Cosmic Fleet Lieutenant Shinosuke Kashimura

This is a rookie lieutenant, author of the "Freedom of Career Choice" series.

This work is not part of the "Freedom of Career Choice" series, nor does it belong to the same genre or world view.

I would be delighted if you would join me on this journey.

A story from a time when phrases like "Earth is the home of humanity and all living creatures" had long been buried in the distant past.

Having broken free from Earth's gravity and sailed into the vast cosmos, humanity from Earth encountered diverse people from another galaxy, joined hands with them, sometimes clashed, bore children, raised them, preserved their lineage, and prospered.

In this era, the very concept of "Earth people" had been forgotten, and all beings living across the universe were called humanity. Across the cosmos, numerous nations existed.

Each nation varies in size, from small planetary systems to vast galactic empires, but all independent nations are collectively known as galactic nations.

Using ships capable of surpassing the speed of light and even performing spatial jumps, along with every conceivable technology, they connect the galaxies, forming a vast universe where countless people now live.

Yet, even so, the map humanity has drawn might be nothing more than a tiny speck in the infinite expanse of the cosmos.

The Acneria Galactic Federation is a federal state composed of five stellar provinces: Acneria, Gara, Sarius, Lyras, and Iruk.

Surrounding it are other galactic nations such as the Damlar Star Cluster Commonwealth, the Rimria Galactic Empire, and the 6325 Stellar Union, with whom it maintains a fragile peace through varying degrees of friendship and tension.

Five ships navigating the frontier region between the Akneria Galactic Federation and the Rimria Galactic Empire.

The ships, uniformly colored with blue as the primary hue, bear the national insignia of the Akneria Galactic Federation's Space Force—part of the Federation's frontier patrol unit stationed on the outer edge.

Spaceships widely used across the galactic nation, both military and civilian, are highly automated and capable of operation with just one crew member, yet in practice—whether military or civilian—multiple crew members are typically employed to reduce workload. Each vessel in this patrol unit carries five personnel: a captain and pilot, a co-pilot and engineer, a navigation controller, a communications and radar operator, and a weapons systems officer.

The man was aboard the patrol unit's command ship—a frigate accompanied by four corvettes—though it is not a fleet, so it is not referred to as a flagship.

Shin nosuke Kashimura, a 28-year-old lieutenant in the space force, served as both the frigate's captain and the patrol unit's commander.

A professional soldier who graduated from the Akneria Galactic Federation Space Force Officer Academy with excellent results and accumulated notable achievements through various missions, he had risen to the rank of lieutenant colonel by his mid-twenties.

Given Shinosuke's capabilities, it wouldn't have been surprising if he had already become a captain or major by now. However, his naturally serious and inflexible personality has hindered his favor with certain military officers, leaving him stuck at the rank of major without promotion, content to remain a perennial major.

Yet Shinosuke himself does not despair over his circumstances.

Shinosuke had never been particularly concerned with advancement; he saw his promotion and rank as mere bonuses that came naturally from quietly fulfilling his duties as a professional soldier.

Today, too, he gazed at the monitor aboard the patrol vessel he commanded, sipping coffee he had brewed himself (not prepared by his subordinates).

In a small-crew patrol unit, the team commander and the flagship's captain typically also serve as the ship's pilot, but currently he has entrusted the piloting to the assistant pilot, allowing him some leisure to sip coffee—yet his gaze never strays from the monitor before him.

When Shinnosuke's patrol unit took over surveillance duties in this region, they received a briefing from their predecessors regarding the suspicious vessel.

This sector is scattered with asteroids and contains numerous areas, such as hypergravity zones, that are impassable, making it a dangerous region far removed from normal trade routes—no legitimate vessel would willingly navigate these waters.

Moreover, beyond this sector lies the Rimulia Galactic Empire, a nation with tense relations with the Aclenia Galactic Federation.

The previous patrol unit had failed to detect the suspicious vessel in time, so it couldn't apprehend it. But any ship navigating such a region couldn't possibly be legitimate.

Therefore, in preparation for this alert duty, Shinnosuke had requested reinforcements from a boarding assault unit, anticipating the need to inspect suspicious vessels. As a result, a detachment of 28 personnel from the Federal Space Marine Corps is currently aboard each ship of the patrol fleet.

