Pirate Route 1

Three days after entering the international space zone between the Kingdom of Searet and the Sacred State of Seegul,

Shinnosuke and the others had been navigating smoothly, without encountering any space pirates.

『I heard this area was swarming with pirates, but things are going surprisingly smoothly.』

Currently, Glenn was at the helm of Big Bear, but Glenn, who had a communication line open with Fuuki, wore an expression slightly surprised by the unexpected calm.

"That's right. Even though it's called a pirate route, it's not guaranteed to be attacked by pirates. If that were the case, it wouldn't be viable as a civilian route. Sure, it does have a higher incidence of pirate attacks compared to other routes, but even so, the actual encounter rate here is less than ten percent. Still, it's relatively high when compared to other sectors."

Celia and Milena, listening to Shinosuke and Glenn's conversation, think to themselves.

((The chance of encountering pirates during our escort mission was over fifty percent...))

Unaware of Celia and Milena's inner thoughts, Glenn bursts into laughter.

'The escort fee would be wasted if we're not attacked by pirates from now on. Wahahaha!'

'Escort ships are insurance for emergencies. Even if pirates don't show up, the cost won't be reduced.'

"Wahahaha! That's right indeed!"

Milena and Seira exchanged glances at Shinosuke and Glenn's carefree conversation.

"Seira, you understand, don't you?"

"Yes. We're entering full combat readiness. Please inform Miss Alicia and Miss Merry as well. We'll encounter space pirates imminently."

"Wait—was there some sign of pirate activity?"

Alicia tilted her head, puzzled by the tense atmosphere between Seira and Milena.

"Yes. I can't easily explain the basis, but it's certainly true."

"Yes, just now, a massive flag summoning pirates has been raised."

Seira and Milena, brimming with strange confidence and genuinely on high alert.

Alicia tilted her head in confusion but contacted Melysa through their private channel.

"Melysa, I don't understand what's going on, but prepare for a pirate attack."

Understood. I just received a message from Seira. The two of us here are confused too, but we're on high alert.

At this moment, there are no suspicious signs on the radar.

Even so, Seira and Millena were both tense and on edge.

They genuinely believed a pirate attack was imminent.

Less than an hour after Seira and the others raised their guard, the situation changed.

"Radar contact, Unknown One! Bearing 9 plus 20, distance 240 plus A. No identification signal!"

Seira reports upon detecting an unidentified vessel on the radar.

The suspicious vessel appears on the radar as a single ship.

Approaching rapidly from a position 20 degrees above the 9 o'clock direction.

Although Fukubuki is equipped with a radar far superior to that of the Cerberus, the suspicious vessel—a small, fast craft—managed to close the distance quickly.

Shinnosuke immediately dons the glass monitor while initiating escort command.

"Combat readiness! Tsukikage, insert yourself between the suspicious vessel and Big Bear, and protect Big Bear."

『Tsukikage, understood.』

"Sera, transmit distress and combat alert signals. Simultaneously issue a warning to the approaching enemy vessel. Force a laser communication link."

"Understood. Signals dispatched. Established connection with Unknown."

Shinosuke initiated a warning toward the approaching suspicious vessel.

"Warning to unidentified vessel approaching. This is the escort vessel Fubuki, affiliated with the Salius District Free Merchant Fleet of the Akneria Galactic Federation. I am currently on escort duty. Reduce speed and identify your affiliation! If you continue approaching without response, I will take necessary measures to fulfill my escort mission!"

The approaching vessel ignores Shinosuke's warning and continues closing in.

"Warning! The approaching vessel must respond to this ship's warning or immediately turn around. After this warning..."

"Unidentified vessel has fired! Tukikage's shield deflected the attack. No damage sustained!"

"Understood! Hostile action confirmed. Tukikage, authorization granted to retaliate. Eliminate the enemy vessel. Sinking is unavoidable!"

『Y-yes, understood! Commencing counterattack!』

Andi's Tukikage begins its retaliation.

It fires upon the enemy vessel, but the rapid-fire cannons are out of range—this is merely a feint to prevent the enemy ship from closing in.

The enemy ship alters course and attacks Tukikage, but their range is also out of reach.

"Captain Shinnosuke, what should we do with our ship? Are we not engaging in support?"

Shinnosuke remains expressionless in response to Milina's question.

"Leave handling that ship to Andi of Tsukikage. Andi can manage it easily enough. Besides, that's just a decoy. The real threat is hiding elsewhere. Sera, keep a close eye on the area from 12 o'clock to 3 o'clock."

"Understood."

"Still, Andi's gotten quite skilled. That was quite an effective distraction."

"Huh?"

Sera turns back, surprised by Shinno's pleased mutter.

"Oh, nothing... just thinking out loud."

Was I drawn in by Shinno's unnecessary remark? The battle against the space pirates has only just begun.