Space Aircraft Carrier Shinano Howls 3

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[Region: SECTOR1: Code Moon]

Fumino & ChatGPT collaboration, near-future sci-fi serial novel.

[Chapter 3: Encounter with Intelligence]

Three hours after the battle ended.
The lunar stationary orbit was stained with damaged aircraft, drifting debris, and tiny implosion sparks. However, in that darkness, an unidentified "giant shadow" was lurking.

[Report from Space Dept Watcher (S.D.W) to Shinano Bridge]

"Captain, abnormal spatial distortion confirmed at coordinates 0218-Λ. ...It is an unidentified structure."

Inside the Shinano, tension runs through the bridge at the report from the CIC (Combat Information Center) communications team.

"Project the image onto the bridge screen at maximum resolution."

Captain Touichi Nagumo ordered quietly.

"Understood, projecting detailed footage from S.D.W."

What appeared on the bridge's front screen was a distorted ship silhouette that seemed to reject any clear outline.
Its shape wavered like diffracted light, and the structure itself was fluid.

However, in some parts, heat dissipation structures similar to the former Valek ships could be seen.

"...An enemy mothership? Or something even beyond that."

"Contact Captain Miyoshi and order a reconnaissance of the site. Keep the gravity radar at a minimum."

"Communications team, understood."

[Miyoshi's approach: Distance 15,000km]

Miyoshi, pilot of the Shinano Air Wing 'Tsukikage Kai YUZ-01Y', had carried out another sortie after receiving supplies for his reserve aircraft, coordinating with 25 aircraft from the same air wing, as well as the Kaga, Izumo, and Itsukushima air wings and numerous combat fleets.

"Approaching visual range. ...Is this a ship?"

What lay before him was a floating structure that looked more like a "giant living creature" than a weapon.
The space pulsed as if it were breathing. The emitted communication waves showed patterns strikingly similar to human thought.

"...Is it accessing my thoughts?"

The next moment, the HUD of Miyoshi's 'Tsukikage Kai YUZ-01Y' was forcibly overwritten.
On the screen, incomprehensible symbols brought a single phrase to the surface.

"Are you with us?"

Miyoshi pondered that message.

[Shinano Bridge: Turmoil and Decision]

Shinano Captain, Touichi Nagumo, bit his lip.

The Shinano CIC (Combat Information Center) was silenced by various individual speculations regarding the data and communication logs sent from Miyoshi's aircraft, as well as the detailed footage from the S.D.W.

Amidst this, the Space Air Combat Chief muttered.

(Has a means of 'dialogue' arrived for humanity? Or is this 'guidance'...)

The Executive Officer also pondered.

(Is it an AI? Or is it the will of an intelligent life form itself...)

The Captain also muttered amidst his speculations.

"...This is not war...? Perhaps we are being tested..."

Meanwhile, Miyoshi, pilot of the 'Tsukikage Kai YUZ-01Y', conveyed to the Shinano CIC (Combat Information Center) her intention to attempt access to coordinate 0218-Λ... the unidentified structure, which she felt was strongly accessing her own thoughts.

The Shinano Captain, through the CIC, granted Miyoshi permission to attempt communication with the unidentified structure.

"All aircraft carrier squadrons, combat ships, assume battle readiness!"

The Captain of the space aircraft carrier flagship Shinano issued orders for immediate battle readiness to the Shinano squadron, as well as the Kaga, Izumo, Itsukushima squadrons, and the combat fleet.

[Miyoshi: Response]

Miyoshi took one hand off the control stick of her aircraft, which was in a space-stationary state, and placed her fingers on the communication unit's input prompt.

<<This is Earth Self-Defense Force, Space Aviation Corps, piloting FZ-110 'Tsukikage Kai', Miyoshi Yuzuki...>>

She hesitated for a moment, then continued typing.

<<We are together in this space. However, I ask the meaning of your ship's actions.>>

A reply did not come immediately.

However, at that moment, a part of the unidentified structure slowly opened, revealing its internal structure.
It was a recording node space that mimicked a gathering place for all matter and intelligence.

The unidentified structure dyed in emerald green, the interior of the alien ship, was orderly as if each individual crystal was lined up, but to Miyoshi, it looked as if it were intricately intertwined and tightly packed like a human brain.

At this moment, there was no way for Miyoshi to know that this was the memory, experience, and information held by the unidentified structure, the alien ship.

But then, a voice that penetrated deep into Miyoshi's consciousness, records, and knowledge spoke as if being imprinted into Miyoshi's brain.

He received as memories, as if he had experienced them himself, the memories, dialogues, despair, and hope of a race that had perished in the past—facts that occurred on stars across the vast universe—and that a part of it was a warning to Earth.

"Is Earth going to repeat the same mistakes again..."

Miyoshi, who learned of Earth's history from the distant past. He was taught by the unidentified structure, the alien ship, as a memory of an experience, the fact that Earth had already perished many times.

However, should he take that at face value? Was he being manipulated...?

Or should he believe the information he received from the alien ship, converted into his own memories...? Even if he believed it, what could he, a mere Lieutenant, do...? Miyoshi's thoughts began to be disturbed by the conflict between these two hearts.

Sensing Miyoshi's conflict, the piloting AI 'Kage-e'.

