Episode 92: Speech

Dawson decided to split his fleet into two parts as he approached the side flank of the SU Fleet.

Five vessels, including the Sparrow Hawk, and forty-five vessels, including Mozu.

Sparrow Hawk squadron approached the SU Fleet gradually. Mozu squadron advanced through the asteroid field at maximum possible speed, arriving at the operational start position nearly simultaneously with Sparrow Hawk.

The absence of combat within the asteroid belt indicated that the pirate strike had not been misdirected, thanks to the privateering code transmitted to the Mozu unit by Dawson.

"Then, commence the operation."

Bela, disguised as a woman from the移民 group, began broadcasting over full-band communication (open channel) to all vessels in the region, in accordance with Dawson’s instructions.

"This is a message to all present. My name is Muraga Hunsa. I was part of the Fourteenth Immigrant Fleet. I am transmitting this communication to expose the deception of the SU government and the Space Force."

The original voice and manner of speech could not be obtained. A vocal approximation was derived from skeletal structure and neck thickness. The tone matched that of an elderly woman, typical of her age group.

In essence, appearance, voice, and manner were entirely fabricated.

But the likelihood of a figure who could detect such deception being present among the SU Space Force fleet was low.

And even if exposed as a fraud, it made no difference.

The purpose of this speech is to implant doubt in the minds of those serving in the SU Space Force toward the SU government and their superior officers.

"My name and the immigrant fleet—perhaps you are questioning why I, a person affiliated with the immigrant fleet, am not on a distant star arm but here. That is a reasonable question. And the answer to that question is why I am transmitting this message to you."

One minute has passed since the transmission began.

The SU Space Force fleet remains motionless.

Either verifying the authenticity of the communication, or prioritizing the severance of the signal and preventing the crew from hearing it.

Regardless, Bera's speech continues.

I departed aboard the 14th Colonial Fleet, bound for another spiral arm. We were moving to a star system being developed by an earlier colonial fleet, to begin a new life in a new world. But upon arrival in the other spiral arm, we quickly understood that the S.U. government had lied to us. Why? The system labeled as under development was not only undeveloped, but untouched by human hands. Instead, wreckage of what appeared to be a previous colonial fleet drifted through the region.

Dawson closes his eyes and furrows his brow, performing as if recalling something from that time.

The reason the prior移民 fleet was destroyed became clear shortly thereafter. A peculiar cosmic current existed within that star system. It struck the fourteenth移民 fleet directly. The fleet, subjected to the current, could not maintain distance between vessels. Ships collided one after another. Vessels struck in unfavorable positions suffered catastrophic damage and disintegrated. My ship was fortunate; it sustained only minor damage. Thereafter, vessels with lesser damage took the lead in aiding survivors and quickly evacuated to a region free of the current. This was later confirmed: the current exhibited a tendency to intensify in response to the increased activity of the system’s star.

Bella opened her eyes. Her gaze, sharp with resolve to sever ties with a painful past, continued the speech.

Whether the SU government knew of the system’s current, or did not know—it is beyond my understanding. Those who survived at the time were in the same position. Yet we came to understand. That the system’s development was entirely a lie. That all thirteen移民 fleets sent before us had vanished without trace. And that no communication sent from our side ever reached the SU government.

Bella’s expression hardened into anger. Her voice, previously calm and measured, shifted abruptly into a harsh, forceful tone, saliva flecking from the corners of her mouth.

Understood! We were abandoned by the SU government! Cast onto a vast garbage dump known as another star arm! With the arrogance of settlers heading to a new world, thrown into the trash bin with careless ease! Upon reconsideration, it makes perfect sense! Those aboard the migration fleet were all barely surviving peasants! Even those with proven lineage were only those who had lost in political upheavals or factional struggles! The SU government discarded those it deemed unnecessary!

After suppressing the outburst of passion with practiced composure, Bera adjusts her breathing.

Listen. All of you, members of the SU Space Fleet—especially those from impoverished backgrounds or defeated in factional struggles. You are already moving toward the same fate I face. I returned to the Orion Arm and observed how the SU Space Fleet wages war. They are preparing to abandon you, to place you aboard obsolete vessels nearing decommissioning, and send you to the front lines of battle. They hope, if fortune favors, you will be struck by enemy fire and reduced to dust in the void.

