High-stakes, Air Traffic Controller Seira

On the day of departure, Seira woke up in the middle of the night.

Perhaps thanks to having rested well the previous day, after being told by Shinosuke to take it easy, but more accurately, she was too excited to sleep.

Even though she still had two hours before departure preparations began, she couldn’t possibly sleep.

She decided to get out of bed early and quickly get herself ready.

She left her room and headed toward the shower area, taking a hot shower to energize every cell in her body, then quickly put on her uniform.

She lifted the necklace she always wore around her neck.

Inside the small pouch hanging from a delicate chain was a precious talisman.

The very item she had found on the bridge of the Galaxy Camel on the day she was attacked by pirates and rescued by Shinnosuke and the others.

A brass component, about the size of a fingertip, expelled from the pistol Shinnosuke fired.

It was the cartridge casing from Shinnosuke's Lagza VX67 automatic pistol, though Seira had no idea what it actually was.

Yet from the cylindrical, golden-hued piece, she could still detect a strange, smoky scent that had lingered in the bridge after the thunderous explosion that day.

It's just an empty shell that still carries the smell of gunpowder, but as long as she has this amulet, she can truly believe she'll be fine.

Slipping the necklace beneath her uniform, she finally puts on her beret.

With everything prepared, Seira heads toward the bridge.

Shin nosuke is probably still resting, but Marks should be on the bridge, so I'll use the time before departure to finalize the navigation plan with Marks's advice.

The moment of departure has finally arrived.

This voyage to the Damura Star Cluster Commonwealth will be carried out according to Seira's navigation plan and navigation control.

In essence, Seira is serving as the navigation controller, the person responsible for the journey, a role of great importance.

Shinonosuke at the captain's seat completes the pre-departure checks as he activates Cerberus.

"Cerberus, we're departing. Please take care."

"Understood!"

Following Seira's departure declaration, Shinonosuke sets Cerberus in motion.

Seven days after departing Salius, the voyage is proceeding exceptionally smoothly.

"We'll soon pass the route marker station. Expected time of passage: plus two. Within acceptable range."

"Understood."

"Once we pass the station, alter course 15 degrees to port. Five, four, three, two, one, mark!"

"Understood. Turning 15 degrees to port."

"Proceeding ahead, small asteroids from the nearby asteroid belt occasionally drift into our path. No need for high alert, but please reduce cruising speed from 70 to 55 for caution."

"Understood. Speed set to 55."

Thanks to Seira's cautious nature, her navigation control is exceptionally meticulous and precise.

As a result, the autopilot couldn't be used, requiring meticulous manual navigation according to Seira's detailed instructions—quite demanding indeed.

Though rigorous in its execution, the navigation plan included several points where autopilot could be used for four to five hours, carefully calculated to allow Shinosuke and Seira to rest steadily and reliably.

Although Seira is still an apprentice without full qualifications, she's already at operational level as a navigation controller on private cruisers or scheduled cargo ships.

However, she's still not up to standard for merchant vessels where sudden route changes are routine, or for crew members aboard escort vessels.

Even Shinosuke, for the sake of Seira's experience, intends to actively entrust her with navigation control—but only under the guidance of Shinosuke and Marks.

It will still be a long time before Seira is fully recognized as a competent sailor.

The Kerberos continues its smooth voyage on the eighth day.

"Approaching the space jump point. Coordinate calculation complete. Jump destination coordinates have been locked in."

Understood. Accelerating to jump insertion speed.

Shinonsuke pushed the throttle lever forward.

"Reached jump insertion speed. Approaching jump point. Countdown starting. Five, four, three, two, one..."

"Alright! Waa—"

"Mark!!"

At Seira's signal, the Kerberos performed the spatial jump.

The Kerberos continued its journey smoothly, successfully completing its second spatial jump, and arrived at the orbital control zone of the Colony Station located in the capital planet of the Damra Star Cluster Commonwealth, exactly as Seira had planned.

"Damra Star Cluster Commonwealth Orbital Station Colony Harbor Control Center. This is the护卫 ship Cerberus, assigned to the Aeclia Galactic Federation's Salius Stellar District Free Merchant Fleet. Requesting permission to dock at the station colony."

Seira, responsible for both navigation and communications, submits the docking request to the Harbor Control Center.

"From the Control Center to the escort vessel Cerberus. Welcome to the Damura Star Cluster Republic. Permission granted to dock at Dock 9, Sector 32. Limit your speed to 15. Follow the laser beacon instructions to dock."

Cerberus docked smoothly, following the guidance.

Once the ship was secured to the dock, the entire 16-day voyage would be complete.

Exhausted from successfully finishing her duties, Seira sat slack-jawed in her operator's seat.

"Seira, good job. You really showed your skills as a navigation controller."

"Yes, indeed. If this continues, I can expect my workload to lighten up. Well done, Seira."

Hearing the words of praise from Shinosuke and Marks, Seira suddenly felt a strong sense of accomplishment for having fulfilled her role.

Standing from her seat, Seira looked at Shinosuke and Marks, but suddenly could not suppress the emotions welling up inside her, and tears spilled from her eyes.

"A-ah... t-thank you..."

That was all she could manage before she dashed off the bridge.

Shinosuke watched her leave with a quiet nod.

"Master, you've done well."

"Yeah, I'm really worn out. Serah's an excellent air traffic controller, but her ship maneuvering orders are overly detailed and strict. I really need to get her to learn efficiency as soon as possible..."

"Master, isn't that contradictory to what you said about departure preparations?"

"Conditions and people's thoughts change moment by moment, Marks."

"You make it sound so grand, but it's really just your personal wish, isn't it?"

"Well, there's certainly that perspective."

With that, Seira's debut as an apprentice air traffic controller concluded without a hitch.

Seira's duties as an air traffic controller were complete, but Shinnosuke and the others had another purpose for coming all the way to the Damura Star Cluster Republic.

They had to sell the 20 tons of rare metal they'd transported from the Sirius Stellar Province.

For Shinnosuke, a free merchant, the real work of trade was just beginning.