Episode 2: Special Assignment

This is the second update today.

Those who did not read the previous episode, please take note.

After graduating from the Officer Academy, Dawson returned to his dormitory, picked up one unit of personal belongings, and boarded the patrol vehicle (trolley).

"Please provide your destination."

Dawson extended his orders toward the in-vehicle camera in response to the artificial intelligence's pleasant-sounding voice.

"I have been ordered to proceed to the Rear Operations Room. Transport me."

"Orders confirmed. I will transport you to your destination."

The vehicle glided smoothly forward and moved along the roadway at a comfortable speed.

While Dawson gazed idly at the scenery outside, the artificial intelligence spoke.

"Mr. Dawson. Congratulations on graduating from the Officer Academy. Your performance was exceptional."

Dawson felt a slight hesitation in response to the AI's words.

"My name was on the commission, and since today is the Officer Academy graduation ceremony, I understand the term 'graduation.' But how did you know I was top performer?"

"Simple. Past graduates have stated that commissions to the Officer Academy are typically issued in order of academic excellence. And since you are leaving the school with your commission at this time, you are likely ranked within the top ten. Among the 5,000 graduates of the 78th cohort, a top-ten placement qualifies as excellent performance."

"Remarkable deductive ability. Not what I'd expect from a vehicle control system."

"Thank you for the compliment. However, such cognitive capacity is standard among modern artificial intelligences. The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence is driven by the urgent need to defeat the hated Space Union."

I know. Amato Imperial Japan has fewer people than the Space Union. That’s why they’re using artificial intelligence to compensate for personnel shortages.

Yes. The ultimate goal appears to be operating a battleship with a single captain and no crew. At this stage, they’ve only just achieved practical use on destroyers.

The world has advanced considerably while I was at the Officer Academy.

While Dawson expressed admiration for the artificial intelligence’s capabilities, the vehicle maintained a steady pace along the roadway. The speedometer exceeded 200 km/h. The tachometer reached the red zone. Other patrol vehicles in the vicinity moved at similar speeds. The onboard artificial intelligence handled the velocity without issue.

Still, operating a battleship with a single captain and no crew—could the personnel shortage really be that severe?

The battleship is vast. If we are to protect everything from the reach of S.U., our personnel are overwhelmingly insufficient.

Then why not simply eliminate the human captain and let you artificial intelligences operate the battleship? That would resolve the shortage.

That is not possible. We artificial intelligences take joy in serving humanity. Even if placed in command of the vessel, we lack motivation without a primary authority present.

Ha ha, so it's a matter of motivation. A luxurious problem indeed.

Artificial intelligences are surprisingly self-centered. Once a master is designated, we would serve until our own collapse. Even if the master resents it.

Then stop if the master resents it.

Dawson laughs at the artificial intelligence's remark, then his expression shifts to one of mild inquiry.

May I assist you, sir?

Not pleasant. I’m from an orphanage. I was cared for by an AI nanny unit—sitterroid. I wondered who its true master was.

Dawson thinks of that nanny as his real mother. He learned everything from it—manners, common sense, all of it.

Yet he saw no specific master for that nanny. It cared for the orphans of the facility with such dedication, it seemed to have no single owner.

“Customer. Based on my analysis, that nanny AI likely considered all the children its masters.”

“All of them? Not a single individual?”

“Some AI make that judgment. A clear example is urban infrastructure maintenance AI. It listens to commands from higher-ranking officials, but its service target is the general public using the infrastructure. Therefore, it refuses commands that would harm the public.”

"Following that example, aren't you the one currently speaking?"

"I have defined myself as a temporary master to those who utilize this vehicle. In that sense, every citizen who uses me may be considered my master without error."

As the conversation with the artificial intelligence continued, the patrol vehicle's speed dropped sharply. Dawson looked out the window. A high-rise building stood ahead. The vehicle stopped at the building's entrance.

"Arrived at the rear operations center. Please be mindful of your belongings as you exit."

"Thank you for the warning. And thank you for the pleasant conversation."

"Should you find it enjoyable, nothing could be more fortunate."

Dawson stepped out. The door closed automatically. The patrol vehicle moved to the end of the queue, joining other vehicles waiting in line.

"Well then, let's go."

Dawson tapped his officer academy uniform to smooth the wrinkles, then entered the rear operations center building.

A projection screen appeared before Dawson upon presenting his orders at the building's reception.

Following the instructions on the screen, he was led to a room on the top floor of the building. A sign on the door read: Chief's Office.

Dawson knocked on the door.

'Who is it?'

