually putting our necks on the line, huh."

Aland murmured this, shrugging his shoulders with a touch of dissatisfaction. Grain answered with a wry laugh mixed in.

"There's a strong chance Coroshe -- no, Argria's people -- have already been meddling in our own territory. This is part of defending ourselves. Besides, it lets us bank a big favor with the homeland military while we can, doesn't it?"

"I see... now that you put it that way, that's true."

Aland nodded, sounding convinced.

"I do not fully understand the complicated details, but... if they truly are the ones responsible for handing Makina over to those brutes and criminals from the other day, then I shall show them absolutely no mercy!"

As if answering the fighting spirit in Letaria's words, Arden's thrusters brightened with blue light, and the machine's speed naturally began to climb.

"Whoa, whoa, settle down, Letaria -- no running ahead on your own!"

Grain hurriedly raised Riese's output, catching up to Arden's speed as he tried to calm her down.

They pressed on through the darkness on high alert like that for a while -- and then the main monitor's wide-area sensors suddenly caught the shadow of a massive structure. At the same moment, multiple machine signatures orbiting around it began blinking into view.

-- In that instant.

The magic hidden within Letaria sensed a presence unleashed from far away.

"We've been spotted! They're coming this way!"

"Understood -- all units, into combat stance immediately! But wait for my order before engaging--"

Before Grain could even finish speaking, a rain of high-output photon beams came pouring down from the distance.

"Come on now -- a first-strike attack in place of a greeting?! All units, evade!"

At Grain's shout, the Vigilante Corps' Makina scattered left, right, up, and down, slipping through the rain of photons tearing through space.

"No questions asked, huh! These guys are worse than your average raider!"

Aland shouted.

"Looks like we've got no choice but to fight, don't we?!"

Steshia spoke up, following Aland's lead.

"What fine nerve you have. Very well, then -- I shall come at you without holding back!"

Pushing Arden's Trace Mode into overdrive, Letaria threw her thrusters to full and charged straight into the middle of the enemy formation.

"Ah, hey, Letaria--! ...Grr... no helping it! All units, follow Letaria! Let's go!"

With Grain's Riese in the lead, the Vigilante Corps' Makina raced forward as if chasing the afterglow of Arden's thrusters, and the opening shot was fired on a new battle, set against the backdrop of that ominous structure.