Editing Vandread Volume 1 Chapter 1 (section)

===Part 6===

When the turmoil caused by the reckless young man, Hibiki Tokai, had settled down, the Ikazuchi was already far from the skies of Taraak, having emerged into outer space. While the Ikazuchi was flashing its signal lights, several spaceships approached. Due to their size the fleet could be interpreted as the Ikazuchi's tugboats, but nevertheless these were the Taraak's proud escort fleet.

Indeed, if it was only on this scale it can be said to be understandable they'd be subjected to plunder when attacked by 'women'. As a consequence of this the military authorities had seemingly responded by placing their hopes on the Ikazuchi's much larger size, something which can be easily understood.



"Escort fleet, currently approaching."

"Assume 'Half Moon Formation' with the Ikazuchi in the center."

"'Half Moon Formation', yessir."

From the bridge of the 'New Ship Section' the second generation crew hastened to execute the strategic maneuver.

Although it had been equipped with the latest technology, the design of a large helm in the center without providing a space for sitting gave an impression of being old-fashioned. As sudden horn sounded throughout the bridge, and simultaneously the crew all instantly stood at attention.

"The captain has arrived!"

Upon hearing that voice the the chair that was the Captain's seat rose up near the rear center of the bridge. However, the Captain himself was standing beside the chair. This was since someone could be seen sitting there, that person being the Prime Minister whose anger had not yet abated. It was clear from the setting that he had appropriated the captain's seat for himself. He had hastily been made the commander, and consequently, far from calling him out on it, the crew had remained indifferent when he appeared on the bridge, while the commander himself griped to the Captain.

"What a disgrace that was! All that hard work for that ceremony came to nothing in the end!"

"Hah……"

Even for the Captain accompanying him it had been a terrible disaster.

"Geez, this is irritating! That brat!! I'll make sure that he pays for all this……I'll gouge out his eyes while he's still alive, and then……"

The communication officer timidly approached the Prime Minister who was spouting this monologue in his anger.

"Message from escort warship 'Maboroshi'!<ref>Like Ikazuchi, this was written in Katekana. In Japanese, Maboroshi means phantom.</ref> Their seeking instructions regarding the mock exercises!"

Hearing this the Prime Minister abruptly faced the crew for the first time, his shout emphasizing how increasingly angry he was.

"Moron! Are we to undertake such a thing in the current situation?! The exercises have been canceled, and all ships are to set an orbital trajectory!"

"H-however Prime Minister, you say that but……"

The captain instinctively interjected in response to this excessively egotistical proclamation, but in contrast the Prime Minister's mood had been wrecked. Bringing his openly indignant face close to that of the Captain's, he said "If you say anything more you'll be spending the rest of your life on garbage separation duty."

Having cowered before the Prime Minister's menacing look the Captain cried out in a hollow voice.

"A-all ships set an orbital trajectory!"



'Dongaragassha~~n……gon, garagaragara……'

There were noisy sounds within the darkness. Still dazed by the fluorescent beams that had sprung forth, he was finally able to get a grasp on his state of affairs. This was the brig in the 'Old Ship Section', which had been previously been a place utilized as a storeroom. The security guards who had been carrying Hibiki by either arm had casually tossed him onto a pile of junk. The beams of light were from the laser shield that was used in place of prison bars.

"Tsu~~h……damn you both, you could be a little more polite!!"

Just by looking at how much his face had swollen up, it was easy to imagine the kind of treatment he'd received. Nevertheless that his mouth hadn't changed was very much like Hibiki.

"Nyarooh! If you're going to kill me, just do it now! Don't just throw me in some storage room!"

Whether or not he was relieved for having been released from their hands, he responded to the security guards with a composed attitude immediately afterwards.

"This was a bonafide cell! We're merely using it in place of a storage room."

"Besides it's been decided that you'll have a public execution. And it won't be a comfortable death, fufufu……"

Hearing this the blood drained from Hibiki's face. Because of the swelling however, the security guards didn't notice. Becoming crestfallen, the security guards grinned broadly as they watched him hang his head.

