Chapter 134: Raid

Twenty pirate vessels descend toward the物资 storage facility on the inhabited planet.

Approximately two or three ships land at each storage site.

The Amato Imperial Japan vessels, including the Sparrow Hawk piloted by Dawson, observe the scene from outside the planet’s orbit.

This surveillance serves both to recover the destroyed SU Space Fleet vessels and to monitor for the arrival of expected reinforcements from the Space Fleet.

“Oine. How are the pirates faring on the other two planets?”

“Mixed progress. The pirates have more ships, but they are hesitating.”

Pirates become dangerous when emboldened, but otherwise operate like untrained pilots.

They are overwhelmed when facing properly trained military personnel.

“What is the extent of the damage?”

The pirates seem unwilling to die. They are desperately avoiding fire, making every effort not to be hit. So far, in either planetary sector, the number of ships sunk is barely more than can be counted on one hand.

They are so focused on avoiding attacks that their formation has completely broken down. Now they are simply being scattered.

How far will the pirates in the other two sectors flee? Will the space forces currently fighting them pursue the fleeing pirates? Or will they come here, to the planet where Dawson’s pirates have begun raiding?

Dawson considers these factors calmly. He calculates the maximum time for withdrawal.

"Extract from the planet in ten minutes. Evacuate this star system fifteen minutes after that. Bera."

"Got it~. I'll relay the message to the pirates~."

Bera sends the communication. Immediately, a reply comes back from the pirates: "We need a little more time."

Bera ignores it. She cuts the communication, saying she will not be responsible if time passes.

It appears harsh, but it is an effective method to force the pirates to confront reality.

Moreover, if time is spent asking Bera for assistance, that same time could be used to seize enough precious metal bars to carry one or two back.

Dawson’s allotted time has expired.

Of the twenty that descended, fourteen have returned from the planet to space.

Dawson issues a directive to all ships.

"Use one minute for withdrawal preparations. Then leave this region. The fleet will arrive to reinforce us. But if we focus solely on escape, a route exists to evade capture. No need to worry."

The remaining six ships are treated as absent. A communication comes from the pirate vessels.

The transmission is not to Dawson’s ship. It is to other pirate vessels still stationed on the planet.

Get aboard quickly! You won’t escape in time!

If we boost the generator, we can break orbit in one minute. Hurry up!

Four pirate vessels ascended in haste, responding to the urgent transmission.

After one minute of evacuation preparation, the remaining two vessels had not returned.

At the precise moment the time elapsed, Dawson issued the command.

Retreat. All ships, maximum thrust. Follow my vessel.

At the instant the order was given, the Sparrow Hawk accelerated at maximum speed—slightly below top speed. The reason was simple: the speed matched that of the pirate vessels operating at full engine output.

The Sparrow Hawk surged forward. The other ships followed, launching in pursuit.

A few of the pirate vessels hesitated, uncertain whether to pursue or remain, but eventually turned their engines toward the Sparrow Hawk, likely sensing the approaching SU Fleet.

As the fleet moved forward with two fewer ships, Kiwaka reported.

"Jump exit signature near the previous planet. Anticipating SU Fleet reinforcement."

"Likely. And inconvenient timing."

Dawson’s muttered words after that were not directed at his own fleet, nor at the SU Fleet.

They were aimed at the two pirate vessels that had just emerged from jump space, lagging behind the planet.

In fact, the pirate ships were now exposed broadside to the SU Fleet as they exited jump space—inevitably, the timing could not have been worse.

The pirate ships, seemingly aware of their bad luck, began threatening the SU Fleet over full-band communication—open channel.

'Don't shoot! We've got civilians from a planet here! You can't just leave them to die!'

'If you let us escape to a safe place, we'll release them. Just shut up and don't say "help me"!'

The voices of the pirates and the civilians they carried echoed through the comm for a time.

Hearing this, Dawson exhaled.

"People weren't supposed to be brought along. If they're here anyway, they must have dragged them themselves."

"Typical pirate behavior."

"Could there be other pirate ships carrying civilians too?"

"Maybe. If so, what do we do?"

"The stolen goods belong to the pirates. As long as they don't harm me, I won't interfere."

Throughout this exchange, the pirates continued threatening the S.U. military with hostages.

Dawson, no longer interested, erased all expression from his face and gave Oine a light gesture.

"Then we proceed."

Oine placed a hand on the spatial projection monitor.

The tone of the pirates' voices on the comms shifted immediately.

"What the hell!? Hey, what are you doing!?"

Confusion rang out, then the transmission cut abruptly.

Immediately after, Kiwaka detected an anomaly on the radar screen.

"A pirate vessel emerging from the planet is charging toward the reinforcing fleet."

Two pirate vessels advanced, emitting bright light from their propulsion units and firing all turrets indiscriminately, visible at maximum zoom.

Just moments ago, communications indicated they were attempting to escape, using hostages as shields.

Now, they scream without regard for their own lives.

The sudden shift in situation, combined with Oine’s actions immediately before the change.

When both are considered, anyone would predict Dawson’s involvement.

“Did you plant something on the pirate vessels?”

Kiwaka asked, substituting for a direct inquiry. Dawson acknowledged without hesitation.

“Would be troublesome if they survived and handed over our information. So, in case of necessity, I reprogrammed the control systems to ensure they die in a kamikaze strike.”

“Kamikaze… meaning they’re?”

Dawson felt a bad premonition and reviewed the maximum zoom footage. Just as the S.U. Navy's artillery struck one pirate vessel, the ship exploded violently, scattering debris across space.

The impact point had been minor damage at best, yet the vessel detonated with unexpected force.

The second ship, moments after its propulsion system was destroyed and rendered immobile, also exploded—reducing it to cosmic debris.

"J-just like that... self-destruct mechanisms..."

"Actually, it's for evidence suppression. What we just saw wasn't the intended use."

"Meaning it's for evidence suppression..."

"Exactly. The purpose is to remotely detonate ships destroyed elsewhere, not under my command."

While Dawson explained the reason, Oine manipulated the screen.

The manipulation caused a large explosion that engulfed SU Fleet vessels sent to capture the ships, which had been disabled by SU Fleet combat actions and were not under Dawson's command.