As Jin continued his observation, the extra-large-class fragment nearly ceased its rotation.
"All right. Begin installing the large force generators for the orbital course correction."
With that order, the deployment finally commenced.
Once the work began, it proceeded rapidly. Within roughly thirty minutes, every remaining large force generator was in place.
"Okay. Wake them up."
"Waking them up now," Taisei replied.
To the naked eye, nothing seemed to have changed, but a massive amount of force was indeed being applied to the fragment.
There were 105 large force generators, each providing an estimated maximum thrust of one million tons. That meant a total output of 105 million tons.
The extra-large-class fragment was an irregular block of rock rather than metal; calculating with a specific gravity of 3, its estimated mass was approximately 3,000,000,000,000 tons—three trillion tons ($3 \times 10^{12}$).
Even applying a force capable of lifting 105 million tons against 1G to such a massive object would not produce a visible change immediately. The same held true for the large-class fragments; only the slightest orbital shifts had been detected thus far.
However, that slight shift was everything.
Previous calculations suggested the fragment would pass within 30,000 kilometers of Ars. At such proximity, the consequences were unpredictable. Jin’s goal was to push it further out than the moon, Uni—a distance of at least 380,000 kilometers.
"I either need to increase the force $F$, or decrease the mass $m$..." Jin mused, his mind racing through the variables.
The Adriana carried 200 large force generators of the same model. If he utilized those, he could triple the current output, which would increase the displacement to 90,000 kilometers. But even that fell short of the target.
"Maybe I should focus on reducing the inertial mass..."
Under the framework of Gravity Magic, it was possible to manipulate inertial mass. If he could reduce the mass to one-tenth, the acceleration would increase tenfold, and the total displacement would scale accordingly.
"But still..."
Altering the inertial mass of a rock that size was an immense undertaking.
Back on Onogoro Island, the Brain’s spokesperson, Helente, had claimed they reduced the planet's inertial mass to near zero when they moved Ars. However, for Jin's current capabilities, affecting an object of planetary scale was nearly impossible.
"My Lord, we failed to gain their cooperation before, but perhaps things have changed?" Laojun suggested.
"True. We have a countermeasure in place now, even if the effect isn't sufficient. He should be able to see that."
Jin figured that if they were just one step away from success, they might receive a more favorable response than they had during the last negotiation.
"All right. Dispatch Land 11 immediately."
Jin decided it would be best to approach the negotiation in the same manner as before.
"Understood. I will proceed at once."
"That leaves the Adriana..."
"Taisei, use the Adriana to help push the extra-large-class fragment."
"Understood, My Lord. I shall begin the maneuver."
Since pulling the mass was impossible, the ship would have to push it. First, the Adriana landed on the side opposite the fragment's trajectory. Taisei selected a suitable landing zone near the center of mass.
"Landing gear locked. Reactivating thrusters in reverse."
The hull of the Adriana sank slightly as the landing gear compressed. The underside of the ship pressed against the fragment's surface, crushing the surface rock.
Taisei gradually increased the thrust. The landing gear creaked under the strain, though not to the point of structural failure. The ship's hull vibrated minutely, though the tremors eventually subsided.
Over the course of an hour, Taisei brought the Adriana up to maximum thrust.
"Good. Maintain this state for the time being."
"Understood."
Jin then selected the largest of the large-class fragments and issued orders to use the reconnaissance spaceships to provide auxiliary propulsion in the same way.
"Right... Leave the Achilles to continue deep space observation, but put the other nine ships on auxiliary duty."
"Yes, My Lord."
The nine 10-meter-class reconnaissance spaceships landed on the largest remaining fragments in descending order of size, using their thrust to assist the orbital change alongside the Adriana.
The Hourai Island Air Force flew above Onogoro Island, providing backup. Meanwhile, Land 11 stood at the same meeting point as before.
<Have you come again, Land?>
Helente appeared, rather than a guardian.
"I have returned in the hope that you might offer even a small amount of cooperation."
<A futile gesture.>
"Please, just listen. Right now, the Master who created me is attempting to handle the fragments of Modenu on his own."
<I have been observing, so I am aware. However, allow me to offer one correction: the fragments currently bearing down on Ars do not belong to Modenu. They originated from the core of the Fifth Planet.>
"I suspected as much. So there truly was a small star system contained within that core?"
<Precisely. You are well-informed.>
Land pressed the advantage, speaking rapidly.
"We only ask for a portion of your technology. Specifically, the technique for using magic power as a carrier wave for light waves, and the method for eliminating the inertial mass of those fragments."
<...No.>
The brief silence suggested she was communicating with the Brain.
<In the first place, the technology to eliminate the inertial mass of a celestial body is a secret held only by the Master. Even if I wished to share it, I cannot.>
It was an honest answer, but an unhelpful one.
"Then at least the principle of using magic power as a carrier wave."
<...Impossible. Granting such technology to others is a taboo.>
"I see..."
Back on Hourai Island, Laojun felt a flicker of disappointment. It seemed they would only be able to extract fragments of information.
"Then, how much do you know about Uni?" Laojun asked through Land 11, deciding to use the opportunity to gather any data possible regarding the Progenitors.
<That facility was managed by a group entirely separate from my Master’s. I have no information regarding it.>
"Is that so? Then, what about the people who migrated to the northern lands?"
<I know very little. It appears they interbred with the Indigenous People. I have no interest in what followed, so I have not tracked them.>
Laojun mused that the Brain likely considered them no longer part of the Progenitors once their bloodline had been "diluted."
"In that case, do you know of those who remained on Hale?"
That question, however, was a step too far.
<I cannot speak of that. Begone.>
Helente's attitude visibly hardened. No matter what Land 11 said after that, she remained firm.
<There is no need for further discussion.>
Laojun was forced to concede.
"Very well. I thank you for the information."
Helente offered no reply to those final words.