Episode 37: First Pirate Assignment

First pirate operation with three Orbit Patrol Cruisers.

Even after thorough training, this is the initial deployment for newly activated artificial intelligences. It is not feasible to assign an overly aggressive target.

Dawson therefore decided to target a cargo vessel and its escort.

"Select only cargo ships without an 'attack prohibited' mark."

『≪Chicken Ball≫ is sharing the operational data of marked cargo ships. I will compile a list of vessels not listed there.』

"That is helpful. I rely on you."

With Oine’s work, a list of viable cargo ships for attack was created.

Dawson reviewed the vessel types listed and selected one specific cargo ship.

It was a convoy consisting of one large transport vessel and two medium transport vessels, scheduled to travel through the Interstellar Side Route (Subrode).

The large vessel was comparable to an Orbit Patrol Cruiser. The medium vessels were similar in size to destroyers. They made suitable targets for simulated combat.

The mercenary ship had escorts. But against the capabilities of a Sky Sweeper, they were functionally nonexistent.

"Good. We'll take this one. I'll calculate the emergence point from long-range jump."

"Shall we assign the attack point calculation to those three?"

"No. This time, I'll do it myself. Predicting emergence points is unexpectedly difficult. Assigning it without prior success experience is nothing but harassment."

"Oh? So you've had bitter experience with this?"

"Unfortunately, I was good at this kind of work. I learned quickly. But once, when I refused to adjust my prediction to match others' results, the instructor rated me as lacking in cooperation."

Dawson’s answer was the correct one, wasn’t it?

Because my answer was correct, the instructor couldn’t strongly reprimand me. That was the only fortune that day. I was also told, in complaint, that it was part of an officer’s duty to persuade those who refused to listen—especially the fools who mocked me for being an orphan and refused to hear reason.

That ability to persuade with words is necessary for officers, isn’t it?

I understand that. But words only reach those who are willing to listen. At that time, I wasn’t kind enough to force words into ears that refused to hear.

You’re implying things have changed now, aren’t you?

"Not the same. Back then it was training. My opinion didn't matter, but no one died. Now I'm an officer. I'm responsible for lives. If my opinion saves a comrade's life, I'll twist it in any way I have to. Even if it means threatening them."

"Your words are logical. But your tone makes you sound like the villain, Dawson."

"I only care about those who understand. If I'm disliked by fools, I don't care."

Dawson ended the off-topic conversation. He had finished calculating the target's expected location after long-range teleportation.

"Right. The location is determined. I'll write the procedure using this target as an example and send it to those three."

"I'll handle the report. But if we miss the answer this time, Dawson, that'll be a public embarrassment."

If that happens, we'll make it a bad example—turn failure into growth.

Dawson established contact with three Sky Sweepers and launched from Chicken Ball to attack the merchant convoy designated as target.

The merchant convoy jumped into the predicted location. To reduce distance to destination slightly, it began moving through space using propulsion systems during the energy recharge period for the next jump.

Dawson observed the convoy’s movement through the long-range targeting system on the Heavy Jaw.

"Three merchant ships, as expected. Eight or so mercenary vessels guarding them."

"Merchant ships and mercenary vessels show no markings. Standard escort formation—two vessels at front and rear, one on each side. Honestly, this level of opposition makes three Sky Sweepers excessive force."

New recruits need success experiences first. Three Sky Sweepers is just enough excess force.

Dawson donned his mask and established a communication link with the three Sky Sweepers.

"Ida, Bera, Corry. Are you ready? I'll fire two consecutive salvos to sink two escorts. At the same time, you'll attack the merchant vessel."

"Understood! My trained hands are already humming with readiness!"

"Yes, yes, I understand. I don't want to go back to training drills if we fail. I'll take this seriously."

"Got it."

Dawson nodded as he heard the three voices. He activated the firing mechanism on the *Maw*. The cover on the underside of the hull opened. The tip of the barrel emerged.

Confirm relative distance to the merchant convoy. Calculate how much time until the target enters the range of the *Maw*.

"Fire at count sixty. You will launch ten seconds before that. The attack should time perfectly."

"Dawson Captain. Our vessel's capabilities do not allow us to determine the convoy's location. Request position data."

