Chapter 279: Connecting the Past and Future
Saijin, the director of the Imperial Aeronautics and Space Agency, communicated with the Launch Preparation Team.
"...This is Saijin. The exposure is currently at 16 percent. No weapons or structures have been detected on the surface of Loom yet. We thought we were in too much of a rush, that we didn’t have enough time, and that this wasn’t the right way to do things, but we were wrong. We were faster."
The waiting astronauts nodded lightly in agreement.
"We haven’t won yet, but we have done better than we thought we would. So we can do it again next time. Soldiers, the moon-facing plan is now transitioning into the Lunar Strike Operation. I wish you all guidance from the stars."
The communication ended abruptly, and the astronauts summarized the briefing from the control panel.
Ramin Solost Muel picked up her helmet and said, "Let's go hit the moon."
Despite the tense situation, there was an ease among the astronauts. Having risked their lives on every rocket launch, there was no reason for them to be afraid anymore. This was just another flight among the dozens they had made to the moon.
On their way to the launch pad, Ramin and the astronauts saw something different from the usual rockets—a newly constructed piece of equipment.
"A spaceship."
Sleek and white, the spaceship was elegant in appearance. It would connect with the rocket, break free from Abartin's gravity, then stop at the space station for additional fuel and supplies before circling Yonda and heading towards Loom.
'What happens next?'
Ramin didn't know. There was ancient evil slumbering on Loom, and no explanation was given about the precautions to be taken. The Pantheon only mentioned that it would be sufficient, and the high committee of Starkeeper advised the astronauts not to ask further questions.
'Maybe it's simpler than we thought? If we just get inside.'
Of course, there were other weapons prepared by the Empire and Starkeeper, which seemed formidable to Ramin. Even though Loom was the second moon, even though it had once brought the world to destruction, even though it was known as the harbinger of the apocalypse, one would have to think twice before facing the Empire. That was what Ramin would have done anyway.
Boarding the spaceship, the astronauts, given the emergency, ignored over half of the usual procedures and proceeded directly to launch. Outside, priests were performing the largest scale rituals.
'It looks like a massive sacrificial ceremony.'
Ramin thought so, but was glad she didn’t say it out loud.
Ramin then asked, "Has everyone had dinner?"
Con Sifneta, a Houyhnhnm species known as horsehead, grumbled in response, "Are you asking about our last supper?"
"No, I was just trying to have a casual conversation!" Ramin exclaimed, a bit taken aback, to which Con laughed.
"Even Captain Ramin gets nervous, huh?"
Ramin laughed, realizing it was a joke.
Then, Charo, a Halfling, asked, "By the way, how many people are we picking up at the pitstop?"
"I think they said two?"
Ramin furrowed her eyebrows for a moment. Charo was referring to the people they had to pick up from the space station. The number had fluctuated due to the duration of stay at the station, but it was currently two.
"Are they people we know?"
"Probably not,” replied Ramin.
Rockets weren't only launched from Starkeeper. Using other launch pads, though less efficient, was sensible for the Empire to best utilize time. While Starkeeper's launch pads were used for constructing the space station, others were utilized for docking supplies, and there were astronauts Ramin and her colleagues hadn't met.
Ramin said, "I just checked, and they're listed as unknown."
"...Is that even possible?"
"Must be a security issue."
"There are people more secretive than active intelligence agents?"
Ramin shrugged. "Anyway, they must be related to the Central Temple or the Imperial Palace. We just have to take those two people with us."
Then Luluta, the Pangolin, said, "I saw one of them at the station last time. Must be the person who has stayed the longest."
"Oh, that person?"
"Yeah."
"...Impressive."
There was a person frequently discussed among the astronauts, maintenance, and launch preparation teams at Starkeeper. An outsider, they had been residing at the space station for several months without break. Despite various research groups, including the Imperial Aeronautics and Space Agency, not having conclusive data on the effects of zero gravity on health, concerns about potential detrimental impacts on the musculoskeletal system led to multiple official communications discouraging prolonged stays.
"Are they like Ramin, a Vampire?"
"I don’t think I could’ve stayed that long. And the way they look..."
"Anyone seen them? How do they look?"
Most had only had contact behind closed partition walls, so no one had seen them directly.
Ramin tried to recall, "I remember they had a tail."
"A tail."
"Their build was on the larger side, not as big as a Troll though."
"...Are we playing twenty questions?" Luluta's blunt comment was interrupted by the control panel announcing the launch time.
The astronauts swiftly checked the spacecraft launch procedures again.
"This is Ion from the Observation Team."
