Chapter 124: Temporary Return Route

Dawson decided to return to Amato Imperial Japan with the Sparrow Hawk, the Escort Battlecruiser, and the Orbit Patrol Cruiser carrying Ida.

The rest of the fleet was entrusted to Major Jinku of Mozu.

‘Do you not fear that the fleet you entrusted might be used as Miiko Major intended?’

Dawson waved his hand in response to Jinku’s overtly malicious tone.

‘Since I entrusted it, I have no intention of interfering. Do as you wish.’

‘You mean I may participate?’

‘If you believe it is reasonable. But will the artificial intelligences obey?’

Jinku was merely temporarily assuming command of the fleet from Dawson.

Dawson’s position remained clear: he opposed Miiko Major’s plan to destroy Heaven Hailou.

The majority of the fleet consisted of artificial intelligence vessels. If Jinku Lieutenant attempted to participate in the destruction of Heaven Hailou, which side would they support?

'They would obey. They would judge Dawson Special Lieutenant’s command as absolute.'

'If you are determined to proceed, hand command over to one of the AI vessels and go alone.'

'No, that is unnecessary. What happened earlier was merely verification.'

'In that case, fine. You may handle the pirate operations freely. Attacking inhabited satellites and enriching yourself is acceptable.'

'But I am concerned about my subordinates. They are already receiving large sums of money. I fear they may lose control of themselves.'

'If they choose to destroy themselves through extravagance, that is their personal matter. The Captain should not worry about private affairs.'

The Captain is a substitute parent for the crew. If they are heading down the wrong path, one must speak up and stop them.

A grown adult lecturing another grown adult? That doesn’t happen even in ordinary households.

Bad currency drives out good. One must keep watch.

Are you referring to good currency—Lieutenant Makoto?

Special Lieutenant Dawson also took an interest in her, did he not?

I won’t deny it. Tell her to keep up the good work.

Dawson ended the comms with Major Jinku and launched from the Chicken Ball. The Escort Battlecruiser and Orbit Patrol Cruiser followed into orbit.

With these three ships, the journey toward Amato Imperial Japan began.

On the return route to Amato Imperial Japan, Dawson’s group entered TR space.

Oine then presented news reports circulating within TR.

Reports from our side suggest the Tenshin Koudan is dominating the conversation.

The scene displayed on the spatial projection monitor was a segment from a debate program.

"——That is why now, with rebellion gaining momentum within SU, is the opportunity!"

"But consider the previous war. TR fleets were consistently outmaneuvered by SU fleets. That proves it is too early to act."

"You don't understand! With the Heaven Hailou, SU can deploy a full fleet into the heart of TR-controlled space in an instant. The only way to eliminate this threat is to align with the momentum the Tenshin Koudan is building!"

"Joining an organization like the Tenshin Koudan? How can that be justified? Religious groups are too suspicious for this era of spacefaring civilization."

Dawson watches the heated exchange with indifference.

"Cooperating with the Tenshin Koudan means recognizing a religious organization. That is a clear reason to stay away."

Oine interrupts with a rebuttal.

"Even if it is temporary, joining forces with them could prevent harm to SU. That does not seem unreasonable."

"Granting legitimacy to a religious organization—even temporarily—leads to complications later. That is a fact established by Earth-era history."

"History from the past does not necessarily apply to the spacefaring era."

"Human thought should have evolved to match the conditions of space."

Dawson's tone clearly indicates that humanity has not changed since the time it lived on Earth.

Oine, being artificial intelligence, had not evolved despite the passage of decades since humanity left Earth. The idea seemed impossible to believe.

Dawson was not the only person whose opinion mattered. I decided to ask others.

“Hitonane and Kiwaka, what do you think?”

“Belief itself is not inherently wrong. Religious institutions as a foundation for faith are not wrong either. But when religious organizations gain power, there is a risk that faith itself becomes distorted.”

“Believing in gods after moving into space is absurd. Some claim fortune and misfortune are divine acts. If that is true, then the futility of prayer should be obvious.”

The void of space is merciless. A minor malfunction in a spacecraft or life pod can endanger lives immediately.

Praying for safe passage through space does not repair a ruptured hull. It does not stop air from escaping.

Living in a world where such arbitrary deaths are common, people have come to view the existence of gods negatively.

Precisely speaking, they acknowledge that certain outcomes—such as survival from desperate conditions—appear to be divine intervention. Yet they no longer believe such outcomes could ever come to them through prayer.

‘Even if a god existed and could extend salvation, the hand reaching out would be completely random. Therefore, prayer is merely wasted time.’

This is the human understanding of gods in this era of spacefaring.

It is precisely because of this understanding that religious organizations attempting to gather followers under divine banners are outdated relics, out of step with the times.

Granting authority or power to an outdated organization like that is bound to result in missteps—no prediction necessary.

At the very least, any modern person with sound values would think this way.

Oine finally understood, having learned this perspective from Kiwaka.

"It's like an outdated machine that hasn't been updated. If that's the case, then useful resources should be redirected elsewhere."

Oine seemed to accept it in an odd way, but Dawson decided to leave it at that, as long as Oine understood.

"In any case, it would help if, by the time we return from Amato Imperial Japan, the situation in the Orion Arm had settled or worsened."

"Why do you wish for two opposite outcomes simultaneously?"

If the situation stabilizes, I can cause disruption. If it deteriorates, I can exploit the chaos.

Another declaration from Dawson, once again causing trouble for S.U.

The crew on the Sparrow Hawk’s bridge had grown accustomed to Dawson’s schemes, resigned to the fact that he had begun plotting once more.