Episode 51: Operation Chicken Ball — Initiation

Until preparations for the Operation Chicken Ball were complete, Dawson continued hunting SU Navy vessels with only the *Mandible* and the Escort Battlecruiser.

Each captured vessel brought back to Chicken Ball allowed the overseer to repair and outfit it with pirates, then dispatch it toward Hamano Onna. The more vessels captured, the fewer pirates remained within Chicken Ball. This was the purpose behind the vessel hunting.

The reason Dawson operated alone with the *Mandible* and the Escort Battlecruiser was, on the surface, sufficient combat force. Beneath the surface, it was to assign other tasks to Ida and the others.

Ida and the others moved through the interior of Chicken Ball, using the android bodies they had acquired to scout key locations that would be secured at the start of the operation.

Bera used a body capable of altering her appearance for fashion shows. Cori used a body nearly indistinguishable from a human. To the untrained eye, both appeared fully human. Ida’s body was designed for combat, and she maintained the appearance of a bodyguard for Bera and Cori.

With this appearance, they were mistaken for new crew members by other pirates, but no one suspected them of being artificial intelligences.

The AI units of Ida and the others had been transferred from the Sky Sweeper to the android bodies. The data sent automatically to corporate servers had been altered by Oine, who had modified the Sky Sweeper’s system components to transmit counterfeit data.

The preparations for occupation progressed smoothly, until the day arrived when the Amato Imperial Japan transport vessel filled with artificial intelligence would arrive.

"Preparations are complete. The three transport vessels carrying artificial intelligence have arrived at the designated orbital zone on schedule. Now, all that remains is to finalize the operation."

"Sending a communication to the escort battlecruiser would be advisable. The Dikka do not know of the occupation plan. They might fire their charged particle beam at the transport vessels."

"Ah, that's right. I deliberately withheld that information. If they were to defect, I considered the escort battlecruiser's firepower a threat."

Dawson sent a communication to Dikka, instructing them to withhold fire until the surrender proposal was delivered.

When Dawson sent the surrender order to the transport vessel, a reply came without delay: submission. Then escape pods were released from the ship. The release of these pods was a pretense, intended to conceal the scene from observers. Naturally, the pods were unmanned.

Dawson issued the order to wrap the Escort Battlecruiser around 'Carryshu' as soon as the pot finished releasing.

Work proceeded as it always did during the usual hunt, and preparations to transport the vessel to Chicken Ball were complete.

Emerging from jump-out, three transport vessels appeared near the ≪Chicken Ball≫, alongside the Escort Battlecruiser and the ≪Mandible≫.

The transport vessel is carried onto the carrier ship and enters the port of Chicken Ball ahead of schedule.

At this stage, Dawson decided to inform Dika of the operation.

That is the situation. I apologize for keeping this secret until now, but I need your help to complete the operation.

Dawson waited, tense, to see how Dika would respond.

Possibility: the Escort Battlecruiser might now turn its turrets toward the Battleship *Mandible*.

As Dawson braced himself, Dika replied.

"Consensus has been reached within the ship. We understand why you did not share the operation details, but it is painful to have been excluded."

"…Is that all?"

"More specifically. Of our twelve, most agree that there was no need to inform the Escort Battlecruiser involved in the pirate operation. Most also understand your reasoning. A few are resentful about not being consulted. A few others envy Ida and those who were informed in advance."

"Did no one object to our plan to occupy Chicken Ball?"

"Not particularly. We owe Dawson a debt, but we feel no obligation toward Chicken Ball or its administrator."

Dawson felt the response settle uneasily in his mind.

Yet, having confirmed that Dika and the others held no ill will, Dawson decided to include the Escort Battlecruiser in the operation.

"Dika. Seal off the port entrance so the transport ships cannot be attacked from outside. If pirates approach, open fire without hesitation."

"Shall we wait to be attacked first?"

"The armor on an Escort Battlecruiser can withstand pirate weapons as easily as a fart. There is no need to invite attack. If a weapon is trained on us, destroy it immediately."

"Understood. We’ll protect it properly."

Dika set her resolve, advancing the Escort Battlecruiser forward.

Dawson activated the Heavy Jaw and entered the Chicken Ball.

As the Heavy Jaw docked, Engineer Robots exited the transport vessel in succession and entered the Chicken Ball.

The Amato Imperial Japan-made Engineer Robots were cylindrical, about one meter thick. They moved by rotating to take advantage of their round shape. Magnetic clamps on the base allowed them to traverse ceilings and walls without restriction. Upon reaching a work site, they were designed to use built-in tools.

Among the tools were a fusion torch, a power outlet port, and a rivet gun for securing armor. These could be used in combat against personnel if necessary.

All currently deployed Engineer Robots were equipped with artificial intelligence.

Operational compliance with the mission plan was expected, as was advanced situational judgment. Against electronically controlled opponents, they could be hacked and turned to their side. Cooperation allowed for swift completion of tasks.

They were, in essence, robots that could be considered natural enemies to Chicken Ball, an organization that relied heavily on cybernetic operations.

Ten thousand of them surged into the Corridor of Chicken Ball, moving without hesitation toward designated positions, following the map previously handed to Dawson.

"Wha—gyaah!"

One pirate encountered an Engineer Robot by chance and was rendered unconscious by an electric shock from the power port.

Another pirate, assessing the threat as combat-worthy, attempted to engage. His blaster, drawn from his hip, was struck down by the rivet gun and then struck with an electric charge, rendering him unconscious.

Despite the Engineer Robots operating freely throughout the facility, no alarms sound within Chicken Ball, and no blast doors descend.

The reason is that Ida and her team have seized and secured the control room responsible for Chicken Ball's security system.

"Hah hah hah — civilian security robots cannot match military combat androids, now can they!"

Ida slices through the cybernetic robots advancing on the control room with her light blade axe (laser tomahawk). Her appearance resembles a special effects monster, and she laughs triumphantly amidst the wreckage of broken robots — a figure of villainy or a dark hero.

With Ida holding the entrance to the control room, Becca and Cori work safely to hijack the system.

"Yes yes. Isolating the troublesome pirates~"

Invasion route confirmed. Train operation system accessed. Allied robots begin transport via train.

They speak simply, yet perform the cumbersome task of hacking the neural interface through cables extending from their necks, verifying authorization by tapping consoles with their fingers.

This complexity is unavoidable. The control system requires dual verification—neural interface and human input.

"Cori. Did the engineer robot enter through the hidden corridor?"

"Access point disguised as a port entrance, burned through with a burner. Proceeding in reverse toward the administrator's chamber. Trap detected. Disarming initiated."

"Then let's see if we can disable that trap from the system."

"Hah hah—come on, you rusting axe robots, more of you are welcome!"

Behind Ida’s cheerful voice, Becca and Cori advanced steadily toward their objective.