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July 3rd, 2025

 

 

INDEX

 

Chapter 1: Distress signal from the darkness

Chapter 2: Order to capture Bentenmaru

Chapter 3: Serenity's prisoner

Chapter 4: Order to return Bentenmaru

Chapter 5: Port Seruna Imperial Fleet Base

Chapter 6: Naval port city

Chapter 7: Intelligence front line

Chapter 8: Sinking of the Barbaroosa

 

Illustration by Matsumoto Noriyuki

Design by Shindosha

When Marika first heard the news, the Bentenmaru was on its way back to Sea of the Morningstar.

 

The call came from the Harold Lloyd Insurance Association, a little early for a regular call, and Show, who was in charge, confirmed in a roundabout way that the Bentenmaru was performing its normal duties without any problems and was sailing safely without incident, before getting to the main topic.

 

"This information isn't directly related to you, but it's important. The Karyoubinga has gone missing."

 

"Eh?" Marika, sitting in the captain's seat, couldn't help but take a second look at the afro-haired man on the communications monitor.

 

"That's news from my colleague in charge of the Karyoubinga." The afro-haired monster said in a rare serious tone. "This is not public information, so please keep it confidential."

 

Show must be aware that the communication was being broadcast on the bridge, since headphones were not being used. Marika looked around at the bridge crew, who were listening in on the conversation, and then returned her eyes to the communication monitor. "What do you mean, missing?"

 

"I mean it literally. The Karyoubinga, which played the role of a virtual enemy in a military exercise in the Sinclair system in Eridanus, then traveled on a transport mission from the Ataka Waypoint to the Imperial Fleet Base at Seruna for a transport mission, and on their way back, it engaged in piracy with a luxury cruise ship."

 

"As hard at work as ever." Misa, who was in the observer's seat, muttered to herself. Although it was an old-fashioned experimental battleship, the Karyoubinga was much larger than the Bentenmaru, which was modeled after a cruiser. It had far more crew members and aircraft than the Bentenmaru, and the effort and expense of keeping the ship in operation is also greater. As a result, the Karyoubinga's work schedule is much tighter than the Bentenmaru's. Since the ship is larger, there was more leeway, and it seemed that the ship was sometimes contracted by military companies to carry out operational tests of new ship-mounted weapons and prototype carrier-based aircraft.

 

"Their last job as a pirate was an operation on a passenger ship?" Marika confirmed. The afro-haired monster on the other side of the communication monitor nodded, his flashy sunglasses sparkling.

 

"They should have returned to Sinclair D 36 hours ago after finishing their work, but as of now there has been no return report or regular contact. Their pirate operation on the luxury cruise ship Candice White is the last confirmed trace of the Karyoubinga."

 

"36 hours..." Marika repeated the time Show had told her. It is not uncommon for pirates to fall into some kind of emergency and become unable to communicate, resulting in a period of time where they cannot be contacted. "What are the Karyoubinga's future plans?"

 

If they cannot contact Karyoubinga, some of the work arranged by the insurance company may end up being given to the Bentenmaru.

 

"After returning to the Sinclair D, Karyoubinga was to enter the floating dock of the Horai Seiki for light maintenance and testing of a new targeting system. The crew was to be given 108 hours of shore leave."

 

Horai Seiki is a spaceship manufacturer based at Eridanus. They do a wide range of work, from the construction of custom-made ships to maintenance, outfitting, and the development and manufacture of shipboard weapons.

 

"That's strange." Even Marika noticed that something was wrong. "A pirate ship on the verge of vacation abandons its vacation plans and disappears."

 

"That's right." Show nodded with a serious expression that was rarely seen. "In the last three years, there have been only a few cases where the Karyoubinga canceled planned vacations. The last time they gave up their vacation was during the previous frontier expedition."

 

"Oh."

 

"The Karyoubinga's privateer license comes with the title of Count Kahn of Sinclair D, so there are fewer restrictions than privateer licenses issued by the government like yours, but in return, they are a large family with a battleship and crew, so it's hard to keep the business running. The fact that it has gone missing without any contact with their home port or us, their insurance association, means that there must be some serious reason behind it."

 

A strange silence reigned on the bridge. Even now, the number one reason for a spaceship to go missing is due to sinking.

 

"I understand." Breaking the silence, Marika responded in a particularly cheerful tone. "Is there any need to go looking for her?"

 

"We're not at that stage yet." Show on the communications monitor bared his teeth. "At least, that's what I think. Besides, the search area for for Karyoubinga is too wide. The most likely place to find her is on a straight line from the last contact point with the luxury cruise ship Candice White to the Sinclair D, but even so, it's more than ten light years away, and if she's taken a detour or gone into hiding for some reason, the search area will be even larger. Even if it's the Bentenmaru, if the Count has disappeared of his own volition, it won't be easy to find him, right?"

 

"That's right." Marika smiled and nodded.

 

"I understand. If there's anything I can help you with, please contact me right away."

 

"I'm counting on you. Let me know if you go missing." Show raised one hand via the communications monitor and his face disappeared.

 

Marika looked around at the faces of the bridge crew, who were listening intently to the communication with the insurance association. Hyakume and Coorie were already furiously tapping away at their keyboards and control panels, gathering information.

 

"Um..." Marika began. "What do you think we should do?"

 

"You're asking us what we think we should not, not what happened to the Karyoubinga." Misa called out from the observer seat. "You've become good at asking questions."

 

"Yeah, I'm curious about the news of Karyoubinga, but with Show saying that, then no matter how much we discuss it here, it's just going to be speculation. But if there's something we have to do in this situation, that's going to be a priority."

 

"These are the latest navigational conditions around the Sinclair system in the Eridanus constellation." Hyakume brought up a route map on the bridge's main screen, with a radius of about twenty-five light years centered on the Sinclair system. "The Eridanus constellation has much better route maintenance than the Cetus constellation, so there haven't been many unexplained disappearances recently."

 

Unlike wartime, spaceships traveling in outer space rarely go missing in peacetime. Routes are maintained for safe navigation, and spaceships continually broadcast transponders to report their current location. Since transponders emitted in normal communication continue to spread at the speed of light, if there is sufficient receiving equipment, they can be tracked even many years after the flight, and if a FTL engine is used, they can be tracked until the moment the transponder expires.

 

Spaceships traveling through normal space almost never disappear into thin air. Spaceship mechanisms are multiply secured to ensure safe navigation, and even if the crew or propulsion power is lost, the spaceship will continue to move in a uniform straight line in accordance with the laws of physics.

 

Unless it crashes into a star, a sturdy spaceship will almost never evaporate without leaving behind its keel, and as long as it continues to fly in outer space away from stars, the deterioration and weathering of structural materials over time is negligible.

 

In reality, a missing spaceship is left alone when the cost of investigation exceeds the value of the spaceship itself. When unmanned resource transport ships, container ships, or privately owned spaceships go missing and no investigation is requested or insurance claims are made, they are often left alone. As a result, lost spacecraft can be rediscovered hundreds or thousands of years later.

 

"The Karyoubinga is a battleship, even if it is old-fashioned, right?"

 

The list of recent disappearances around the Sinclair system is a simple one.

 

"How can something go missing that easily?"

 

"If the captain wants to, it's easy to make a spaceship go missing." Hyakume looked up at the main screen and put his hands behind his head.

 

"If you make a FTL jump without notifying the control station, you're in luck. Unless you're being monitored somewhere, you won't be tracked. But if you try to make a spaceship go missing that doesn't want to go missing, it's going to be a big problem. It's not going to be easy."

 

"Making a spaceship go missing..." Marika felt something ominous and repeated Hyakume's words. "So that means..."

 

Suddenly, a FTL communication call sounded at the captain's seat.

 

"Yes, yes." Marika looked down at the communication panel that had been displaying the communication data of the Harold Lloyd Insurance Association until a moment ago. "From the Barbaroosa!?"

 

The call was addressed to Captain Bentenmaru's Kato Marika, but Marika could tell at a glance that the caller was Chiaki Kurihara, so she connected to the heavily encrypted FTL communication. After the distinctive rainbow noise, Chiaki appeared on the communication monitor dressed in work clothes.

 

"This is the pirate ship Barbaroosa, Chiaki Kurihara. It looks like you're still safe?"

 

"Chiaki-chan!" Marika waved at the communication monitor. "This is the pirate ship Bentenmaru, captain Kato Marika, how are you?"

 

"The captain shouldn't call the person she's communicating with Chiaki-chan! " Chiaki glared at Marika from the other side of the monitor.

 

"Since you’re contacting me from the Barbaroosa, does that mean you're safe too?"

 

Chiaki nodded with a difficult look on her face. "So you've heard about the Karyoubinga too."

 

"Do you know anything about the Karyoubinga's disappearance?"

 

"No." Chiaki shook her head in the communication monitor. "My dad was only just informed by the insurance company, so he probably has the same information as you. I called you out for a different reason. Has the Bentenmaru been approached about buying your pirate license?"

 

"Eh?" Unable to comprehend what Chiaki was saying, Marika looked back at the communication monitor. "Buying our pirate license?"

 

"Has it happened over there yet?" Chiaki nodded with a difficult look on her face. "Apparently, we received an inquiry from someone claiming to be a representative of a trading company in the Core Star Systems. They said they would buy the Barbaroosa itself and guarantee new employment for all of its crew members, and asked if we would be interested in selling our pirate license."

 

"A pirate license..." Marika said, thinking. "Is something that can be bought and sold?"

 

"A pirate license issued by the government, in our case a privateer license issued by Sea of the Forest Star, can be bought and sold by itself as long as the parties agree. But if you want to use the privateer license to engage in piracy, you need a captain with a pirate license and the Barbaroosa. You know that much, right?"

 

"Yeah..." Marika nodded, feeling like something troublesome was about to start.

 

"We haven't worked out the details, so I'm not sure, but the only things the agent said he would buy and set a price for were the Barbaroosa and the pirate license. He's not asking for the captain's custody, and he even said he'd find him a new job, so that's all he needed. He said it was a captain position for a state-of-the-art battleship, but my dad says it's probably a hired captain for a company fleet.”

 

“So that means the agent who wants to buy a pirate license doesn't want to be a pirate, right?”

 

On the communications monitor, Chiaki seemed to laugh. “Right. We still don't know who the agent is or what their purpose is, but my dad says that someone somewhere doesn't want a pirate license, but wants to put space pirates out of business.”

 

“...Who?” Marika tilted her head even more. “...For what purpose?”

 

“I don't know.” At least, she had no intention of discussing it in this communication. Chiaki shrugged and shook her head. “Generally speaking, I've never heard of a third party buying a pirate license, except for a privateer license being returned to the government. However, it's true that this is not a business with a promising future and guaranteed profits, so I wouldn't be surprised if some pirates thought about switching to another business depending on the purchase price.”

 

“If they were going to quit because the business was struggling, wouldn't everyone have quit piracy a long time ago?”

 

Chiaki smiled upon hearing Marika's answer.

 

“Generally speaking, can a privateer's license be bought or sold without the consent of the issuing government?”

 

“My father is dragging out the negotiations because he needs to confirm that.” Chiaki nodded. “He's ready to refuse, but he's going to keep talking because he doesn't know what the other party is thinking.”

 

“Just as you'd expect from Captain Blackbeard.”

 

“What would you do?”

 

“Eh?”

 

“So...” Chiaki spoke slowly, savoring the words. “What would you do if some unknown agent asked to buy your privateer’s license?"

 

"Huh?" Marika thought deeply and gave an exaggerated answer. "Yeah. I might consider it if they offered a price that would allow us to replace the Bentenmaru with a state-of-the-art battleship, give bonuses to all the crew, and even have enough money left over to get the Galactic Empire to issue us a new pirate license."

 

"What are you talking about?"

 

"Just kidding. You can't put a price on freedom." Marika looked around the bridge of the Bentenmaru. "It would be a different story if some of our crew members started talking about selling off our pirate license while we could still turn it into money, but otherwise, I think I understand that as the captain I have to protect my pirate license."

 

Chiaki glared at Marika from the communication monitor for a while, then looked away. "Anyway, don't go missing without telling us. Whatever the circumstances, it will be difficult afterwards."

 

"You too." Marika smiled and nodded. "Captain Blackbeard is probably a lot more reliable than me, but if he goes missing without knowing the circumstances or gives up piracy, we'll be in trouble too."

 

"I wonder what my dad's face would be like if I told him Marika was worried about him." Chiaki raised one hand with a mischievous look on her face. “I'll let him know you’re fine. See you later.”

 

The FTL transmission from the Barbaroosa was cut off.

 

“I have the navigation data.” Luca passed the data for the final FTL jump to the captain's seat. Marika checked the flight plan.

 

'Yes, I've confirmed it. Let's head home.”

 

As soon as the Bentenmaru touched down within the planet's orbit in the Tau star system, it picked up a distress signal.

 

“FTL transmission.” Slightly before the navigator, Luca, could confirm the Bentenmaru's current position, Hyakume displayed the data he had obtained on the main screen. “West Kyria-flagged transport ship Maria Forte 85, has been attacked by an unidentified spaceship and is requesting rescue.”

 

“What!?” Marika confirmed Luca's measurement of the Bentenmaru's current position, and the current position of the sender included in the distress signal. "But isn't this just outside the Tau system, on the high seas? And they’re being attacked by an unknown spaceship in a place like that..."

 

Though it was annexed relatively recently, just over a century ago, the Tau system is still part of the Galactic Empire. In Imperial territory, where the powerful Imperial fleet keeps a close eye on the security, an attack by an unknown force is rare.

 

"They're not a pirate, are they?"

 

Hyakume, who analyzed the data contained in the distress signal sent at faster than light speed, anticipated Marika's question.

 

"The Maria Forte 85 is transporting rare metals, precision medical equipment, and luxury foodstuffs, and its next port of call is the Sea of the Morningstar Relay Station. The distress signal has been received by the star system military, but it will take some time for the escort fleet to arrive. At the moment, the closest ships to the Maria Forte are the regular passenger ship Princess Charlotte and the factory ship Koryuu 69, but both are unarmed civilian ships. The source of the distress signal is under attack, so we are waiting for the star system military to decide whether to rush to the rescue."

 

Marika looked at the display in the captain's seat. The current location of the Maria Forte, which was sending the distress signal, and the current locations of spaceships sailing in the vicinity were displayed in 3D with vectors. There were no spaceships close enough to be reached by normal navigation. There were many spaceships in a position where they could rush to the scene using FTL travel, but the closest armed spaceship was the Bentenmaru.

 

It is an ironclad rule that any spaceship that receives a distress signal must rush to the scene unconditionally, but this does not apply in a combat situation.

 

Staring at the 3D display showing the current positions of spaceships across several light years of space, Marika spoke. "Prepare for a short jump. Inform the star system military that the Bentenmaru is heading to rescue Maria Forte 85, so send reinforcements as soon as possible. Bentenmaru, prepare for anti-ship combat!"

 

"Transmit the short jump flight plan to the control station as well."

 

Luca transmitted to all ships the short jump flight plan with the Maria Forte's current position as the target point.

 

"Prepare for short-distance jump! Alpha, Beta, increase power!"

 

"Commencing anti-ship combat preparations." Schnitzer issues a command to the entire ship.

 

"We have to consider that this timing means it's a trap." Marika muttered, leaning back in the captain's seat. "Can we send a decoy ahead just in case?"

 

"Sure." Coorie, who had already begun tapping on the control panel at a high pitch, answered with a stick of candy in her mouth. "If this is a trap to lure out the Bentenmaru with a distress signal, there could be concentrated fire as soon as the ship touches down."

 

"Am I overthinking it?"

 

"It's better to be safe than sorry. If nothing happens, we should be able to retrieve the decoy that copies Bentenmaru's transponder and reaction pattern, and if anything happens, we’re saving out ship. "

 

"We'll send the decoy ahead, and its touchdown location will be close to the Maria Forte's current position, with the Bentenmaru behind. We should time the touchdown so that the pre-jump phenomenon will be seen as overlapping, and our touchdown should be 15 seconds later."

 

Marika looked around the bridge. "...So, I wonder if this will work out?"

 

"If the enemy's target is the Bentenmaru and not the transport ship, we can avoid the first barrage of concentrated fire." Schnitzer spoke the obvious development. "But then we'll have to engage an enemy whose size and intentions are unknown."

 

"But we'll have to rescue the transport ship, too." Marika was thinking through all the possible scenarios she could imagine, in order of likelihood.

 

"As long as we don't know the scale of the unidentified forces, it's probably impossible to defeat them, and since we're going out in response to a distress signal, the first thing we need to think about is ensuring the safety of the transport ship, followed by buying time, so I guess we'll have to blind them with electronic jamming at the same time as touching down."

 

"If that's what the enemy wants, then that kind of response is expected."

 

"Yeah, of course, if it gets dangerous, we'll run away immediately."

 

"That's the hardest part." Schnitzer said matter-of-factly. "Once you realize you're in danger, it's often difficult to even escape."

 

"I see..." Marika frowned, remembering the basic principle that the outcome of a battle is 90% decided before the actual battle begins. "If the actual battle has already begun, then there's a chance that the Bentenmaru will jump into an open trap."

 

"That's right."

 

Marika looked up after hearing Schnitzer's affirmative voice. "But if we think about it, our rush to justice will be delayed more and more. We'll have to let the decoy go first, the Bentenmaru will touch down a little later, and then just let things take their course and prioritize escape."

 

Marika looked around the bridge.

 

"Ready to jump!" Sandiame announced vigorously. Marika nodded.

 

"Bentenmaru, let's go."

 

The Bentenmaru jumped into the FTL space.

 

"The decoy is touching down." Schnitzer announced from the battle commander's seat. "Countdown, five, four, three, two, one, zero!"

 

"Here it comes!" Hyakume quickly read the battle information sent over the FTL data line. Immediately after returning from FTL space to normal space, the surrounding space becomes chaotic, so the accuracy of the observation drops. However, the decoy sent observation data to Bentenmaru that the target space was under strong electronic interference. It then analyzed the jamming radio waves and began more detailed observations.

 

"As you can see, the landing destination is under such strong electronic interference that it looks like they're engaged in a fleet battle. There are three enemy ships, the rest is unreadable!"

 

The roughly processed data was sent to the main screen and various parts of the bridge, with speed as the priority.

 

"That's not the output of a civilian transport ship. What are we up against?"

 

"Even if it's electronic jamming to avoid outside intervention, it's pretty impressive." Coorie, in the electronic battle seat, commented. "If they're holding up against something like this, then the Maria Forte is no ordinary transport ship."

 

"The Bentenmaru will touchdown soon." Kane, at the helm, announced.

 

"Are they attacking the decoy?" Marika asked for confirmation. Schnitzer replied.

 

"No. It doesn't look like they're being hit by fire control radar."

 

"Evasive maneuvers as soon as we touch down!" Marika instructed. “Use electronic warfare to confuse them and check the location of the spaceships. If naval gunfire is necessary, Schnitzer, fire away.”

 

"Roger that."

 

"Touchdown!"

 

The Bentenmaru returned to normal space, sending out shock waves that pushed aside space and diffused in all directions. The same powerful electronic interference that had been detected by the decoy that had touched down earlier attacked the Bentenmaru along with the disturbed space.

 

"Here we go!" Without checking the current position or the spatial situation, Kane gave the Bentenmaru, which had just returned to normal space, a sideways slide, causing it to drift.

 

"Here it comes!" Coorie called out. "Jamming signals targeting us from three directions! I guess they must have realized that the one that touched down first was a decoy."

 

"Fire control radar confirmed, also from three directions." Schnitzer plotted three enemy ship marks on the battle display at different positions, with the tentative names Alpha, Bravo, and Charlie. "I can't tell what type of ships they are, let alone their affiliation."

 

The Bentenmaru returned to a straight trajectory and continued its evasive maneuvers with random acceleration. Marika confirmed the current positions of the three ships, which were too far apart to be part of a fleet. The direction of the enemy ships was known, but the distance was still inaccurate.

 

An unidentified as friend or foe mark was plotted on the silhouette of the fourth ship on the battle display.

 

"We've spotted the Maria Forte 85, sending out a distress signal." Hyakume announced. "A second one is coming from Bravo, with a high infrared response. It's probably either damaged or overheating."

 

"First target, the second ship, Bravo." Marika spoke up while reading the relative positions of the two remaining visible enemy ships, Alpha and Charlie.

 

"Can you distract Bravo, which is closest to the Maria Forte? Tsk, they’re still trying to catch the Maria Forte?"

 

"At least the main body is still intact, although it's so close that it could be in contact with Bravo, but it's not docked yet."

 

"Is there any room for negotiation?" Marika confirmed the current positions of the three ships she could see, Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, and the Maria Forte. Bravo was on the verge of contact with the Maria Forte, accomplishing its mission objective, and the remaining two were preparing to attack while concealing their positions with electronic jamming. "They may not listen to us, but as a licensed pirate, if we don't follow the proper procedure, things will get bad later. Open the common channel, locate the enemy ship so we can target them too."

 

"They're sending out jamming signals that are so strong that it won't even let the fire control radar through, so I don't think you'll get a response even if they hear our communication, but okay." Setting up a common channel that can only be used in emergencies, Hyakume passed the line to the captain's seat.

 

Clearing her throat, Marika turned on the communications panel. "This is the Bentenmaru. I’m Kato Marika, captain of the pirate ship Bentenmaru. If the spaceship attacking the transport ship Maria Forte surrenders immediately, we will capture it without sinking it. End the battle immediately!"

 

Waiting for a response, the speaker only played faint noise that made it through the filters.

 

"I've fulfilled my obligation." Marika looked around the bridge. Hyakume, was motionless, headphones on his ears, monitoring the communication. "I'm not so nice as to keep waiting. Bentenmaru, commence battle. Target, bravo!"

 

"Target bravo! Bentenmaru, maximum battle speed!"

 

"The engine is at maximum output, don't be reckless!"

 

"Main guns, beginning charging." Schnitzer announced.

 

"I want to fire as a warning before Bravo comes into contact with Maria Forte."

 

"Please do so as not to interfere with evasive maneuvers." Kane was maneuvering the Bentenmaru vigorously. The most energy-intensive activities during battle are naval gunfire, followed by combat maneuvers and electronic warfare. However, electronic warfare must be continued at all times during battle, and combat maneuvers far outnumber firing opportunities.

 

After only sending out a token amount of electronic jamming to the two remaining distant spaceships, the Bentenmaru began charging at Bravo, which was approaching close to the transport ship that was still sending out distress signals.

 

"Enemy ship identified! Derrflinger-class mobile cruiser, looks like it's been heavily modified, but the pattern matches!"

 

"It's not a state-of-the-art ship specialized for anti-ship combat."

 

Looking at the catalog diagram of the ship with a simple explanation, Marika exclaimed in surprise. The large-caliber shipboard guns, concentrated armor, and powerful engines for mobile warfare were designed according to theory, and the narrow ship's shape made it seem like it would be impossible to penetrate from the front.

 

"It's an expensive ship that's deployed in the Imperial fleet. Do you know its affiliation?"

 

"I can't read the transponder. And I can't intercept the communications between ships at the moment." Hyakume reported in rapid succession.

 

"Alpha, Charlie are on the move. They're approaching us. They're jamming not only our radar but also their distress signals. If they're jamming that hard, even if they can send out normal distress signals, the radio waves will be abnormal and the mobile fleet will come flying in in no time."

 

"Besides, they haven’t stopped FTL communications." Coorie muttered. “Considering they gathered their forces to attack a transport ship, they did a sloppy job. First of all, they had to disrupt FTL communications, otherwise they would have known that a rescue team would come rushing in.”

 

"They're firing!" Hyakume shouted. "I can see it!!"

 

The sudden rise in Bravo's energy response meant that it was preparing to fire its guns. Kane, who read Bravo's aim from the density of the fire control radar, drifted Bentenmaru to the side to get out of the line of fire.

 

Six focused armor-piercing beams cut through space.

 

"The output is suprisingly low." Schnitzer read the data of the beams that had passed close by.

 

"It's a threat to limit our combat maneuvers. Keep going!"

 

Increasing the charge rate increases the destructive power of the beams, but it takes time until the next salvo. However, lowering the charge rate reduces the destructive power, but allows for continuous firing.

 

"Is it okay if I let them brush us?" Kane asked as he maneuvered the Bentenmaru to evade. Schnitzer transferred the measured data of the enemy's gunfire.

 

"It's a large caliber gun for anti-ships. Even though the charge rate is low, the concentration rate is high, so if it hits a thin spot, it will make a hole."

 

"That's scary." While making evasive maneuvers, Kane read the particulars of the fire control radars that were bombarding them from three directions.

 

"There are at least three enemy ships, with big main guns and thick armor. Even if we attack with the Bentenmaru, we can't expect much." Schnitzer calmly summarized the situation. "So, all the Bentenmaru can do now is to interfere with Bravo, which is trying to force dock with the Maria Forte, and buy time until the arrival of the star system army or the Imperial fleet."

 

"But the attacking side already knows that, right?" Marika looks at the movements of the mobile cruiser that is rapidly approaching the transport with a difficult look on her face. "The longer they wait, the higher the chances of reinforcements arriving, yet all three ships seem strangely calm?"

 

"Probably everything has been analyzed."

 

"What!?" Marika looked at Schnitzer's profile in the combat commander's seat with a startled look.

 

"Even with the full output of the Bentenmaru's Class 40 main guns, it's difficult to penetrate the armor of the Derrflinger class. The only chance we have is to approach and fire a single volley, but the closer we get, the higher the accuracy of Bravo's fire. And the closer Bravo gets to the Maria Forte, the higher the chance of us making a firing mistake."

 

"...Let's approach from a direction where the enemy can't fire."

 

Kane glanced at Marika in the captain's seat. "Roger! Go around and use the Maria Forte as a shield!!"

 

"We'll be able to disable the electronic jamming soon." Coorie was typing at a high pitch on her keyboard.

 

"The enemy's shadows are too blurry to hit right now, but if they keep firing at us, we can read their equipment and patterns."

 

"We only have one chance to fire." Schnitzer estimates the time to fire and began slowly charging the main gun accordingly. "That one chance is all we can do to make Bravo give up on contacting the Maria Forte."

 

"I think that we will have to avoid the enemy's salvos as we pass each other in a counter-attack."

 

Marika is also planning in her head how the enemy ships and Bentenmaru will move from here on out.

 

"Once we get a hit on Bravo, whether it's a success or a failure, we'll just run away! The Bentenmaru alone is no match for three highly motivated mobile cruisers."

 

"Second salvo, coming!" Hyakume announced. While Bentenmaru was maneuvering, it was bombarding the enemy ships on all three sides with jamming signals at maximum power, sending false data and blurring the ship's silhouette to deceive its current position, but Alpha and Charlie still fired a salvo at the same time.

 

Kane decided that Bentenmaru's electronic jamming was working, so he didn't move Bentenmaru this time. Six armor-piercing beams were fired from each direction, cutting through space as they slowly spread out.

 

"Good job!" Hyakume transferred information about the beams that had passed close by at close range.

 

"This salvo didn't have a very high charge rate either. It wasn't fired in hopes of hitting the target, so it's probably to observe our situation and restrict our actions. The longer it takes, the more disadvantaged the Bentenmaru will be."

 

"I know that." Kane said as he turned the Bentenmaru around. "But if we approach Maria Forte straight on, they'll be able to easily read our trajectory. Let's go all out!"

 

Aiming for the moment when Bravo's positions overlapped with the Maria Forte, Kane accelerated Bentenmaru rapidly.

 

"Third salvo is coming."

 

"As expected, the volley is so fast it's not fully charged." Kane turned the steering wheel to slightly adjust the course and attitude of the Bentenmaru. "As long as Bravo doesn't come into firing position, there's no problem! I'll leave the dazzling and blinding to you!!"

 

"I’ve got it." "Roger." Coorie and Schnitzer replied at the same time. A third volley of armor-piercing beams attacked the Bentenmaru from both directions. Kane again dodged the lines of fire with minimal movement.

 

"It's closer than before." Hyakume sent the beam data to all parties. "The charging rate hasn't changed. But if they have good intuition, they’ll be increasing it soon."

 

"As long as we're using Maria Forte as a shield, the firing data for Bravo shouldn't be very reliable." Marika tried to speak calmly as she watched the future trajectory of the Bentenmaru on the display, which seemed to be charging at Maria Forte rather than Bravo. "Bravo is in the middle of trying to force-dock with the Maria Forte, so it can't move unless it gives up on docking. And when it gets closest to Maria Forte, Alpha and Charlie shouldn't be able to fire at it, considering the risk of misfire. It'll be fine, we can save the transport."

 

"Main gun is 85% charged."

 

The majority of the power generated by the engines is used for combat maneuvers and electronic warfare, Schnitzer said, and the engines are being powered using excess power.

 

"Let's go!"

 

Setting course for Bravo, which was superimposed on the Maria Forte, Kane gave the Bentenmaru its final acceleration.

