Episode 22: Evacuation Procedure

After the jump, Dawson immediately initiated communication with the pirate mothership Hamanoonna.

"This is the Heavy Jaw. Hamanoonna, respond."

An immediate response came. The Hamanoonna's operator android—Lorelei—appeared on the physical monitor.

"Yes. This is Hamanoonna. What is it, Captain Dawson of the Heavy Jaw?"

"The Heavy Hammer may have collided with the decoy fleet. Returning to report."

Lorelei paused slightly before responding.

"Is that so. You're saying it's only a possibility, then. No confirmation?"

"No. The suspicion that the merchant convoy scheduled to be attacked today was actually the decoy fleet is my own assessment."

"Is that so—please wait a moment."

Lorelei froze. Her movements resumed after approximately two minutes.

A close-range communication broadcast was transmitted across all channels from Hamano Onna.

"Emergency alert. A significant situation may be developing. Hamano Onna will relocate its orbital habitation zone. Accompanying this, external docking berths will be retracted. All vessels currently docked must remain in place. All pirate operators aboard are requested to board immediately."

Immediately after Lorelei initiated the broadcast, numerous pirate vessels detached from Hamano Onna’s docking berths. The berths then retracted into the interior of Hamano Onna’s hull.

Once the berths were fully stowed, the bottom section of Hamano Onna’s barrel-shaped hull extended outward, revealing propulsion units.

The propulsion units ignited. Hamano Onna began accelerating, slowly, steadily.

From the moving Hamano Onna, pirates in space suits emerged one after another, swimming through space toward the detached docked vessel.

Oine spoke quietly, observing the scene.

‘A single warning from Dawson, and this whole thing erupted. If the merchant convoy isn’t a decoy fleet, this will cause serious backlash.’

‘I hope it doesn’t turn out that way. The thought of compensation demands from the pirate mother ship is terrifying.’

‘Most likely it is a decoy fleet, so praying for that outcome is unnecessary.’

Dawson and Oine continued their conversation as Hamano Onna maintained its acceleration. Strangely, asteroid clusters avoided approaching within a fixed distance of Hamano Onna. As if the asteroids themselves were clearing a path for it.

Distribution of the vessel’s new coordinates is now underway. Those with acquaintances or friends among the pirates present are requested to verbally relay their destination.

Oine reviews the electronic data transmitted by Hamano Onna.

“This coordinate lies within an asteroid belt, slightly distant from our current position. If the next destination is also within an asteroid field, Hamano Onna is clearly a vessel adept at hiding within such regions.”

“Likely equipped with a unique device that repels asteroids. Probably designed and constructed to dwell within asteroid belts.”

Hamano Onna, after moving a certain distance, initiated preparations for the next jump—warp.

Hamano Onna's vessel was a pirate mothership—a hyper-giant ship capable of housing dozens of pirate vessels within its hull. A vessel of such mass could not perform a jump instantaneously, as the *Mandible* or other pirate ships did, by activating a jump drive and immediately leaping.

The jump drives, positioned at numerous points across the massive hull, had to be activated and synchronized. The ship's propulsion system then needed to be pushed to maximum acceleration. Without synchronization of multiple drives, entry into jump space was impossible. Without maximum propulsion, sustained presence in jump space could not be maintained.

Hamano Onna followed the procedure. As the multiple jump drives synchronized, a low hum began, distorting normal space. The propulsion units at the ship's underside emitted a blinding stream of thrust light.

A loud crack, like shattering glass, echoed from the distorted space. Moments later, the Hamano Onna vanished from normal space. Floating debris gathered to fill the space where the Hamano Onna had been, obscuring all traces of its presence.

Oine observed the sequence with quiet reflection.

“That was my first time seeing a vessel of fortress-class size perform a jump. Quite magnificent. I’d like to experience it someday—not as a viewer, but as the one jumping.”

“I’d like to pilot that jump myself, once. The path to that point remains far off.”

“Indeed. If Dawson were to seize a fortress-class vessel, it would require a fortune in S.U. or T.R. to do so as a pirate. In Amato Imperial Japan, one would need great military achievement to earn such a ship.”

“In short, it’s beyond my current reach. Only diligence remains.”

After concluding the standard exchange, Dawson took hold of the control stick. The *Mandible* would jump away from this sector.

Pirates who had emerged from the *Hamano Onna* were returning to their own vessel, preparing to move to another sector.

At a moment when no incident seemed likely, a ship jumped into existence within this sector.

"Dawson. The supply vessel the *Heavy Hammer* was scheduled to intercept has just jumped in."

Dawson checked immediately. The vessel in question appeared to be the same one he had previously suspected of being part of a decoy fleet.

A single ship. Perhaps it truly was a supply vessel. Perhaps the *Heavy Hammer* had already secured it.

He realized his assumption was wrong almost instantly.

The cargo vessel’s outer hull unfolded, revealing unmistakable military armaments—barrels and gun mounts.

"Jump halt! Maximum ship speed! Disengage and jump once clear of range in normal space!"

"Yes, Dawson. I’ll assist with navigation."

The Heavy Hammer surged forward. One second later, a heat beam fired from the decoy vessel passed through the space where the ship had been. The decoy vessel fired its multiple barrels and gun mounts in unison. Each round headed toward the pirate ship in the surrounding space.

