The investigation of the mysterious base discovered by in space proceeded slowly.

It took another two hours for <> to complete almost the entire interior survey. As a result, no moving objects were found inside.

The old man, who was analyzing the images on Horai Island, concluded so.

If it had been destroyed by a foreign enemy, it would be troublesome to deal with it.

"Do you think there is a foreign enemy ......?　The old man."

Jin asks the old man.

<

I see.

Jin nodded his head in agreement with the old man's reasoning. It is true that the Hailians are not monolithic. Or rather, they are a group of individualists, so it is not surprising that they have differences.

Whether they would commit the folly of sabotage is another matter.

"So, did you find any evidence of sabotage?"

<

"Indeed. I'll leave it to you to decide.

I am not the kind of person to give orders to your well-meaning actions. He knew that.

* * * * * * * * * * *

Floating in space, the was stopped relative to the mysterious at a distance of 3 kilometers.

"We have been instructed to investigate this base carefully."

The captain, Cosmos 501, told his second in command, Cosmos 502.

"Then, shall we send in a survey command?"

"Yes, we will. <, will react to the investigation command. You are requested to be careful and to expect it.

The old man thought that if there was some kind of reaction, he would be able to obtain further information.

"Then, let's send in ten men wearing battlesuits.

The battlesuits have already proven their usefulness. <, Jin had mass-produced dozens of the battlesuits worn by the Land team.

Due to the materials, it is impossible to make enough for all of the Horaijima Golems, but he has prepared 20 battle suits for each of Sky Squad, Land Squad, Marine Squad, Mermaid Squad, and Cosmos Squad.

The Cosmos Squadron had 10 battle suits for , and 10 for this .

Ten of the 560 from Cosmos 551 in battle suits were equipped with <>.

［We have just arrived. I don't feel any gravity.]

Copy that. Please continue your investigation.

After a brief exchange of views, the ten bodies decided to investigate the flat surface first.

［The material is nickel-chrome-molybdenum steel. The same quality as the disastor.]

［There are many fine scratches, probably caused by cosmic dust.]

The plane faces the sun, so the sun is shining down on it tremendously.

In the midst of all this, we arrive at one of the facilities that look like a warehouse or hangar.

［The facility appears to be little deteriorated.]

The facility is made of metal, so there was little deterioration due to ultraviolet rays.

We know that the interior is empty through the Peeper Telescope.

［Still, there may be something to discover by visiting it in person. Let's check it out.]

［Roger that.]

Cosmos551 and the others slowly open the door to the facility. The door is unlocked and there is no corrosion, so there is no problem.

［It's empty after all.]

［It seems so. ......?]

Cosmos551 stared at a stain on the floor of the facility.

［This stain looks relatively new. ...... what do you think?]

［I wouldn't say it's new, since we're in outer space, in this facility where there's no ultraviolet light.]

［That's true. But what is it?　Oil?]

Dark brown, fatty luster stain.

［Analysis.

Since the Cosmos Unit can all use engineering magic, I'll try to analyze it.

［It's some kind of oil ...... grease.]

［That's unusual.]

That's because there have been no examples of Hale-related technology using oil with a high viscosity like grease for lubrication.

［This might also suggest something.]

Cosmos 551 would send this kind of information to the old man.

Most of the facilities on the plane were warehouses or hangar-like buildings. It is surprising that they were all empty.

［It could have been after the sortie.]

［Indeed.]

Cosmos 556 and 551 looked at each other.

［It is quite possible that the went out from here.]

And, with nothing more to see on the flat surface, the Cosmos team finally decided to examine the inside of the hemisphere.

［Should we start with the periphery?]

［No, that would take too much time, and the investigation with the peepers only found a material storehouse. Therefore, we will focus on the central area.]

［Understood.]

And again, search, search, search. And so on and so forth.

［Nothing in particular.]

We found a deactivated ether converter, a mana driver, and an emergency mana tank. However.

［I can't find the brain that was supposed to be in charge, the golem for maintenance, or the warp gate for receiving materials .......

［And the amount of materials we collected isn't much either.]

［I guess so.]

* * * *

Here, the old man proposed a bold hypothesis.

"How can that be?"

<

The old man explains in detail.

There is one more intermediate point between Arus and Hale. It is in the opposite direction of the orbit.

I see.

Jin thought that he would have to look into that when he had time.

"But it's a relay station now. What should we do ......?"

Jin thinks that it would be quicker if he could take what he has found and modify it.

But at the same time, we are taking a risk.

"Let's go ahead with the original plan, after all."

.

Taking certainty over schedule, Jin decides to build his own relay base with the craft .

* * * * * * * *

［We will build a simple base as originally planned.]

［Understood.]

［Work will begin immediately.]

and the Cosmos Corps began to fulfill their original role.