 

The Maria Forte is a transport ship that makes money based on its internal volume, and is much larger than the Derrflinger-class mobile cruiser. The Bentenmaru went around in the exact opposite direction of the immobile Bravo in order to catch the Maria Forte, and continued to accelerate while making minimal random evasions.

 

"Watch out!" Coorie focused electronic jamming on ravo, which was beyond the shadow of the Maria Forte's hull. "Bravo's energy response is increasing."

 

"They're probably aiming to fire at the same time we are." Kane was carefully maneuvering the helm. "In close combat, the maneuverable Bentenmaru will win."

 

Hearing Kane's comforting words, Marika smiled from the captain's seat.

 

"Main guns, ready to fire." Schnitzer reported. “Fire timing and aim are aligned with the predicted trajectory at closest approach. Scattering chaff at the same time as firing the main guns."

 

"Bravo is moving!" Hyakume shouted. "Energy reaction rising! Coming out from Maria Forte's shadow!!"

 

"Yes, yes, I can handle that." Kane turned the Bentenmaru in the opposite direction to the moving Bravo, rapidly closing in on them while maintaining their relative positions with the Maria Forte in between.

 

Marika was staring at the position of both sides displayed on the battle situation display. The situation was an instantaneous counterattack, and the battle plan was set, so the captain would not give any orders unless the situation suddenly changed.

 

Feeling a tension that made her stomach ache, Marika forced a calm smile on her face as she sat in the captain's seat. Only the numbers showing the distance to Bravo were rapidly decreasing.

 

"Bravo's energy reaction is rising rapidly!" Hyakume announced. "They’re firing!"

 

"Don't worry, the Maria Forte is in between us if they fire now!" As he responded, Kane removed Bentenmaru's trajectory from the predicted line of fire just in case.

 

"They fired!"

 

"What!?"

 

Bravo fired a fully charged armor-piercing beam. Six beams penetrated the transport ship, which had practically no armor, converged and attacked the Bentenmaru.

 

Thanks to the evasive trajectory he had taken beforehand, none of the beams hit the Bentenmaru, even though they were close range. Kane ran through the rain of beams without shaking the ship even a little.

 

The transport ship, which had been pierced near the center of its hull, emitted a dull, high heat. Schnitzer said quietly. "Firing main guns."

 

The Bentenmaru fired its main guns, which had been charged to maximum power, at Bravo, which had passed the closest point of approach and emerged from behind the Maria Forte.

 

"Fire chaff!"

 

Against the armor of a mobile cruiser, it would be difficult to stop the enemy ship even if all the shots hit. Without even checking if they had hit the target, Schnitzer began to release a smoke screen to confuse the enemy's radar and beam attacks, while at the same time masking their own position.

 

"Retreat at full speed!"

 

Even though they had released a smoke screen, there was a high possibility that the enemy ship would pursue them as soon as they got close, so Kane had the Bentenmaru take a trajectory to escape as fast as possible, as originally planned.

 

"They shot them..."

 

Since we were releasing a smoke screen, the information we were getting was becoming less and less accurate. Marika rewound the situation on the battle display and replayed the Bravo's main gun salvo. Bravo fired its main guns at the Bentenmaru as if not caring that there was a transport ship right in front of it.

 

"What's going on? Is the Maria Forte okay?"

 

"It's an armor-piercing beam for use against armor."

 

Hyakume passed on the last data he had obtained about Bravo's main guns' volley.

 

"It pierced the hull of the transport ship like paper. If it was a civilian ship without armor, it would be more efficient to use a beam with a lower concentration, but with a beam this concentrated, if we were lucky, it might only make a hole."

 

Bentenmaru's rear sensor picked up a strong infrared signal that was easily caught even through the thick smoke screen.

 

"It didn't seem to last." Hyakume summarized the situation succinctly.

 

"Run as fast as we can!"

 

The things she wanted to know and do, such as the damage situation of the Maria Forte 85 and whether anyone needed rescue, were overflowing with information, but Marika shook her head and shouted.

 

"If we go back, we'll just become a target, so just run!"

 

"Understood!!"

Casting a smoke screen and radio jamming at the enemy, the Bentenmaru quickly withdrew from the battle area. It would have been nice to immediately make a FTL jump, but its main engines did not have the capacity to do so.

 

If the cruiser that had destroyed the transport ship abandoned its prey and pursued it, there was no telling how far it could make it. However, the three mobile cruisers did not adopt an orbit that would allow them to pursue the Bentenmaru.

 

Once it had sufficiently cleared the battle area, the Bentenmaru jumped towards the Tau star system in Cetus.

Upon touching down in the Tau system, Bentenmaru contacted the star system escort fleet. They informed them that at least three mobile cruisers had been attacking the Maria Forte 85, and that the Maria Forte had finally come under direct attack, and attached the latest battle information.

 

The presence of at least three mobile cruisers equipped with anti-ship equipment, and possibly even more, would be a heavy burden for the star system's limited forces. Marika offered to have the Bentenmaru work with the star system's forces to rescue the Maria Forte and provide cover for the star system's forces.

 

The star system forces responded to the Bentenmaru that cooperation was not required. The Imperial Fleet, which had received a distress call at the same time as the star system's forces, was rushing to the scene, so there was no need to worry about the relative strength of the forces.

 

After receiving the latest information from the star system forces, the Bentenmaru flew to Sea of the Morningstar to bring its captain, Kato Marika, home.

 

The star system forces escort fleet jumped to the airspace where the Maria Forte 85 had sent out its distress signal just as the Bentenmaru was about to pass. At almost the same time, the Imperial Fleet's mobile fleet arrived, but the rescue fleet only found a heavily damaged transport ship. The mobile cruisers thought to be the attacker had already retreated, and their true identity could not be confirmed.

 

An emergency escape capsule and the closed habitation block were safely recovered. Having heard this, Marika left the Bentenmaru on a shuttle that landed at the Shin-Okuhama Spaceport.

 

The next morning.

 

Marika woke up early, feeling a little sleep-deprived, and first checked for emergency messages from the Bentenmaru and then checked the news online.

 

No news could be found about the Maria Forte 85, which had been attacked by an unidentified force near the Tau star system the previous day. There were no abnormalities in the Bentenmaru's regular contact, and no special notes to report.

 

After having breakfast with her mother, Marika left home on her bicycle earlier than usual.

 

Hakuoh Girls' Academy has dormitories for the middle and high school students on its grounds, and accepts students who commute from neighboring cities.

 

Hakuoh Girls' Academy is located on the outskirts of Shin-Okuhama City, far from the urban area, and there are a small number of students who walk to school from nearby suburbs.

 

Students from Shin-Okuhama City and nearby satellite cities commute to school by public transportation, including high-speed rail, with the majority of students taking the subway to the nearest station.

 

After passing the throngs of students leaving the subway station and heading towards the main gates of the junior and senior high school, Marika tried to ride her bicycle in through the side gate, which was most often used by the high school students who commute by bicycle. The side gate, which appears to be wide open, is a security gate that wirelessly checks the IDs of students and related personnel, and any unregistered suspicious individuals, cars, or bicycles attempting to enter will immediately contact security.

 

She parked her bike in the designated space in the student-only bicycle parking area on the brick-paved bicycle path. Taking her school bag that was attached to the handlebar post, Marika headed for the entrance to the high school division.

 

Uniformed high school students who had come to school from home or the dorms were drawn into the spacious entrance hall.

 

"Good morning!" At the call, Marika raised her hand at Endou Mami. "Morning."

 

"You're early this morning. Weren't you working yesterday?"

 

"Yeah, after the usual business, there was a bit of trouble." Marika, who entered the entrance hall side by side with Mami while giving a vague explanation, noticed a black figure standing in the back. "Eh?"

 

"Black Granny!" Mami whispered. The tall, sharp-eyed vice principal, Ms. Greenbell, dressed in black, was known as Black Granny because of the way she dressed and stood.

 

"What's going on?" Seeing the vice principal greet each student as they entered the entrance, Mami tilted her head. "Surprise inspection? No way, right?"

 

At least since Mami and Marika entered the middle school, there have been no baggage or clothing inspections. The vice principal, who was watching the students come through the front door with her arms folded, didn't seem to be doing any kind of inspection.

 

Marika greeted the vice principal like the other students and tried to pass her. "Good morning."

 

"Kato Marika?"

 

Marika was about to leave when her name was suddenly called, and she hurriedly turned around to face the vice principal, holding her school bag behind her back.

 

"Y-Yes!?"

 

The vice principal, who was rumored to be from the military intelligence department, looked at Marika and nodded. "Good morning, Kato Marika. The principal is calling for you. Please come to the principal's office."

 

"Ah, yes." Hearing that, Marika looked at the vice principal again and then at Mami next to her. “Right now?”

 

The vice principal nodded. "Right now. The principal is waiting for you."

 

"Okay, I understand. I'll be right there."

 

"We'll be waiting." The vice principal, who seemed to be there just for that purpose, quickly left the entrance hall via the front door, which was full of students who had just arrived at school.

 

"Um." Marika looked around, wondering if she had done anything wrong recently that would warrant a summons to the principal's office as soon as she arrived at school.

 

"I wonder what's going on?" Mami tilted her head, shifted her bag to her left hand, and held out her right hand to Marika. "Give me your bag. I'll take it to your classroom."

 

"Thanks, please take care of it." Marika left her school bag with Mami, who was going to her classroom upstairs, and took off running.

 

The principal's office was on the first floor of the old high school building. Marika walked down a wide corridor with white plaster walls and a high ceiling supported by an intricate wooden arch structure to the principal's office.

 

The last time Marika visited the principal's office was after she had decided to take on the role of captain of the Bentenmaru. After submitting paperwork and making the rounds to the relevant ministries and agencies on Sea of the Morningstar and paying her respects, she went there with Misa, who was on the staff list of Hakuoh Girls' Academy as a school nurse at the time, and took her newly officially issued privateer license with her.

 

Marika noticed that the double doors of the principal's office, which she hadn't seen in a while, were a composite structure made of armor sandwiched between wood with relief patterns. She knocked on the heavy old-fashioned knocker that looked like a gargoyle holding a bit in its mouth.

 

"Come in," a voice came from inside. Marika pushed down the silver polished mechanical lever and opened the door to the principal's office.

 

The principal's office was apparently the office of the governor himself when the Hakuoh Girls' Academy was the governor's office. There was a large desk at the back, a reception set that looked like it could hold a small party in front, and on the wall was a bookshelf that reached the ceiling and was lined with old books and relics showing the history of the Hakuoh Girls' Academy, along with a movable ladder.

 

The principal, who was called the White Witch in contrast to the vice principal, Black Granny, had just stood up from behind a huge desk that only had a simple information terminal placed on it.

 

"We've been waiting for you, Kato Marika."

 

"I'm Kato Marika from class 2." Marika entered the principal's office and closed the large, heavy door behind her. After bowing to the principal and the black-clad vice principal standing next to her, Marika looked up and repeated herself. "...I’m Kato Marika, Captain of the Bentenmaru. What do you want to talk about?"

 

"Our school just received an emergency call from the star system military." The white principal pointed to the information terminal on her desk. Standing at a distance, Marika couldn't see what information was on the display. "Please secure Kato Marika, a student of your school, as soon as possible."

 

Marika's eyes widened. The principal nodded, as if she knew everything.

 

"Your ID has now been disconnected from our school's system. Do you understand what that means?"

 

Student IDs are managed by a wireless system built into the student handbook. It is possible to immediately tell whether or not a student is on campus, and where they are on campus. Since this can involve personal information, the data is not released to the outside world, but when it comes to the star system military, it is unclear to what extent the academy's independence can be guaranteed.

 

If a student's ID is disconnected from the Hakuoh Girls' Academy system, it means that the system does not recognize the ID.

 

"Does that mean I haven't come to school yet?" Marika managed to answer, trying her best to think ahead and think things through.

 

"Is that so?"

 

"That's right." With a gentle smile on her face, the principal nodded. "We won't know that you've come to Hakuoh Girls' Academy today until we take attendance this morning. Do you know what to do next?"

 

A student, whose custody had been requested by the star system military, was informed that her ID would be disconnected from the security system. Marika suddenly realized what this meant and bowed vigorously.

 

"I understand. Thank you for your thoughtfulness, principal and vice principal!"

 

"Very well." The principal nodded with a smile. "Well, go on. Your friends are waiting for you."

 

Marika bowed once more, thinking about the meaning of the principal's words.

 

"Excuse me!" She carefully left the principal's office and closed the door as quietly as possible.

 

"Marika!"

 

"Gruier?!" Marika looked back at Gruier, who was waiting outside the principal's office in her middle school uniform.

 

"Good morning, what's wrong with you, looking so cornered?"

 

Looking at the door to the principal's office, Gruier quickly turned her attention back to Marika. "I have an urgent request for the Bentenmaru. Please take me to the Serenity star system."

 

"Um, it’s urgent?" Seeing Gruier nod, Marika started walking. "In that case, wouldn't it be quicker to ask Serenity's escort fleet to pick you up?"

 

"I've already asked the escort fleet to pick me up." Gruier immediately stepped in front of Marika, who had started to walk away. "Please come with me. I've prepared a car to take us to Shin-Okuhama Spaceport."

 

"Okay, but..." After a moment's thought, Marika quickly abandoned her efforts to keep it a secret from Gruier. "Apparently I'm currently being pursued by the star system military, is that okay?"

 

"Oh?" Gruier looked surprised, as if she was hearing that for the first time. "In that case, we need to hurry so they don’t find us."

 

A long, black limousine was parked at the main entrance for faculty and staff. Gruier let the black-clad guards who were waiting for her open and close the doors, and climbed into the limousine with practiced ease.

 

"What!?" Although it didn't have the Serenity royal family crest, the super-luxury limousine was something that was rarely seen even in Sea of the Morningstar's government district. Marika's eyes widened as she got in, looking around. "Wow, it feels like I'm not inside a car."

 

"To the airport." Sitting in a huge L-shaped leather seat in a vast cabin that was upholstered in soft crimson velvet and a functional chandelier hanging from the polished woodwork ceiling, Gruier spoke into the intercom in the armrest.

 

The limousine started to move smoothly and silently. Marika, who didn't feel any acceleration even though she hadn't sat down, sat next to Gruier. "It's rare for Gruier to use a car like this."

 

Both Gruier and Grunhilde wanted to be treated as normally as possible when they entered the dormitory and studied abroad at Hakuoh Girls' Junior High School. As a result, the number of teachers and staff for personal security seems to have increased slightly, but since the children of nobles and royalty had attended Hakuoh Girls' Academy before, there have been no noticeable changes.

 

And up until now, neither Gruier nor Grunhilde had ever used a private car at Hakuoh Girls Academy

 

"That's how urgent the situation is." Gruier answered with a tense look on her face and returned her gaze to the front. "Probably more than ever before."

 

 

The ultra-fast limousine arrived at the airport faster than the average time it took for Misa to drive her classic car, but what kind of magic had been used? The limousine passed through an intersection that Marika had never passed before, and drove straight into the airport parking lot without stopping at the terminal building.

 

"Huh, what!?"

 

"This way, hurry." Marika was pulled by the uniformed Gruier into a small shuttle that was warming up on the tarmac. It was unclear where it had been chartered from, but the small black shuttle had no markings, let alone a registration number, and it waited for the passengers to settle into their seats in the cabin before departing.

 

Looking out the window, it was clear that it was an emergency takeoff on par with an orbital interceptor. Marika saw Gruier, who was buried in a large seat in the business-style cabin, which seemed to barely move thanks to its effective inertial control.

 

"What's wrong with you, Gruier, that you're in such a hurry?"

 

"I don't know." Letting out a sigh, Gruier stood up from the backrest of the six seats facing inward in the not-so-large cabin, opened the sideboard and took out a tablet-shaped communication panel. She ran her fingers over it with practiced hands and set up a communications line. " Could you please contact the Bentenmaru?"

 

"Of course, I can, but..." Marika frowned as she saw the minimum conditions preset on the communication panel handed to her by Gruier. It was directional communication with fairly strict encryption. Apparently she really didn't want her message to be intercepted.

 

Marika called the Bentenmaru using her captain's code.

 

"Hey Captain, good timing." Hyakume answered the voice-only communication immediately. "I was just thinking of calling you myself. You're heading for the Bentenmaru, that's great."

 

"Well." Glancing at Gruier’s worried face, Marika said. "It's not me, it's Gruier who has requested that we jump to the blue planets in the Serenity system as soon as possible."

 

"Oh?" Hyakume's response was laced with surprise. "That's fine, but is something happening at Serenity?"

 

"Really?" Marika glared at Gruier, who shook her head with a serious look on her face.

 

"She doesn't seem to know the details yet. Well, I guess..." Marika's eyes widened as she updated the location information on her communications panel to confirm their current location.

 

"We'll be leaving Sea of the Morningstar's control zone soon!? How fast is this shuttle going!?"

 

"Oh, that? It’s a super express. We can meet up sooner than I thought. Any requests for the rendezvous point?"

 

Gruier answered Marika as she looked at her face. "Please do so as soon as possible."

 

"Time is the top priority, so as soon as possible."

 

"Okay. Once you leave the control zone, there's no speed limit. I'll send you the coordinates of the contact point."

 

"I can't believe you can get into space so quickly from the ground." Marika boarded the Bentenmaru in an airspace far away from not only the control zone but also the gravitational field of the Sea of the Morningstar, and watched the small shuttle leave from the porthole of the storage deck. The blue light of the Sea of the Morningstar was surprisingly far away.

 

"Ah, Captain from the bridge." Hyakume's voice came from the speaker on the storage deck. "This is the bridge. Captain Kato Marika, please come up to the bridge quickly."

 

"Let's hurry." As if she knew the situation, Gruier took the lead and ran out to the passageway.

 

"We've received a call from the insurance association. An agent is waiting on the other end of the radio. I repeat, Captain Kato, please come up to the bridge as soon as possible."

 

"After the principal's office, the next stop is the bridge?"

 

It was not an expected a reply to a call in the first place. Marika ran after Gruier, who had become accustomed to the Bentenmaru's layout.

 

As she moved through the ship, Marika noticed that the Bentenmaru was shrouded in tension, as if it were in a battle. Normally, during a voyage, you would pass and greet many crew members in the corridors, but there was no one to be seen, as if everyone was in their positions.

 

As she followed Gruier onto the bridge, Marika realized that the tension she had felt was not an illusion. All the bridge crew were seated. Misa, who was in the observer's seat, turned around and stood up. "Communications are connected."

 

Misa pointed to the captain's seat, which was one step higher. As she climbed up to the captain's seat, Marika asked Misa. "Is it okay if I don't change into my captain's uniform?"

 

"It's not pirate work, so it's fine. Time takes priority."

 

"Yes, yes." After settling into the captain's seat, Marika checked the communications panel. The Harold Lloyd Insurance Association had set up a Class III encrypted communication, the highest level of strength, instead of the usual Class II.

 

Gruier had come around to the front of the captain's seat and was looking up at Marika with a worried look on her face. Marika closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and opened the line.

 

"Sorry to have kept you waiting. This is Kato Marika, Captain of the Bentenmaru."

 

"Hello, I'm glad you joined this message." An afro-haired monster appeared on the communication monitor. "So that means Bentenmaru still maintains its independence as a pirate ship. That's pretty good."

 

"It seems like things are getting a bit confusing." Marika just went along with the story and laughed. On the communication monitor, Show looked at Marika through his flashy sunglasses.

 

"Let's get to the point. I have bad news, even worse news, and the worst news.”

 

Marika nodded nonchalantly to Show's unusual opening. “Isn't that the usual? What's wrong?”

 

Show bared his teeth. “Let's start with the bad news. A provisional report on the damage investigation into the Maria Forte 85 has been released. The Maria Forte was attacked without warning and was heavily damaged, and was rescued by the Cetus star system military and the Galactic Empire fleet.”

 

Marika had heard the report up until that point, as a related party. “I know. The Bentenmaru was the first to come to the Maria Forte's rescue.”

 

“The Maria Forte's navigation log and crew claim that it was the Bentenmaru that attacked without warning.”

 

“What?!” Marika raised her voice. The request for rescue from the star system military to the Bentenmaru should have been recorded, and the battle records of the Bentenmaru on site were given to the star system military without any editing. The same data had been sent to the Harold Lloyd Insurance Association, so Show should have known the chronological order of events.

 

"The Bentenmaru engaged in combat with an unknown cruiser while responding to a request for rescue! There's no reason to attack a transport ship we've never met!!"

 

Show waved his hand on the other side of the communications monitor. "Don't panic. There's still a long way to go. Based on the route records left in the control station, the Maria Forte data, and the combat data provided by the Bentenmaru, the star system forces and the Imperial Fleet have concluded that there is a strong possibility that the Bentenmaru misidentified and attacked the transport ship."

 

Unable to believe Show's words, Marika swept her eyes over the Bentenmaru's bridge. All the bridge crew members in their positions were looking at Marika in the captain's seat.

 

Seeing the worried look on Gruier’s face as she looked up at the captain's seat from the closest position, Marika smiled. She took a breath as calmly as she could and turned back to the communications monitor. "That's not true. That's annoying. So, what's the worse news?"

 

"Good, that’s the spirit. The worse news is that the Sea of the Morningstar Administration has suspended the Bentenmaru's privateer license."

 

Marika tried to think about what Show meant as calmly as possible. The Sea of the Morningstar Administration, which suspended the Bentenmaru's privateer license, is far away from their current location. There is plenty of time to deal with it rationally.

 

"There is a disclaimer that it is a temporary measure until the facts are clarified. In other words, you are now just a spaceship, not a pirate ship protected by an official license."

 

"That's pretty quick for a star system government." She heard Misa mutter. Marika opened her mouth, trying to think as quickly as possible.

 

"There is still the worst news left, isn't there?"

 

"Oh, there is." Show smiled broadly on the other side of the communication monitor. "Just as we were waiting for the suspension of your privateer’s license, the Bentenmaru was listed as a pirate by the Imperial Fleet. In other words, you have changed class from a privateer to a genuine pirate. The military forces of nearby star systems and the Imperial Fleet will not be held legally responsible if they attack or sink you without warning."

 

A strange silence filled the bridge. Marika took another deep breath. "Thank you for the valuable information. I have a few questions. Is that okay?"

 

"Yes, of course. Insurance companies maintain communication lines with their customers for that purpose."

 

"This isn't some kind of joke or a preparation for a surprise party or anything, right?"

 

Show shook his head with a serious look on his face. "If that were to happen, my job would be a little easier, but first of all, it would be a silly way to trick the crew of the Bentenmaru. Secondly, the joke is too exaggerated for our insurance association. Being designated a pirate by the Imperial Fleet is not something you can take for granted or as a joke. And, most importantly” Show leaned forward towards the communication monitor "Even as a joke, it's not funny at all."

 

"That's right. Coorie, please confirm the Imperial pirate designation." Without taking her eyes off the monitor, Marika gave instructions with one hand. "If you can confirm it, it will be a good memento. Please record it."

 

"Roger that." Coorie answered seriously and started typing on the keyboard.

 

"If the information you just told me is true, then the Bentenmaru is now a pirate ship certified by the Galactic Empire. Wouldn't the Harold Lloyd Insurance Association providing information to the Bentenmaru be an act of aiding pirates?"

 

"You're more worried about us than yourself? You're pretty relaxed, Captain Kato Marika." Show shook his finger theatrically. "First of all, your insurance contract with us is still valid. As long as there is no clear breach of contract and the other party does not request cancellation or revision of the contract, the relationship should continue. Or is there a reason why the Bentenmaru does not want to continue their insurance contract with us?”

 

“Not at all.” Marika shook her head with a smile. “Bentenmaru hopes to continue a good relationship with the Harold Lloyd Insurance Association. But, Show…”

 

“You don't need to worry. We are an old and respectable insurance association with ties to the Imperial fleet and trading companies. We have plenty of negotiation routes and methods at our disposal.” Show interrupted Marika mid-sentence and continued. “Next, let me explain our position once more. I'm sure you understand, but the work we do with you guys is barely profitable, and it's not uncommon for us to end up in the red.”

 

Show's grin grew wider. “In other words, you guys are not good customers and you're not very profitable. Nevertheless, the insurance company continues to contract with you because it is more profitable for them to do so.”

 

The amount of the insurance contract that Bentenmaru has with Harold Lloyd Insurance Company is not exorbitant. Marika had also seen it when she was being taught about the general maintenance and management of the Bentenmaru, and the contract amount is lower than that of most privately owned ships, and is kept at the same level as commercial ships.

 

“It has been a long time since there have been any real pirates around here. However, the contract that the shipping companies that operate passenger ships have with insurance companies includes insurance in case of pirate attacks, even though it is a low rate. This is not to be underestimated.”

 

Insurance companies don't just contract with one ship or one company. It is common for them to contract with a number of companies and multiple ships across a wide area. For large insurance policies, it may span several insurance companies, and if the contract amount is large, the insurance company will take out reinsurance to spread the risk. In that case, the number of insurance companies involved and the total amount of the insurance contract will increase further.

 

"All the ships that you attack have pirate insurance. Shipping companies call in pirates as a service to their customers, and you show your presence by doing so, and we insurance companies can show the usefulness of pirate insurance. It's a win-win situation for everyone, but that's not all. The fact that insurance companies and shipping companies have relationships with pirates is important."

 

With a dramatic gesture, Show pointed his long index finger, which was wearing a flashy ring, at Marika.

 

"The fighting power that pirates possess is comparable to a small army. Moreover, that power is independent and does not depend on political systems such as the star system military or the Galactic Empire. Space is a dark place, and you never know what will happen in the next second or how the situation will change. In such a situation, having a relationship with an independent fighting power is a status symbol."

 

"So our existence is insurance for insurance companies and shipping companies?"

 

Marika's answer made Show smile broadly.

 

"That's right. So please trust me.” Show's flashy sunglasses sparkled. “As long as I judge that a relationship with you is beneficial, Show is on your side.”

 

“That's very encouraging.” Marika nodded. Show looked at the display in front of him.

 

'Well, I'll give you the latest information The Tau star system’s military is busy with their main business, so although they have been notified that the Bentenmaru's privateering license has been suspended, there are currently no ships that can afford to carry out operations against it. The Imperial Fifth Fleet has also issued a pirate warrant for the Bentenmaru, but since their threat assessment did not produce any good numbers, there are no plans to organize a pursuit fleet or take action. Is there anything else you would like to know?'

 

After thinking for a moment, Marika looked up at the communication monitor. “The battle data submitted by the Bentenmaru has been circulated to you as well, right?”

 

“Oh, of course. Something was sent to us right after the battle yesterday.”

 

“Can we get the battle data that led the star system military and Imperial Fleet to conclude that the Bentenmaru attacked the Maria Forte?”

 

Tucking his chin slightly, Show shot Marika's face through the monitor.

 

“If the star system military or the Imperial Fleet had seen the same battle data that Show saw, then the Bentenmaru could not have attacked a ship in need of rescue. But since the Bentenmaru is being portrayed as the villain, there must have been battle data like that. A professional military would never misinterpret battle data, so completely fabricated or falsified battle data, different from the Bentenmaru's, must have been submitted to the star system military and Imperial Fleet Command.”

 

"I’ll look into it." Raising one hand, Show agreed. "After all, we're the insurance company that has a contract with the Bentenmaru, so there's no reason for them to refuse if we request the disclosure of relevant information."

 

"Please do." Marika bowed to the communication monitor. "We're just going to--"

 

"Oh, that's enough." Raising both palms to the monitor, Show interrupted Marika's words. "It's enough for the Harold Lloyd Insurance Association to be able to confirm that the Bentenmaru is safe. If we hear about the Bentenmaru's future operational plans, we'll have to answer honestly when the Imperial Fleet asks us. We know your future business plans. That's enough information."

 

"I got it." Marika nodded. "Well, please contact me if you get any new information. Our communication channel with the Harold Lloyd Insurance Company is always open."

 

"Have a safe voyage." Show flashed a two-fingered salute from his sunglasses. "I wish you the best of luck."

 

The FTL line to the Harold Lloyd Insurance Company was cut off by them, to prevent any subsequent tracing of communications records.

 

Marika looked up from the communication monitor. Everyone on the bridge was looking at her.

 

Marika cleared her throat and stood up from the captain's seat. "So, it seems like things have become a bit tricky, but the Bentenmaru will take care of the customer's request first. Destination: the blue planets in the Serenity system. Gruier, are you sure you want to head straight for the Big Blue Sister?"

 

The old colony planets in the Serenity system are twin planets. The two planets, naturally blessed with rich oceans and gently rolling continents, are known as the Big Blue Sister and the Little Blue Sister¹. The Serenity Royal Palace is located on the Big Blue Sister.

 

"I've already told Yotof." Gruier answered, looking straight up at Marika and smoothly reciting coordinate values. “Jump to this point, please."

 

"Is this location correct?" Luca, in the navigator's seat, entered the numbers she had been told verbally and displayed the specified coordinates on a space map. There are no habitable planets orbiting in the Serenity outer planetary system, but it was within defense range from the star system's perspective.

