Editing Vandread Volume 1 Chapter 2 (section)

===Part 4===

Due to the heartless Prime Minister, the men who were left behind on the Old Warship Section, having lost their fighting spirit, surrendered one by one. Agreeing to this, the women gathered the men who were now prisoners in the hanger. By now even the white smoke antiseptic that enveloped and obscured their vision had finished settling, and the men were introduced to the women who each had respectively removed their heavy protective garments.

“A~Ah……I understand the disinfectant is important, but as for this odor, I still haven’t grown accustomed to it…….”

One of the pilots, Jura Basil Elden, was complaining while leaning against one of the Bangata that had been abandoned by the sortie gate. With blonde hair that was close to transparent that easily reached her waist along with a figure with the proportions of a model, plus the voluptuous floating movement of a certain trait that looked about to overflow.

She was the kind of existence that in our universe could be said to induce watering at the mouth, but as far as the men of Taraak were concerned it could be said to be the most unpleasant of objects. To be faced with that ‘Female Paradgim’ as they were standing there with their hands raised, their emotions of complete disgust were completely laid bare.

“Jura! Don’t forget to stay vigilant.”

The one who showed up at this point was the leader, Meia Gisborn. While like Jura she seemed to be approximately about twenty years old age wise, from the way the other women looked over at the sound of her voice with heightened tension, she was held in esteem commensurate the intimidating air that had been bestowed upon her character.

Garbed in a pure white pilot suit, her attire was one that conveyed a ‘rigid’ image. Enfolding her blue hair that had been cropped short was her only form of individuality, a hair ornament that formed a border around her left eye.

“What about Dita?”

Meia spoke while directing her sharp gaze over the surrounding area.

“She went plunging through the hull firing her damn beam, hmph! Thanks to that……ouch! Just a minute Pai!  Be a little more careful will you!! My skin is delicate I’ll have you know!”

This one pirate of unwielding character, who was angrily pointing out the injury on her arm, was Barnette. She was among several women who had suffered injuries and were enduring the pain from their wounds, and was currently sitting down. And then, the one beside her, who seemed to be about ten years old, was the nurse Paiway Underberg wearing a frog apron, who was providing medical treatment with her unreliable hand movements. That she performing for so many people poorly was not improbable given that she was alone.

“You are not allowed to complain! This is to be expected since we don’t have the usual medical systems!”

For the men this conversation of women was nothing other than painful, but yet there was just one person amongst them, none other than Duero, who for some reason was listening attentively in great interest.

 

At that moment, a detachment of three female pirates forced open a door, and entered the bridge of the Old Warship Section. Looking at the surroundings, from how there were hanging cables with the appearance of dead wood coming out here and there from the panels, it could be understood that this place hadn’t been used in  a long time.

Confirming that there were no hostile individuals here they each removed their protective clothing and started towards the consoles.

The executive officer Buzam removed her clothing considerably quickly and produced a communication device. With silver hair that one might expect to be fake, her slender and tall figure that was stretched thin gave an image filled with resolution.

“Captain, this is BC! The men escaped by partitioning the ship, we’ve secured the sub-bridge.”

As Buzam briskly made her report, the remaining two checked the systems.

“Ara, what should we do……. It’s nothing but men’s language that I can’t read…….”

Thinning her narrow eyes even more, the one who was calmly perplexed was the operator Ezra Vieille<ref>Pronounced like V.A.</ref>. The men’s writing that she spoke of was Kanji words.<ref>This is a play on words since ‘men’s handwriting’ (otokomoji) is another term for Chinese characters (Kanji)</ref> On Majere, alphabet and kana characters were mainstream due to the necessity of easy translation software.

Another crewmember, Parfet Balblair, produced this very translation software device while grinning broadly. Her chestnut colored hair was tied up in two bunches, and her distinctive trait was the large googly spectacles that were unsuited for someone her age.

“Please leave it too me! For an occasion such as this, we have this Miss Translator-chan! ……Fufu……ah! Vice chief, I even have another one for you……”

She turned as she spoke brimming with confidence but,

“Meia, how are things over there? We have no need for the men that have been secured; it’s okay to dispose of them.”

The Buzam in question though was reading something on the console easily, and was moreover holding a communication device and giving instructions to the combat unit.

Seeing that Parfet became completely dejected.

