Episode 6: Toward the TR (True Lights) Dominated Sector

During the long-range jump from the Amato Arm to the Orion Arm via hyperlane warp, Dawson gave Oine a lecture on TR (True Lights), using the idle time.

'To speak of TR, we begin with the history of SU.'

SU was founded when Earth, the origin world of humanity, became the sovereign power, and the stars where humans had settled became subordinate.

All wealth from the colonies was sent to Earth and the Earth orbitals. The colonies were overexploited, leaving no surplus capacity for technological advancement. Life on the colonies remained much like that of the pre-space age era. The structure resembled that of a manor estate's serfs.

Yet this situation lasted only as long as colonization was limited to stars near the Sol system.

Colonization extended to distances requiring prolonged travel even with jump technology. Influence from Sol system authorities diminished proportionally.

The governors assigned to oversee colony worlds were incompetent, sent only to the most remote locations. They lacked motivation. Colonists concealed tax payments. They studied new technologies without interference. They voiced grievances without consequence.

Thus, the colonists, having temporarily secured freedom, united in their intent. They would transform this temporary freedom into genuine freedom. They would claim their rights from Earth.

After long periods of concealment, they used their accumulated strength to achieve independence in the galactic center direction of the Orion arm.

『That is how True Rights, the self-proclaimed human rights state, came into being.』

"A country made by rebels looking from the solar system. It's surprising it wasn't crushed during its founding phase."

"Let's keep it simple—there was over a century of concealment. During that time, SU experienced internal power struggles. The political structure decayed. They ignored rebellions at the far end of the spiral arm, obsessed only with securing power and interests."

This internal instability in SU allowed TR to survive its early independence and enter a growth trajectory.

TR stole SU technology, replicated it, and advanced their own development. They used the acquired technology to expand military capabilities, then used that military strength to extend their territorial control.

Yet the numerical and material disparity remained significant.

"To close the gap in combat strength, TR implemented a policy: issuing privateering licenses—limited exclusively to SU vessels."

Replacing正规 military vessels with civilian ships to bear the burden. The fact that the system still exists means it proved effective.

That’s right. The sheer force of it caused defections on a large scale.

How so?

When privateers operate unchecked, commercial shipping halts. Colonized planets face hardship. We approach those planets and offer protection from piracy in exchange for switching allegiance to TR. At first, they reject SU out of fear. But after prolonged economic isolation, the colonies accept the change out of necessity.

The longer SU delays response, the higher the defection rate.

In this way, TR established control over a quarter of the Orion Arm.

But with a quarter taken, SU had no choice but to act decisively. To lose more resources from the colonies was unacceptable.

'SU is mobilizing its forces to maintain control over its territory. Meanwhile, TR has shifted policy to defend its holdings while building internal strength. Harassment of SU is being delegated to privateers.'

'So you're saying TR's privateer license allows you to operate within SU's controlled zones. And my mission is to emulate that.'

'From the rear operations center's perspective, they seem to expect Dawson to lead the pirates and inflict significant damage on SU.'

'Privateers—commonly known as ruffians—are not going to follow a youth like me without proof. First, I must build a record. Otherwise, no one will listen.'

Dawson felt it. Easy enough to act as a privateer. Difficult to partner with privateers and achieve economic collapse of the SU.

"Better to act than to think. Let's get the license, become privateers, and figure out the details later."

"Is Dawson unexpectedly optimistic?"

"Unexpected? People become happy when they act to achieve happiness. So it's logical to expect better results from an optimistic approach than a pessimistic one."

"Is that how it is?"

"That's how it is."

After finishing the lecture, Dawson and Oine passed the time with idle conversation.

After jumping to the TR's domain, they jumped again toward the nearest artificial habitat satellite.

"Anywhere within the TR's domain where people live, I could get a privateering license issued. It's hard not to wonder if it's safe to have a system that allows for such easy issuance."

"Privateering targets are limited to SU vessels. Maybe that's why they don't worry about abuse—security in the TR wouldn't deteriorate?"

"Still, I doubt pirates would honestly stick to SU cargo ships alone."

Short-range jump completed. They returned to normal space immediately.

On Dawson's physical monitor, an artificial habitat satellite floated alone in space—a cluster of five donuts stacked together.

"Placing a satellite in such an empty location?"

From the perspective of Amato Imperial Japan, such artificial satellites were typically built for collecting asteroid minerals or planetary gases.

The absence of anything around it in the void of space evoked an unnatural sense of dissonance.

Oine, however, knew the circumstances. She had retrieved the data on Orion Arm from salvage recovered from the S.U. vessel.

『Not all ships in the Orion Arm can perform long-range jumps. That is why rest points like this are necessary.』

A service area on a highway, perhaps.

Dawson found this explanation coherent. Service areas could be located in places with no surrounding forest, for instance.

Regardless, Dawson guided the vessel toward the artificial satellite. He entered the range where short-range communication was possible, then initiated contact.

『This is the Gape. Grant docking clearance.』

Dawson transmitted the message. A response came back.

『Hey, country boy! Speak proper, clear words. Can't understand your accent, okay?』

Dawson’s expression tightened as if to retort, but he recalled Oine’s prior warning: *The language of the Imperial Concord is understandable in the Orion Arm, but the accent will still be noticeable.*

And there was the white-and-black mask, designed for exactly this.

Dawson donned the mask, activated the translation function, and transmitted the message again.

『This is the Gape. Grant docking clearance.』

『Huh, you can actually speak clearly. So, what’s your purpose for docking?』

Dawson relaxed slightly, satisfied the transmission had been understood. He continued.

『I’ve come to obtain a letter of exemption, now that I’ve become independent. I heard the procedure is faster on a satellite with no personnel. I’ve come here.』

A fabricated excuse, yet the communication partner began to laugh.

— Hah hah hah— you too? Well, no waiting time, so the work will definitely be finished sooner. But is that really okay?

What’s this "okay" you’re talking about?

From what I’ve heard, among pirates, the first treatment depends on where you obtained the exemption letter. Planets with long waiting lines are ranked highest. This kind of sparsely populated satellite is ranked lowest.

I had never heard this before.

Yet, blindly accepting such talk would waste time on travel and waiting—something Dawson found meaningless.

The place where the letter is issued doesn’t determine whether prey is caught or not. The issue is skill.

Ha ha ha — it’s got to be. You’ve given me such a big name, so become a real pirate, one even the name reaches all the way to this worn-out satellite.

"Intent on active deployment. Remember the name of the *Mandible*."

"Mandible, got it. Noted. Alright, docking clearance for bay seven is confirmed. Proceed inside."

Following the glowing beacon extending from the satellite, Dawson piloted the vessel and secured it precisely at the designated position.

With that, the long, long maiden voyage of the *Mandible* — a trans-ward journey from the Amato star system, across the Amato arm, into the Orion arm’s TR-controlled zone — was complete.