 

"It's fine." Gruier replied, looking up at the star map of the Serenity star system displayed on the main screen.

 

"Yotov, is that the Chief Chamberlain? We'll probably be okay. It seems that the Serenity system is in an emergency, so we'll be on high alert and prepare for a long-distance jump. We'll jump as soon as we're ready."

 

"Destination, the blue planets in the Serenity system."

 

Luca repeated Marika's words and started setting the course. Sandaime turned to the engine control panel and started preparing for a FTL jump.

 

"I thought that might be the case, so I increased the power output of both Alpha and Beta."

 

"Let's prepare for anti-ship combat as well."

 

"I hope I don't have to use it, but I'll prepare for electronic warfare as well."

 

Schnitzer and Coorie began preparing for anti-ship combat and electronic combat.

 

"Misa, prepare a seat for Gruier."

 

After making sure that there were no other bridge crew members waiting for her orders or asking any questions, Marika jumped down from the captain's seat. "I'm going to put on my captain's uniform. Then we'll talk about what's ahead."

 

 

"We're touching down." Kane, at the wheel, announced while subtly adjusting the position of the Bentenmaru during its FTL jump.

 

The Bentenmaru appeared in the outer planetary space of the Serenity star system, distorting normal space. Before the surrounding space stopped shaking due to the FTL jump, Luca confirmed their current location, and Hyakume confirmed the situation in the surrounding space.

 

"Current location confirmed." Luca quickly completed the confirmation of their current location. "Serenity star system, outer planetary system. Almost at the designated coordinates."

 

"Fleet confirmed!" Hyakume called out as the transponder and radar waves came in faster than our radar reflections. "One Maracot-class battleship, six Corback-class escort ships. It’s the usual Serenity System Defense Force space fleet."

 

"Oh my." After almost reflexively checking that the space fleet was not pointing their high-precision fire control radar in their direction, Marika looked at the battleship fleet's composition on the display.

 

"A battle fleet to welcome us? What in the world is going on?" Gruier looked at the Serenity fleet on the display with a tense look on her face.

 

“So, there is a direct communication request from the Maracot-class battleship Queen Serendipity.” Hyakume passed the communication request, which he had been expecting, to the captain's seat.

 

"To Captain Kato Marika, from Grunhilde Serenity?"

 

"Your younger sister?"

 

Gruier and her sister, Grunhilde, are studying abroad at the Hakuoh Girls' Academy. Marika looked at Gruier in the observer's seat. Gruier responded. "Please connect the line."

 

"Yes, yes."

 

While pondering the reason for Gruier nervousness, Marika connected a direct line to the Serenity System Defense Force's space fleet flagship, Queen Serendipity.

 

After the Serenity royal family crest, Grunhilde appeared in military uniform on the video communication monitor, which had no encryption settings.

 

"This is the Serenity space fleet flagship, Queen Serendipity, Grunhilde Serenity."

 

Marika remembered the time she had faced off against Grunhilde in military uniform through the monitor before. She glanced at Gruier’s profile. Seeing her sister in military uniform, Gruier looked relieved and relaxed.

 

Marika turned to Grunhilde on the communications monitor. "This is the Bentenmaru, captain Kato Marika."

 

Since it was a normal communication, it's best to assume that the contents of the communication can be monitored not only by the entire fleet, but anywhere in the star system if they so choose.

 

"We have brought her Royal Highness Princess Gruier Serenity."

 

Grunhilde nodded from the other side of the communications monitor. "I have a message for the Bentenmaru. The Bentenmaru is currently surrounded by our space fleet. There is no way to escape. Surrender immediately to Serenity."

 

"Eh?"

 

After studying Grunhilde's face, Marika turned to Gruier. "What is this, Gruier?"

 

"The Serenity star system does not want any unnecessary fighting. If you surrender immediately, we will guarantee your safety and a fair investigation of the facts. Bentenmaru, surrender to the Serenity Space Fleet immediately.”

 

“We made it in time.” Gruier gave Marika a wicked smile. “Trust me. I'll explain everything to you until you're satisfied. Please surrender to Grunhilde.”

 

Marika looked around the bridge. They had been preparing since before the FTL jump, so Bentenmaru was ready for battle.

 

Contrary to what Grunhilde had said, the Serenity System Defense Force space fleet was not surrounding the Bentenmaru. They hadn't even taken up a battle formation for anti-ship combat, and were simply facing the Bentenmaru in cruising mode. There were plenty of escape routes, and it would probably be easy to get away from this place.

 

Marika looked at Grunhilde's face on the monitor of the regular communication. The worried expression on her face was definitely not that of a commander issuing an order to surrender.

 

Nodding slightly, Marika began to speak. "Understood. The Bentenmaru will accept the surrender recommendation from the Serenity space fleet."

 

She raised both hands toward the monitor. "I have no intention of fighting. Um, what should I do next?"

 

Grunhilde gave a relieved smile. "I have confirmed that Bentenmaru has accepted the surrender recommendation. The Queen Serendipity will now come alongside, and I will board to personally confirm the Bentenmaru's surrender. Bentenmaru, please follow our orders.”

 

“Roger that. The Bentenmaru will surrender to the Serenity space fleet and will be under your command.”

 

“The flagship itself is docking our pirate ship? You mean we'll dock here and another princess will board?” Grumbling to himself, Hyakume checked the docking procedure sent by Queen Serendipity.

 

“It would be quicker if we do the docking, right?” The agile Bentenmaru is much more maneuverable than a large battleship.

 

“No, we’re instructed not to move.” Hyakume interpreted the data from the Queen Serendipity and informed Marika. “The Queen Serendipity will align its course with ours and come alongside us. We'll be treated like guests if we surrender.”

 

“The Serenity fleet is not in combat mode.” Schnitzer reported. "There's only a normal navigation radar response, and the energy response is low."

 

"There's no electronic jamming either." Coorie said. "They're capable people, but they have no intention of fighting. I wonder how much of it is just acting, and what they're thinking."

 

"What are you up to, Gruier?" Seeing that communication with the Queen Serendipity had shifted to confirmation work for docking, Marika turned her seat to face Gruier in the observer seat. "You were so angry when your sister wore a military uniform last time, but now you've done something like this, so doesn't this mean that this isn't an emergency to you?"

 

"I believe this is the safest way to protect the Bentenmaru." Gruier stood up from the observer seat and politely bowed to Marika. "Thank you for trusting me, Captain Marika. From what I can see, the Bentenmaru is in an unprecedented state of crisis."

 

Marika looked at Misa, who was sitting on a seat by the wall with her arms folded and a serious look on her face, then turned her eyes back to Gruier. "Well, it seems like things are getting a little confusing, but do you know anything, Gruier?"

 

"Unfortunately, I don't know how this happened." Gruier shook her head sadly. "But I think I understand the situation the Bentenmaru is in, just like the rest of the crew. The Bentenmaru's privateering license has been suspended, and to make matters worse, it has been designated a pirate by the Galactic Empire. If we leave the situation as it is, it's not hard to imagine that, in the worst case scenario, the Bentenmaru will be pursued by the Imperial fleet."

 

"Well, I don't think a big power like the Imperial Fleet would go after a weak pirate like us."

 

"Was the Bentenmaru framed?"

 

This time, Gruier looked around at the faces of the bridge crew. Misa, who had been listening to the conversation, cleared her throat. "A royal princess shouldn't use vulgar language like being framed."

 

"By the way, Gruier, where in the world did you get that information?"

 

"For someone in my position, information is a much more powerful force than direct combat power. Besides, a system for obtaining information is much cheaper than building a huge military force."

 

"Is that what are you doing at the girls' school where you're studying abroad?"

 

"Of course, I'm doing important work to protect the peace and tranquility of this galaxy."

 

After chanting the mantra, Gruier nodded to Misa. “Let me rephrase that. There was a fabricated battle report about the Bentenmaru, which she had no knowledge of, which resulted in her privateer license being suspended by the Sea of the Morningstar and being listed as a pirate by the Galactic Empire. This means that if this was a conspiracy, the person who plotted it had the power to easily manipulate not only the Sea of the Morningstar government but also the Galactic Empire's fleet.

 

"A conspiracy, huh?" Marika sighed. "I guess we have to think along those lines."

 

"Fortunately, the government was slow to act, and the Imperial fleet did not immediately respond to the Bentenmaru. Therefore, in order to protect the Bentenmaru safely, I decided that the safest and most reliable way to do so would be to have it surrender to the Serenity System Defense Force space fleet."

 

"I'm just wondering," Hyakume spoke up, "if the revocation of our pirate license was on suspicion of attacking an innocent transport ship, then why in the world has the Bentenmaru surrendered to the Serenity space fleet this time?"

 

Gruier gave a mischievous smile. "The charge is for the kidnapping of Gruier Serenity, the seventh legitimate princess of the Serenity Star Royal Family. In other words, kidnapping me."

 

Gruier looked around the bridge with a smile. "Don't you think that's enough for the Serenity space fleet to take action?"

 

"I've been set up." Marika said nonchalantly and sat down in the captain's seat. "First it was a mysterious conspiracy of unknown origin, and now it's Gruier."

The Bentenmaru surrendered to the Serenity system’s defense force’s space fleet.

 

Following procedure, the Serenity space fleet flagship, the battleship Queen Serendipity, approached and docked with the Bentenmaru, which was in a state of inertial navigation without propulsion. When the boarding bridge was connected to the side hatch, a wired communication was connected before the confirmation of fixation and airtightness.

 

"Bentenmaru from Queen Serendipity, this is Grunhilde Serenity, acting commander of the space fleet."

 

The voice echoed in the large airlock that also served as a workshop, and Marika couldn't help but be amazed. "The princess herself?!"

 

"The Bentenmaru and the Queen Serendipity are currently connected by wire. This means there is no risk of our communications being intercepted by outside parties.”

 

“This is Gruier Serenity.” Gruier picked up the receiver of the communication panel herself and answered the call. “Hilde, thank you for your hard work in commanding the fleet.”

 

“Serenity owes a great debt to the Bentenmaru.” Hilde's crystal clear voice replied. “It's a small price to pay if it means ensuring the safety of the Bentenmaru.”

 

“It's amazing that moving an entire battle fleet is a piece of cake.”

 

Marika checked the data displayed on the airlock control panel. The Queen Serendipity was fixed in position 30 meters to the starboard side of the Bentenmaru with a relative speed of zero, and pressurized air was beginning to be blown into the locked boarding bridge.

 

"So, how much of the procedure will we follow? If we accept the surrender recommendation, we'll have to go through a lot of complicated procedures, like disarming and confirming the change in command."

 

"Grunhilde will board the Bentenmaru." Gruier said, still holding the receiver in one hand. "The Bentenmaru should ostensibly be under Grunhilde’s command. Platoon Leader Catherine will be accompanying her as her escort and guide."

 

The control panel displayed a green light, indicating that the boarding bridge's environment had been secured.

 

"The Bentenmaru will head to the Space Fleet headquaerters together with the Queen Serendipity and her escort ships."

 

Following the outer hatch of the boarding bridge, the inner hatch opened. Along with the sound of the atmosphere inside the ship shifting due to a slight difference in pressure, a small figure and a larger figure appeared from the other side of the inner hatch.

 

"Hello, Captain Kato Marika." Grunhilde, standing tall in her military uniform, greeted us from the boarding bridge. "I'm Grunhilde Serenity, acting commander of the Serenity system’s defense force's space fleet. This is Platoon Leader Catherine of the Imperial Guard."

 

Catherine, wearing a long, old-fashioned apron dress, bows gracefully in greeting.

 

"We would like to board the Bentenmaru."

 

"Ah, uh, I'm Captain Kato Marika of the Bentenmaru, and I welcome you both on board."

 

After returning a makeshift salute, Marika points to the small beam gun that she has hanging from the holster on the waist of her captain's uniform. Just like in front of Schnitzer, she doesn't want to carelessly touch a gun in front of a skilled soldier like Platoon Leader Catherine.

 

"Shouldn't the captain hand over a gun to the people who board the ship as proof of surrender?"

 

"No need." Grunhilde, who had boarded the Bentenmaru, shook her head. "Captain Marika surrendered obediently as my sister asked, so we all know it's all a gimmick."

 

"Uh, then, let's go to the bridge first." Marika guided Grunhilde and Platoon Leader Catherine to the bridge of the Bentenmaru.

 

"How is this an escort for a captured ship?" Hyakume said, looking at the surrounding situation on the display, where even low-magnification optical observations could confirm the details of all the ships without the need for radar or sensors.

 

Surrounded by escort ships spaced perfectly apart like a demonstration flight, the Bentenmaru was on a trajectory toward the Serenity system defense force space fleet headquarters. The Queen Serendipity was flying straight ahead of it, like a scout.

 

"Aren't we being treated like an escorted imperial ship?"

 

"Steering like this is difficult in its own way." Kane said as he moved Bentenmaru in the center of the fleet arrangement, which was perfectly still as if it was fixed by invisible rods. "This is more nerve-wracking than combat maneuvers."

 

"The seventh and eighth princesses of Serenity are on the same ship." Gruier is standing at the observer's seat next to the captain's seat. "This is the treatment the Bentenmaru deserves."

 

"Gruier is really merciless when she uses her position." Looking at Gruier’s resolute profile, Marika saw the fleet arrangement on the display, with the Bentenmaru at its center.

 

"It's only natural to use what's available when and where you can." It was Grunhilde who answered.

 

"Thankfully, the Queen Serendipity was on guard duty in the Serenity system, so we were able to greet the Bentenmaru without keeping her waiting."

 

"I'm glad that you came to greet us, but what are we going to do now?"

 

In response to Marika's question, Gruier and Grunhilde, who were standing side by side, both turned to face the captain's seat. Platoon leader Catherine, who had been giving detailed instructions about the course and speed between the helmsman's seat and the navigator's seat, turned around.

 

"We're planning on having the Bentenmaru dock at the fleet headquarters under the pretext of disarmament."

 

"What!?" Hyakume exclaimed.

 

"It's just a pretense." Catherine continued. "Space force command is prepared to provide the Bentenmaru with full resupply and, if necessary, coordination on maintenance. We don't know where this ship's bow will point in the future, but it will be ready."

 

"I’m not worried about supplies, but I am interested in maintenance and adjustments."

 

"Elizabeth dock at fleet command is open." Catherine moved behind Hyakume in the radar/sensor seat and took out a data card. "Can you see it?"

 

"Is this it?" Hyakume received the elaborately decorated data card from Catherine and inserted it into the reader slot.

 

The grandeur of fleet command, a military station floating in high orbit around the Blue Sisters, is projected on a 3D display.

 

The Serenity space fleet command is a station designed to withstand interstellar war, and is also the last stronghold for the defense of Serenity. It is equipped with a powerful galaxy-wide communications system, powerful fortress cannons, solid armor, and also has a port for the supply and maintenance of its fleet.

 

In one section of the huge port area that looks like it could accommodate an entire fleet, there is a block equipped with several closed docks that look like they can be used to overhaul spaceships, refurbish them, and even build them from scratch. Each large closed dock has a proper name, and Catherine pointed to one of them, a block that looked like it would be suitable for cruisers and escort ships.

 

"Elizabeth Dock is the newest and most well-equipped dock in the fleet command. It is equipped with facilities to repair even heavily damaged battleships in the shortest possible time. The specifications used by the Bentenmaru are different from those of the Serenity space fleet, but we promise to provide our utmost cooperation."

 

"I appreciate that, but this thing..."

 

"Wow, that's amazing." Sandaime, who stood up from the engineer's seat to check the status of Elizabeth dock on the 3D display, spoke up. "I thought it was a naval base maintenance dock, but it's actually a fully automated, state-of-the-art dock that can even build new ships. At this scale, we can even replace the main engines and the nuclear reactors!"

 

"How many months do you plan to occupy someone else's state-of-the-art dock?" Hyakume scolded. “Besides, where are the replacement nuclear reactors, let alone the main engines?”

 

The two reactors installed on the Bentenmaru, Alpha and Beta, are antiques that have been in operation for over 60 years. They have long since exceeded their initial design lifespan, and are barely operating thanks to the wisdom and efforts of the engine crew. A search for replacement reactors has been ongoing as widely as possible since the replacement, but suitable ones have yet to be found.

 

"Of course, replacements are necessary to replace the reactors, but with this equipment we can perfectly maintain the main engines as well. Captain, how much time do we have?"

 

Seeing the happy face of Sandaime, Marika, who was in the captain's seat, crossed her arms and said "Hmm."

 

"I don't know what's going to happen, so I want to be able to jump out at a moment's notice."

 

"It’s private." Grunhilde interjected. "You can stay at the Elizabeth dock as long as you like."

 

"That's not the case. If the Serenity space fleet were to capture the Bentenmaru, the Imperial fleet that had designated it a pirate would probably keep quiet for a while, but it can't be forever. If they have the power to control not only the Sea of the Morningstar but also the Imperial fleet, it's possible that they will do something to Serenity as well, and I think anyone who sees it will immediately realize that the Bentenmaru's capture was a rigged game, a monkey show. The longer we take, the more we'll feel like we're playing into their hands."

 

"We’ve already taken action." Gruier nodded with a confident look on her face. "I've asked the Royal Intelligence Agency to investigate the movements of pirate ships with privateer licenses. I believe we'll receive some useful information soon."

 

"And on top of that, supplies?" Marika looked around the bridge. "Um, Schnitzer, how much ammunition and weapons do we have?"

 

"The missiles are at 25% combined." Schnitzer passed the list around to the captain's seat. "There is no need to fill it to 100%, as the ship will become heavier and maintenance and storage will be more difficult, but if there is a major battle coming up, it would be good to have supplies."

 

"We'll run out of chaff screens soon." Hyakume passed the list around the captain's seat. The chaff screens released for radar and optical observation interference and thermal source deception are stored in tanks in a highly concentrated liquid state, and are sprayed into space and dispersed explosively. "We can use as many chaff screens as we can get, so we want to keep them full if possible."

 

"We want to add more propellant, too." Sandaime returned to the engineer's seat and circulated a list of supplies to the captain's seat. "I'd like to add coolant, and if we can replace the reaction fluid and circulating agent, I'll have more peace of mind later."

 

"All this!?" Marika screamed, seeing the lists displayed in 3D around the captain's seat, overlapping one another.

 

"No, actually, this is just propellant and fluids that can be replenished at any port, and we haven't considered engine maintenance." Sandaime sent the list, which was now three times larger, to the captain's seat. "If we're going to dock and open up the engine area, I'd like to do some maintenance and replacements."

 

"If we're going to dock in a well-equipped dock like this, I'd like to do some maintenance around the turret as well." Schnitzer displayed a larger, more detailed list at the captain's seat.

 

"...I'm surprised our spaceship is flying safely." Weapons, ammunition, and chaff screens aren't strictly necessary to fly in space. However, Marika sighed as she skimmed over the lists that Hyakume, Sandaime, and Schnitzer had passed around.

 

"Okay, let's take full advantage of Serenity's kindness."

 

"Thanks!" "Great." "Now I can fight with peace of mind."

 

Listening to the voices of the crew coming from all sides of the bridge, Marika raised her voice. "However! Something could happen at any time that would require an emergency takeoff, so any heavy maintenance that would render the ship immobile is prohibited!"

 

Marika continued, ignoring the protests from Sandaime and Hyakume.

 

"Since we're allowed to use a well-equipped dock, you are allowed to do what you can, but you can only do maintenance that will return the ship to its original state in three hours in an emergency! You can do whatever you want if you can get it back to a state where it can take off in three hours, but any maintenance that doesn't allow that is strictly prohibited!"

 

Marika looked around at the faces of the bridge crew.

 

"Since we're using the dock at the Serenity space fleet HQ, so I don't think there'll be any sudden surprise attacks, but if the Bentenmaru can't move, I think it'll be a long-awaited opportunity for someone out there who wants the Bentenmaru gone, even if it means fabricating false battle information. So, in case something happens, prepare to leave the dock in three hours."

 

Hyakume turned from the radar/sensor seat and exchanged looks with Sandaime.

 

"Y-Yes."

 

"We have no choice but to do it, right?"

 

Sandaime, in the engineer's seat, shrugged.

 

"It's true that we can't be so relaxed right now, and being able to jump out at any time is the basis of being on a spaceship."

 

"I'm not going to ask you for everything to be all perfect when we leave port." Marika called out. "I’m sure you’ve realized that you can do the finishing touches and adjustments while we're flying, right? That's fine, please."

 

Looking at the captain with his hands together, Hyakume and Sandaime exchanged glances once more. Hyakume turned in his seat and faced the control panel. "Well, the facility is well-equipped and there's no need to worry about supplies, so it's much better than usual."

 

"With that being said, Gruier, Grunhilde, and the Bentenmaru will be staying at the Serenity space fleet HQ for a while."

 

Marika stood up from the captain's seat, faced the observer seat, and bowed her head. "Um, how much do you need for the deposit and minimum fee, for now?"

 

Gruier and Grunhilde exchanged glances at each other almost at the same time, then burst out laughing in unison.

 

"This isn't the kind of situation to laugh about." Marika looked at the dock depicted on the 3D screen with a serious look on her face. "The Bentenmaru's financial situation isn't so good, you know?"

 

"I know." Gruier answered as if it were obvious. “Don’t worry. Our space fleet has not fallen so far that we have our port charge mooring fees to captured pirate ships.”

 

"But how much would it cost per day to occupy such a state-of-the-art dock?"

 

If you divide the construction cost by the expected lifespan, you get the minimum cost per day. If you add in electricity and labor costs, the necessary expenses will rise quickly.

 

"Please don't misunderstand me. I'm not just thinking about repaying our debt to the Bentenmaru." Grunhilde, with her uniform cap on her neatly tied blonde hair, looked up at Marika in the captain's seat.

 

"Even though they are small, privateers have a certain amount of military power within the Empire. If they change affiliation or disappear, the balance of military power within the empire will change. Knowing who is plotting what and what they are trying to do will ultimately lead to the peace of Serenity."

 

"Show said that dealing with pirates is a status symbol for insurance companies."

 

Gruier took over the conversation. "It's not just insurance companies. The Serenity Royal Palace believes that it is profitable to do business with pirates."

 

"Are you sure?" Marika looked around the bridge of the Bentenmaru, which was starting preparations for docking with the Serenity space fleet HQ with the help of platoon commander Catherine, then turned her attention back to the two princesses. "Even though they're called space pirates, they have all kinds of reputations, you know?"

 

"That's fine." Gruier answered with a straight face. "If they are involved with criminal connections in the underworld, it would cause various problems for the royal palace, which should be impartial, but if it’s a licensed privateer ship from another star system with which they had no direct vested interest, they could openly do business."

 

Gruier chuckled. "Space pirates are allies of justice."

 

"Having personal relationships with rapid response forces that are not under the command of official authorities is a power that cannot be expressed in numbers." Grunhilde said. "For us, and for any hostile forces that may exist out there."

 

"Oh..." Not knowing how to respond, Marika looked at Gruier and Grunhilde.

 

"So, please feel free to dock the Bentenmaru. You don't need to worry about the rest."

 

"That might be fine for the Bentenmaru" Marika looked around at the maintenance and supply lists that were still displayed in 3D around the captain's seat "but the captain of a captured pirate ship can't do that. What should I do? Should I report to the fleet headquarters first and explain the situation?"

 

"Please choose the people who will go ashore." Grunhilde said. "Captain Marika will come with us to the Serenity Royal Palace and appear at the hearing as the alleged mastermind behind the kidnapping of the princess."

 

"What!?" Marika screamed, and Grunhilde and Gruier both smiled at the same time.

 

"A banquet is being prepared to welcome you."

 

 

"It’s going to kill me..." Marika muttered, feeling a dizzying headache. "A banquet at the royal palace is a rare opportunity, and now I understand why no one wants to attend."

 

After the Bentenmaru docked at Elizabeth dock, Marika explained the situation to the crew as the captain. Working on a pirate ship, it's rare to be treated as a guest at the old royal palace. Time was a top priority for the engineers, and Schnitzer, who was in charge of battle command, couldn't leave the Bentenmaru, which was undergoing maintenance and resupply, and the other crew members had to continue working at the dock depending on their placement and duties, but still, a considerable number of people, such as the ground forces and the navigation and observation team, should be able to leave the Bentenmaru.

 

However, not a single member of the bridge crew wanted to land on Serenity’s Big Blue Sister. While feeling a bad feeling about the complicated expressions on the crew's faces, Marika had no choice but to nominate members who would have the least impact on the immediate mission of maintaining and resupplying the Bentenmaru.

 

From the bridge crew, she chose Misa, the ship's doctor, and Coorie, the electronic warfare specialist. Misa sighed and accepted, saying it was inevitable, but Coorie refused to land on the Big Blue Sister, listing off a mountain of reasons.

 

“We're docking at a military headquarters, and it's the well-equipped Serenity space fleet! The captain has fought in battles, so she should know how skilled they are! Electronic warfare updates don't just involve parts, collecting the accumulated data and the latest information is essential!!”

 

As Coorie rattled off a stream of reasons, Marika quickly raised both hands. "Okay, okay, then I'd like you to do maintenance on the spaceship at the dock."

 

Coorie looked obviously relieved.

 

"Also, keep an eye on them so Schnitzer, Hyakume, and Sandaime don't start any disassembly or repairs that would make it impossible to put Bentenmaru back together," Marika added quietly.

 

"I'll definitely accept that assignment." Coorie tapped her chest in a low voice, and Marika asked in an even lower voice.

 

"Is the royal palace really that difficult?"

 

Coorie nodded slightly and whispered to Marika. "Be careful not to die."

 

"Okay, I'll be careful."

 

At the time, Marika didn't understand what Coorie meant, but she was asked by the Serenity space fleet command headquarters to prepare her formal attire as they descended to the Big Blue Sister together with Gruel and Grunhilde in the royal shuttle.

 

"By formal wear, do they mean the Hakuoh Girls Academy uniform?" Marika asked seriously, and Misa, still wearing the white coat indicating she was the ship's doctor, shook her head in amazement.

 

"Officially, you're attending an inquisition, so the planet’s royal family expects you to wear your pirate attire." Misa spread out the lab coat that was draped over her arms. "So, Captain Marika, you'll be wearing your captain's uniform. You'll need to come out dressed like you do when you're the captain on the Bentenmaru, down to the hat. Our spaceship isn't a warship, so if we wear our usual clothes, everyone will look all different."

 

"Oh." Marika checked her captain's uniform, which was the same as when she was on the bridge of the Bentenmaru. She adjusted her collar a bit. "Then I should just get comfortable."

 

Misa took out a pocket watch from the pocket of her lab coat and checked the sidereal time, which shows the current time at the landing site and the position of the sun. "It's still daytime, so I think we should wear our usual clothes for the party while it's still daylight."

 

Misa looked out the window of the ship at the prism-like layer of atmosphere attached to the blue planet. "The evening party after dark may have a formal dress code."

 

"What do you mean, formal dress code?"

 

"It means we might be required to wear a frilly dress like a princess." Misa looked around the cabin of the shuttle, where Gruier had disappeared, saying she'd be back later. "That princess likes that sort of thing, doesn't she?"

 

"An evening party..." Marika looked at the current time of the landing site on the cabin display. "So the inquisition won't end during the day?"

 

"It'll continue into the night too." Misa grimaced. "I hope it'll be over by morning."

 

And then Misa began her long lecture.

 

Marika was told that she didn't need to remember them all and should just listen, and a massive list of the royal family of Planet Serenity was displayed in front of her.

 

The royal family of the planet Serenity, currently headed by Simsiel Serenity, the Grand Duke of the royal family of planet Serenity and grandfather of Gruier and Grunhilde, is spread across seven planets, including the two pairs of twin planets, the Blue Sisters and the Turquoise Brothers², the Red Father, the Indigo Mother, and the White Child. As it is an old royal family, there are many side branches in addition to the main line, and most of them are involved in royal duties.

 

"Well, I thought there would be six more above her since Gruier is the legitimate seventh princess and Grunhilde is the eighth princess..."

 

Marika screamed when she saw the family tree with three-dimensional photos of faces that continued above and below the current Grand Duke, Simsiel. "Do I have to memorize all of this!?"

 

"You don't need to remember everything, and I don't expect you to." Misa answered with the face of a patient tutor facing a poor student. "This is how many people from the Serenity royal family will be attending the banquet hosted by the Serenity royal family. You saw most of these faces at the awards ceremony, right?"

 

"There's no way I'd remember! I was dragged out like it was a surprise attack and before I knew it, I was taken to the Serenity royal palace on the Big Blue Sister for the awards ceremony, and then I practically ran away in the middle of the night!"

 

"This time, the official reason is that the royal palace is holding an inquest into the princess's kidnapper, so there's no way you can escape."

 

Marika noticed that Misa was looking at her with pitying eyes.

 

"In other words, there's no guarantee that we can leave the banquet until the royal family is satisfied. And since Gruier said that it's a banquet even though it's an inquisition, it's best to assume that the elite who will be attending will not only be the royal family of Serenity, but also members of the upper class who are close to the royal family." Misa's gaze returned to that of a stern teacher. "Do you understand what I mean, Captain?"

