Editing Tytania:Volume 4 Chapter 6 (section)

=== III ===
“Is there anyone in Uraniborg right now with the courage and planning required to commit such a betrayal?”

“A valid question, but the sudden outburst of a small player can sometimes produce unexpected results. Besides…”

“Besides?”

“Someone may have received a secret order from His Clanner Highness…”

Just as Jouslain was about to speak, a report arrived. It stated that vessels had departed from every port, and their total number had already exceeded twenty thousand.

“Damn that Idris… it seems he has finally found some motivation.”

“The enemy is twice our size. It should be a rewarding challenge, Lord Ariabert.”

“Now hold on. You expect me to do all the work while you just stand there and watch, Lord Jouslain?”

“If there was something for me to do, I would of course be happy to assist, but I have no desire to get in your way.”

“Hmm, you certainly have an answer for everything.”

Ariabert gave a sarcastic laugh, but Jouslain accepted it with a serious expression.

“I shall refrain from interfering unless you request it. However, in exchange, would you not allow Viscount Balamy to remain by your side?”

“Hoh? Field training?”

“Might I ask that of you?”

“As long as the man himself is willing, I have no objection… Nevertheless, I do wonder in what state His Clanner Highness is.”

“Any number of states are possible. However, since we have extremely little information, we cannot make any predictions. We cannot act based on mere speculation.”

“So, it is the same as before, then.”

“Precisely. I shall have Idris take full responsibility.”

The two men gazed at the screen. The stream of points of light being emitted from Uraniborg showed no sign of ceasing.

“For the first time in my life, I feel a small amount of pity for Idris.”

“I understand how you feel, Lord Ariabert. But consider how many individuals superior to Idris Tytania have been sacrificed until now… and how many more will be, as long as Tytania exists.”

Ariabert’s gaze pierced sharply through Jouslain’s profile. Jouslain remained silent. Ariabert said nothing to him either. After parting ways with him, he summoned Balamy.

“I have heard the news from Lord Jouslain. There is no formal seat set for you, but please, feel free to make yourself at home.”

“I am most grateful.”

Balamy bowed stiffly and cast his gaze towards the empty seat to Ariabert’s rear left, but he did not sit down. Instead, he stood behind the vacant chair, staring intently. He watched Ariabert’s every move, the main screen, and the three-dimensional simulator. He felt as though he needed half a dozen pairs of eyes. After about five minutes, Ariabert looked back over his shoulder with an expression that fell just short of a wry smile.

“I imagine you want to ask why we are retreating. If we approach a single gate too closely, we lose sight of the enemy’s full extent. It would be disastrous to be flanked by another fleet emerging from a different gate while we are engaged in close combat with the first.”

“I see. I understand.”

As he replied, Balamy thought to himself, “I knew that much,” though it was perhaps merely a matter of courtesy.

Even if the enemy committed their full military strength, did Ariabert have the confidence to defeat them? Balamy wanted to confirm that point, but he could not tell from the man’s attitude.

The reconnaissance officer called out.

“Reporting, Your Grace.”

“Speak.”

“At present, there are no unidentified spacecraft within sixty light-seconds of our rear. No abnormalities in the deployment of jump-interference obstacles.”

“Very well. Continue rear reconnaissance, but reduce by half the number of personnel engaged. The officer in charge shall reorganise the designated sectors as appropriate.”

Captain Edna Fredericks, who was seated to Ariabert’s left, spoke:

“I wish for this vessel to retreat by approximately five thousand kilometres. May I have your permission?”

“I leave it up to you, captain.”

“Aye, aye, sir.”

No emotion was present in the words. Before anyone else could notice, their gazes simply met.

Balamy gazed intently at the screen, his thoughts racing.

If Uraniborg were to fall despite possessing Clanner Ajman and commanding the largest fleet in the universe, Idris would leave behind an eternal stain upon his name as the most incompetent commander in history. Balamy could not imagine Idris ever living through such disgrace.

Balamy moved his gaze, searching for Jouslain. The other duke sat in a seat at the rear right of the bridge, his arms crossed in silent contemplation. Beside him stood Francia. Her hand rested on the back of Jouslain’s chair. Then, a small face peeked out from beside her, and a figure gave a light wave toward Balamy. It was Princess Lydia. Since Francia had to remain by Jouslain’s side while simultaneously attending to the Princess, it was only natural that they were all on the bridge; in fact, upon reflection, it was actually safer that way.

Ariabert’s voice rang out:

“Our tactics will depend upon the formation the enemy adopts. Ensure thorough monitoring and analysis, and report your predictions.”

