Episode 68: Mission

Once combat readiness and deployment were confirmed, Dawson gathered all Sparrow Hawk crew members to the bridge to discuss future operations. Ida and Dika from the other vessel joined via monitor.

Dawson first clearly explained the nature of the Amato Imperial Japan to the artificial intelligences, and also stated his own status as a military officer from that nation.

"—Thus, the Amato Imperial Japan is in distress due to an invasion by people from the Orion Arm. Our mission, assigned by the Amato Imperial Japan Navy, is to stop that invasion, or to create the conditions that lead to it."

After Dawson finished his explanation, the artificial intelligences responded in two ways.

Ida and Dika nodded in understanding, having learned that Dawson was from another arm of the galaxy.

Bera and Corry looked at Dawson with keen interest.

"That concludes the briefing on our mission. Any questions?"

Bera raised her hand first in response to Dawson's query.

"I'd like to confirm something, Dawson-sama. Everyone who went to Amato Arm... none of them survived, right?"

"According to official reports, no one from the Orion Arm invasion force survived. Leaving them alive would only create further unrest, so that's the stated reason."

"Truly no one?"

"Perhaps. There is a possibility that a very small number were taken prisoner in secret. But even if that were true, they would not be allowed to escape or survive beyond the Amato Arm. They are effectively under life-or-death control. So they might as well be dead."

When Dawson asked why Bera cared so much about those people, she gave a slightly troubled expression.

"Actually... I came across this while gathering fashion-related intelligence. It was an advertisement in the SU-controlled space zone."

Bera displayed a flamboyant advertisement on a spatial projection monitor. Bold text read: 'To a new star arm brimming with potential!' and 'Settlers welcome!' The advertiser was the SU Space Fleet.

Dawson understood what the term 'star arm' referred to without explanation.

"This is a recruitment ad for relocation to the Amato star arm. Not the kind from the first wave of immigration over fifty years ago—no, that doesn't seem right."

"It was issued explicitly before the renewed conflict with TR. It hasn't been withdrawn yet, even now."

"So they're planning to send settlers to the Amato star arm once the war with TR reaches a temporary pause?"

"The likelihood is high, but that's not the issue. You'd see it if you read the advertisement—there's no mention of settlers on the other star arm being wiped out. In fact, the general tone suggests the migration is proceeding smoothly."

Hearing Beela's opinion, Dawson felt stunned.

"Are you saying this advertisement isn't for migration to the other star arm... but for abandoning people there?"

"That's the natural interpretation, wouldn't you say? Ignoring the war with TR and pirate attacks might be intentional—perhaps to reduce population."

Dawson pressed his forehead, taken aback by the unexpected reasoning.

"No, wait. Artificial intelligence is forbidden in the Orion arm. We need laborers. Human resources should be essential."

"Exactly because of the wealth gap," Beela said.

"Prioritizing the expulsion of the poor over preserving manpower?"

"Separate those who burden the social system—low-income individuals and those receiving welfare—and the burden decreases accordingly, right?"

Beela spoke while displaying a new article on the monitor: a fashion model had donated a vast sum to a poverty relief fund. Beneath the article, a series of comments from numerous individuals followed.

Most comments praised the model’s actions. Yet many others argued that giving money to the poor harms both society and the recipients. Some stated that job opportunities are widely available—those who remain poor are simply failing to exert sufficient personal effort.

"Quite a number of harsh opinions here."

"The link mentioned in the comments—this one."

Beela then displayed another S.U. Space Force advertisement—this one recruiting soldiers on a large scale.

Age, gender, education, medical history, and other factors are irrelevant. The advertisement promises that any physical deficiencies will be mechanically corrected through surgery upon enlistment.

From the content of the advertisement, the terms appear quite favorable.

"Since the Space Force serves as a lifeline for the impoverished, no fund is necessary. Wealthy individuals distributing money to the poor do so for tax benefits and public image, not genuine aid—merely a self-serving, hypocritical display of superiority. That's what the person who posted the link wrote."

"Similar sentiments are expressed by those promoting immigration advertisements."

"...That one is clearly tied to the Space Force."

"If the Space Force allocates budget for advertisements, the SU government likely holds the same view."

In essence, the state is systematically advancing a policy of abandonment.

"Can't say something foolish like population reduction— not from Orion Arm."

Nearly all of Orion Arm has been settled. New developable systems are limited.

Resources are finite in all matters. Especially in orbital habitats, where living space is artificial.

On artificial satellites, water, food, and air are barely sufficient. If non-productive humans occupy space in such conditions, their consumption shifts the burden onto other residents. To protect the rights of those who contribute productively, such burdensome individuals must be removed.

But with no new development sites available within Orion Arm, there is no place to relocate them.

It is precisely due to this context that the SU government and Space Force jointly decided to discard non-functional individuals on Amato Arm.

Success in colonizing Amato Arm would be ideal. Even if they die, they were originally expendable people—minimal loss of human capital in SU economic terms. A low-risk, high-reward policy, one could say.

Sending the gathered poor to serve as soldiers aboard fleets is part of a larger replacement process: old vessels are being discarded to make room for new ones.

Given this, it is foreseeable that not only the government and Space Force, but also certain corporations welcome the abandonment policy.

Realizing these underlying factors, Dawson’s expression tightens, as if chewing on a bitter pill.

“The mission I was given—stopping colonization of Amato Arm means I must dismantle the abandonment policy. Or else, encourage abandonment to another arm of Amato.”

“Either way, sounds tough.”

As Beala said, changing the policy and redirecting the evacuation to another star system would be a major undertaking.

After subjugating a star system by force, he had intended to return it in exchange for halting colonization, but if this is an abandonment policy, negotiation is impossible.

If Dawson secured the star system by force, the SU government would rejoice. They could launch a war that wasted unnecessary personnel under the banner of reclaiming the system.

Dawson could do nothing but shrug as the calculation he had anticipated beforehand proved incorrect.

Let it be acceptable that colonization is understood as abandonment policy. If the SU government carries out the personnel reduction it plans, the abandonment of Amato's arm will cease.

"But, Dawson. The mission is to permanently prevent humans from Orion Arm from coming to Amato Arm. Simply reducing personnel will only be a temporary measure."

Dawson gestures in acknowledgment of Oine's comment.

"The current plan we can devise won't achieve the mission's completion. We have no choice but to wait until circumstances change."

"So we'll continue raiding as before until that change arrives?"

"There's no alternative—though not quite as before. The new formation is two Battleships and one Orbit Patrol Cruiser. That allows for slightly bolder operational actions."

Dawson's words carried a tone, faint but present, as if he believed that changing his own actions might be enough to shift the situation.