Episode 118 A New Move

One month had passed since Dawson completed the training of the mercenaries from the Private Military Company 'Coaster'.

Dawson had already returned to 'Chicken Ball' and resumed piracy operations.

The issue arose regarding the target to pursue.

Dawson's fleet consisted of fifty vessels.

Frankly, engaging standard merchant convoys or small SU Space Force patrols would be excessive force at best.

Dividing the fleet into ten groups, each targeting a separate convoy, would be more efficient.

But such actions were possible for other pirates as well.

If one could operate fifty vessels, one should do something only possible with fifty vessels.

Dawson considered this and began searching for a suitable target.

The plan that came to mind was to seize habitable planets and moons where the SU Space Force maintained weak defenses.

"If pirates occupy a star system, the SU government and Space Force will lose all credibility."

Dawson's expression turned calculating. He and Oine searched for a system of suitable location and easy to subdue.

They attacked the first one they found.

As a result, within one month of resuming piracy, they successfully seized two habitable moons by force. They did so after destroying the SU Space Force vessels defending them.

For Dawson, this moon seizure was, in effect, a performance meant to expose the vulnerability of the SU Space Force.

He had no intention of governing the captured moons. After extracting supplies from only a few of the fifty vessels in his fleet, he withdrew immediately.

"Attacking, taking supplies and metals, then retreating. A behavior similar to the horse-mounted tribes of Earth's past—Mongols—or the seafaring barbarians—Vikings."

Dawson nodded in agreement.

Thus, due to Dawson's piracy across the SU-controlled sector, residents of the stars within that domain began filing complaints with the SU Space Fleet.

That was understandable. If the Space Fleet had properly defended them, the supplies would not have been stolen.

But the Space Fleet had lost to the pirates and allowed the theft to occur without resistance.

This was clearly a failure by the Space Fleet. Residents were justified in their anger.

Especially those on the inhabited satellites that had suffered the theft directly—some demanded replacement of lost supplies and food from the Space Fleet itself.

The SU Space Fleet accepted requests from each star, promised to strengthen planetary defense, and carried out the promise.

That should have brought relief. It did not.

The SU Space Fleet had surplus vessels—old and obsolete models—yet still lacked sufficient ships and personnel to cover the entire vast Orion Arm. Especially after heavy losses of aging vessels in combat against TR forces and pirates, the shortage of ships and personnel became acute.

Necessarily, strengthening defense within star systems and near satellites required weakening the defense of the Star Arm Nebula (Main Road) and the Interstellar Side Route (Sub Road).

Doing so meant pirates would now dominate navigation across the void.

Defending inhabited space zones is possible, but maintaining trade routes as economic infrastructure is not. The result is negative impact on daily life.

Criticism of the defense strategy now focuses once again on the Star Arm Navy.

‘The Star Arm Navy does not understand civilian life.’ ‘A military that loses to pirates has no purpose.’ ‘Rather than abandon people and ships in other star arms, we would prefer stronger defense of the Orion Arm.’

The criticism is valid. But the Star Arm Navy possesses a traditional weapon to silence dissent.

‘If you dislike being protected by the navy, withdraw naval vessels from your system. You could use those ships to strengthen defense along the Star Arm Nebula.’

The article, presented as a statement from a high-ranking naval officer, amplified criticism from residents of productive star systems while successfully silencing dissent from inhabitants of non-specialized systems.

Residents of unremarkable systems feared that, if abandoned by the government and the navy, they would be truly left behind.

They fell silent, indeed. Yet dissatisfaction remained.

The navy had used the safety of the residents as leverage. Trust in such an entity was impossible.

This sentiment naturally led to growing support for non-naval military forces. A number of mercenaries entered exclusive contracts, and began establishing independent defense capabilities.

Demand for mercenaries increased. Competition for mercenaries spread across the star systems.

Mercenaries with notable records began securing high-value contracts. A positive feedback loop emerged: high-value contracts enabled upgrades to ships, which in turn led to further achievements.

Dawson observed the situation and felt satisfaction that his plans were progressing as intended.

"Exposing the government and the space fleet's abandonment policy, then misleading the public about the space fleet's actual strength—just that has already caused widespread chaos within the Orion Arm."

