Chapter 294 - Ascent
Avalon managed to get a clearer view of the incoming asteroid after the mini investigator stabilized its sensors.
A few seconds had only passed and it already found many inconsistencies on the celestial body proving that it was only a front and it was hiding a large number of people.
Upon closer inspection, it found signs that the asteroid was just an artificial celestial body. The asteroid wasn't made of any kind of stone but it was made of metal designed to look like an asteroid!
After two standard days of inspection, Avalon finally found a newsworthy activity from the asteroid or spacecraft.
Twenty small objects were released while it was still traveling on the Earth's path...
[ Scanning... ]
[ 20 Space Mines Detected. ]
[ Tracing origin... ]
[ Origin identified: Onyx Five Star Space Mines created by Arians. ]
[ Arians: A minor race with an appearance similar to humans that were under the rule of the Meredith Empire for five centuries. Their ancestors created the outdated Raze Drive, a technology that allows ships to travel interstellar space at a reasonable speed. ]
After all the information was compiled, the piece of news was immediately sent back to Wallace on Earth.
After doing that, Avalon didn't wait for further instructions as it continued monitoring the spacecraft's movement. It tried to make calculations about the firepower possessed by the enemy.
It would be better if Wallace has at least a basis of the strength of his opponent at this time.
Anyway, it only had to wait for one more day and another transatmospheric battleship will land on the moon's surface to help in purging the enemies. Ace would also be present to lead the assault. The most that Avalon can do for now was to gather as much data as it could and prepare Wallace's accommodation.
Although that Moon Base wasn't completed yet, a small part of it was already habitable for humans.
"Very good! Continue monitoring... Keep your distance and don't allow them to notice you. I will be there in about 20 hours from now... Just hold your ground..."
This voice message came from Ace after a few minutes when he received the report.
***
Avalon did as what was instructed and monitored the spacecraft without fail. Of course, it was only the mini investigator doing the work but this small space device needed some delicate handling to avoid being discovered by the enemies.
In short, the mana stones powering it up had to be closely monitored. Its mana shell was needed to be put into consideration to ensure that it will not be seen by the enemy's radar.
Avalon was already one of the finest super artificial intelligence within the Galactic Federation as per Wallace's knowledge and based on its experiments, the mana shell or any magic spell with similar effects has the ability to hide completely from the A.I.'s sensors. It was troubling but they could also use this to their advantage against the enemy.
Not even with the help of the devices that they found in Wallace's spaceship was able to do so. That's right, the sensors were just returning nothing as if the person or anything inside the mana shell was not existing at all.
Only the Lotus Mech Frame that has a unique technology had at least managed to detect the existence of the mana shell but its sensors only treated it as an inanimate object. If there wasn't any clear vision at all, these types of objects would just be ignored by sensors.
Beep!
Soon, another batch of space mines was released by the spacecraft acting as an asteroid. It was very discreet and almost unnoticeable. If not for the equipment being enhanced by mana and the scanners that were basically using magic spells, it wouldn't be noticed at all with such a distance.
The space mines wouldn't just be released especially with such frequency. Avalon quickly made a few guesses about their situation and immediately sent it to Wallace.
***
"Sigh~ Three more months, huh..."
Ace sighed after remembering his conversation with Wallace. Unfortunately, the man was still busy with some things but he told him that it was all for the sake of the future.
Ace could only accept but he didn't forget to tell him the pressing matter in his mind.
"What? They're already near?" Wallace exclaimed after hearing the incoming spacecraft hiding under the cover of an asteroid.
"Yes! However, their numbers were small and we're thinking that it was only a vanguard or probably mapping out this galaxy. I'm sure that the planet was still undiscoverable by normal means."
"Mhm... Is it due to recent attempts of a Celestial Being? I heard that one of the problematic ones attempted to destroy the moon but was ultimately impeded by another force covering this planet. It looks like there wasn't a problem, but this might have been a side effect... perhaps?"
"Maybe... But I still think that the empire sent a huge number of scout ships to find this planet around this star system... I don't think it's just a simple coincidence."
"Very well... Deal with it however you want. You already have enough power to do so... Is that right?"
"I think so..."
"Good... I just contacted you since there's no longer a Celestial Being guarding me... I think he's about to return so I'll the conversation now..."
"Celestial Being?"
"Yes... I'm with Sir Aeolia and Master Slaine. Also, please tell Senior Lacus that our master was doing very well... Alright, I need to hang up now--"
That was the end of their conversation, it didn't even last for five minutes.
At the very least, the message was clear. Wallace was doing incredible things with Aeolia and his Master that would be needed for the sake of the future... It seems to even involve the Celestial Beings which was really incredible if one thinks about it.
"It seems that he's doing well... Wait-- Aeolia? He's really in the northern continent?"
Ace was stunned after realizing Wallace's situation.
He didn't know where Wallace found this Aeolia but based on his tone, it seems that it wasn't just someone with a similar name but actually the real deal.
Ace shakes his head at this. He wanted to ask for more things but he needed some things to be done. He already contacted the academy that he'll be out for a while and notified his parents that he'll be away for some time.
In any case, his business would continue as long as Avalon remains functioning.
***
It was almost time to visit outer space.
It has been a while since he had been in space so Ace was quite excited already.
Everything was now prepared and his plans to deal with the enemy were also settled...
He took a deep breath as he closed his eyes.
After a few moments, his eyes opened and determination can be seen on his gaze as he gave his instruction to Avalon.
"Commence Launch Sequence!"