Chapter 36
Apparently, the artificial celestial body is called Radia.
Kait, aboard the Queen Bee, immediately connected to Radia for communication.
Of course, Gorou was asked to wait outside.
'This is the artificial celestial body Radia. Are you reinforcements from the Federation?'
"This is the combat vessel Queen Bee, Captain Kait speaking."
'Kait, Third-Rank Citizen (Enec Lagif)! So you came. I've heard the rumors. I'm Radia's staff, Rakofril, Sixth-Rank Citizen (Ab Rag). Pleased to meet you.'
The video feed appeared, but Rakofril was not visible.
As Kait wondered if Rakofril was tiny or invisible, Emotion, who was beside him, explained.
"Captain. Sixth-Rank Citizen Rakofril is a mechanical intelligence. Most likely, because they are connected directly to Radia, their form isn't visible."
'Exactly right, Sixth-Rank Citizen Emotion. I am currently operating directly connected to Radia's exploration functions. It may be rude to Earthlings that I cannot show myself, but I ask for your understanding in this emergency.'
"That's not a problem. But is it really an emergency?"
'Yes. Third-Rank Citizen Kait, where are you now? There's still time, but if possible, I'd like you to hurry and rendezvous with us.'
"I'm stopping by the Rare Species Conservation Agency's ship for personal reasons."
When Kait told him his location, Rakofril fell silent for some reason.
Just as Kait was about to ask if there was a problem, Rakofril's voice returned, slightly lower in tone.
'Is it not possible for you to come here?'
"No, I plan to head there soon. But the Earthling I'm traveling with asked me to confirm something, saying our objectives might be in conflict."
'I thought so. ...Aren't they trying to make excuses to delay you?'
Rakofril seemed to have an idea. Indeed, the branch director had suggested that Kait stay here for a while.
"I did receive such an invitation, but why?"
'A massive silicon-based lifeform is approaching the star system where Radia is currently stationed.'
"Silicon-based lifeform?"
The term stirred the blood of a classic sci-fi fan.
But if that was all, it seemed like Radia could handle it. However—
'Its ecology is not well understood. What we do know is that it travels between stars at high speeds by some unknown means and devours planets.'
"Devours... planets?"
'Yes. It prefers to consume planetary cores, then moves on to the next planet. After ravaging all the planets in a star system, it flies off to the next.'
This was beyond the scale Kait had imagined. Something that eats stars?
'Third-Rank Citizen Kait. The planet Radia is observing has not yet developed life intelligent enough to comprehend the universe. In other words, under Federation regulations, we are not allowed to interfere. We cannot relocate them to another star system, even with the Federation's help.'
"I understand."
'In the past, the Federation failed to communicate with this species. Unable to stop its advance, it began consuming planets with life. We concluded that peaceful coexistence is impossible.'
"I see."
'Aside from this time, we've encountered and defeated it four times before.'
From what he was hearing, it sounded more like a natural disaster than a lifeform.
After listening this far, Kait had a rough grasp of the situation. Radia was seeking combat power to defeat the creature.
But there was still something he couldn't understand.
"So then... is the Rare Species Conservation Agency trying to protect that thing?"
'Yes. Of the four encounters, we shared the field twice. One of those times, they arrived after we had already failed.'
At the very least, this was the third time.
Even after a clear failure, they were still willing to make sacrifices to try again.
"Do they really think it's possible?"
'I don't know. I think they should give up, but their obsession with rare species conservation is beyond normal. Maybe they believe they have a chance this time.'
"Understood. Then I'll hurry to rendezvous as soon as I can."
It felt like something out of a kaiju movie or classic sci-fi.
It was as if he had become a character in a story imagined by creators of the past. But unfortunately, there was no thrill to be found. Behind Radia was a planet currently nurturing life. This wasn't a situation to face with a playful attitude.
Even after the communication ended, Kait kept staring at the monitor. Perhaps impatient, Emotion asked him a question.
"What will you do, Captain?"
"There's nothing to do yet. I'll decide after getting as much information as I can from Mr. Saito."
That was likely the parliamentarian's intention.
If he had wanted Kait to act according to Rakofril's request, he would've asked him to help defeat the giant creature from the start. Kait himself had no reason to refuse.
But the parliamentarian said he didn't want to create any preconceptions. Meaning, the space jellyfish didn't want to make defeating the creature their final decision yet?
"So then, what is the space jellyfish planning?"
Gorou was probably quite anxious by now. Leaving Emotion behind, Kait decided to disembark from the Queen Bee for a moment.
***
"So it's true then. The Federation plans to exterminate the Star-Eater."
"Star-Eater?"
"Yes. I started calling it that, and the name caught on within the Agency. It looks like a snake. So, a snake that eats stars—Star-Eater."
"Like a giant serpent?"
"Exactly, that's it."
Perhaps remembering his own culture, Gorou's face lit up with a smile.
Seeing that smile gave Kait a strange unease, and he asked a question.
"Your side seems to be trying to protect the Star-Eater, but do you really think you can?"
"Nothing certain. So first, we'll try to protect it while studying its ecology."
A leisurely approach. In other words, this fleet's purpose wasn't to protect the Star-Eater itself, but to surround and observe it.
Gorou had said he was chosen for his background as a biologist on Earth. So, he was here to contribute his knowledge to speculate on the Star-Eater's ecology.
"You already knew about the Federation's artificial celestial body?"
"Of course."
"Then you also knew there's a planet with life beyond it?"
"...Yeah."
Gorou averted his eyes.
Kait furrowed his brow and pressed further.
"If the Star-Eater heads for that planet, what are you going to do? Should I assume you plan to divert its course somehow?"
"...That's what we've proposed."
In other words, it had been denied.
The fate of the planet depended on the Star-Eater's whim. At this point, Kait abandoned the option of cooperating with the Agency.
"And the reason it was denied?"
"Be—"
"Be?"
"...Because its rarity is low."
"What?"
A strong voice escaped him unintentionally. If a species was rare, they'd protect it at all costs, but if not, it wasn't worth protecting?
Thorough. Thorough, but unacceptable.
"So what, if the Star-Eater's feeding causes the ecosystem to drastically change or the planet collapses and then it becomes rare, you'll protect it?"
"...That's right."
"There'll be species that go extinct in the meantime. And that—"
"W-Wait, Captain Kait. Please calm down and listen."
Gorou raised both hands to stop Kait's words.
Was his pale face due to Kait's pressure, or did he himself realize how unreasonable this was?
Even so, with a trembling voice, he managed to offer an excuse.
"Earth has all kinds of disasters, big and small. Space is no different. The Star-Eater is like an unavoidable natural disaster."
"So you're saying we should ignore it?"
"It's like a locust plague on Earth. There are also completely unforeseen disasters in space that cause mass extinctions. I want you to understand that."
"That's nonsense. If there's a chance to stop it and you don't, that's the same as abandoning responsibility."
Kait himself had thought of it as a disaster.
But hearing someone actually say it only stirred resistance in him.
"Still—"
"Enough. I get it. You people don't have any real plan."
There was no need to talk any further.
He gave Emotion a look, and she, understanding immediately, returned to the ship.
"Sorry, but I can't cooperate. I'll be on my way."
"Wait, Captain Kait!"
Gorou tried to stop Kait as he boarded the Queen Bee, but he was a step too late.
Before even taking a seat, Kait had already transferred the Queen Bee outside the ship, deciding to head toward the Star-Eater's location ahead of the fleet.
"No particular findings. Guess we'll just have to see the real thing."
'It's a baffling mission.'
"Seriously."