''“Is there no need to take the initiative?”'' wondered Balamy, but he soon realised the truth. If they destroyed the first wave of ships to depart, the remaining enemy forces might be too afraid to emerge, which would make a swift conclusion difficult.

“Does he intend to wipe out the enemy’s entire force all at once when they’ve all emerged? And he’s prepared many responses to the enemy’s tactics?…”

As Balamy contemplated these various possibilities, another report arrived. It came from Ariabert’s original flagship, the ''Golden Sheep''. The face of Captain Chen Ruofan appeared on one of the communication screens.

“Good work, Captain.”

“You honour me. From our current position, the enemy’s movements are within our expectations.”

After a brief exchange of a few words, the communication was cut, and Ariabert looked back at the young viscount.

“Lord Balamy, is there something you wish to say?”

“No, well, nothing in particular.”

“Hmm, perhaps my question was a bit too vague. If it were you, how would you manoeuvre my army?”

Was he being tested? Balamy could not suppress his tension. He looked once more at the screen, then at the three-dimensional simulator. He did not want Ariabert to laugh at him, yet if he were to offer an incorrect answer with misplaced confidence, it would be as if he were reopening his own wound.

“I have not yet gathered enough information to reach a decision.”

Ariabert did not laugh.

“As long as you’re sincere, it’s fine.”

“It is just that… I have never seen such a dense formation before. It’s almost like a box…”

“Correct. Even I have never seen a formation that thick. You are looking at the right things, Viscount.”

Balamy felt relieved. He thought it was for the best that he had answered honestly. In any case, there was no way he could propose a tactic superior to Ariabert’s at this moment. Feeling his tension ease slightly, he plucked up the courage to ask Ariabert.

“What is the meaning of that formation?”

“He intends to force us into a central breakthrough.”

Answering Balamy’s question, Ariabert turned his gaze back to the screen.

“Do you intend to perform this central breakthrough?”

Without looking back at Balamy, Ariabert pointed to the screen.

“Even if we achieve a central breakthrough, there is no space behind them for us to deploy. We would merely be caught in a pincer movement between Uraniborg and the enemy fleet.”

“Yes…”

“Which is likely what the enemy expects.”

There was an irrepressible excitement in Ariabert’s voice, that of a commander. Balamy wanted to read what lay within his heart, but it proved difficult.

“But, as things stand, wouldn’t it be difficult to attack the core?”

“That is true. However, Lord Balamy, what exactly are you referring to as the core?”

Balamy was bewildered.

“If we are speaking of the fleet, wouldn’t it be the flagship? The commander-in-chief would be aboard…”

“In the case of a long-distance expedition, supply ships are added to that.”

“But from what I have heard, the Commander-in-Chief has not even deployed.”

“Yes, precisely. However, as was revealed just now, the supreme commander, Idris, is conducting operations from within Uraniborg. If that is the case, whoever is aboard the flagship must be one of his subordinate generals, but in any event, such a heavy formation is unnecessary. A formation like that is designed to further encircle one’s own troops with even more allies, which, as a result, leaves half of the total force acting as mere outriders.”

For a moment, Balamy forgot his own position. It was the first time he had ever heard Ariabert explain things with such detail and initiative. Had he asked for himself, he would have never been told this much.

It was the result of Jouslain speaking up for him. There was no need to even think; the fact was clear. Should he be grateful? If so, how was he to show his appreciation?

Until the untimely death of his father, Marquis Estrade Tytania, last year, Ariabert and Jouslain had been plain, imaginary enemies to Balamy. He had intended to support his father, overthrow Clanner Ajman and the four dukes, and seize hegemony over Tytania. He had displayed his ambition and vigour so nakedly that even Princess Lydia, upon their first meeting, had remarked that he had “the kind of eyes that are plotting treason”.

At present, he walked in silence, watching the backs of Ariabert and Jouslain. It felt as though the two dukes were advancing two steps for every single step Balamy took.

''“How foolish I was.”''

He could not help but mock himself.

If even the backs of the two dukes were drifting so far out of reach, it would be eternally impossible to even catch the shadow of Clanner Ajman. He had been insolent, but he believed that, aside from a lack of experience, he had been able to match his late father, Marquis Estrade. Therefore, it was only natural that the Clanner throne had fallen into the hands of Ajman, his father’s half-brother. Their abilities were simply not on the same level; there was nothing to be done.

Had Balamy failed to properly account for his position immediately after his father’s death, he undoubtedly would have been purged. He had been spared only because Jouslain had persuaded the Clanner.

From that point on, Balamy was regarded by those around him as Jouslain’s partisan, and he acted as such in practice. However, Balamy did not know whether this would ultimately decide his fate. Regardless of whether he was on equal footing with Princess Lydia, he was not even twenty years old yet.