Mobile Battleship Ama no Murakumo
A gigantic unidentified flying object suddenly appeared in the sky of Sapporo. This sudden event left not only the Hokkaido authorities, but also the Japanese government scrambling to respond. At the same time, all local news stations sent out their helicopters to film the UFO from the sky.
The UFO’s maximum length was about 2,400 meters and it was shaped like an isosceles triangle with sharp corners. The thickest part of this UFO was about 500 meters high, while its rear side was about 1,500 meters wide.
The Star Wars fans would understand if we described it as a Star Destroyer without the bridge. The only difference was that the UFO’s hull-like part was equipped with numerous guns. There were 40 turrets, including those on the upper, lower, left, and right sides of the ship, which were far larger in caliber than the battleship Yamato’s, the pride of Japan.
There were also window-like parts that appeared to be sized to fit humans, suggesting the possibility of a life form inside the UFO, one with even more advanced intelligence than humans.
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Several helicopters from various news stations circled the unidentified flying object to film it.
"This is an abnormal situation. A flying object of unknown origin suddenly appeared in the sky above Sapporo. Shouldn't we immediately request the Self-Defense Forces or the US military in Japan to be deployed?"
"The Ministry of Defense has already requested an emergency sortie. Right now, the priority is to guide the evacuation of people in the vicinity of this unidentified flying object. Are they going to fire air-to-air missiles over Sapporo? Or surface-to-air guided missiles from the ground?"
In response to this unusual situation, the Japanese government issued a state of emergency declaration, and the Japan Air Self-Defense Force immediately dispatched an E-2C early warning aircraft, which began circling the unidentified flying object and gathering information.
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Meanwhile, inside the Mobile Battleship Ama no Murakumo.
"W-What should I do!? Isn't that a reconnaissance aircraft of the Self-Defense Force? There are also military helicopters and TV news helicopters.... Oh no, even the reporters are starting to gather below!!!"
The scene on the monitors was one you often saw in movies. It was the kind of situation where an UFO invaded and an emergency sortie was issued.
Since it's over Sapporo city and Odori Park is directly below, I don't think they will just suddenly fire missiles at us. However, if those soldiers approach the ship by helicopters, break in, and capture me, then I will still be doomed.
"Umm, well.... Control Computer, can this ship defend itself?"
"I'm the Magical Brain. Please refer me as Octa One. Yes, we can defend ourselves."
"Octa One, is there any way for this ship to deal with an invasion?"
"Yes. By deploying a force field barrier around the ship, it will impossible for the enemies to break in. At the same time, it will also nullify any kind of physical attack."
"That's it! Please deploy that barrier."
"Understood. Deploying force field barrier."
Phew~ Now I don't have to worry about being invaded or being caught. However, if we continue to stay here, we'll definitely cause a lot of trouble for the citizens. It'd be better if we move to somewhere with less people.
"Octa One, can we move this ship?"
“Yes. There are automatic navigation by specifying the coordinates, designated movement by sight from the bridge, fully automatic navigation by me, Octa One, and manual control by Captain Misaki."
"Please show me the map.... Umm, do you happen to have this world's map?"
"GPS intervention.... Data acquisition complete."
"Did you just hack into something!? Well, there's no helping it since it's already been done. For now, let's move towards Ishikari Bay. Can you anchor this ship offshore there?"
"Yes. Commencing atmospheric cruising. Speed fixed at 60km/h. Would you like to begin removing obstacles in the vicinity?"
As Octa-One explained, the monitor showed a TV news helicopter with 'target locked' on it.
Wait, wait, wait, why are we suddenly going to start a battle?
"Hey, stop, we are not going to launch any attack from our side first. I mean, do we even have any weapon? I don't know about this ship's internal systems or what it is equipped with.... ah, I actually do."
According to the Mobile Battleship Manual in my head, this battleship is equipped with 78 Caliber Triple Magical Pulse Cannon, Force Vulcan Cannon, Time-Space Submersible Guided Missile, and many more. I also found something pretty interesting on the list --- a 14-meter-tall humanoid weapon. That's right, it's a giant robot, or to be more precise, it's called an enhanced combat golem.
*sigh*
I want to return this....
I want to go back to my normal and boring life.
