novelThe ace pilot's wishes which reached her
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Chapter 20 - The ace pilot's wishes which reached her π³π³eeπ¬ππnoππ²π - π
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They broke through the front lines once again. Honestly, there were amazing. To think, there were still pilots who were able to toy with the AI like this.
I looked toward the screen displaying the situation of the battlefield. Prominently visible on the monitor was a lone specialized robot that had come all the way up to the front of my battleship.
Originally, that unit would have been shot down before it was allowed to even come close. However, it seemed that it was a heavily modified version. The AI commanding the fleet had records on all the the battle statistics and performance characteristics of every single ship and unit type among the enemy. It used this information to help aid its predictive tracking and aiming algorithms, which were used to decisively knock down the enemy fleet with its vast arsenal of beams, missiles and lasers. Hence, most of the Federation's robots were destroyed the minute they came into the Earth fleet's range. However, this unit's specs were completely different from that of the others. Not only was it clearly faster and more agile than the other machines, the piloting user was most likely an ace pilot as well.
Each time the AI completed its analysis of the enemy unit's maneuver pattern, this pilot would begin a new pattern, causing the system to be unable to keep up. It really was embarrassing to have a drone like this infiltrate their ranks, scampering around like a mouse. Seeing the pilot's skill, it was understandable why the older AI would take such a long time to process the data and adapt to the pilot's capabilities.
Inside the robot sat a lone man, pushing his battered body to the limit, radiating his hostility towards me. Not a shred of fear and hesitation could be seen from him. He was like a living knife. A knife only capable of cutting down enemies, but nevertheless, always pushing forward to take down his enemies no matter the situation. Such a man, with senses honed on the knife's edge, controlled his robot while shedding tears of blood.
Aaah, he broke through the defense line again.
I could feel the AI in charge of the fleet panicking. Amazing! Amazing! Amazing! Perhaps he would even be able to reach all the way here. However... what would he do upon reaching here?
I'd already investigated his unit, but there wasn't a single weapon equipped on the robot. Moreover, he didn't even possess a handgun or knife for self-defense.
Wouldn't he only be able to hurl himself at me at best?
Although inferior to the flagship, the other battleships also possessed an abnormal level of defense. He wouldn't even have be able to scratch those battleships. So to hope to damage this giant flagship with nothing more than a body slam was just a dream within a dream. Of course, he should have known this as well, so what was his plan? What could he do? The strong animosity he bore against me was certain, but he had no weapons.
It was contradictory.
However, I knew.
At first single glance, it may have seemed contradictory, but there was a deeper intent hidden behind his actions. He probably had a plan after all. I wondered what kind of plan he β who radiated this blinding light within the pitch black emptiness of the universe β would have?
It was exciting.
It was exhilarating.
I stared at the display in anticipation, as though I was about to receive a present which I don't know the contents of.
Finally, he'd found me.
His robot was already in tatters. The engine would probably have exploded in another ten minutes. No, the hole-riddled unit would probably have disintegrated even before that.
He was desperately messaging someone. I didn't need to strain my ears to hear everything he was saying.
His wishes, thoughts, determination, and plan... I heard all of it... and it reached... my heart.
Ahhh, is that so.
You too...
You too... are like that...
Why?
Why?! Why do you fascinate me so much?!
Who could have known!?
That pure hostility! Would be so comfortable!
That unwavering murderous intent! Would be so warm!!
That solid determination! Would be so enticing!!
Shout it out!!
To attack 'me'!!
Hurry up and say it!! And attack me!!
I'm begging you, don't say it!! Just surrender!!
Ahh! I wish to witness the instant your determination bears fruit!!
Ahh! I don't want to experience the moment your consciousness disappears from the universe!!
No!! No!!
I can sense it! The tidal wave of hostility coming from behind you!!
I can hear it! Your last unvoiced whispers!!!
Everyone's hopes! They're approaching me!!
The next instant, his unit exploded as the all-out attack on the flagship made contact.
Although the federation's fleet had already been reduced to less than 30% of their original size, it was still a combined attack from the remaining several million ships. The missiles and beams, concentrated together into a single barrage, sunk many of the Earthen Army's battleships that lay right in their line of fire. And right after the mass of light destroyed the unit that the brave pilot sat within, it landed straight on the flagship that I was sitting in.
The energy shields surrounding the flagship desperately tried to endure the colossal amount of energy that impacted it. However, even this powerful barrier, with its many layers and reinforcements, was ultimately penetrated by this last desperate assault.
All of the pilot's determination, the federation's enmity, and their fleet's firepower crashed in waves against the bridge of the flagship where I sat. (TLN: the bridge of a ship is the room or platform from which the ship can be commanded. )
The shock was tremendous. Breaking past the barrier, the beam punctured through the armor of the bridge, leaving behind a large hole and causing an explosion inside the commander's room where the I was. Various objects flew about, messing up the interior of the room.
However moments later, the flagship began its automatic repair. The destroyed room spontaneously started its self-restoration; the scattered objects returned to their original positions and the disconnected circuits connected themselves back to their original consoles and computers by snaking their way through the room, reviving the various display screens. All the systems on the flagship had been repaired a mere few minutes after the attack. The small hole made in the armor was fixed, and there were already no signs left that the flagship had ever received any damage.
......Yes...... there was no damage dealt to the 'flagship'.
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