Chapter 71: “Surrender Immediately”
“Hostile actions detected.”
Dreißig=Ringo declared a state of emergency to RINGO, simultaneously taking the most optimal action available within her capabilities.
She shifted from normal mode to combat mode, altering her internal state. Although this significantly increased the consumption of her internal battery and various nutrients (fuel), it also drastically enhanced her cognitive and physical abilities.
(Unit 20 (Zwanzig), emergency. Unit 27 (Siebund Zwanzig), emergency. Multi-legged Tank Unit 1 (Bravo), emergency. Multi-legged Tank Unit 2 (Charlie), emergency. Multi-legged Ground Mother Unit (Alpha), emergency. Unit 28 (Achtund Zwanzig), activation request.)
(Unit 20 (Zwanzig), acknowledged (Roger).)
(Unit 27 (Siebund Zwanzig), acknowledged (Roger).)
(Unit 1 (Bravo), combat ready.)
(Unit 2 (Charlie), combat ready.)
(Ground Mother Unit (Alpha), combat ready. Unit 28 (Achtund Zwanzig), activating.)
She issued commands to the multi-legged tanks and the multi-legged mother unit, which had been waiting outside the gates due to their size. As she powered up the various dormant devices, she sent combat maneuver commands to the microwave transmission system.
This entire process took a mere 0.3 seconds. While RINGO’s response would take a few more seconds, there was no time to waste waiting leisurely. Although it was a shame to have removed her auxiliary device (goggles), in this country (Afrasia United Kingdom), she would not pose a significant threat without them.
With her left hand, she drew a combat knife, and with her right, a handgun. She swung the knife at the soldier who was about to point a sword at her, while aiming the handgun at the lord.
“Wait—”
Lord Radaeri Flatara opened his mouth to say something, but she ignored him and pulled the trigger. The gunshot rang out as she struck the soldier’s sword with her knife, shattering the bronze blade and stepping forward, driving her fist into the soldier’s throat.
“Ugh!”
The bullet struck the lord’s left shoulder, piercing through. He screamed in agony as the soldier was sent flying from her punch. Multiple events unfolded simultaneously, throwing the guards of Flatara City into chaos.
Amidst this turmoil, Leon Degrat, the captain of the escorting force, calmly drew his curved sword (cutlass) from his waist. Knowing their combat capabilities, he steeled himself the moment Dreißig moved, taking action. He slashed the sword aimed at him, then tackled the soldier, disrupting the movements of the other guards.
At that moment, RINGO sent a command response to Dreißig.
(Response command (Order), 126, 45, 4800, 3362, …)
Without full control, the transmitted information was kept to a minimum, so commands were issued as combinations of pre-determined patterns. The number of combinations was astronomically high. However, given the need to make various judgments based on real-time information, a sufficiently experienced Brain Unit was essential for any coherent action.
The command received was clear.
“Paraiso will take control of this town.”
Dreißig, crossing the table, pointed her weapon at Lord Radaeri Flatara’s right eye and declared, “Resistance is futile. Surrender immediately.”
Following the command, the multi-legged Ground Mother Unit (Alpha) launched the anti-personnel attack drones that had been on standby via catapult. The drones soared at a speed of 250 km/h, reaching above the lord’s mansion in Flatara City within five seconds. They deployed six propellers to decelerate sharply while confirming their target. The ground attack drones followed the same trajectory.
One minute after receiving the suppression command, two anti-personnel attack drones, one ground attack drone, and one anti-air attack drone were deployed. Immediately after, Unit 28 (Achtund Zwanzig), which had been in sleep mode, activated. She received her orders and quickly donned her equipment before rushing outside.
The side of the Ground Mother Unit slowly opened, lowering a ramp to the ground. Two multi-legged attack machines that had been on standby raced down using their wheels. From above, Achtund Zwanzig leaped out and began accelerating towards Flatara City.