 

"Umm..." Marika thought for a moment and looked up at Misa. "What do you mean by upper class?"

 

Misa shook her head slightly, sighed, and looked up. "I don't think that the kings, queens, prime ministers, or presidents of other star systems will come, but the ambassadors and military officers stationed here, and merchants with whom we do business will come. Even though it's a banquet in the name of an inquisition, it's safe to assume that people will come for the spectacle or some other reason. So, do you know what kind of work the captain has to do?"

 

"What am I supposed to do for people so far above me? Is there anything I need to do, anything I can do?"

 

"Make connections." As Marika tilted her head in earnest, Misa answered simply. "The people of the Serenity Royal Palace and those close to them are coming to see the face of the pirate who once saved Serenity and is now in danger. That's why."

 

"So, Captain Marika, please greet them with a confident smile in your usual captain’s uniform."

 

Gruier, who had entered the cabin, took over. Before they knew it, she had changed into an evening dress for the party.

 

"Wow, so beautiful!" Marika exclaimed, seeing Gruier in a dress for the first time in a while. She then went into deep thought. "A meet-and-greet? With people who have come to see the pirates?"

 

"The Serenity Royal Palace has connections all over the place." Gruier smiled. "I don't think there's any harm in saying hello, is there?"

 

"Maybe there's no harm, but..." Marika thought for a moment. "Saying hello here might be useful later in a tough situation, but I don’t really want to think about it."

 

"Oh, dear." After seeing Misa’s shocked expression, Gruier burst out laughing, still in her usual good mood. "You're wasting your time if you don't use what you have. Especially if you know how easy it is to use."

 

"It may be easy to use, but it seems like it would be a pain afterwards."

 

"Be careful not to get into a situation where you have to use it." After saying that, Misa sighed as she looked at Gruier in her evening dress. "Is it too late now?"

 

"Another method is to let them use it then we ingratiate ourselves with them." Gruier said with a straight face. "Either way, I think this will be a good opportunity for the Cetus constellation pirates to make themselves known to the people in the vicinity of Serenity. Do your best."

 

"Yes." Unenthusiastic, Marika once again began the task of memorizing the seemingly endless list.

 

The royal shuttle landed at the First Virginia central spaceport, which was built on the site of the first group of immigrants landing on the Big Blue Sister. The two princesses and the Bentenmaru’s crew transferred to the planet's royal family's Aerodyne and headed to the royal palace on the outskirts of the city.

 

First Virginia, the Big Blue Sister's oldest capital city, has the same history as the blue planet, and is home to Virginia Palace, where the Serenity royal family works. Located in the center of the government district, where huge old stone buildings stand, Virginia Palace is modeled after the castle of the first family in the creation myth, and is said to be the most magnificent and luxurious building among the Seven Jewels of Serenity.

 

The Serenity royal family has several palaces on all of the Seven Jewels. The planet's royal family's private Aerodyne headed for the Summer Palace, a detached palace used by the royal family for vacations, on the outskirts of First Virginia.

 

Located deep within the Virginia Mountains that tower behind First Virginia, the Summer Palace was a stone palace built on a broad grassland beside a rich blue lake.

 

The freeway connecting the cities goes through a tunnel that cuts through the mountain range, so the only way to get to the Summer Palace from the ground is to drive along a narrow mountain road. An arched pier made of the same stone extended from the palace onto the lake, where slender yachts and flying boats were moored.

 

The private Aerodyne landed on the cobblestone square in the Summer Palace's courtyard, where the guards were waiting in a measured formation.

 

The two princesses and the crew of the Bentenmaru, including Kato Marika, were greeted by the Grand Chamberlain Yotof Sif Sideux in front of the guards dressed in formal uniforms, who were lined up with old-fashioned ceremonial bayonets. "We have been waiting for you."

 

After greeting Marika as courteously as he would an Imperial Princess, the Grand Chamberlain ushered the Bentenmaru crew, including Kato Marika, into the Summer Palace.

 

"I am truly sorry to ask you to work so hard so soon after your rest, but I have heard that the crew of the Bentenmaru are not sure how long they will be able to stay, so I am sure everyone is looking forward to seeing you."

 

From the courtyard, the group was led through a glittering corridor with a row of chandeliers on a vaulted ceiling supported by high columns, and into the great hall of the Summer Palace.

 

The Bentenmaru delegation, led by Marika Kato, were ushered to the top of the great staircase, where the guests were called out by name in the traditional manner, and were greeted with applause from the attendees in colorful dresses and formal attire that filled the hall.

 

Marika, who was absentmindedly looking around the hall from her high vantage point, was suddenly brought back to her senses by Misa nudging her from behind. Remembering her etiquette lessons at school, she decided to greet them as flamboyantly as possible, bowing while waving her cloak.

 

"Ah, well," Marika asked in a low voice, waving at Gruier and Grunhilde, who were standing on either side of her with fake smiles "Is it pirate time or should we do it later?"

 

"Later if we have time." Gruier replied, also with a smile on her face. "Come on, let's go. Come down the stairs with me."

 

And so the inquest began.

 

Marika only wore her pirate captain uniform for the first half day. As the evening party started, she changed into costume that was practically like a dress-up doll and was led around by Gruier and Grunhilde to greet people not only in the Great Hall but also throughout the Summer Palace.

 

Marika, who had no idea where she was or what she was doing, suddenly came back to her senses the next day when it was completely light outside and she was in a canopy bed with everything she could see covered in white lace. She remembers seeing the dawn from one of the many spires in the Summer Palace, but most of her memories are disconnected.

 

"Oh, are you awake?" Misa, who moved around at about the same pace as Marika and was also actively enjoying alcohol and other luxury items, came into the room with a face that showed no signs of drowsiness or fatigue. "Thank you for your hard work. Did you sleep well?"

 

Marika looked around in a daze. A large canopy bed, the size of her own room in Shin-Okuhama City, sits in the middle of an even larger room that looks like it could fit an entire house inside. "Where am I?"

 

"Serenity's Summer Palace in the Virginia Mountains, this is a guest bedroom."

 

"Bedroom..." Marika looked around her bed, which looked like a rough sea. She was wearing a wonderfully comfortable, thin negligee, but she had no recollection of getting changed by herself. "I don't remember coming here on my own."

 

"I used to lose consciousness sometimes." Misa said nonchalantly. "This is the royal palace's famous unlimited party. Go to the great hall and check it out, there are people still going strong."

 

Recalling some scenes from her fragmented memory, Marika couldn't help but cry out. "How are members of the royal family so tough!? Don't they sleep!? Are they on crazy drugs!?"

 

"I’m sorry." Gruier, dressed in a morning dress, the formal attire for the royal palace, opened the door and entered, looking refreshed and free of fatigue or sleepiness. "Being a member of the royal family means that there is a lot of extra work to do, so banquets that are not high priority and do not come with responsibilities are rare. As a result, the royal families from all seven planets gathered together, abandoning the work they should have been doing."

 

"What do you mean!?"

 

"It was used as a convenient excuse for royals to have a party." Misa shrugged. "If you deal with it seriously, you'll be exhausted, so from today on, you should just do it at your own pace and relax."

 

"How come even Misa is so energetic!?"

 

"I've been through a lot. Do you want to drink some medicine? It's made with organic ingredients, so it's not an immediate cure, but there's no need to worry about side effects." Misa took the pot from the tea set on the table and filled a cup with the dubious tea.

 

"I'll be happy to have it." Marika took the cup and saucer that Misa had handed her. The chilled cup has a pleasant citrus scent.

 

"Be careful," Misa called out to Marika as she put the cup to her mouth. "Royal Kakiemon teacups are museum-quality."

 

"What!?" Marika nearly spat out the blue-green tea. She quickly sipped the contents down her throat and returned the saucer to Misa. "Take it back! I don't want to touch something so troublesome when I've just woken up!"

 

"Now that you've woken up, here's today's schedule." With her usual expression, Gruier took out a data tablet. Marika collapsed into the soft bed, covering her eyes with her right hand.

 

"Please spare me."

 

"That's what I'd like to say," Gruier continued with a calm expression. "Before that, we have a guest."

 

"A guest?" Marika stood up, holding in both hands a feather pillow so light it felt like it was floating in the air. "Someone went through the trouble? For me?"

 

"Come in." Gruier motioned to the open door.

 

"I'm sorry to bother you." Chiaki appeared at the door, still in her ship's work clothes.

 

"Chiaki!" Marika jumped out of the canopied bed, tossing aside the feather pillow. "Come in! Are you here to help me?"

 

"Don't just suddenly grab me by the neck!"

 

"Wow, how did you get into the palace looking like that?"

 

"I was told that time was the top priority." Gruier said with a slightly dissatisfied look on her face. "I could have prepared as many dresses as I wanted to for her to change into during travel time."

 

"This is my formal attire for the Barbaroosa."

 

"Hmm, it suits you. You came to see me without even taking the time to change."

 

"I heard that the captain of the Bentenmaru was held captive in the Serenity Royal Palace on suspicion of kidnapping the princess, so I came to see how she looked."

 

"Oh, you're still as mean as ever, I love you."

 

"Don't get attached to me." Chiaki closed the entrance door with Marika still hanging from her, and turned to Gruier in her morning dress. "Is this room okay?"

 

"Yes." Gruier nodded confidently. "In the name of the Serenity Royal Family, I do not have the vulgar hobby of eavesdropping in the bedroom of a guest."

 

"So get away!" Chiaki pushed Marika, who had her arms around her neck, away and looked around the bedroom, where the bright morning sun was shining in. The classical, overly decorated furniture, the paintings and designs on the walls, and the idea that bugging devices and hidden cameras could be installed anywhere seemed possible.

 

The window, separated by several crosspieces, was closed, as was the skylight above it. Chiaki made sure that the door she had come through was closed again, then turned to Marika.

 

"I have something important to tell you about the Barbaroosa. I have come here on the orders of Captain Kenjo Kurihara of the Barbaroosa."

 

Marika, still in her negligee, opened her eyes wide. "...In other words, to captain Kato Marika of the Bentenmaru?"

 

"That's right."

 

"Is it okay for me to be here?"

 

Chiaki looked at Gruier and Misa. "Yes, please listen. I think this story will be of interest to the Serenity royal family, who have captured the Bentenmaru."

 

"I understand." Gruier's face tightened, making it hard to believe that she was a child. Marika straightened her back and turned to Chiaki.

 

"What's the story?"

 

"The captain of the Barbaroosa, Kenjo Kurihara, has agreed to sell his privateer’s license."

 

"Whaaat!?" Marika raised her voice without thinking. Misa just frowned slightly. "Who is the other party? How and why!?"

 

"It's easier to make a fortune here and retire than to continue the unpredictable business of piracy." Chiaki answered smoothly. "Of course, that's just the official reason. The real reason is to find out who the mastermind is behind the negotiating partner who claims to be an agent of the Toar Concern."

 

"But even so, how in the world could he sell his privateer’s license to an unknown agent!?"

 

"He's been a pirate since before you and I were born. He probably understands the meaning and power of piracy much better than we do." Chiaki lowered her gaze. "Another reason is the Bentenmaru."

 

"Huh?"

 

"The Bentenmaru was framed in a situation that anyone with even a passing knowledge would find strange, and was eventually captured by Serenity. The Karyoubinga went missing, and the Barbaroosa was approached about buying their pirate license. Since we don't know the other party's true identity or intentions, what kind of force will they use and what will happen to the Barbaroosa?"

 

"So..."

 

"Of course, my dad wouldn't think of selling his pirate’s license while there is still money to be made and retiring to a comfortable life. So he is pretending to sell it to grab the other party by the tail. "

 

"What!?"

 

“Not only is this an enemy that can easily get the government of the Sea of the Morning Star to designate someone as a pirate, but even the Imperial Fleet, even though they haven't actually taken any operational action to that effect, labeling someone as such. Using ordinary methods, it would be better to chase them away, rather than catching them, but we have to consider the possibility that we could be crushed without our even realizing it. So, first we should do as they want and sell them our pirate license to reassure them, and block any direct attacks on the Barbaroosa. If the crew has disembarked and the pirate ship is empty, even if it sinks, the damage will be limited to the hull.”

 

"But if the keel is gone, you won't be able to renew your pirate license."

 

"My dad said that as long as there were pieces left, he could do something. He said that it's much more important that the crew survive. As long as the crew is there, we can manage even if the spaceship is gone."

 

Marika couldn't help but mutter at Chiaki's low voice. "Just as you'd expect from Captain Blackbeard."

 

"Is Captain Kenjo Kurihara simply going to sell his pirate license and hand over the Barbaroosa?"

 

Gruier asked. Chiaki turned to Gruier.

 

“Of course, there are lots of traps set up. The pirate license he’s selling is an elaborate fake, and he’s rigged it so that information from the Barbaroosa can be obtained from outside. But those are probably just bonuses. They won't know if the privateer's license is genuine unless they inquire with the government agency that issued it, and what the other party needs may not be a genuine pirate license, but just the track record of buying a privateer's license from a pirate. The real work this time is just beginning.”

 

Chiaki turned her attention back to Marika. "That's why I came here as a liaison to the Bentenmaru’s captain. From my father's point of view, it's probably a convenient way to get rid of me." Chiaki said all at once and sighed.

 

"Get rid of you?" Gruier spoke up. "Captain Kurihara probably wanted Chiaki to evacuate to a safe place."

 

"I know that. That's why I said he was getting rid of me." Chiaki shook her head in disgust. "My dad is thorough in gathering information and checking the situation, but when it comes to improvisation, he usually just goes with the flow and does what he sees fit. But this time, he was constantly butting heads with Nora, the first officer, and our combat staff, and he was contacting not only us, but all kinds of places. I didn't know that bearded old man was so sociable."

 

"That's nice." Marika muttered honestly. "I envy you for having a reliable captain."

 

After glaring at Marika, Chiaki cleared her throat. "Now we get to the main topic. The Barbaroosa’s captain, Kenjo Kurihara, has a request for the Bentenmaru’s captain, Kato Marika. Please cooperate in tracking down the Barbaroosa, which has been sold off."

 

"Got it." Marika answered immediately. "The Bentenmaru is prepared to be deployed within three hours no matter what. I'll give the order to deploy immediately. So, where should we go?"

 

Chuckling, Gruier met Chiaki's eyes. "I told you, didn't I?" Gruier continued with a smile. "No matter what happens, if Chiaki asks, Marika will try to get the Bentenmaru to leave port immediately."

 

"As the captain, you should gather more information and assess the situation more thoroughly." Chiaki shook her head and chuckled. "The Barbaroosa is still operating as a pirate ship under my father's command. The sale of the pirate license and the handover of the ship are still a long way off. And I want the Bentenmaru to act after that."

 

"What!?" Marika cried out in disappointment. "You don’t want the Bentenmaru to come to your rescue immediately?"

 

"Think about your position. Right now, the Bentenmaru has been captured by the Serenity Defense Force for kidnapping the princess. If you jump out or run away like that, the space fleet will have to chase you, even if they know it's all a staged act, and the Imperial fleet probably won't keep quiet. Can the Bentenmaru alone save the Barbaroosa while avoiding the Imperial fleet's pursuit?"

 

"That's... well... maybe." With just a little thought, it's easy to imagine that the Bentenmaru could easily find itself in a much more difficult situation than it is now. Marika hugged the feather pillow and muttered to herself. "But then, what should the Bentenmaru do?"

 

"My father thinks that if we track down the handed-over Barbaroosa, we can get close to the enemy." Chiaki spoke slowly, breaking up her words, thinking about whether she had forgotten something she should have said. "Of course, we've made preparations to track down the Barbaroosa, but that probably won't be enough. I don't know what the enemy plans to do with the Barbaroosa after it's been handed over, but they'll probably take it somewhere, whether they destroy it or use it for something else. If they manage to take the Barbaroosa to the enemy's base, that'll be fine, but even if they don't, there should be an opportunity for the crew of the pirate ship that was handed over to take back their ship."

 

"And you use the Bentenmaru for that?"

 

Chiaki nodded at Marika's words. "Looking at the situation with the Karyoubinga and the Barbaroosa, we don't know when other pirate ships will be caught in some kind of trap. That's why I can say that the Bentenmaru, which is under the protection of the Serenity Space Force, is the safest place right now. Do you have any idea what my dad is thinking?"

 

"That just shows how dangerous the situation is." Chiaki looked up at Marika, who continued. "No matter where you send anyone, you don't know if they'll arrive safely. There's no guarantee in space, but still, he sent Chiaki to the safest place, right?"

 

"That's right, it pisses me off when he treats me like a child."

 

"The order to deliver the message verbally, even though it could have been delivered by radio, may have been to maintain secrecy, or it may have been an excuse to get Chiaki to come to me, but at the same time, that means that he absolutely needs the Bentenmaru, right?"

 

Chiaki blinked and looked back at Marika.

 

"He sent Chiaki out to make sure I received the absolutely necessary mission request. I think he trusts you and relies on you, Chiaki."

 

"... You've become a lot more captain-like now."

 

"Ah, it's a big responsibility to be trusted by captain Blackbeard that much." Marika buried her face in the feather pillow she was hugging. "I wonder who in the world is doing this and why."

 

"The Royal Intelligence Agency is also working to gather information." Gruier turned to Chiaki. "So, the pirates are still gathering information and preparing for the start of their operation, right?"

 

"I think that's the case."

 

"So, Chiaki will be staying here until we hear from Captain Kenjo Kurihara?" Gruier’s words, with a big smile on her face, made Chiaki feel something ominous and look at Marika's face. Marika also nodded to Chiaki, who was wearing work clothes, with a smile.

 

"Then, let's have Chiaki attend the inquisition."

 

"A-an inquisition!?"

 

Chiaki couldn't help but ask back. Marika smiled and waved.

 

"Don't worry, it's called an inquisition, but it's actually a party hosted by the royal palace."

 

"A pa-pa-pa-party!?"

 

“What is the setting for her to be a witness at the inquisition?”

 

With a smile, Gruier said. "The Serenity Space Force has captured the Bentenmaru’s captain, Kato Marika, and in order to rescue her, a fellow pirate has invaded the royal palace, so we have to capture her and hear her story."

 

"What's that all about? What do you mean by setting?"

 

"To keep things running smoothly, it's also necessary to keep up appearances." Gruier said with a serious look on her face. "It would be best to keep Chiaki's name a secret, but if Captain Kenjo Kurihara finds out that pirates have invaded the royal palace, he will know that Chiaki has arrived on Serenity."

 

"Is that okay?" Marika frowned. "So, you mean..."

 

"And if there are people paying attention to the Bentenmaru's movements, then the information that someone is trying to rescue the Bentenmaru should be interesting."

 

As if anticipating what was next, Gruier looked at Marika. "Following the capture of the Bentenmaru, it's time for the next bait. The Royal Intelligence Agency will be able to find some good fish."

 

"That's right." Marika clung to Chiaki's arm, who was trying to flee. "Chiaki, it's going to be a fun party. Gruier, pick out a dress for Chiaki."

 

"Of course. If she's going to be attending the Inquisition as a witness, she needs to wear something appropriate."

 

"Wait a minute! I only came here as a messenger, not to be dragged into to something as scary as an Inquisition!!"

 

"Don't worry, it's okay, there's nothing to be scared of, although it's a bit tiring." Marika smiled and waved at Chiaki, who was being dragged out of the room by Gruier.

 

Captain Kenjo Kurihara of the privateer ship Barbaroosa out of the Sea of the Forest Star arrived at the Big Blue Sister’s Summer Palace as a guest of the Serenity royal family five days after Marika Kato and four days after Chiaki Kurihara.

 

"Dad!!"

 

"Chiaki...huh?"

 

Captain Blackbeard appeared in the Great Hall, the main venue for the Summer Palace Inquisition, dressed in the formal attire of a pirate captain and looked over at his beloved daughter's beautiful figure as she ran in, kicking aside the wide, flared skirt of her classic-style, shoulder-baring, jet-black evening dress. Though she was hiding her fatigue with flashy makeup, there was no hiding her green-black hair.

 

"You look different!"

 

Chiaki steps in front of Captain Blackbeard, who spreads his arms to catch her, the long skirt of her evening dress billowing out. Using the momentum of her run, Chiaki spins around and delivers a roundhouse kick to the face of her father, who is two heads taller than her.

 

"You’re late!" The top of her high heels were caught by the side of Captain Blackbeard's face, who was wearing his format admiral's hat. "Where were you and what were you doing!!"

 

Without a hint of movement, the captain's thick forearm was raised, blocking the foot that came flying on a beautiful trajectory just before it hit. Chiaki was stopped for a moment in her kicking position with her left leg stretched out straight, and her jet-black long skirt, which had once flown up, fell softly around her.

 

A murmur broke out in applause from the guests surrounding the pirate captain and his daughter.

 

“Pirate work, of course." Kenjo grinned, his mouth twisted, and his fangs bared, ready to eat. "You're doing your duty well, and I'm proud of you as a parent."

 

Chiaki's toes lightly flicked his guarding right arm, causing her to stumble in the opposite direction, but was caught by Marika in her pure white evening dress.

 

"We've been waiting for you, Captain Kenjo Kurihara." Lifting the hem of her skirt lightly, Marika performed the curtsey greeting that had become so familiar to her over the past few days. Blinking his eyes wide, Kenjo raised his long, feathered admiral's hat in his sturdy hand, spun it around, and bowed while holding it against his chest.

 

"Oh, my, Captain Kato Marika. I'm glad to hear you've been doing well in your daily battles against the Serenity system royal family."

 

"I’ve been defeated badly, losing every battle."

 

Marika smiled back at Captain Blackbeard's dramatic performance and gave a wink to Chiaki, who was standing next to her.

 

"The seventh princess of the Serenity system royal family, Princess Gruier Serenity, and the eighth princess, Princess Grunhilde Serenity."

 

As if by arrangement, Marika in her white evening dress and Chiaki in her black evening dress parted into two groups. Two princesses appeared between them, dressed in matching red and blue evening dresses.

 

Signaling to the crew, including Nora, the first officer of the Barbaroosa, who was standing behind him, Kenjo held his removed admiral hat to his chest and knelt down and bowed to the two princesses.

 

"I’m the Barbaroosa’s captain, Kenjo Kurihara. I'm honored to have the opportunity to meet the royal family of the Serenity system in person. It will be a story for generations to come."

 

"Welcome to Serenity's Big Blue Sister." Gruier bowed slightly in return, as she was accustomed to doing. She asked in a low voice that only Kenjo could hear. "Do you have time? If you're in a hurry, I'll send everyone away."

 

"Thank you for your consideration." Kenjo answered in a low voice, bowing his head. "Time is precious and irreplaceable, but we should have enough time to say hello. Fortunately, the situation is not that urgent."

 

Giving a quick wink to Grunhilde who was standing next to her, Gruier nodded with a bright, socially appropriate smile. "Please stand up, Captain Kenjo. Let me introduce the head of the family, Simsiel Serenity."

 

Marika and Chiaki exchanged casual glances, then both turned their eyes away from Kenjo and the rest of the Barbaroosa crew.

 

Marika and Chiaki left the hearing to Captain Kenjo and the rest of the Barbaroosa crew and slipped out of the venue.

 

By the time the crew of the Barbaroosa, who had besieged³ the Summer Palace in their full pirate uniforms, had finished greeting all the attendees of the Inquisition, including Archduke Simsiel, Marika and Chiaki had had a nice nap and regained their strength.

 

 

"I'm exhausted!" Kenjo threw his admiral hat, which had been bouncing back and forth between his head and hands all night, onto the round table and collapsed into a large chair in the conference room. "Do royalty and nobles do this every day? Wouldn't it be much easier to fight guerrilla warfare in the jungles of an uncivilized planet?"

 

"I told you to keep your interactions with your superiors to a minimum." Even though they'd been up almost all night, first officer Nora sat down next to Kenjo without showing any signs of fatigue. "There were plenty of opportunities to leave the battlefield, but the captain stayed on the front line."

 

"Well, a real royal or aristocrat who lives and moves on sake and snacks, are the kind of people you'd never meet no matter how many times you lived your life. Even if it's a little bit of a burden on us, if we put our hearts into it and deal with them, eventually something good would come of it."

 

"We are just being put on display."

 

"I think you can count on them." After not only getting a good night's sleep but also having breakfast, Gruier appeared in the meeting room in her morning dress. "There are very few opportunities to meet real pirates with a long history. Captain Kurihara and the crew of the Barbaroosa were just as we expected, and everyone was delighted."

 

"See, we are just being put on display."

 

After giving Nora a sidelong glance as she repeated herself, Kenjo looked around the meeting room.

 

The conference room we were guided to was an exceptionally well-equipped facility within the museum-like Serenity Summer Palace, which was to be used in the event of an emergency. A 3D multi-purpose display was installed in the center of the round table, and the special chairs around it were ultra-high-end items equipped with automatic adjustment devices and even simple medical equipment, designed for long-term use.

 

"This is the most well-equipped conference room in the Summer Palace. There are rooms with more decorations, but we decided that this warfare conference room would probably be the best for you."

 

"It's much more comfortable than the bridge in the Barbaroosa. Thank you for providing us with this valuable conference room. I feel like I'm going to fall asleep." Leaning his back against the automatically reclining backrest, Kenjo let out a loud yawn.

 

"Dad!" Chiaki, dressed in the uniform of the Hakuoh Girls' Academy Sea Forest Star School, entered after Gruier and slammed the round table in front of Kenjo. "Your attitude! Think about the location a bit!!"

 

"Why did you take off that beautiful dress? What a waste!” Kenjo replied, raising his head from the backrest, which was reclined almost to horizontal. "Well, I guess it's a bit of a treat, but it's the performance people expect from a pirate."

 

Kenjo sat up from the backrest with difficulty. The seat automatically changed shape to accommodate his changed posture. "This is an amazing chair. If I put equipment like this on our bridge, I'd just fall asleep and not be able to work."

 

"Captain Kurihara." Following Chiaki, Marika came in wearing her captain's uniform, along with Misa in her white coat and Coorie, who had come down to the Summer Palace for this occasion, in a padded kimono.

 

"Thank you for your hard work." Marika looked at Kenjo and the rest of the main crew of the Barbaroosa. "Um, can I ask you a question?"

 

"Yeah, about that matter. Sorry to have kept you waiting." Kenjo leaned forward towards the round table in the conference room.

 

"Would you prefer I wasn't here?" When Gruier called out to him, Kenjo stood up from his chair and bowed.

 

"The talk we're about to discuss will be of interest to the Allied Kingdoms as well. We consider Serenity to be a valuable ally. We would welcome the attendance of a member of Serenity's military or intelligence department."

 

"Thank you." Nodding, Gruier walked towards the round table in the conference room. She ran her finger over the intercom installed at each individual space. "Please call Jacqueline and Roberto."

 

Before long, a beautiful woman in an evening dress and a soldier in full military uniform appeared in the conference room.

 

"This is Jacqueline, who is in charge of this case in the intelligence department, and Colonel Roberto Belmar."

 

"So you're from the intelligence department then?" Kenjo, who had seen her many times at the Inquisition venue, nodded to the beautiful woman in a black evening dress with long flowing black hair and long black gloves. "I thought your posture was too good for a mere high-born⁴."

 

"I'm just a court attendant."

 

"This is Roberto Belmar of the Serenity System Defense Force Space Fleet."

 

The captain, holding his formal cap with a long feather crest under his arm, gave a neat and tidy salute. Kenjo, standing up straight, returned the salute.

 

"I’m Kenjo Kurihara, captain of the Barbaroosa. Well then." Kenjo looked around at the faces gathered in the conference room. "Shall we begin our discussion regarding this troublesome incident?"

 

The door to the conference room was closed.

 

One third of the chairs around the round table in the conference room were empty, and most of the attendees were pirates. Kenjo briefly explained the events leading up to their arrival at Serenity's Big Blue Sister.

 

"So, I handed over the Barbaroosa and my privateer's license to an agent of the Toar Concern, and in return, I confirmed that the money had been deposited in the relevant account at the Star Bank. The rest of the data came from the device I left on the Barbaroosa that was handed over, and from our tracking device."

 

Kenjo switched the star chart that was displayed in the center of the table. "It seems that the Toar Concern is a complete subcontractor in this matter. They only did the bare minimum of checks on the Barbaroosa that was handed over, changed the ownership, and then took the ship as it was."

 

Kenjo looked around at the faces at the round table. "Now, as for where the Barbaroosa is headed," Captain Blackbeard continued after a pause.

 

"It's the Seruna fleet base."

 

"The Imperial fleet!?" Misa couldn't help but ask again. First Officer Nora, who was sitting next to Captain Blackbeard, nodded.

 

"Port Seruna Station, the largest Imperial fleet base around."

 

The Imperial fleet is divided into seven fleets for different purposes. The airspace around the Orion Arm, including the Cetus constellation and the Serenity system, is the responsibility of the Fifth Fleet, and Seruna is one of its largest military stations.

 

"You mean the Empire wanted a pirate license!?"

