CH 108

With its immigration policy to the Hermes System on track, the Monarchy was preparing for the final decisive battle with the Alliance.

“In the decisive battle, we must not introduce our forces sequentially.”

This is military common sense derived from the strategies of the Lanchester Equations.

As an outcome of ignoring common sense, the battle of the Ōizumi Star System is still fresh in their memories. Ōizumi’s interception fleet, which held back its interception force, was individually destroyed by the Royal Army, and the inhabited planet was eventually destroyed.

Of course, defensive forces and expenditure should be considered when sending out military forces, but it is an ironclad rule that more strength is better when fighting enemies on the battlefield.

Therefore, the Monarchy, which was preparing to invade the Hercules Star System, where the total military strength was unclear, gathered its maximum mobilizable war potential based on the assumption that the enemy’s defensive forces would be immense.

“How much strength does the enemy have in the first place?”

There is no way to get an accurate figure, but there is no reason not to make assumptions.

When questioned by Elliott Burns, the Chief of Military Affairs, Hart roughly estimated the enemy’s strength based on the total number of Daemon crystals he believed that the Tenka Hercules Alliance camp could produce.

“If we consider the Daemon crystals that can be produced by the enemy Daemon Emperor to be equal to the Monarchy, we can expect deployment of about a billion Daemon crystals that can operate fighter crafts. Of course, they need to be able to prepare the pilots and the fighter crafts equipped with the Daemon crystals.”

Hart’s prediction was enough to silence Burns.

It has already been more than a year since Tenka was able to obtain the Daemon Crystal. As long as the Ten-to Star System, the largest in Tenka, is intact, there is no problem with the mass production of the Yunfu fighter craft.

Even with a large production volume, the fighter crafts do not have advanced features such as interstellar navigation capability. The structure is a simple weapon, and it can be mass-produced like ray guns in a gun manufacturing factory.

And as for resources, a few celestial bodies in the Ten-to Star System would suffice.

Moreover, after Hart overran the Ōizumi and Honyō Star Systems with Fortress Kerviel, he then invaded the Ten-to Star System, so the mass production of fighter crafts should have been a top priority in Ten-to, which felt a sense of crisis.

As for manpower, billions of refugees originated in Ōizumi and Honyō, so they are easier to gather than in the Monarchy.

Refugees who have lost their jobs and property due to the destruction of their home systems have no choice of careers in order for them and their families to survive. If told that they can support their family onboard a fighter craft, they would have no choice but to comply.

For Ten-to, Ōizumi and Honyō are the same Tenka people, but they are also other peoples who split into other star systems hundreds of years ago. If it is necessary to treat other citizens harshly for the sake of their own security, they will do so as a nation.

With all these conditions in place, there was no way that Tenka, whose technology level was not inferior to that of the Monarchy, did not have the necessary fighter crafts for defense.

“With the final home planet at their backs, there will be no end to the battle. They will mobilize as much as they can, and build as many fighter crafts as they can. And if left unchecked, the number of Daemon crystals will increase, and eventually, a large fighter craft similar to the Israfel will be developed.”

In response to Barnes’ confirmation, Hart replied with conviction.

It would not be possible to develop a large fighter craft that could compete with Israfel in about a year, but there was a sample on the enemy Monarchy side, and Israfel, which could not return in the Battle of the Honyō Star System, should have been obtained. In a few years, Hart believes similar fighter crafts will be introduced.

Currently, it is not possible to prepare large fighter crafts, so the capabilities of the fighter crafts remain low.

Instead, the Daemon Crystals required to operate the Fighter craft are not C-class, but D-class, which is of lower grade and easier to mass-produce. Since the number increases as the quality decreases, the total force that can be deployed will not be reduced at all.

The lower the performance of the fighter crafts, the more soldiers and the number of casualties there will be, but there are billions of refugees from Ōizumi and Honyō.

Burns imagined a billion tombstones drifting through the Hercules Star System after the battle.

The Royal Army was busy preparing for the hell that would be realized in the enemy system in the near future.

The Monarchy originally deployed 40 million Israfel crafts in each of the 6 star systems, but pulled 30 million crafts from each to use for the decisive battle.

In addition, they mass-produced the low-cost version of the large fighter craft Surtr, incorporated a copy of Linnell, and recruited additional pilots, including Royal citizens from the Fukashiro System.

Strategic satellites were also mass-produced. A large number of celestial bodies floating in the Fukashiro Star System were equipped with magic element engines, and they were sent through the transition gate to the Diete Star System, where they were remodeled.

Although the amount of resources consumed was enormous, unmanned strategic satellites would not cause any casualties and could be plunged into enemy planets if necessary. As a result of judging that it would be better to have as much as possible, 30 huge celestial bodies were remodeled at the same time.

A total of 12 strategic satellites for defense were deployed in the 8 star systems, so the total number of strategic satellites available for launch was expected to reach 42.

As a final move, Hart brought a proposal to Mirabelle, who incorporated some of the citizens from the former Republic of Frodi.

It was about recruiting from the people of the Republic to pilot the large fighter craft Surtr.

