Act Three: Rallying Cry from the Calmest Region (4/6)

Yeah... We're still not in combat range of the target, but it's coming straight at us. It's not even bothering to stay silent anymore!

Computer room here. I'm putting the analysis of the enemy ship I made based on the recon team's data up on the monitor now.

So this is the massive enemy ship...

Has it sent out any pings yet?

No... Not yet...

Well, keep your ears peeled. Once it does, it won't be long before its unleashes that incredibly powerful beam.

Engine room, back us off slowly. Keep our nose pointed at Enemy Ship Alpha.

And above all, make sure you do it silently.

Roger that. I'm gonna keep my transmissions to a minimum for a while too, to play it safe. Engineer out.

...Hopefully, it'll leave without even noticing us.

If it doesn't, our only option is to flee while bombarding it with torpedoes.

Incidentally, my calculations say that even with our current, powered-up torpedoes, it would take at least thirteen to sink that thing.

And we can't ram it with my Nautilus Noble Phantasm, as there's a nearly one-hundred-percent chance that'd just be suicide. Math is a cruel and unforgiving beast.

I see. It won't be easy to fire thirteen torpedoes in quick succession, but I'll do it if I must.

Okay. In the meantime, we'll keep putting distance between us and the enemy ship to avoid a worst-case scenario. Anything to add, Acting Commander?

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All right then... Good luck out there, everyone!

...I can't hear anything anymore. I think we're okay.

I think so too. It might've taken us an hour, but we've just about retreated to the edge of this area.

...Yeah, it looks like we're in the clear. Though I almost get the feeling it let us get away...

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Congratulations, Acting Commander and Captain!

Still, I do have to wonder if we're going to have to fight that enormous enemy ship at some point to go on to the next area...

Yeah, we probably will. Given its size, its strength, its sharp eyes, and its sheer speed, it's definitely going to be the toughest challenge we've faced so far.

So it's crucial we come up with a strategy and make sure we're ready. We can't afford to jump the gun on this one.

Now, what could we do...? Maybe we could take it out with one hugely souped-up torpedo? Or perhaps read its behavioral patterns and plan a surprise attack? Or

Um, NemoI mean, Captain and Master? Ehehe, I'm sorry, but could I say something?

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Well

Uh-oh! Sorry, but I just picked up several pings behind us! A group of small enemies is headed our way!

I see them too! Although... Huh!? That's no small group, it's a dekabig one!

I-I'm sorry, ehehe. I'll come back later...

Yes, do that. Right now, we're going from the frying pan straight to the fire! We need to take care of these new enemies! Hang in there, Raikou! I'll send reinforcements as soon as possible!

Understood!

Lambdaryllis, I'm sorry to do this, but we need to borrow your familiars again!

By all means. Just know that if you're going to use my Leviathans, I won't tolerate failure.

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I'm glad everyone made it back safe and sound again.

Still, I hope that's not going to be a typical enemy from now on. Especially since they're still too small for our torpedoes...

Um, Captain? Master?

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Ehehe, it's no big deal, really, but...

What if, for that giant enemy, heh, we tried close-range combat again?

...Are you actually saying we should attack that colossal enemy ship directly?

Yes. Oh, but not just that. The idea is to chip away at it up close, then finish it off with a torpedo...

Since that ship is so big...ehehe, maybe it can't defend against attacks...from point-blank range?

Plus, now that Lady Lambdaryllis is here... we should be able to approach it very quietly...

If we attack it with a big enough weapon, ehehe... we might be able to damage it surprisingly easily...

Hey, yeah. If we can get in close and destroy its weaponry, or somehow strip off its armor, I think this could work!

Oh! L-Lady Osakabehime... Y-yes, that's right.

With a big enough weapon, it should be fairly easy to go toe to toeOr maybe fin to fin?with that big ship... Ehehe.

Whoooa... You're subaramazing, Professor Van Gogh! I had no idea you were such a smart strategist on top of being a genius painter!

I've, uh, been too anxious to talk to you up till now, but as a bit of a dabbler in art myself, I super respect you.

Ehehe, ehehe, you're too kind... I, um, really appreciate you saving me too, so...

Yes, hi, computer room here. Sorry to butt in, but I overheard the whole thing.

It's a fascinating idea for a battle tactic, but there's still one thing we'd need before we could actually do it:

A super aggressive Servant with one hell of a close-range Noble Phantasm, and the ability to use it in hand-to-hand combat.

If we can get someone like that from the next summoning, then... Hmm, yeah, I think this plan'd be well worth considering.

So between that, and all the repairs and improvements we're still making to the ship, I think we could stand to collect some more resources.

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Right, Acting Commander! Let's go back to the bridge and figure out a plan for acquiring more resources!

Me...a strategist...?

Ehehe... Ehehe... Ehehe... No... You're wrong... It's not like that at all...

I'm just pretty good at entrapping people...