If we can't detect any suspicious vessels now, it would be a wasted effort for the Marines, and we'd feel bad for the Marines who've been confined to the cramped patrol ships for several weeks on this mission.

Yet, ironically, the morale of the Marines aboard each ship remains high.

After all, this type of assignment is actually quite popular among Marine personnel.

Even small units like Shinnosuke's patrol team often undertake missions lasting several months, so the ships are equipped with high-performance automated cooking systems to prevent crew stress during long deployments. As a result, meals aboard the ship are actually superior to those served at colonies or bases on planets.

Marines stationed aboard the same vessel receive the same quality meals.

Moreover, if there's a special allowance for boarding suspicious vessels—even if it's risky—Marines find such missions particularly appealing.

Even if they don't get to act because no suspicious vessel is found, they're not at all dissatisfied. After all, they can enjoy good meals and the shipboard duty allowance without any effort, which seems to be the more convenient option.

Even Shinosuke would prefer there were no suspicious vessels, but there's a big difference between a suspicious vessel not existing at all and one existing but remaining undetected, so vigilance cannot be relaxed.

A week has passed since assuming duty patrolling this region, and so far there have been no abnormalities—everything remains calm.

The Marine Corps personnel accompanying us are growing bored and spending their time training in various parts of the ship.

"Passive detector has detected a signal! Distance 283 plus 4A, moving toward the Rimuria Galactic Empire!"

Sergeant Claire Arnes, the communications radar operator, called out.

Shin nosuke immediately switched the command station monitor.

Two signals appeared on the passive detector's display.

"Understood, confirmed. We're not conducting active scanning, correct?"

"Yes, only passive detection."

"Are we transmitting navigation identification signals?"

"No transmission of identification signals."

Spacecraft navigating through space, particularly civilian vessels, are required to broadcast navigation identification signals to reveal their location and identity.

If no such signal is being transmitted, the vessel must be either a military ship on a mission or a special-purpose craft operated by a public agency; otherwise, it would be a suspicious vessel, such as a space pirate.

Passive detectors, which detect various traces such as spacecraft navigation signals, faint radio waves and magnetic fields, and engine heat, are less accurate than active detectors that emit probing waves to locate targets, but they have the advantage of being harder to detect by the target.

However, on the other hand, it's difficult to distinguish between asteroids and space debris, and it's common to track something thought to be a suspicious vessel only to discover it was actually space debris. Still, the detection was made in an area where suspicious vessel information had been reported.

Shin nosuke makes his decision.

"Alright, I'll begin stealth tracking. Full engine power toward the target! Accelerate to speed 120, then cut the engine. We'll continue tracking by inertia while cooling the engine."

Even the platoon leader aboard the bridge, watching the situation in response to Shinosuke's orders, instructed his crew to prepare for combat.

Each ship became frantic.

"Could it be space pirates?"

Lieutenant Cassim Kredor, who served as Shinosuke's deputy and co-pilot, appeared tense.

An excellent officer who, after graduating from the officer academy and serving in rear duties, was assigned to Shinosuke's patrol unit. However, his front-line experience was limited to just the two-month training at the officer academy, leaving no denying his lack of practical experience.

Still, Lieutenant Credor, who had graduated with outstanding results from the officer academy, had voluntarily transferred to the patrol unit, aspiring to become a senior commander in the future fleet.

Three months after joining the unit, he seems nervous about his first experience.

"Space pirates wouldn't appear in dangerous sectors without civilian shipping routes. Those loitering around here are far more suspicious."

That's experience, too.

This time, Shinnosuke decided to entrust the ship's navigation to Lieutenant Cradle and focus solely on commanding the unit.

"Speed up the fourth and fifth ships to 125 and move ahead of the target to pin it down. From now on, all communications will be cut off."

Each patrol vessel secured its course, then accelerated to maximum engine output, surging forward in unison. Once nearing top speed, they cut the engines and transitioned into inertia-based navigation.

Without giving away our presence to the target vessel, we sealed all communications and turned off external navigation lights, then closed the distance in a sudden burst of speed.

