Episode 146: Battle at the High-Gravity Planet

Dawson focused on securing the escape route he had anticipated, taking control of the pirates traveling alongside him.

"——For now, during the retreat, you've agreed to fall under my command."

"Considering I already had 100 pirate vessels under my command, it's the shade of a large tree."

"Also, the fact that Lord Ron and the battlecruiser with battle cannon did not flee this way may play a role."

The pirates gathered at the battlefield had split into several groups during their retreat.

At that time, the two surviving super large battleships were operating separately.

With the two key pirate vessels absent, the SU space fleet pursuing them did not appear to have the determination to catch up.

Not that they are careless—rather, it should be seen as waiting for the other pirates to be dealt with before focusing on the Super Large Battleship.

After eliminating the troublesome Super Large Battleship, the SU space fleet would regroup and then pursue the remaining pirates.

If that was the intended sequence, the lack of urgency in the fleet chasing Dawson’s group becomes understandable.

“Should we make one hit to restore the pirates’ morale?”

Dawson first calculated the disparity in combat strength.

Considering total numbers, and the difference in ships and equipment between pirates and the space fleet, the pursuing SU fleet should be estimated at roughly double the pirate force.

“At double that—perhaps we can manage….”

Of course, there would be no chance of victory if they engaged head-on in an empty sector.

Engaging an enemy force in a region where the naval fleet cannot fully utilize its capabilities could still allow for localized victory, even against double the opposing strength.

At least, Dawson believed so.

"Oine. Display any complex terrain along the escape route."

"Three locations meet those criteria."

Oine projects three regions onto the star map.

An asteroid belt with active mining operations. A star system dominated by large planets, resulting in uneven gravitational fields. A region affected by a recent stellar explosion, where fine dust and magnetic currents create chaotic, storm-like flows.

Each location offered distinct advantages for ambushing the pursuing force.

Considering the disparity in strength and the pirates' capabilities, Dawson decided to set an ambush in the star system with large planets.

Dawson led his pirates on a long-range jump and arrived at the star system designated as their destination—dominated by large planets.

No sign of the pursuing fleet exists at this moment. But they will use position-finding equipment to verify the jump point and then proceed directly into this system.

"Time is short. Move to the designated location immediately."

Dawson issued orders to the pirates under his command while wearing his mask.

The location where the pirates deployed was the second most massive planet in the system, after the central star. It had an atmosphere and confirmed water presence, but its gravity was three times Earth's, making it uninhabitable for humans.

The high gravity extended the gravitational well significantly, requiring different navigation techniques compared to normal operations.

Dawson chose this location as the battlefield to exploit the difference between pirate vessels and military warships.

Pirate vessels often modify their speed to evade pursuers. They also leave storage space empty to carry stolen goods, reducing overall mass.

These two traits could become advantages in strong gravitational fields.

In contrast, SU Space Force vessels maintain standard fleet speeds. Their combat vessels are fully loaded with armaments, leaving no room for cargo.

When caught in a strong gravity well, they face multiple performance limitations.

Dawson exploited this disparity to surprise the pursuing Space Force.

Pirates positioned their ships just below the threshold of falling into the high-gravity planet.

If SU vessels descended to the same region, their performance gap would ensure their own destruction.

The navy, too, appears to be considering the situation. The naval fleet has assembled at a higher orbit than the location where the pirate vessels have gathered.

"Questions are coming in from the pirates—how do we handle this?"

"Tell them to follow my orders."

After issuing instructions to Beila, Dawson decided to open hostilities. He ordered the fleet to attack the pirate vessels.

Artillery fire and missile strikes began from the pirate ships in low orbit toward the navy fleet in higher orbit.

The mass-charge particle cannon projects heated particles directly. The thermal beam cannon emits light with thermal energy. Neither weapon requires correction for gravitational attenuation.

Gravitational influence still affects the trajectory, causing a slight deviation in the projected path.

"Stay calm. Adjust accordingly. The navy experiences the same gravitational effects on its attacks."

As Dawson had signaled to his allies, the counterattack from the space fleet curved under the planet's gravitational pull.

The first attack from each side ended without result.

From here, overcoming gravitational influence enables improved operational effectiveness.

Which holds the advantage, pirates or the space navy.

Dawson, who had chosen to fight at this location, held the advantage. The space force, unexpectedly compelled to fight, was at a disadvantage.

Dawson had previously accounted for the gravitational influence of the high-gravity planet and had adjusted the targeting system to compensate immediately after the prior attack.

