Since this was something already made.
So, if you're not chasing that high-output capability Divine Herta wanted, making a full-coverage armor like the Iron Cavalry of Glamoth? That was no problem at all.
Divine Herta, standing nearby, looked at the finished product, and then at the Memoria world that 'Little Herta' had pinched into the shape of a badge.
"So, the power you want to use is your own Swarm? And what's that supposed to accomplish?"
The Iron Cavalry of Glamoth was Propagation, the Swarm was also Propagation.
Playing it like this was just a straightforward power boost, right? The function of adding extra items was completely wasted.
"Just a temporary fix. I don't want the Cavalry I'm supposed to pick up dying on my watch."
'Little Herta' held the cicada-like transformation device, slotting the Swarm badge into the groove before activating it.
In an instant.
The silver-white battle armor materialized smoothly, encasing her small form within its protective space.
Thanks to the spatial folding tech, height and body type mismatch wasn't an issue.
Purple flames erupted from various parts of the armor.
The power of the Swarm, mixed with Memoria, brought considerable destructive force to this suit.
More importantly, as the modified Halo System activated, the aura belonging to both the Swarm King and the Swarm itself was also reinforced onto the armor.
A unique pheromone was released.
Divine Herta ran a quick scan and got a positive confirmation.
"Alright, theoretically, this concentration is enough to make a Cavalry soldier mistake you for returning to the hive mind. When are you heading out?"
"Elio probably calculated the timing ages ago. If I leave now, I should run into them right about on schedule."
Glancing at the time and address Elio had provided, if 'Little Herta' left now, she really would just happen to cross paths with them.
"Got it."
Divine Herta nodded, then turned and walked away, diving back into her research and leaving her to it.
'Little Herta', still in her armored state, ignited the Phase Flame and was transported to the frontier of the Asdana star system.
--+--
Compared to the empty void, a tiny flame flickered and vanished.
The silver-white warrior materialized abruptly in that spot, but the moment she landed, this armor, radiating the power of Propagation, suddenly triggered some kind of large-scale resonance.
"...?"
A question mark immediately popped up over 'Little Herta's' head.
Seriously... what kind of place was this?
What else could resonate with this armor, besides the Swarm?
Had she just dropped straight into a bug nest?
There really were bugs in Penacony...
As more and more resonances emerged, some kind of concealment method was lifted.
The once empty space suddenly became crowded.
"Skkree—?!"
The slumbering Swarm, jolted awake by the sudden, unfamiliar aura of a Swarm King.
More and more insects stirred from their sleep, and then they spotted the weird-looking Swarm King.
Until one Swarm King, not particularly huge but radiating an especially terrifying presence, burst through the planet's crust, and then, buzzing with fury, it charged straight at 'Little Herta'.
The Swarm might be ugly, but they weren't mindless.
The opposing Swarm King recognized instantly that the armor definitely wasn't part of the Swarm, and the aura on it had this lingering, uncanny feeling.
It felt more like the aura was simulated using the remains of a Swarm King.
So, nothing more to say.
Kill!
BZZZZT—!!
The resonant hum of the Swarm's wings spread as a fierce drone.
Dense masses of insects rapidly assembled, surging towards 'Little Herta' for the kill.
The Swarm's size wasn't large; you could even call it small.
This Swarm King's aura was also pretty wilted, looking more like a remnant force.
Maybe they'd been resting and were just startled awake.
Well, in that case...
'Little Herta' raised her arm, and the Memoria World embedded as the core opened a passage.
Countless insects from her own Swarm poured out.
"Go on, devour them."
They outnumbered the wild Swarm.
And after entering the Asdana system, the favorable environment had also massively boosted 'Little Herta's' Swarm power.
This ragtag bunch naturally stood no chance.
But just as 'Little Herta' was finishing consuming this Swarm, a meteor streaked across the cold void, racing in from afar.
The surging power turned into pure light and heat, making the newcomer look like a blazing bomb, charging headlong into the Swarm!
BOOM—!!!
A silent impact blasted a momentary vacuum right in the middle of the swarm.
Seizing that opening.
The Cavalry soldier, wreathed in flames, immediately changed direction and rushed over.
She grabbed hold of 'Little Herta's' armor, trying to pull her out of the swarm's center.
"An isolated Cavalry soldier, why aren't you with the unit?! Charging a swarm this size all alone, do you have a death wish?!"
The reprimand from the unknown Cavalry soldier came through the comms.
'Little Herta's' bugs, seeing their king suddenly snatched away, were stunned for a moment, but following the Swarm King's orders, they continued their assault on the remaining swarm.
Meanwhile, on the other side.
AR-214, having boosted power to drag 'Little Herta' clear of the swarm's encirclement, was puzzled why the swarm wasn't chasing them, or even trying to stop their escape.
It was abnormal.
But beyond this abnormality, she was more concerned about the other isolated soldier.
"My designation is AR-214. What's your designation, and why are you here?"
AR-214?
Not Firefly, but this designation seemed familiar... didn't it appear in that animated short?
'Little Herta' tried to think how to answer.
But soon, the other soldier sensed something was wrong first, and then let out a very piercing screech:
"No, wait, my symptoms... why? Could you be... Her Majesty the Queen?! I'm sorry! I know what I've done, I'll accept whatever judgment you hand down..."
AR-214's mood swings were terrifyingly fast; one second she was screeching, the next she looked ready to throw her hands up in surrender.
Now 'Little Herta' was sure, definitely not Firefly. Firefly wasn't like this.
"Uh... calm down, I'm not the Queen of Glamoth."
"Impossible! This feeling right now, it's no different from rejoining the Cavalry. If not Her Majesty the Queen, then who?"
Away from the Cavalry, even though she herself almost never left SAM, her physical condition was steadily deteriorating. Maybe she'd live a few more years, but that was it.
Nothing compared to the lifespan of an ordinary human, but just now, she felt her condition suddenly improve dramatically.
Like she was back in the military days.
'Little Herta' shook her head helplessly.
"The Glamoth Empire was at a stalemate with the Republic, and fighting the Swarm on top of that. How would the real Queen ever have time to be here?"
Hearing this, AR-214 paused, finally snapping out of her excited daze.
"That does seem true... but then why am I..."
"I came specifically to find you, AR-214."
"... Are you here to take me back? You didn't punish AR-26710, did you? She only lost because she couldn't beat me, that's how I escaped."
"I have nothing to do with Glamoth. I came looking for you for a specific reason, just to get you away from Penacony."
--+--
T/N: If you want advance chapters, you can find it at [email protected]/AspenTL