Chapter 53: Occupation and Governance

Dawson brought Chicken Ball under his control.

He had just completed the major task of securing the base and wished to rest. But mastering Chicken Ball beyond this point would be more difficult.

Dawson adjusted his pre-planned strategy for after the occupation, taking the current situation into account, and chose the most moderate approach.

It was to fabricate a scenario in which General Kernel had committed misconduct against Dawson, and Dawson had protested in anger.

"Originally, I intended to capture General Kernel alive and force a confession by brute means..."

However, General Kernel's true form was a brain emulation, with a propaganda body serving as its physical vessel.

The brain had spontaneously ignited, but the body had been extinguished early enough to remain intact.

Dawson decided to use the body to fabricate General Kernel's statements.

Connect the Engineer Robot to General Kernel’s body and adjust the background within the public broadcast camera’s frame. Initiate the emergency broadcast.

The broadcast reaches those subdued by the Engineer Robot within Chicken Ball and those adrift outside Chicken Ball aboard pirate vessels.

"Apologies for the abruptness. I have determined a need to explain the recent incident involving Chicken Ball and am issuing this emergency broadcast."

The Engineer Robot moves General Kernel’s body, transmitting words toward the interior of Chicken Ball through the camera.

Dawson wrote the script. The Engineer Robot executes it. General Kernel’s tone differs slightly from usual. There is nothing to be done about that.

"This disturbance stems entirely from General Kernel's moral failure. The incident began when I assigned numerous requests to the privateer vessel Chicken Ball. And the reason it escalated was our inability to agree on payment."

This part is a complete lie, but the list of vessels Dawson has stored in Chicken Ball, which will now be presented as evidence, is genuine.

Starting with Sky Sweepers, followed by Orbit Patrol Cruisers, supply transports, and even heavy cruisers.

A long row of military vessels, too powerful for ordinary pirates to capture, is listed in detail.

"——These are the vessels sold from Chicken Ball. It would be a waste to let such skill go unused, and acquiring many military vessels benefits pirates, so I decided to assign numerous requests."

The body of General Kernel spoke, as if to explain the inevitable friction that arose from repeated requests.

‘A request was made to increase the sale price of the vessels. If that cannot be granted, then provide better weapons or ships. If that cannot be granted, then limit the targets to Sky Sweepers only. General Kernel rejected all of these. The reasons vary, but fundamentally, it was due to obsession with profit.’

The body of General Kernel continued speaking, eyes lowered as if reflecting on the past.

And today, faced with a series of impossible demands, the captain of the Big Jaw and their companions chose to break the deadlock with anger. That outcome was foreseeable to General Kernel. Foreseeing it, he deliberately provoked the explosion. He believed that suppressing the resistance would grant him the justification to control the Big Jaw entirely.

Words that condensed the cause of this situation and the reason for allowing it to escalate toward General Kernel.

And General Kernel continued, speaking of his own incompetence.

Yet the degree of anger among the Big Jaw’s captain and companions, and the strength they possessed, had been misjudged. He had not anticipated their ability to mass-produce combinations of cybernetics and simple mechanical tools. Nor had he considered that a small number of them could seize critical facilities of Chicken Ball.

Dawson chose to conceal information about artificial intelligence at this stage. The behavior of humans raised in S or TR environments upon learning of artificial intelligence—prohibited by taboo—remained unknown.

'The outcome of underestimating our opponent is this state of Chicken Ball. There is no excuse other than self-inflicted consequences.'

General Kernel redirected his downward gaze toward the camera, his expression becoming solemn.

However, the captain of the Heavy Jaw has promised to resolve this matter through compensation. By order of General Kernel, compensation will also be paid to the pirates who suffered losses during this incident. I deeply regret this. I understand this is an additional shame and an unreasonable request, but may I continue to serve as the overseer of Chicken Ball under General Kernel? I assure you, future operations will be conducted properly.

General Kernel delivered a sincere and careful apology, then ended the broadcast.

Dawson listened to the exact words from the script. He considered how the pirates aboard Chicken Ball would react upon hearing this broadcast.

Few pirates would believe this honestly. Most would assume I forced my way in with unreasonable demands and compelled General Kernel to apologize by force.

But if pirates do not see this as a problem, Dawson is relying on that assumption.

I have the list of vessels I delivered to Chicken Ball and evidence of repelling pirates attempting to breach the port. That is sufficient proof of capability to demand payment from Chicken Ball’s ruler.

Pirates are lawless. They follow strength, not principle or tradition. That is how Dawson sees it.

That’s true. There are pirates who won’t follow me. But those types will leave Chicken Ball. I am someone they fear. They will think they cannot operate in Chicken Ball if I look at them. They will move to another pirate base.

What if pirates come to provoke a fight?

Then I will buy them out. But I don’t think that will happen.

Why not?

All the cybernetics in Chicken Ball are under my control. If anyone tries anything, I will detect it immediately.

So you can suppress them before they provoke a fight. Very thorough.

When I decided to occupy Chicken Ball, I planned what comes after. At the Officer Academy, they taught us first to learn actions from the beginning of war to its end.

What kind of lesson was that?

Simply put—prepare thoroughly in advance so victory is certain. Afterward, devise methods to understand the loser’s position. If you yourself are defeated, act to minimize damage.

He waved dismissively toward the Officer Academy and ended the topic.

Regardless, this establishes a temporary base within Amato Imperial Japan’s SU-controlled space domain. Subversion against the SU will now be easier.

A major strategic achievement—seizing and securing the base. Will Dawson’s rank be elevated?

Possibly becoming a Special Lieutenant?

The commander of a satellite base holds a general officer rank. If this base becomes Dawson’s, his rank should reflect that accordingly.

"That’s completely impossible. I’ve been out of the Officer Academy for less than a year. Promotion to Special Lieutenant would be unprecedented. At best, they’d pin a junior rank on me and give me a pension-eligible medal."

Dawson spoke casually, leaning his weight into the backrest of the bridge seat aboard the *Mandible*.

Oine voiced dissatisfaction.

‘Do you lack ambition to advance your rank, Dawson?’

"Not really. I’d prefer to rise naturally to a rank that matches my ability. I don’t aim to exceed that level."

‘Yet you were constantly biting the heels of superiors at the Officer Academy?’

Then I should correct myself. I do wish to drag those who occupy positions beyond their ability down to their proper place, but I do not consider taking their place myself. I have no intention of becoming the kind of person I despise.

Oine regarded Dawson’s self-serving confession with a weary expression, as if he were dealing with a particularly difficult personality.