Chapter 162: Crystal Lifeform Extermination Operation (1/2)
The crystal lifeform extermination operation has finally begun. The entire garrison fleet on the imperial military has moved out with us mercenaries following suit.
It would be bad if ships go out of formation for some reason and get separated from the rest of the fleet, so all mercenaries were ordered to activate synchro mode and link up with their respective lead ships. It’s like auto-docking but applied to fleet maneuvers instead. Once we link up with the lead ship, we would automatically move in concert with it and the rest of the fleet unless synchro mode was deactivated, so we really didn’t have to steer the ship ourselves for the time being. But the link was lax enough that we would be able to immediately disengage in case of emergencies.
“It’s really boring huh.”
“Um…… yes. Should we play some games, Hiro-sama?”
“C’mon guys……”
Elma glared at Mimi and me who didn’t give off any shred of nervousness and complained about how bored we were.
Right now, Krishna was parked inside Black Lotus that was currently linked up with the rest of the fleet. We were supposed to be standing by inside Krishna’s cockpit so we would be ready to launch out any time, but it would still take thirty-six hours before we reached the Jerom system where the Mother Crystal was nesting. There was currently no point in us getting worked up inside the cockpit right now. Even if we encounter some sudden unforeseen mishaps, we had dozens of imperial corvettes acting as the vanguards, so as long as they held out for a little bit, there would be enough time for us mercenaries to mobilize.
And so, we don’t have to be on our toes just yet. Or rather, it would work against us if we were too high-strung since that would increase the chances of us dropping the ball when it counts, so that’s why we were currently bored out of our minds. Mimi’s already developed well compared to before. I remember she was a nervous wreck when she experienced her first sortie and pirate hunting mission. And because I was rather bored, she suggested playing a game to kill time. Plus, her skills and composure aren’t the only ones that developed nicely. I’m pretty sure her chest assets did too.
Yep. They were definitely bigger compared to before. Since I was already quite familiar with them, I can only brainlessly claim that they’re hella big, but the data collected from the medical pod’s daily diagnostics will never lie. Mimi…… What a terrifying girl!
“Oww!”
“Hmph.”
As I leered at Mimi’s chest while she was selecting games from the library, Elma suddenly pinched my thigh. Uh, yeah. I might have been too crude there. Let me reflect on it. This time, I’ll stare at Elma. Smooth white skin, pointed ears, and very fine features. Yep, what a beauty. Mimi was the cute type, but Elma was the beautiful type… No, the lovely type. For example, Mimi can be likened to a cute puppy. Elma, on the other hand, was like a beautiful flower in bloom.
Yep. Comparing her to a flower sure fit her nicely.
“What?”
“Oh, nothing. I was just thinking about how you’re as lovely as a flower, Elma.”
“What the heck are you saying, you?”
Elma glared at me in mock anger, but the tips of her ears were as red as a tomato. You can easily tell Elma’s real feelings by observing her ears. Now I think I get why space elves like her had the habit of hiding their ears whenever they felt embarrassed.
As I flirted with Mimi and Elma left and right, a lively voice rang out from the passageway connected to the hangar. It looks like Tina and Whisker finished their maintenance on Krishna and were now going to take a break.
“Good work guys.”
“Yeah. Thanks, Boss. The maintenance was completed without a hitch.”
“We only did some basic systems check and maintenance though.”
The mock battles I participated in were conducted using only low-powered lasers with significantly reduced outputs and dummy ammo, so there wasn’t any actual damage to the armor. Only our ship’s maneuverability and speed weren’t restricted, so I think the power and transmission systems were the ones that needed paying attention to.
“Hey, hey, c’mon!”
“Yossha!”
When I spread my arms wide while sitting on the sofa, Tina immediately rushed in. I caught Tina squarely and started giving her head pats.
“There, there. Good girl. Good girl.”
“Ahahahaha, you’re gonna mess up my hair.”
I patted Tina’s head a few more times then released her. Afterward, two heads collided with my chest from the left and right.
“There, there. There, there.”
“Ehehe.”
“Hey, can you do it gentler? Gentler, I said.”
I happily stroked Mimi and Elma’s heads as well. As I did that, Whisker stared at us with a complicated expression. After I had my fill of stroking Mimi and Elma’s heads, I turned toward Whisker and opened my arms wide again.
“Uryaaa–”
“B-Big si– Waaa!?”
Tina pushed Whisker forward, and she ended up diving headfirst into my arms. I caught her firmly.
“There, there. There, there. It must be hard to be always pushed around by Tina huh?”
“Hey. That ain’t nice, Boss.”
“But it’s true, right?”
“Guh.”
When I pointed toward Whisker who was shoved by Tina and ended up burying her face on my chest, Tina made a mortified expression and pursed her lips. As I gazed at Tina with a gloating expression on my face while petting the flustered Whisker, May entered the break room.
And then, she picked up Whisker, had her sit beside Mimi, then knelt in front of me who was still sitting on top of the sofa, and offered her own head for a round of petting.
“There, there. There, there.”
She must have monitored what was happening in the cockpit, and when she saw me stroking everyone’s heads, she wanted in on the action too. If it’s only head pats, I’ll give you as much as you want, guys.
The peaceful and relaxing moments didn’t last long. Before long, the combined fleet managed to arrive at the Jerom system on schedule. Soon, the ships will be jumping out of hyperspace and plunging right inside the system.
“Now then, start the routine check of each section. May, please prepare the launch catapult so we can sortie immediately when needed after entering the system.”