Chapter 146 – Would It Not Suffice for Us to Go In and Seize It Ourselves?

"I have reviewed the report."

In a conference room at the Seldia Administration Bureau, Lieutenant Priscilla Halevy of the Wistrum homeland military's special-forces unit quietly began to speak. Seated around the table with her were three others: Letaria, Grain, and Milea.

"Further investigation by the follow-up team has confirmed that the structure in question is Argria's secretly held property."

Grain crossed his arms and added in a heavy voice.

"Nearly all the data on the main server had been wiped, but we succeeded in restoring part of it ourselves. That is what gave us our confirmation. ...In addition--"

Milea operated the console at her hand, spreading analysis data into the air as she picked up the thread.

"What Argria was testing at that facility was, without question, technology connected to the old Escado."

Hearing that report, Priscilla narrowed her eyes with a solemn look.

"And furthermore... the existence of 'enhanced humans' has been confirmed as well, I take it?"

"Whether the pilots who engaged the Seldia Vigilante Corps directly were those enhanced humans themselves is, at present, still no more than conjecture. ...But among the restored data logs, there was test data that appeared to be human experimentation, along with several code names. 'R1,' 'M5,' 'C2'... that is as far as we have been able to decode and confirm for now."

At Milea's statement, Priscilla followed the figures on the pale blue holographic monitor with a serious gaze.

"Enhanced humans..."

Priscilla murmured it on a breath. Milea nodded quietly and went on with her reasoning.

"Taken together with the illegal incursion into the Restful Sector the other day, it's highly likely that Argria desperately wants the old Escado core information we recovered. Of course, the data we obtained is mainly an overview of the brainwave synchronization system, and contains no technical information on biological enhancement, but..."

"Yes. Still, we must fully consider the possibility that they have misjudged that, and will escalate into an inter-station conflict aimed at seizing the technology."

At Priscilla's words, Milea nodded deeply.

"It is common knowledge that the homeland military cannot easily intervene in a local conflict between stations. ...But if the existence of 'enhanced humans' could be proven, would that give the homeland military a legitimate pretext to intervene directly?"

Grain posed the question not as a barb or a sarcastic jab, but as pure analysis of the situation, and Priscilla gave a troubled, wry smile.

"You are quite right, Mr. Grain. Enhanced humans, created through inhumane human experimentation, are illegal and strictly prohibited even under international treaty. ...They are a dark side we cannot claim has been completely eradicated even today, but for the homeland to act, unshakable 'proof' is indispensable."

Priscilla closed her eyes for a moment and fell into deep thought, arms crossed. How were they to obtain evidence, and what international procedures would need to be followed -- as the adults weighed their calculations against their concerns.

"If you say there is no evidence, then would it not suffice for us to go in and seize it ourselves?"

Letaria, who had listened quietly up to this point, spoke as if it were nothing at all.

The proposal was so direct and so outrageous that everyone in the conference room froze for an instant.

"...That is a truly wonderful idea."

Cutting through the frozen air, Priscilla smiled softly, yet with a hint of delight.