"I mean, what am I supposed to with all of this alone!!?"
"*beep*.... I recommend creating support golems and combat homonculus. I, Octa One, will handle the operation of this Mobile Battleship Ama no Murakumo."
"Alchemy, huh. Isn't it taboo to create humans?"
"Homonculus are not human. They're servant lifefroms. Once finished, please give them a proper name. They will be happy if you do that."
"Should I? I will get attached if I name them."
"I know that Master is not the type of person who would make homunculus commit a suicide attack, but this is just in case...."
That's actually scary, Octa One. You have the same thought process as humans. I guess the name Magical Brain is not just for show.
"*beep*.... Please leave the rest of the journey to me. You seem hungry, so please go to the cafeteria."
"Why can you tell that I'm hungry?"
"*beep*.... People get angry when they're hungry."
"If people get angry that easily, then the opposition party in the Diet is always starving."
"*beep*.... They're just brats who make a lot of noise when someone is talking. I wonder what they learned in moral education class as kids. People who make a lot of noise when someone is talking are---"
"Umm, Octa-One, where did you learn all of this?"
"*beep*.... When I hacked into the satellite earlier, I also accessed the database related to terrestrial broadcasting, tehe~."
Never mind. Now that she mentions it, I really am hungry. Let's go to the cafeteria.
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"The unidentified flying object has now begun to move slowly. Their destination is unknown, but it's clear that someone is controlling it. There are intelligent lifeforms apart from us humans. What on earth could this mean...?"
On television, every channel was broadcasting special programs about the mysterious flying object as emergency news, except for one station that was unfazed by all of this commotion and continued to broadcast the Sunday morning anime Futari wa Mascula World Tour.
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Unlike peaceful Japan, hot discussions about these unidentified flying objects were taking place in countries around the world.
- United States of America
"The Star Wars project hasn't even been announced yet. How could Japan has already managed to build a giant flying battleship before us?"
The president of the United States, Howard Brender, shouted at the assembled bureaucrats.
The United States is the leader of the world. To maintain this, we even have pushed down some unreasonable policies in order to gain military superiority. The development of new aircraft carriers, fighter jets, and so on. Everything is to stay ahead of other countries. But how could Japan, who is under our protection, have created such an object before us?
"Mr. President, the official statement from the Japanese government is that the flying object is not owned by Japan."
"So, which country does it belong.... no, forget it. Contact the Japanese Ministry of Defense. According to the Japan-US Security Treaty, we will take the lead in capturing the unidentified flying object."
"Yes, sir. I'll contact Misawa Air Base and the Marines in Okinawa."
After saluting, the officials immediately left the room.
"I will not allow that giant flying battleship to fall into the hands of Japan or any other country. That kind of technology belongs to the United States of America."
President Howard Brender, also known as the Out-of-Control President. With a wicked smile on his mouth, he sat down in his chair, turned on the monitor, and decided to take his time watching the emergency news reports from Japan.
- Russia
"We have received a statement from Japan that the flying object doesn't belong to them. What should we do?"
After receiving the report from the diplomat, Russian President Fudin smiled.
Japan is a technological superpower. I thought it was a super weapon created by them. However, the report came back saying that they had nothing to do with it.
"Contact the Russian Embassy in Japan immediately. Russia will cooperate with Japan in defending against the flying object, and will assist in attacks if necessary."
"Understood. But will Japan accept our proposal?"
"Just make them accept it. That flying object is a collection of over-technology. If they cooperate, tell them that we might consider retracting our claims to those four tiny islands. It's worth that much."
Fudin's word was absolute. The assembled ministers immediately returned to their posts.
- China
"That flying object belongs to our country, right? I don't know why it is in Japan, though."
Chinese supreme leader, Ouyang, declared to the assembled party members and executives.
The official statement from Japan is that the flying object doesn't belong to them. If that's the case, then we can declare that it belongs to us and immediately send in our military to retrieve it.
"However, it would mean that we have violated the territorial integrity of Japan. This could develop into a diplomatic issue in the future."
"Diplomatic issue? That's not important right now. From the movements of the Japanese government, the Russian government, and the US government, it's clear that it is something that holds a great deal of power. It's a mass of over-technology. It's an alien ship that came from outer space."
