"Alright, let's hammer out the details of the plan."
Having finished the preparations for the transporter guns, Jin gathered everyone on Hourai Island.
Jin, Elsa, and Goose were among those present.
"I’ve heard this from No. 700672 as well, but the Progenitors' way of thinking differs from ours in many respects. We have to be careful about that."
"True enough," Goose agreed. "It is entirely possible that what we take for granted is alien to them, and vice versa."
"Jin-nii, is there anything in particular we should watch out for?" Elsa asked.
Jin nodded.
"Yeah. Let's start with that. It seems the Progenitors have an extreme dislike for murder, perhaps due to the population decline they once experienced."
It might also be a matter of their moral code, Jin added as an afterthought.
"On the other hand, they seem to possess a certain 'chosen people' complex—the idea that they are superior to others."
"Well, with the level of technology they possess, I suppose that isn't entirely surprising."
"However, the combat performance of the Guardians is not particularly high," Laojun offered his analysis at that point. He had calculated their capabilities based on their observed movements, the ambient ether concentration, and their material composition. "We estimate them to be roughly half as powerful as a unit from the Land squad. Since this is a region devoid of magical beasts, that is still more than powerful enough for their needs. They could likely output more force in short, instantaneous bursts, though."
Laojun meant that their power was sufficient as long as they were only dealing with ordinary animals.
"Even so, we can't afford to be careless," Jin cautioned.
Returning to the topic at hand, they began reviewing the plan.
"At any rate, there are too many unknown variables," Jin said. Goose voiced his agreement.
"Teleporting the Guardians away with the transporter guns is one thing, but how many of them will we face?"
"I’ve prepared ten guns and a hundred cartridges for now."
"Even if that’s enough to clear them, we have no idea what will happen afterward."
As it stood, it was less of a formal plan and more of a reactive set of guidelines.
"But we'll never know unless we try," Laojun pointed out.
"I suppose you're right..."
The Progenitors were supposed to possess terraforming technology. Jin needed that technology to prevent the disaster that would be caused by the approaching long-period planet.
At the very least, he wanted to secure their cooperation.
"We just have to go for it."
Deciding to take the leap, Jin made his choice. This was partly bolstered by what No. 700672 had told him.
"Even if you fail, they likely won't react in a way that endangers the planet."
And also:
"If this planet, which they went through the trouble of terraforming, falls into peril, they will surely lend their strength."
"We'll need to have evidence of the long-period planet's approach ready," Jin noted.
"My Lord, it is currently shining quite brightly in the night sky, so a nighttime operation might be best," Laojun advised. The light was likely being reflected by the Sea of Lead.
Pooling their wisdom to make the most of what little information they had, the group finalized their preparations.
They decided to carry out the mission that very night.
While it was night on Onogoro Island, it was midday on Hourai Island.
A detachment from the Land squad was deployed: five units, from Land 11 to Land 15. Each unit was equipped with two modified transporter guns and twenty spare cartridges.
Just like the previous time, the five units were sent to the island via the transporter.
〈For what purpose have you come, you Live Puppets?〉
Just like before, a single Guardian appeared.
"Danger is approaching this planet. We ask that you listen to what we have to say."
Land 11 stated the purpose of their visit first.
〈There is no need. Begone at once.〉
The response was as cold and dismissive as before.
"Then, you must excuse us."
Land 11 leveled a transporter gun and fired.
In an instant, the Guardian vanished.
"The Guardian has been successfully teleported to a small island to the east," Laojun reported, confirming the visual data sent from a Raptor of the Sky squad. The first stage was a success.
"Please... let this work."
〈What have you done, Live Puppet?〉
A dozen or so seconds later, another Guardian appeared.
"We ask that you listen. A crisis approaches this planet..."
〈Depart.〉
This Guardian also refused to listen. Land 11 fired the transporter gun again.
〈Live Puppets, do you intend to show hostility?〉
〈Live Puppets, depart before you are removed by force.〉
This time, two Guardians appeared simultaneously. However, as they still refused to listen, they too were teleported away.
〈Live Puppet.〉
〈Live Puppet.〉
From then on, Guardians appeared in groups of two or three. None of them would listen to reason, forcing the Land units to use the transporter guns.
Some of them attempted to lunge forward to eliminate the Land squad, but just as Laojun had analyzed, they were no match for the Hourai units and were efficiently teleported away.
After thirty-two Guardians had been removed from the area...
〈Live Puppet, what is your objective?〉
A golem appeared whose appearance was clearly different from the Guardians they had faced so far. It stood about two meters tall and possessed a silhouette remarkably similar to a human's.
It was likely a superior model that oversaw the Guardians.
"My Lord, we have reached the second stage."
"Alright. Laojun, take the lead and have Land 11 handle the negotiations."
"We are those who seek to protect this planet, Ars. There is a matter we wish for you to hear."
〈I would call such a claim nonsense, but your skill in neutralizing the Guardians is admirable. I shall listen.〉
"Our thanks. Then, first, please look up at the sky."
Land 11 pointed toward the zenith.
"Slightly north of the zenith, near the Moon, Uni, you should see a bright star."
〈I see it.〉
"That star is a long-period planet. It is approaching Ars at high velocity."
〈If that long-period planet is what we call Modenu, then it is indeed in our records. It is a planet that orbits the sun Celane with a period of 1203 years and 10 months.〉
As suspected, the Progenitors already had data on the long-period planet.
The operation finally moved into its third stage.