If You Go Out of Control, I'll Use Force Against You, Okay?
The Mobile Battleship Ama no Murakumo suddenly appeared in Japan. This incident came as a shock to many countries in the world. Because as far as they knew, no country in the modern world had the technology to fly a gigantic metal battleship with such an enormous mass. Furthermore, no matter what field of researchers they asked, no one could give an explanation of how the battleship could stay floating in the air as if being suspended by something. But the fact that this unknown entity had begun diplomatic negotiations with Japan, of all countries, was unacceptable more than anything.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
USS Ronald Reagan, the US 7th fleet's flagship. Vice Admiral Osman Hayward was holding his head. On the order of President Howard, the ship suddenly had to change course to Tokyo Bay while heading for the coast of Ishikari, Japan. At the same time, he also issued an order for the rest of the 7th fleet to assemble just outside Japanese territorial waters and wait until further instructions.
"I refuse to believe this.... What is that gigantic flying object? What are those mobile weapons? How could they control such huge humanoid robots? Even the Mobile Weapons Program that our country is currently developing hasn’t produced such results."
"Sir, with all due respect, only Japan can exceed our country's robotic weapons program on the earth today. However, we have not received any reports that Japan has successfully put something like that into operation."
Hearing his adjutant's report, Osman reviewed the submitted documents. USS Ronald Reagan was currently stationed at Yokosuka US Navy Base. The figure of the Mobile Battleship Ama no Murakumo was clearly visible from the bridge of the ship. Then, on the news, the humanoid mobile weapons were being broadcast worldwide. Osman could only raised his hands in defeat.
"The order is to wait and see how things go, right?"
"Yes, sir. I assume Mr. President is contacting Prime Minister Asao of Japan as we speak."
"Our country has engaged in hostilities against that mobile battleship, so he probably wants to ask Japan to mediate us. Still, I think we've made too many bad moves as of late."
Japan is the only country in this world that has sat down at the negotiating table with Ama No Murakumo. Mr. President's true intention is likely to get there too somehow.
"Continue monitoring and contact the Japanese Ministry of Defense. Tell them that we in the US will spare no effort to assist Japan."
Let's wait and see how they will make their moves. This is the only thing we can do right now.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Ama no Murakumo, hangar on the first upper level.
"So this is mobile weapons...."
I ordered Octa One and Truss One to reinforce the surveillance, while I went to the mobile weapon hangar with Hilde for an inspection.
Well, I say an inspection, but after watching the mobile weapons being deployed from the monitors, as a man, I couldn't help but want to ride one, too.
"First of all, the name of this general-purpose humanoid mobile weapon is Magia Ritter, which means Magic Knight according to the development team."
"Whoa~ Can I operate this Magia Ritter too?"
"Yes, of course. By the way, it is generally believed that when such a huge weapon performs actions such as walking, the impact is transmitted to the pilot and can cause a terrible accident, but this is not the case with this machine."
What? You're suddenly denying the 'humanoid mobile weapons are impossible' theory that we often see on the Internet.
"First of all, the pilot will wear this special suit made from Dragon Spider silk, which can reduce or even eliminate the impact and other stresses on the human body."
"Does that mean my brain would still be shaken?"
"Yes. This is the basic premise, but in short, it's like having your body coated with magical power that makes you feel like there was no impact on your body."
"Umm, can we stop there? Or can you just give me a simple explanation."
"If you wear this, you will be fine."
“Thank you.”
I don't really understand her explanation. I do have the knowledge about magic and sorcery in my head, but my perception is still that of a modern person. So, it’s better if I don’t think too deeply about it. If I do it, I can do it, and that's it.
Now then, let's change into this pilot suit that looks like an F-1 racing driver's suit with a glossy finish. The fabric is thick around the shoulders, neck, and chest, but that doesn't mean my body movements are restrained. Do you think this would fetch a high price if I put it on sale?
"It looks great on you, Lady Misaki. Next let's perform a one-of-a-kind procedure on it. Please put your hand on the control device on your chest and infuse it with magic power."
"Umm, do you mean this Color Timer, or should I say Lensman's Lens?"
"The later is closer. Go ahead, please."
I put my right hand on the lens part of the control unit. Then, it glowed blue as I infused my magic power into it. The entire suit stretched and contracted, and it felt like the size was being adjusted in real time.
"Okay, that's enough. I'll guide you to the units now. There are three types: mass-produced units, personal units, and captain unit."
"Captain unit, please."
"Captain unit is this way."
Hilde guided me to the hangar at the back.
Well, this is.... judging by its appearance, you can say that the object standing tall in front of me is Brave Robot.
The captain unit was a burly-looking 25m tall Magia Ritter. There was a cockpit in its chest, and to enter it, we climbed the boarding deck next to it. The chest hatch automatically opened and Hilde led me by the hand into the cockpit.
"Oh, the inside looks like something out of a robot anime. How do you control it?"
"First, please sit in the pilot seat."
Following Hilde's instructions, I sat in the pilot seat. Then I activated the initial system and registered my magical power wavelength to the Magia Ritter. For a moment, it felt like the seat was floating.
"When the hatch is open, the cockpit is fixed to the internal armor, but when the hatch is closed, it floats independently, as if floating in the center of a crystal sphere filled with water."
So that's how it works. As for how to control it, I apparently just need to grip the left and right levers that are connected to the Magia Ritter's magical nerve ganglion, and let my magical power flow into them.
My body will become one with Magia Ritter at this point, and I will be able to move it like my own body. Or rather, it moves following my body movements. If I turn my head to the right, it turn its head to the right, and vice versa.
"I'm speechless.... I didn't expect it to be so easy to control. What about the weapons?"
