Chapter 154: Issues and Deployment

After the break, Dawson conducted a verification of forces prepared for combat against the SU Space Force.

He encountered an unexpected problem.

"Perhaps I should have reconsidered the forces provided by corporations."

Dawson muttered with mild disbelief, staring at the documentation of the vessels supplied by corporations.

He had examined the documentation because the vessels' appearance was unlike anything he had seen before.

"A vessel constructed by a company skilled in shipbuilding, armed by a company skilled in weaponry, powered by a company skilled in propulsion systems, generating power through a company skilled in generators, and other components built by companies specializing in their respective fields. Technically, it could be called a production method leveraging individual strengths..."

The vessel was assembled through division of labor. However, once each company completed its assigned part, it had no further involvement. The reliability of the vessel as a whole was zero.

If a problem arises with the vessel, it is unclear where to report it.

"This method is the only way to gather the required numbers. Even if using unverified ships and equipment is common among pirates, it still raises concerns."

"Dawson. The inspection of the vessel in question is complete. It appears to be operational for combat use, at least in theory."

Dawson feels a slight relief and suspicion in response to Oine's report.

"‘At least in theory’ means there are still issues, correct?"

"Technically, no defects were found. However, all vessels have low armor thickness. The material saved by reducing armor was likely redirected toward constructing new ships."

"Armor thickness can be compensated for in operation. Are there other issues?"

"Additional concerns involve the turrets and gun mounts. Some use outdated models, clearly from surplus stock. One instance includes prototypes from past trial races that lost."

"Works as long as it fires properly. Anything else still available?"

"This is a pleasant surprise. Armor thickness is low, weight is light, so propulsion output is excessive. Perfect for机动 combat, I'd say."

"Long-term advantage in fleet battles, not so much."

Corporate-supplied vessels have low defense, high maneuverability, standard firepower, and no operational guarantees for ship or weapons.

These characteristics match those of pirate ships—perfectly suited for deployment with the Chicken Ball.

"Think of them as pirate ships. Not unusable. Vulnerability is manageable if anticipated during operations."

"The pirates drawn to the Chicken Ball prefer these vessels over captured military ships that were repaired and salvaged."

"They're only drawn to them because they're new. I'd choose a military vessel over a salvaged one any day."

"Dawson is unexpectedly pragmatic."

In any case, pirates prefer corporate-supplied vessels.

If so, the captured military vessels could be assigned as new duty stations for the artificial intelligences currently working for the Chicken Ball.

"Handling the ships is settled. The issue now is weapon quality."

"We'd want battle cannons, but the Chicken Ball doesn't have them."

"The military will bring them. For balance, we need several ships equipped with battle cannons."

The military particularly deploys barrier ships.

Ordinary gunfire won't penetrate, but battle cannons can breach them.

For that reason, battle cannons were desired.

There is no way to obtain one—more precisely, none existed within the Orion Arm.

"Should we bring the battle cannon from Amato Imperial Japan?"

"If captured, it would reveal Amato Imperial Japan’s involvement to the SU government."

"If it’s threatened with capture, we can detonate it. But that would only buy time."

If an unknown origin battle cannon were discovered, the SU government and the space fleet would search obsessively for its source.

The battle cannon was a weapon of such immense power it could destroy satellites.

If a secret facility capable of producing such a weapon existed, SU government officials would lose sleep. If the weapon fell into the hands of dissidents, the Earth—home to the SU government—could be destroyed.

Even if the weapon were detonated to destroy the battle cannon, fragments would still reveal the manufacturer. If it were confirmed the origin lay outside the Orion Arm, they would extend operations to another system.

The Amato Arm was precisely the destination abandoned by the exiles. Such a possibility had been fully anticipated.

In this situation, Dawson’s mission—forever preventing the SU government from advancing into the Amato Arm—had failed.

“That’s why I wanted the pirates’ side to manufacture it.”

“Every corporation hesitates to produce it, seeking to avoid risk should the pirates lose.”

As previously stated, the SU government and the Space Force are concerned with identifying any entity capable of building the battle cannon.

Any company that built a battle cannon and supplied it to pirates could reasonably become the next target after the pirates are eliminated.

Enterprises prioritize risk mitigation.

Even after the pirates are defeated, manufacturing and transferring a battle cannon that would place them in total opposition to the SU government and the Space Force would be impossible.

"Two options. Abandon the pursuit of the battle cannon, or obtain it from Amato Imperial Japan."

"If abandoning the pursuit, a special operation to silence the Space Force's battle cannon will be necessary. If obtaining it, losing is not an option, nor is destroying the battle cannon."

The next engagement will determine the balance of power within the Orion Arm.

If the Space Force wins, the pirate forces will be eradicated from the SU-controlled space, and Dawson will have to restart his mission from the beginning.

If the pirates prevail, a pirate state can be established within SU-controlled space, and Dawson’s mission will reach a point just one step short of completion.

This is a decisive engagement. Dawson felt he must prepare everything possible and use every available resource.

“There is no intention of losing. Proceed with acquiring the决战 cannon.”

“I will arrange it. But then again, Dawson currently owes a favor to the noble faction. They won’t interfere recklessly. So I expect the决战 cannon will be delivered.”

“I hope so.”

Less than a day after Oine requested, during her scheduled report, that the决战 cannon be sent as soon as possible, spatial distortion-type jump signatures appeared in the vicinity of Chicken Ball.

The pirates flinch, thinking it’s an attack by the Space Navy, but Dawson recognizes the vessel beyond the distorted space as manufactured by the Amato Imperial Japan. He transmits a message to Bera, informing her they are allies, calming her down.

"Never thought they’d arrive so soon."

"Three battleships—quite the generous deployment."

The Amato Imperial Japan does not have surplus vessels. Especially battleships, which are in high demand for both offensive and defensive operations, are assigned to numerous critical missions.

Given the significant time required to move from the Orion Arm to the Amato Arm, committing these vessels would create unavoidable gaps in ongoing operations.

Yet sending three battleships indicates the Amato Imperial Japan also views this engagement as significant.

"Would have preferred twice the number, if I’m being honest."

"That’s pushing it too far. Three battleships exceed the Amato Imperial Japan’s stated upper limit for accommodation."

"True enough. The speed of the response made me overreach."

Dawson reconsidered. He decided, rather, that he was being overly fortunate.

Ten thousand vessels were present, despite minor issues. Three capital battleships equipped with决战 cannons had been dispatched.

Compared to the space fleet, this was half the force, but it was sufficient to believe victory was possible.