Episode 76: Long-Range Combat

After evading the first attack from the S.U. Navy, Dawson realized something.

"Chicken Ball's defense is unexpectedly solid."

To be honest, Dawson had not expected much from Chicken Ball's defensive systems. He assumed they were the work of pirates, and thus of limited capability.

Yet the strategy of using abundant weapons—those a pirate could reasonably acquire—to enhance defensive capacity left Dawson impressed.

"General Kernel. A person too valuable to be sacrificed."

General Kernel—no longer the artificial intelligence currently impersonating the title, but a construct emulating a past military officer, devoid of personal identity.

If emulation could provide Chicken Ball with such precise defensive capabilities, how capable must the original individual have been?

Dawson felt the limits of emulation as he thought of the past figure.

"The more I think about it, the more obvious it is—Chicken Ball's defense is one-handed."

He had been alone since Officer Academy days. His solitary condition made the muttered comment inevitable.

Oine understood the words were not meant for anyone's ears, yet still found them noteworthy.

"Dawson. Chicken Ball repelled the enemy fleet. If so, why one-handed—what's the flaw?"

"Yes, there is a flaw. But given that pirates operated the base, some shortcomings were unavoidable."

"What part?"

Dawson hesitated. Then he noticed the crew on the Sparrow Hawk's bridge watching him with interest. He decided to speak the reason.

"Simply put, the Sparrow Hawk and the escort battlecruiser can land on Chicken Ball's surface."

"Wait. Can they break through the defense weapons that make the satellite's surface glow?"

"They can. If the Sparrow Hawk and the escort battlecruiser have sufficient armor thickness."

"Armor thickness—right. Most close-range defense weapons are low-powered, barely enough to mount on pirate ships."

"Exactly. That level of firepower can be blocked by battleship-grade armor. Though the external devices and equipment will likely be stripped away."

Still, sacrificing radar and communication systems would allow a battleship to penetrate Chicken Ball's defense grid.

Dawson could only hope the enemy had not realized this fact.

Fortunately, none of the enemy fleet possesses armor thickness comparable to a battleship. If several Orbit Patrol Cruisers were stacked together and driven forward, one might reach the surface of Chicken Ball—but the casualties would be excessive.

Dawson considers how he would act if he were in command of the SU space fleet before him.

"Attack quickly, and the entire fleet advances as one unit. If time allows, then wait and observe."

Indeed, the SU space fleet, having reassembled at a safe distance, began firing their cannons at the surface of Chicken Ball once they reached a position where their fire could strike the ground. They did so in a scattered formation, performing excessive evasive maneuvers.

Seeing this, Dawson deciphered the enemy fleet's intentions.

They are taking time to assess Chicken Ball’s defensive capabilities. And hoping, if possible, to disable some of Chicken Ball’s defensive weapons with long-range attacks.

Dawson understood the enemy’s intent.

What should Dawson’s forces do?

Proceed with a conventional tactic. Send Sparrow Hawk forward as a single vessel. Once the enemy fleet is within the Main Cannon’s range, engage with targeted fire. Inform the Escort Battlecruiser on the opposite side of Chicken Ball to prepare for launch.

You’re sending a single vessel as well?

Yes. Let it advance alone. If the enemy is drawn in, retreat while drawing them into Chicken Ball’s defensive zone. If they do not approach, continue with precision strikes to inflict damage on the enemy fleet.

Oine understood Dawson’s intent and transmitted a command to the escort battlecruiser Dika.

Although separated at the north and south poles, the Sparrow Hawk and the escort battlecruiser moved forward, distancing themselves from the friendly fleet until the enemy fleet entered their respective attack ranges.

"Battleship Sparrow Hawk, main cannon barrage. Aim carefully, remain steady."

"Y-yes, understood."

Corry, the fire-control officer, responded with a tense voice to Dawson’s order.

Two main cannons mounted at the front of the Sparrow Hawk shifted. Their turrets and barrels rotated into alignment with the enemy fleet.

Then, simultaneous fire.

Charged Particle Beams, battlecruiser-class, raced through space toward the enemy fleet.

Yet the enemy fleet had spread out widely and executed evasive maneuvers, allowing the beams to pass through the gaps between them.

Fire impact results. Adjust fire. Prepare next salvo. Resume fire upon readiness.

Yes, sir. Preparing fire.

Corry immediately recalculated and fired based on the new data.

Reality remained indifferent.

No near misses. No direct hits.

After receiving Oine’s report, Corry recalculated and fired a third time. Again, the salvo missed.

No results. Dawson’s expression remained unchanged. No anger. No urgency.

Hitting an enemy fleet executing evasive maneuvers at extreme range is extremely difficult. Consider a hit fortunate.

Yes, sir. But… we’ve hit targets before, precisely…

Dawson smiled faintly at Corry’s dejected tone.

Previous opponents had been engaged through ambushes or by striking when confusion set in, preventing enemy vessels from deploying their full capabilities. This enemy fleet, however, is prepared to fight. The difficulty of targeting them is naturally far greater.

He offered the words of reassurance, yet Dawson considered the continued lack of results to be unacceptable.

"Good. Transfer control of one forward turret to me."

"Ah, yes. Of course."

Corry operated the device, transferring control of one turret to the Captain’s chair.

Dawson aligned the operable turret’s aim toward the enemy fleet, selected a likely target, and re-aimed. He observed the target’s evasion maneuvers, identified its evasion pattern, then fired according to his estimate.

The charged particle projectile surged through space, aimed at the enemy vessel, and struck only the edge of its hull, shearing off a section.

"…In short, when facing a cautious opponent, long-range artillery fire is effective only if it hits at all. So don’t worry about it. Just fire."

Corry felt relieved by Dawson’s grumbling explanation.