"There are no weapons currently equipped. This unit can equip magic weapons by consuming your magic power. You can use Weapon Rack command to view the list, and then select your weapon from there."
Yeah!! This is where my magic will shine.
Looking at the list, there were Blast Knuckles, Twin Fireball Cannons, Soma Kaiser Magic Sword, and so on. However....
"Umm, Hilde. Why does it say 'Unusable' next to the weapon names?"
"M-My deepest apologies! Since Lady Misaki is an alchemist, not a magician, you apparently can't use the magic weapons."
"N-No way.... What's the point if I can't use any weapons...?"
"*beep*.... Converting registered armaments."
I thought I heard something, but then I heard sounds all over the cockpit. Then, after about five minutes, the sounds stopped.
"*beep*....Conversion complete. By integrating your skills into the system, new armament, [God's Left Hand, Devil's Right Hand] has been created."
"Heaven and Hell, huh."
"*beep*.... That's incorrect. It's dangerous, so please don't use that term. The unit amplifies the alchemy skills that Captain possesses and manifests it as a weapon called [God's Left Hand, Devil's Right Hand]."
"I see. If that's the case...."
I linked with the Magia Ritter and focused my magic power into its right hand. Then, a glowing magic formula for Disintegration spell appeared in the air.
"*beep*.... By channeling your magic power into it, the right hand can use Disintegration and the left hand can use Fusion. In addition, by releasing it externally like now, you can send it flying towards the target as a long-range attack."
"I see.... I can't create a giant sword out of the ground like in Brave Robot, but this is interesting in its own way."
I couldn't contain my excitement, but then I noticed Hilde shouting something at my feet.
"Oh, I didn't hear her.... I should pay more attention to my surroundings...."
I turned my attention in that direction, and I finally could hear what Hilde was saying.
"There's an urgent call from the Japanese government. They need Lady Misaki on the bridge as soon as possible."
"Understood. I'll be right there."
I got out of the cockpit and quickly headed back to the bridge.
It's already 8pm now. Maybe they have made some kind of progress.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Two hours before the Mobile Battleship Ama no Murakumo received a call from the Japanese government. Large vehicles with diplomatic license plates were arriving one after another at the National Diet Building. USA, Russia, China, South Korea, UK, etc. The situation was almost like an exhibition of foreign cars, but the ambassadors from each country got out of their cars and walked toward the National Diet Building with serious expressions on their faces. They were then guided to a hastily prepared conference room to hear an explanation of why Japan had independently made contact with the battleship and even sat at the negotiation table with them.
The Japanese government had tried to get around this by saying, in a typical Japanese style, that they would get back in touch at a later date. However, all countries unanimously rejected this suggestion, and pressured the Japanese Foreign Ministry to immediately give them an explanation. Deciding that it was no longer possible to drag things out any further, the Japanese government announced that they would hold a briefing and Q&A session at six in the evening. This brought us to the current situation.
Six o'clock. Someone from the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs stood on the podium, bowed slightly, and began his speech.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to thank you for gathering here under these circumstances. I will now give an update on our current situation."
The Japanese government had decided that there was nothing worth hiding, so he began his explanation based on the report he had been given. It covered everything that had been discussed today, and he reiterated that the Japanese government had no further information.
"I see. So does that mean the Japanese government will be signing a treaty with the unidentified mobile battleship?"
"Yes, we are considering doing so."
"Our country is also interested in signing a treaty. It's not that Japan has the exclusive right to negotiate with them, it just so happens that they made the first contact with the Japanese government, right?"
"That's right. I believe that in this case, all countries have equal negotiating rights. As for the Japanese government, we are still discussing how to proceed."
The Japanese government had finished saying everything they needed to say, and all that remained was to reply with --- we are still discussing it. The battleship is within Japanese territory at the moment, so even other countries couldn't launch a military operation carelessly.
"The UN Security Council is currently discussing how to respond to this mobile battleship. At this point, their technological capabilities pose nothing but a threat, so there is a possibility that we will have to subjugate them militarily."
The Chinese ambassador to Japan declared with a smile. The US ambassador to Japan and the Russian ambassador to Japan nodded in agreement, their arms crossed.
"Are you saying that you are going to attack Japan?"
"Not at all. Our only target is the battleship. We're just discussing whether or not to send UN peacekeeping forces for that purpose."
We are going to send UN troops to Japan, so be prepared for the worst case scenario --- that was what it came down to. The permanent members of the UN Security Council were trying to shake things up.
"Are you really going to proceed with such a ridiculous idea?"
"The decision to send UN troops will be made within a day or two. As for what happens after that.... well, I think it would be best to evacuate the people from Tokyo."
The Chinese ambassador spoke while clapping his hands. Meanwhile, the ambassadors of the other permanent members of the UN Security Council, such as the US and Russia, didn't say anything. Everyone thought it would be fine as long as they could do something about the mobile battleship, and at the very least salvage the remains. However, the Chinese ambassador had a different idea. Using this chance, China could claim legitimacy to openly attack Japan at the same time. The fact that the Chinese ambassador had made such a decision and was declaring it here was dangerous. The order from his home country was simply to bring as many leverages as possible, so it was just him going out of control.
(That Chinese ambassador, he is done for....)
(I bet he would be purged when he return to his home country.)
(Was he eager to achieve success? Or was he just too loyal to his country? Either way, it can only be said that he has no strategy whatsoever.)
(The UN peacekeeping forces don't come to attack countries. That ambassador is fundamentally wrong)
The other country ambassadors looked at the Chines ambassador with pity. However, he himself didn't seem to notice it, and was just sitting back in his chair with a smile full of accomplishment. The briefing ended, and the ambassadors from each country headed home while gazing at the mobile battleship from afar.