Episode 135: Values

Dawson prevented the leak of information from the pirates to the SU Space Force by an uncompromising method.

Kiwaka, whose sense of justice was strong, turned a critical gaze toward him.

"Whose life do you think you're treating like that?"

Dawson considered the question, which was quite philosophical, then decided to speak honestly.

"I am a soldier serving the Amato Imperial Japan. Therefore, the only lives I need to concern myself with are those of the Amato Imperial Japan's citizens."

"So you don't care about the pirates because they aren't citizens of the Amato Imperial Japan?"

"That is part of it. But in this case, the pirates knowingly participated in the assault on a habitable planet. They wagered their lives. It is therefore an expected consequence that they die if they fail."

Kiwaka grimaced at Dawson's statement.

"Death as a consequence of failure—doesn't that seem too harsh?"

"On the contrary, it is an act of mercy."

"Where would that be?"

"Are you really expecting the SU Navy to hold a proper trial for pirates they've captured?"

Pirates are not military personnel. Therefore, prisoner-of-war regulations do not apply. They are treated at best as criminals, at worst as insurgents.

And if treated as insurgents, a trial is unnecessary. Execution on-site, based on immediate judgment, is possible.

Since the SU government has already declared open pursuit of pirates, the current status of captured pirates is set lower than standard.

"After extracting information through torture, the standard procedure is to strip them naked and send them drifting in space. Or, as a deterrent to other pirates and a demonstration to SU citizens, they might broadcast the execution live."

"...So you're saying you'll let them die painlessly because their lives were already forfeit? Isn't that arrogance?"

"Maybe. But at least I’d choose to die with the enemy rather than let them use my life against me."

Kiwaka did not accept Dawson’s resolve.

"Imposing your principles on others is the hallmark of a bad superior."

"If that’s the case, I’ll exercise authority. Order to Kiwaka: disregard the pirates."

Dawson’s half-smile was clearly a joke.

Yet Kiwaka, despite resistance, found a plausible excuse in the command.

Seeing Kiwaka’s conflict, Dawson gave a wry smile.

"Your seriousness is admirable, but directing it toward pirates is questionable."

With a gesture, Dawson signaled. Oine responded by playing the intercepted audio from the pirates’ communication.

"Hehehe. Commander Dawson, we’ve got supplies piled high in the ship’s belly."

"We’ve made a nice profit from this one."

"Unbelievable! We were driven off by the Space Fleet and starving!"

"That’s right! Send us our share!"

"Next time, we’ll be under Commander Dawson’s command. So hand over what we earned this time to another fleet."

"What?! I’m planning to make money under Commander Dawson again next time!"

"You earned it this time. You have to pass it on next time."

The words that followed were not mourning the dead among the pirates, but only greed, a repulsive display of avarice.

Dawson turned his gaze back to Kiyaka, listening to the exchange.

"Do you think these people are worth worrying about?"

"...Human life is irreplaceable. But my principles have shifted slightly."

Even the righteous Kiyaka seemed unable to justify the pirates’ disgrace.

Perhaps that was why the subject shifted.

"Will you continue using the same pirates down there in the future?"

"No. Next time, we'll use the pirates who didn't profit this time. They've shown they can make gains under my command. They should comply more readily now."

"Under Captain Dawson's command, pirate vessels haven't sunk. That fact alone should make them trust their lives to us."

"Other pirates will see it as the fault of those who failed to escape the SU Fleet's reinforcements."

A dead man has no voice.

Dawson smirked, letting the misunderstanding persist.

As planned, Dawson moved through the central zone of SU space, visiting inhabited planets and moons, switching commanders among the pirate fleet each time.

By the time the pirates’ command rotation completed, they showed no dissatisfaction with Dawson’s leadership.

Following orders yielded large credit gains, and they achieved consecutive victories against the fleet with minimal losses. There was no reason to deviate.

When operating outside Dawson’s command, the pirates also changed their approach.

They realized that surviving until the next opportunity to rejoin Dawson’s command would yield substantial credits. There was no need to risk combat with the fleet.

As a result, they began avoiding decisive engagements—actively using suppression fire to deter the fleet from approaching, but refraining from attempting to destroy it.

The outcome was that pirate casualties dropped dramatically, even when not under Dawson’s command.

There would be no need to activate the covert override system Dawson had secretly installed, if no ships were rendered non-maneuverable.

The inhumane treatment, which Kiwaka had feared, ceased after the first two engagements.