"What in the world... is this?" I call it the 'break room,' but it started life as a cargo hold. In one corner I've built a raised step and laid it wall-to-wall with tatami.
"Unusual for these parts, right? It's called a koagari—a raised platform floor. Slip off your boots before you step up. What's laid down is called tatami; I picked it up in the Sakuramiya system. The scent is soothing—"
It's my favorite space—one that stirs up a strangely 'nostalgic' feeling in me. "Ah, I see—the Sakuramiya system. I've heard they've got some unusual culture there."
In the center of the koagari sat a round, low chabudai table. I took two zabuton cushions from the stack in the corner and set them on either side of the table.
"Usually I unwind with green tea, but coffee this time. I ground the beans properly and brewed it, so it's the real thing. Here you are—enjoy ♪" "Ohh~ what an aroma! Yeah, totally different from the synthetic stuff. Don't mind if I do. (Sluuurp.)"
Watching the delight on Gilbert's face, something in my chest gave a little squeeze. What has honestly gotten into me? He's a fair bit older than me. He's a married man—.
"By the way, Seres—you said you've been running your courier business just you and Lilith all this time, right? You're still young, so why...—ah, sorry. Do this journalism thing long enough and you start itching to dig into everything."
"No, it's fine. I—" I gave him the short version: how I'd been adrift aboard the Lemurias, still asleep in cold sleep; how I have no memories of my past; how I've got a 'friend' at the Galactic Federation Security Bureau I can lean on.
"—and so I've wandered from star system to star system, and now I'm based in the Elrad system." "Huh—... So the reason the Lemurias is so incredible is a mystery. Which means somewhere in this universe there's some wildly advanced civilization... now that's romantic."
"Right. Maybe one of the reasons I took up couriering was thinking that, if I flew around enough, I might eventually reach it." "Still, that's a nice life, isn't it—wandering from star to star. I envy it."
If I could go on flying around with Gilbert from here... no, I mustn't think like that. "You've been flying all over the place too, Gil—so where's home for you?"
"I'm a rootless drifter these days. I fly around, pick up stories, sell them, and fly around again... put like that, I suppose we're much the same." For just an instant, a sad, fragile look crossed Gilbert's face.
"So you are flying around after all. And 'rootless,' you say... um, what about your w-wife?" Ah—I said it. It had been on my mind this whole time, and it just slipped out—.
"My wife? ...Ah! You mean this." Gilbert drew the ring-bearing necklace out from his collar. "I didn't mean to deceive you, but—the truth is, she's gone now. And we weren't formally married, either."
As he spoke, he opened the fingers gripping the necklace's chain, and a smaller ring slid down it. The two rings met with a clear little chime. (Huh? Does that mean... in other words...) My chest creaked—and at the same time, a hot feeling welled up in me.
"Ah... I'm sorry, I... asked something I shouldn't have..." "No, no—nothing to worry about. If anything, I'm the one who... well... I'm sorry." (I see—... so that's how it is.)
He must have parted from her in some sad way, and still can't put her behind him. But that means—in other words—even if I harbored feelings for him, no one could fault me for it, right?
"Say, Gil. Once we reach Moldi, after that, could we—" Cutting across my thin, faltering voice, Lilith's voice rang out.
"Master, we've drawn near planet Moldi, but a bit of a problem has arisen. Please return to the cockpit." "Huh... a problem... what could it be? Anyway, I'll head back. Gil, could you put the coffee cups in that washer over there?"
"You got it. Once I've cleaned up, I'll head to the cockpit too." (Right when things were getting good—come on!)
"Lilith, what happened?" "My apologies for interrupting your relaxation, Master. I've been sending transmissions to the controller at Moldi spaceport, but there is no response."
"Huh—... I wonder what's wrong. A comms equipment failure, maybe?" "The Lemurias's side is fine. On Moldi spaceport's end, even if part of the communications equipment failed, there should be several backup means available, so an equipment failure is unlikely to be the cause."
"...We can't very well just land without permission, can we." "No. Moldi, thriving as a resort planet, should have a powerful anti-orbital automated defense system. In the worst case, there's a possibility that even the Lemurias's armor could be pierced—"
"Isn't there some facility besides the spaceport we can reach? While we're at it, try the military protocols too." Just then, Gilbert came into the cockpit.
"Whoa now, military protocols—that's hardly peaceful talk. What's going on?" I gave him a quick rundown. "I see... sounds like something genuinely un-peaceful is happening."
"Master, we have a response from the Galactic Federation Zel-System Area Force." "Put it on the main monitor." I straightened my collar and snapped my spine upright—and on the main monitor, a rugged, soldierly older man appeared, large as life.
"Ah, ah—this is the special-duty vessel Ariad, of the Galactic Federation Zel-System Area Force. Captain Wolf Kruger speaking. Transmit your ship's identification code and your purpose immediately." An imposing captain, just as he looked.
"This is the freighter Lemurias. Captain Celestina Eshtal. Transmitting our ID code. Our purpose is the delivery of a requested package." "...ID code confirmed. To think I'd come face to face with 'that' Lemurias. And this package? This zone is supposed to be under travel restriction at present."
