Demotion

Shin nosuke issues a warning to the suspicious vessel.

"We will conduct a boarding inspection on your ship."

"You won't get away with this so easily!"

The suspicious vessel remains defiant, but Shin nosuke refuses to listen.

"If you refuse, we'll board by force!"

"Hah, don't be ridiculous!"

"Confirmed refusal of the target! All ships, carry out your assigned actions!"

Once the decision is made, Shin nosuke acts swiftly.

Upon receiving the order, each ship immediately moved into action.

Shin Nosuke's flagship drove an anchor into the hull of one suspicious vessel.

The other suspicious vessel attempted to flee by increasing engine output, but was rendered immobile by a cannon strike on its engines from the second ship, preempting its escape.

Then, access routes for boarding were forcibly breached into the hulls of both suspicious vessels.

"Marine Corps is boarding!"

At the same time as the Marine squad leader reported the start of operations, Marines stormed both vessels.

We have announced the inspection, so any resistance from here on will be met with no mercy.

Though powered suits cannot be used inside the confined space of the ships, the suspicious vessels were swiftly overwhelmed by Marines in armored suits armed with heavy weapons.

Upon receiving the report of the suppression's completion, Shinosuke also boarded the suspicious vessel.

On the bridge, the crew of the suspicious ship was restrained by the Marines.

Some of them appeared to have been injured during resistance at the time of the Marine assault, but all seemed to have only minor wounds.

"We've thoroughly searched the database, but there's no indication this ship is a special operations vessel. The cargo hold contains prohibited drugs and artworks suspected to be stolen goods."

Shin nosuke nods in agreement with the Marine squad leader's explanation.

"So, they were indeed just ordinary criminals."

"Moreover, we rescued young women and children from a hidden compartment beneath the cargo hold. As Lieutenant Colonel pointed out, they were treated as commodities—apparently abducted from impoverished districts across the country."

"Indeed. How are everyone's health conditions?"

"There are no issues. Even though it's illegal, to them these people are valuable commodities. They wouldn't be worth much if they were weak, so they must have taken care to keep them in good condition."

Shin nosuke nodded.

"Then, we'll end the operation. We'll report to the Coast Guard, hand over the suspect, evidence, and the rescued victims, and return to base."

Now that it was clear the perpetrators were merely criminals, this was no longer within the military's jurisdiction.

The matter was officially concluded as responsibility for criminal investigations and maintaining order within the frontier space was handed over to the Coast Guard, which specializes in such duties.

One month after apprehending a criminal vessel in a remote sector of space, Shinnosuke found himself in an unexpected position.

Summoned to a room in the Second Fleet Headquarters, Shinnosuke was placed in the position of being questioned.

"Based on our investigation, we must acknowledge that Lieutenant Kasimura's judgment during this smuggling vessel crackdown was incorrect."

Shinnosuke stood rigid and expressionless, listening to the words of the lieutenant colonel who had introduced himself as a special inspector from the Second Fleet.

His ability to detect and seize the smuggling vessel, secure evidence, detain the suspect, and protect the victim certainly deserves recognition. However, there is an issue with the subsequent measures taken. This case should have been reported to the military police unit belonging to the Second Fleet and handed over to them, after which it should have been transferred through the military police to the coast guard or relevant authority.

This is verging on outright slander.

The military police are responsible for enforcing discipline within the military, while investigations into crimes committed by space pirates, smuggling vessels, and similar offenders fall under the jurisdiction of the federal police, state police, or coast guard.

In this case, initially the vessel was disguised as a military special unit, so going through military police would not have been incorrect. However, in the end, it turned out to be merely a criminal ship, making transfer to the coast guard the appropriate procedure.

If, for this incident, someone specifically insisted on routing it through the military police of the Second Fleet, it might suggest the existence of individuals who would prefer not to be handed directly over to police authorities. But that is merely a possibility, nothing more.

"Nevertheless, based on the findings of the investigation, this time the capture of the suspicious vessel stands as the greater achievement. Therefore, we will overlook Lieutenant's oversight this time. In recognition of this achievement, we have prepared a new post for the Lieutenant—assignment as the head of the 34th Supply Base."

The 34th Supply Base is an unmanned facility constructed on an asteroid located at the boundary between the Salius Stellar Province and the Iruuk Stellar Province, both under the jurisdiction of the Second Fleet.

From物资 management to resupply operations for ships, everything is fully automated, and as its name suggests, no personnel are stationed there.

In other words, being assigned as the base's commander is clearly a demotion.

The personnel change was utterly unjust, yet Shinosuke's expression remained unchanged.

Whether it was unjust or a blatant demotion, if it had already been decided, Shinosuke's objections would not change the outcome.

However, it was fortunate that, in accordance with the military principle that commanders bear full responsibility for operations, this unjust appointment did not extend to the patrol unit's subordinates.

It was absolutely essential not to raise any objections here, lest it affect the morale of his subordinates.

"Assigned to the 34th Supply Base—I accept!"

Shinnosuke accepted the unjust assignment.

Half a year had passed since Shinnosuke had arrived alone at the 34th Supply Base.

Although Shinnozuke had been assigned to the base as if it were a form of harassment, the base had originally been unmanned. Supplies were delivered to the base and ships were resupplied only about once every ten days, and even that was entirely automated, leaving Shinnozuke with nothing to do.

Even in an environment with nothing to do at a desolate base floating in the middle of space, one might risk mental deterioration—but Shinnozuke, serious and highly responsible, took it upon himself to thoroughly inspect the base's management system and stored supplies, ultimately uncovering a fraud in which certain units had illegally manipulated the system to inflate their supply rations.

Moreover, because Shinosuke formally reported the facts with conclusive evidence to both the Fleet Command and the Military Police Headquarters through official channels, those who stood to lose from the revelations were unable to cover up the truth. This triggered a sweeping wave of discipline within the fleet, ultimately leading to the removal of several high-ranking military officers.

However, this angered certain high-ranking officials, resulting in further reassignments.

The transfer order sent to the terminal in the office of the 34th Supply Base.

"Transfer to the 128th Observation Post."

A single sentence from the Second Fleet Headquarters—just that.

It was an unprecedented slight, even for officers, to receive only a data transmission as a formal transfer order.

To make matters worse, the assignment was to a remote outpost—an unmanned radar site in the Rimlia Galaxy Empire sector, tasked with monitoring potential threats.

"This is it... the time to move on..."

Even Shinnosuke, usually resilient, felt a growing sense of disgust after receiving such overt acts of sabotage in quick succession.

He had no interest in promotion, but staying in the military would lead to nothing but a bleak future.

Fortunately, since he's currently stationed at a deserted base with no subordinates or colleagues around, his actions won't cause trouble for anyone nearby.

Shinnosuke had finally given up on the life of a military officer he'd spent ten years pursuing since graduating from officer school.

After making his decision, Shinnosuke acted quickly.

Since no successor would be arriving to take over his position, there was no need for handover or formal交接.

He submitted his discharge request according to the proper procedures, and just as mechanically, the process moved forward, resulting in his discharge being granted without delay.

After receiving his retirement pay, Shinnosuke left the Akneria Galactic Federation Space Force without a single regret.

Incidentally, the cold treatment Shinnosuke received and his subsequent discharge would later cause problems within the Akneria Galactic Federation Space Force—but that's still some time off.

For now, I've posted the first two episodes all at once.