A brief pause allows the words to settle. The speech resumes.

You have all suspected it by now. The high-ranking officers of the Space Fleet intend to use you until you are spent. I state clearly: that is incorrect. They do not intend to use you until you are spent. They intend to discard you unilaterally. No matter how many victories or achievements you accumulate, you will never be elevated. Because when you rise, someone else must fall. That someone who must fall cannot be discarded. Therefore, they prevent your ascent.

Here, Vela changed her tone to one of pleading.

Citizens. You who are being abandoned by the government and the space fleet. Survive somehow. Escape the grasp of the SU government. You live within the Orion arm. You have TR as a refuge. You do not need to wander through another arm like me, lose companions to starvation and fighting over supplies, driven mad by lack of rescue, repair your vessel by cannibalizing its own parts, and barely return to the Orion arm. You can survive without that.

Vela continues speaking, but a salvo of fire comes from the SU space fleet vessel directly opposite.

The attack originates beyond effective range. Not a threat.

Yet the reason for firing from such a distance is clear.

They are using force to stop Vela’s speech.

Bela performs an exaggerated display of severe injury from the bombardment.

"Please stop. Do not attack. I only wish to help everyone. I do not seek conflict. Please listen. Act with reason. Killing me will not save you."

Watching Bela’s pleading performance, Dawson signals the fleet—five ships including the Sparrow Hawk—to retreat from the sector using gestures and text-based communication.

Who issued the order to attack me? It should have come from a high-ranking officer aboard the most advanced fleet in the space navy. The officer seeks to silence my truth. The fact that I am under attack proves the validity of my statements. Citizens. You are all being abandoned by the SU navy. If this continues, your future will be the same as mine. Remember this—

Dawson abruptly terminated the transmission.

The enemy fleet's vanguard had entered effective range. Cutting the signal prevented the enemy from detecting the exact position of his ships through reverse signal triangulation.

Additionally, ending the broadcast mid-speech was intentional. It created the secondary effect of making listeners believe the SU navy's high-ranking officer had ordered the transmission cut.

Now, all that remains is to pull the SU navy vessels to the designated position.

Dawson adjusted the Sparrow Hawk fleet’s trajectory, positioning it to pass near the asteroid belt.

The SU navy vessels followed closely behind, firing as they pursued the Sparrow Hawk fleet—clearly displeased with Beela’s speech.

Dawson directed his fleet to evade, maintaining a consistent distance from the enemy fleet.

The Sparrow Hawk fleet reached the designated position, dragging the enemy fleet along.

Now, kill zone.

At the moment Dawson spoke, a barrage of charged particle beams erupted from within the asteroid belt.

A glowing band of charged particles pierced the SU navy vessels from the side.

The surviving SU navy vessels, struck suddenly by a fatal attack, hastily reversed course and attempted to flee. Then, once again, a Charged Particle Beam attack struck from behind.

Having destroyed most of the pursuing fleet, the following SU navy vessels altered their trajectory from the Sparrow Hawk fleet toward the asteroid belt. They chose to confront the threat hidden within the asteroid belt rather than pursue the fleeing Sparrow Hawk fleet.

Dawson watched the combat footage from within the asteroid belt as he guided the Sparrow Hawk fleet to a safe zone.

"Seems the Mozu fleet is eager. I told them to keep the fighting moderate."

"Jinku is new, after all. He might be eager to make his mark here, to earn Dawson's favor."

"What good is a major flattering a lieutenant?"

"Dawson is a fleet commander regardless of rank. He leads fifty vessels. Jinku, a captain under him, is only a single ship's commander. It's natural he would want to prove himself."

Oine's logic was sound. Dawson was not fully convinced.

In any case, the engagement between the Mozu fleet and the SU Space Force vessels concluded after a moderate exchange of fire. As the Mozu forces retreated into the asteroid belt's deeper regions, the SU vessels withdrew as well.

The Mozu fleet achieved significant damage to Union forces' vessels during the initial two volleys, but subsequent artillery exchanges resulted in only minor damage to a few enemy ships.