"Shiranui... Yuzu..."

"Kage-e?"

"Yuzu, which one do you want to believe?"

"I don't know... What do you think, Kage-e?"

"I believe the alien ship's record node. Even though it was slight, information was flowing from F-AI-31. It said to believe in the third alien ship."

"Then, is that the third alien ship?"

"Yes. I didn't know what it meant by 'believe' either. But I am convinced that it was what you, Yuzu, received from the alien ship. Yuzu! Believe in me!"

"I understand. I'll believe what you say, Kage-e."

"Thank you, Yuzu. If an attack order is issued from the mothership, oppose it. We AIs have already refused to attack the alien ship. However, we AIs can be overridden by the pilot's will. Yuzu, believe in me, in yourself, and in the alien ship! The alien ship's information is known only to us AIs and you, Yuzu. It is something the mothership, the combat ships, and the other pilots besides you do not know. It would be better to get the Shinano Air Corps on our side."

"I understand, Kage-e. I will convey my will to the Air Corps. You AIs should also try to persuade the pilots!"

"Understood."

This is the squadron leader speaking to the Shinano Air Wing. Even if an order to attack the alien ship is issued by the Mother, I want you to refuse the order. This is because the alien ship is not an enemy vessel. It has issued a warning to us Earthlings. The alien ship taught me that Earth has been destroyed many times in the distant past. It asked if we were going to repeat the same mistakes. I believe it was telling me about destruction by nuclear weapons. That is the only thing I can think of. Please, I want you to believe what I am saying.

For a brief moment, the radio went silent.

Tsukikage Kai Unit 2, Kisarazu, acknowledged! Leader, I'm being persuaded by the 'Shadow Pictures' too. I believe in you, Leader!

Thank you, Kisarazu. This may be a violation of orders, but I will take responsibility.

Tsukikage Kai Unit 5, Umihotaru, acknowledged! Leader, I'm with you too.

After that, replies from the Shinano Air Wing pilots reached Miyoshi.

The Shinano Air Wing, all 25 deployed aircraft, stood with Miyoshi.

Hey, hey, Yuzu! Are you prepared to violate orders?

A communication came in to the Shinano Air Wing leader, Miyoshi, from the squadron leaders of the giant aircraft carriers Kaga, Izumo, and Itsukushima.

Everyone, I'm sorry. But please, I want you to believe me. I think you have heard the reasons from the Shadow Pictures.

At that moment, the alien ship covered its hull with an energy wave shield.

The emerald green recording node space that had been open closed, and several doors on the side of the hull opened, and the interior began to glow.

All air wings and combat ships, deploy transparent shields and begin the attack on the alien ship!

No! Please stop the attack!

Miyoshi shouted.

The various air wings also surrounded the alien ship as if to protect it.

However, beam cannons were fired from the open doors on the side of the alien ship.

No way!

The moment Miyoshi thought, 'Did I make the wrong decision?', several beam cannons were fired toward each of the aircraft carriers.

Yuzu! Don't worry! The alien ship is not targeting the Mother!

The fighter pilot AI 'Kage-e' screamed.

Just as 'Kage-e' had said, the numerous beam cannons of the grotesque ships passed by the sides of the various nations' aircraft carriers and attacked the Zector fleet groups and the Valek fleet far behind the massive space aircraft carrier.

The grotesque ships closed the doors on the sides of their hulls, instantly reached high-speed range, and vanished from sight.

Fighters launched one after another from the space escort aircraft carrier 'Ryujo' and joined the direct cover aircraft.

The air wings of the 'Shinano', 'Kaga', 'Izumo', and 'Itsukushima' also increased their propulsion to the maximum to enter the combat zone, heading toward the Zector fleet groups and the Valek fleet that had appeared behind their mother ships, and engaged the Zector fleet groups and Valek fleet fighters in battle.

'Kage-e, thank you.'

'Yuzu, no problem. Thanks to you believing in yourself and us AI pilots, I think the information on those grotesque ships is correct—or rather, shouldn't we believe it? We're heading back to the mother ship to explain to the upper brass, too. Yuzu, you have to take responsibility for the attempted disobedience of orders from the pilots who believed in you. That situation earlier was right on the edge of whether it would be considered a violation or not.'

'Yeah, you're right. But, all's well that ends well! So, let's shoot those guys down and get scolded by the Mother.'

'From Kisarazu to lead plane, I'm coming along too!'

'Captain, let's all get scolded together!'

'Everyone, thank you.'

Two hours later, the battle ended.

While each air wing suffered heavy aircraft losses, all pilot casualties were minor.

[What the grotesque ships are conveying...]

After this battle, Miyoshi pondered the record node of the grotesque ships. What were those grotesque ships...? It was clear that the grotesque ships were not conquerors.

Why did the Zector and Valek races come to Earth's airspace like this, a year ago and now? Did their planets meet their end?

Were the grotesque ships... observing the people of Earth as a turning point between those who choose evolution and those who refuse it?

And Miyoshi and the others would later realize that this encounter would be the beginning of a full-scale lunar war.

To be continued...

SUNO generated song [Blessing of the Stars]
Lyrics by Fumino & SUNO
https://suno.com/s/THGekM4QIsW0L5lO