“It can’t really be, since the Vice Chief is elite among the elites after all……”

“Moh! ……That is to say, we’re just fools then?”

“It’s not like that……”

 

Buzam’s report was received by the female pirates’ mothership which then started to approach the Old Warship Section. Aboard the New Warship Section that had retreated to a safe distance the Prime Minister gazed at this in annoyance.

“The Majere pirate ship, it’s currently approaching the Old Warship Section.”

“Signals are being emitted from inside the warship.”

The bridge crew’s reports continued. Hearing these the captain was filled with frustration.

“Those guys, so they’ve started taking it over then!”

His eyes completely still, the Prime Minister who had become serious spoke calmly.

“Prepare to fire the space-faring torpedo ‘Muramasa’!”

All at once the facial expressions of the crew stiffened at the Prime Minister’s proclamation.

“Certainly not!? Do you intend to destroy the Old Warship Section!?”

The captain was expressing the sentiments of everyone present as he drew new the Prime Minister. However, for the Prime Minister who had been driven into a corner there was no longer any time to pay attention to the opinions of others.

“Rather than helplessly letting it fall into enemy hands……I’d sooner, with this hand……”

 

‘GASHAGASHA! GRAA——N!’

By pushing his way through the junk scattered about the Old Warship Section’s passageway that was now a storage room, Hibiki continued to run through it. The satchel he was carrying became snagged on a projection, but in his hurry he didn’t notice this.

While snapping the shutter on the circular camera she was holding, Dita was pursuing from close behind him.

“Hey! Why are you running away! Dita is from a peaceful race!!”

“Uhi~~! I don’t understand what you’re saying!!”

The two of them kept up the comical pursuit in spite of the impending crisis.

 

In the hangar that had been completely taken over, the women, in accordance with Buzam’s instructions, were leading the men who had become prisoners of war to the escape capsules and stuffing them inside. They were urged forward like sheep by a pack of sheepdogs.

From among them, Duero alone separated from the line, and without wavering pulled open a hatch mounted on the wall marked ‘Emergency Medical Use’.

“Don’t get out of line! We’ll shoot if you resist!!”

One of the pirates, having noticed Duero, threatened him with the ring gun worn on her finger.

Duero however, without showing any sign he was perturbed,

“It’ll be fine if I go afterwards……”<ref>Duero refers to himself with the typically female ‘watshi/atashi’.</ref>

so he muttered, and drawing out a white coat and the included medical kit, he pulled the sleeves on right over his pilot suit.

“D-don’t just say things arbitrarily! I really will shoot you if you disobey!”

As though he completely didn’t hear that voice, Duero acted calmly as he straightened the robe’s collar, and together with a suspicious smile, he slowly turned as he spoke.

“No need to worry. I’m a doctor.”

Duero was the elite of the elite. It was only to be expected that he possessed medical knowledge. It was thus for this precise reason that he took such abrupt actions.

As far as he was concerned the most important thing was to satisfy his own intellectual desires. Seeing women for the first time, he was filled with curiosity regarding the unknown ‘body of a woman’.

“I’ll step aside and leave this warship once I’ve examined those who are injured.”

This he said while displaying an ominous smile, as he steadily approached in the direction of Barnette and the others.

 

Several new lights appeared on the New Warship Section’s control monitor.

“Lifeboats have been ejected from the Old Warship Section. Although unconfirmed it would appear to be the majority of the crew that was left behind.”

When he heard that the Captain turned to face the Prime Minister.

“Prime Minister, those guys are pirates after all. Through proposing peaceful negotiations, if we offer them resources then the Old Warship Section……”

Speaking as though he hadn’t heard what the Captain was proposing, the Prime Minister interrupted his words and said, “Is the Muramasa ready yet?” as he averted his eyes. It was too late as there was no one to stop that his reckless actions.

 

In an abandoned passageway on the Old Warship Section two silhouettes passed by. They were Meia and Jura.

“Dita! Where are you!?”

Meia shouted while keeping a close eye on their surroundings. The pair of them were searching for Dita who had gone astray.

“Geez! This is why I didn’t want to bring the trainees along!”

Jura followed after her while grumbling.

“The decision was mine. If you have any objections……”

“I get it already, geez! We just need search alright!!”

Jura may be selfish, but she was apparently no match for Meia.

