Frontier Patrol Unit
Claire Arnes, Chief Petty Officer of the Frontier Patrol Unit under the 2nd Fleet of the Akneria Galactic Federation Space Force, was in a terrible mood.
She disliked this latest frontier alert mission, but even more so, her mood had been ruined by a recent interview as a witness conducted by the 2nd Fleet Headquarters and the military police several months prior.
The recent unpleasant assignment only worsened her already lingering resentment.
Still, she hadn't personally violated any military regulations or laws.
The interview had been framed strictly as cooperation with an internal investigation, yet she'd been summoned to the 2nd Fleet Headquarters, ruining her much-anticipated vacation, only to be questioned about her former superior—someone who had already been discharged.
What's the point of investigating now! You pushed Lieutenant Kasumura out of the service, and now you're suddenly conducting an investigation? No matter how many senior officers are replaced, it's already too late!
Claire was being questioned about her former superior, the former lieutenant, Shinosuke Kasumura.
The incident in which he was unfairly reassigned and ultimately forced out after apprehending a criminal vessel.
The criminal vessel was likely involved with high-ranking military officials.
After apprehending the vessel, he was suddenly summoned for an inquiry, transferred to an unmanned base shortly thereafter, and eventually left the military—exactly as Lieutenant Kasumura had done.
Chief Warrant Officer Claire had served aboard Kasumura's ship for three years under his command.
Although I had no personal feelings toward Lieutenant Kasumura, I deeply respected his firm and composed demeanor toward his subordinates, as well as his exceptional operational capabilities.
After Lieutenant Kasumura was removed from duty and transferred following the capture of that criminal vessel, the patrol officers were promoted one after another—almost as if replacing him.
Claire was promoted from corporal to sergeant, and Kasim Kradle, who had served as Shinnosuke's second-in-command, was promoted to lieutenant and immediately appointed captain of another vessel in the Frontier Patrol Unit.
Other crew members also received promotions and transfers, leaving only a handful of junior officers alongside Claire and Lieutenant Kradle still serving in the unit.
It was as if the entire unit had been carried away by the departure of the former captain, Kasimra.
Moreover, it seemed that even the usual discharge promotion—typically granted to those with over five years of service experience when discharged other than through disciplinary action or dishonorable discharge—was not applied in this case.
The witness called for questioning, Claire, seized the opportunity to vent her dissatisfaction with the military's handling of Captain Kasimra directly to the investigator.
Though she thought of herself as nothing more than an ordinary junior officer and had resigned herself to the fact that her words wouldn’t matter, the investigator meticulously recorded every emotion Claire expressed.
Though the investigator didn’t go into detail, it seemed Captain Kasimra had been caught in the crossfire of some internal military misconduct—but that was ancient history, and Claire herself had no interest in it.
Moreover, after that witness hearing, Claire and Lieutenant Credle were asked to help persuade the former Captain Kasimra to return to the military—though that was already pointless.
I've heard rumors that former Captain Kasimra became a free merchant after leaving the military.
Kasimra, who had always taken pride in his service as a soldier.
I don't believe he'd ever return to an army he had already walked away from.
To his surprise, Lieutenant Cleadon shared the same opinion, and Claire and Lieutenant Cleadon clearly refused the military's request for cooperation.
Though he might have worried about his position as an officer, it turned out to be unfounded, and afterward he resumed his regular duties as if nothing had happened.
At that time, a secret mission was issued from the fleet command, and the nature of the mission itself was what truly angered him.
It seems the Akneria Galactic Federation government is currently facilitating the refugee intake from the Rimuria Galactic Empire.
Due to political circumstances, they cannot deploy military forces or coast guard units, so refugee operations are being carried out through the protection of independent merchant vessels.
Claire understands these circumstances perfectly.
Deploying military units recklessly would only escalate tensions with the Empire.
Under these circumstances, the patrol unit was assigned a surveillance mission in the Rimurian Galactic Empire's sector of space.
Their task was to monitor for any ships pursuing the escort vessel carrying refugees, ensuring they did not enter Akneria's territory, and they were explicitly ordered not to engage in combat within international or exclusive economic zones.
In effect, this means that even if their own free merchant vessels are attacked by unidentified ships, they must stand by and do nothing as long as the incident occurs outside their territorial waters.
Indeed, they are merely monitoring the situation on their screens, watching multiple unidentified vessels engage in combat with what appears to be the escort ship in question, using long-range radar surveillance.
Three escort vessels appeared to be heading toward the rescue, but this was normally the responsibility of the military or coast guard—frustrating beyond words.
I considered voicing the opinion that, regardless of the refugees, they should respond since their own ship was under attack, but the current captain, strict and inflexible in discipline, would surely never approve.
In the end, there was nothing I could do but watch helplessly.
Nevertheless, the targeted escort vessel managed to evade the enemy pursuit, aided by the support of the escort vessel dispatched for rescue, and reached the Acnelia Galactic Federation's territory.
"The target escort vessel has entered home territory. The unidentified vessel that had been pursuing it appears to have been destroyed by other escort vessels!"
Claire reported the situation.
She was aware her voice sounded sharp, but she didn't intend to hide it—she was reporting what needed to be reported.
Understood. Verify the damage status of the escort vessel. If it affects navigation, protect the refugees aboard our vessel. If they've already entered home territory, there's no issue.
(What's the point of saying that now...)
Claire grows even more irritated by the captain's order, but she suppresses her emotions and focuses on fulfilling her duty.
Cross-check the data regarding the escort vessel's affiliation and other details.
(Cerberus, a guard vessel belonging to the Sirius Stellar District Free Merchant Fleet. Captain is... Wait? Captain Kasimura?)
The data displayed on the monitor for the escort vessel.
There, under the captain's name, was Shinnosuke Kasimura.
Claire's hand froze mid-operation on the terminal.
"Something wrong? Hurry up and check the escort vessel's status."
Prompted by the captain, she connects the communication line.
"...This is the Akreria Galactic Federation Navy Frontier Patrol Unit. Approach of escort vessel Cerberus, respond immediately."
It was a transmission from the original ship of the patrol unit once led by former Lieutenant Cassimura.
If the captain of that escort vessel was truly the former Lieutenant Cassimura, they might recognize Claire's voice.
She waited, a slight tension in her voice.
"...This is the escort vessel Kerberos, affiliated with the Sirius Stellar District Free Merchant Ship Association."
To her surprise, the response came in the voice of a young woman.
One of Kerberos's crew members, perhaps.
"Understood. Report your vessel's damage status. Is navigation affected?"
"Um... Our vessel has engine damage, but navigation is not impaired."
Though somewhat hesitant and halting, the transmission conveyed all the necessary information.
"Confirmed with the escort vessel Kerberos: damage reported, but no impairment to navigation."
Having received Claire's report, the squad leader nodded.
"I see. Then we don't need to intervene. Let's just watch from here."
Eventually, the image of Kerberos appeared on the monitor.
One of the three engines was severely damaged, and the second showed signs of injury as well, but despite this, the vessel was still navigating using its main engine, and according to the report, this did not hinder normal operations.
"That's Captain Kashimura's ship..."
Claire watched the escort vessel Kerberos pass by.
On the bridge of the Kerberos, as it passed by the frontier patrol unit, Shinosuke sipped synthetic fruit tea while watching the patrol unit on the monitor.
"Corporal Arnes...? What's wrong? Is he in a bad mood or something?"
No one noticed Shinosuke's muttered comment.