"Dawson, a thank-you message has arrived from Coaster. They managed to secure high-value contracts after deploying mercenaries alongside their corporate partners, apparently due to the mercenaries' demonstrated capability."

"Tell them to moderate their earnings. The role of Coaster's mercenaries is to protect the ships of their parent corporation."

"There is no need to worry about that. With mercenaries in high demand, people are flocking in from both pirates and the general population, eager to join their ranks."

"…Tell them not to overstep. I’ve already made it clear to the other side that I won’t be mimicking instructors again."

"Yes. We’re busy with pirate operations on our end as well. We’ll send a refusal notice."

After that conversation with Oine, Dawson turned his gaze toward the crew on the bridge.

All of them were visibly elated.

Dawson understood the reason for their joy.

"Still, with this much pirate credit, most things are within reach."

Dawson gestured, summoning a spatial projection monitor, and called up his personal pirate account.

The credit balance displayed there was an amount he had never seen before—astronomically large.

The reason for such a large credit balance was, of course, the materials stolen from the habitation satellite and sold.

With fifty vessels fully loaded to capacity, even dividing the proceeds among all crew and artificial intelligences, a modest lifestyle could be maintained for life without further labor.

Having done this twice, it was natural that the account contained enough credits for a lifetime of indulgence.

With such a vast amount of credits, it was natural that the Sparrow Hawk's crew could purchase whatever they desired and remain satisfied.

"I should probably spend some of it, but I can't think of what to use it for..."

Dawson recognized his lack of hobbies. He had no use for the credits.

There were no complaints about the Sparrow Hawk. Additional vessels had already been contracted to the corporation as compensation for mercenary training. Personal equipment was complete and required no updates.

If these credits were from Amato Imperial Japan, donating them to an orphanage would have resolved the issue. However, pirate credits could not be transferred to Amato Imperial Japan, only converted into TR funds.

Another option existed: purchasing precious metals with the credits and selling them in Amato Imperial Japan. But the effort and travel time required made this impractical except when returning to Amato Imperial Japan for other reasons.

Dawson was pondering what to do when a sudden communication arrived. From Ida.

"What is it, Ida? Is there a problem?"

Dawson asked, but upon seeing the image on the screen, he understood the reason for the call.

"Captain Dawson, this is a fully customized, state-of-the-art military combat android, from top to bottom. We've upgraded the model used as bodyguards for government officials with full custom specifications."

Ida's full-body image had changed from the previous S.U. Space Force combat android design.

Previously, it had looked like a machine built to fight—human-shaped with armored plating.

Now, it appeared as a young woman in her twenties, energetic and vibrant, dressed in military uniform.

Brown short hair, a well-proportioned face, full chest, and strong, athletic shoulders—she looked like a female soldier from a combat simulation film.

But this was the frame Ida had chosen, prioritizing weapon specifications. The physical performance of the frame was clearly superior to its appearance.

"Quite the capable frame, this one."

"Indeed, indeed. The previous standard military combat android was adequate, but this frame's motion smoothness is markedly superior. That large chest area is admittedly cumbersome. However, as it houses the final defense mechanism protecting vital components during attack, it cannot be removed."

Ida grasped her chest through her clothing and pressed her fingers into it, kneading firmly.

The motion was not provocative. Rather, it resembled the act of subduing something inconvenient, a way to release tension.

Dawson observed the motion, his mind focused on the technical question of how such softness could provide protection.

Probably filled with heat-resistant or impact-absorbing gel, designed to stop blaster fire or ballistic rounds.

But that was a last resort. In practice, they would fight while wearing powered armor or armored spacesuits.

As Dawson considered this, Oine suddenly struck him on the head.

"Ow. What was that for?"

"Staring at a woman's chest is improper conduct."

"Huh? A woman's chest—"

To Dawson, he had been observing the equipment on the body. But from an outside view, it appeared as if he were staring intently at the chest of a woman in the image.

Oine, like Ida, was a body itself.

It was natural she would notice a man staring too closely at a chest that was not her own.

"—Yes. I apologize. I was careless."

Be careful. Dawson seems oblivious to the nuances around him.

Oine’s pouting anger—was it directed at Dawson’s unflinching gaze upon her large breasts, or at the way her youthful frame had caused her chest to appear smaller?

Only Oine knew the truth.