Chapter 153: Counterattack Preparations

Returning to Chicken Ball, a fleet of nearly one hundred thousand warships awaited.

Dawson had feared it was a detachment of the SU Space Fleet, but that proved incorrect almost immediately.

Many vessels appeared brand new—no exterior paint applied at all.

Dawson understood the purpose behind the fleet's presence and established communication with Goud.

"Would you mind telling me, are the large fleet outside company-supplied reinforcements?"

"Ah, you're back. Indeed, they were provided on loan for the purpose of fighting the SU Space Fleet."

"Even so, how did they manage to gather such a number?"

"Nothing extraordinary. It's not just one company. The fleet resulted from contributions by numerous enterprises scattered across the vast Orion Arm."

"Are so many companies genuinely expecting pirates to defeat the SU Space Fleet?"

"The corporations are worried. They fear that once the SU Space Fleet crushes the pirates with a large fleet, the fleet itself will be used to enforce corporate control."

"Such a scenario is not implausible."

Human nature tends toward easy solutions. It is restrained by ethics and common sense when it drifts toward complacency.

But this time, the SU Space Fleet has tasted victory through overwhelming force. It has learned that the greatest violence in the Orion Arm can compel any opponent to compliance.

If current events continue, the SU government might shift toward militarism, seeking ease of governance through military dominance.

Militarism, which concentrates all capital in the military, is fundamentally incompatible with capitalism, which demands the free flow of value across enterprises.

Enterprises must halt the advance of the SU Space Fleet to protect their own interests.

"But producing this many vessels cannot be done overnight. The enterprises seem to have anticipated that the pirates gathered at <> would lose."

"Regarding that point, I regretted it, but I relayed Special Lieutenant Dawson's forecast. It was necessary to compel the enterprises to produce more vessels."

"Since things are going well now, I have no complaints. But at what point?"

"Approximately when Special Lieutenant Dawson entrusted the artificial intelligence fleet to Major Miko."

Dawson had envisioned the course of this battle—more precisely, at the moment he considered one possible future in which the pirates would lose to the Space Fleet, Goa had already begun influencing the enterprises.

"Bold move. The pirates might have defeated the Space Fleet."

"Nothing to it. At that time, the pirates won by using ships built by corporations. If establishing a lawless state under pirate control, one must maintain combat forces in reserve."

"...Truly, your ability to provide behind-the-scenes support and coordinate various elements is excellent."

"Indeed, this suits me better than fighting aboard warships."

Dawson was impressed by Goa's talent, and accepted the corporations' support.

"But not all vessels come from corporations. Some show signs of prior use, even if in small numbers."

"Those are from TR, and ships captured by Major Miko during pirate operations—SU Space Fleet vessels. They will likely be used to transport pirates, but personnel are lacking."

Chicken Ball housed many pirates, but a significant number had answered Big Cock's summons and departed.

Dividing the current pirates among corporate assets, TR, and Major Miko's captured vessels inevitably results in excess ship capacity.

"What about the artificial intelligence used to support Chicken Ball operations?"

"Transferred to AI-equipped vessels wherever possible. Still, surplus remains."

"Has a new request for artificial intelligence production been sent to the corporations?"

"Too occupied with building vessels to handle that request."

"…That is a pretext. Given SU Space Fleet's active movements, they are hesitating to manufacture forbidden technology—artificial intelligence—for fear of detection."

One might think it contradictory to supply vessels to pirates, but the supplier can always claim it was a commercial transaction. Should any scrutiny arise later, the penalty would amount to little more than a financial fine. And if only fines are involved, no matter how large the sum, corporations are experts at profit-making—such losses would not trouble them.

But with artificial intelligence, merely being discovered is enough for the Space Fleet to use it as grounds for dissolving the corporation.

If a company were truly destroyed, it would be beyond recovery.

No one would risk such danger to build artificial intelligence for pirates.

"Anyway. Personnel is manageable. The only place a pirate who escaped that battlefield could reach is ≪Chicken Ball≫."

"There are other pirate bases. But why is that?"

My home is Chicken Ball. That’s where commanders who planned strategies to survive the battlefield and fight alongside others are located. If you’re choosing a retreat, it’s the first choice.

Eight thousand pirate vessels survived that battlefield. They are scattered, fleeing in different directions. Each is now capable of deciding their own next move.

Yet there is a rumor that pirates hiding in space are being hunted by伪装 warships disguised as civilian vessels.

If pirates know this rumor, they will inevitably seek out a pirate base. As long as they are at a base, they can repel伪装 warships of that caliber.

Considering which base to go to, they would realize that bases near Earth have already been destroyed by the fleet. They would choose a safer location instead.

If they continue such reasoning, they will recognize that the base where skilled comrades who previously repelled the fleet now gather is optimal.

There may be pirates who do not think this way. But pirates without the intellect to reach such conclusions are useless anyway, and unnecessary in the upcoming SU Fleet engagement.

"Still, it is fortunate that the next engagement with the fleet may be a proper battle."

"Even Special Lieutenant Dawson, would he not be unable to defeat an enemy ten times stronger?"

"If the available forces are strong, there is still a way. But using unknown pirates is difficult. Moreover, at the beginning of the battle, I did not hold command authority."

"Would the outcome have been different if you had held command authority?"

The battlefield had been identified. Three Super Large Battleships equipped with决战 cannons were present. There were multiple strategies available.

For example, use pirate vessels in guerrilla attacks to delay the invasion, set traps ahead of time on the battlefield, or devise new tactics for deploying the决战 cannons. Methods existed to reduce the enemy fleet’s numbers.

If those methods had been effectively used, Dawson reasoned, victory might have been difficult, but inflicting damage sufficient to make the SU Space Force hesitate before the next engagement was certain.

"But it's pointless to speculate now. There's nothing to be gained by discussing what has already happened."

"True enough. Regardless, I'm relieved you've returned safely. You're exhausted after combat. Rest now, in preparation for what lies ahead."

"I'll do that. A retreat from a losing battle truly wears on the body and mind."

Dawson terminated the comms with Goud, granting full rest to the Sparrow Hawk, Mozu, Tunny, and Whale Wave.

To gain mental and physical respite in preparation for the next engagement.