Episode 278: Invaders (Third Party Perspective)

 A room that looks like a futuristic control room.

 In the room, many humanoid creatures like Lizardmen are sitting on seats, focusing on hologram-like windows in front of them, typing noisily on the hologram-like keyboards.

“Communication from the 37th ship Akitomeruku.”

“Connect.”

 When one of them receives a communication and reports it, the Lizardman sitting at the top of the command room gives instructions.

“Understood.”

 When the subordinate Lizardman who made the report operates the keyboard again, a Lizardman is projected in the form of a large hologram in a position where everyone in the command room can see.

[ Commander, it’s been a while. ]

“Umu. It’s been a long time. Baru. If I remember correctly, you guys were supposed to be carrying out a strategy to enslave a planet inhabited by intelligent life in another galaxy, but what happened?”

 After exchanging greetings, the commander asks the Lizardman called Baru.

[ I apologize for the delay in contacting you. A little while ago, the communication function finally recovered, and I can finally do so. As for that strategy, after conducting a thorough preliminary investigation, when we were about to execute it, Earth, the name of the planet we tried to enslave, released an unimaginably high-output energy cannon from the ground, and the Akitomeruku ship’s shields were broken with a single blow, and most of its weapons were damaged to the point of being useless. ]

“What did you say!? The research team found that the planet’s technology was still too early to be set in space, and weapons that would attack space should have been out of the question.”

 Upon receiving Baru’s report, the command is astonished.

 The research team had landed on Earth in advance, and as a result of investigating it without being detected, they reportedly came to the conclusion that it was a trivial civilization.

 Nonetheless, it would not be surprising to hear a report that they were attacked in a way that completely outwitted them.

[ When we did our final investigation, we came up with the same result, but we weren’t able to execute it and ended up with this result. I’m sorry. Perhaps the intelligent lifeforms of that planet Earth, humans, have built such facilities underground, and it may be they are falsifying the ground technology that visitors from outer space like us investigate, and they are repelling them by catching them off-guard.”

“No, it’s fine. It can’t be helped this time. I couldn’t imagine the ship being attacked after investigating that much. Even so, it’s camouflage … I see …”

 The commander shows a certain understanding of the report from Baru.

 As expected, the investigation didn’t extend to the underground, so it’s certainly possible. If they’ve ever been attacked by aliens like them, it wouldn’t be strange to take countermeasures.

 However, even so, the civilization on the ground is too old, so he felt that it was too much to be camouflage. However, it is also true that it is easier to deal with it if something goes wrong if you act on the premise that you have power hidden underground.

“What are you going to do with it?”

[ We have decided that this case should be dealt with by the fleet. Could you please reorganize the fleet for Operation Earth Enslavement? ]

“Fumu. Surely, we’ll need that level of strength. When do you think you’ll be able to return?”

 After hearing Baru’s reply to the commander’s question, the commander makes a gesture of thinking for a while and then asks again.

[ It took more time than expected to recover the communication function, so maybe two days from now. ]

 Even with their technology, it would take them four days to get here form Earth. If there are only two days left, then half the journey has passed. It just means that it took a long time to restore the communication function.

 However, two days is barely enough time to secure the necessary personnel and equipment for the fleet.

“I don’t have much time. But, I understand. I’ll move to make arrangements at once.”

[ Thank you very much. I will send you all the data obtained during the operation, so please use it. ]

 The hologram Baru bows to the commander who promises to move quickly because there is no time.

“Umu. Got it. Then, don’t let your guard down before returning.”

[ Yes. ]

 When Baru salutes the commander who acknowledges the data issue, communication is cut off and the hologram disappears.

“Well, we have to move immediately, but before that, let’s take a look at the data.”

 The commander opens the data that has been sent, and the image at that time is reproduced as if it is projected on the screen where Baru was projected as a hologram.

“No way … It’s this powerful …”

 It was as if the energy that had just been released flew towards them. It approached the ship with tremendous speed and power, destroying the camera and showing a screen like a sandstorm.

 While he admired that they came back alive in such a momentary event, at the same time he is astonished by its power.

“If it’s that much power, it may not be possible to deal with it unless it’s an Aegis-class battleship, which is the strongest fighting force. Let’s get things figured out right away.”

 After looking at the video and data, the commander immediately communicates with the upper management.