Episode 27 Briefing / Assault

Having completed the anti-orbit patrol cruiser transport combat aircraft-equipped anti-ship torpedo, Dawson decided to put it into immediate use.

He searched through previously gathered information to identify the most suitable target.

"Side note, the name of a torpedo with a combat aircraft attached is too long. We should give it a nickname. It'd be easier to refer to."

"Given its shape, a name inspired by an arrow would be fitting."

"An arrow? Then, since it destroys warships, 'Ship-destroying Arrow'?"

"That name carries too strong a connotation of Amato Imperial Japan. This is an S.U. controlled space zone. We should make it sound more like a generic term—something more neutral?"

"Neutral, huh. Then 'Arrowbomb' will do."

Dawson finalized the name Arrowbomb for the new weapon at the same moment the information review reached a sufficient level of detail.

"An Orbit Patrol Cruiser is not patrolling alone."

"At minimum, two ships in formation. But if it's a two-ship formation, both are cruisers or larger."

"Other options are one Orbit Patrol Cruiser with two destroyers, or one Orbit Patrol Cruiser with four Sky Sweepers."

"Differences in target locations. The two-destroyer formation follows routes outside the star system. The four-Sky Sweeper formation patrols within the star system."

"More time to prepare for reinforcements—favors the destroyer formation. Easier to eliminate—favors the Sky Sweeper formation."

Dawson ran a simulation in his mind. He concluded the Sky Sweeper formation could not be attacked.

Even if two Sky Sweepers are destroyed with the Charged Particle Beam and the Orbit Patrol Cruiser is eliminated with the Arrow Bomb, two Sky Sweepers remain. Eliminating those two before reinforcements arrive is difficult.

'Couldn't you just retreat if you can't destroy them?'

'Remember the objective. I need the Heavy Cannon from the Orbit Patrol Cruiser. If we destroy it but can't carry it away, what's the point?'

'Right. I got so focused on building operational success with the Arrow Bomb that I forgot the goal. Heh♪'

Dawson felt irritation at the sudden, annoying evasion. He did not speak aloud. He calmed his mind and continued his thoughts on the operation.

'Even so, if we don't destroy both destroyers with one Charged Particle Beam each, we'll have no choice but to retreat.'

'If there's a possibility we can't destroy them, rushing might only worsen the situation. For this operation, confirming the Arrowbomb's function and ensuring safety, wouldn't it be better to assign the Sky Sweeper instead?'

'The first encounter with a new weapon is always most effective. A second attempt risks countermeasures. That's why I want to secure the Orbit Patrol Cruiser in this first engagement.'

'Why not seek assistance from other pirates?'

'You want me to ask for help after destroying one Orbit Patrol Cruiser and two destroyers? No one would assist a newcomer like me—no such generous type exists.'

'Dawson, you previously captured one destroyer.'

'Even so, don't think I'd challenge an Orbit Patrol Cruiser alongside it. The threat level between the two is entirely different.'

To gain the assistance of pirates, Dawson considers, one must possess a record commensurate with the threat level—this time, a confirmed victory over an Orbit Patrol Cruiser.

Oine responds to Dawson’s thought with a sigh.

‘Dawson, you have a distrust of people, don’t you?’

‘…I do not deny that view. I was not raised to trust others without reservation.’

Dawson reflects on how many times he was mistreated simply because he was an orphan. Not all those he encountered were bad, but the number of those who acted with ill intent was not negligible. To judge others by the few good ones he had met would be to risk his own safety.

From a self-preservation standpoint, it was necessary for Dawson to observe a person’s actions before deciding to trust them—never to trust first.

If such thoughts are called distrustful of humanity, Dawson can only affirm, 'That is correct.'

"Regardless. Even if the assault and capture fail, the Orbit Patrol Cruiser must be taken down with the Arrowbomb. If it is known the Arrowbomb can destroy it, more pirate factions will be willing to cooperate."

'Well, fine. Understood. I will analyze the structure of the captured vessel and determine where a single strike from the destroyer can be effective. If the Great Jaw managed to destroy one Orbit Patrol Cruiser and two destroyers with one ship, that would be a significant victory.'

Oine's voice carried resignation. She displayed the data for the SU destroyer on the physical monitor. Then, she listed potential locations on the target where a single hit from the Great Jaw's Charged Particle Beam could achieve a full disable.

Dawson prepared all necessary arrangements for a single Orbit Patrol Cruiser, then moved to engage the S.U. Fleet's formation of one Orbit Patrol Cruiser and two destroyers.

