Chapter 158: Decisive Battle, Opening Phase

Dawson chose as the battlefield a star system known as a multi-planet system—exactly as its name implies, a system with numerous small planets orbiting a central star, now uninhabited.

The region behind a planet, hidden from view with minimal movement, served as a trench-like position, analogous to ground-based fortifications.

There, Dawson rendezvoused with the fleet of 10,000 vessels exclusively used by pirates.

"Combat forces from the space navy will arrive shortly. No need to worry. They are nothing more than a weak, numbers-dependent mob. If we maneuver with cunning, they are no threat. We can defeat them easily. This is the perfect time to profit."

A bloodthirsty pirate interjected in response to Dawson's speech.

"Then let's take it all! Feast afterward!"

"We've got solid ships of our own. Not going to lose to the navy's blue gourds!"

"Reliable. Then I'll distribute the battle plan. Review it thoroughly."

Veera transmitted the compiled documents from Oine to the pirates via secure channel.

The instructions were simplified to the point where even someone without a head could understand. No questions or objections came from the pirates.

"As outlined in the documents, we'll scatter across the stars, using each planet as cover while evading and fighting the navy. Hiding, deception, ambush—these are our specialties. Easy work, right?"

"Haha, absolutely! So easy I could yawn!"

"We're good at waiting in cover for prey too!"

Pirate morale was high. No sign of panic or retreat at this time.

"Me and my subordinates will handle the areas where enemy attacks will be strongest. Don't screw up."

"Who'd screw up? Watch me!"

"We'll sink a battleship!"

After ending communications, each returns to their assigned position.

Then, a period of nothing passes.

Dawson waits, anticipating the arrival of the space fleet. If too much time passes, the morale of the pirates may drop. He wants to fight while morale remains high.

Whether his wish was heard or not, Kiwaka suddenly shouts, radar in hand.

"Jump emergence response detected in expected orbital zone! Fleet-scale!"

"Such a concentration of stars. If they know this system is a battlefield, they would expect a trap. Still, to announce themselves with such a large formation."

"Even if there is a trap, they plan to overwhelm it by sheer numbers. Bold, or perhaps indifferent to casualties. Hard to say."

Immediately after Oine's harsh assessment, the space fleet appears one after another in normal space.

"Enemy count, estimated at two hundred thousand vessels. Likely the entire fleet!"

"Expected outcome. Relay to all units. Commence operation!"

Under Dawson's command, combat in this sector began.

At first, depending on perspective, the pirates held the advantage.

"Take this, cowardly space fleet!"

"Heh, try taking this, you lanky projectile!"

The pirates attacked the space fleet, emerging from and retreating behind planets and moons. They advanced, vanished, reappeared—exactly like a mole-hitting game.

The space fleet responded with twenty thousand vessels' worth of firepower. Since no humans remained in this star system, they laid down a merciless barrage, destroying planets and moons indiscriminately.

Yet the pirates were scattered throughout the system.

When the fleet concentrated its attack in one direction, pirates launched assaults from another. While drawing attention with that strike, they fled to another location. With numerous planets and moons serving as shields, they jumped behind them. The drawback was that jump destinations could be detected by radar and other sensors. But the cover provided meant the weakness could not be exploited.

"They should now understand what kind of fighting we prefer."

Use of obstacles, guerrilla-style hit-and-run. Each attack caused minimal damage, but over time, the cumulative effect wore down the enemy.

"There are only two ways the fleet can break this stalemate."

One option is for the fleet to transit to the same location as the pirates. If the enemy is concealed behind obstacles, the fleet can move behind them. The conflict then becomes a contest of endurance and numerical superiority. This would favor the fleet, which holds the advantage in numbers.

The other option is to destroy planets or moons using heavy artillery. Without hiding places, the pirates lose access to their preferred tactics.

Each approach has its drawbacks.

Transiting allows the fleet to engage scattered pirate units more easily in combat. However, if the pirates detect the transit signature in advance, they can launch a preemptive strike. The fleet would then suffer significant damage.

Destroying celestial bodies avoids damage to the fleet itself. But debris from destroyed planets or moons becomes a navigational hazard. The disruption to orbital mechanics could escalate into a large-scale astronomical problem.

The fleet must decide which option to pursue.

The fact became clear when light ignited within the fleet’s battle cannon.

"Enemy has chosen to destroy a star. Evacuate immediately—avoid debris from the shattered star."

Seconds after Dawson issued the warning to the pirates, the fleet’s battle cannon fired.

Five thick beams of light struck a planet the size of a moon in the solar system, shattering it instantly.

Fortunately, the battle cannon’s power appeared exhausted after destroying the planet, and the pirate ships hidden behind it sustained no direct damage.

Nevertheless, fragments from the shattered planet would inevitably strike the pirate vessels.

"Watch for large fragments! Full thrust—escape now!"

"Jump! There are still hiding places!"

A barrage begins from another location toward the military forces, attempting to assist the fleeing pirate allies.

The military, however, aims the battle cannon not at the escaping pirates, but at the advancing enemy, and fires.

A star is destroyed again. Pirates escape from that location. A new barrage starts from another planet. The battle cannon is redirected toward that location.

The pirates grow frantic as their escape routes are destroyed one after another.

"Dawson-sama—there are too many inquiries coming in."

"There are still many stars. Tell them to remain calm and continue evading, even if some stars are destroyed."

Dawson spoke these words, yet he knew action was required.

Shielding behind stars prevents harm to pirates, but witnessing the overwhelming destructive power of the space fleet will lower morale. Once morale drops, fewer pirates will attempt to cover the retreat of their comrades. This could result in pirates failing to reach their next escape point.

To prevent such a future, Dawson decided to act himself.

"Provide cover for the retreating allies. Instruct the pirate ships hiding in the same location as the Sparrow Hawk to coordinate their movements with ours."

"Understood. Already relayed."

After awaiting Vera's report, Dawson maneuvered the Sparrow Hawk and fired upon the space fleet.

Pirate ships nearby responded in kind, directing as many projectiles as possible toward the space fleet.

The barrage destroys several vessels of the space fleet, but soon the battle cannon turns toward Dawson and his group.

"Evacuation method: jump. Next hiding place is here."

Dawson transmits the destination to nearby pirate ships, then immediately initiates the jump.

He traverses a short segment of jump space, then re-emerges into normal space.

"Jump drive is charging. The star we hid behind was completely destroyed by the battle cannon."

"Prepare for another attack. This time evacuation will be via normal navigation. Pay attention to the route."

Dawson actively directs attacks against the space fleet.

Inspired by Dawson’s bold action, most pirates regain the mental space to retreat safely. A few, driven by stubborn resolve, intensify their attacks on the space fleet.

Yet the pirates' desperate resistance proved futile. Stars were shattered one after another by the fleet's battle cannons. Escape routes diminished with each passing moment.

Moving gradually toward the outer perimeter, securing places to flee, but the end is clear—every hiding spot will eventually be destroyed.

Why does Dawson persist with this action?

There was a proper reason for that.

The S.U. Space Fleet pressed the pirates steadily, advancing toward the outer rim with a vast armada, the stars behind them.

A thick beam of light emerged from the star behind him and struck the fleet of the Imperial Navy directly.

Imperial Navy fleet arrived at designated zone. Battleship fired决战 cannon. Targeted enemy battleship holding决战 cannon. Sank it. Subsequently, and also fired决战 cannons. Targets were separate enemy决战 cannons. Hits registered, but not a single hit sank the target.

Nine thousand warships of the pirate faction, concealed behind the star and within its light, revealed their positions and opened fire on the military fleet from behind.