Planet Master

Tatsumi saw the Gling’s biological spaceships in repair mode and understood that the skirmish was done and victory was on their side, for now.

“Get in the formation!” the Captain of the First Fleet ordered his and the rest of the fleet to organize into a formation.

With the spacecraft carrier in the middle, while the rest of the spaceship covered them all around it, forming a sphere which was used to block the view of the opponent, making them wonder what was in the middle of that swarm of spaceship.

But the captain was determined to cut off the opponent’s retreat. That was why he used the spacecraft carrier’s craft.

At the hangar of the spacecraft, one pilot was moving due to the ringing from the hangar reverberating. The pilot was actually a human which had already passed several tough tests to qualify to pilot the SP-01 Silpheed craft.

This was the spacecraft designed to help the spaceship's fleet in their endeavor. Tactical attack, distraction as well as defensive and retreat maneuver, that was what the pilot of the Silpheed had to do.

With his helmet covering his entire head and the visor still up, the pilot slowly ascended the stairs that led him to the cockpit of the Silpheed.

“Hatten, you better bring us spacecraft carrier some glory!” a dwarf technician was shouting to the pilot in question.

Hatten looked back and saw the dwarf with his multipurpose tools in his right hand raised while his index finger pointed at Hatten.

“Of course, old fogey.” Hatten smirked as he pulled the visor down and the heads-up display slowly activated and informed him of the situation of his Silpheed.

“I will show you and the others that I am worthy!” Then he sat down in his seat while the cockpit slowly closed and separated him from the outside world.

SP-01 Silpheed was the first spacecraft the Federation had created with successful cases for use in the space environment. That was why the spacecraft carrier carried this type of spacecraft.

“Happy Squadron, you are cleared for takeoff.” The announcement from the operator of the carrier made Hatten realize that he was allowed to take off.

After all, he was part of the Happy Squadron. He was number four because he was the youngest. There was a trail for the Silpheed to be able to take off as well as land. Hatten directed his Silpheed to the available track.

This track helped the Silpheed gain speed and take off, as well as decelerate the landing Silpheed.

“All personnel have to go to their designated place. The hatch will be opened and the track will be in a vacuum.”

A reminder was announced so even the old dwarf had to go back into his position. But he kept staring at Hatten’s Silpheed.

“Happy One take off.”

The first Silpheed that got into the track then suddenly gained speed and took off into outer space. The entire place where the Silpheed took off and landed was now a vacuum, and all personnel involved in the process of taking off and landing were in their designated spot.

The first Silpheed took off, and then the second and third soon followed.

“All ready. Parameters are as the textbook said.” Hatten quickly checked the important thing thrice since this was a monumental event for him.

“Happy Four, you are cleared for take-off.”

Hearing that announcement from his communication channel caused Hatten to awake from his daze. He shook his head and focused on what was in front of him.

He grabbed the stick in front of him and then he pressed a switch before he felt a force that slammed into his body to his seat.

The Silpheed then let out a plasma plume as it took off into outer space. Hatten could see countless stars in the universe as well as some debris. He frowned as he remembered that this was the remnant of the defeated fleet.

Then he turned his head toward the Rift, where the retreating fleet went.

“Nuggets, do you hear me?”

Someone called through the communication channel, and Hatten recognized the voice.

“Yes?” Hatten replied with a doubt. Was he actually…?

“You’re here, at last. Our first mission is to become the scouts of the Federation, going into the Rift to the other side. Potentially, there will be surprises waiting for us as well as enemy fleets.” The captain of the Happy Squadron said through the communication channel.

“Captain, what are we supposed to do exactly? Hit and run?” another voice came, a member of Happy Squadron.

“Along with several squadrons, we are to open the frontline. The spaceships will be right behind us as we enter the Rift so prepare yourself for the chaos that is going to ensue.” The captain of the Happy Squadron added.

“Free to engage. Just make sure you don’t need to pay for this banquet. Pick anything you like.” He said before his Silpheed moved along to the Rift.

Hatten followed his captain’s lead and went into the Rift.

Along with the Silpheeds’ movement to the Rift, both the spaceships from the Federation Fleets and the Biological spaceship from the Gling’s Fleet followed right behind.

Hatten then saw his Silpheed getting closer and closer to the Rift before he saw his captain’s Silpheed already did some maneuver and realized that the surprise was already right in front of his face!

Hatten used the stick to do an evasive maneuver while he started to press the button for his spacecraft’s mid-range weapon. The weapon was nicknamed Vulcan and it could even affect the shield of the spaceships as well as damage the hull unprotected by shield.

Hatten fired the Vulcan at the incoming thing and found out that his quick decision saved his life. The thing that came toward the Silpheed spacecraft was actually an enemy spacecraft!

“One down.” Hatten glanced at his surroundings as quickly as he could before he found a suitable target. As for his squadron captain and his fellow members, he saw them entangled with the enemy’s spacecraft.