The tactic was nearly identical to previous engagements.

Engage with long-range artillery fire to disable the two destroyers first. Then confront the Orbit Patrol Cruiser.

"Arrow Bombs are attached to both sides of the Great Jaw's hull. Keep in mind the reduced maneuverability."

"Slower movement and degraded control. I understand."

Dawson waited at the ambush position for the three-ship formation to arrive.

After approximately an hour, ships emerged from hyperspace jump. The formation consisted of one Orbit Patrol Cruiser and two destroyers. They were maneuvering slowly to reorganize their formation after the jump.

Target acquired at predicted location. Dawson, they're completely relaxed on that side.

Ordinary pirates don't attempt attacks on formations of three warships. They're so confident they won't be targeted that they're taking their time reorganizing.

Dawson aimed at one destroyer and fired the Charged Particle Beam. The white light of the charged particles struck slightly behind the center of the targeted destroyer, piercing through its armor to the other side.

The destroyer immediately flashed with bluish-white light and electrical discharge. The generator was penetrated, and its internal energy surged out in a torrent, burning through the ship's interior.

The second Charged Particle Beam struck the hull of the other destroyer. It hit at an angle, but the charged particles penetrated the outer shell. The beam did not pass through, however, and no white light was seen emerging from the far side of the destroyer.

'Attacks from the Charged Particle Beam are less damaging if they pass through. If you stop them with the facing armor, the charged particles have nowhere to go and spread through the ship's interior, turning it into a furnace.'

'In this case, it doesn't matter. We're targeting the generator to force energy overflow. The energy will burn every crew member inside.'

Two precise shots disabled both destroyers.

Only the Orbit Patrol Cruiser remained.

But the retaliation from the cruiser, now without support, was fierce.

"Unusually thin curtain of fire from the gun positions. Can't calculate safe zones fast enough."

"Areas with unnatural thin fire are lures to push you into kill zones. Don't fall for it!"

"I know. That's why the calculations are difficult!"

On the bridge of the *Mandible*, Dawson and Oine exchanged sharp remarks.

This was not banter born of ease, but a way to relieve stress from a desperate situation through speech.

"At this range, the arrow bombs will fall before hitting enemy ships. Need to get closer."

"Easy for you to say! I'm doing my best here! Damn it, the arrow bombs are too heavy!"

The weight of the two arrow bombs reduced the *Mandible*'s maneuverability by ten percent.

Ten percent may seem negligible, but for the Mandible, which relies on speed to evade attacks, that ten percent is essential—necessary to create the margin of safety required when engaging an Orbit Patrol Cruiser.

The shot just now passed directly behind the Mandible’s propulsion unit with no room to spare.

"Can't we just jettison one of them immediately!? If we lose even one weight, evasion will become easier!"

"Impossible. If we discard one recklessly and the Patrol Cruiser identifies it as a torpedo, it will respond with even greater intensity to prevent the bomb from closing in. Then getting close will become impossible."

"Damn it. No choice. We'll have to endure."

Doing nothing will only erode Dawson’s focus. Soon, the SU reinforcements will arrive.

Dawson made his decision. Accepting that some risk was unavoidable, he committed the Arrowbomb to the Orbit Patrol Cruiser.

"Alright, let's go. Navigation support."

"Understood. I'll display the route that maximizes the chance of reaching the Arrowbomb's effective range."

Dawson maneuvered the <> according to the route.

Oine had provided only a path with a high likelihood of reach. Achieving the target required Dawson to use every capability of the ship.

Dawson pushed the vessel to its limits, narrowly avoiding fire from the gun emplacements. Then, a jarring, sizzling sound entered his ears—like stir-frying in a wok.

"Hot weapons are grazing the hull!"

"Scratched, but not heated to melting point. Continue as planned."

"Armor's what it is. If an Arrowbomb just grazes the hull, it's game over, you know!"

He said it aloud, but Dawson did not maneuver in a way that would let an Arrowbomb graze the hull.

After repeatedly swinging the *Mandible* and executing sharp decelerations, he finally reached the effective firing range of the Arrowbombs.

The Arrowbombs did not launch. Instead, an additional course appeared on the bridge monitor.

'Dawson, hold on just a little longer. Once we reach this point, we will definitely take down the Orbit Patrol Cruiser.'

'You're asking too much. But I'll do it anyway!'

Dawson gripped the control stick with adrenaline-fueled precision, guiding the *Mandible* along the new route.

The closer he approached the Orbit Patrol Cruiser, the denser the fire curtain became, and the fewer escape routes remained.