"I'm honored you know the ship. I've brought an urgent delivery, but I can't reach planet Moldi, and I'm rather stuck. What's happening down there?" "Hmm... I can't go leaking information to a mere civilian—but I'll say only this: we, too, are here now precisely to investigate that."
Here, dropping the name of Cyril Harsch—Director-General of the Intelligence Division, Galactic Federation Security Bureau—might pry a lot loose, but that's a last resort. If I could just handle this peacefully—. As I sat there stumped, Gilbert cut in.
"Weeell, if it isn't Captain Wolf. Been a while." "Y-you're... the Silent Hound! You were alive?!" (Huh? They know each other? Silent—... what?)
"What's this—I'd love to hear what rumors have been going around. As you can see, I'm alive and kicking. Anyway—how about you throw in with us here, hm~? For old times' sake, y'know. Whaddaya say, Captain Wolf?"
"Gh... nngh... but—you alone would be one thing, yet I cannot put civilians in danger—..." (Danger? So he does have some information after all. Well, no help for it...)
"Captain Wolf~? I understand perfectly that you're faithful to regulations, a splendid model of a soldier. And the fact that you knew my ship, the Lemurias—well, naturally that means you know about me too, doesn't it?" ".........."
"Whew—... Maybe I'll get in touch with my 'friend,' for the first time in a while~... We'd have so much to catch up on, after all—..." "Damn it! Fine, fine! Tell me what it is you want to know! —But first, I'm switching to a secure line, so wait just a moment!"
His face went pale, then flushed red as he shouted his consent. So he'd been reluctant to cooperate precisely because he knew I had Cyril's backing. Which meant the situation was that dangerous. And his wish not to endanger me, a civilian, seemed to be genuine. For all his fearsome looks, at heart he seemed to be a kind man.
"Seres—this 'friend' of yours..." "Heh heh—a fairly 'important person,' apparently."
"Ah, ah—can you hear me? Over." "Yes~, loud and clear. Now then, straight to it—tell me what you currently understand about the situation."
Reluctant and sullen at first, Captain Wolf gradually settled into a soldier's demeanor and laid out the details for us.
First: on planet Moldi, a large-scale riot had apparently broken out several days ago. Against what, and demanding what, was unknown. Moldi's government had asked the military for help in putting down the rioters. A few days after the first military intervention, contact was lost with the deployed unit.
Wolf's ship had been dispatched as reinforcement, and it sent down a landing craft to check on the situation—only for it to be shot out of the sky by the automated defense system's mass-driver rounds. And this despite the craft broadcasting military identification signals.
Wolf had immediately ordered the zone sealed off and pulled his remaining ships back to a stationary orbit. At the same time, he'd taken control of the military satellites in the planet's orbit and begun analyzing observation data and signal records. And that was when we showed up—so there it was.
"I see... this doesn't look like any ordinary riot. I have two requests for you. First: could you provide me detailed data on the automated defense system? Second: would you permit the Lemurias, alone, to descend to planet Moldi?"
"What?! Were you listening at all?! A Federation Space Force landing craft was shot down in a single hit! And you think you can descend safely in a—a transport ship?!" Gilbert, too, turned a look on me that said as plainly as words, 'What are you thinking?'
It seemed the time had come to show off a piece of the power hidden within the Lemurias. "Once I know the exact positions of the defense system, the rest is simple. I'll descend while dodging its attacks, and neutralize it without destroying it. And once we've touched down safely at the spaceport, you and your people, Captain Wolf, can come down slow and safe."
Over at a corner terminal, Gilbert was whispering about something with Lilith. "Such a reckless operation... no, I can't even call it an operation—it's suicide! There's no way I can authorize a reckless suicide charge! Have you any idea—"
At that, Gilbert cut across Captain Wolf's words and broke in. "Ah, Wolf? Once our captain's made up her mind, there's no stopping her. If you can't give the go-ahead, we'll just take it to that 'friend' of hers. Right?"
Whatever Lilith had coached him on, he pressed the point with a supremely confident, self-satisfied look. "Y-you too?! Don't blame me for whatever happens! I take no responsibility!"
"Yay ♪ Thank you~, Captain Wolf. You're a good man, in spite of that face." "Tch... I'll transmit the coordinate data later. Contact us before you begin your descent... that is all! Communication ends!" Click—.
(Whew—... All right, I'd better psych myself up too, for the first time in a while.) Sensing eyes on me, I turned to the side to find Gilbert pulling a pathetic face, his mouth opening and closing soundlessly.
"Seres... Ms. Celestina? Lilith says it'll 'be fine,' but—is it, really?" "My, what a face you're making, Gil... or should I say, Mr. Silent—... Hand? It'll probably work out. However powerful the defense system's attacks may be—"
"It's 'Silent Hound'! ...However powerful the attacks are, then what?" "If they don't hit, no problem! Lilith, I'm leaving the support to you." "Understood, Master. I, too, shall give it my all, for the first time in a while."
Out of the corner of my eye I watched Gilbert flounder—and my own heart was strangely, wonderfully calm.