Episode 15: Situation Change

After receiving the proceeds from the sale of the cargo transport vessel and distributing the funds evenly among the ships, Dawson disengaged from the cargo pirate groups, including Gold Rush.

The cargo pirates remained grouped together. They planned to use their earnings to reinforce their ships’ armaments and then operate along the Interstellar Side Route.

After disengaging, Dawson proceeded alone toward the Star Arm Nebula, his original mission being to disrupt the economy by destroying merchant vessels.

"Got some extra credits. Just a little time for personal interests."

"Sir, those who get sunk by Dawson’s personal interests must be quite the collection."

What Dawson began was harassment of merchant vessels.

One day, he disabled two of the mercenary ships escorting a merchant vessel with artillery fire. Then he immediately initiated a spatial jump and vanished into the void.

On another day, he targeted the propulsion system of a Sky Sweeper, a type of SU vessel designed to guard orbital space near a planet. A rare incident—distress calls from an SU vessel requesting rescue—was reported on the day’s news feed, broadcast across all wavebands.

On another occasion, he fired a Charged Particle Beam just past the bow of a merchant vessel, purely to intimidate. The mercenary escorts scrambled to search for the pirate vessel that had fired, but the vessel known as the *Mandible* had already initiated a spatial jump and was now elsewhere, firing a similar beam past another merchant vessel’s bow.

On another day, he had fired full broadsides at an Orbit Patrol Cruiser—classified as a battlecruiser—and learned that long-range fire could not penetrate its armor, so he fled quickly. News footage from that day showed the vessel's Captain boasting, “Attacks by pirates mean nothing to this ship!”

Dawson had been harassing the same target for consecutive days. He had a prepared excuse to explain the purpose of this action to the pirate mothership, Hamano Onna.

“This is the Mandible. Requesting docking authorization.”

“Confirmed, Mandible. Still no results today?”

“Attempted another test in the Star Arm Nebula. The defenses remain too strong. Even if we disable the vessel, we won’t be able to seize cargo.”

"Current status: Star Arm Nebula is under high alert. Perhaps the Big Jaw should relocate its operations to the Interstellar Side Route?"

"Interstellar Side Route? The Big Jaw's strengths won't be effective there. We still have funds. Let's try a bit longer."

"Understood. Docking berth 245 is confirmed available. Proceed there."

Dawson terminated communication with Hamano Onna and docked the Big Jaw at the designated berth.

In Hamano Onna's tavern district, Dawson ate dinner at his usual noodle shop and purchased ten rainbow eggs. The shopkeeper now regarded Dawson with the same distant look reserved for terminal patients. Dawson did not use the rainbow eggs, but there was a persistent misunderstanding that he wore the mask to conceal symptoms of rainbow egg toxicity.

Regardless, the reason for the increased purchase of rainbow eggs was that the old information broker in the alley had finally deteriorated beyond repair.

Where once one egg would awaken him, now two were required, and a third was necessary to extract coherent information.

It was clearly beyond recovery. Dawson decided, as a gesture of gratitude, to deliver an amount of rainbow eggs that would surely exceed necessity. To ensure the old broker could die dreaming peacefully, after receiving information for so long.

Obtaining navigation data for the Star Arm Nebula from the old information broker, Dawson returned to the *Mandible* and reviewed it with Oine.

Due to Dawson's earlier violent disruptions, the ship's operational status had changed drastically.

First, the usage fee for the Star Arm Nebula had increased sharply.

The fee is levied on the vessel's operating company, which leads to a chain reaction of rising cargo transport costs and, consequently, higher market prices.

Next, a large number of ships began moving in coordinated groups.

Previously, ships had traveled individually, under the assumption of safety. However, with the emergence of the threat known as the *Mandible*, safe cargo transport now required either scheduling shipments to coincide with S.U. vessel patrols or hiring mercenaries. Scheduling with patrols inevitably gathered ships with similar objectives. Hiring mercenaries required multiple companies to form a convoy and split the security costs, resulting in lower overall expenses. In effect, forming a convoy offered more advantages.

Yet forming a convoy meant moving at the speed of the slowest vessel within the group.

As a result, logistics developed irregularities, leading to supply shortages occurring every few days at various locations.

Some companies send urgent shipments via the Interstellar Side Route to avoid shortages. However, the current Interstellar Side Route is a haven for pirates. Passing through safely requires both luck and escort.

Lastly, the operational status of the SU vessels.

Previously, half were operational while the other half remained in rest, resupply, or maintenance. Now, all vessels not requiring maintenance are in operation.

The increased number of vessels have all been deployed to the Star Arm Nebula.

The patrols intensified further after Dawson attacked the Orbit Patrol Cruiser and fled. Likely, the SU Navy’s reputation suffered greatly from being attacked by pirates and forced to retreat. They are now frantic to regain lost ground.

Overwork from this increased activity appears to have affected performance. Reports circulate that lower-tier SU vessels, under strain, conduct random inspections of merchant ships—extorting bribes under the guise of leniency. The reports are unconfirmed.

“Honestly. I never expected such a reaction from just one man’s vendetta. Doesn’t this outcome justify a certain level of evaluation of Dawson’s mission?”

How about this. My actions and those of the *Mandible* are minor. The reason for such a reaction is concern that the established safety myth of the Star Arm Nebula might collapse under previous methods. The SU vessels are now desperately trying to reconstruct that myth. If we do nothing and leave things as they are, the disturbance will settle quickly.

Then why continue the harassment, Dawson?

That’s questionable. The *Mandible* alone has limits to what it can do. Repeating the same actions will make the SU vessels accustomed to them. Once they adapt, no further confusion will arise. At that point, we’ll be at an impasse.

Then what should we do?

Based on my prediction, it should be about time for communication to arrive.

Dawson murmurs, and immediately afterward, a report comes in from Oine.

Communication for Dawson. Originating from inside Hamano Onna—portside, it seems. Appears to be the veteran pirate making an appearance.

"This is what I've been waiting for. Oine, establish the connection."

Dawson dons the mask and prepares to speak with the pirate who initiated the transmission.