As compensation, the Monarchy will accept up to eight family members into the Hermes System for each volunteer, grant the families a total of 40 million Rhodes to rebuild their lives, and provide a house in the Hermes system free of charge.

“With the spirit crystals, they can operate the magic engine. Therefore, if the person himself volunteers of his own will, the elderly would be fine.”

There would be quite a few people who volunteer for the sake of their children and grandchildren.

It is similar to the kind of conscription that the Tenka Hercules Alliance are expected to conduct, but with funds to rebuild their lives and a pretext for giving them a place to live when they emigrate to the new star system. And by allowing the people of the Neutral Republic to fight for the Monarchy, it also lays the groundwork for the families of the volunteers to be accepted by the royal people.

Upon receiving the suggestion, Mirabelle stared back at Hart with squinted eyes.

“The volunteers are disposable, to reduce the sacrifice of the Royal People, aren’t they?”

“To put it bluntly, they are.”

In response to the point that captured the root of the matter, Hart thought that the re-education of Yuna’s younger brothers and sister might have been too thorough, and even brought a sting in his heart.

Perhaps because of the unique environment in which she was placed, Mirabelle has a tendency to view the situation philosophically, and compared to Hart’s classmates when they were in the third year of Middle School, her thinking and insight were outstanding.

Regrettably, Mirabelle lacked the magic power value to succeed to the throne. Hart thinks that she is more suited to be a Queen than Yuna in terms of personality, but Mirabelle, who is not a Royal-grade magic power holder, can never become the Sovereign of the Monarchy of Diete.

“This is arbitrary. The 3 star systems of the Republic have been destroyed by the Tenka Hercules Alliance. Some may wish to avenge the death of their families along with their inhabited planets. If they don’t want to, they don’t have to volunteer. At the very least, they may survive in the Artemis System.”

“Brother-in-law, you’re a nasty creature. Considering the life of their families, they won’t have a right to veto.”

The minimum standard of living in the Artemis system means that they, who are not Royal citizens, do not have the right to purchase land, and continue to work as precarious laborers while paying rent for the land.

Because it is within the territory of the Monarchy, it is natural for the Monarchy to claim territorial rights and jurisdiction, but the Monarchy’s social security does not apply to them.

Due to the Monarchy’s high food production capacity, they do not starve to death, but they cannot expect the unrestricted lifestyle they had in their own star system

Mirabelle confirmed his presupposition about the choice of the people.

“I have a plan for accepting them. I intend to first select the people of the Republic who show promise of productivity and potential, such as former Republic magical individuals, those with advanced education and skills, and couples with young children.”

When Mirabelle asks how they will guarantee this, Hart offers her terms and conditions.

“If more than 100 million volunteers are gathered, Her Majesty the Queen will reward the Count of Hecate’s contribution to the war with a promotion to Marquis. In other words, the Count would be able to do what you had been trying to do on your own with the authority of a Marquis.”

If Mirabelle refuses, she will be able to accept 200 million people as Count, and even if the rights of the people are restricted like in the MacLir System, the upper limit is 800 million people, which is four times the number. There are no restrictions on the movement of refugees, but it is impossible for a single Count to gather 8 billion people.

And Mirabelle, who wanted to support the entire population of the Republic of Frodi, would choose the upper limit of 3.2 billion for the Marquis rather than the 800 million allowed for the Count.

In the first place, Yuna and Hart had no intention of imposing strict conditions on their younger sister, Mirabelle. Rather, these conditions were a compromise between the Monarchy’s convenience and Mirabelle’s will, which they gave the utmost consideration to.

Mirabelle did not immediately jump at the favorable terms offered, but confirmed the extent of her support.

“Am I right to assume that we will receive the same level of support for the increased number of people as we did for the people before the increase?”

“That’s what we’ll arrange. With the Transition Gate and the fighter craft transports, the Monarchy’s national power is increasing exponentially. What the Monarchy currently wants is war potential, and it will not hesitate to pay the price. If you think of it as an investment in the new Monarchy territory and the Royal people, you can’t even think of it as a regret.”

Convinced by Hart’s honesty, Mirabelle responded in a deliberately reluctant manner.

“There is no choice. I accept.”

“Okay, it’s done.”

Hart quickly declared the negotiations to be concluded before any additional terms were issued.

Then he sighed and lodged a complaint with Mirabelle.

“You should have been born ten years early as a Royal-grade magic power holder. Between you and me, you’re more suited to be a Queen than some housewife.”

“I apologize for receiving such high praise, but in order to overcome this crisis, I think it was necessary to meet an extremely special condition, which was to capture a certain second son of a Baron Household and drag him out to the center. That’s why, for His Excellency at present, Elder Sister is the most suitable.”

Even after the discussion, their mutual recognition of each other did not waver, but rather strengthened.

With Mirabelle’s cooperation, the Monarchy offered the 8 billion refugees of the Frodi Republic the option of obtaining social security and funds for rebuilding their lives.

It was a fairytale compromise between the north wind and the sun, but many weary travelers followed the indicated path.

The final number of applicants amounted to 164.13 million, and the Marquisate of Hecate was joined by about 1.2 billion new Royal Subjects with limited rights.

Thus, the Monarchy was prepared to invade the Hercules System.