 

"No, probably not." Kenjo shook his head at his daughter's words. "According to our information, the handed over Barbaroosa had never come into contact with the Imperial Fleet before arriving at the fleet base in Seruna. And the Barbaroosa did not enter the naval port area managed by the 5th Fleet. It seems to have been a factory area managed by a company under contract with the military."

 

Not just Seruna, most naval ports with maintenance and supply depos have factory areas managed by companies. Supplies, including weapons and ammunition, and maintenance parts are managed and supplied by private companies that do business with the Imperial Fleet, and they perform maintenance and repairs on ships and onboard equipment, and care for crew members under contract with the Imperial Fleet.

 

"So a private company?"

 

Kenjo nodded when Marika asked.

 

"At the very least, it was a private company that had dealings with the Fifth Fleet that accepted the Barbaroosa into the closed docks of Seruna. There are a lot of ghost companies and paper companies around there, so I don't know which ones have real entities, but I'm currently tracking down which company took on our piece of junk."

 

Kenjo looked at the three-dimensional exterior view of Port Seruna Station projected in the center of the round table. When it was first built, it was a huge fortress located on the outskirts of the Empire, but as the Galactic Empire expanded, the station's function became more of a naval port than a military fortress.

 

Port Seruna Station is used as a base for the Imperial Fleet, but it's not just warships belonging to the Imperial Fleet that come and go. Port Seruna Station is also a huge space city, and transport ships and work ships from private companies under contract with the military are constantly entering the port for supplies and maintenance, and there are also many private shipping routes connected to it.

 

"The number of companies that work under contract with the Imperial Fleet is countless, including subcontractors, and there are so many companies working at Port Seruna Station alone that it's annoying. But there should only be a limited number of companies that can operate a spaceship the size of the Barbaroosa and bring a civilian ship old, but equipped with proper armaments, to the fleet base. I suspect that the company that took the Barbaroosa is probably the mastermind behind this, or at least they have connections to the mastermind."

 

Kenjo looked around at the faces of the people present at the round table.

 

"If a large corporation can freely use Port Seruna Station, it's easy to get the Imperial Fleet to designate the Bentenmaru as a pirate, and even to put pressure on the Tau Star System military. Of course, we don't know who is thinking what when they want a pirate license or set a trap for pirates."

 

"So the Imperial Fleet is not an enemy?" Gruier raised her hand to confirm.

 

"At least for now, that's right." Kenjo nodded.

 

"It would be a serious matter to put pirates on the wanted list in Imperial territory, but from what I've gathered, the Imperial Fleet hasn't even begun any operations, let alone preparations. Well, the military strength of a privateer licensed pirate is no threat to the fleet, so there's no need to allocate forces. At the very least, if the Bentenmaru has been captured by the Serenity Space Force on suspicion of kidnapping the princess and is currently under investigation, there's no need to mobilize the fleet now."

 

Kenjo looked at the intelligence lady and the space fleet captain who were standing on either side of Gruier, guarding her. "Have you heard anything from the Imperial Fleet since you captured the Bentenmaru?"

 

The captain answered as if it had been discussed beforehand. "The Fifth Fleet HQ has inquired about the facts regarding the capture of the Bentenmaru by the Serenity Space Forces."

 

"What did you reply?"

 

“Exactly how it appears on the surface, of course.” The captain operated the console on the round table and brought up the relevant documents on the display.

 

"The Bentenmaru itself and all of its crew members, including Captain Kato Marika, have been secured and are being interrogated by the Serenity Space Fleet HQ. We have told them that we will send a report if necessary, and that they should apply for information sharing."

 

"Have they applied?"

 

Regardless of size, and regardless of whether they are called the star system military, defense force, self-defense force, or escort force, the powers of each star system have formed a military alliance with the Imperial Fleet that protects the entire galaxy. The contents of the alliance is wide ranging, including information sharing in times of emergency and conducting joint operations.

 

"So far, no." Colonel Belmar replied after checking the latest communications. "Since the initial inquiry, we have not received any inquiries or applications related to piracy from the Imperial Fleet."

 

"I see." Kenjo nodded. "In other words, the Imperial Fleet’s interest is cursory. So, what about you?"

 

Kenjo turned his attention to Marika, Misa, and Coorie. “Did you find out where the three Derrflinger-class ships that fought the Bentenmaru came from?”

 

Marika shook her head in response to Captain Blackbeard's question. "I heard that they were new ships that had only just been delivered, so I thought it would be easy to find out their affiliation, but we still haven't."

 

"To date, 43 Derrflinger-class ships have been completed and delivered to the space force or fleet and are currently in active service." Coorie took over and showed the latest investigation results on the display. "There are 44 ships, including the Zeroth Ship, which is currently being used as an experimental ship at the headquarters of the shipbuilding manufacturer Roubaix Mass. All of the ships have been delivered to the Imperial Fleet, the territorial star system militaries, and the defense fleets of space cities, and not a single one has been delivered to the frontiers outside the Empire."

 

A list of Derrflinger class ships, including those still under construction, was displayed. The latest mobile cruisers are high performance but expensive, so not many have been built. However, Roubaix Mass is a prestigious shipbuilding manufacturer with a reputation for specializing in military supplies. The Imperial Fleet has 24 ships in service and in operation, eight each in the First, Second, and Third Fleets, and the remaining 19 ships have been delivered to free trade ports, wealthy star system military, and defense fleets.

 

The basic rule for warships is to operate the same type together. The military is greatly affected by the surrounding situation and budget, so it is not always possible to carry out ideal military preparations. However, military forces that order Derrflinger-class ships seem to have generous budgets, with the minimum number of ships delivered at one time being four.

 

"As you know, not all actions of warships in operation are made public." Typing smoothly on her keyboard, Coorie switched the image on the display. "However, with the cooperation of the Insurance Association and Serenity's Royal Intelligence Department, we have determined the location of most of the Derrflinger-class ships at the time of the attack on the Maria Forte on the outer edge of the Tau system."

 

Coorie projected a stereoscopic view of the entire galaxy onto the large 3D display in the center of the round table. "All of the Derrflinger class belonging to the Imperial Fleet are deployed in core star systems, and there is no sign of them leaving their assigned airspace in the three days before and after today. Other Derrflinger class ships are operated by the free trade port of Nu Salyut, the Mahia Star System Defense Force, the Greer-Grinde Combined Fleet, and the Dragon State Collective Aerospace Force, but as you can see, they are all far away from the Tau star system."

 

The location of each space city and star system is plotted on a three-dimensional map of the galaxy.

 

"Of course, warships are good at jumping long distances in a short time, but if the regular army sends three mobile cruisers to jump at once, it will be difficult even if they have substitutes unless they are well positioned. If you want to know the exact current location and operational status, you can find out by poking around in that area, but all the investigations so far have shown that all the Derrflinger-class ships are innocent."

 

"Hmm." Looking back and forth between Coorie's face and the galactic display on the conference table, Kenjo turned his eyes back to Marika. "Has the Bentenmaru confirmed that the enemy ships you came into contact with were Derrflinger-class?"

 

"They were only estimated to be Derrflinger-class through pattern recognition." Marika answered immediately. When she found out that out of all the Derrflinger-class ships in the galaxy, there was none that had been in the star system that day, Marika had been thinking about that possibility. "Mid-range electronic warfare and anti-ship mobile combat. Even when we got closest to one of the ships, the enemy was using intense electronic jamming. We have the same observation data full of noise that we submitted to the Tau star system, but unfortunately we do not have any data that would confirm that the enemy was Derrflinger-class ships."

 

"Is it possible that there are Derrflinger-class ships that have not yet been delivered?"

 

This time, Coorie answered Kenjo's rapid-fire questions. "It's not zero." Coorie scrolled down the construction list for the Derrflinger-class. Below the names of completed and delivered ships, the list continued with the statuses of ships under construction, in planning, and under consideration.

 

"There are currently 83 Derrflinger-class ships under construction, and an equal number of others under negotiation or in the planning stages. Well, those are probably being promoted, so take them with a grain of salt, but what we need to be concerned about are the 83 ships under construction at Roubaix Mass." Coorie expanded the list that followed just below the commissioned Derrflinger-class. "Even if their status is under construction, if you look closely you'll see that some ships are completed and undergoing final checks, or have already been sent out into space for manufacturer tests."

 

Whether it's civilian or military, spaceships are not delivered to clients as they are once completed, unless they are mass-produced models. The manufacturer will carry out a minimum of checks and make sure there are no problems with the finished product before shipping it out as a product.

 

When it comes to expensive, multi-functional military spacecraft, the manufacturer must carry out a wide range of tests and checks. Many parts require maintenance and adjustments, so the completed spacecraft is not simply handed over to the client.

 

"However, if they try to send a completed ship into combat without checking it first, there will be a limit to its combat use. Realistically, has the ship and armament all been checked for functionality and final checks, and is in a state to go?" Coorie selected and flashed the names of six Derrflinger-class ships whose completion dates were fast approaching. "There are two more ships that have been completed and are underway, but the locations and schedules of all the ships are known. Of course, this is a manufacturer's announcement, so it's up to us to decide how much we trust them."

 

Coorie looked at Captain Kenjo while flashing the names of the ships in the list. "However, if the manufacturer were to deploy a warship that hadn't been delivered yet in combat, and to operate it in an irregular manner, it would become a credibility issue."

 

"If money can buy trust, they'll pay any amount." Kenjo snorted. "Especially if it's credibility that can be polished with money. After all, their business is in a completely different league from ours."

 

"It's not a lot of money to pay for a pirate." Coorie's coke-bottle glasses gleamed.

"It would be a different story if there was some other business involved."

 

"Oh?" Kenjo said with interest. "Did a shipbuilding company get involved in a business that would make a disproportionate amount of money from pirates?"

 

"We haven't yet determined that the shipbuilding company is behind it." Coorie simply denied it. "It's true that Roubaix Mass has an office in Port Seruna, but it doesn't have its own dock. There are docks in Port Seruna available for short-term rental, but our data doesn't show that Roubaix Mass has rented one."

 

Coorie's coke-bottle glasses turned to Kenjo. "You're aware of that much of the data, right?"

 

"Even if Roubaix Mass isn't the mastermind behind it all, there are plenty of people who will flock to a profitable business. So, how do you interpret the data on the Derrflinger class?"

 

"The Insurance Association has secured the battle information submitted by the transport ship Maria Forte to the star system military and the Imperial Fleet." Coorie erased the image of Port Seruna Station that was projected in the center of the Round Table and displayed a large amount of new data.

 

"Of course, this battle record is from a transport ship, so it doesn't record the enemy ships in as much detail as the Bentenmaru. However, there is enough data observed to identify the enemy ships as Derrflinger class, even though it took almost no part in the battle."

 

Coorie plotted several points from the recorded data, which was mostly disorganized and not in chronological order.

 

"It's not a combat ship, and a transport ship should only need to keep a proper record of its own operations, but by comparing several pieces of data, such as long-distance acceleration patterns, maneuvering patterns, and energy emissions, even an automatic computer-based matching system can determine that it's a Derrflinger-class ship. On the other hand, the data from the Bentenmaru isn't very good, due in part to their active use of electronic jamming to hide, but we still have the bare minimum of data."

 

"Hmm." Kenjo looked up as he ran the battle data, arranged in chronological order, over the personal display in front of him. "For an amateur's raw record, this is pretty impressive combat data."

 

"If there's a military veteran on the bridge crew, they'll know how to gather combat information, but even so, this data is too convenient for anyone who wants to designate the Bentenmaru as an outlaw pirate. It's made to match our combat records to the bare minimum, and even to identify the type of ship they're fighting with. Despite that, we still can't identify the Derrflinger class."

 

Coorie looked around at the faces of everyone sitting at the round table. "I don't think the Derrflinger class that attacked the Maria Forte actually exists."

 

Seeing Captain Marika's expression not changing after hearing Coorie's words, Kenjo turned his eyes back to Coorie.

 

"Is that the consensus of the Bentenmaru?"

 

"You can safely assume that this is the conclusion of the Bentenmaru's electronic warfare specialist."

 

Coorie glanced over at Marika beside her. Marika nodded as if she understood. Coorie continued.

 

"Even our spaceships sometimes camouflage their ship shapes and energy patterns. Even smuggling ships around here camouflage transponders. It's much easier to hide your true identity by disguising yourself with a fake silhouette than by disappearing."

 

"You think that's what the enemy ship did this time?"

 

"Probably." Coorie projected the Bentenmaru's battle information onto the center of the round table. "This is the battle data. I won't go into the details, but the Bentenmaru entered the middle of a dense electronic jamming created by at least three enemy ships, so we don't have complete data from the first contact to the final departure. As an expert, I can say that it's not that difficult to create this situation. If the ship closest to the Bentenmaru has sufficient armor and maneuverability, the rest of the traps can be set up with just probes."

 

Coorie showed us the trajectory of the Bentenmaru from when it touched down on the battlefield to when it left.

 

"Once the role of who will show up and who will act as a decoy have been decided, it's easy to deceive a single ship, though of course a suitable trap is necessary."

 

"Even if the opponent is the Bentenmaru?"

 

Coorie nodded at Kenjo's words. "If they'd prepared to fight us from the start, it would be easy. If they were planning to actually fight and sink us, that would be a different story, but if they were just going to give us a quick fight, then they wouldn’t need to prepare a lot of equipment."

 

"So you're saying the enemy isn't a Derrflinger-class ship?"

 

"Rather than focusing on the Derrflinger-class, whose locations are all known, it's more natural to think that the enemy has disguised themselves as a Derrflinger-class ship. However, to do that, the enemy needs to have data on the Derrflinger-class. They need data that's reliable enough to falsify Bentenmaru's matching data."

 

"What about that data?" Kenjo's eyes didn't move from Coorie. "Who has reliable data on the Derrflinger-class, and from where?"

 

"First of all, the shipbuilding company that mass-produces the Derrflinger-class." Coorie answered fluently. "The modification specifications for the Derrflinger class that we have captured in our data do not actually exist among any ships that have been commissioned so far. However, Roubaix Mass, which handles everything from design to simulation, could easily design any modified ship based on the Derrflinger class, and it would also be easy to provide that data to those who need it."

 

"That's exactly the answer I was hoping for. Thank you." Kenjo raised his hand. "In other words, the mastermind behind this is someone who has connections in the Imperial Fleet, and who can also obtain data on cutting-edge ships from shipbuilding companies like Roubaix Mass."

 

Kenjo looked around at the faces at the round table. "And the fact that he deliberately came out wearing the skin of the Derrflinger class means that the enemy the Bentenmaru fought had a different form."

 

"I agree." Coorie replied.

 

"Working backwards from the Bentenmaru's battle records, I think the enemy is an electronic warfare fleet of at least three ships, and possibly six or more. If they know that the enemy will come in with only one ship, they can do anything by placing one ship in front of the enemy that will show itself in a frontal encounter, while the rest sit in the background and work behind the scenes.”

 

Kenjo nodded. "Up to that point, it's in line with our prediction. But what happens next is unclear. Attacking with more numbers than the enemy is the most basic rule, but unfortunately, real life doesn't always work out that way. If you have an advantageous number of ships from the start, it's easier and less time-consuming to just push forward with the numbers. In an overwhelmingly advantageous situation, why would you go to the trouble of disguising your ship type and fighting a half-hearted battle?"

 

"If I may?" Gruier raised her hand to ask to speak. Kenjo answered.

 

"Please, Princess."

 

"That's an interesting story. I'm no expert on combat, but wars aren't always caused by military circumstances. In fact, political situations often call for combat. If the ghost fleet you describe actually exists, surely it could accidentally start a battle that meets political demands?"

 

"Firelighting, huh?" Kenjo muttered. The act of starting a war or conflict is likened to arson, and is called firelighting.

 

"Firelighting, you say?" Gruier repeated the word with interest. "If a nation is in a complicated position, I think there are various ways to use it."

 

“Combined with diplomacy, it would be an effective way to shake things up.” Kenjo crossed his thick arms. "But war and diplomacy can't be done without an opponent. Even if you fake an entire fleet and create a favorable situation, if you don't get the other side on board, it's just a one-man show, and if it's revealed that you're playing a farce⁵, your credibility will be damaged. It'll be a losing battle where the situation you're trying to create will come back to haunt you."

 

"One-man shows and farces are common." Gruier said with an innocent smile. "There's no such thing as pure trust. Trust is just a pretense that exists depending on each party's position and convenience."

 

Gruier looked around at the pirates, who looked a little surprised. "That's what I heard from my grandfather."

 

"The star system’s royal family’s diplomatic policy is incredibly practical." Kenjo gave his humble opinion.

 

"In other words, the invisible fleet has its own uses."

 

"It would not be an effective fighting force for a star system military or defense force, which specializes in base defense and protecting star systems and districts." Colonel Belmar said. "However, if you have an Imperial fleet or a mercenary company fighting rebel forces on the frontier, you might find it useful."

 

"Both the Sea of the Forest Star and the Sea of the Morningstar are rural, but they're not on the frontier." Kenjo looked back at the captain. "So, the mastermind behind this is someone who does business extensively not only within the Empire but also on the frontier, is that right?"

 

"Unfortunately, the Royal Intelligence Agency was unable to find any connection between the Toar Concern, which bought the Barbaroosa's pirate license, and the attack on Maria Forte at Sea of the Morningstar." Jacqueline took over the conversation. "Regarding the attack on the Maria Forte, we have compared the combat information from the Bentenmaru with the data from the Maria Forte released by the Tau administration, but have not yet been able to conclusively prove that the Maria Forte's combat data is a fabrication. However, considering that they deployed at least three mobile cruisers of the same size as a Derrflinger and disappeared without leaving a trace, we can assume that their organizational strength is at least as strong as the fleet of a major mercenary company."

 

"Do you have any idea who we are dealing with?"

 

Jacqueline shook her head with a smile on her face. A list of companies was projected in the center of the round table. "There aren't many defense forces or company fleets with the capacity to operate a mobile cruiser fleet in secret. But if a cruiser fleet, with the Derrflinger class as its main force, is a ghost fleet for firelighting purposes, then it's probably not operated by a defense force attached to a location, but a company fleet attached to an organization."

 

"Well, I'm sure they're well aware that they're walking a dangerous path." Kenjo looked at the list of mercenary companies and military industries that was displayed on the screen. "They're probably better than average at keeping secrets. It's not going to be that easy to expose them."

 

"But I think one of the companies on this list that has a branch in Seruna took the Barbaroosa, right?" Marika said. "First, why don't you take the Barbaroosa back?"

 

Kenjo looked at Marika's face carefully. "That's a very welcome proposal, but our ship is right in the middle of the Imperial Fleet's base, you know?"

 

"But it's a factory area, not a military area, right?"

 

Operating the unfamiliar console with her hands, Marika projected a full view of Port Seruna Station onto the center of the round table.

 

"Besides, it seems like the Imperial Fleet isn’t taking pirates too seriously. The Barbaroosa isn't under military control, it's in a dock belonging to a private company that does business in Seruna, so if you want to take it back, now is the time before it gets accidentally disassembled."

 

Marika shifted her gaze from the full view of the station to Kenjo. "What's the status of the Barbaroosa's privateer license right now?"

 

"I have it in my hand." Kenjo leaned his broad back against the backrest. "The privateering license I gave to the agents is fake enough that if they ever took a look at it, they would know it was fake without any special equipment. I gave them the Barbaroosa, so I was planning to give them a better fake that would take a while to authenticate if they complained right away, but I think the agents probably just left our privateering license in the treasure chest and never opened it."

 

"The agent wasn’t planning to get a privateer's license and a pirate ship and take over the piracy business, was he?"

 

Kenjo nodded when Marika confirmed it. "If you want to use the Barbaroosa for work, you need a ship, a license, and one more thing: a qualified captain."

 

Kenjo pointed to his chest with his thick thumb. "If you’re going to be a pirate, you need to have me or my direct descendent on board. Pirates who got privateer licenses from the old Federation of Colonial Stars should all be acting under the same conditions."

 

"So, does that mean that for the Sea of the Forest Star government, the Barbaroosa is still considered a pirate?"

 

"Yeah, that’s right." Kenjo grinned. "I've already talked to the relevant ministry, so our pirate license should be valid until the end of the term. I was hoping that if the agent who got the fake license applied to the Sea of the Forest Star government to have his pirate license suspended, things would get a little interesting, but so far there's been no sign of that happening."

 

Kenjo waved his hands. "Well, if they seize the ship, we won't be able to pirate automatically, so we don't have to go to the trouble of asking for the pirate license to be returned or suspended. If we leave it alone for a while, it will automatically become unusable."

 

"That's why the captain is careless!" Nora snapped. "We know we're at a disadvantage if it becomes a drawn-out battle, and you've even given your precious pirate ship to the other side, so what are you planning to do now!?"

 

"Let's go to Seruna." Everyone's attention was focused on Marika’s dignified voice. Marika looked around at everyone's faces before speaking again. "Let's go to Port Seruna Station. There should be a mastermind of this whole thing, or his henchman, who thinks that righteous pirates are a hindrance, and even if there isn't, we have to get the Barbaroosa back."

 

Marika turned her gaze to Kenjo. "Or is it okay to get the Barbaroosa back later?"

 

"Well, I'd prefer it to happen as soon as possible." Kenjo raised his hands. "Port Seruna is equipped with the latest equipment that the Imperial Fleet is proud of. If they throw the Barbaroosa into an unmanned dock and give a dismantling command to a robot, our ship will be reduced to a junk pile in no time. Well, if we have all the parts, we can leave it to the robot to put it back together, and if the shape of the keel remains, we can assemble it from scratch, but in that case, we'll have to do a lot of training to get used to it."

 

Kenjo leaned forward, leaning one elbow on the round table. "To be honest, I want to get the Barbaroosa back as soon as possible. But how exactly are we going to get to my pirate ship, which is tucked away in a military supply base, even though it's a factory area?"

 

After glancing at Misa and Coorie on either side of her, Marika spoke.

 

Hyakume received the call from Captain Marika on the bridge of the Bentenmaru, where the access panels had been left wide open for rewiring, and the wires and parts were scattered all over the place, like an upturned toy box.

 

"We've decided to set sail!?" Hyakume shouted into the microphone on his headset as he dealt with the wiring around the captain's seat.

 

"Did you just say that, Captain? Did you? Ah, I must have misheard after all. No, it's fine, as you said, we are performing maintenance work so that we will be ready to depart at any time within the next three hours. The cameras? Ah, we are currently reconfiguring all the bridge cameras, so it's not like we can show you anything except audio."

 

Gravity has been cut off inside the ship to streamline operations. Hyakume leaves the captain's seat, chattering away into the wireless headset. After checking to make sure there are no loose wires, he flies over to the radar/sensor seat, which is the messiest on the bridge.

 

"Yes, of course, if we need to launch right now, not in three hours, we can still manage that. Of course. Yes. It's not that urgent, is it? Well, if you can just decide on the departure schedule, we can finish up the Bentenmaru accordingly, and with the full cooperation of the Serenity Space Force, we'll be in better shape than we've been since the Bentenmaru’s start. We can even take on the Imperial fleet now."

 

Hyakume got down into the radar/sensor seat, which had been removed because it would get in the way of work, and looked around his post with a sigh.

 

"Yes, if we depart in 12 hours, then of course we'll have plenty of time to welcome the captain. Eh? Passengers? The crew of the Barbaroosa are here? We can't take everyone, their ship is more than twice as big. Well, I suppose if it's only for a short period of time we could manage by clearing out warehouses or renting space here and there, but where exactly are we going to take such a large group of people?"

 

Hyakume, who was opening the report on the panel that had already been automatically checked, held down his headset and asked again.

 

"Port Seruna Station? Is that what you said? It's the largest Imperial fleet base in this area, isn't it? Captain? You are of course aware that the Bentenmaru has been designated a pirate and is wanted? Yes, if you are aware, that's fine, but what exactly are you doing bringing the crew of the Barbaroosa to a place like that?"

 

Still holding the headset, Hyakume’s mouth dropped open. "You're going to turn yourself in to the Imperial fleet!?"

A panoramic view of Port Seruna was projected on the main screen.

 

"How are the repairs going?"

 

Once built as a frontline fortress, Port Seruna is now a key location for the Galactic Empire's Fifth Fleet guarding the outer periphery. The entirety of the base, the largest of its kind, was projected on the main screen of the Bentenmaru.

 

"Are you sure it's all done?"

 

"It's done, it's done, it's perfect." Hyakume, hydrospanner⁶ in hand, crawled out from under the control panel surrounding the radar/sensor seat and opened a toolbox that was piled up on the seat, which had been pushed far back. "I’ve redone all the questionable connections, and the control software that had problems due to different versions has been updated to a stable version and is now working perfectly. If possible, I would like to do a thorough operation test for two to three days to come up with a setting that will not budge even if I leave it for a while, but I don't think I have time to do that right now."

 

Hyakume shoved not only the hydrospanner he was holding, but also the various tools that were attached or fastened to the belt around his waist into the antique toolbox and forced the lid closed, which wouldn't close completely.

 

"The sensors were also cleaned and overhauled, and some were upgraded with high-performance parts that were out of date for Serenity but are too good for us. Look at this optical observation image."

 

Hyakume shook the lid that wouldn't close and forced the latch on it, then he put the toolbox he had lifted off the seat back behind it.

 

"It's an old mobile fortress, so it's low visibility and pitch black, but you can see it so clearly via the visible light optical image."

 

"I just cleaned the main screen." Coorie, operating as usual, said while holding a candy bar in her mouth, with snacks and drink packs spread out on the electronic warfare panel. "The brightness and resolution are the same as before. Port Seruna isn’t using optical camouflage, so I don't think its visibility has changed."

 

"Even Coorie's station!" Marika, in the captain's seat, spoke up. "Kane's station, Sandaime's station, and Schnitzer's station! Are they really all repaired!?"

 

"Of course," "It's perfect," "The ship's armaments are in perfect condition."

 

Overlapping replies came back from the helmsman's seat, the engineer's seat, and the battle commander's seat. Marika looked around the main bridge of the Bentenmaru, where although the lights were on in all the equipment, toolboxes and parts cases were piled up on the floor, access panels were left open, covers hadn't been put back in their proper places, and unknown junk was left lying around, leaving only animal trail-like paths for people to move around.

 

"I just can't trust it." There were no changes to the layout of the control console and displays around the captain's seat. It looked a little better, perhaps because it had been disassembled and cleaned.

 

"I guess they're taking it easy because it's not like they're going to be fighting ships anytime soon."

 

"I'm surprised you're taking it easy, Captain." Kane, who usually only has a small control panel displayed around the steering wheel, was buried in the displays that were lined up in two and three dimensions, continuing to make fine adjustments.

 

"The last 36 hours have been the most hellish scene on the Bentenmaru since Captain Marika started."

 

"That’s…!" Marika started to complain, something she'd probably said hundreds of times, but then held herself back.

 

When Marika returned after a twelve-hour grace period, she found the Bentenmaru in disarray, which, contrary to reports that everything was ready for departure, was as disorganized as if it were an inventory run, despite the report that everything was ready for departure. The bridge crew all agreed that they could leave immediately, and that they could easily handle maneuvering against a battleship fleet, but there was no way they could be trusted. It was not uncommon for the Bentenmaru to perform combat maneuvers that exceeded the limits of its inertial control system, and with replacement parts, junk, and trash strewn everywhere, not only on the bridge but also in the battle compartment, engine room, and even the corridors, it was easy to imagine what would happen in a real battle.

 

"...If someone out there was going to target the Bentenmaru, this would be their best chance." Marika muttered softly, sinking into the captain's seat.

 

When the Bentenmaru was pulled out of the Elizabeth dock at Serenity's Starfleet HQ, it was still in a state where it was unable to perform fine control of its attitude on its own. As they had discussed, the crew members under Kane and others in charge had reported that even in its current state, it was still capable of leaving port and sailing under its own power, which would require fine control of the ship, but Marika, who had seen the situation inside the ship with her own eyes, would not allow this.

 

The Bentenmaru was pulled out of the closed dock by a tugboat belonging to the Fleet HQ. The tugboat continued to tow the Bentenmaru until it was a safe distance away from the command center, after which it started free navigation within the control zone of the Big Blue Sister.

 

The Bentenmaru slowly left the Serenity system, escorted by three Corback-class escort ships, and then set off on its own.

 

The Bentenmaru made quick and precise FTL jumps that avoided navigation lanes, heading for the Imperial Fleet Base at Port Seruna. Marika explained that they avoided navigation lanes to avoid exposing the Bentenmaru to third parties unnecessarily, and that the distance they could jump in one long-distance jump was shortened to allow for adjustments to each part of the Bentenmaru, which had just been serviced. Even though they deliberately chose to jump through dark nebulae and asteroid reef areas, it was clear that they were doing this to buy time until they reached the Imperial Fleet Base.

 

"Are you sure it's okay!?" Marika repeated the question, not knowing how many times she had asked it.

 

"No abnormalities in the engine system! Both Alpha and Beta are operating normally!" Sandaime responded enthusiastically, with a mountain of toolboxes piled up behind the engineer's seat.