After hearing the familiar voice over the intercom, Ramin responded, "Ion, what is it?"
"Ah, just following procedure. Currently, the exposure rate is 21 percent."
"Is anything visible?"
"...There is something."
A silence fell over the spacecraft.
Though underprepared, everyone knew that the Loom wouldn't have initiated movement without something in place. Naturally, the spacecraft would be Loom's primary target.
"Specifically, it's not visible directly. It's a shadow. The Analysis Team is working on it."
"Alright, got it."
"It's likely nothing significant."
"Because we don't know much about Loom?"
"No. There are things other than weapons on Loom. Weapons alone aren’t enough. There's also energy transfer equipment, as well as devices needed for Loom to observe us. We believe Loom's weapons are more likely to be centralized rather than scattered on the outskirts. So, even if there is something, don't get too agitated."
Ramin and the astronauts were already aware of this information, but hearing it from someone in charge always instilled more confidence.
Ion continued, "You know, what I mean to say is...we'll succeed, Ramin. There’s no need to worry...."
"No." Ramin spoke firmly. "That's a nice consolation, but...we could fail."
"...P...pardon?"
"I understand you might want to say something like that because I supported you, Ion, and I appreciate that thought. But our task might fail, and that's what makes it valuable. Plus, when doing important things, it's sometimes necessary to feel anxiety and fear. It keeps us alert."
"Ah."
As the conversation went on, the control room called for attention as the conversation was getting too long, but Ramin didn't end the communication.
With the 60-second countdown starting and while preparing for launch, Ramin continued, "I won't be certain of our success."
"Then what?"
"Instead, let's stack up...each small possibility that everyone has contributed. The spacecraft and rocket design and production team, maintenance team, launch preparation team, observation team, and the Imperial Aeronautics and Space Agency, along with the Vaseniol Magic Tower, the Imperial army, the royal family, the Central Temple. And let's not forget the Itimo Group for enhancing quality amenities, among others. Each doesn't guarantee complete success, but..."
"They converge."
"I'm not certain about that."
"But you believe it."
Ramin pouted slightly. "I guess I do."
Ramin put on her helmet as if to hide her face.
Someone among the astronauts chuckled quietly.
As the countdown ended, the rocket and spacecraft roared to life from the launch pad and began to ascend.
***
"Stabilization in orbit in 5, 4...1."
"Is the communication stable?"
"Attempting connection. Just a moment..."
The first moon, Yonda, and Loom, which was behind it, became visible. Loom now resembled a crescent moon, having revealed much of itself.
"...Min! Ramin!"
"I'm listening."
An urgent voice came through the communicator.
"Incoming long-range projectile detected! After disengaging the last rocket, perform an evasive maneuver in the directed path!"
Ramin clenched her teeth.
'It was a weapon!'
But there was still room for action. The astronauts quickly manipulated the procedures, detaching the rocket and starting the spacecraft's own propulsion system.
The control panel continued to provide updates. "Second projectile approaching!"
"Is it going to explode?"
"No, it's a simple mass weapon, but it's quite fast! The first projectile just passed the spacecraft!"
Ramin checked the spacecraft's rear through the screen. As the spacecraft moved away, the rocket thruster, now off-balance and spinning, suddenly exploded. The explosion of the projectile launched from Loom was not even visible.
Ramin said, "Do we have to stop at the station? At this rate..."
"You must make the stop."
"...But if I'm right..."
Ramin looked forward. It could have been a mistake, but this time she saw it. A third projectile was launched from Loom.
"Unless the one controlling that second moon is a fool, they would know the best way to hit the target."
It was simple. They would target the spacecraft when it tried to dock with the space station.
There was a moment of silence in the control panel's voice.
'Are they figuring out a solution?'
That wasn't the case.
A familiar voice came through the control panel.
"Uh, Ramin!"
It was Simo, the great inventor and a key figure in the Itimo Group.
"What did you say earlier? That Itimo Group only provided simple amenities and didn't contribute much?"
"No, I didn't quite put it that way."
“And I still haven’t forgotten that time I got scolded by Teacher.”
"...Still?"
"Wait and see what we've achieved! ...Get ready!"
The control panel hastily reclaimed the microphone.
"Sorry, Ramin."
"It's fine."
"Still, as you might have guessed, it's possible."
"Understood. We'll proceed as planned."
"Right. We'll continue to guide you from the control panel. Please follow our instructions."
Tense moments continued. Loom was increasing its accuracy. But all the while, the spacecraft was helped by the combination of cutting-edge scientific technology, the magic of the Wizard Rodem, who was both an astronaut and a disciple of Talay, and unbelievable miracles.
