Assault Colossus of the Nemesis Warfront - Chapter 90.1

Three days have passed since the simultaneous invasions of two Fortress Areas.

Jack Cliff and Kurt Ludwig still remained missing.

The various Fortress Areas and Defense Domes around Planet Asia had received a message from the Stones demanding unconditional surrender.

The contents of the message also promised improved self-governance policies for the humans who would surrender among other enticing benefits that seemed far too good to be true, especially since the Stones were the ones promising them.

For the time being, there were no Areas and Domes that responded, but it was probably only a matter of time.

Large-scale recruitment of mercenaries by the Stones has also begun.

Fortress Area A051 surrendered completely. Fortress Area D516’s A-Carbuncle was successfully deactivated and scrapped before it was completely overrun by the enemy forces, but the Stones managed to bring in a new A-Carbuncle from another location. Hence, Fortress Area D516 was used as a base by the enemy as they had planned.

In other words, the enemy has managed to take complete control of two of the biggest Fortress Areas on the planet that were formerly under the management of two of the planet’s six major companies. The impact this caused on the human side was quite immense, as expected.

The heads of each Fortress Area and Defense Dome on Planet Asia immediately held an emergency meeting.

However, since the actual purpose of the Stones still remained unknown, the meeting didn’t result in anything conclusive, and nothing was decided in the end.

Of course, the Silhouette Base of Metal Iris was also invited to participate in the meeting, but they had resolutely declined.

Jenny confirmed that their decision not to participate in such a chaotic and confused meeting was the correct move.

Kou had also confirmed for himself that not making any moves was the right course of action.

However, the fact remained that humanity had lost two transferee-led companies that had been actively participating in the fight against the Stones.

It’s also said that the loss of two A-Class Development Engineers would greatly affect the further development of combat Silhouettes.

The technology level of the two seized facilities depends on the level of the Development Engineers managing them. However, the enemy might just opt to make use of the remaining operational production lines as is.

The rest of the world didn’t even know just what kinds of new weapons the missing A-Class Development Engineers were working on until their disappearance.

In the midst of this pressing danger that was baring itself against the entire planet, humanity had still failed to unite as one.

Kou headed to Astraea after attending a meeting with the Metal Iris head members. He used Unit 5 to move back and forth between the Cimon-class and Astraea.

Voy and the others were already waiting inside Astraea’s command center.

「Our next course of action has been decided. Now, I’ll tell you about what this arsenal fortress and the surface base will do moving forward.」

Everyone nodded and waited for Kou’s next words.

Virtual projections of Astraea and Asia also appeared inside the command center.

「Asia, is it possible to add food plants and general industrial facilities to the Silhouette base? I want to be fully prepared for a prolonged siege in case of an emergency.」

「It should be easy enough for me to do that.」

「Astraea, in case the worst happens, are all the underground facilities now fully operational?」

「Of course. I am here exactly for that purpose.」

「Can we go ahead and ask for the cooperation of the remaining Therianthropes and Familiars who are still in stasis right now? What do you think, guys? Nyanta? Aki?」

「If there are any of them that act up, I’ll hang them upside down and give them the beating of their lives nyaa.」

「There’s no need to worry, Kou. We can handle it.」

It seems that Kou’s worries were needless.

「I’ve already proposed this in an earlier meeting with Jenny and the others. Our recruitment operation will center around Therianthropes and Nereids for now.」

「Why though?」

「Wouldn’t that be a bit difficult?」

The two Therianthrope ladies perked up their ears for Kou’s answer.

「In this world that heavily relies on Silhouettes, people who are unable to pilot them have it really hard. Even if they work as mercenaries, they’d at most be relegated to driving tanks. And the second generation of Therianthropes up to the current one have all become completely biological organisms, right?」

Kou thought back to Aki and Nyanta’s frustration due to the fact that they couldn’t pilot Silhouettes.

And he assumed that the other Therianthropes would have felt the same kind of frustration at some point as well.