 

"Radar/sensor systems, all normal!" Hyakume responded as he finally returned his seat to its normal position, running his fingers over every control panel he could reach.

 

"No problems with steering!" Kane closed the various displays that were multiplexed on both sides one by one, then regained his grip on the wheel.

 

"All navigation systems normal." Luca answered as usual from the navigator's seat, which looked as neat and tidy as before.

 

"Bentenmaru's onboard armaments, all normal." Schnitzer, who had more displays than usual around the battle commander's seat, answered as if he didn't notice the parts and tools scattered around. "However, of course, we are not currently prepared for battle."

 

"Electronic warfare systems, ready to go as always." Her station looked even more cluttered than before, but the proportion of junk food and drink packs was high, so it may not have changed much, and Coorie answered as usual from the electronic warfare seat.

 

Marika put her headset to her ear and selected a channel so that her voice would be broadcast to the entire ship. "This is the main bridge, Captain Kato Marika. The Bentenmaru will now be in direct contact with the Galactic Empire Fleet's Port Seruna Base. In the worst case scenario, things could go awry, so is there anything that isn't ready yet?"

 

Marika looked at the ship's layout and structural diagram on the main display. All departments manned by crew members, radars, sensors and the ship's weapons compartments, which were not deployed, all showed green signs, indicating no abnormalities or problems.

 

"It's the captain's job to trust everyone, isn't it?" Muttering to herself, Marika turned the microphone back on. "Bentenmaru, I've confirmed that the entire ship is normal. We will now head to the Imperial Fleet's Port Seruna Base."

 

Putting the headset in her ear, Marika sat back in the captain's seat. "Well then, Bentenmaru, let's go. Hyakume, contact Port Seruna."

 

"Yes, yes, from a privateer ship belonging to the Tau star system." Hyakume called up the standard message on the display and rewrote part of it as if he had thought of something. "No, from the pirate ship Bentenmaru, to Port Seruna control. Requesting entry."

 

Port Seruna is one of the largest space bases in the outer periphery of the Empire, protected by the Imperial Fifth Fleet. There are several larger space cities in terms of size, scale, and population, but the only military bases larger than this one are in the core star systems of the Empire.

 

The base has a wide range of functions, including fleet maintenance and supply, crew rotation, and rest. Port Seruna is also known as a hub station, with regular shipping routes into and out of the Empire.

 

The number of ships entering and leaving the port is greater than other stations of this size. Not only are there fleets leaving for missions and returning after completing them, but there are also warships and small aircraft arriving and departing for training, testing, and adjustments, regular flights and special-purpose transport ships carrying supplies and personnel, all mixed together, so the military-controlled airspace is larger than a normal station and the instructions are more detailed.

 

For space control on this scale, data communication is mainly used, as it can be exchanged instantly, rather than voice communication, which takes time. Even with voice communication, the name and ID of the ship may be required, and depending on the ship, even the manifest and the crew list may be required, so data communication is essential.

 

Port Seruna control is highly automated. Except for emergencies and special cases, most spacecraft are controlled automatically. To their surprise, the Benten Maru's application for entry was quickly and automatically granted permission.

 

"Is that all?" Marika shouted, seeing the simple port entry permission from Port Seruna control on the display at the captain's seat. "Even though the pirates came of their own volition, they're just going to give us permission to enter the port so easily? Hyakume, did you write down our purpose properly?"

 

"I wrote it properly, that the Imperial Fleet had designated the Bentenmaru as a pirate and that we came to make an explanation." Hyakume brought up the text of the port entry application he had sent on the display. "But, the other party is the robot control of Port Seruna, which responds automatically. I don't think they check the circumstances of every spaceship that enters the base, so I think they'll let you enter the port unless you have a dangerous purpose like a declaration of war or an attack."

 

"That's so careless..." Marika muttered in shock.

 

"No, not really. We requested entry into the port area of ​​the station, but so far control has only assigned us to the anchorage airspace outside."

 

As if to accompany Hyakume's explanation, Luca displayed the planned route of the Bentenmaru as it entered Port Seruna’s controlled airspace.

 

"No matter how big the fleet base is, there are only a limited number of piers in the closed system of the station, so it's not possible to accommodate all ships that apply to enter." Kane said after reading the Bentenmaru’s planned course. "If we're not requesting maintenance or supplies, we can get by without going in."

 

The space station has a large airspace surrounding it that can be used for anchoring. Not all spacecraft need to enter a port area or dock at a pier. Instead, ships can be placed in the airspace and barges and shuttles can be used to transport personnel and cargo.

 

"Even so, we're wanted pirates with cannons." Marika grumbled. "If we wanted to, we could fire a shot at the fleet base, but aren't they just letting us do too much?"

 

"We're not some unidentified ship from the frontier, we're pirates who have trained with the 5th fleet many times." Hyakume, as usual, started collecting data on the spaceships passing by the Bentenmaru. "I’m sure The Port Seruna control tower has our data. They know we're not hostile, so they'll probably approve our port entry request easily."

 

"But that doesn't mean they can just designate an anchoring airspace and be done with it."

 

"Well, when it comes to things the robot control tower can't decide on, inquiries should be sent to the right place. Unless the Imperial fleet at Port Seruna is really stupid, someone will call us out by name."

 

The communication panel in front of Hyakume started flashing with a ringtone. "Here it comes! Captain, the inquiry you’ve been waiting for from control." Hyakume answered the video call. "Yes, this is the Bentenmaru. The pirate ship Bentenmaru, responding to your call."

 

He checked who was calling. "... The military police!?"

 

"This is Captain⁷ Peter Hogarth, commander of the military police patrol boat KP93, attached to the Imperial Fifth Fleet's Port Seruna base." A middle-aged man appeared on the communication monitor, with a shaggy head and no uniform cap, and a rather unremarkable appearance, wearing only a jacket rather than a uniform. "Um, you're a privateer from the Tau system, Mr. Bentenmaru?"

 

"This is the privateer ship Bentenmaru." Hyakume answered with a nervous look on his face. "This is Hyakume, in charge of communications."

 

"The privateer Bentenmaru" the military police captain looked down at the communication monitor and said "yes, transponder confirmed. Thank you for your continued support. What's the matter?"

 

"Well, you see..." Hearing the tone of the conversation, Hyakume checked the communication line. The communication line with the Imperial fleet's patrol boats was not encrypted or anything. It was best to assume that the contents of the communication were leaking.

 

"Actually, as you know, this Bentenmaru is a privateer ship approved by our star system government, but for some reason it seems to have been designated as a pirate by your Imperial fleet, and we came to talk to you because we thought that was a problem."

 

"Designated as a pirate? You?" Captain Hogarth looked at Hyakume's face and the documents that seemed to be displayed outside the monitor. "That's a big deal."

 

"Just a little."

 

Marika came down from the captain's seat and crouched down next to Coorie, who was listening to the communication from the electronic warfare seat. "Did you contact him properly?"

 

Coorie, who was munching on a snack, stopped moving her mouth for a moment. "Well, it was the captain's order, so I had no choice but to contact him through the intelligence department."

 

Coorie answered bluntly, averting her eyes from Marika. "However, I don't know how much Nash has been able to help us."

 

"How could you not have checked?" Marika asked in a low voice. "I don't know about your private life, but there's no way Coorie would cut corners on something like that at work."

 

Coorie's moving hands stopped. She swallowed and slowly reached for another snack. "The central intelligence department should have contacted the 5th fleet. But we don't know what's going on at the field level."

 

"That's true."

 

"And one more thing. You've probably noticed, Captain, but this communication is completely open." Coorie lightly touched the headset on one ear. "I'm sure they're aware of that."

 

"Yes, I’ve confirmed it." Finally, the captain looked up at the communications monitor. "Indeed, the pirate ship Bentenmaru has been designated as a pirate ship and is wanted."

 

"Umm, I don't think that's the case." Hyakume asked Captain Hogarth a question. "Is the information that we've been designated as a pirate not updated on your side?"

 

"I don't know." The captain shook his head ambiguously. "The station's information should be synchronized with the fleet headquarters immediately through a FTL line, but the amount of updated information is huge, so it takes time for it to be updated here at the fringe, and if it's not important information, it's not impossible for it to be missed or forgotten somewhere."

 

"Hey, hey." Hyakume muttered involuntarily. "I wonder how the Imperial fleet can operate like that."

 

"It needs to be loose to a certain extent to keep things moving smoothly. After all, it's such a large group, yes." The captain continued, tapping leisurely on the control panel at hand. "The amount of updated information is huge, but necessary information is properly ranked and updated by priority. The fact that the Bentenmaru's pirate designation is not linked to the Bentenmaru's ID probably means that this information is not a high priority at Fleet HQ.”

 

The captain looked at Hyakume from the other side of the monitor. “How in the world did you guys end up being designated as a pirate? Even if an active civilian ship was operating as a privateer within the Empire's territory, it's not that easy to get a pirate designation.”

 

“So, it was a misunderstanding and a mistake. It's causing a lot of inconvenience as it is, so I came here hoping to explain and have the pirate designation lifted.”

 

“It's a problem, isn't it?' Captain Hogarth said, his eyes scanning the communications monitor. "Unlike the Seventh Fleet, which was in the frontier a long time ago when it was fighting a mopping-up war against pirates, the Fifth Fleet, which operates within Imperial territory, has long since reorganized and no longer has a department specializing in anti-piracy investigations, so I guess it's been transferred to military police like us who work in ports."

 

"What should we do?" Hyakume responded in the same tone. "We don't want to bother the Imperial Fleet needlessly, so we can come back if you tell us to."

 

"Ah, well, if you could do that it would make things a lot easier for us, but I guess that's not going to be the case now that we've confirmed the piracy alert." The captain muttered to himself, scratching his shaggy head. "Um, for now, can you please proceed to the specified coordinates? We'll come to you when you anchor in the anchorage airspace. We need to investigate, even if just for the sake of appearances.“

 

“Well, wait a moment, I'll check with the captain.” Hyakume turned to the captain's seat, leaving the monitor on but cutting off the audio. “Well, things are developing just as you expected. What do you think, Captain?”

 

“That's a bit careless of a thing to do when dealing with pirates.” Marika gave her honest opinion. “Even though I went to the trouble of turning myself in, they won't let me in and I'm being kept offshore.”

 

Offshore detention means not letting a spaceship into the port area of ​​the station, but keeping it in the anchorage airspace outside.

 

“If that's the case, it'll be easy for us to escape.”

 

“But I can't just say I'll come back another time.”

 

Hyakume pointed to the communications monitor so that it wouldn't be visible on camera.

 

"It's quite different from the plan, but I think it's better than being suddenly intercepted or turned away."

 

"We're up against a huge bureaucratic organization in the Imperial Fleet." Schnitzer came to the rescue. "It's better to think of it as a protracted battle and take our time."

 

"That's much better than bullets and beams suddenly coming at us."

 

After thinking for a moment, Marika nodded. "Okay. Then tell the captain of the patrol boat that we'll be waiting in the designated anchorage airspace."

 

"Roger that. I'll tell Captain Peter Hogarth of the military police patrol boat KP93 to wait in the anchorage airspace." After repeating that, Hyakume turned back to the communications monitor.

 

Port Seruna's anchorage airspace was as busy as the rest of the space station.

 

Military stations' anchorage airspace is divided into airspace for military personnel only and airspace for civilian ships only. Which is larger varies from station to station, but in Port Seruna, the civilian anchorage airspace is by far the larger. Furthermore, in the warship anchorage airspace, the safe distance between warships is less than half that of civilian ships, and they are usually packed tightly together.

 

The Bentenmaru was directed by air traffic control to the civilian anchorage airspace. Most of the ships at anchor are civilian ships such as transports and ferries, but when combat ships belonging to the 5th Fleet are maintained by contracted companies, they are placed in the civilian anchorage airspace, so it is not uncommon to see warships.

 

As the Bentenmaru reached the designated coordinates in the outer anchorage airspace a short distance from Port Seruna and secured its position, a request for docking came from patrol boat KP93. An officer in charge would board the Bentenmaru for questioning.

 

Though she was tired at the thought of the hassle that awaited her, Marika accepted the patrol boat's arrival and Captain Hogarth's crew.

 

Soon after, patrol boat KP93 entered the anchorage airspace. The patrol boat was equipped with a high-mobility booster, likely for use in pursuit battles in congested airspace.

 

Marika went out to greet the Imperial Fleet's military police captain as he boarded, accompanied by Hyakume and Schnitzer.

 

"I think you know," Schnitzer said to Marika, who was waiting by the airlock, while checking the latest data on the patrol boat sent over the ship's radio "even among the Imperial Fleet, which places great importance on discipline, the military police are particularly strict in their service regulations, so if someone is wearing their uniform so carelessly, it's best to assume that they're that kind of person."

 

"Eh?" Marika turned to Schnitzer. “What kind of person is that?”

 

"That means he's someone who can do that." Schnitzer said. "If he's dressed so carelessly as a military police officer facing pirates, you should assume that he has the position and ability to get away with it."

 

"Well, I think he's not to be underestimated just because he's working for the Imperial Fleet." Marika remembered Captain Hogarth's shaggy head that she had seen over the communications monitor.

 

"What's more, the military police are second only to the special forces in terms of intimidation. I don't think they have the luxury of being careless."

 

"When I search for Captain Peter Hogarth of the Imperial Fifth Fleet's Port Seruna military police, all I get is a name on the roster." Schnitzer said as he continued searching the data line. "There's no information about their achievements, past history, or star system of origin. It's a secrecy level on par with that of the intelligence department."

 

"Oh dear..."

 

Personnel belonging to the Imperial Fleet may have their personal information concealed to ensure their safety during operations and to maintain secrecy. This is common in the intelligence department, known as the brains of the Empire, but even crew members of the Seventh Fleet fighting on the front lines and military personnel on special missions often have all information except their name and affiliation removed from the public roster.

 

"So you're saying that that sort of person will be coming?"

 

"A captain in the military police is the highest rank on the front lines. Moreover, although it is not as high a priority as it used to be, when dealing with pirates, you need to be responsive like you would be dealing with outlaws. If Coorie contacted the central intelligence department and the intelligence department did a good job, you should assume that the officer in charge has that much standing and ability. "

 

"That's true..." Marika nodded gloomily. "I wonder if I'm a match for them."

 

"If we don't deal with them well, we'll just be defeated." Schnitzer said nonchalantly. Hyakume, who was standing in front of the control panel, reported.

 

"The KP93 has docked with the Bentenmaru."

 

The information on the display was updated. With the speedy maneuvering typical of a military station's patrol ship, the patrol ship docked perfectly in place on the starboard side of the Bentenmaru, docking with the boarding bridge deployed from the Bentenmaru and ensuring airtightness.

 

"Here they come."

 

"Open up."

 

After adjusting the collar of her uniform, Marika straightened her back. After the outer hatch, the inner door of the airlock opened.

 

"Captain Peter Hogarth, commander of patrol boat KP93, attached to the Imperial Fifth Fleet's Port Seruna base."

 

The captain, who had fasted the front of his uniform but left his collar open and had apparently left his cap somewhere, gave a limp salute from the boarding bridge. Marika returned the salute with her fingers straightened.

 

"Captain of the Bentenmaru, Kato Marika. I welcome Captain Peter Hogarth aboard."

 

 

"How is it?" Misa asked as she entered the bridge.

 

"Military police, they've just entered the captain's cabin." Coorie in the electronic warfare seat answered, holding a headset over one ear. "Schnitzer and Hyakume are with them, so I don't think it's going to be too bad."

 

The main display showed an image of the captain's quarters. After the customary greeting, the captain sat across the table from Marika on the sofa. Hyakume had sat next to him and was spreading out some electronic files on the table, while Schnitzer was standing motionless at the door to the captain's quarters.

 

"What about the patrol boat?"

 

"It's got a slightly high energy response so it can be launched at any time, but that's all." Coorie switched the sub-monitor. "Right now, the patrol boat's communication system is wired to the Bentenmaru, so if they wanted to, they could easily peek inside the Bentenmaru, and they could take all the data that we don't have guarded, but there's no sign of them doing so. Even though they're licensed, they're well-behaved for an Imperial vessel connected to a pirate ship."

 

"Huh?" Misa looked at the exterior of the patrol boat displayed on the sub-monitor with a surprised look on her face. It was a small boat with a well-equipped communication system and engine equipment, but there were no conspicuous weapons on the outside. Since it was not designed to operate alone without support, the patrol boat was only equipped with a small-caliber beam cannon for self-defense. "What about us?"

 

"If they're well-behaved, that means they have the leeway to do so." Coorie tapped the control panel. "They might be waiting for us to do something, so I'm only checking their ID and basic data. The main data is probably in the base anyway, so I don't think I'll find anything useful by looking at the patrol boat's system."

 

"An Imperial Fleet patrol boat docked with us, and a military police captain has boarded us, and our guys are just sitting around?"

 

Misa left the electronic warfare seat and sat down in the observer seat next to the captain's seat and turned on the main switch. The observer seat had no crew members attached to it, so it hadn’t been touched even during the major maintenance that took place when the ship was docked. It was one of the few places on the bridge that remained in the same condition as before.

 

"...That can't be right."

 

"Although we did some basic maintenance and adjustments before arriving here, the Bentenmaru is not a ship that is so easy to stabilize with just that." Coorie was busy checking the coordination of the various systems in the electronic warfare equipment while monitoring the situation in the captain's cabin. "The engine room had somehow managed to get by up to this point, but we're not confident that we can maneuver in combat like this, so Sandaime is stuck in the engine room, and we're rushing to readjust the ship's weapons and radar/sensor systems."

 

"Well, at this rate, I don't think we'll be making an emergency launch from here, let alone deal with patrol boats."

 

Misa looked around at the bridge display showing the situation in the surrounding airspace. Spaceships anchored in Port Seruna's anchored airspace are required to stop emitting radar, and in return, the situation in the surrounding airspace is transmitted from the central control. The latest situation from the central control, which includes information from radar sites placed throughout the controlled airspace and patrol boats patrolling the area, is highly accurate and has a wide effective range.

 

"All that's left is to hope that the captain can buy us some time."

 

Misa looked at the monitor showing the captain's quarters. Captain Hogarth looked annoyed as Marika was making hand gestures to explain things to him, while Hyakume was glancing sideways at the data to supplement her explanation.

 

"That's a bit too much, I guess."

 

"That's the outline of the anti-ship combat that took place to rescue the Maria Forte." After explaining the short jump back to the Tau system after the closest approach, Marika looked at Captain Hogarth. "The same data was submitted to Sea of the Morningstar Control and the Tau Star System Military. No changes were made to the facts or the timeline."

 

"Well, I'm sure the way you fought was analyzed and evaluated elsewhere, not by us." As the military captain made his way to the captain's quarters, he quickly tapped on the information terminal he had taken out of the pocket of his open uniform. "So, if the events unfolded as you say, the Bentenmaru did not attack and destroy the civilian ship, but went to rescue it and was driven back, is that correct?"

 

"...That's the simple answer." Marika admitted. "The request from the star system military was to provide cover for the civilian ship that was sending out a distress signal and to scout the surrounding airspace. The enemy's forces were far greater than ours, so we were only able to gather as much combat information as we did, and it's unfortunate that we couldn't do anything for the Maria Forte."

 

"Hmm." The captain looked around the captain's quarters with a stern look on his face. "In real combat, it's not uncommon for combat information to differ between friendly and enemy forces. Sometimes on the front lines, both sides will collude to fabricate battles that never actually took place."

 

The captain turned his eyes back to Marika. "As you know, it's not up to me to decide who's right and who's wrong. To be more precise, it's up to the higher-ups to decide which interpretation to adopt, and those of us on the front lines just go along with it."

 

"Ah." Marika finally remembered who the captain in front of her resembled. Though his aura, appearance, and way of speaking were completely different, she had the impression that he resembled Black Granny, the vice principal of Hakuoh Girls' Academy. He was saying the same things in the same tone as always, but there was a sense of tension, as if he was asking her to do something more than she could handle.

 

"We have confirmed that the Bentenmaru has been designated as a pirate." The captain switched the screen on the information terminal in his hand. "If a pirate was to appear within the Empire's territory, it would be a matter of responsibility for the Imperial Fleet, and in reality, we would have to send a fleet to capture or sink them, but for some reason, that has not happened. On the contrary, when we reported to our superiors that the Bentenmaru had arrived at Port Seruna, what kind of orders do you think we received?"

 

The captain showed Marika and Hyakume next to him the text displayed on the semi-3D display of the information terminal. "All it says is to confirm the facts. No matter how you look at it, this is not an order that the military police would give about a pirate who is on a wanted list. Well, thanks to that, we don't have to go through the trouble of suddenly arresting the crew of a pirate ship."

 

The captain looked at Schnitzer standing at the door and Hyakume, then back to Marika. “Now, if you don't mind, could you tell me why you decided to turn yourself in at, of all places, a fleet base like Port Seruna, which is quite far from your star system?"

 

"Well, you see," Marika leaned forward and deliberately lowered her voice. Captain Hogarth leaned forward to oblige "I thought that there might be some bad guy around here who was trying to frame the Bentenmaru as an illegal pirate ship."

 

"Oh, really," Hogarth said in a completely uninterested voice and sat back in his seat. "So, you're saying that there's a mysterious force that attacked a civilian transport ship in Port Seruna?" The captain pointed to the Imperial fleet emblem on the left side of his chest. "Is it this?"

 

"No way." Marika laughed and shook her head. "If the Imperial Fleet wanted to, they could easily wipe out an independent privateer like the Bentenmaru."

 

Marika stared at Hogarth, who was wearing his black military police jacket like it was just draped over him. "If we're going to make the Imperial Fleet our enemy, we'll first flee outside where we can't be found so easily."

 

Military uniforms often have badges and patches indicating affiliation and qualifications in addition to the insignia on the shoulders and sleeves that show rank. However, Captain Hogarth's uniform has no decorations other than the captain's badge and his ID on the left chest that shows he belongs to the Port Seruna Military Police.

 

"You say it's not the Imperial Fleet?" The captain slowly repeated Marika's words. "What other forces besides the Imperial Fleet are there in Port Seruna?"

 

"There are a lot of them, aren't there?" Marika answered, wondering how much he knew and was trying to get her to talk. "Private subcontractors for maintenance and repair, shipyards, private research institutes for military development and operational studies. Of course, officially, they are all under the protection and command of the Imperial Fleet in Port Seruna, but the combined force they control would easily exceed the defense forces of an independent star system."

 

"Unaccounted forces, you say?" Hogarth scratched his chin with a sour look on his face. "If you ask control, they should be able to tell you everything about the ships in the fleet that are out and about at the discretion of the companies, and where they are doing."

 

"But you can't know if they're doing what they submitted to control when they set sail unless you monitor and check everything." Marika said, feeling that she was gradually stepping into dangerous territory. "Port Seruna is not only used by warships belonging to the fleet, but also new ships that haven't been delivered yet, test ships under development, and spaceships from companies whose details haven't been made public to the fleet. If there is a fleet that has laid hands on the Maria Forte and tried to pin the blame on us, I think it's those guys."

 

"Hmm..." Hogarth took a deep breath and thought deeply. He brought the information terminal in his hand in front of him and tapped.

 

A huge amount of documents, almost overflowing from the small display, were projected in 3D around the captain on the sofa. "Well, you see, when it comes to dealing with real pirates, the instructions from headquarters are too lenient, so I'm sure the central office is thinking about various things, but the problem is that orders from above don't get through to the field because they're too far away."

 

"Oh..." Marika noticed Hyakume next to her exclaim in admiration. The three-dimensional documents, without any privacy settings, filled the Captain's surroundings for only a moment, and Hogarth quickly switched the screen.

 

"If you don't mind, I can tell you something. The Bentenmaru is a convenient business partner for the Imperial Fleet, but its front-line fighting power is not that great. As you yourself said, it is weak enough to be easily crushed not only the Imperial Fleet, but even a company Fleet. If your act of piracy is a false accusation, who do you think framed you, and why?"

 

Marika glanced at Hyakume, who nodded slightly as if to tell her to go ahead. "The question of who and where they are from is exactly the information we want to know right now."

 

Marika spoke slowly and deliberately. "As for why, I can only speculate. Is that okay?"

 

"Of course." Captain Hogarth nodded in response. "At the very least, I can understand why you are doing this and what kind of enemy you are targeting. I'd love to hear it."

 

"I'm sure you already know this, but the pirate ship Karyoubinga, which has a privateer license issued by the same independent star system as the Bentenmaru, has gone missing. The privateer ship Barbaroosa from the Sea of the Forest Star system was approached by the Toar Concern about purchasing their pirate license and agreed. And now the Bentenmaru is accused of piracy, something it has never done. If all of this is being done with a single intention, then it's easy."

 

Marika looked straight into the captain's face, suppressing the anxiety she felt when making excuses to her teacher. "Pirates are a nuisance."

 

"Hmm." The captain replied simply and looked back at Marika, who continued without looking away.

 

"Pirate ships with privateer licenses exist independently of the military and interstellar nations. Of course, they have dealings with the Imperial fleet and star system militaries, and follow the commands of the government that issued them their privateer licenses, but they usually act on their own initiative. In other words, a considerable amount of their military power exists without being incorporated into a chain of command like the military or a company."

 

"You pirates aren't the only military power that isn't under the military or state command." The captain said. "As you probably know, the mercenary companies fighting the rebels on the frontier and the military companies that lend out their forces as needed also possess great military power."

 

"Of course I know." Marika nodded vigorously. "The fleets owned by companies are under the company's chain of command. But we pirates don't have as much power as the fleets of armies, nations, or companies, but we have something much bigger."

 

"Hmm." The captain looked at Hyakume next to Marika, then turned his eyes back. "What?"

 

"Freedom." Marika said. "In exchange for not having a huge chain of command, pirates have the freedom to make their own decisions and choose their own actions. Of course, they are also responsible for their own choices."

 

Marika smiled as if to hide her embarrassment. "I think that whatever is trying to make the Karyoubinga disappear and trap the Bentenmaru as a pirate is a force that is not part of the chain of command. That's why we're trying to eliminate us, even if it means spending a little time and money."

 

"Hmm." The captain nodded with interest. "So, what is this thing? Why are they trying to get rid of pirates?"

 

"They're the kind of people who want to get rid of pirates because we're the ones who are on the side of justice and are in their way." Marika said firmly. "Of course they're doing something bad."

 

The captain grinned. Marika nodded back, smiling with relief. "Jokes aside, based on the circumstantial evidence so far, we suspect that the force that framed Bentenmaru is a military contractor with ties to the Imperial Fleet. As you know, there are companies and businesses in Port Seruna that do business with the Imperial Fleet, and we think that one of them acted or was acted upon with some kind of motive to attack an innocent civilian transport ship."

 

"Circumstantial evidence, you say?" The captain casually slid his finger across the touch panel of the information terminal, erratically switching between displays he hadn't even looked at.

 

"If there is evidence, the Imperial Fleet will not hesitate to cooperate with the Bentenmaru. However, circumstantial evidence is merely your speculation, and we do not know how accurate it is. The number of private companies that move spaceships in and out of Port Seruna easily reaches the tens of thousands, including subcontractors and sub-subcontractors. How in the world do you intend to find the culprit's company among that many companies and businesses?"

 

Marika tried to put on a social smile as naturally as possible, as Gruier had taught her. "Would you cooperate?"

 

"Well, that’s a good thing, isn’t it?" After seeing off Captain Hogarth of the military police to the boarding bridge of the airlock, Marika crouched down on the spot as soon as the undocking sign came to the information panel.

 

"The interrogation will start tomorrow morning, which means that, at the very least, the Bentenmaru will be kept in the Port Seruna anchorage airspace without supervision. If the mastermind has set up a branch office inside the station, they'll be very nervous."

 

"Are you going to do the same thing again tomorrow?"

 

Marika crouched down, hugging her knees, and looked up at Hyakume with a pathetic look on her face, pointing her fingertips at the patrol boat on the other side of the airlock.

 

"I don't know why, but I feel like I've lost all my energy. My whole body is creaking." Shaking her head, Marika scrambled to her feet and turned to face Hyakume and Schnitzer. "Did I do something wrong?"

 

After exchanging looks with Schnitzer, Hyakume answered. "It's okay, I think it was fine."

 

"Good." Putting her hands on her hips and rolling her shoulders, Marika leaned against the wall.

 

"The problem is that captain." Schnitzer touched the information panel. The undocked patrol boat KP93 was on its next mission and was on an orbit around the anchorage airspace instead of returning to the station. "The fact that neither his prior record nor his current job came up in the search is probably to prevent the parties involved from taking action against him."

 

"The parties involved in this incident, you mean us?" Marika pointed to her nose. Schnitzer nodded as he continued to confirm the information.

 

"Us, and the possible hostile forces we presented. We turned ourselves in, so we can contact them openly, but if the person who arranged for the Bentenmaru to be designated a pirate tries to contact the military police, they will have to start by thoroughly investigating the chain of command, including Captain Hogarth."

