Vol. F Ch. 3 Ep. 6: Utnapishtim's Ship 1

...

Hmm, this must be the battleship's bridge. It actually looks super legit!

Yes. This looks to be the operations room for the ship...

I might not know much about aircrafts like this, but this has got to be the cockpit.

The control room is quite large. It looks like it requires at least ten people to operate.

And that's just from the inside of the battleship. Consider all the people who have to handle air traffic control from the ground.

You're right... It takes four or five people to operate one tank...so for a battleship of this size...

And this is an artifact with technology we don't understand. The more people to help with interpreting, analyzing, and manipulating information, the better.

We'll need to gather as many students as we can.

Students skilled in strategic tactics and management, technologists, and hackers... Anyone with the skill set to help.

Chi, did you hear? It's gonna get really busy.

*sigh* ...You're relentless. None of us have had a break for days, Himari.

To make matters worse... They're going to be incorrigible once they find out about the intergalactic battleship.

Inter!

Galactic!

Battle!

Ship!

They're too excited...

Is this really a battleship created from ancient technology? I guess that's up to us to figure out now!

The intergalactic battleship of an ancient civilization will be the height of our research and engineering work!

Everyone laughed at the idea of a battleship, but our research wasn't in vain. Aris, your railgun is proof of that.

Yeah! Science fiction is very trendy right now! That genre is hot!

W-Wait a second!

Aris?! What are you doing here?

W-Well... I heard an intergalactic battleship was discovered, so I hoped to come with the Engineering Department...

No! I told you to stay at Millennium! We don't even know where President Rio is yet!

What will you do if she decides to attack right now? You're vulnerable!

B-But, I want... I want to be a space hero!

Stop the nonsense and go back to Millennium! Immediately! Noa is guarding the academy in case of emergency.

You're such a cold, calculating monster! You don't know anything about the dreams of space heroes!

H-Hey...

That's a new nickname...

Yuuka, if her safety is your concern, your current location is probably safer than anywhere else in Kivotos.

Are you serious? Noa?

President Rio's brand is control over everything. The Millennium district lives in the palm of her hand.

I... I suppose so...

She may know every nook and cranny of Millennium, but the president doesn't know about the battleship. It's safer than here.

That's why I sent Aris and the Game Development Department together. Do you mind looking after her, please?

No, absolutely not! It's not safe!

It's not just the president after Aris!

Ugh... Well, I guess it's safer if she's where I can see her...

H-Huh?

Aris?! Where did she go?!

Heehee. I'll be counting on you, Yuuka. Don't push yourself too hard.

Noa, I...

We'll guard the academy, so smooth out those wrinkles, Yuuka.

*sigh* ...We're not here to mess around...seriously...

Hmm, the structure here...

The plumbing and wiring are simpler than we thought. Well, even an ancient artifact can't defy gravity and the laws of physics, huh?

Veritas is now analyzing the battleship's operating system. We'll find out more about its structural integrity.

Excellent, excellent! Let's break it down piece by piece!

Yes! I'll take a look over here.

...The neural code algorithm analysis is done.

How's it going, Kotama? Have you gained access?

Yes, the connection to the central processing unit was successful. It's working!

Wow! This is awesome!

And it didn't take long thanks to the vice president's help! I thought we'd have trouble since it's ancient technology and what-not.

This is the battleship's main operating system...

I don't recognize the language, but I can probably figure it out.

Himari, we're logged into the operating system. I'm sending the algorithms over to you now.

Excellent work. Thank you, Chi.

How's it going, Himari?

Now we have access to the central nervous system of the battleship's main system. It was essential we analyze this first because...

If you understand the structure of the nervous system, you can understand the operational principles of all parts at a glance, right?

Correct. You're very quick.

Then where do we begin? What do we know so far about this ancient artifact built with unknown technology?

...Hm.

These are its blueprints.

The overall structure is as expected of course. It lives up to its name, Utnapishtim's Ship.

The dimensions are one hundred thirty-five by twenty-three by thirteen meters. The interior is divided into fifteen zones, but we're still figuring out the minute details of its structure.

Ignoring its appearance, there's not much on this battleship that can be used as a weapon.

Would that mean it wasn't built for battle, but a different function entirely?

As of now, it's too early to tell. We'll continue our analysis.

Hm...

Umm...

...

The enemy that appeared in Kivotos is beyond my cognitive realm.

The enemies invading from outside Kivotos as well...neither the Nameless Gods nor the forgotten gods would know them.

An incomprehensible enemy... It seems to be copying the same abilities of the Ark of Atrahasis, built by us, the Nameless Gods.

I wonder if you know, Princess.

The artifact you are currently standing on is an imperious anti-ark weapon created by our enemies of the past to defeat us.

Your friends will never be able to decipher how to use it.

Do you understand, Princess?

You're currently aboard your most dangerous nemesis.

...You must run, Princess. Flee as quickly as you can.

I know you rejected me. I understand you denied my existence.

But still, I'm your servant, the one meant to lead you to your rightful purpose...

Despite your repudiation of my existence, and yours, I still do not wish your death.

You must not be aboard the Utnapishtim when its engine begins running.

It will destroy you first, the princess of the Nameless Gods...because that is the very purpose of its existence.

My princess... You will be utterly eradicated.

I am not ordering you. It is not a warning.

This is my desperate plea.