 

The dorsal armor of the bilaterally symmetrical New Warship Section opened, and from inside machines slowly emerged, each one equipped with one Muramasa space faring torpedo respectively.

From each of the massive main bodies extended eight long sensors that shined ominously, and it was fixed on the Old Warship Section.

A response also appeared on the sensor console of the Old Warship Section. Even someone who couldn’t read Kanji could understand the warning indicator. Ezra remained calm as her cheeks became flushed.

“Oh my, this is serious. A missile has locked on to us……”

Upon hearing this Buzam reacted sensibly.

“What!? Paiway! Can we move the ship!?”

“It’s impossible, the engine is currently still dead.”

Paiway spoke despairingly as she raised both hands and shrugged her shoulders. Buzam instantly raised her eyebrows and proceeded to shout at the communication device she was holding.

 

‘Captain! Those guys, they intend to destroy us together with the ship!’

Buzam’s voice reverberated on the pirate ship’s bridge. Gazing at the monitor that was at hand Magno agreed with this, and thus replied in frustration.

“We see it even over here……it’s regrettable since it’s such a large catch, but we’re going to have to get out of here promptly!”

‘Understood!!’

 

Following Magno’s order, the pirate ship positioned itself between the Old Warship Section and the New Warship Section to cover for the evacuation of the combat forces. Following this the New Warship Section as well started a bombardment to cover for the Muramasa.

 

“With this it should be okay.”

Duero muttered this as he finished wrapping a bandage around the upper arm of the last patient, Barnette.

Having heard this Barnette backed away while flustered as though she was scared. Even for her this was the first time she’d been touched by a man since she was born.

Without paying any mind to this reaction of hers, Duero gazed at Barnette as though licking her body all over. To a great extent, it appears something had tickled his intellectual curiosity.

“W-what is it!? There’s isn’t anything of interest after all.”

In contrast to Barnette who said this with a suspicious tone, he said, “……On the contrary……, it’s extremely interesting,” while once again showing that ominous smile.

“I’m not going to say thanks you know.”

To Barnette who said this while trying to display a tough attitude, Duero said, “No problem. ……Now, it’s about time I left,” as he got up.

The warship once again shook violently from an impact. It seemed as though the bombardment between the mothership and the New Warship Section had started to develop at that time.

 

‘Dread Team! Withdraw from the warship at your own discretion!’

Buzam’s transmission even reached Meia who had been investigating the currently open canopy of Dita’s ship.

Receiving this, Meia yelled towards the communication device that was equipped on her wristband.

“Dita has gotten lost! Since I’ll join up with you once I’ve found her, until then everyone……”

While she was in the middle of speaking a curious shriek was heard from down below.

“HI[[User:JeruTz|JeruTz]] ([[User talk:JeruTz|talk]]) 01:12, 11 October 2016 (CEST)! Don’t come near me! Don’t touch MEEE——!!”

Jura and Meia were shocked by what they saw down below, where Dita was still persisting in chasing after Hibiki.

“……No way……That child is chasing after a man?”

Meia shouted from behind the astounded Jura.

“Dita! Come back!”

 

On the bridge of the New Warship Section unpleasant vibration once again started to arise. It was the beam attacks from the pirate ship.

Although the bombardment was a screen that exploded at point blank range the sound was sufficient to fan the Prime Minister’s irritation.

“Is the Muramasa ready yet!?”

“It still has not finished fueling.”

Hearing this the Prime Minister, appearing to have already reached the limit of his patience, shouted vigorously as a vein visible on his forehead looked about to burst.

“It has plenty already! FIRE AT ONCE!!”

The crewmember seemed to jump at that threatening look, and proceeding to press the firing switch.

 

The vigorously fired space faring torpedo Muramasa let out a roar as it plunged towards the Old Warship Section.

 

At that moment, the female pirates’ mothership had pulled up alongside the Old Warship Section, and was now undertaking the recovery of the crew members who had infiltrated it.

“Missile incoming! 300 seconds until impact!!”

The bridge crew member shouted hysterically.

“BC!!”

Magno cut her off with a look and yelled while gazing at the monitor.

As Buzam was pushing through the gate with the rest of the crew, she operated the communication device restlessly.

“Apart from myself everyone has evacuated! Three pilots under Meia have not returned!”

Magno replied to this information without faltering.

‘They’ll have to leave on their own Dreads! You return as well, BC!!’

“Roger!”