「Yes. Unlike us first-generation types, they have indeed become completely biological organisms. Although they do have the ability to choose either Therianthrope or Human as the race of their offspring prior to giving birth.」

Aki and Nyanta themselves were almost completely biological, and the mechanical parts were operating mainly through the use of infinitesimal nanomachine clusters.

「If they choose Therianthrope for the race, the parent’s Telema AI nanomachines will be completely replicated and passed over to the child, right? That’s all the more reason to recruit them. This place has plenty of vehicles and aircraft. Meaning there’s plenty of work for them to do.」

Before, there were no humans who have paid this much attention and consideration to the unique circumstances of Therianthropes like Aki and Nyanta.

The corners of Nyanta’s eyes began to water a bit.

「Also, Asia, Astraea, the Fennel OS is for humanoid machines and was made on the premise that humans will pilot the machines installed with them, right? It’s a crucial step to recognize pilots as humans first. And that’s why it doesn’t react to Therianthropes, who are roughly a fusion between humans and animals. Am I right on the money?」

「Yes, that’s right.」

「It’s a matter that even we are completely unable to interfere with. I’m truly sorry, Kou.」

「I’m just saying all this for confirmation, Astraea. So, there’s no need for you to apologize. Now then, here’s the most crucial question……」

Kou hesitated for a bit and carefully continued with his question.

「Isn’t it actually possible for us to come up with a Silhouette for Therianthrope use?」

「What do you intend on making? A machine that can transform between humanoid and animal forms?」

「No. That’s simply still differentiating between humanoid and animal forms as unique entities. It won’t lead to a complete fusion between human and animal traits. And if we can also come up with animal-type Silhouettes, even Familiars will be able to pilot them.」

「It’s as you say.」

Astraea voiced her affirmation.

「For example, how about we make a model with a humanoid upper half and a specialized lower half — like a four-legged centaur type or something of the sort? In other words, a machine with both human and animal characteristics is displayed at the same time. And we’ll limit their usage to only Therianthropes.」

The command center fell into complete silence.

Apart from Kou, all others present probably hadn’t even considered such a possibility before.

「Look, guys. I admit it’s a bit forced, but this world does seem quite taken with mythological parallels and stuff like that. How do I put it? There’s a kind of loophole in your perception as Therianthropes. And so, I thought maybe we can take advantage of that to make something that’s both humanoid and beastlike at the same time.」

「It does seem a little forced…… But no one has indeed tried something like that before.」

「That is indeed the case.」

Aki muttered her thoughts which Astraea affirmed.

「If we accomplish this, the Therianthropes will instantly become an important combat force. I want to explore this possibility.」

「Having four legs and two arms as limbs. Normally, that would be strange. Impossible. –But we Therianthropes still have human ears in addition to our animal ears. We were designed with those kinds of contradictions. We’re a race filled with contradictions. But if something was designed with those contradictions as well, it would be strange if it doesn’t respond to something similar!」

Nyanta entered her “serious” mode. The identity of a contradictory existence. If so, it would be strange for something designed to incorporate such contradictions as well would refuse to move under the control of a similarly contradictory existence.

「But aren’t ears and limbs completely different, neesan?」

「No. Not exactly. Have you ever had to consciously use your ears in your daily life before? The same for your legs. We can use a spoon and fork with our hands without any sense of dissonance. We use two legs for walking like it’s normal. But did you ever need to consciously differentiate between walking on two legs and walking on four?」

「Well, no. I’ve never tried to pick up a spoon and fork while in my dog form either.」

「Maybe that’s what Kou’s referring to. We were designed to naturally make use of our limbs in the most effective way even if some overlap between both our humanoid and animal forms. We are already treading a thin line between humans and animals, so we unconsciously regard ourselves as both.」

Kou found hope for his idea after hearing the discussion between the two.

If there was a will, there was a way, as they say. And he still had something up his sleeve.