The spaceship was hurtling through space at 400 kilometers per second.
Nothing was noticeable except for the stars, and only the occasional space dust particles crushed and shattered against the indestructible shield <> that had been deployed.
Six days have passed since the craft left the planet Arus.
"The ship is sailing smoothly. We should be slowing down shortly.
<, Golem Cosmos 501, sent a regular message to the old man on Horai Island.
<, Golem, made a routine call to the Captain of the , Cosmos 501. Continue with your mission.
"<> Roger that."
Retrograde acceleration is applied and <> is decelerating at 3G.
The first target point is on the orbit of Ars, a quarter, or 90 degrees, ahead of Ars.
The intermediate point is on the other side of the sun Celan, which is one-half, or 180 degrees, ahead of Ars.
"If the speed drops to 50 kilometers per second, the shield stops. Switch to normal barrier."
"Roger that."
According to the contact we received after our departure, there is a strong possibility that the Hale side has a relay base as well.
Whether it is on this side of the orbit or on the other side, i.e., 270 degrees ahead, is unknown.
If there is a relay base, the probability of meeting is 1 in 2.
aimed for the planned position while mobilizing all of his detection magi-machines.
"There is an object in front of us at a horizontal angle of 10 degrees and a vertical angle of 15 degrees.
This report came from the department in charge of detection when the speed had slowed to 5 kilometers per second.
"Okay, change course. Let's approach it carefully."
"Yes, sir."
decides to approach the object with inertial navigation at a speed of 5 km per second.
At this speed, it can stop or break away at the maximum acceleration of 30 Gs if the need arises.
"Distance, 100,000 meters."
The distance is now sufficiently far to be observed by optics.
<
At the same time, the image was also sent to the old man on Horai Island.
"This is an interesting shape.
The object was hemispherical. The detailed dimensions cannot be measured yet, but it must be approximately between 5 and 20 kilometers in diameter.
It is a rather large structure.
Distance, 50,000 meters.
When we got close to this distance, we were able to observe details.
Perhaps because we are approaching without using the power system as much as possible, no reaction is observed.
"<> activated.
From this distance, even a small telescope can observe the object without blurring.
<
* * * *
On the morning of December 20.
A report was received from on Horai Island. Jin receives the results in the command center.
"I see, there it is after all.
<
"But it is hemispherical. Is it man-made? Or was it a modified asteroid?"
And as they watched, the distance closed in and <> activated his <>.