Tracking the Missing Vessel

The passenger ship Space Duck, waiting alongside the shield vessel Tsukikage, was a medium-sized passenger vessel belonging to the Iluk Stellar Province Free Merchant Ship Association.

Having taken on the task of assisting refugees fleeing from the Rimuria Galactic Empire's territory, the ship carried refugees and traveled alongside other free merchant vessels to international space. However, while navigating through international space, it appears one of the accompanying ships suddenly altered course and disappeared without a trace.

The ship that went missing was the cargo vessel Angel V, a merchant vessel belonging to the Iluk Free Merchant Fleet. We've never worked with them before, and things were going smoothly until they suddenly escaped into international space. Then, without warning, they cut off communications and abruptly changed course, vanishing into thin air. We tried to follow, but we're carrying a large number of refugees, and we don't know where the Angel V headed...

Looking at the data sent from Captain Space Duck, Angel V headed toward a hazardous region of space known for its intense gravitational fields.

"What's the breakdown of the refugees aboard Angel V?"

Shin nosuke began preparing for every possible scenario while transferring the refugees to Tsukikage.

"Eighty-four refugees from the Old Damura Star Alliance Kingdom. Since they're on a cargo ship, they're mostly relatively young and physically capable individuals, including children."

"That gives me a bad feeling."

"We've reported to the coastal patrol, but it'll take time for them to arrive. If we cause a disturbance, there's a risk of attracting the Empire's fleet."

Being refugees from the former Damlar Star Cluster Commonwealth means they are, in effect, lawbreakers who exploited the chaos after the war and escaped through legal loopholes.

They are individuals protected by galactic nations such as the Ackeria Galactic Federation, who only gain formal recognition and status after going through proper procedures. At this point, they have a passenger list entry, but remain stateless refugees with uncertain nationality.

If the imperial space fleet or coast guard gets involved, the refugees aboard Angel V won't come out unscathed.

'We suspected something was off, so Zanny chased after them with the Pirate Killer, but we're not sure if we can catch up to Angel V.'

Dag seems to share Shin nosuke's thoughts.

However, the Pirate Killer is indeed a high-speed craft, but due to its small size, its radar detection range isn't particularly wide.

There's no guarantee we'll be able to locate the target ship in the vast expanse of space.

"Understood. Considering the possibility that Angel V may have encountered an incident or accident, we'll proceed with tracking Angel V in accordance with international law. In the worst-case scenario, we may need to board the vessel for rescue operations, so we'll adjust the formation of Fubuki and Tsukikage."

Seven people—Shin nosuke, Marks, Miliena, Seira, Madelia, Ash, and Shion—will track Angel V aboard Fubuki, while Tsukikage, accompanying them, will have three members: Andy, Ellen, and Meithis.

After transferring the evacuees from Fubuki to the Coast Guard, Tsukikage will follow behind to provide support to Fubuki.

Dag's shield ship will pursue alongside Fubuki, but since there is a difference in cruising speed between the two vessels, it will not accompany Fubuki directly. Instead, like Tsukikage, which will deliver the evacuees and return, its purpose is support.

"Our vessel will immediately follow Angel V, but we'll proceed with all possible scenarios in mind—accidents, hijacking, or other contingencies. Depending on the situation, we may be forced to board and breach the target directly. In such a case, the four of us—me, Marks, Madelia, and Milina—will carry out the assault. Ash will remain aboard Fubuki to handle any injured personnel, while Sera and Shion will stay behind to maintain perimeter surveillance."

Having coordinated the plan, Fubuki veered off its normal course and pursued Angel V.

Since the Pirate Killer had been dispatched to investigate the point where Angel V had deviated from its route and to track its predicted path, Fubuki assumed the target might alter course and instead searched another sector of space, leaving support to Dag's shield vessel.

Although Shinosuke grips the helm, Mirina, seated in the co-pilot's station, keeps her forehead eye open, using every means at her disposal to follow Angel V.

The reason they chose their current course is because the point Mirina designated—“I can't predict it clearly, but this point intrigues me”—coincided with the route Shinosuke instinctively predicted based on his experience and gut feeling.

"Radar contact. Bearing 10 plus 2, distance 480±0 (10 o'clock direction, 2 degrees above, distance 480, maintaining constant speed)."

Seira picked up the contact on the radar.

Shinosuke immediately adjusted the course toward the target.

"Understood. Any transmission of navigation identification signals, distress signals, or the like?"

"Um, it's probably too far away—we can't receive anything yet."

Understood. They probably aren’t transmitting anything to begin with. Anyway, since we need to establish our legitimacy, send out a distress response signal.

Understood. Sending a distress response signal.

Approach from behind the target vessel. Don’t initiate an attack—use communication to hail them instead.

Understood. This is the escort vessel Fujiki, affiliated with the Acneria Galaxy Federation's Salius Stellar Province Free Merchant Fleet Association. Please respond, vessel proceeding ahead of this ship...

Seyla begins calling out, but receives no response from the target and detects no identification signals, meaning the Angel V cannot be confirmed without approaching further.

Fubuki attempted to close in on the target ship by increasing her speed.

Approaching to within 350 meters of the vessel. Identification confirmed: Angel V. No response to our hails.

Understood. Continue hailing. Proceed with closer approach.

The nearer we get, the more unsettling Shinonsuke's grim predictions seem to take on reality.

"Shinonsuke-sama, below us!"

"New contact! Incoming fire directly beneath the ship!"

"Damn it!"

At the same moment Milena and Celia shouted, Shinonsuke turned the steering wheel while slamming down the foot pedal.