160th Episode: Final Battle — Chasing

The Super Large Battleship, carrying the decisive cannon, was lost to an unexpected strike. Confusion appeared among the S.U. Navy fleet before Dawson.

He did not miss the opening.

"Among the pirates, the fast vessels emerge from cover and close in. Launch torpedoes! The rest of the fleet, provide covering fire!"

Several pirate ships, scattered in groups behind small planets and moons, began their maneuvers.

Destroyers and modified vessels, equipped with torpedoes, accelerated to torpedo range. Other ships provided covering fire.

Ships approaching from all sides. Cannon fire arriving from every direction.

The S.U. Navy, already disoriented, faltered in response.

By wasting precious time, the pirate vessel reached effective range and launched torpedoes from its hull.

"Take this big dick in your mouth!"

"Kiss the fish!"

The ship fired torpedoes while shouting insults, then reversed course and fled.

The navy was caught in a dual threat—evading incoming cannon fire from all directions while also needing to address the approaching torpedoes.

Prioritizing danger, torpedo countermeasures should have taken precedence. But due to continued confusion, the navy attempted to handle both threats simultaneously and failed at both.

Most of the launched torpedoes struck their targets. The navy suffered severe damage.

The navy faced fewer than ten thousand ships, but the space fleet numbered approximately fifty thousand. Though damage had been inflicted, the gap remained wide.

Even so, the significant damage dealt to the space fleet returned as increased morale among the pirates.

"Look at them! What are they, really?"

"Just better-equipped prey!"

Amid the pirates' cheers, Dawson calmly observed the space fleet's movements.

The Super Large Battleship had been lost. Many ships sustained damage.

Under normal conditions, confusion would have worsened. Instead, the situation was stabilizing.

"The commander is tightening control."

Dawson studied the enemy while issuing the next order to the pirates.

The order was not a directive, merely indicating a location to gather the scattered ships while continuing attacks from behind the star’s shadow.

The reason for this order was that the next move of the fleet could be narrowed to three possibilities.

First, remain in position and continue firing at Dawson’s group.

Second, retreat to join another fleet of the navy.

Third, enter the shadow of the star like the pirates and continue combat.

In any case, Dawson believed it would be easier to handle if the pirate forces were concentrated.

And in fact, the navy chose the third option—entering the shadow of the star.

“Cutting off the pirates’ line of fire and creating time to fully command the fleet. A basic, disciplined maneuver.”

“But isn’t that troublesome? The enemy will attack while hiding behind cover.”

Dawson assessed the enemy’s intent in response to Oine’s question.

Without the siege cannon, the pirates have lost the means to crush the star hidden behind cover. They are unskilled at combat in areas with many hiding places, like this sector. It would be better to deal with them after the main fleet has cleared the other pirates. That is likely the reasoning behind the action.

So, the attack will be passive?

To attack means to emerge from behind a star’s shadow. If one avoids danger, the firing will be limited to feints.

I see. But Dawson does not intend to cooperate with that, does he?

No. There are many ways to strike an enemy who hides behind cover. That is how pirates operate.

Dawson ordered the pirates to concentrate fire on the star where the opposing fleet was concealed.

As Dawson had anticipated, the starfleet remained concealed behind the planet, refusing to emerge.

Immediately after confirmation of the prediction, Dawson executed his next move.

He dispatched a pirate vessel carrying torpedoes via short-range jump, sending it to the far side of the planet where the starfleet was hidden. The destination was chosen to shield the vessel from enemy fire, despite the risk of detection through jump signatures.

"Now, what will you do? You know the jump signature means the pirates have flanked you, don't you?"

If the starfleet reacted in panic and exited the planet's shadow, they would become targets of continued fire from the pirates under Dawson's command.

If they remained hidden, wary of incoming fire, the torpedo threat would fall upon them directly.

Forced into an unpleasant choice, the naval forces appeared to have selected remaining hidden behind the star.

"Damn. They're not that foolish."