The navy must simultaneously achieve gravity well containment and correct attack deviation.

The difference in completion time between one task and two tasks was evident.

"Second Volley"

Under Dawson's command, the pirate vessel launched a coordinated attack.

The correction applied to the firing calculations had resulted in a higher hit count.

However, the pirate vessel's armaments were largely underdeveloped, limiting the number of confirmed destroyments.

"Attack until destroyed. If one shot does not suffice, fire as many as needed. Continue the assault."

The words, intended to lift spirits despite the lack of progress, spurred the pirates. Continuous bursts of fire erupted from their vessel.

Gradually, the Federation ships began descending from orbit. Damage to propulsion systems prevented sustained velocity. They were pulled downward by planetary gravity.

The pirates cheered at the sight of the falling vessels.

"Can do it! Keep attacking!"

"The Federation isn't worth much!"

The pirates exuded confidence. Dawson, however, remained expressionless beneath his mask.

The reason was that the pirate vessels and the space fleet's craft were drawing closer.

The pirates leaned forward in attack, unconsciously moving their ships nearer to the enemy in hopes of striking.

The space fleet accepted this proximity, as the shorter distance reduced the time of flight for incoming fire, thereby minimizing gravitational distortion.

"Timing is critical."

The objective of this engagement was to restore the pirates' morale and confidence.

The fleet had already achieved this by inflicting several damages on its own vessels.

To inflict excessive damage now would undo all progress.

As long as the fleet alone sustained damage, a strategic withdrawal remained the optimal course.

Dawson issued the retreat order just before the space fleet's attack intensified.

"Follow the pre-announced plan—evade along the swing-by trajectory. Stay close."

Dawson took the lead, setting a course for the Sparrow Hawk to escape.

The pirate fleet he had originally commanded followed, and other pirates trailed behind in sequence.

The sudden halt in attacks left the space fleet disoriented, their assault faltering.

Moreover, attempting to pursue the pirates along the same trajectory would render further attacks impossible.

The reason was the planet swing-by trajectory Dawson had selected.

The key to a swing-by maneuver was entering deep into the planet's gravity well while gradually increasing vessel speed.

Entering deep into the gravity well means the gravitational influence during firing or shooting increases over time. Since gravitational effects vary by location, attack calculations become complex.

Under such conditions, hitting a target is impossible.

Additionally, during evasion along a swing-by trajectory, the ship must accelerate while being pulled by gravity, resulting in extreme gravitational stress.

No matter how advanced the inertial control system aboard the vessel, it faces gravitational acceleration beyond its operational limit.

— Uggh...

Dawson felt pressure on his body, several times greater than normal gravity.

Kiwaka collapsed under the strain, falling from the chair and clinging to the floor. Hitokane leaned fully back against the slightly reclined seat, face twisted in pain.

The artificial intelligences with mechanical bodies maintain composed expressions, despite the environment. They sit upright, restrained in position, neither lifting arms nor tilting heads.

Even Dawson and his crew struggle.

Among the pirates, those lacking endurance begin to reduce speed.

'Can breathe—what alarm is this!? Planet impact trajectory!?'

A swingby is a trajectory passing near a planet. Slowing the ship on such a path inevitably results in gravitational capture and descent.

'Start re-acceleration! What's wrong? Ship speed not increasing!'

Exiting the gravitational pull of a High-Gravity Planet requires more thrust than even the fastest pirate vessel can deliver.

The pirate ship, having lost speed, now descends toward the planet.

The vessel's surface is treated to withstand aerodynamic heating during re-entry into a planetary atmosphere.

The treatment assumes a gravitational force comparable to that of Earth, suitable for human habitation.

It does not account for aerodynamic heating during entry into a High-Gravity Planet, where human life is impossible.

Even if the vessel survives the heating phase, it cannot achieve escape velocity after impact with the planet's surface.

Regardless, the pirates’ fate is certain: death on the planet’s surface.

Dawson and the other pirates cannot assist those falling, as they cannot decelerate the ship.

Yet the sacrifice of those pirates had an unexpected benefit.

The pursuit by the space fleet halted when the desperate cries of pirates falling toward the planet reached the full-band communication (open channel).

They had realized that chasing recklessly would result in certain death upon impact with the planet. They had hesitated.

Thus, Dawson and the brave pirates successfully escaped the High-Gravity Planet via a slingshot trajectory and evaded the space fleet.