Dawson avoided the attack. Most pirates were hit. The pirate ship began to melt and collapse.

"Move under the cover of asteroids. Any shot from that vessel will be fatal."

"Evacuation route established. Projecting on monitor."

As Dawson began to retreat, the monitor abruptly displayed the android form of Hamano woman—Loirely. Loirely issued a warning.

‘I demand presentation of privateer immunity status. Without presentation, I will attack.’

‘Is this a recording? I do not understand the significance of privateer immunity in this situation, but regardless, Oine.’

‘Affirmative. Presenting privateer immunity data.’

Not only the vessel designated ‘Great Jaw,’ but also the pirates who had luckily survived and begun to flee, presented their privateer immunity status.

In this sector, only one vessel lacked immunity—SU’s disguised ship.

‘Immunity status not confirmed. Detection of unconfirmed vessel. Final warning. Present immunity status. Attack in ten seconds. Present status. Five, four, three, two—attack initiated.’

Immediately after Lorelei's countdown, the asteroids drifting in the sector began to glow. Not glowing themselves. The jet flames from propulsion units mounted on the asteroids were emitting light.

Dawson recalled the pirate vessel *Gold Rush* had once been a salvage vessel.

"Used to work on attaching propulsion units to asteroids. Yet asteroid bombs—retrograde, aren't they?"

"Regardless of era, mass weapons consistently deliver their effect. That is why they are still in use."

Numerous asteroids turned toward the decoy vessel.

Even the S.U. battleship, despite its strength, clearly avoided direct impact with so many asteroids. Gun turrets and weapon stations, previously aimed at the pirates, now shifted toward the approaching asteroids.

Dawson considered the decoy ship intercepting the asteroids and thought of a minor, malicious tactic.

"Oine. Reverse course. Adjust the escape route."

"Adjustment is acceptable. But you're ordering us to retreat backward?"

"Yes. The *Mandible* cannot fire rearward due to structural limitations."

"Rearward firing? Are you seriously considering attacking that decoy ship, Dawson?!"

"It is preoccupied with the asteroids. Its attention toward us is diminished. We should be able to exploit that opening."

"Another reckless idea. But acceptable. Assisting a human who dares such a foolish challenge is one of the joys of artificial intelligence, after all."

Oine adjusted the route immediately. The *Mandible* moved backward through space, establishing a trajectory that allowed it to fire upon the decoy ship while maintaining optimal positioning.

Dawson proceeded along the route, initiating preparations for the Charged Particle Beam. The firing aperture of the Mandible opened, exposing the barrel. The targeting system rose, aligning optics on the decoy ship as it receded in distance.

"Even a decoy ship is a warship. A destroyer-caliber cannon cannot penetrate hull armor. If we must target, we aim for the propulsion system—its armor is comparatively thinner."

"Target is currently halting to destroy an asteroid. No deviation required. Watch for the moving asteroid—let's do it now!"

"Behold my skill—now!"

Dawson squeezed the control stick trigger. The Mandible fired a Charged Particle Beam at maximum convergence rate.

The white beam of charged particles extended straight from the muzzle, piercing through the gaps between drifting asteroids and striking the rear of the伪装 vessel.

The hit was precise, yet Dawson’s expression remained unchanged.

"Armor is thicker than expected. Most of the charged particles dispersed upon impact."

"Estimated penetration rate: thirty percent. Insufficient to disable mobility—伪装 vessel accelerating. Propulsion systems are intact. One of the turrets is now targeting us."

"Hide behind an asteroid. Position ourselves so at least three asteroids are between us and their line of fire."

"Optimal position calculated—here."

Dawson maneuvered the Mandible to the position Oine provided. Immediately after, fire came from the伪装 vessel.

Same Charged Particle Beam as the Mandible, but clearly more powerful—the disguised vessel pierced two asteroids, then melted half of the third asteroid, behind which the Mandible had hidden.

Dawson moved quickly to a new position and concealed himself behind the next asteroid.

"Can you identify the type of turret on the disguised vessel from that fire?"

"Matching data from the SU ship captured in Amato Imperial Japan—main cannon of a heavy cruiser is most likely."

"Going in with a heavy cruiser against pirates—overkill. Like using a tuna knife to butcher a chicken."

"Perhaps so, but the anger was real. The safety of the Star Arm Nebula in this area is now severely compromised—thanks to Dawson and his team."

"Absolutely. Didn't expect a decoy vessel to show up here. It was fortunate that Hamano had already fled."

Dawson evaded the decoy vessel's bombardment once more by using an asteroid as cover, then retaliated with the Charged Particle Beam. The shot struck again, but the armor dispersed the impact as before.

"Dead end. We must focus solely on escape."

"Agreed. If we don't flee while the asteroid bombs are still available, we won't make it."

Dawson reversed the course of the *Mandible*, then accelerated at maximum speed along a route hidden among the asteroids.

The decoy vessel continued targeting the *Mandible*, but eventually ceased fire. It had to divert turret and gun positions to counter the asteroid bombs.

Dawson disengaged from the sector via spatial jump once the retreat to the safe zone was complete. The decoy vessel's strength suggested the Heavy Hammer faction would not have survived.