The multi-legged tanks took direct action after receiving their commands. Unit 2 (Charlie) began rolling towards Flatara City, while Unit 1 (Bravo) aimed its main cannon (railgun) at the city.
Plasma ignited.
With a high-pitched sound, an armor-piercing shell was fired from the barrel (rail) at a speed of 5,000 m/s, flying almost in a straight line through the air. The target was the clock tower situated at the lord’s mansion. The brick structure had no means to withstand a projectile traveling at 5,000 m/s. Both the supports and the outer walls shattered into pieces, and the clock tower, split in two, began to collapse slowly.
“Ugh… you fiends…”
“The power of life and death rests with us. Disarm immediately.”
Dreißig, still holding the knife to the lord’s throat, began to move slowly. With their master taken hostage, the guards could not act. The six guards who rushed into the room stood frozen, swords drawn, unable to do anything.
At that moment, the armor-piercing shell struck the clock tower.
A deafening roar and vibrations erupted. The shockwave sent the guards sprawling to the floor, while Leon desperately clung to the back of a sofa.
Only Dreißig, who had anticipated this, remained unfazed.
As she moved behind the lord, she pressed the combat knife against his neck and whispered, “Look to your right.”
“…!”
Following the lord’s gaze, outside the window overlooking Flatara City, the collapsing clock tower slowly descended. The sound of debris crumbling was followed by the unintended ringing of the bell. Seconds later, the clock face crashed to the ground, producing a resounding chime that echoed throughout the city.
“That was our attack. We can strike anywhere in this city as we please. Do you understand the implications?”
After a brief pause, Dreißig reiterated, “Resistance is futile. Surrender immediately.”
And thus, this marked the first military incursion of The Tree into this world.
“Hmm… well, this is unavoidable…”
The unilateral declaration of attack from the lord and the counterattack by the Communicator Android. When the icons suddenly turned red, indicating hostility, I wondered what to do, but after swiftly securing the lord’s mansion, there was no significant chaos, and Flatara City surrendered without incident. Well, whether it was truly without incident remains uncertain.
In the end, the Ground Mother Unit, unable to pass through the gates, broke through the eastern gate to invade the city. Naturally, the citizens who witnessed this began to flee in panic, but it seemed that heading straight for the lord’s mansion quelled the commotion quickly. Honestly, this was a pleasantly unexpected outcome; I had anticipated riots or chaos from the citizens. The situation calmed without any issues, saving us unnecessary effort.
Afterward, the Ground Mother Unit docked at the lord’s mansion, where they tossed the severely injured lord, who had taken a bullet to the shoulder, into a medical pod. That caused a bit of a stir, but it was merely a side note. We subdued the noisy guards with four Communicator Androids and drones. Everyone complied without resistance.
With proper treatment, he would recover in about a month. If he received intensive care in the medical pod, he could be fully healed in about a week. The full metal jacket bullet had struck him at close range, but it only left a hole without shattering his shoulder blade. For the sake of future governance, it was preferable for the lord to remain alive.
The next morning, we air-dropped multi-legged machines and tanks. Since the development of reverse-thrust rocket motors was not yet complete, they descended via parachute. The sight of steel monstrosities falling from the sky reportedly terrified the citizens. While news of the lord’s mansion’s fall had circulated overnight, most citizens only truly felt the impact at the moment of the air drop.
“We have successfully disarmed Flatara City. For now, we have removed the immediate threat.”
“Indeed… I never expected it would come to a military invasion… Perhaps we should rethink our strategy…”
While I had anticipated it, the conquest of Flatara City was far beyond our original plans. It could be considered the worst-case scenario. Although trade had nearly ceased, this city had once thrived as a hub for commerce. There was no telling when trade might resume. If it became known that this town was occupied by the mysterious armed force (The Tree), it would lead to troublesome consequences.
“For the time being, we will maintain the blockade. There may not be immediate repercussions, but we will need to solidify our strategy within a few months.”
“We also have contact with the Forest Country (Lebresta)… Well, I suppose we can consider it lucky to have established a trading post.”