Episode 94: Rest Period

As Dawson's fleet approached, a communication came from the *Hamano Onna* instructing them to enter the inner harbor.

Dawson, however, decided to dock the entire fleet at the outer pier, citing the large number of ships.

"Going inside for the first time in a while?"

Dawson shook his head at Oine's teasing smile.

"Not setting up base here. I'm only staying long enough to finish what needs doing. No reason to go in."

"Are you not going to eat noodles?"

"Regarding that, the automated kitchen aboard the *Sparrow Hawk* can prepare udon. No need to go."

Dawson's dry reply caused a noticeable downturn in the expressions of those around him.

"Ah... could it be you all actually wanted to go inside the *Hamano Onna*?"

When Dawson asked, every member of the group except Dawson and Oine nodded affirmatively.

"Let it be clear— is not a suitable location for tourism."

Dawson's warning did not deter the others.

"Curious about what fashion thrives in a poorly behaved pirate base."

"Likely to find illegal, dangerous, visual recordings."

"Few get to see a mobile, super-giant mothership capable of carrying vast numbers of vessels."

"Building courage by visiting dangerous places."

"Indeed, we need weapons! We wish to go to the black market!"

Dawson nodded in understanding, responding to the words relayed through comms from Ida, in addition to Beira, Corry, Hitokane, and Kiwaka.

"Then all of you come together. For now, understand this: the pirates on the Hamano Onna are criminals. The restaurants there are illegal drug distribution points."

Dawson's words caused Kiwaka to blink in confusion, but the others appeared to grasp the meaning.

"So we're not to spare the insolent ones?"

"Should they make improper advances, we could make them unattractive."

"If they try anything strange, we'll remove them."

"Violent offenders are executed by firearm!"

Dawson nodded in satisfaction at the pirates' understanding, then sent Beira and the others toward the Hamano Onna.

"Huh. Now I get to be alone with Oine for the first time in a while."

"Artificial intelligences manage the ship's systems."

"Meaning the bridge, of course. Either way, it's a chance to stretch without worrying about my subordinates. Let's make the most of it."

"You're saying that, but you're already drafting plans for the next operation, aren't you?"

"This is just a pastime during rest. Like doodling."

Dawson leaned back in the Captain's chair, and Oine let out a small laugh.

"But are you really all right with sending Beala and the others toward Hamanoonna?"

"It'll be good experience. Whether they get tangled up or sold something suspicious."

"You sent them out with trouble already expected. I'm surprised."

"They were the ones who said they wanted to go. They'll take responsibility for their own words, won't they?"

Dawson smiled with deliberate malice and connected to Mozu. He told them, if they wished, they could tour Hamanoonna. Naturally, he included a warning about the risk of piracy.

……Thank you for the offer, but I will decline. There is no purpose in sending subordinates into a dangerous environment.

Jinku, as Captain, rejected Dawson’s proposal. Immediately afterward, he issued a direct order to all crew members of the Mozu, prohibiting any landing on Hamanoonna.

Dawson regarded the move as a sound decision. Yet he worried that without a strategy to divert crew dissatisfaction, morale would decline.

He did not voice the concern.

The Captain of the Mozu was Jinku. If unrest arose under Jinku’s command, it was Jinku’s responsibility to resolve it.

If Dawson intervened improperly at this moment, the crew would begin relying on Dawson instead of Jinku. This would eventually disrupt the ship’s operations.

Dawson ended the communication with Jinku after the salute.

"Though I understand the need to appease subordinates, I do so too."

Dawson connected with the artificial intelligences managing the fleet vessels, issuing a command to stand down until further notice.

The AI units would now have free time for personal activities. Dissatisfaction would diminish.

Dawson completed the captain’s duties. He rose from his chair with a long yawn.

"I’ll sleep in my quarters. Wake me if an issue arises."

"Understood. Good dreams, Dawson."

"Oine, keep work to a minimum. Begin memory consolidation."

Dawson exited the bridge and entered the captain’s quarters. He unfolded the bed and slipped inside.

He closed his eyes. Immediately, he fell asleep.

Dawson exited the captain’s quarters after waking.

As he passed through the corridor, a glimpse of the mess hall entered his peripheral vision.

The group that had gone to the Sparrow Hawk had returned.

Dawson stepped inside the mess hall to ask for their report. He noticed Ida was present, despite not being a Sparrow Hawk crew member. He also noticed the returning faces were weary.

"Seems like they went through something difficult."

As Dawson entered and confirmed the exhaustion on their faces, he observed two distinct types of fatigue.

Bera and Kiwaka showed the exhaustion of regret for having entered the Sparrow Hawk. Cori and Hitokane showed the exhaustion of satisfaction. Ida, appearing as a combat android with no visible expression, gave off the air of one who belonged to the satisfied group.

When Ida and the others saw Dawson enter the mess hall, Vera and Kiwaka immediately voiced complaints.

"Dawson-sama said he was different from Chicken Ball. Did you learn that with your own skin?"

"I can't do it again! Pirates keep approaching me one after another. I said I'm a man, but they say 'it's fine even if you're a man'! They even tried to give me some weird drug!"

