Looking Ahead I

Vast clouds of warships and biomorphs swirled around the enormous Dragon Machine Database like mist.

There were so many that, from afar, they resembled a veil of black gauze gently wrapped around the space station.

Scattered artillery fire fell softly upon the station's surface like fragments of diamonds.

Everything was soundless and still.

The only difference from before was that the silver shield defending it was visibly losing its luster.

Kashadell had transformed entirely into a blue psychic sun. Terrifying, blinding psychic radiance streamed from her body, enough to turn any recording device into static.

But even such a release of psychic power could not stop the terrifying offensive outside.

Time crept onward.

From within the space station, the sky formed by the silver shields finally collapsed inward with a soft pop.

"Freya! Activate the final defense system." Kashadell was not flustered. With the space station's so-called strongest defensive system, even if—

"Freya!?"

The expected psychic transmission received no response.

Freya was inside the planet at the center of the space station.

She gently removed the biomorph from her head. A white flame pattern surfaced on her lovely cheek.

"I'm sorry, Lady Kashadell."

Her expression was complicated. On the panel before her, all she had to do was reach out and press the white control crystal, and it would swiftly darken, activating the space station's strongest defense system.

But—

Taking another black helmet that had long been prepared, Freya gently put it on.

Buzz.

Red streaks of light appeared across the helmet's surface.

'Revival Society Flame Spirit No. 7794, welcome back.'

A gentle male electronic voice issued from the helmet.

"Communication transmission initiated," Freya said calmly. "The mission to disable the defense system has been completed. Requesting extraction."

'Understood. Thank you for your support of the main society.'

The voice