Editing Tytania:Volume 3 Chapter 4 (section)

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During the “Phoney War”, it was difficult to judge whether it was Tytania or the anti-Tytania faction who committed the most mistakes. In the first place, the anti-Tytania faction shared nothing more than a single commonality: their dissatisfaction with Tytania’s rule.

While the Bargash government hated Tytania, it could not help but harbour resentment towards the meddlesome rogue elements that had brought about the national crisis. Unlike Fan Hyulick or Doctor Lee, Bargash possessed much that was at stake.

The commander of the Bargash Regular Army who was travelling with Fan Hyulick and the others known as the “rejects of the Blaze Flag Army” was the seasoned Rear-Admiral Turbil. His ''aide-de-camp'' was Lieutenant-Commander Irk. Having experienced the tyranny of Duke Zarlisch Tytania, he possessed a strong will to fight against Tytania and a deep sympathy for Hyulick’s group, yet his primary sense of loyalty remained with his homeland, Bargash. The first mission entrusted to them was the preservation of their fleet’s combat strength.

''“The people in the Bargash government care more about tomorrow’s breakfast than today’s dinner,”'' thought Fan Hyulick to himself, but he remained silent, for it would be troublesome if he upset his patron and was told, ''“Fine, then fight Tytania on your own.”'' However, according to the explanation Doctor Lee had provided to Miranda, the methods employed by the Bargash government were even more ruthless than that.

“We have been bundled together onto this single ship. In other words, if this ship were to be sunk in an emergency, the Bargash government would have an excuse to present to Tytania.”

“So that is why they did not have us board in separate groups?”

“Because for the Bargash government, it is a cheap price to pay if it can be settled with just one cruiser.”

“But doing something like that would only weaken their own position. For instance, there is no way Tytania would withdraw their demands to be granted the right to vet locators.”

“Even if they were to accept Tytania’s demands, Bargash would have no need to follow through.”

Doctor Lee stated this with absolute clarity.

“That is an extreme way of putting it, but there are countless ways to delay implementation, and there are even strategies to invalidate the very qualification of being a locator to establish a different system. As far as this particular matter is concerned, Bargash possesses more tradition and authority than Tytania.”

Fan Hyulick blinked and looked back at Doctor Lee.

“If you understood that much, then why…”

''Why had he not shown the Bargash government a way to avoid war?'' Lee laughed at Hyulick’s question.

“It was only natural. If I had told them such a thing, the Bargash government would not have taken arms against Tytania.”

To him, it was a logical and clear-cut fact. They could not oppose Tytania on their own. He had to involve the Bargash government. To do that, he needed to drive the Bargash government into a corner. It was as simple as that.

In short, they were not some “resistance<ref name="ftn14">“Resistance” (抵抗運動) is pronounced “resistance”.</ref> movement bound by beautiful comradeship”. If anything, the label Tytania used in their propaganda—“vicious terrorists who disturb the peace and order of the universe”—might have been more accurate. At the very least, one could certainly not claim they were people of pure character.

Doctor Lee went on to further explain the enemy’s psychology.

“Lord Ariabert has long since achieved victory in terms of war as a political tool. However, being an excellent soldier and a man of uncompromising integrity, that alone is not enough to satisfy him.”

He desired to compete against the enemy head-on, proving his superiority in strategy and tactics to achieve a victory that was clear to all eyes. Yet, while Ariabert hungered for such a feat, his restraint as a prominent figure of Tytania outweighed his personal desires. Even if he could not find emotional satisfaction, as long as he could secure political victories that brought benefits to Tytania, Ariabert would not persist in useless displays of force. At the very least, he should not.

The reason he sought to pursue the fugitives to the very end and desired a complete victory through the use of force this time was that the cowardice of the Bargash government and the way Fan Hyulick’s faction continued to run away were a provocation to Ariabert’s sense of aesthetics. He simply could not allow such a disgraceful group to go unpunished, nor could he offer them a half-hearted pardon. Ariabert believed that for the sake of the honour of the Tytanian military and for the sake of future order, they had to be dealt with thoroughly. It was precisely within that fact that the only remaining path for Hyulick and his men lay.

Alan Mahdi interrogated him, his voice sharpening with tension.

“So, what do we do now?”

“What should we do, you ask?”

“We’re at war! How do you intend to fight against Tytania’s army? You have a plan for victory, don’t you?” shouted Mahdi.

His interference in tactical matters stemmed not from a high fighting spirit but from his lack of desire to perish alongside Hyulick and Doctor Lee.