The hull is taking excessive fire. Armor is heating up. Internal temperature is rising.

"Shut up! Almost there—arrival in progress! Oine!"

"Yes! Initiating Arrowbomb Kamikaze brain! Ejecting from hull!"

Two Arrowbombs launched from the Mandible, accelerating directly toward the Orbit Patrol Cruiser.

Designed without human occupancy, the Arrowbombs exceed the Mandible’s speed by more than double, despite being classified as high-speed vessels.

The Orbit Patrol Cruiser is a warship. It recognized the Arrowbombs as exceptional weapons immediately.

It redirected all gun emplacements from the Mandible to concentrate thermal cannons on the Arrowbombs.

Anticipating destruction, the two Arrowbombs shifted into a front-to-back formation and began rotating laterally. A rotation resembling that of a genuine arrow.

The barrage from the heat cannon splits into a curtain of fire, but the Arrowbomb advances through it, slicing the curtain as it rotates. Closer inspection reveals the Arrowbomb’s tip deflecting the heat cannon’s impact, using the slope of its armor and rotational force to resist penetration.

Yet resistance has limits.

The leading Arrowbomb’s tip overheats from exposure to the heat beam, triggering the pre-installed explosive bolts. The modified fighter body, along with its armor, disintegrates and scatters into space.

This does not mean the first unit is destroyed.

The fragments, scattered by the explosion, briefly serve as a barrier, absorbing the heat cannon’s fire for a few seconds.

Only the modified fighter section exploded. The torpedo it carried remains intact.

The torpedo, having shed its transport frame, ignited its propulsion system at maximum output and closed the remaining distance to the Orbit Patrol Cruiser in an instant.

The torpedo struck the cruiser. A massive explosion. A large, round, bright light—so intense it seemed a sun had been born within the hull.

The second Arrowbomb plunged into that light. The torpedo penetrated the hull through the hole and detonated with an explosion equal to the first.

Dawson watched the sequence of light—lasting barely three seconds—wiping sweat from his brow as he monitored the physical feed.

"Damn. Two at once, after surviving something like that. That’s reckless."

『But the objective has been achieved. Look—the Orbit Patrol Cruiser is half-destroyed.』

Oine was correct—the Orbit Patrol Cruiser had lost the lower half of its port side. Crew members resembling S.U. military personnel were being expelled one after another from the exposed section. Air was escaping through the breach, and the force of the outflow was pushing them out.

"Most of the crew will die from that. Oine, hack into the Orbit Patrol Cruiser and confirm what's inside."

『You make it sound simple. It will take a moment, given the target.』

This was Oine's first time hacking an Orbit Patrol Cruiser. As promised, it took about five minutes.

‘Fii. As expected of an Orbit Patrol Cruiser. The system protection was solid—just like a warship. If maintenance personnel were still alive and manually interfered, it would have taken much longer. Still, now that we’ve identified vulnerabilities and backdoors, next time we’ll hack similar systems faster.’

‘Good work. What’s the status inside the Orbit Patrol Cruiser?’

‘Energy conduits are ruptured. Combat and navigation systems are inoperative. Evacuation orders have been issued to survivors. Bridge personnel are preparing to abandon ship. Ah— they’re physically destroying the bridge and data servers to erase data. Should we stop them?’

‘No. My objective is the Cruiser’s artillery. The rest doesn’t matter. Letting them evacuate without interference aligns better with my goal.’

If that is the case, we will let them pass. Then, let us begin preparations to transport the damaged Orbit Patrol Cruiser.

Is the Cruiser’s propulsion system operational?

We can bypass it from the *Mandible*. The procedure has already been prepared. Repair robots are ready to be deployed.

That is reassuring. Then, we will move the *Mandible* to the rear of the Cruiser.

The *Mandible* approached the Cruiser’s propulsion unit and secured itself with anchoring clamps. The hatch on the *Mandible* opened, and repair robots resembling crabs emerged in succession. They connected the bypass conduits, establishing an energy transfer link between the *Mandible*’s generator and the Cruiser’s propulsion system.

After enabling the Orbit Patrol Cruiser’s movement, Oine expelled all remaining personnel from the ship’s interior by operating bulkheads and managing air outflow.

The surviving crew of the Orbit Patrol Cruiser swam toward the destroyed destroyer, all clad in space suits.

Watching their motion, Dawson initiated departure of the *Mandible* and the Orbit Patrol Cruiser, setting a course back to the pirate satellite, *Chicken Ball*.