“They’ll just ignore us?”
“The JAM were sounding you and Yukikaze out as possible allies on this mission, but their objective wasn’t to gain a strategic advantage in battle. For them, Yukikaze and the SAF are the only things that they don’t understand, meaning that they’ve judged you to represent anomalies compared to the rest of the humanoid beings in the FAF, which they do understand. The JAM wanted to confirm that before they begin the full-scale invasion of Earth. If they decide that the SAF are just normal humanoids as well, then I believe that they’ll immediately begin their final attack. No, actually, that wouldn’t even be necessary. I think the war here on Faery could go on for the time being while they realize their original goal without us humans even knowing it.”
“And what was their original goal?” asked Lieutenant Katsuragi.
“That, I don’t know. But if that happens, the war here on Faery will become completely meaningless and we humans would never know it. It’s possible that’s already happened. But the JAM didn’t get their answer about Captain Fukai. Therefore, their questions about the SAF remain.”
“According to Captain Foss, developing a new strategy against the JAM is going to be a nightmare,” said Major Booker. “Even a huge JAM attack on the FAF might just have as its tactical goal intel on us as a prelude for their final attack. It won’t be the sort of localized war we’ve seen here. It’ll be the full might of the JAM hitting all of our forces everywhere on this planet simultaneously.”
Neither Rei nor Lieutenant Katsuragi could say a single word.
“It doesn’t matter if the SAF stood down against the JAM or even joined forces with them. They’ll still end up attacking us. I’m convinced that’s what they’ll do. Our choice is to kill or be killed, the same as it always was. But the meaning of the battle will be different. And there you have it.”
“How much time do we have, Captain Foss?” Lieutenant Katsuragi asked. “Do we have enough time to think this over carefully?”
“The time needed to rethink the meaning of why they’re fighting and find that answer is different for each of us,” she replied in an objective tone, then continued. “But I think the JAM have completed their preparations for the all-out attack. There’s no mystery about when they did it—they’ve been ready ever since they abandoned Richwar. I can rightly guess that they were ready to put their plan into action once they’d seen Captain Fukai’s attitude. Cookie base was a chess piece they sacrificed to lure Yukikaze to them.”
“You’re saying I was the trigger for the full-scale attack?”
“Yukikaze was the one who cocked it,” said Major Booker. “All you did was follow the mission.”
“So did Yukikaze.”
“I know. Yeah, if I’d just been aware of her combat awareness, I might have been able to do something about it. If Captain Foss’s prediction is correct and the final attack is now imminent, I would be the one responsible,” Major Booker said
“Excuse me, sir,” Captain Foss said. “There was nothing you could have done, Major. You can’t stop Yukikaze. And we can’t negotiate with the JAM. This is as pointless as standing in front of an erupting volcano and arguing about who ignited it. That’s what I think, at least.”
“Speaking of a full-scale attack by the JAM, it’d exceed the expectations of the FAF, wouldn’t it?” Rei said. “They wouldn’t have time to evacuate everyone back to Earth. The FAF will have to fight. But that’s natural, since it’s an organization created to fight. The same goes for us.”
“We have no chance of winning,” said Lieutenant Katsuragi. “And we can’t surrender. I doubt a white flag would work with the JAM.”
“I have hope,” Foss said.
“You think the JAM will spare you if you act like you like them, Captain Foss? That’s naive,” said Lieutenant Katsuragi.
“I mean we have a strategy to avoid defeat,” she replied. “Become composite life-forms. That’s the only way to keep the JAM from beating us.”
“The FAF will never be able to do that,” Major Booker replied. “The FAF battle computers see humans as a hindrance that they’ll cut loose when things go to hell. If the humans can’t retreat back to Earth, then we’ll have to deal with it. But not by becoming this new composite species or whatever the hell you want to call it.”
“But I think that the SAF could do it the same way that Yukikaze and Captain Fukai have,” said Lieutenant Katsuragi. “You are literally a special force.”
“In short, it’s a way to not lose to the JAM even if they kill us. But it’s just a theory,” Rei replied. “Logically, I understand. When I’m with Yukikaze, I have no regrets. But what about you? Could you allow yourself to die in battle based on your theory?”
“Well…I won’t know that till it happens,” said Captain Foss. “But at least when it does, it’ll be after feeling the satisfaction of knowing that my prediction was correct.”
“Maybe the JAM might even pay some respect for your pride.”
“I don’t want to lose, not to anyone. Not to the JAM, to the SAF, or even to myself. That’s all. Besides, I didn’t predict that we’re going to lose. The JAM will cope with the composite life-forms by changing themselves. I believe that the JAM themselves will evolve to become more like us so that they can achieve competitive coexistence. In that case, I can even think that the SAF will end up capturing a JAM and forming a composite life-form with it. Rei…Captain Fukai, if hearing my prediction now about the JAM’s all-out attack makes you think only about wanting to die with Yukikaze, then I’ve misdiagnosed you. You’ll need a bit more counseling.”
“Jack,” began Rei as he climbed out of bed, “give me clearance to see Yukikaze. Input my report into the tactical computer, along with Captain Foss’s prediction.”
“What do you plan to do?”
“I want to see Yukikaze’s reaction. I have a feeling she’s searching for me, and she won’t stop accessing the FAF network till I go to her. She can’t understand the differences between the personalities and nature of the people in the SAF and other humans. It’s dangerous to leave her as she is. I’m going to go and explain it to her. Edith, you come too. And don’t say that all she and I think about is dying.”
“All right,” said Major Booker. He checked his wristwatch. “I’ll give you thirty minutes. Get back here within that time, then eat and get some rest. We’ve got a meeting with General Cooley tomorrow at 08:00. Lieutenant Katsuragi, stay here. You have a report to write.”
“Yes, Major.”
“Then deliver your report to me orally, based on it.”
“Roger.”
“Where is Yukikaze?” Rei asked. “Is she being serviced?”
“In the hangar. She wanted it that way. She doesn’t want anybody to touch her until she’s sure you’re all right. We’ll never get her repaired at this rate. So go, you have thirty minutes. I’ll lend you my watch.”
Taking the major’s watch, Rei went to see Yukikaze, still clad in his sweatsuit.
HER CANOPY WAS shut tight. Pulling out the folding ladder, his feet shod only in white cloth med center slippers, he climbed up and turned the exterior canopy handle. Then, after helping Captain Foss into the rear seat, Rei settled into the front.
“You’re really sweaty,” Captain Foss said. “You’re amazingly lively considering what you’ve been through. I have a feeling you think my prediction is just a theory.”
Without answering her, Rei plugged in the headset he’d brought with him from the prep room and switched on the main power to the instruments. On the main display appeared a scrolling list showing the network types and discrete computer IDs Yukikaze was accessing. He knew that the SAF’s tactical computer was acting as the intermediary. Suddenly, the display cleared.