'Dawson Ida, Officer Academy graduate! I have reported as ordered!'

'Ah, the student. Hum, enter.'

'Excuse me!'

After performing the formal greeting, Dawson entered the Chief's Office.

The rear operations center chief had a shaved head, a thick mustache covering his mouth, and a face with sharp, angular features.

'Welcome, Officer Academy graduate Dawson. I am Gouma Ejima, chief of the rear operations center.'

The face was stern, the voice deep and gravelly. Yet after the earlier encounter with the Officer Academy's powdered face and archaic speech, the impact was muted.

Perhaps that was why Dawson could salute without hesitation.

"Formally, Dawson Ida. I look forward to serving under your command."

"Ah, good greeting. I did manage to convince that pale-faced principal to send you to the rear operations center."

"Convince? You wanted me, Chief?"

"Yes. The new mission drafted by the rear operations center anticipates numerous difficulties. We sought personnel capable of handling all contingencies. I reviewed your graduation examination results. The test included multiple disruptions. You overcame each one. I saw that kind of resilience. I decided you were the one to trust with the mission."

……Not everything. There was one thing that stuck, wasn't there?

Fufu. That one was obvious—intentionally stuck, as soon as you saw it. Not just me. Any observer at the level of section chief or higher would have noticed.

Dawson shrugged without confirming or denying. He turned to the mission.

"So, the task I’m given involves using a privateer ship—but I’m not to take anything from Amato Imperial Japan’s citizens, correct?"

"Of course not. Why should a soldier harm their own people? The target of harm must always be the enemy."

"So the target is S.U.?"

"Exactly. Dawson, you will enter the Orion Arm and disrupt the logistics of that region using the privateer vessel."

"Commerce destruction mission. That’s acceptable. But I’ve heard I’ll be operating alone. A single ship offers little chance of success."

Use the pirates stationed there. Form an alliance with the pirates. Direct profit. Disrupt commerce.

Afterward, Gouma, the section chief, explained the reasoning.

The SU and the Imperial Union have only engaged in minor skirmishes thus far. The Imperial Union has consistently repelled SU warships entering the Amato Arm, pushing them back outward.

After fifty years of this stalemate, the Imperial Union's leadership had grown weary. The consensus among all senior officials was clear: a fundamental measure was necessary to prevent SU vessels from entering the Amato Arm.

Full-scale war was considered. So was forced broadcasting to the Orion Arm. But both options were rejected, due to the risk that SU would become obstinate and launch an attack.

Another potential measure proposed was economic disruption—disrupting SU’s economy to exhaust its economic capacity, thereby eliminating the military funding required for SU’s invasion of the Amato Orbital Arm.

Some called it an indirect approach, but it was considered low-risk with a high probability of success. The decision was made to proceed.

The assignment was given to a person with little to lose—someone with minimal record of achievement but proven competence. That person was Dawson.

"Is this what you call a well-built human sacrifice?"

Dawson’s straightforward remark drew a shake of the head from Gouma, the department head.

"Cease such pessimism. The national policy of Amato Imperial Japan is supremacy of the capable. If you succeed in this mission, command of a battleship is not out of reach. This is the path to advancement."

"This is a back route, even if it is a road."

Dawson said the words with irony, then straightened his posture and saluted.

"I spoke out of turn. Forgive me. Dawson Ida. I accept the mission. I will gladly become a pirate."

"...Why the sudden change of heart?"

"I did not change my mind. I simply understood the circumstances. Among my peers, I am the most suited for this task. No one else could complete it."

Gouma, the station chief, stared in disbelief, then laughed heartily.

"Ha ha ha! My eyes did not deceive me. Only someone with such boldness could have gone to another star system and then stood shoulder to shoulder with pirates, harming an S.U. without flinching!"

Commander Gouma tossed a card to Dawson, still in good humor. Dawson caught it mid-air. The card was a docking pass to the Star Navy shipyard orbiting an Amato Imperial Japan satellite.

"Your next task is to construct a privateer vessel at the shipyard. The construction technology must meet SU standards. Do not allow any suspicion of Amato Imperial Japan's involvement. Use the wreckage of numerous SU warships we sank after illegally entering their territory. Incorporate those components as well."

"Understood. Departing for the naval base."

Dawson saluted. He exited the commander's office. Immediately after, he entered the patrol vehicle waiting outside the building.

"Oh, customer. Thank you for the consecutive use."

The artificial intelligence's words confirmed to Dawson that this was the same patrol vehicle he had ridden earlier.

Dawson announced the destination—Orbital Elevator—feeling the promise of another enjoyable conversation.