The enemy had clearly accounted for the jump signature. The number of pirate ships that had jumped was low.

Thus, the enemy had deduced that dealing with the jumpers was more effective than emerging from behind the star.

Evidence of this came through a complaint signal from the jumped pirates.

"Those bastards are shooting wildly!"

"Launched torpedoes—shot down!"

"Stay put. Do not make unnecessary moves."

Dawson issued the order, leading the gathered pirate fleet toward the star where the naval forces had hidden. He placed them into a slow orbit around the satellite.

Eventually, the outline of the naval fleet began to emerge from behind the star's shadow.

"Fire!"

At Dawson's command, the pirate fleet began firing. Charged Particle Beams lanced toward the faint outline of the naval fleet.

The target remained visible for only a brief moment. Most of the projectiles struck the star's limb and dispersed.

A few, by chance, hit the naval vessels. Damage was inflicted, including critical breaches.

The naval fleet did not remain passive. They retaliated in kind. Their fire struck the star's limb. Most projectiles dispersed without effect. A few struck the pirate ships.

"Keep firing! If you hesitate, their counterattack will only grow stronger!"

Dawson led by directing the Sparrow Hawk to fire, setting a standard for the pirates.

The navy, unnerved by the pirates’ assault, attempted to reposition behind a star to conceal itself.

Dawson felt the moment was ripe for attack.

"Full speed ahead! Close the distance to the enemy in one move!"

The navy was retreating. Pressing forward would force them either to continue orbiting the shield star or to relocate to the shadow of another star.

In either case, maintaining proximity would create an opportunity to strike.

Dawson anticipated this and accelerated the pirate fleet forward.

Indeed, the navy left a small rear guard in orbit around the star and moved the rest of the fleet to conceal behind another star.

The most predictable choice, according to Dawson’s assessment.

"Target the rear guard with direct fire. Use suppressive fire against those fleeing!"

Under Dawson’s command, the pirate fleet launches its attack.

The imperial fleet did not anticipate the pirates accelerating toward them; the rear ships hastily open fire, while the fleeing fleet begins maximum-speed retreat.

The imperial rear ships, few in number, dissolve instantly under the full force of the pirate assault.

"Suppress the enemy’s retreat. Kick them from behind. Help them flee!"

The imperial fleet, fleeing in disarray, scrambles to vanish behind a star.

But the imperial fleet has forgotten. Along the escape route, numerous torpedo-equipped pirates lie in ambush, having already performed short-range jumps to position themselves.

"Pushed them hard. Let them eat their fill."

Waited for you! Fire all torpedoes!

Hyaah! All the way, all the way!

The pirates, who had waited quietly, shouted in joy and released their torpedoes without hesitation from beneath their hulls.

The fleet finally remembered the ambush hidden in their path. They hastily fired to intercept the torpedoes with cannon and beam weapons.

Despite the superior numbers, many torpedoes were destroyed before arrival, but enough reached the fleet to cause massive damage.

"Return fire at full strength! Reduce enemy numbers!"

Dawson ordered. The Sparrow Hawk fired in rapid succession, as if to shatter its turrets. The pirate ships followed, unleashing a torrent of gunfire.

The navy, outnumbered but outgunned by torpedoes and sustained artillery fire, prioritized slipping behind the star’s shadow and fled.

In the brief time before escape, Dawson’s side reduced the navy’s numbers by two-thirds.

"Still twice as many enemies as us—this is frustrating."

"Could we reverse the odds by using the same tactic again?"

"Would be ideal. Unfortunately, we’ve expended too many torpedoes to reuse the method."

The aggressive attack, executed without hesitation during the optimal moment, resulted in heavy enemy losses but also depleted their supply of powerful weapons.

Extra weapons and ammunition were stored on ships with available cargo space, but deploying them required a resupply operation.

Giving the enemy time to recover is unavoidable. We will enter the planet’s shadow and redistribute weapons and ammunition. Rest is necessary as well.

Dawson halted the attack and opted for resupply and rest.