"Starting deceleration."
"Observation panel here. Current exposure level is 33 percent..."
As Ion hesitated, Ramin asked, "Is it bad news?"
"...Yes." Ion explained, "The weapon we feared is starting to emerge. According to the Analysis Team, it's likely...yes, it's that. Lightbeam."
Among the weapons known to be in Loom's arsenal, many could be countered or avoided with modern technology. However, Lightbeam was one of the weapons the astronauts needed to be cautious of. This offensive module—a giant cylinder firing intense light, just as its name suggested—required a considerable amount of energy transmission modules attached to it. The more energy modules, the more destructive the beam.
'There's no escaping light.'
This was anticipated. Thus, preparations had been made. The idea came from the Itimo Group. Putting the entire group on the line, they worked on the project that could have just been a waste of money. To outsiders, it seemed foolish for a massive corporation controlling an entire continent to dive into such a wasteful endeavor.
'But what's the use of money if the world ends?'
Simo's logic was simple. if the enemy's weapon is strong, use a corresponding powerful weapon, a simplistic logic that could even seem childish. And Simo found such a weapon in her own success.
'The electron cannon, powered by electromagnetic acceleration.'
Ramin could vividly recall the scene she had often seen. At the corner of the Sky Castle, Starkeeper, dozens of airships floated, each equipped with a small power plant. These airships were connected by massive cables to a single machine, the so-called electron cannon. It appeared as a pair of horns shooting into the sky. These horns were actually flat rails. When a strong current flowed through these several-meter-long rails, a powerful electromagnetic force was generated. This force accelerated the projectiles placed on the rails. It was an incredible waste.
'But that waste too...is a possibility.'
Suddenly, shouts erupted from the control panel's communicator.
"What? What's happening?"
"Oh, it's...a miracle. When the projectile was fired, the Electric Demonic Magic was conjured. The projectile's speed exceeded our predictions by four, no, more than five times."
"That's more like it."
With the now visibly closer Loom, Ramin attempted to dock at the flying space station below it.
"Attempting to dock. Station, do you copy?"
Someone on the space station responded, "Is the direction correct?"
"Yes, if we continue like this, we'll be able to hover and stop..."
"No, that's not good. Turn about 13 degrees."
"Why?"
"Lightbeam is coming. Right now."
Ramin, without a second thought to contact the control panel, trusted the voice, finding it oddly reassuring. The spacecraft and space station simultaneously rotated in the same direction, and a flashing beam of light, too fast to be perceived, passed between them.
Red lights flashed inside the spacecraft.
The control panel shouted, "Spacecraft! Are you okay?"
Ramin checked on her fellow astronauts and replied, "We're fine. No damage... But the next attack..."
The space station communicated, "We don't have time. Dock now."
"Not avoiding the next attack?"
"Otherwise, we'll be dodging forever."
"Understood."
Ramin focused on aligning the spacecraft's hull with the station's corridor. However, the angle made Loom's form all too clear on the external screen. Now, the observation panel didn't need to report the exposure level. It was nearly 40 percent.
'Luckily, we aren’t exposed to the center yet.'
But there was no room for relief. Ramin remembered how someone inside the station had anticipated Lightbeam's arrival. Now, Ramin felt she would also be able to detect it.
On one side of Loom, a circular shape flashed.
The one on the space station said, "Forget the Lightbeam, concentrate."
Ramin gritted her teeth and did as instructed. Yet, at the edge of her vision, she saw a golden beam shooting across her view.
'...Is it too late?'
Ramin briefly closed and then reopened her eyes. The spacecraft was intact.
The same voice announced, "Docking confirmed. We're moving over there."
"...Huh?"
The control panel belatedly added, "...The projectile from the electron gun has intercepted the Lightbeam! The projectile continues to move!"
The power of the electron gun alone couldn't block the energy of Lightbeam. What mattered was the projectile, or rather, what was launched by the electron gun. Fortunately, both the Itimo Group and the Imperial Aeronautics and Space Agency, as well as the Empire itself, had a projectile worth trusting.
‘So, Simo's faith in connecting the power of the past to the future has prevailed. The report from the Royal Palace about Apostle Lakrak leaving behind something after defeating an evil god."
Ramin mumbled to herself, “Lakrak's Divine Spear.”
The golden spear, created by Lakrak, maintained its velocity and was launched directly toward Loom's Lightbeam. That was the streak of light Ramin had witnessed.
Updated from fr𝒆ewebnov𝒆l.(c)om