"Understood. This is the convoy's current position and formation. Memorize it."

"With this formation, where should we strike?"

"Quickly. We must finish soon. The Space Fleet will arrive otherwise."

"If the Space Fleet arrives, then let it come. Three of us should be able to handle any enemy."

Dawson watches the count. Twenty seconds remain.

"Prepare to launch. Time is near."

"Ready!" "Prepared." "We can do it."

"Then—go."

With ten seconds remaining, the three Sky Sweepers accelerated to maximum speed toward the merchant convoy.

The count reached zero just as the Sky Sweepers entered the convoy's detection range.

"Operation begins now."

Dawson fired the Charged Particle Beam from the *Mandible*. A straight, white, rod-like beam struck its target without deviation, piercing one of the mercenary ships in the formation. The second shot sank the mercenary vessel positioned to the formation's left.

"Begin energy charging to the Charged Particle Beam. Cut power to propulsion systems. Redirect surplus energy to charging."

"Rapid charging initiated. Completion in fifteen seconds."

"Now then, how are the Sky Sweepers doing?"

The merchant convoy is unsettled by the sudden elimination of the escort mercenaries. Amid this confusion, three Sky Sweepers appear.

Dawson expects the merchant convoy to fall into further disarray.

It does not.

"...Hey, Oine. That merchant convoy. Don't they seem to have relaxed their alert status after seeing the Sky Sweepers?"

『Ah, that situation is plausible. Those Sky Sweepers were originally from the SU Space Fleet. The convoy likely believes they’ve come to help.』

'Those Sky Sweepers are modified vessels with destroyer turrets mounted. Can’t you tell the difference? No, in any case, Sky Sweepers appearing immediately after a pirate attack? That’s suspicious to the point of being unbelievable.'

The idea that pirates are using Sky Sweepers captured from the S.U. Navy is beyond the comprehension of the merchant convoy, I’d imagine.

While Dawson and Oine spoke, the Charged Particle Beam finished charging.

Dawson fired immediately after charging. A second escort mercenary vessel was destroyed.

This is the third time the beam has been fired. The merchant convoy should now know the location of the *Mandible*. And they should also know the Sky Sweepers came from the direction of the attack.

Unfortunately, the merchant convoy seems to be a collection of fools. They are adjusting their position to lie on the extension of the line between the approaching Sky Sweeper and the predicted location of the *Mandible*. In other words, they are trying to hide behind the Sky Sweeper.

They still believe the Sky Sweeper belongs to the S.U. Navy.

The merchant convoy had already entered the firing range of the Sky Sweeper’s Charged Particle Beam.

"This is already decided."

"Sky Sweeper, three units. Firing in unison from gun emplacements. All remaining mercenary ships eliminated. The merchant convoy appears to have finally understood the Sky Sweeper is pirate. Panic is evident."

"Panicking before the escort is destroyed? Surrender. Or are you unwilling, knowing there’s no guarantee of safe passage when facing pirates?"

"Sky Sweeper, each unit has targeted the bridge of a merchant vessel. Firing. Hit confirmed."

"Then issue surrender demands, guide personnel aboard the evacuation pods—end of operation—"

"Each Sky Sweeper has launched one torpedo. Direct course to the merchant convoy."

"—hah!? What are you doing?"

Immediately after Dawson’s startled voice, the space torpedoes struck. The merchant convoy was completely destroyed. The goods aboard the ships that remained intact would be few and fortunate.

Dawson stood motionless, stunned by the outcome. Only now did he recognize his own failure.

“Damn. I trained them to attack warships. I never taught them how to attack merchant vessels.”

“Indeed, they followed the drill—destroying the bridge, then the final strike. But those three knew the target was a merchant convoy. They should have adapted more flexibly.”

“Expecting them to do something I never taught is the arrogance of an instructor. I am the one to blame. The training regimen. The choice of target.”

Dawson decided to bring back the first combat results from three Sky Sweepers, despite having no expectation of recovering supplies from the merchant ships.

The merchant vessel, crippled by a direct strike from a space torpedo, was sold to Chicken Ball at a remarkably modest price. The proceeds were deposited into an account established for the three artificial intelligences.