Episode 93: The Shock of the Speech

Five fleets, including the Sparrow Hawk that had escaped, rendezvoused with the Mozu fleet within the asteroid belt.

"Good work getting clear. We're grateful. It's much easier when you have a proper captain leading the fleet."

"Indeed. You played the decoy perfectly. We can only feel shame at having achieved nothing but the first salvo."

Dawson moved the fleet toward the location of the Hamano Onna while conversing with Jinku via communication.

"Got the next phase of the operation in mind?"

"Of course. We'll broadcast recorded footage of Muraga Funsar calling for the people's safety, lure the enemy into the asteroid belt, and damage their ships to the point of immobility—without killing the crew."

Abandoning a ship unable to maneuver will foster suspicion among the crew of other vessels. If they come to assist, they become new targets.

If they approach with only a few ships, that is manageable. If a large fleet arrives, there will be no way to respond.

It is a viable tactic if the sole purpose is to save ships. But it is unlikely that an enemy would go to such lengths to assist something they intend to abandon. The asteroids hinder fleet operations.

Like forcing a large force into a narrow alley, they would become stuck and unable to move.

There is a countermeasure. To save a damaged vessel, spread fire across all directions. Shattered asteroids pose a danger, so no ship will approach.

They lack the obligation to assist each other, even in such a situation?

The situation inside the SU government and the space fleet seems to be one of mutual obstruction and sabotage. They would not assist even if a comrade were in danger. They might even rejoice at a colleague’s failure.

"Ah. So it’s like the common nobility in Amato Imperial Japan. Truly, an unpleasant place."

They exchanged casual remarks, their shared background as an officer academy graduate and captain making the interaction easy.

At that moment, a report came from Oine.

"Dawson. We have a communication from the pirates."

"What do they want?"

"They wish to discuss the content of the previous speech."

Dawson tilted his head at the stated reason, then bid Jinku farewell in the conversation before disconnecting.

He then donned a mask: the upper half smooth and white, the lower half shaped like an insect’s jaw, black in color. After adjusting his attire briefly, he reestablished the communication link with the pirates.

"This is Dawson. Confirming your pirate license?"

Dawson sent his license data to the other side. A strange reaction came back from the pirates.

"Wha—! You're the 'White-Black Mask'! You're still alive!?!"

The sudden nickname made Dawson tilt his head while still wearing the mask.

"What's with you? We've never met."

"Never met, but I know you! The White-Black bastard who hunts the Space Navy! You've come just in time! And look—bring a whole fleet of pirates with you!"

The hostile welcome deepened Dawson's confusion.

"I have no idea why I'd be welcomed."

"Cut the act. I know the pirates of ''. You're with ''. You've been stealing Space Navy vessels and funneling them here."

Only then did Dawson remember.

Dawson recalled then. The Chicken Ball had supplied many vessels to drive out the pirates. And as intended, the pirates boarded the provided ships and headed toward Chicken Ball.

"You never boasted of your achievements. But did you hear it from the people at Chicken Ball?"

"Yeah, I did. And I know the one who made it happen was that white-and-black mask. So you're popular here."

"Being liked by those unsavory pirates means nothing."

"Haha, same difference!"

The pirate smiled cheerfully, then straightened his expression as if someone had spoken to him.

"Oops, right. I meant to ask you something."

"Was the communication purpose about the content of the speech?"

"Yeah. The person from your speech—do you need them on your ship?"

Dawson confirmed that Vera’s appearance remained unchanged from Muraga Funsar, then displayed Vera on the communication attachment screen and made her wave.

"Her? You mean her?"

"That's right, her. So is that content true?"

Dawson knew Vera was not Muraga Funsar herself.

Knowing this, he chose phrasing that would not betray the lie to the communication partner.

"The speech is true, as I believe it. At least, I believe the part about the immigrant fleet being destroyed."

"Why do you believe that?"

"Reason alone. The SU government sends immigrants every year, but there are years when no fleet is dispatched. I’ve always found it odd that the support for planetary development and the construction of habitable artificial satellites never stops. When I heard the fleet was destroyed each time, it made sense."

If the移民 fleet is completely destroyed each year, then there's no need to send aid supplies or additional fleets annually.

In addition, there is publicity for migration, but I've never seen publicity using images of the destination. Or was there such material in the early stages?

Dawson mutters while recalling the information Oine compiled about the移民 fleet. The pirate responds.

"Come to think of it, images of the early移民 were said to be fabricated—often discussed as an urban legend."

"There was also an article that traced them back to footage from a development planet."

"So all those points, combined with the speaker's claims, made people believe it."

The pirate appears satisfied. Now Dawson asks in return.

"Why are you so eager to accept that?"

That’s obvious. If the immigrant claims are completely false, people will lose faith in SU and support TR instead. That makes our pirate operations easier.

Dawson did not fully grasp the pirate’s logic, but felt no need to probe deeper.

Yet something else caught his attention.

"Do other pirates care about speeches too, like you?"

Of course. We’re delighted. We’re broadcasting speech footage across the entire sector. Even if it’s deleted, we keep retransmitting until it’s received.

Dawson turned his gaze to Oine. Immediately, data from Orion Arm communications arrived.

According to the report, the most attention right now is on Muraga Hunsa. Articles summarizing Muraga Hunsa didn’t exist before the speeches. Their sudden appearance indicates widespread public interest.

The footage from the previous speech is spreading widely. If this continues, it may become a speech known to everyone in the Orion Arm.

Debates about the speech are numerous, mixed with both support and opposition.

For Dawson, it is preferable that these debates lead to criticism of the SU government and its politicians.

"Seems like one speech has thrown the entire world into chaos."

"If people find out the immigration policy the SU government promoted was just abandoning people, anyone would panic."

Dawson nodded slightly at the pirate's words, then continued directing his fleet toward the Hamano Onna.