“I have left everything in the hands of Admiral Hyulick.”

Doctor Lee replied with composure:

“My late uncle used to say that the secret to a healthy life is delegating to others what one is bad at. I ought to heed the advice of my elder.”

“A fitting pair, that uncle and nephew. Did this uncle of yours never teach you that fulfilling one’s responsibilities is the true way of a man?”

Mahdi himself limited his own duties strictly to the group’s financial management. Consequently, regarding combat command, he believed he could simply hold others accountable, having no intention of devising tactics himself. Doctor Lee was being sarcastic regarding that attitude, but of course, Mahdi failed to realise it.

It was Miranda who noticed. This robust woman, who had once been a princess of a nation, let out a hearty laugh, despite her sarcasm.

“Mahdi, just as you pave your path with cheap copper coins, Doctor Lee and Fan pave theirs with gold coins stamped with deep foresight and prudence. How about you be a little more humble and just wait?”

“Gold coins?! How do you know they aren’t just gilded fakes? Trust requires proof.”

It was a valid point, but since Mahdi’s lack of popularity surpassed even that of Doctor Lee, his trivial bickering failed to escalate into an internal conflict.

… At that moment, an event occurred that left the Tytania Fleet headquarters in a state of bewilderment. A transmission had been received from the very enemy they were pursuing. Ariabert failed to immediately grasp the contents of the message, which had been sent under the name “Bargash Regular Army”. He knitted his brows slightly and glared at the intelligence officer.

“What does this mean?”

“It is… exactly as the transmission says. They intend to sink the ship carrying Fan Hyulick and his companions with their own hands, provided that we accept their request for an immediate ceasefire.”

A stir arose among those surrounding Ariabert.

“Have they lost their minds?” groaned Rear-admiral Paulsen.

To Ariabert and his staff officers alike, it was an unbelievable proposal.

Had he been Clanner Ajman, he would have laughed derisively, accepted the filthy offer, and subsequently denied that such an offer had ever existed. But Ariabert was not Ajman.

“We received no such communication. Erase the records. For the sake of everyone’s honour.”

Ariabert’s voice was restrained, but he could not entirely hide his feelings regarding the hideous proposal. It was Rear-Admiral Paulsen who voiced his agreement loudly.

“It would be a pity for Fan Hyulick to die in such a manner. Let us destroy this heroic rebel with our own hands.”

Ariabert felt a faint, strange sense of distaste toward this young, loyal soldier. It was the same sensation he had felt towards the late Zarlisch. Ariabert did not like those who expressed their confidence with exaggeration, content to dwell within a self-made illusion.

Nothing sat well with him. He felt as though he were being lured into some unpredictable, sinister trap. This uncharacteristic suspicion weighed heavily upon Ariabert, leaving him with a dull ache in the pit of his stomach.

Throughout the previous year, he had exerted the full extent of his intellect as a commander, devising the strategies and tactics required to engage the Bargash fleet in a decisive battle in outer space. Instead, all of that effort had come to nothing, and he found himself instead chasing a mere handful of troops fleeing across the seabed of a single planet. This was the height of frustration. Victory was an absolute certainty, yet it was equally clear that even in triumph, he would gain not even a milligram of satisfaction.

He was not fighting for personal gratification. But even though he told himself this repeatedly, he could not dispel the sense of unease. Furthermore, given his position as commander-in-chief, he could not afford to expose his private inner turmoil to the eyes of others.

“Commander Granite, do you have any opinions?”

Ariabert sought input from another person.

“I would ask you to be wary of the seabed. There is a possibility that explosives or missiles have been placed on the ocean floor. Furthermore, enemy vessels may be lurking within the seabed sands. Please remain vigilant.”

As for Commander Granite, he could not help but recall the untimely death of his superior, Duke Zarlisch. Zarlisch had tasted an unexpected bitterness when struck by fire from an enemy ship that had been hiding beneath the sands. Granite’s warning possessed an undeniable persuasiveness, and Ariabert ordered each vessel to conduct depth charge attacks against the seabed. However, since it would be foolish to waste depth charges before the commencement of full-scale combat, he limited the number of uses to ten per ship. Even so, a vast number of depth charges detonated upon the seabed, kicking up tens of millions of tonnes of sand that had accumulated since ancient times.

Ariabert watched with a heavy heart as the image on the screen shifted from a dark clarity to a dark turbidity. It was more than just a half-measure; he felt as though what he was doing was utterly pointless.