The journey ahead is full of troubles.

Fubuki and Tsukikage continue their return voyage from Polouk to Akneria.

Although Seira understands what happened in Polouk, she still can't fully accept it.

"If only the immigrants and Polouk could have made a little more effort to understand each other..."

I understand Seyla's feelings, but this is an issue that should be resolved between the parties involved—not something a foreign free merchant, completely unrelated, should interfere with.

It seems Seyla herself realizes this, so her words are merely musings or casual remarks meant to sort out her own thoughts, and Shinnosuke responds with a light reply.

"Well, neither immigrant workers nor the Polouks government can really say 'I don't want to do this, so I'm quitting.' They're both stuck in a dilemma, unable to do anything about it."

"Ah, so that's really how it is..."

After that, they continued their light-hearted chatter, and the Fukuki sailed smoothly onward.

"Since we're returning empty-handed, I'd love to take it easy and leisurely head back. If it weren't for the war, I'd even consider stopping by the Damura Star Cluster Republic..."

"..."

There was no way Shinnosuke's journey could remain peaceful, not with thoughts like that.

It happened on the fifth day after departing Pollux, while navigating through international space.

"Approaching spatial jump point. Coordinate calculation and destination fixation completed."

As they approached the jump point, Shinonsuke accelerated Fubuki while maintaining careful vigilance over the movements and actions of the other crew members, responding to Seira's report.

"Reached jump insertion velocity. Approaching jump point. Countdown: 5, 4, 3, 2... Warp!"

"Received distress signal!"

"Wait! Abort warp! Andy, be ready!"

『Tsukikage confirmed! Warp abort!』

At the moment of jump, Shinnosuke instantly pulled back the throttle in response to Seira's report, aborting the spatial jump.

Andy's Tsukikage, which had been about to follow Fubuki, was already committed to the jump and could do nothing but proceed, but Andy managed to abort the jump and rapidly decelerate, following Fubuki's lead.

An outstanding display of piloting skill, maintaining perfect pursuit with two vessels possessing entirely different abilities.

Shin nosuke confirmed the monitor after aborting the jump.

He checked the distress signal location marked by Ceyla—though it lay on the standard flight path, it was quite far from their current position.

"Near the edge of reception range. Good catch, Cera."

Given the distance and their current jump acceleration, the signal would only be detectable for a brief moment.

An ordinary operator would have easily missed it.

"Yes. Um, it was really just a split second, but even if it was a mistake, I thought I should report it."

"Good call. Alright, heading toward the signal transmission point. Sera, transmit the distress signal and gather information about the stranded vessel."

"Understood."

Shin nosuke turns the Fubuki toward the target location.

"Markus and Milina, maintain strict vigilance over the surrounding space."

"Understood."

"From Fubuki to Tsukikage. Andy, we're entering rescue operations now, but we don't know what might happen. Stay alert and prepare for any situation."

『Tsukikage, understood. Following Fubuki.』

Fubuki and Tsukikage increased their speed toward the location where the distress signal had been sent.

After hours of tracking the faint signal,

"Distress signal location confirmed. Identified the distress vessel's beacon signal. It's the Blue Dolphin, registered under the Rimlia Galactic Empire."

Confirming the data of the distressed vessel while receiving Seira's report.

The Blue Dolphin is a civilian passenger ship registered under the Rimlia Galactic Empire, a medium-sized high-speed vessel that regularly operates between the Rimlia Galactic Empire and neighboring nations, with a passenger capacity of fewer than 200.

"Understood. Is communication possible?"

"We can't establish a connection yet—probably due to the distance.

But given this range, the Blue Dolphin should be receiving Fukuki and Tsukikage's distress signals too.

Good. Then let's head urgently to the Blue Dolphin's distress location. Marks, what's the situation in the surrounding space?"

"There are no ships navigating nearby. This area is on the usual route, but it's off the optimal path for travel between any star systems, so there should be almost no vessels here."

"Noted. But then, why did they run into trouble right here?"

Shin nosuke, just to be safe, disengaged the locks on all weapons and activated the fire control system.

"Andy, keep the combat readiness status ready, just in case."

『Tsukikage, understood.』

The crew continues preparing for any unforeseen circumstances.

Communication with Blue Dolphin should become possible shortly.