Editing Vandread Volume 1 Chapter 2 (section)

===Part 1===

As the bridge of the New Warship Section shook from the impact, a red light started blinking to demonstrate the emergency situation.

“What’s this!? I thought I’d canceled the exercise maneuvers!!”

Having recovered from his stumble the Prime Minister was shouting hysterically.

The crew members who didn’t have seats earnestly replied as each tried to cling to any protruding objects.

“This is not from the exercise maneuvers!!”

“Women! It’s a female surprise attack!!”

Even as the the crew were reporting on the situation, the bridge was incessantly assaulted by impacts from the attack.

“Spatial coordinates, Majere mobile squad from the three o’clock direction! Star three, red one!”

“Formation has been destroyed!”

“A message to all warships! Safeguard the Ikazuchi!”

The situation on the bridge fell into chaos as though the tranquil atmosphere that had existed up until then was a lie. Even the Prime Minister, with all his arrogance, was now standing still in shock as his forehead twitched dangerously.

“What the hell……on this ceremonial day……”

 

In order to guard the Ikazuchi the fleet of five escort vessels that had taken on battle formations frantically attempted to return fire. However, in addition to the Ikazuchi’s outrageously enormous size, the speed of the Majere attack ships called ‘Dreads’ that were swooping down on them was absurdly fast. The scene was exactly like that of bees swooping down on a beast.

 

At a place a little away from the center of this dogfight, a single spaceship was steadily approaching. This battleship was the very ‘mothership’ that was launching the assault on the Ikazuchi. It was only a third of the Ikazuchi’s size if one were to compare, but her streamlined form that was easily approaching had an appearance that felt no less impressive.

“Captain, it seems we caught a big one.”

Since it was during the battle, the single woman spoke within the mothership’s bridge whose illumination had been dropped. The owner of voice was the adjutant of the ‘Female Pirates’, Buzam A. Calessa. The jewel of the choker wound around her neck shone faintly, her hand gripping the chair where the other person was seated.

“You think so? Then today must be my lucky day huh.”

Although this person could not be seen very well due to the darkness, the wrinkled eyes that could be seen from beneath the priest’s robes that completely covered her entire body narrowed as she replied; this was the leader of this gang, Magno Vivan.

[[File:Vandread vol 1 p55.jpg|thumbnail]]
For these women this action was ‘business as usual’, so even if it was the huge Ikazuchi, it was nothing more than merely a ‘big catch’.

 

By the proclamation of the Prime Minister the Ikazuchi had entered orbital trajectory unaccompanied. Hence it was that several minutes after entering the battle, the sun of the star system that was home to Majere and Taraak peeked out from behind the shadow of planet Taraak. Regarding this, given the orientation of the pirates main offensive trajectory, it took on the appearance of divine providence. Due to the Dreads charging with the sun at their backs the Taraak was deprived of their eyesight, to the point that when when did become visible to them they were already being bombed.

Due to the handicap of the unexpected outbreak the escort ships were successively cut off from the lines of battle, and gradually the Ikazuchi was driven into a state of exposed isolation.

“Escort ship Hijiri seriously damaged! The Maboroshi is similarly disabled!”

“Ikazuchi new warship section, outer hull damaged!!”

“Majere mobile squads, still attacking in files directly from the sun’s trajectory!”

In addition to the flickering red light, steam was sprouting from here and there which only added to the sense of danger. In the midst of this critical situation, the Prime Minister was waving his fist that was tightly clenched in anger.

“How cowardly! Hiding themselves in the background radiation!”

For some time now he hadn’t issued any orders. The Ikazuchi was being driven steadily into a crisis.

“The warship is listing! Maintain course!!”

Next to the unreliable Prime Minister, the captain who had been knocked down by an impact stumbled to his feet and covered for him. However, it already seemed to be a hopeless situation. Nevertheless the captain frantically rallied the warship as the Prime Minister beside him muttered to himself.

“……If we send out the Bangata……”

At this voice the captain looked over at the Prime Minister in surprise.

“Impossible. Don’t you realize? We don’t have anyone aboard other than students in training!”

“I understand that!”

“That’s……”

The captain was determined to stop the beyond reckless proclamation of the Prime Minister, but the Prime Minister cut off his words, shouting as he intently focused upon his desires.

“If we were to turn tail without deploying our newest weapons how would we explain ourselves to Gran Pa!?”

He became defiant in this moment of crisis to the point that he feared nothing. However, as one would expect at the mention of Gran Pa, not even the captain could say any more.