From Magno’s response, Buzam instantly perceived how urgent the situation was.

As she feared the Muramasa was already close enough to be seen.

 

“KYAAH!”

Next to the Pexis that had steadily started to greatly pulsate suspiciously, Dita’s small shout reverberated. To she who had gotten engrossed in chasing after Hibiki, Meia took the necessary measure of throwing herself on top of her.

“The abandon ship order was given! Don’t arbitrarily separate from the group!”

At Meia’s harsh cry Dita immediately became despondent.

“……HII~~N……I’m sorry leader……”

Hibiki on the other hand was climbing up the Pexis’s branches while carrying the Hi-Type Number Six.

 

The two Muramasas that were released from the New Warship Section were rushing towards their prey like hound dogs, having been targeted at the Old Warship Section and the pirate ship.

 

“150 seconds remain until the missiles reach us!”

The bridge crew member’s yell was hysterical. With the crew members having finished boarding, the pirate ship began to rapidly separate from the Old Warship Section.

 

“Meia!!”

Looking through the window, Buzam, having returned to the mothership, called out to Meia’s group that had not yet escaped.

 

Meia, having received the transmission while cramming Dita into her own Dread, finally returned to the white hulled Dread that was hers.

“All three members accounted for. Abandoning ship immediately!”

Yelling this, she lightly disappeared into the cockpit.

Hibiki poked his head out from where he’d been hiding and cast his eyes over the surroundings.

“……About my Bangata……”

Suddenly he saw one of the machines lying sprawled in the middle of the hanger, with what was certainly the character ‘ヒ’ visible on its nether region. Having fallen off of the sortie gate, whether luckily or unluckily, it had been left as it was on the floor.

“OW! I’ve kept you waiting huh, partner!!”

Merrily running over to it, he jumped into the cockpit placed in its chest without hesitation. Simultaneously the protruding left shoulder of the Bangata slid to envelope Hibiki’s body.

“Alright then! Let’s get out of here right away! …………!?”

Letting out a vigorous yell, the moment his hand reached around for his shoulder, Hibiki’s face turned blue.

“The satchel……is gone……”

The Bangata piloting manual had been stored inside of that satchel. However, in the middle of his being chased by Dita, he ended up losing it somewhere.

“……How, do I make it move……?”

Gazing at the complex equipment installed before his eyes, Hibiki was at a loss.

 

‘Hyuiii——n……’

Activating their engines Meia and Jura’s dreads started to rise. However, from behind them Dita’s ship which was still piercing through the wall was rattling as it shook.

“Dita! You’re too slow!”

Concerned about Dita, Meia shouted. However,

“Fue~~n, I’m stuck and can’t move at a~ll……”

Frantically shifting the levers was making no progress. Dita’s face stiffened and tears began to well up.

 

“25 seconds till impact!”

“We cannot avoid a direct hit!!”

The crew’s shrill voices resounded on the bridge of the mothership. Even Magno’s face stiffened when she heard that, muttering something like a prayer.

“Hit or miss, it’ll either hit or miss…………”

These words were typical of Magno who had originally been known as a priestess.

 

“Move! MOVE IT!!”

Hibiki recklessly moved the levers, however the Bangata didn’t so much as twitch.

 

“12 seconds remaining!”

 

“Dita! There’s no time left!!”

As Meia yelled frantically in her cockpit Jura’s transmission cut in.

‘Meia, we can’t wait any longer!’

 

Even as everyone was desperately trying to escape, the Muramasa’s warhead responded to its target, and began to release a chilling light.

 

“It’s no good! Somebody save me!!”

Dita’s heartbreaking scream resounded within the engine block, and in the next moment it happened.

‘Viiii————n, ZUBAAAAAAA!!’

Together with a thunderous roar, the Pexis that was below Dita’s ship released a flash.

From the gigantic crystalline mass, a shockwave laced with sparks spread out, not only engulfing the engine block but even overtaking the entire ship, spreading with amazing force.

“U, ……UWAAAAAAA————!!”

The screams of Hibiki, Dita, Meia, and Jura all piled on top of each other, and before long even those were drowned out by the thunderous roar released by the Pexis.

 

Regarding this phenomenon that was suddenly generated, the surrounding star system was painted white together with the dazzling flash. And then, this flash rapidly broke away from the unseen Old Warship Section and even enveloped the pirate ship.

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