Chairman Ouyang's approach was out of the box. However, his decision was absolute in this country. The military top brass immediately ordered all of their warships to sortie.
"What should we tell to Japan?"
"Tell them that a unit of our military has run away with our new weapon."
One couldn't be the supreme leader of China without at least this much ambition. Chairman Ouyang believed that his ability to make quick decisions and take action was what drove China forward.
- South Korea
“That flying object originates from our country, and belongs to our country, right?"
"There are rumors on the internet that it's our country's super weapon that Japan stole."
"Seriously? Japan is the worst. I wish they'd quickly become a vassal state of South Korea, the elite country. What's the current government doing?"
Such arbitrary, evidence-free rumors were circulating in the South Korean internet. Apart from that, the South Korean government hasn't made any move.
"*sigh*.... My approval rating will be in jeopardy if I don't always take a condescending approach to diplomacy with Japan. I hope they would stop doing things that make my stomach turn...."
President Choi of South Korea was reading through the report while holding his throbbing stomach.
I can say with certainty that the relationship between our country and our neighbor, Japan, is at its lowest level. There are various problems, but I don't think our country is to blame for any of it. I'm more concerned about my declining approval rating.
Currently, I can gain a certain level of support by bashing Japan, saying that Japan is to blame and that we should not allow Japan to get away with it. However, I understand that this will only work for a small percentage of the population. Those who knew Japan a long time ago, when Japan was a neighbor that we could hold hands with, have nothing but criticism for me.
Those who really know Japan, those who know that the ‘false truth’ created by the Japanese media is a blatant lie, would probably see me as the worst president in history. However, I have suppressed all such statements. No, it's my subordinates who are suppressing them, my hands are clean.
"Hmm... Let's tell Japan not to touch it. That flying object is a secret weapon made by our country and we'll retrieve it later."
"Mr. President, the Chinese government has already issued such a statement. They said that the flying object was a super weapon developed by their country, and that a unit of their military has run away with it."
"Damn, we've been beaten to it! But we are still going to issue the same statement as China's."
"Understood."
*sigh*
I was late again....
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"The salmon roe bowl was so good."
When I came to the cafeteria, there was no atmosphere of aunts and uncles cooking in the kitchen. Udon, soba, ramen, hamburger steak, and so on, were all sold from vending machines. With the touch of a button, the food was ready in less than three minutes. There was a place to put coins in, but when I tried to put them in, I heard a voice, saying 'It's free for Master' and my money was returned.
"Even so, how could I eat fresh salmon roe bowl in this kind of place? I know there's a food plant where vegetables are grown, but.... where did the meat and fish come from?"
I wondered about such things while sipping my tea.
In the blueprint of this battleship inside my head, there's a hot spring inn, a game center, and even a small town. Is this Macross? I was tempted to make such a comment. It's said that meat and fish are coming from a place called the Magic Transfer Plant. But then, where did they transfer it from?
"*beep*.... All animal protein and things that can't be manufactured on board are purchased from affiliated stores. No charge will be made. God will pay for it."
"Yeah, Octa-One, I don't understand what you're saying. What do you mean by affiliated stores?"
"*beep*.... Canaan Magic Company and Waltco Group. There are also 35 other affiliated companies."
I know what Waltco Group is. It's that huge American retail company, right? It was originally a supermarket created by an old man who made his fortune selling fighter planes and weapons to mercenaries during the world war, right? I have no idea about the others, though.
I mean, what is Canaan Magic Company? Since there’s word 'magic' in their name, they are probably not from this world.
"*beep*.... We'll be arriving at Ishikari Bay soon."
"Got it. I'll come back to the bridge after finishing my tea, so keep the force field deployed at all times."
"*beep*.... Understood."
"Oh, by the way, is it okay for humans to touch the force field barrier?"
"*beep*.... Yes, you can consider the force field barrier as an invisible wall. In the unlikely event that it is breached, the exterior of this battleship are made of orichalcum-reinforced materials. Even if the sun hits it, even if an elephant steps on it, or even if a hundred people jump on it, there will be nothing to worry."
The scale is getting smaller and smaller. But which is stronger, an elephant or one hundred humans?
"Oh well, shall we return to the bridge?"