Chapter 96: Recovery and Egress

The forward fleet, composed solely of outdated vessels, surrendered to the pirates after the SU Space Navy's rear fleet fled.

Dawson had expected all of the older vessels to surrender, given they had been beaten and nearly killed. Yet more than half had managed to pass through the asteroid belt and rejoin the rear fleet.

"Going back to the original position just means being told to die again."

Kiwaka tilted her head at Dawson's mutter.

"Isn't dying on command built into a soldier's training?"

"Same order—die—but the meaning differs drastically between Amato Imperial Japan and the SU Space Navy. The SU Navy is just saying to die uselessly, because it's inefficient."

No one, soldier or not, would accept being told to die uselessly.

"At least make the death meaningful. That is the only way I could accept going to die."

Dawson voiced the sentiment of a soldier, but Oine interjected with a sharp tone.

"But you wouldn't die for any order, would you, Dawson?"

"Of course not. You tell me to die, and I'll die? I'll return alive from a situation that should kill me. I'll achieve results. I'll humiliate the one who ordered my death."

Dawson spoke his true belief. Oine nodded as if this were expected. Kiwaka widened his eyes. It seemed KIWAKA had only ever considered obeying orders at face value.

"But if you come back alive, won't that be a violation of orders?"

A violation occurs only if one flees from the enemy front and survives. If one fights the enemy properly and withdraws with full effort, that is not a violation.

Is that true?

Of course. Receiving a command to hold position does not mean one must resist to the last soldier. That would be meaningless. Once it is clear that the position cannot be held, the correct strategy is to conduct delaying actions to the maximum extent possible while evacuating as many personnel as feasible. This preserves strength for future engagements.

I understand delaying actions. But evacuating personnel as well?

Naturally. The outcome of combat depends on numbers. Abandoning a losing fight and preserving personnel for the next engagement leads to ultimate victory.

Ultimate victory?

Combat outcomes do not always depend on immediate victories. A series of localized defeats may still result in overall victory if a decisive engagement is won.

For example, suppose a space fortress cannot be captured. Repeated attempts without success mean repeated losses.

Yet if a route around the fortress is discovered, enabling a direct assault on the enemy’s home planet, and victory is achieved there, then the outcome of the war is decided.

In this case, multiple defeats at the fortress do not make the side a loser. A single victory on the home planet determines the war’s outcome.

Thus, as Dawson stated, it is possible to win the war based solely on one decisive battle.

Presenting this extreme position, it seems reasonable to withdraw key personnel from a losing engagement to preserve them for the crucial battle.

Yet Kiwaka does not fully believe Dawson’s extreme stance.

"Escaping from a place we were told to defend—might end up being held responsible."

"Even if court-martialed, losing a position we were supposed to hold would only end with being told to die on the battlefield. If that happens, we can always seek another way to survive."

"...You consistently prioritize survival, Captain Dawson."

"Of course. Without life, there is no salary. No military pension."

"For money?"

"Without compensation, no one would risk their life to serve in the military."

Dawson stated this with finality. Oine interjected with a quiet laugh.

“Though he says such blunt things, Dawson donates most of his salary from the Amato Imperial Japan to the orphanage that raised him. If that support stops, the orphanage and its children will suffer. So he does whatever it takes to survive.”

“Hey, Oine. Don’t say things like that. Regardless of the reason, it’s true I work for the salary.”

“Yes, yes. Let’s keep extracting money from the Amato Imperial Japan’s Star Navy, in the form of pay, from now on.”

Dawson fell silent, his expression sour, at Oine’s mocking words.

Kiwaka, and then Beera, Cori, and Hitokane, watched his sullen face with smiles.

While Dawson spoke, the pirates secured the captured SU Fleet old-class vessel, and the SU Fleet reorganized its formation.

Intelligence from a pirate scout ship near the asteroid belt indicated the SU Fleet was preparing for another full-scale assault.

Before responding to the SU Fleet's movements, a problem arose regarding the crew of the captured old-class vessel.

The old-class vessel's captain had surrendered to the pirates, but some of the crew refused to accept the surrender.

If only one or two soldiers opposed the surrender, the pirates might have dealt with them in secret. But a significant number of crew members were openly dissenting.

At present, the commanding officer of the soldier's ship is holding the situation, but if the SU Space Force resumes offensive operations, there is risk of spontaneous escalation.

Upon hearing this, Dawson sent a recommendation to the operator of the Hamano Onna.

It proposed confining the dissenting soldier from the old-model vessel and returning him to the SU Space Force.

Dawson's proposal was approved, following similar suggestions from other personnel.

Among the older Orbit Patrol Cruisers, one that sustained minor combat damage but remains operational was assigned to the dissenting soldiers.

The vessel departed from the Hamano Onna and set course beyond the asteroid belt.

As Dawson confirmed the scene on the monitor, Kiwaka asked.

Dawson Captain had said earlier that victory depended on numbers, and that to win decisive battles, more soldiers should be kept. If that is true, then sending these soldiers back to the SU Space Force must be aiding the enemy.

The words were exactly right.

If considering future battles, it would have been better to eliminate the dissenting soldiers than to return them to the pirate camp.

Yet Dawson knew this well. He still believed returning them would cause no problem.

"Will the soldiers actually be accepted by the SU Space Force?"

As if clarifying Dawson's words, the small vessel, heading beyond the asteroid belt, came under concentrated fire from the SU Space Force.

The small vessel, caught off guard by the sudden attack, lost control and switched its communications to full-band transmission (open channel).

‘Stop! We’re allies! We escaped from pirates!’

‘No one who’s once served pirates can be trusted. Pretending to be an ally to bring disaster upon us. We will not fall for that trap.’

‘No, we’re really allies! We haven’t been on a pirate ship!’

‘Annoying. Foolish. We’ve located your position through reverse signal triangulation. Proceeding to that point with concentrated fire.’

Immediately after the words, fired from an SU Space Force vessel, a barrage of cannon fire erupted from multiple SU Space Force advanced ships, moving inward from beyond the asteroid belt.

The fire struck the small vessel directly. Before the dying scream could transmit through the channel, the ship vanished completely.

A shocking sight, but within Dawson's expectations.

From the perspective of the S.U. Navy, it is inconvenient when someone they wish dead returns. A ship suspected of harboring pirates is even less likely to be spared.

Kiwaka bit into the reason Dawson had spoken.

"Such things—allowing a comrade to be shot!"

That was the stance of the SU Space Force. If it were up to me, I would detain those who fled back in a location unaffected by the battle conditions, after disarming them. Calculated, without hesitation—useful as a counterexample to Muraga Hunsa's speech.

Dawson's reasoning did not please Kiwaka. The expression on Kiwaka's face remained grim.

Dawson's expression grew unpleasant as he looked at that face.

Do not sulk because your expectations are not met. I am your superior, not your entertainer. I will speak my own mind, consider what the enemy might think, and explain what I would do if I were on their side—but I have no intention of saying anything to make you feel comfortable.

That is not—no, I apologize. You have answered my questions and taught me about combat strategy. This is not about emotion.

Kiwaka lowered his head, suppressing his expression, and focused on radar observation.

Dawson nearly shrugged, then stopped himself at the last moment. He understood that Kiwaka’s attitude stemmed from distrust of superiors and his own failure to communicate effectively.

Dawson decided to keep the thought in mind: he should speak openly with Kiwaka when time permitted.