Episode 36: Training Focused

Dawson's S.U.-made artificial intelligence began combat instruction for three individuals.

"First, shooting practice. When operating a vessel with offensive capability, failure to hit a target means victory is impossible. Aim at a stationary target. Achieve a hundred percent hit rate at the designated location."

As Dawson issued this declaration, the vessel named <> and three Sky Sweepers arrived at a sparsely populated asteroid field.

The Sky Sweepers fired their Charged Particle Beams toward the targets Dawson designated.

"Something wrong, Ida. You're off by several meters from the target. Aim more precisely. Bera, do not adjust the convergence rate to change the thickness of the projected charged particles. If you do, even a hit won't destroy the target. Corry, your hit accuracy is acceptable, but you're taking too long per shot. Be ready to fire immediately after energy charge completes."

"Understood! Aiming and firing!"

"It's hit, isn't it? What's the problem? There's nothing we can do about it."

"Y-yes. I'll try harder!"

They continued rapid fire until the Charged Particle Beam detected abnormal overheating, paused until the barrel cooled, then resumed firing once the barrel had cooled.

Even so, as expected from artificial intelligence, all three eventually achieved high accuracy against stationary targets.

"Next, gun turret practice. First, full-circle firing. Then, target engagement while moving. Finally, continuous turret fire while operating the Charged Particle Beam."

"Yes, understood, sir."

"Wait—just a moment. The processing core is overheating. Can we postpone practice until tomorrow?"

"Ha—ha, I can manage… I’ll push through…"

Dawson tilted his head at the three, visibly fatigued.

He wondered whether the artificial intelligences were truly exhausted, or merely simulating fatigue.

He had been taught that Amato Imperial Japan's artificial intelligences did not experience fatigue as humans did. They could perform memory optimization and defragmentation during operations, eliminating the need for sleep like humans.

That common understanding did not apply to the artificial intelligences of Amato Imperial Japan. It could not be assumed for SU-made artificial intelligences.

Dawson paused, then decided to adjust the training exercise.

"Being able to hit targets while fatigued qualifies a pilot as competent. But it is only the first day of training. Perform only full-circle fire from the gun mounts. End today's session here."

"Is that true? Then we shall fire with full force and conclude the training!"

"Good. But if you keep pushing too hard, I might start disliking you, Dawson-sama."

"I will do my best."

Three Sky Sweepers activated their gun mounts on the port, starboard, and rear sides of the hull, aiming at the asteroid Dawson had designated.

Though the number of gun mounts on the Sky Sweepers was limited, the resulting barrage was sufficiently intense to intimidate pirates and merchant vessels.

"Understand the energy drain from full-fire at the gun mounts. You must sustain propulsion and the charged particle beam with the remaining power."

"Understood! And full-fire is satisfying!"

"More enjoyable than careful aiming."

"Hit the target. Hit the target."

The training ended when all three gun mounts triggered heat warnings.

Returning to Chicken Ball, the docking location had changed.

Previously assigned a single berth, they were now instructed to use a bay designated for groups of five pirates.

Upon entering the bay, the Jawbreaker and the three Sky Sweepers were secured by mooring arms.

At that moment, communications from the three Sky Sweepers ceased.

"Is it designed to shut down upon entering the bay?"

Dawson tilted his head. Oine explained the reason.

‘It seems the units. They reached exhaustion and the relief of returning to port. They fell asleep.’

"Fall asleep? An artificial intelligence?"

‘During training, the AI consolidates acquired information and experiences. It requires rest for memory organization. Almost like a human. Quite adorable, isn’t it?♪’

“An AI acting like a human is problematic. If that’s the case, hiring humans would be easier.”

‘Easier? Personally, I find artificial intelligences easier to manage.’

“Not necessarily. Humans will work if given compensation—money, benefits, recognition. But AI doesn’t work that way, does it?”

‘In terms of reward, service to humans is the purpose. At least for Amato Imperial Japan’s artificial intelligences.’

“Then, what reward would suit an artificial intelligence made by SU, if you think about it? There’s actually very little. At best, mere existence.”

“Since we’re listening to Dawson’s words, artificial intelligences deemed illegal within SU-controlled space are being sustained in the underground world. Beyond that, a more substantial reward becomes difficult.”

“For now, no special reward is necessary. But later, when achievements are made, it will be required. A troublesome matter.”

“In that case, there’s nothing to do but ask directly what would be suitable.”

Dawson and Oine continued their conversation, taking a long rest that included sleep.

When the three artificial intelligences had recovered from fatigue, they resumed training.

The artificial intelligences were trained daily until exhausted, rested until consciousness faded, then returned to training again.

After days of accumulating stress, a sudden break arrived at the perfect moment, and the anger vanished without direction.

The artificial intelligences learned to expend the unresolved tension they could not resolve by channeling it into training. Their focus on training intensified.

This routine continued until Dawson judged that all personnel had reached a minimum skill threshold, at which point training concluded.

Following a day of rest, the operation began in earnest: the pirate missions of the Orbit Patrol Cruiser named *Mandible* and its assigned artificial intelligences.