English (Korean, Japanese)
Saudec Isa Dadé - Gateway to Seikai

Seikai no Senki 3 - the Family Dinner

Summary

Anime is not out yet, but the novel was published in 2001.

The incident in Robnas II was over. Now Ghintec([ʒint]), the Earl(dreuc [drø]) of Haïdec([haid]), was headed back towards his home planet, Martin(Martinh [martiɲ]), where he planned on establishing a business there -- a good sized antimatter manufacturing factory around the sun Haïdec. Although he was almost broke, he was able to win a large sum of funds from the Crybh([kryv]) Royal family(where Lamhirh([lafiR]) belongs to) for his new venture.

Since nobles were granted exclusive rights over antimatter fuel manufacture in their domain, it was extremely beneficial to invest on a newly established noble family. However, during a war-time like this, especially when the domain planet system was still under the enemy's hand, it was a completely different story. The reasons the Crybh family gladly supported him regardless of the risk were, first, the gratitude from the family for his old deed that protected Lamhirh at Crasbyrh([krasbyR]), and second, Lamhirh's tremendous personal favor toward him.

Lamhirh accompanied Ghintec to Martinh on the pretext of being a representative of the creditors. The now retired Samsonn, who fought side by side with Ghintec on the Basrogrh([basroiR]), was on the way to Haïdec to help Ghintec. Also, Sairnaïc([sɛrnai]), who helped Lamhirh at Faibdach([fɛbdaʃ]) and presently the chairperson of an antimatter engine inspection company Sairnaïc Corp., joined Samsonn as well.

As Ghintec and Lamhirh arrived at Earldom Borach([boraʃ]), the place which Ghintec had met Lamhirh for the first time, an unfortunate message was awaiting them: the leading ship that entered Martinh's orbit was attacked by its anti-space defense system. Until circumstances would turn to their favour, Ghintec and the others had no choice but to stay at Earldom Borach.

Meanwhile, the Empire showed off a new type of battleship called "attackship" (Sopaïc [sopai]). It was often called a heavy assultship, or a light battlecruiser. The attackship was equipped with electromagnetic cannons, but it lacked space mines in order to have better mobility. The first 12 attackships built were named the "Trampling squadron", and were ordered to a simulated combat exercise around the Earldom Haïdec, under the command of Kilo-commander(cheüass [ʃewas]) Atosrÿac([atosrya]). She divided her squadron into two and started "capture-and-recapture" drill.

When Ghintec met the squadron of battleships heading to his home planet, he became extremely nervous. Without knowing the purpose of the advancing battleships, and knowing well about how extreme the Abh([av]) can be even against a small harrassment; he worried if the futile resistance from the ground would result in a massive countermeasure against his home planet. He became even more devastated when he learned that the other half of the squadron was heading towards Haïdec via another route, which he had absolutely no way to contact them. He tried to prevent even the smallest possibility that Martinh would fall under attack, but the military code did not go easy on him. Even Lamhirh, a Royal princess of the Empire, could do nothing about the military matters, especially she's currently off duty.

Fortunately, it turned out that Ghintec's fear was indeed nothing more than a worry. Although Martinh's anti-space defense system did attack the battleships, the alledged counterattack was minimal. Martinh's anti-space defense system, which the people of Martinh thought very highly of, was just a small nuisance even for a sham battle. The Abh in drill thought it was just a part of the drill -- a hidden variable that might occur in a real combat situation. The only type of counterattack that did happen was a single shot of an electromagnetic cannon, but only after a numerous warnings and "complaints": why targets marked as destroyed kept on firing.

In short, the single cannon completely silenced Martinh's entire ground force and ironically the whole incident worked marvelously on Ghintec's behalf; such that Martinh realized it was futile to continue the resistance against the Empire.

With the incident settled, Ghintec and the people of Martinh began to work on a pact. Till Corint, who had been Rock Lynn's secretary and the foster father to Ghintec, was now the Prime Minister of Martinh government. The result of the pact came as a shock to the Abh because it was the most unfavorable one to the lord in the history of the Empire: Anyone from the Earl Haïdec family would not be allowed to enter 1 light-second from the planet Martinh, and the total time he or she was allowed to stay in Haïdec planet system would be limited to ten days. Also, the lord of Haïdec would hold no right whatsoever over what the people of Martinh would be allowed to do as long as they remained apart of the Empire. Such a hilarious agreement was the result of Ghintec's wish to allow the people of Martinh to do whatever they wanted. He didn't mind being singled out as the traitor of all time; he could care less what would happen to him as long as he could accomplish whatever his home people wished for.

Right after the pact signing ceremony on the orbit tower, Ghintec and Lamhirh joined Till and Lina for a dinner. While crying, Ghintec begged for one last chance to walk through the exotic forest where his remembrance left, but Till coldly rejected it because the people of Martinh would become furious even if there never was a pact.

Now, Ghintec could neither put his foot on Martinh, nor meet his people. The only place he could go back to was the Abh Space Navy. Lamhirh and Ghintec were assigned to an attackship as a captain and an officer, and there they were greeted by Ecrÿac([ekrya]), a former member of the Basrogrh.

Their adventure will continue in Seikai no Senki 4...

Thanks to zt33l for grammar checking.

 

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Created: 2003.01.08 Updated: 2003.07.25

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