Vera currently appeared as a top model, and Kiwaka, though wearing a mask over her face, had the slender build of a young girl.

To most pirates, that appearance was more than sufficient as a target for romantic interest.

"That's unfortunate. If they make strange moves, teach them with your fists. It'll be easier for the pirates to back down. Are you two the same, Cory and Hitokane, Ida?"

"No, no, Dawson-san. There were many good items, scattered around, thoroughly stocked, that is."

"Quite interesting. Old machinery not found in our home territory was being sold as scrap. Just inspecting it was enjoyable."

"Portable weapon modifications were also interesting. I did not purchase them, as there was no operational guarantee."

These three seemed to have enjoyed themselves. If they can take a long break, they wish to re-enter the *Hamanonona*.

"For the time being, we will be operating in this region. We will likely stop at the *Hamanonona* several times. When we do, you may enjoy sightseeing."

Dawson granted everyone a break in the mess hall, then entered the bridge himself.

Dawson found Oine seated with eyes closed. He settled quietly into the Captain's chair and began deploying the spatial projection monitor to access information.

Oine had left a note near the display, summarizing key data before rest. The access point for the information Dawson sought was clearly marked.

Dawson sent a silent nod of gratitude toward Oine and began reviewing the data.

Bela—Muralga Hunsa's speech was spreading across the Orion Arm like a ripple.

The unrest among the lower class and frontline soldiers was expected.

But the anxiety among the middle class puzzled Dawson.

Closer examination revealed evidence that a significant number of middle-class individuals had been among the earlier移民 fleets. This explained the source of their anxiety.

They suspected that the intent was not merely to eliminate the poor, but also to reduce the surplus of laborers.

Dawson found it plausible.

Dismissing low-productivity workers while retaining high-productivity ones could yield economic benefit.

But dismissal could not be performed easily. Legal constraints existed, but more importantly, allowing management to terminate workers at will would reduce labor morale and lower production efficiency.

Thus, the proposal for colonization.

To develop star systems with no existing population required specialized technicians. Even those without specialization needed sufficient intelligence to grasp fundamentals after minimal training.

Emphasize that point to produce low-productivity workers, then direct them toward joining the移民 fleet.

Once they are told they have no place in their current workplace, and then told they are desired in a new one, the worker will voluntarily resign to join the移民 fleet.

Thus, by eliminating unnecessary workers while retaining only those needed, productivity increases.

Reality may not allow such smooth outcomes, but it can be guided toward improvement.

A capitalist has no reason not to send unneeded workers to the移民 fleet.

Reactions to Muraga Funsa’s speech from those not among the poor or laborers were mostly skeptical.

Was Muraga Funsa actually on the移民 fleet? Was the speaker truly the person? Was the speech content factual? How did the speaker return from the other stellar arm? Were there no other survivors? What was the relationship between the speaker and the pirates? And so on.

Among the many questions, some responses attempted to verify the authenticity of the speech.

Muraga Funsa was a real person, visually indistinguishable from the original. Reports and communications from the移民 fleet were extremely scarce. The practical means of returning from the other stellar arm. And so forth.

Information gathered from the network was being compiled, layering points that aligned with the speech and those that did not.

Dawson observed the topic heating up favorably and considered whether to add more fuel to the fire.

At that moment, a communication arrived on the Sparrow Hawk. From Hamano Onna.

Dawson quickly donned the mask and answered the communication.

The android that appeared on the screen was the same one he had frequently interacted with during his time aboard the Sparrow Hawk.

"Hey, Lorelei. Long time. Come to warm up an old friend with a call?"

Dawson asked in a joking tone. Lorelei responded with the emotionless voice typical of a personality-free android.

『This transmission is being sent to all vessels docked at or moored to the Sparrow Hawk. It is urgent.』

"Urgent? Has the SU navy launched an attack?"

『Yes. And unlike before, they are advancing en masse into the asteroid belt.』

Hearing "en masse," Dawson could not hide his surprise.

"The asteroid belt is a garden for the Hama no Onna and pirates. Pushing the entire fleet in at once would cause severe casualties."

"Perhaps that is acceptable. After Muraga Funsar's speech, it became known that the crew of the old fleet vessels are disposable. They are likely trying to exhaust them before rebellion breaks out."

"...So that's why the entire fleet. If the old ships attempt to retreat, the newest vessels will shoot them from behind. That is the threat behind the assault."

Even if the fleet is destroyed by pirates within the asteroid belt, or punished for attempting to flee, it serves to reduce unnecessary ships and personnel.

"What is the Hama no Onna's strategy then? Will they flee again by jump, as before?"

"That option was considered, but this time, engagement is to be prioritized as much as possible."

"Fight the fleet of pirates with the navy?"

The presence of Orbit Patrol Cruisers and destroyers affiliated with HAMANO ONNA, as well as the fleet led by Captain Dawson, made the operation seem feasible.

"I'd rather not rely on it too heavily."

Dawson had no intention of taking excessive risks to protect HAMANO ONNA.

Yet the current situation was undeniably a favorable opportunity.

To carry out the strategy of capturing personnel deemed expendable aboard obsolete SU Space Force vessels and branding them as rebels.