 

"I don't know how seriously the captain took our story, but it's certain that at least the higher-ups seem to be interested in this matter."

 

Hyakume walked ahead of the others. "In the captain's quarters, Captain Hogarth suddenly made his information terminal display overflow with information, right?"

 

"Yes."

 

"We were being questioned in the captain's quarters, and they must have known a recorder was running. In that situation, doing something like that means they want to show us the flooded data. I only had a quick glance, but I could see the Fleet Command and Intelligence symbols." Hyakume looked over his shoulder at Schnitzer. "With your eyes, you could see a lot more, right?"

 

Schnitzer's visual system can capture not only normal visible light, but electromagnetic waves of various frequencies. It has high resolution and can also be output externally.

 

"I could see it." Schnitzer answered simply. "I think what the captain wanted to show us at that point was that orders have been received from the Fleet Command Intelligence Division."

 

"I thought so."

 

"We saw that much." Marika was amazed. "Well, I guess we can say that we have achieved our goal."

 

"We'll be questioned tomorrow morning, so we're been told not to move the Bentenmaru’s anchorage."

 

Hyakume left the airlock and entered the ship's corridor. "The captain must be on the Bentenmaru at that time, but no other restrictions have been announced. Well, there's a good chance that they'll be announced separately later, but for now, as long as we leave the Bentenmaru here, there are no restrictions on our actions."

 

As he walked, Hyakume spread his arms slightly. "What are you going to do, Captain? Shall we send a shopping team to Port Seruna while we're here to look around?"

 

"Is the Bentenmaru in a condition to be emptied?" Marika glared at Hyakume and Schnitzer's backs, who wouldn't look her in the eye when the topic came up. "Or are there still parts missing at this late date?"

 

"Information gathering, information gathering." Hyakume said, with his back to Marika.

 

"The Barbaroosa’s party should be arriving at Port Seruna soon. Wouldn't it be a good idea for the captain to know what's going on inside the station and where the Barbaroosa is being kept?"

 

The port area of ​​Port Seruna is divided into a military port exclusively for the Imperial Fleet, and a commercial port for civilian ships. Both the military and commercial ports are further divided according to their uses and convenience, and each has fully open, semi-open, and enclosed piers.

 

The port where most spaceships come and go is not the military port but the commercial port, south Port, which has a series of open piers.

 

Port Seruna is a complex collection of block structures that spread out in all directions. As is the case with military stations, the direction of artificial gravity is basically uniform, so the sections are roughly divided into four, east, west, north, and south, with upper and lower making six.

 

The military ports are concentrated in the upper, eastern, and western sections, while civilian spaceships enter the bay areas on the northern and southern sides.

 

A shuttle bus has just arrived at the south port, where long-distance and short-distance regular transport ships and ferries are constantly coming and going. From the shuttle buses making repeated trips to transport passengers from ships anchored in the anchorage airspace, passengers in work clothes, business suits, and travel clothes are spewed out into the crowded south port.

 

"I wondered what kind of structure it would be, since it's the largest Imperial fleet base in a thousand light-year radius." Entering the station from a boarding bridge docked at an open pier, Kenjo Kurihara, wearing a heavy, old-fashioned military coat draped over his work overalls and carrying a cylindrical bag on his shoulder, looked around the wide pier with its automated track. "By the looks of it, it's just like any other trading port around here."

 

Port Seruna, built as a frontline fortress, does not have a home star system.

 

In the vicinity of a large gravity well, there is an error in FTL jumps through hyperspace. In order to deploy the fleet in an emergency, it is better not to have a star or gravity well nearby. Therefore, Port Seruna was built in empty interstellar space.

 

Huge amounts of capital and materials were poured into building a huge military station in a place that wasn't even a crossing point for shipping lanes.

 

The establishment of a port also changed the flow of spaceships. Several regular shipping routes were opened from nearby star systems to supply the large military station with an abundant labor force, and shipping routes for fresh food, water, air, and other daily necessities were also established.

 

"This is an old port, too," Nora answered, wearing a traveling dress and carrying a scratched suitcase on her slender arm. "Besides, this has been within the Empire for a long time. It might be different if it was on the front line of the frontier, but as a spaceport for civilian ships, not a military zone, this is what you'd expect."

 

"Well, this is easy."

 

Passengers were discharged from the bus connecting the anchorage airspace and the pier and moved to the inside of the station on an automatic track. After confirming that the crew members who had boarded the bus in separate groups were moving with the wave of people, Kenjo also got on the automatic track.

 

Some relay stations also have quarantine inspections, but Port Seruna only has an emergency hospital for each port. As is typical of a military station, ID checks are performed, but this is done through the information system installed on the bus traveling from the anchorage airspace to the port, or through personal information terminals.

 

"Is anyone coming to pick us up?"

 

At the end of the pier, the inspection gate where ID checks were once performed one by one remains in place. After passing through the gate, Kenjo looked around the port town, lined with shops typical of port areas. There was no sign of an ambush, and no mafia members who might start a fight were in sight.

 

"Were you expecting something?" Nora, standing next to him, opened her small information terminal and checked messages.

 

"Well, I went to the trouble of registering my ID under the name of Captain Barbaroosa, the former pirate ship captain, to board the Imperial Fleet's base. If they were doing their job properly, surely they would be concerned about what the captain of the pirate ship they bought was doing afterwards?"

 

"They don't seem to care, do they?" Nora walked ahead, carrying a small suitcase hanging from her shoulder.

 

"Judging from their actions after taking over the Barbaroosa, I don't think they have any interest in pirate ships or pirates. At least, the Toar Concern, who we were negotiating with directly, has no interest in us beyond the goods that have already been traded."

 

"Well, that may be the case with the Toar Concern, but if they call themselves agents, doesn't that mean there is another mastermind who requested the purchase of our pirate license? I didn't think that person had no interest in pirates before that."

 

"From their point of view, we are already a done deal, and no longer an issue. That makes it easy for them to move."

 

"If not, they're just watching us, waiting for an easy opportunity to get rid of us."

 

As Kenjo said something unsettled, Nora, who was walking ahead of him, gave him a slight glare over her shoulder. "This is enemy territory now. Think carefully about where you are and what you're doing before spouting your useless opinions."

 

"I think this is still a safe zone, or at least a buffer airspace." Kenjo couldn't stop grinning. "The enemy territory is probably the factory area that the Barbaroosa was thrown into."

 

"Wrong." Nora snapped. "It's the office district where the private companies that work at this base are located."

 

Kenjo grinned and bared his fangs. "Oh, I almost forgot. This time, we don't just have to snatch the prey by grabbing it from under the enemy's nose, we also need to land a hit in the chest."

 

Looking around, Kenjo found the tram stop, which was installed as public transportation within the station. Rails large enough to transport small cargo containers on special vehicles ran down the center of the main street.

 

In any structure built in the vacuum of space, whether it's a space city or a relay station, space is the most valuable thing. Public transportation that runs within the living space, whether it's a bus or tram, is more efficient than installing a dedicated track separate from the living space or pressurized areas, and it also provides more room to accommodate future developments and changes.

 

Even in small stations, it's common to travel by foot, as well as by electric scooter or bicycle, and it's not uncommon to see huge space cities complete with huge freeways with many lanes like those on the surface.

 

Because it's a tram in a huge station built as a naval port, the track is wide enough to allow freight cars to pass through even as far as the pier. The flat four-car tram, wider than it was tall, entered the port town station with its horn blaring.

 

"Well, then, shall we enter enemy territory?" Kenjo strode off with his cylindrical bag slung over his shoulder.

 

 

The space city, based on an old fortress that had been expanded over time, is sometimes likened to an ancient fortress city.

 

A space city designed for anti-ship warfare has a series of strong armor plates on its outermost shells and is equipped with large-caliber offensive weapons. The systems for maintaining the environment necessary for life forms to function and the systems for generating and supplying the necessary energy are installed deep inside the thickly protected shell.

 

Although it was constructed relatively recently as a frontline fortress, Port Seruna is also a military port with a long history. Of the six blocks divided into north, south, east, west, upper, and lower, the section called the old town, protected by thick armor, was in the center, spanning the east, west, north, south and upper blocks.

 

In older stations, the huge airtight bulkhead that separates the old town from the new town is deep inside the structure, so it is not uncommon for it to be fixed in an open state and the power unit removed. However, in Port Seruna, which is also an active naval port, it seems that they still intend to use the old outermost armored part, which had become buried deep due to expansion, for practical use, as the operating parts of the gate that the tram passed under were shiny and seemed to be in a state of readiness.

 

"This is..." Kenjo looked around as he got off at the platform, which was much more luxurious than the one at the port, equipped with a sign showing the name of the station and an information transmission system.

 

The old government district has high ceilings. After military facilities moved to the newly built new town on the naval port side for convenience, the remaining private company offices expanded to occupy an entire block of the old town.

 

"Even the smell of the air is different," Kenjo muttered, his nose twitching. In old, poorly maintained stations, the recycled air can have a stagnant smell that cannot be wiped away no matter how much it is filtered, but that wasn't the case at Port Seruna, even at the pier. When you go deep inside, protected by several bulkheads, the air that has been exchanged and processed by the high-end circulation system not only has a faint ozone smell, but even the texture feels different.

 

"I guess they add various things to it to increase efficiency while working."

 

Nora touched the delicate bracelet on her left wrist. In some places, there are run-down stations that apparently spray a thin layer of nanomachine viruses, but no harmful substances can be detected.

 

Nora adjusted the display on the bracelet as subtle as possible. A soft light that is barely noticeable cast a faint a faint three-dimensional image on her wrist.

 

"There are a lot of communication waves flying around. They're all using high-strength encryption. There's also data communication, but it's probably not important information, and they're prepared to have it stolen."

 

"It's going to be hard to survive around here if you're a fool who gives out information that would be embarrassing to be overheard." Kenjo looked around the old town with amusement, where military uniforms are prominent, unlike the office district of the civilian station. The office buildings that line the area, supporting the high ceilings as befitting a section that was once a military station, are sturdy. Even though private companies had taken over and replaced the walls with decorative panels and adorned them with logos and business signs, their origins couldn't be hidden.

 

"I see, this is the front line. Just walking around the city is making me nervous." Not only are people wearing business suits and military uniforms, but it's not uncommon to see people in work clothes or pilot suits that look like they just came straight from the port. "So, where on this front line should we go?"

 

"This way." Nora switched the display on her bracelet to check their destination and walked ahead.

 

 

"Yes, welcome." An exited voice greeted Kenjo as he was ushered into the reception room. "Welcome to the Port Seruna branch of the Harold Lloyd Insurance Association!!"

 

"This guy's a surprise." Kenjo raised one hand to the afro-haired monster who stood up from his desk. "You actually exist. This is the first time I've seen an agent from the Harold Lloyd Insurance Association outside of a monitor."

 

"I have a lot of good clients." Show, who is a head taller than the already large Kenjo, stretched out his long, lanky arms, clad in a flashy jacket, towards Kenjo. "Thanks to them, it's been an easy job, but one of the few pirate ships in our care is missing, one is being sold, and another is being investigated by the Imperial Fleet for piracy that they didn't commit. This is an emergency."

 

After shaking hands with Kenjo and bowing to Nora with his hand on his chest, Show pointed them to the counter bar in the reception room. "Would you like something to drink?"

 

"I'm about to start work, so I can't drink." Kenjo looked around the still empty reception room. "Where are the others?"

 

"They should be on their way." After returning to his desk, Show tapped the control panel to bring up the chronometer's three-dimensional display. Since the station had no home star system, it didn't need to be bound to local time. The numbers displayed were the same as Galactic Standard Time.

 

"Are we being followed?"

 

"I've done the bare minimum of checking, including the crew of the Barbaroosa, but there's no sign of you being followed so far." Show switched on the three-dimensional display at his desk. "I can't tell if the enemy has set up a sophisticated tailing system that can outwit us, or if they're just not interested."

 

"For a station of this size, surely the military surveillance system is open to a trusted private company? If they could look into that kind of data, wouldn't it be possible to follow a small number of people and check their movements without having to assign personnel?"

 

"We're an insurance association that makes a living by providing accurate and precise information." Show switched the three-dimensional display again. A complex model like fluid flowing in a family tree is drawn on the desk. "We can monitor the amount of information flying around, whether wired or wireless. I haven't gone that far because it would take too much time and computing power to unravel all the encrypted data, but by looking at the flow of data around you, you can get a good idea of ​​who is interested in what and where."

 

Show overlaid the model of the slowly moving fluid on a three-dimensional map of the old town of Port Seruna. "It's been years since we've seen a licensed pirate ship designated for piracy around here, and the crew is casually landing in Port Seruna without any military surveillance. If someone who is at least a little observant isn't worried about it, I'm sure they're either really good at infiltrating the military system or they're just not interested."

 

"Hmm." Kenjo folded his arms, looking bored. "I tried to dress as conspicuously as possible and walked around, but it was all for nothing."

 

"Well, at least you made it safely to the Port Seruna branch of the Harold Lloyd Insurance Association." Show tapped lightly on the control panel on his desk. The door to the reception room opened, and Chiaki, dressed in a business suit and with her fist raised, preparing to knock, her eyes widened in surprise.

 

"Good job!" Kenjo called out to his daughter. "Are you safe?"

 

"Dad!" Chiaki, wearing an unfamiliar business suit, glared at Kenjo and entered the reception room. "Thanks to you, it was a bit disappointing."

 

Following Chiaki, Marika appeared wearing a business suit that she had previously had made to order at a high-end boutique at the Sea of the Morningstar relay station.

"As instructed, we toured the naval base and the shopping mall at south port. As you can see, we're safe."

 

"Oh."

 

Kenjo looked at Marika in her bright red business suit, then shifted his eyes to Chiaki's modest black business suit. Chiaki said in a low voice. "What's with that disappointed look in your eyes?"

 

"No, it’s nothing."

 

"There were several times where radar and sensors reacted." Schnitzer ducked through the door and entered the room. "But there was no attempt to identify individuals and do anything about them. Luckily, it didn't become a situation that required protection."

 

"So there's no response even when a wanted pirate wanders around inside the Imperial Fleet station."

 

Although Marika was wearing a business suit, Schnitzer was wearing a casual ship uniform with an old jacket over it instead of a ground combat uniform, but there was no hiding his cyborg face with exposed glass eyes equipped with various sensors.

 

"I guess we were too flashy to be decoys at the naval base."

 

"Welcome to the Port Seruna branch of the Harold Lloyd Insurance Association." Show opened his arms to Marika, Chiaki, and Schnitzer, and invited them to sit on the sofa. "As you can see, this room is protected by anti-electronic warfare specification jammers. You can have secret conversations here without worrying about them leaking out."

 

Show pointed around the lavishly furnished, windowless reception room. "Even though technology has advanced so much that we can now talk face to face without being in the same place, it's still inconvenient that secrets can only be discussed by meeting face to face."

 

Show closed the door, which was decorated with a single plank of ancient wood, and locked it. He checked with the information system on the wall to make sure it was locked, then returned to his desk to check the situation further, taking a card-shaped receiver out of his suit pocket to confirm that there were no detectable electromagnetic waves in the room.

 

"With this, this room has become an electromagnetic darkroom. Your mobile devices and IDs that reveal your location are should no longer be usable. What do you think, combat officer Schnitzer?"

 

In response to Show's gaze, Schnitzer placed one hand on his glass eye with its large sensor and looked around the room. It was possible to scan without moving, but that would not tell him what the people in the room were doing.

 

After increasing the sensitivity and scanning all available frequencies, Schnitzer spoke. "As expected from an insurance company. My sensors can't find any other sources of radiation besides the lights and your electronic devices."

 

"So we're ready to have a private conversation." Kenjo sat down heavily on the big sofa. "So, how about it, Mr. Show? Did you get anything out of coming all the way from the head office?"

 

"As you know, in our industry, information is a much more valuable weapon than actual ammunition." Instead of taking a seat on the couch, Show returned to his desk and pulled out a chair with an imposing control panel on the armrest. "The military's job is to fight, so they collect information to win, and companies are in business, so they collect information to sell, but our job is to put a price on situations and sell peace of mind. Situations keep moving without stopping for a moment, so we have to decide which way it's heading, where it's going to settle, and where to price it. In that sense, I'm confident that the information gathering system of insurance companies is more precise and reliable than that of the military or trading companies."

 

Placing the chair he had pulled out next to the table, Show sat down and crossed his long legs. "What would happen if an insurance association's information system didn't work properly? Then, the business would accumulate losses, resulting in a deficit, and eventually the insurance company itself would be liquidated and disappear. We work for the public interest, so we have to find a balance between not losing money and not making too much profit."

 

Reaching his long arms across the desk, Show changed the display.

 

An old-fashioned spaceship secured inside an enclosed dock was displayed on the screen.

 

"Let's start with some quick information. The Barbaroosa, which the Toar Concern bought from Captain Kurihara, is currently in a rented dock downtown."

 

"Oh, it's safe." Kenjo clasps his hands together as he sees that the image on the screen shows no signs of wear or damage to the exterior of the Barbaroosa. He looks around the dock in the background. "Is this a current image?"

 

"The image on the monitor is from two hours ago." Show checks the timestamp. "If I want to get the latest images, I need to connect to the Lantern Shipyards’ network, which runs this rental dock. Of course, that's not impossible, but I don't want to be tracked down, or to let them know that there's someone in this base who's worried about the pirate ship we've brought over, even if our monitors aren't detected, so I'm not going any deeper than this."

 

"As expected, it's a robotic dock that can do disassembly and maintenance without human intervention."

 

Kenjo's eyes grew grim as he looked around at the background of the closed dock, which was a little too large for the Barbaroosa to dock.

 

"I'm sure they put our old spaceship, which is well over a century old, in an expensive enclosed dock instead of a pier to avoid public attention, but if it's a robotic dock, does that mean they've decided to dismantle our spaceship?"

 

"There are some parts that are expensive considering the age of the ship, so if they just take those out and sell them off, it might be worth a little, but if that's the case, it's not worth putting it in a robotic dock."

 

Show called up another list. "I'm sorry that this isn't what Captain Kurihara was hoping for, but the Barbaroosa is undergoing a thorough automated inspection at the robotic dock, as well as maintenance and resupply."

 

"Huh?" Kenjo looked again at the still image of the Barbaroosa with wide eyes. "What's going on? Are they trying to turn our spaceship into a product?"

 

"If that's the case, then if you buy it back when it's up for sale, the Barbaroosa will legally return to the captain's hands." Show said with a grin. "But unfortunately, that's not the case. Just now, the title of the Barbaroosa was changed from Toar Concern to Maestro VanVanVigaro."

 

Show projected the data displayed from his desk onto the table so it was easier to see.

 

"That's a strange name, VanVanVigaro."

 

"It's one of the many spaceship operating companies in Port Seruna. Most of the work comes from companies, not the fleet, but they do all the work of spaceship navigation, testing, and unmanned operation."

 

Kenjo's eyes stopped at one point as he looked at the data displayed in front of him. "Did they change the ship's name too?"

 

Hearing his low voice, Chiaki looked at the column for ship names and couldn't help but cry out. "Target ship QD0443?!"

 

"That's right." Show's grin grew even wider. "That's the biggest piece of information the Harold Lloyd Insurance Association has obtained from Port Seruna so far. The Barbaroosa was purchased by the Toar Concern, who probably sold it to Maestro VanVanVigaro for next to nothing, and is now being fitted out as a target ship."

 

"What do you mean, target ship!" Chiaki instinctively stood up from the sofa and clenches both fists at Show. "Are they planning to use our spaceship as a disposable target for some kind of exercise!?"

 

"...That's strange." Kenjo digs his thick fingers into the data displayed on the table and rummages through it. "If it's going to be used on a target ship, it shouldn't need such thorough maintenance and resupply. Even if it's a rundown ship, it takes time to bring it to the training ground and make it usable for training. It would be better to reuse it multiple times than to have it explode in one hit, so it would be better to remove all weapons and machinery that aren't going to be used, but this maintenance is..."

 

I don't know where it got from or how, but the data displayed on the table even showed a menu of the maintenance planned for the Barbaroosa, which was docked at the Lantern Shipyards. Kenjo scrolled from start to finish with his fingertips, then looked up at Show.

 

"The engine check is basic, but not only the propellant but also the missiles are replenished, and the main guns are also given a minimal check, though not necessarily overhauled. What are they planning to do with a target ship that only has a symbol as its name?"

 

"Port Seruna is a military port, so the contractors who come and go use military identification symbols. And as you know, QD is the symbol used for unmanned target ships." Show looked around at the pirates on both sides of the table. "And according to the latest information, the Barbaroosa, now QD0443, is scheduled to depart in four days. No return schedule has been submitted at this time."

 

"Where are they going?" Kenjo muttered with a sharp look in his eyes, and searched for the information he was looking for in the data in front of him. "The Fountainbleau training airspace?"

 

"That’s right." Show nodded happily. "It is one of the few training airspaces in the Empire that is under the control of a private company."

 

There are many training airspaces set up within the Galactic Empire. In order to assemble a fleet of battleships that can easily shatter a star with just one ship and demonstrate their capabilities, training and exercises during peacetime are essential.

 

In order to unleash the combat power of military spaceships equipped with powerful weapons without restrictions, a vast airspace is required. The combat distance in space is determined more by the detection and firing accuracy than the effective range of the weapons.

 

Energy beams fired at sub-light to FTL speeds must travel distances measured in light years before they disperse and lose their power. Missiles that accelerate toward their target and mass weapons that use the kinetic energy of their warheads as their destructive power continue to fly in space even after leaving their mother ship and losing control.

 

When large-scale fleet battles take place, it is not uncommon for damage to occur in far-flung airspace many years after the war. To prevent such a situation, training airspaces where huge military power can be unleashed without restrictions is set up to be sufficiently large and strictly monitored.

 

In addition, the training airspace is also used for development experiments of new unannounced weapons. Since it is essentially a battle airspace where live ammunition is flying, the entry and exit of civilian ships is strictly restricted.

 

"I'm pretty sure Fountainbleau’s training airspace is jointly managed by several corporations." Kenjo tried to recall from his old memories how the training airspace was managed by private companies. Although it is set far enough away from shipping lanes and habitable planets, the vast exercise airspace is not be something that could be maintained or managed without a powerful regime like the Galactic Empire. Fountainbleau’s training airspace is not a place of constant fighting like the training airspace of the Imperial fleet, and the settings and users changed depending on the time and place. "Which company is in charge of Fountainbleau now?"

 

Show's grin spread across his face. "The Rakion corporate alliance. As you know, it's a conglomerate of new military companies following in the footsteps of the Big Three. It also includes Roubaix Mass, which is building the Derrflinger class."

 

Show looked around at the faces of the pirates sitting on either side of the table. "What I'm about to say is not the consensus of the Harold Lloyd Insurance Association. Please consider it as my personal opinion."

 

Show displayed the logo of the Rakion corporate alliance on a 3D display above the table, along with a list of associated companies in Port Seruna. "I believe that Rakion, or a joint project involving one or more companies affiliated with it, is the main enemy this time."

 

"Corporate alliance..." Marika repeated the words she only heard in economic news. The number of related companies listed up under the Rakion logo on the display was so enormous that it seemed as if they could control the entire Galactic Empire.

 

"Is it different from a conglomerate?" Kenjo asked just to be sure. Show answered.

 

“The ties between individual companies are looser than those of conglomerates. Alliances, groups, and confederations of companies tend to grow and shrink as the Empire's tax system and the laws of each star system change, and the conglomerate calling itself Rakion is a fairly recent example of a company that has been registered in multiple star systems.” Show used the color bar to point to the names of several companies under the large Rakion name. "As you know, the military industry in the Empire is controlled by just three major companies, called the Big Three. It's safe to say that they sell not only pistol cartridges for the Imperial fleet and the Self-Defense Forces and Defense Forces of each star system, but also radars, sensors, jammers, and even combat methods."

 

The military industry does not only provide weapons to its customers. In ancient times, mercenaries sold not only weapons but also military power and tactics as products.

 

"So the military is the best customer when you sell more than just products, and they're a good paying customer, but of course that's not all."

 

Show listed the areas of expertise of each of the major companies he picked under their names. "The military is very conservative, even though they eagerly take in the latest technology. They don't want to let go of proven weapons even if the possibility of using them is extremely low. Similarly, they want to continue doing business with those they have had a long relationship with. Because of this, there are endless problems with collusion, bribery, and corruption wherever they go, but that's not my specialty, so I'll leave that out for now. Rakion is a corporation of sorts, formed by newcomers who have come together under a big banner to gain some credibility with the military, which is their major customer, and make it easier to do business."

 

For each specialty, the record of transactions with the Imperial Fleet is displayed. Since being associated with the Imperial Fleet is a status symbol for a company, the contract titles and years are displayed ostentatiously even in the public documents on the official website. However, the contract ages range from just a few years to more than a decade old.

 

"If price and performance are the same, customers will not go to the trouble of signing a new contract with a new company. If you don't show that you are clearly superior, either in price or performance, you will not be able to attract a new customer base."

 

"Despite this, the fact that new companies are making inroads in business with the Imperial fleet means they're working hard, right?" Kenjo looked around the list with interest, then turned his eyes back to Show. "If the Rakion corporate alliance is the mastermind behind this, should we try to get to the root of it?"

 

"This may be a bit harsh, but the biggest difference between the Big Three, which have a long history and tradition, is that the corporate alliance is a hodgepodge. Their ties are not as strong as those of the old Big Three, which are almost entirely in-house, or the conglomerates with strong chains of command." Show returned the screen to the list of companies participating in the Rakion corporate alliance.

 

Marika, who was looking at the list, spoke up. "Are there any companies participating in Rakion in the office district of Port Seruna?"

 

"Yes, of course." Show pointed with his long finger at the 3D display in front of Marika. "The companies listed there are registered with Rakion and working in Port Seruna. From the big battleship manufacturer Roubaix Mass to the small Lantern Shipyards, which rents out docks, and the ship operator Maestro VanVanVigaro, they're all participating in Raikon.”

 

Marika spoke carefully, looking at the long list. "...Can we set up a direct line from here, the Harold Lloyd Insurance Association, to the Bentenmaru?"

 

"What?" Show looked at Marika again.

 

"The Bentenmaru is anchored offshore nearby, and there is no physical connection to Port Seruna. There is a trading company network in the office district that is separate from the military network, right? Is there any way to directly connect to that network from the Bentenmaru?"

 

"I don't recommend it." Show grinned. "If you don't connect a physical line, you'll need a wireless connection, whether in FTL or normal space. They might not know what you're talking about or where they're listening, but they'll know you're doing something, especially if your purpose is something less than open.”

 

Marika frowned. Show continued with a cheerful look on his face. "So don't even think about sneaking into Port Seruna's trading company private line from the outside anchorage airspace. If you really have to, do it from inside."

 

Show looked around at the faces of the pirates sitting at the table. "There is a lot of coming and going in the office district of Port Seruna. Some offices have been doing business in the same place for as long as the military, but it's not uncommon for small and medium-sized businesses to move in but then quickly withdraw because they don’t have the work or financial resources."

 

Show pointed his long, lanky fingers straight up. "Until recently, an ambitious new information analysis think tank was also located in the block managed by the Port Seruna branch of the Harold Lloyd Insurance Association. Unfortunately, it withdrew before it could achieve its goals, and the floor remains vacant as it has not yet found a new customer."

 

Show looked around the faces of the pirates with amusement. "So, if you're thinking of infiltrating a trading company's network and doing bad things, you should think about setting up shop here first."

 

 

"So, what in the world are you guys doing?" On the third day of the interrogation, Captain Hogarth, who had boarded the Bentenmaru from a patrol boat this morning, looked around the ship suspiciously.

 

"Well." Marika, who was walking ahead of the captain down the corridor to the captain's quarters, gave an ambiguous smile at the many crew members filling the passageway, a stark contrast to the day before.

 

"The Bentenmaru is under investigation, but fortunately there are no restrictions on the crew's movement, so I thought I'd have them do a little work."

 

"Well, as long as the spaceship stays still and the captain is here, the investigation can continue." Hogarth took out an information terminal from the pocket of his uniform jacket, which was loosely hanging open, and called up a display with one hand. "Even so, um, almost half of the crew are disembarking at our port?"

 

The Bentenmaru, which is anchored in the anchorage airspace of Port Seruna, is being questioned by the military police. Not only is the Bentenmaru prohibited from moving without the permission of the Imperial Fleet, but the crew is also required to submit an application to land at Port Seruna.

 

Marika was foolishly honest and hand submitted all the applications, even though it wouldn't have been a big deal if they had been ignored since the purchasing party was arriving at the port by shuttle boat. The submitted application documents are sent in digital form to the military police via the control station, and in most cases the application is automatically returned with a license.

 

The official reason is that this allows the Imperial Fleet to know where the crew of the spaceship under investigation are and what they are doing.

 

"Our spaceship is currently shut down because we can't do our main business." Marika said as she led the way, trying not to show her expression. "Our privateer license has been suspended by our home planet, and we're currently being questioned by the fleet, so we can't work."