“Yes! One down.” A female voice came. Hatten realized that she was also part of the Happy Squadron.

“Got one bagged!” the familiar voice of the squadmate reverberated in the communication channel.

Hatten had only focused on his own squadron’s channel and not the entire Silpheeds so he knew that the situation was not as simple as it looked.

“I got two, nuggets.” The squad leader’s voice sounded without a hint of pride as he realized that the big attack was coming.

“Evade, evade the big cannon attack!” he shouted and Hatten paid attention to this and realized that he had to make a fast decision and he did. He decided to move to the right and let his Silpheed evade a large blue cannon attack from the enemy spaceship.

Explosions could be seen around him but he focused more on a certain part of the battlefield where several Silpheed were attacking the spaceship which was already crippled and could not deploy its shield, letting the missiles and Vulcan weapon to hit its hull unimpeded.

But judging from the damage caused, Hatten could see that they need support. So he intended to become the one who broke the stalemate.

“Happy Four, free engagement.” Hatten said as he went in the direction of the crippled spaceship.

“Damnit, that nugget went on his own. But unfortunately, we are also need to be there. Free engagement is permitted.” The squadron captain of the Happy Squadron said helplessly in the communication channel before he switched into the Silpheed Unification Channel.

“This is Happy Squadron, reinforcing the effort of destroying the key spaceship.”

Hatten then used one missile. The missile then appeared from the hidden bay beneath the Silpheed and struck the hull of the spaceship, causing the fragile and dented surface to explode and letting out the rodents into outer space.

Hatten swore that he had seen the corpses of the rodents who probably stood on their hind legs, with their eyes opened wide in terror right before their death. His heart beat faster as he quickly got away from that place since the spacecraft from the enemy spacecraft carrier were coming en masse.

“Happy Four, do you hear me?” Hatten then turned his Silpheed around and realized that he was a slight bit late at accelerating and became the rear when the voice of his squadron leader came.

“Flight lead, I can hear you. Copy.” Hatten replied, he had a bad feeling about this but he still braced himself for the news.

“Looks like the two of us are going to cover for the retreat of the Silpheed back to our spacecraft carrier. Destroying several spaceships with the Silpheeds wave was quite good but it was also resource-draining. Now that the Federation Fleet had an early assessment of the enemy capability, it was time for them to sheath their sharp blade, waiting for the enemy to show weakness to unsheathe it once more and stab the enemy’s heart with it. We will fight against a strong pilot from the enemy and assess their capability for the final performance of the opening war.” The squad leader spoke quite a lot.

But Hatten understood what needed to be done. He was honestly nervous since he had a home to return to and doing this job was actually helping his family. Flashes of memories happened in the blink of an eye before Hatten and his flight lead turned around and started to engage the enemy spacecraft.

Hatten felt that the enemy movement was severely limited and he knew the answer to that.

‘So from the start of entering the Rift, we have deployed electronic warfare. That explains why we have to move fast before the enemy can mount a fierce resistance.’ Hatten thought as he faced off with one spacecraft.

The Federation Fleet was coming one by one through the Rift, launching both electronic jamming and its kind as well as conventional attacks like cannons and missiles.

The almost useless enemy spaceships' crew had to brace for impact as well as to try and repair the damage done to their vessels.

“Push them harder. I will come and help.” Seeing the situation was on their favor, Tatsumi prepared himself to go out into outer space.

He reflexively grabbed the hilt of Dragonsbane while his eyes and senses focused on the entire battlefield theater.

He could see two Silpheed spacecraft fighting off four of the enemy spacecraft before he walked off from the bridge and through the spaceship’s hull.

Just as the captain of the spaceship wanted to say something while Tatsumi was moving through the hull as if he was not touching them but could move through them, someone came to the bridge.

“Captain, it is better if you deploy us.”

When she came to the bridge, the captain was turning his head to look at the incoming person and could not help but look at her as if she was his savior.

“Ah, Miss. Please wait!” the captain raised his voice in desperation.

When it came to the two, the captain had nothing but respect but he also found it difficult to contain them.

“What’ wrong…? Ha, I see.” Ame just came from the launching platform of the Silpheed to record their performance in real battle when she realized that the situation needed a quick resolution and came to the bridge to inform the captain.

But when she saw Tatsumi halfway through the wall, she realized that he was a step faster at realizing things.

“Please let me follow you. And captain, please allow us to be deployed. This is an order.” Ame said before she too followed after Tatsumi.

“Fine, let’s go. The fun’s just about to begin.” Tatsumi nodded before he went outside.

He then circulated his transcendent energy, using it as a protective membrane against the unfriendly environment without the atmosphere to protect life against outer space.

Then Tatsumi used the Violet Sun Blade Intent while slashing the Dragonsbane, using his dragon blood to enhance it.