That said, we were in the vastness of space.

It would take several minutes before we made visual contact, during which time we had to close in on the target solely through inertial navigation—no engine thrust, no unnecessary movements—truly testing the pilot's skill.

Each captain and pilot of Shinnosuke's squadron, as well as Lieutenant Cridle, the deputy pilot of the command vessel, had thoroughly trained and handled the ships with remarkable precision.

"Target acquired! Two medium-sized cargo ships, affiliation unknown. Designated as 'Unknown.' Proceeding toward Imperial territory... Target has also detected us."

Sergeant Arnes reports, but Shinnosuke remains calm.

It's natural that detection would occur as we approach the target, but even that is slower than Shinnosuke had anticipated.

"Alright, I'm sending a laser communication to the target vessel!"

"Roger! Forcing a laser communication connection to the Unknown!"

Sergeant Arnes operated the radar and communication terminal, locking onto the two suspicious ships and simultaneously transmitting a laser communication signal.

This is the Acneria Galactic Federation Space Navy Frontier Patrol Unit. The cargo vessel ahead, immediately cease movement and state your vessel registration and purpose of travel!

As Shinosuke issued his warning, Lieutenant Kyle Raidner, the gunnery officer, activated the main cannon and locked on to the target vessel.

With this, whichever of the captain, Shinosuke, the assistant pilot, Lieutenant Credle, or the gunnery officer, Ensign Raidner, pulled their respective triggers at their stations could sink the target vessel.

"Repeating warning: Immediately stop your vessel. If you do not comply, we will attack. If you resist, we will sink you!"

Despite the second warning, the two suspicious ships slightly accelerated as if attempting to flee, but it was already too late.

The fourth and fifth ships, leading the formation, had circled around to block their path ahead.

Surrounded by five patrol vessels and locked on from all sides, the suspicious ships appeared to have given up their attempt to escape and stopped their engines.

"Communication from Unknown. Audio only."

Sergeant Arnes connected the suspicious ship's transmission to the bridge speakers.

This is a special mission vessel assigned to the 2nd Fleet of the Space Navy. We are currently conducting a covert operation under direct orders from Admiral Garanto. Due to the highly classified nature of our mission, I cannot provide further details. Interfering with our mission will make you personally responsible.

The suspicious vessel claimed it was a special mission ship belonging to the space military, demanding we not interfere.

The Second Fleet of the Space Military is the main fleet stationed at the Iluk and Sirius Stellar Provinces, which lie along the border with the Rimlia Galactic Empire—the very regions patrolled and guarded by Shinnosuke's patrol squadron. General Garanto is the operations staff officer of the Second Fleet.

Although the suspicious vessel claiming to be a special mission ship sounds plausible, Shinnosuke isn't taking it seriously.

A secret mission vessel being captured by a patrol unit in the middle of its mission is simply impossible.

Even so, Shinnosuke calmly presses for answers.

"Understood. If you're on a special mission, I won't inquire further. However, to confirm your claim, send me the mission code."

The mission code Shinnosuke mentioned was an encrypted identifier unique to each high-secrecy special mission vessel, allowing verification of whether a particular ship was currently on a mission simply by cross-checking the code.

"Refusing to transmit code as this vessel is on a classified mission."

As expected, the response came, but during this seemingly fruitless exchange, the necessary information had already been gathered.

On the monitor directly in front of Shinnosuke, a classified transmission from the third ship appeared.

The third ship, among the patrol vessels, was particularly skilled at detection. In the time Shinnosuke had bought, it had completed its scan of the suspicious vessel and reported back.

The report indicated four biological readings above 35 degrees Celsius in each of the suspicious ship's bridges.

Additionally, a dense concentration of similar readings—35 degrees or higher—was detected in the lower cargo hold.

There were between ten and twenty of them—highly likely stowaways, or humans being trafficked as commodities.

Naturally, all of these are illegal and constitute serious crimes.

Given that, the ship before us is not a special operations vessel, but rather a suspicious vessel highly likely involved in criminal activity.

At that moment, a report arrived confirming that the Marines were ready.

Shinnosuke made his decision.