As one of them operating a piece of equipment installed in the wall, a robot that until then had been dormant for several decades powered up.

"Hi-Type Number Six!"<ref>I went with the anime's translation. In Japanese it reads "Hi-shiki Roku-gou". The translation is fairly literal except for "Hi", which is left untranslated.  The character for "Hi" can mean ratio.</ref>

Together with the security guards cry, a teardrop shaped machine appeared from the wall in a manner like that of a ghost. Regarding the machine itself, it was something that had been installed for the purpose of navigating the warship. As evidence of this the section that had been used for its face was a monitor equipped with a touch guide panel.

"This ought to be sufficient for guarding this guy for now. Keep a close eye on him."

"'''PIPI……'''"

The Hi-Type Number Six emitted a short mechanical sound in place of a reply as it turned to face Hibiki. Seemingly content with having confirmed this, the security guards departed at that moment. Keeping his head down, Hibiki confirmed that the security guards' footsteps had become distant, suddenly raised his head, drew as close as he could to the shield on all fours and spoke in a whisper.

"Hey, partner, why don't you let me out of here."

"'''PI!?'''"

As one would expect this appears to be the programmed response for when the robot replies to a human. Finding this reaction hopeful, Hibiki tried a tactic of appealing to his robot companion on emotion.

"It's true that we were both born in a factory. You could say we're like brothers, right?"

"'''BIBI∼! Your components are different. Therefore, to say we are brothers would be inappropriate.'''"

As one would expect it wasn't accepting to appeals of emotion. Changing his persuasion approach at this point,

"The truth is I have a great engine. If you get me out I can install it."

"'''BIBI∼! Denied!! Observation subject's remark is in appropriate. ……Escape instigation, as well as attempted bribery are clearly criminal acts. ……Consequently……'''"

"Consequently……?"

In response to the follow up question Hibiki had blankly asked,

"'''Punishment!!'''"

No sooner had it said that when it discharged a shock beam in Hibiki's direction.

"GUWAAA∼∼∼∼!"

Although it wasn't to the degree of being life threatening, he was abruptly thrown back by the sudden electrical shock.

"Hey you, w-what the hell!"

Although he himself was at fault, seemingly losing himself over the Hi-Type Number Six's cool-headed reaction, Hibiki unintentionally started speaking in a caustic tone.

"You, don't underestimate me! Who exactly do you think I am!?"

This has already been said but the Hi-Type Number Six is after all a machine. Being foolishly honest it aimed its sensor at Hibiki, beginning an enquiry of his social status.

"'''Surveillance subject social status inquiry, commence……'''"

"Idiot! That's not what I meant!"

At that response from the Hi-Type Number Six, the one who cut in with caustic word was Hibiki who had lost his frame of mind. However, once it had started its search, it apparently was not possible to reset its functions.

"'''Subject, humanoid. Organism, gender, male……'''"

Hibiki continued to entreat upon the Hi-Type Number Six as it continued to silently lookup the data.

"I'm begging you, as a man I shouldn't end up in a such a place as this……"

However, without lending an ear to Hibiki's complaints and such, the Hi-Type Number Six silently looked through the data in its own internal memory. But then, given that it had recorded any data for several decades and there was no reason it should have found Hibiki's data, the next moment, the Hi-Type Number Six displayed a curious reaction.

"'''BIBI! Inquiry complete!'''"

Such was the response that it displayed.

"Eh? How……"

As Hibiki listened carefully to the next words of the Hi-Type Number Six, it happened.

Instantly, together with the sound of a massive shock, he felt the warship rock, abnormalities affected the entire system, and from that impact the Hi-Type Number Six seemed to be plunged into disarray as it plunged straight into the laser shield.

"'''Pi……bachbachibachi!!'''"

It fell on Hibiki with a violent electrical discharge.

"WAH! Idiot, what was that∼?!"

At that moment, having literally become disoriented by the small impact that happened before his eyes, Hibiki was unaware that a major incident was happening outside that would have a major influence over his future.

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