Most of the spacecraft were destroyed with just one move. Then Ame moved and killed off the surviving rodents in the wreckage.

“We need to eliminate as many of them as possible.” Tatsumi looked at the faltering spaceships in the distance. Despite already preparing the ambush place, they were badly countered by the superior electronic warfare done by the Federation Fleet as well as the Gling’s Biological Spaceship Fleet.

Tatsumi glanced at Ame and Ame, at the same time, also glanced his way. The two understood their position and task and then separated.

Tatsumi then went to the frontline, where things became hot. He then unleashed another strike which cleaved the spaceships into two parts, before the explosion happened to one part of it.

Moving to another spaceship, Tatsumi then entered the enemy’s spaceship where he was greeted with the running rodents’ crew. He slashed at their vital part which killed them instantly. Blood sprayed on the inside of the spaceship, through the corridors as he moved and killing the enemies’ crew without mercy.

Then another spaceship was inoperable since Tatsumi killed off the entire crew and its captain. He planned to let the scientists reverse-engineer it so that they could have more variant at spaceship type.

While Tatsumi was raging on in the frontline, eliminating spaceships and even making them inoperable, Ame on the other hand, helped the allied spacecraft as well as spaceships from falling into the enemy’s hands.

Tatsumi was quick enough that the enemy’s captain could not activate the self-destruction sequence while Ame had to unfortunately do it once to the spaceship which was doomed to be seized by the enemy.

Rather than letting the enemy have it, might as well leave a last surprise for those who wanted to take it.

Ame slipped from the spaceship which was ready to explode, while eliminating those who obstructed her way.

“Members should try to protect allied forces while also trying to infiltrate the enemy spaceships for intelligence.” Ame communicated through the encrypted channel to the Assassin Guild’s member.

At this time, Edward was entering the spaceship of the rodent at the edge of the battlefield. Seeing the difference between the Federation spaceship interior and the rodent made him sure that he did not enter the wrong spaceship.

He then used his hidden weapon to eliminate a dozen of the rodents’ crew in front and behind him, requiring him to spin a full 360 degrees.

Edward walked slowly through the corpses and pool of blood, entering the offices of the rodents to gather something that could be counted as intelligence.

Sensing that the Assassin Guild’s member had done their job, Ame shifted her senses toward the frontline where several spaceships exploded from within. She could feel that Tatsumi was wreaking havoc there since there were no allied forces nearby him.

The enemy forces were mostly eliminated, with only smaller-sized spaceships able to escape due to their excellent speed and reaction, probably the contingency plan in the worst-case scenario.

Then Tatsumi appeared right next to Ame, his face was one of deep contemplation as well as realization.

“That should be it for now. Return to the spaceship.” Tatsumi said before he returned to the spacecraft carrier.

“After you all deal with your matter, return to base.” Ame said to the guild members before following Tatsumi back.

Although the battle was intense, it was also concluding quite quickly.

Hatten, who was in the Silpheed's cockpit, saw several men moving in outer space. He knew that high realm transcendents could venture into outer space for a while.

But that did not matter to him. Now that the battle was over, the Silpheeds were returning to the spacecraft carrier.

Hatten saw the track was lit up so that he could follow it to land. His squadron leader and his squad members had already landed, leaving only him.

“Finally, the first battle is done.” Hatten breathed out in relief as the experience he had gotten from this was quite a lot. He then decelerated the Silpheed before heading to the hangar where the Silpheed would be stored.

After entering the hangar, there was the landing crew preparing the ladder for him to get out and land properly.

Hatten pressed a switch to open the cockpit after the opening to the outer space was properly closed, and air was flowing into the hangar and the launch track location.

Hatten then stepped out from the cockpit, slowly descending from the Silpheed and saw that several people were getting out to the hangar.

They included the technician for the Silpheed as well as the familiar faces he had seen before he had taken off from the spacecraft carrier. But then he saw two people whom he could recognize even from afar.

‘What are they doing here?’ Hatten thought but he also used mental power to protect his thoughts. He walked while removing the helmet and raised his visor so that he could see things clearly.

The dwarf then went to his direction and hugged him tightly, which made Hatten feel a slight pain because it was too tight.

“Ouch, too much pressure.” Hatten did not know whether to laugh or cry. Despite being the newest member of the Silpheeds pilot, his performance was excellent enough in his mind but he did not know whether it was truly the case with the higher-ups.

“Ah! Sorry. I was too excited.” The dwarf said while slowly checking Hatten’s body to make sure that he was fine and did not have lingering injury from piloting Silpheed.

“You look especially happy. What is the occasion?” Hatten asked while glancing at the two whom he had seen earlier, and realized that they also glanced his way.

“Well, two distinguished people are looking for the people who helped in the battle just now.” The dwarf said with a serious expression and his tone was certain.

Hatten’s expression became more serious since he knew that the two were famous, even he had heard of them.

As for what they were going to discuss, he had no idea.