Episode 131: Tactical Combat

Along the edge of SU's TR territory, Dawson attacked a continuous series of habitable planets and moons.

This operation was coordinated with TR forces, but if every planet were driven off by the TR fleet, Dawson would be seen as weak by other pirates.

Thus, once every three to four attacks, the fleet seized resources from planets and moons up to its maximum capacity. Regardless of whether the TR fleet arrived to reinforce.

Of course, Dawson and TR were aligned. They staged intense fleet combat, but the charged particle beam was reduced to exercise-level power. No collateral damage resulted.

After repeating this sequence about five times, various opinions began to circulate within SU.

'The pirates are a fake fleet under TR control, staging attacks to expand their domain.'

'SU Space Force is too busy protecting the construction site of the spatial jump ring to care about frontier sectors.'

'If SU won’t protect us, we should rely on TR, who does protect us.'

'Let’s stop relying on SU and TR. We must defend our own sector ourselves.'

A variety of opinions flowed through the space network, each met with a mix of agreement and rebuttal.

SU government responded.

It publicly erased all criticism of SU from the network.

Despite other opinions existing, a first-time observer might mistakenly assume the government operates without significant criticism.

The SU government may have anticipated this misunderstanding.

Yet some network users remain obstinate.

Among them are obsessive collectors who gather every posted article.

One such collector raised an alarm over the removal of posts.

'SU government is deleting critical posts and comments. Do not be deceived into believing the government is blameless.'

It was merely a warning. Yet many responded.

Speculation arose that the deletions resulted from overreach by government officials, or that the platform operators were ceding to government pressure. Rumors spread that inconvenient truths existed within the posts, and that similar content was removed to bury them without suspicion. People began circulating these and other theories.

These theories generated further variations, yet shared one common point.

The SU government is untrustworthy.

Actually, looking at the information that's come out, trusting the SU government is difficult.

They dispatch no fleet to the frontier regions, abandon those areas, allow TR to seize them, then declare TR's actions unlawful. From the perspective of SU citizens, that makes the SU government appear to be nothing more than a parent figure who offers only empty promises.

In truth, Major Miko's fleet is currently engaged in plundering operations near the center of SU space, and SU forces are being redirected there. That is why defending the frontier regions has become difficult.

Explaining this only makes matters worse, since few believe it. That is proof the SU government is losing the trust of its people.

Kiwaka, monitoring the radar screen, interjected with a complaint.

Both of you, aren't you forgetting we're in the middle of a battle right now!?

I remember it well. We’re in the middle of a retreat while the TR is conducting naval gunfire.

As Dawson responded, a thick beam of charged particle fire passed beside the Sparrow Hawk.

Oh, hitting us at this range—impressive aim.

That’s not aim, that’s just bad luck hitting us!

No need to worry. The defense battleship Whale Wave is in position. Any fire likely to strike the Sparrow Hawk will be intercepted.

Dawson spoke, reassuring Kiwaka, then returned fire with the Sparrow Hawk’s own guns.

A near miss demands a near miss in return.

Dawson’s fire maintained a clear safety margin, yet the TR fleet visibly distanced itself from the Sparrow Hawk’s position, as if fearful of a near miss.

Between the two fleets, which were engaged in this exchange, lay an inhabited, fixed-orbit artificial satellite.

The gunfire exchanged between both fleets avoided striking the satellite.

Yet, from the satellite’s apparent commander, a desperate voice came through the comms.

—Stop, stop it! —If you’re going to fight, do it at a distance—! A glancing hit!

The voice carried genuine anguish, but Dawson continued firing without mercy. The TR fleet responded in kind.

Why, then, were both fleets exchanging fire with the satellite positioned between them?

It was to create a witness proving the pirate fleet and the TR fleet were not collaborating.

The satellite’s inhabitants would experience firsthand the exchange of live-fire between the pirates and the TR fleet, becoming living witnesses.

"Even if we aim carefully, the absence of any accidental hits is unnatural."

"Exactly. Before the TR fleet arrived, I secured the structural map of that artificial satellite."

"Nice work, Oine. Hmm, yes—given this layout, damaging this area slightly would be acceptable."

Dawson operated one of the Sparrow Hawk’s turrets. He destroyed a facility on the unfortunate satellite with precise fire.

"Yieeaaah! Alert for vibration!? Where was it hit? Where is it damaged!? Seal the bulkhead at the affected location to prevent air loss!"

Dawson, the one who fired the shot, could only smile wryly at the panicked commands and sobbing tone.

"Anyone with composure would see this is minor damage."

"Satellite commanders aren't military personnel. They haven't been trained to control panic."

"Have you at least practiced evacuation drills? Just follow the procedure."

"Actually, it appears no evacuation drills are conducted in T.R."

Oine's explanation made Dawson blink.

Seeing Dawson's disbelief, Oine displayed supporting documents on the screen.

The documents listed evacuation drill participation rates. In no orbital zone had more than ten percent of personnel experienced a drill.

"Without training, how do you expect to react in an emergency?"

"Evacuation relies solely on individual initiative. That's why the mortality rate during emergencies remains high."

The additional data Oine sent detailed incidents where panicked civilians crushed each other while rushing toward evacuation routes, resulting in numerous deaths during the process.

"…We can't have it turn out like those reports. Don't overdo it. Limit the impact to just the one shot we did earlier."

"Wouldn't want a mass suicide like trapped lemmings on that satellite."

Dawson issued orders to accelerate the retreat of his fleet.

The previous bombardment had been deliberate. But each exchange of fire increased the likelihood of accidental fire on the satellite.

And probability, even when extremely low, is still capable of realization.

The risk of accidental fire on the satellite was too high, even at such a low probability. Better to end the simulated combat before that possibility materialized.

"Once decided, move quickly. The preparations are sufficient."

Dawson gathered the fleet. In an instant, he reversed course—so sudden and seamless it seemed as if the previous engagement had been a deception.

The retreat was flawless. Textbook-perfect.