Alright, change of command!
My squad headed out to support the Taikyoku Fleet.
"Eddie's Squad, launch preparations complete."
"This is the Isono and Nakajima Squad. We’re ready to deploy."
"I'm counting on the three of you to look after the Chronos Fleet."
"You got it!"
"Melissa's Squad. You aren’t about to say you’re leaving your beloved wife behind, are you?"
"I wouldn't say that... just don’t get hurt, okay?"
Melissa's new machine was named "The One Who Rebels Against Shakra."
It was a humanoid fighter completely specialized for close-quarters combat. The name's origin was Asura, chosen because its design philosophy was the exact opposite of Eddie’s machine. It wasn't an all-rounder that happened to be good at melee; it was built for it and nothing else.
The machine balanced incredible speed with high defensive power. In exchange, the designers had completely abandoned shooting correction. That was the primary difference from Eddie’s unit. I had her carry a shotgun to compensate.
In that sense, it felt similar to Rikochi’s machine.
"This is Riko. I’ll be handling the defense of this battleship."
Yep, that was the right call. Rikochi was usually right about these things.
Rikochi’s machine, the Usapyon MK-2, had undergone a full overhaul. She’d get mad if I used its formal name, so Usapyon MK-2 was fine. It was heavier, tougher, and a pure defense type machine. It was also loaded with an absurd amount of weaponry.
Its individual defensive capability was in the highest class, and its attack power alone rivaled a battleship-class vessel. However, everything it did was slow. It was powerful, but difficult to operate.
...Wait, weren't all my wives' machines super peaky? Only us idiot boys used the all-rounder types!
"I'm counting on you~"
Giving up on the logic of it all, I launched.
A correspondence course—well, a transmission—came in from Karen-san as well. She was currently on the Lepsitol capital planet acting as a chaperone for the problem children—Magellan, Ozen, Parcion, and Lepsitol. Or rather, she was playing the role of the principal.
"Parcion, Magellan, and Ozen are not responding."
I understood why. Soldiers from defeated nations were often persecuted thoroughly by their own people. Even if we forgave them, the public wouldn't. They were likely sitting on a bed of nails. There were limits to what propaganda could accomplish.
To make matters worse, the people leading the charge now were the ones who had dodged the draft in Parcion’s conscription system. It left a bitter taste in my mouth.
"Keep trying to hail them."
I arrived at Shi-yun’s location just as Leonidas-kun’s reconnaissance ended.
"Shi-yun, what’s the situation!?"
"The Parcion Army has suffered massive casualties and is in total collapse. The Taikyoku Fleet is also occupied with emergency ship repairs."
Of course they were! That’s what happened when a fleet had no intention of surviving the day!
"How did it turn out like this!?"
Even with their reckless attitude, they should have been able to put up a decent fight using basic tactics.
"An ambush appeared! The Parcion Army was attacked from the rear..."
"But we scouted the area beforehand! Ah... a warp!?"
Ugh, seriously!? Since the enemy didn't care about their own attrition rates, they were pulling off absolutely reckless maneuvers. It was like a swarm of hornets picking a fight with honeybees. Individually, we were stronger, but we lacked coordination.
"The Latania Fleet has also been surrounded."
What should I do...
Just then, a communication came through.
"My Lord. It is time for our debut, is it not?"
"Huh?"
The voice belonged to Fuma-san! He was one of the captains of my guard. Wait, why was he calling now?
"Warp tactics are our specialty as well. Allow us to act as your mobile strike force!"
"Hey, I told you that was forbidden because the death toll would be too high!"
"Even so, this is something only we of Lepsitol can achieve!"
"Karen-san, stop them!" I pleaded.
But her reply was merciless. "I cannot..."
"Why not!?"
"It is Plan B. We had scheduled this from the very beginning."
"...What are you talking about?"
"We of Lepsitol are indeed part of a culture that does not consider cowardice or despicableness a shame. However... we cannot tolerate being looked down upon. My beloved husband, King of Chronos. You are kind, so you likely cannot understand. To the loser goes nothing; they are stripped of everything. That is why we commit suicide before we can be disgraced. To us, death is neither the worst fate nor the end. Having our descendants' futures stolen while we remain defeated—that is the ultimate humiliation."
Karen-san smiled as she spoke. In that moment, I finally realized something. Why had I always given Lepsitol such a high evaluation? Despite being a bunch of people with zero morals who were constantly causing trouble...
Yes, for some reason, I had always given them preferential treatment. I saw it now. They acted frivolous on the surface, but underneath, they were the same kind of creatures as me. They seemed like they were joking around, but their true nature was that of a samurai. My instincts had correctly sensed how dangerous they truly were.
"Warriors of Lepsitol! Show them our honor! We are Lepsitol! The strongest warriors in existence! Death is not the end! Connect your lives to the next generation! Drive the Snake's Fang into the Corpse Eaters!"
"Uoooohhhhhhh!"
The new humanoid fighters began to warp. Statistically, a significant number of them would never return. They were destined to be crushed along with their machines within subspace.
Even so, the Lepsitol pilots actually rejoiced. They called it the ultimate honor of a Lepsitol soldier.
The atmosphere of the battlefield shifted instantly. The Parcion Army was accustomed to coordinating with Lepsitol, their friendly nation. Together, they began to push back the tide of a battle that had been on the verge of total annihilation.
"Hu, huhahaha! Men! Crush your fear! We of Lepsitol are the guardians of Leo Kamishiro Chronos!"
Fuma-san’s boisterous laughter echoed through the comms.
"You weaklings of Parcion! Don’t you dare suffer such a pathetic defeat!"
The humanoid fighters of the Lepsitol Ninja Squad fought like demons. They shot down the cell-type bio-ships one after another.
"Armored Rikishi Squad! Seize the enemy's data!"
The Armored Rikishi Squad, with their half-cyborg bodies, boarded the Ghoul Battleships. The live feed from their body cameras showed them tearing through the biological monsters inside.
A report came in almost immediately. "We have discovered what appears to be a bio-computer!"
"Once you've recovered it, blow the entire battleship to hell!"
"Understood!"
They detonated the ships and returned with practiced efficiency. They were strong. They were incredibly strong!
I had felt from the beginning that I’d be in trouble if I ever underestimated these guys. I see! Because I didn't make unreasonable demands and I protected their honor, they had strategically chosen to serve under me.
Ah, man! They were so competent it made me want to cry. I loved those guys, which was exactly why I didn't want them doing anything so reckless!
"Leo-kun! I’m heading over to the Lepsitol side to help! Try to be a good boy while I'm gone!"
Fairy-san shifted her processing power to analysis. With her help, the enemy’s armaments and tactics would become transparent. We suddenly gained a massive advantage in the information war. As long as we knew what the opponent was going to do, there was nothing to fear. It would simply become a game of reading their moves.
From that point on, our grand counteroffensive truly began.
Furthermore, our army’s greatest joker, Leonidas-kun, had also begun moving in secret. As expected of my little brother!
...See? I was right to head to the front lines after all!