 

"The fleet has their own reasons for doing things." Hogarth answered in a disinterested voice. "We can't allow a pirate ship under arrest to do pirate business."

 

"We're a civilian ship, so that’s a problem." Marika glanced at Hogarth, who was following her, and continued. "As you can see, the Bentenmaru is a rundown spaceship, and it takes a lot of work and expense just to keep it running, but as long as we're being investigated here, we have no hope of earning any income. If things continue like this, even if we're acquitted, which I believe will happen, we'll go bankrupt because we won't be able to pay the costs of running the spaceship."

 

"So, are you planning to send idle crew members ashore to work part-time?" A list of the names of the Bentenmaru crew members who were scheduled to land was displayed on the information terminal. Hogarth sighed as he sorted the list by affiliation. "But still, even though it's the south port, it's amazing how easily you were able to find work for this many people."

 

"An insurance association that we have a relationship with is planning to expand its office." Marika said, trying to be as nonchalant as possible. "We have a lot of personnel in the electronics industry, so we can easily help with opening a new location."

 

"An insurance association that you have a relationship with?"

 

Marika stopped in front of the captain's quarters, listening to the sound of someone tapping on an information terminal at a rapid tempo. Captain Hogarth should already know which insurance association the Bentenmaru has a contract with and what kind of relationship they have. If that's the case, then unless he's just killing time while walking, he must be searching for information about the business expansion plans of the Harold Lloyd Insurance Association.

 

"I heard that an agent from the head office came all the way here for that purpose." Marika opened the door to the captain's quarters, conveying information that wasn't a lie. From today onwards, she has to deal with Hogarth on her own. "So, what should we talk about today?"

 

 

"Are you okay?"

Hyakume, who had slipped into the right pilot's seat, anxiously looked up from the shuttle's cockpit toward the Bentenmaru’s captain's cabin.

 

"If you're worried, you can stay behind." Kane, in the captain's seat, completed the preflight checks, and deftly flipped the switches. "Cockpit to cabin, the plane will be taking off shortly. If all the scheduled personnel are on board, please close the door."

 

"Even if I stay behind, the only thing I can do is deal with that military policeman." Hyakume began to turn on the control panels around him, which had been switched off. “Instead, I think it would be more promising to go to the port and work.”

 

"Aren't you worried?" After confirming that there were no abnormalities on the control panel around the captain's seat, Kane glanced at Hyakume's profile.

 

"Well, since Captain Marika came on board, I don't have anything to feel guilty about, even if she investigated all of our work." Hyakume said, as if making a list of excuses to check off. "There's no way the captain would know about the Bentenmaru’s business before she came on board. For now, she's been doing a good job of coordinating things with the military police. I don't know how many more days the current situation will last, but I expect the captain to do her job to buy us some time."

 

A door closeure signal was heard from the cabin. "Airtightness confirmed, no abnormalities in propulsion and communication systems."

 

"We've received permission to enter the south port from the control station."

 

"Shuttle to Bentenmaru main bridge." After hearing Hyakume's report, Kane called Sandaime who was still on the main bridge. "Preparation for launch is complete. Open the port side hanger deck."

 

"Main bridge, copy that." Sandaime responded from the bridge. "Are you planning three round trips today? There's a backlog, so hurry back."

 

"You don't have to tell me."

 

After confirming that the external air pressure in the hanger deck was venting, Kane released the locking points that were holding the shuttle to the deck. The artificial gravity was cut off via the shuttle’s control.

 

The small amount of air remaining inside the ship flowed out from the open cargo door. As if riding the wind, the shuttle slid out sideways from the port side hanger deck of the Bentenmaru.

 

The Bentenmaru remained anchored in the anchorage airspace, with the patrol boat KP93 still moored to its starboard side.

 

Kane began to move forward slowly, pointing the shuttle's nose toward Port Seruna floating in front them.

 

"The patrol boat arrived today for questioning, but despite that, a large number of crew members came ashore in a shuttle." Hyakume, who had handed the controls over to Kane, reclined his pilot's seat and clasped his hands above his head. "I don't know if we're being watched or not, but I think it's about time we found some traces of the enemy."

"Marx Information Systems, eh?" Hyakume looked up suspiciously at the old carved wooden sign hanging outside the door. "Is this also one of the shell companies owned by Lloyd Insurance?"

 

"We're an old insurance association after all." Show looked with satisfaction at the wooden sign hanging above the large double doors made of old wooden planks, a rare sight even in the offices of the old town. "Before I started working in the style I do now, I merged and absorbed many companies in the same industry and in other industries. It was part of my job to rescue and merge companies in the same industry that were struggling, or take over the name of a company that had gone bankrupt because of a bad debts."

 

Show turned his attention back to Hyakume. "In most cases, the company that takes over the receivables is either resold or otherwise disposed of to make up for the outstanding debts, but sometimes we can keep them as a company and continue to do business with them depending on our financial situation or their structure. There are many cases where they have connections in areas where our sales base is weak, or they have a team of experts in that field."

 

Show smiled meaningfully. "As I said before, for insurance companies, information is a more important business than for military or trading companies. If you can make a profit from your main business and get useful information, it is more profitable to maintain it even if it means spending a little on administrative work and expenses."

 

"Well, now I know why you guys have such extensive connections." Hyakume looked back and forth between the old sign and the afro-haired monster with a suspicious look in his eyes.

 

"Relationships aren't something you can just leave alone and maintain. If you don't take good care of them, like you would a houseplant, you won't be able to build a relationship that will be useful when you need it."

 

"You're right, but we're pirates, so we don't have the time to spend an entire season just exchanging seasonal greetings." Hyakume shook his head with a serious look on his face. “If we were in a position where we could do business not just with a spaceship, but with an office somewhere and be able to communicate with various people, I think we should consider that type of business.”

 

"Marx Information Systems is an information consulting company that has been in business since before our time. It's not a dummy company at all. It's an economic consultant that still provides financial advice and asset management to famous people in the core star systems."

 

"Is it okay to do this?" Hyakume looked back and forth between the old, worn-out sign and Show's face, with an even more suspicious look on his face. “If we borrow such a well-known name, what if something unexpected happens and they come after us?”

 

"It's a sad world we live in, where insurance associations have to worry about pirates with privateer licenses." Show said, a grin plastered on his face. "Do you think we'd give you an office or even lend you the name of a shell company without that kind of risk management? Don't worry, even if Rakion's confidentiality system is tighter than we'd like, or if your work is slower than we'd like, we're fully prepared for that."

 

Show pointed his thumb over his shoulder at the elevator hall behind him, which was set up for each block. "The Marx Information Systems nameplate is already up at the entrance to our section, though it's not very conspicuous. We paid the maintenance fee to keep the line in working order, and we've already made a forecast for the work we'll be doing this quarter."

 

"Oh my." Hyakume couldn’t help but let out a low voice at the insurance association agent who had already created such data for a dummy company that had only been created yesterday.

 

"The biggest problem is where in the world did they get staff with such a track record and history." Show swung open the carved wooden door wide. “We’ve made it consistent by saying that the Bentenmaru and the Barbaroosa each have their own dummy companies and shipping companies under other names.”

 

Not just the Bentenmaru, but all pirate ships that have been privateering licenses and have been engaged in piracy for over a century have different ship registry names and trading companies that only exist on paper. Even if they have a privateering license, there are restrictions and obstacles to their actions when operating under the name of a pirate ship, and it is not uncommon for them to have to hide their identity when working.

 

"Marx Information Systems, right?" Once again, Hyakume looked around the sign above the entrance and the hastily put together information consulting company that had taken over an entire floor. There was no way that the personal portable computers and electronic files brought by the crew of the Bentenmaru and Barbaroosa would be enough. In addition, the floor was lined with large electronic devices borrowed from a rental company, making it look more like a field electronic warfare headquarters than an information consulting company.

 

Since it was the old town of Port Seruna, a huge military base, there was an abundant supply of electricity and data lines. Not only are there large systems that efficiently processed the collected information, but there are also electronic warfare systems that could infiltrate a network that was beyond a dense mesh to sniff out the information they were looking for. The sight of electronic warfare systems for sniffing and high bandwidth connections prioritized for production makes it clear that this is a newly opened intelligence consultancy. Moreover, the staff that had been gathered from the Bentenmaru and the Barbaroosa were dressed in a jumble of casual clothes and work clothes, with no sense of unity anywhere.

 

"This is a typical electronics startup."

 

"Hyakume!" Coorie called out from her workspace, slumped in her usual jersey and short coat. The Bentenmaru’s spares and rented electronic devices were not enough, so various equipment had been borrowed from the Harold Lloyd's office to make things operational. "I'll be drilling holes soon, so if you're free, please help me out!!"

 

"Okay, I'll be ready shortly!" Hyakume simply replied and turned to Show. “Well, preparing to open will take us a while, so if any curious people come to check us out, tell them we’re still not ready to open.”

 

"Understood." Show raised a hand. "Rest assured, in the name of the Harold Lloyd Insurance Association, I will provide you with the perfect work environment."

 

"You can't just run away." Hyakume grabbed Show's raised arm and pulled him onto a floor that looked like a field headquarters.

 

"We may be used to electronic warfare in space, but we're not experts in electronic warfare in closed systems. I'm sorry to have you set us up like this, but we're in the same boat, so we're going to need your help with a lot of things."

 

"I sent our operators to help out!" Show cried out as he was pulled by Hyakume. "Because of this, our sales office is complaining that its strength has been halved, but I'm also in charge of practical matters at the head office, and network warfare is not my specialty!"

 

"Okay, okay, it's enough if you help me to the extent that you know. First, tell me the secret trick to get around this network without leaving a trace. I tried it out and all of the 12 standard types and the 18 variant types of test patterns have been countered. Use a thief to catch a thief, so you must have a way to avoid it, right?"

 

"So, what did you guys actually start doing?" The fourth day of the interrogation. Captain Peter Hogarth looked at Marika's face intently in the captain's quarters.

 

"Huh?" Marika tilted her head cutely with her business smile on her face.

 

"Because of my job, I can hear about the situation in the city from both military and civilian sources." With a frown, the captain looked back and forth between the display of the information terminal in his hand and Marika's face. "Most of the crew of the Bentenmaru, who landed in large numbers at Port Seruna yesterday, have not returned here. The newly established company Marx Information Systems is still in the process of being set up at the Harold Lloyd Insurance Association, but tensions have suddenly risen on the civilian network centered on the old town and the south port."

 

"Tensions on the civilian network?" Marika tilted her head further as she thought about it, mobilizing all of her limited knowledge. "Do the military police monitor such things?"

 

"You can't run a business like this if you don't know what your business partners are doing right under your feet." Captain Hogarth spread his arms wide in annoyance.

 

"Even so, it must be a lot of work to monitor the civilian network as well."

 

"This is a military port." the captain said nonchalantly. "The military provides the infrastructure, from space to air, energy to information lines. Even though it's a civilian network, it's under our control, so if there's any strange activity, a report is automatically sent."

 

The captain looked around the captain's quarters, now empty of the accompanying crew members from the previous day.

 

"Basically, the military has no involvement in civilian activities, and the official policy is to stand by and watch whether companies are engaged in intelligence warfare or stock manipulation as long as it doesn't cause damage to others, but that's why they have to know a lot about things in order to have the high ground."

 

"As expected from the military police in charge of maintaining order at a large port."

 

"Even though they're private companies, they're in the military industry, so sometimes they engage in dirty information warfare that even the military intelligence department turns a blind eye to in order to gather information from each other, and sometimes the Port Seruna network can become like an electronic warfare battlefield."

 

With his eyebrows still furrowed, the captain turned his gaze back to Marika.

 

"As I said before, our basic policy is to turn a blind eye to what the companies that come to us do as long as it doesn't cause any other damage, but to do that, we need to understand who is doing what and where they are. Of course, we've received an application from Harold Lloyd Insurance, which has had a long-standing relationship with you, to build a branch office for Marx Information Systems in the block it owns, but the commotion in the network started to spread as soon as this company started setting up."

 

The captain glanced back and forth between the information terminal in his hand and Marika's face. "If you know, could you please tell me? Your crew has landed and set up shop in the old town, what exactly are they planning to do?"

 

"Who knows?" Marika looked straight at him, still wearing her business smile, and played dumb. "I'm sorry, captain, but as you've probably realized from what I've said so far, I'm the least experienced pirate captain in the history of the ship, and I don't have the trust of my crew."

 

"You're joking." The captain doesn't even laugh. "No matter what else you have, you can't be captain without the trust of your crew."

 

"Of course, I'm sure you're aware of our situation, but the reason I became captain of the Bentenmaru is because there is a clause in the inheritance terms of the privateer license that says that only the captain's child can inherit the captain's license." Whether or not the audience sees through her, once she is on stage she has to perform her role to the end. Marika forced a calm face and continued on, feeling as if the audience had read her mind. "A pirate captain with less experience than any of the other crew members wouldn't be able to do so unless there was a special clause like that."

 

"So at least you’re admitting that your crew is doing something when they land?"

 

Marika smiled and nodded in agreement to Hogarth's words. "My crew members are excellent, so if they had a job to do, they wouldn't just sit back and do nothing. I believe they're doing something to help the Bentenmaru."

 

"You have a lot of trust in them."

 

"That's part of the job." Marika nodded. "Another thing is that I believe that Bentenmaru's usefulness will also benefit the Imperial Fleet."

 

Marika continued, staring at the captain. "I'm relieved to hear that the fleet will turn a blind eye to civilian activities. That means they will step in if things get to the point where they can't be overlooked, right?"

 

"That's not for me to decide, nor is it for the military police to decide." The captain didn't take his eyes off Marika. "But, even though their captain is being interrogated every day, the spaceship remains calm, the crew goes out to work without a care, and you're still able to continue as captain. Captain Marika, that means the crew trusts you enough."

 

"That's right." Marika replied with a sigh. "I hope that's the case."

 

Returning to her business smile, Marika added. "Ideally, I hope my crew only does what they need to do and doesn't cause too much trouble for other people."

 

"Can pirates really turn an empty floor into such a mess in just 24 hours?"

 

Port Seruna operates according to Galactic Standard Time, and Show, who was finally released just before midnight takes refuge in a temporary business hotel, returned to the front lines long after work started the next day.

 

The day before, the spacious floor of Marx Information Systems was littered with rented and brought-in electronic devices, and spaghetti-like wiring tangled like an octopus. Overnight, a snack corner resembling a campsite had been set up in one corner, where people could serve themselves drinks and snacks.

 

A large amount of electronic equipment had been brought in, not only from the Bentenmaru, but also from the Barbaroosa before it was sold, and was now plugged in and operational. 2D and 3D displays were mixed together, and between the various electronic devices installed without even ensuring the minimum traffic flow for the operators installing them, personal belongings and luggage were piled up, making it hard to tell whether they were junk or trash, and the floor, which had seemed spacious yesterday, had become noticeably smaller.

 

"We're in the middle of a battle, after all." Coorie answered, her chair surrounded by an inadequate set of rented displays and temporary control panels, snacks lined up on a makeshift data card container to refuel. "As long as we get results, we don't really care about appearances or what people think along the way."

 

"If you care about other people's reputations, you're not cut out to be a pirate." Captain Kenjo, dressed in work clothes, came out from a corner where empty boxes were piled up and yawned loudly. "If you want a classy job in space, you should find another job."

 

"Not only the Bentenmaru, but the Barbaroosa has the same policy?" Show looked around the floor, where the 3D displays were actively changing and many people were walking around. "That's good to hear. If you get too involved with etiquette and manners, I'd worry about your future."

 

"In a business like ours, preparations at this stage are the most important." Kenjo said as he poured coffee into a huge bucket-like mug. "When you actually fight, the outcome is already decided 90% of the time. Even the insurance industry has already decided its profit when it signs a contract, right?"

 

"Do you think you can win?"

 

Show asked directly. Kenjo gulped down his huge mug of hot coffee and raised the empty cup as if toasting.

 

"Who do you think you are talking to? Pirates don't think about what happens when they lose."

 

"The insurance industry calculates losses first and then makes the numbers add up." Show smiled back at Captain Blackbeard. "If you calculate your losses while considering the worst case scenario, you can handle most situations with ease. Tell me, Captain Blackbeard, how do you plan to get the Barbaroosa back?"

 

"Well, we’ll see." Pouring more coffee into his mug, Kenjo started walking along the path that had been made between cables, junk parts, empty containers, and trash packs. "Apparently, this project is proceeding with plenty of time to spare, and it seems that the Barbaroosa’s resupply in the closed dock will take a while."

 

"Really?"

 

"That's a waste of time for a dilapidated ship like ours. Well, since it's a target ship, they might want to measure its performance accurately and use it to the fullest, and no matter how dilapidated it is, it's still a light battleship, so it's going to take a lot of work to take care of it from start to finish."

 

"I see." Show nodded knowingly as he followed Kenjo. "Are you planning to wait until the Barbaroosa is fully refurbished before you snatch it?"

 

"Well, that's basically what I was planning, but when I was checking the automatic maintenance menu of the Barbaroosa, I found a major problem." Kenjo headed to a conversation space in a corner of the floor, where there was a makeshift table with empty cases and containers lined up as chairs.

 

"What is it?"

 

"They're planning to operate the Barbaroosa unmanned. We knew that when they changed its name to the bland, unremarkable ship number QD0443. Of course, to operate it unmanned, you need to set up some mechanisms here and there, but it's not a problem if you plan to board it occasionally and fix it, or just throw it away."

 

"You're not worried about them modifying the interior of the Barbaroosa?"

 

"They just don't want to spend that much money. The problem is that the Barbaroosa will be operated unmanned."

 

"Ah..."

 

Show flipped a random container over on the opposite side of the table where Kenjo was sitting and sat down. Kenjo put his huge mug on the table and looked up with a serious look on his face.

 

"If a spaceship is going to operate unmanned, there's no need to check the life support systems. It goes without saying that if there is no need to carry living, breathing, delicate life forms, there is no need to check the airtightness of the spacecraft. If the parts of the equipment that require pressurization are properly treated, the spaceship can function without any problems even if it flies with the windows open. In fact, if there's no need to carry extra air, the weight of the spaceship will be significantly lighter."

 

Pressurized air at one atmosphere weighs 1.2 kilograms per cubic meter.

 

"It's not just air." Show realized what Kenjo was trying to say. "Not having to carry the crew and their personal belongings, food and water, would reduce the weight considerably. For a light battleship, the weight reduction would not be significant, but for a warship, it would be a significant amount."

 

"In addition, it would be possible to completely omit the maintenance of the life support system, which is more time-consuming than the electronics and weapons systems. This would be great for those who operate it as an unmanned ship, but it would be a big problem for those who are planning to snatch it."

 

"Hmm." Show nodded. Spaceship operations were not his specialty, but even just thinking about it as an outsider brought up a mountain of problems. "So, what are you going to do?"

 

"The maintenance list for the Barbaroosa that we know at this point doesn't include an inspection of the life support system, and there are no plans to replenish air or water. Of course, there's no need to load food onto a spaceship that's going to fly without any people on board, and there are no plans to do so. In other words, even if we manage to get the Barbaroosa back into our hands, we'll have to take care of all of that ourselves."

 

Show gave his brief opinion. "That's a big job."

 

"So, let's discuss it." Kenjo leaned forward across the table. "We've been taking care of the Barbaroosa's life support systems, so unless someone removes them or intentionally destroys them during the maintenance, there won't be any problems if they are left alone. However, we need to provide the minimum amount of air, water, and food."

 

"Even if it's a lightweight battleship, we're trying to move it, so that's going to take a lot of effort."

 

"Unfortunately, the Barbaroosa is currently out of commission, so we can't move openly. That's why I have a request. I want you to arrange for a supply ship."

 

"Okay." Show raised his hands to Kenjo. "Please send me a list of the necessary supplies and a schedule as soon as possible. I'll figure it out."

 

Kenjo looked at Show's face again. "You're agreeing way too quickly."

 

"Of course." Show waved at Kenjo. "If you need to send a supply ship with water, air, and food to the Barbaroosa it's not that difficult, even if you have to do it in secret. Even a cat at the harbor can tell that stealing a space battleship that isn't even in your name while it's under inspection in a closed dock is much more difficult. If you're bringing that up here, that means you've got a good idea of ​​what to do, right?"

 

Kenjo grinned and looked down at the floor. "Well, I'm working on making sure that happens."

 

Looking around the disheveled floor, Kenjo turned back to Show. "The truth is, we're still in the process of deciding when and how to get Barbaroosa back. We've already decided what to do after we get it back, so we're just making arrangements while we know what we need."

 

"I see." Show looked around the floor, which had become as messy as an old market in just one day, with satisfaction. "So the preparations for the battle are going smoothly. That's good. If things are going well here, then I can concentrate on my main business with peace of mind."

 

"Show!" Coorie called out, still holding a candy bar in her mouth. "Once you're done with your talk, I'd like to ask you a question."

 

Show raised his long, slender hand as a sign that he heard her voice. Kenjo took a sip of his second cup of coffee.

 

"I'll send you the list of supplies. The detailed schedule of the operation hasn't been decided yet, so I can't specify the exact supply points or dates, but you can be sure that it will be resupplied when it jumps from here."

 

"It would be best to charter a supply ship well in advance." Show stood up from the table. "You just need supplies to last a short mission. It would be bad to have the chartered spaceship find out our intentions about gathering supplies. We'll need to set up a supply ship somewhere as inconspicuous as possible, so please confirm not only the list but also the schedule as soon as possible."

 

"We'll do our best."

 

Raising a hand to Captain Kenjo, Show headed to Coorie's workspace.

 

"So, what is your request?" Show called out to Coorie, who was stuck in the middle of her inadequate set of 3D and flat displays, with various keyboards and control panels lined up.

 

"Yeah, it seems like that would be faster no matter what I do, so please” Coorie said without looking up, chewing and tapping on the keyboard with both hands "can you open up access to the insurance network?"

 

"What?" Show asked dumbfoundly. Coorie sent out a long command and turned back to Show without checking the results.

 

"The insurance network that the insurance industry uses to inquire about insurance for spaceships flying through the galaxy. There's no way that old-timers like the Harold Lloyd Insurance Association aren't connected to it."

 

All spaceships flying within the Galactic Empire are required to be insured in case of emergency such as accidents and disasters. No matter how much technology advances and spaceship navigation becomes safer, unexpected accidents and disasters are inevitable.

 

Spaceships have a long lifespan. It is rare for a spaceship to retire without experiencing any accidents or problems during the long period it is registered. And when trouble occurs, expenses arise.

 

Spacecraft insurance operates on the old-fashioned idea of ​​risk management.

 

The only spaceships flying without insurance are warships belonging to the Empire or independent governments, and emergency expenses that occur for these ships are guaranteed by administrative agencies.

 

All spaceships flying in the galaxy are insured with various types, periods, and amounts of insurance. There are as many insurance companies as there are stars in the sky. The proportion of single accident emergencies in space is decreasing year by year, and the majority of events handled by insurance companies involve multiple spaceships interacting.

 

To make operations smoother, insurance companies have built a galaxy-wide network to access the insurance data of all spaceships at once. Construction of interstellar information networks began at the same time that FTL communication became practical, but the network created by insurance companies for the purpose of exchanging information is said to be the oldest and largest.

 

"The insurance network is not something that can be easily opened up to outsiders." With his mouth agape, Show recited the mantra. "Sure, right now, we are in a position where we are willing to give you our full cooperation, but even so, opening up the insurance network is on a completely different level. What in the world made you think of that?"

 

"If you want to investigate a spaceship flying through this galaxy right now, using the insurance network is the most reliable and fastest way." Coorie swallowed the candy that was left in her mouth and began to speak. "Unless you are dealing with a warship operated by an independent government, all spaceships flying in the galaxy are insured. Even new ships undergoing test flights before delivery are insured for a short period of time as long as they fly on their route. Navigation laws require it. The only exceptions are ships that conduct tests and practice without ever leaving their own experimental airspace, but that's not the issue here. The only spaceships we want to deal with are those that need to fly with insurance."

 

Coorie switched the display to face Show, who was standing on the other side of the 3D display. A 3D image of the surrounding airspace, centered on Port Seruna, was projected, with a large number of small bright spots superimposed on it. "These are the spaceships around Port Seruna. We've checked the official data from the control tower with the Bentenmaru, so it has a high level of reliability."

 

"Oh?" Show looked at Coorie's face and at the three-dimensional diagram of all the spaceships docked in the anchorage airspace around Port Seruna and all the spaceships arriving and departing from there. There were so many spaceships that the bright spots looked like powder.

 

"We can find all sorts of suspicious spaceships just by comparing the official data with the observation data from the Bentenmaru, but we can't fire off a high-power radar in the anchorage airspace of the base, so the data we can get is limited. We've done a superficial check of most of the spaceships inside the station over the past two days, but there are so many of them that we don't have any conclusive evidence."

 

"You think you can turn the situation around by vetting them via the insurance net?"

 

Coorie nodded vigorously. "Unfortunately, the control data only contains the contracted insurance company, but it would be perfect if we could look into the details. After all, insurance is the only thing that is recorded so strictly that if you lie, not only will it be useless in an emergency, but you might even be charged with fraud. You might be able to lie about the type of spaceship you insure, but you can't lie about the size or operational period. If you just show me the insurance net, I can immediately check whether a spaceship currently in this area was flying when we received the transport ship's distress signal or not."

 

"The data on the insurance net doesn't record the actions of the spaceship." Show grumbled. "There's no way it has recorded where they were or what they were doing."

 

"That's enough." Coorie switched the list of 3D displays. "It will be much easier to narrow down the search if we can just pick out the ships that were insured by companies affiliated with Rakion when the Karyoubinga went missing and we were conducting rescue operations. Then, all we have to do is select and check only the ships equipped for electronic warfare and fleet combat."

 

"The insurance network is not something that can be shown to outsiders." In an unusually low voice, Show repeated the insurance association's official stance. "Insurance companies have a duty of confidentiality regarding their policyholders, and cannot disclose the details to anyone other than the parties involved."

 

"Well, it seems that's the way it's supposed to be for the protection of the policyholders." Of course, Coorie was aware of the situation and quickly switched the display. "Of course, I'm not asking to see it for free. I don't know about the insurance industry, but in our industry, give and take is the most basic of basics, so if I ask to see the insurance network, I'll have something to show you."

 

"This is..."

 

The 3D catalog was replaced with new titles one after another. Show's face lit up as he saw the list, which seemed to cover most of the major companies with offices in Port Seruna.

 

"These are the results of Marx Information Systems' efforts yesterday and today." Turning to the side, Coorie laughed, hunched her back and began typing on the keyboard. “A complete set of analysis guides with maps of the major companies internal network structure, major databases, and security systems.”

 

"How did you get something like this..."

 

"Oh, didn’t you lend us the place to do something like this?" Reaching out for a snack, Coorie popped a chip into her mouth. "When fighting a war, checking the enemy's situation, formation, strength, and supplies is the most basic thing you can do. It's okay; if you just look into the data that's available, it will come up, although it will take some effort; it's rare to find it all in one place, but it's not illegal to do so. However, if you have this kind of advance information, it will be much easier to steal information from the target office."

 

"Do you know how much this is worth?"

 

"It's hot stuff." Coorie's glasses, which were around her neck, emitted an eerie light.

 

"Information is worth more to insurance companies than live ammunition is to the military or pirates. If you open the insurance network, I'm willing to share with you the data I just showed you."

 

"I'm sorry, but I can't promise you that I'll open the insurance net, even verbally." Sighing, Show looked up at Coorie. "So, well, I'll have to think of some way to meet your wishes."

 

"Okay, okay, I'll leave the method up to you. The sooner the better."

 

"Please be gentle." Speaking from the heart, Show took out an information terminal from the pocket of his flashy jacket. "Can I ask you something?"

 

"As long as it's not a trade secret, yeah, go ahead."

 

"Why did you go to the trouble of asking me to open up the insurance network? If you can find this much information so easily, it should be easy to get into the insurance network by infiltrating our network or cracking other insurance companies."

 

"Yes, I can." This time, turning her back to Show, Coorie began typing quickly on the keyboard.

 

"There are two reasons why I asked Show to open up the insurance network. One is that I have no intention of making the insurance industry, including the Harold Lloyd Insurance Association, my enemy."

 

"What's the other one?"

 

"The data I'm giving you in exchange wasn’t created overnight. It takes a lot of preparation, effort, and time to enter the insurance network. It's faster to ask for help no matter what."

 

Show raised his hands in frustration. "That's right. I tip my hat to you for your accurate judgment."

 

"I'll give you a bonus as a thank you for your quick judgment."

 

With her back turned, Coorie switched the display in front of Show, who let out a strange groan.

 

"How in the world do you get something like this..."

 

"Oh, I'm impressed that you can tell what this is at a glance." Coorie said as she typed quickly on the keyboard. "Yes, it's a structural diagram of the military network that manages the physical network of this port."

 

"...Can you dive into it?"

 

"Yes, right now." Coorie answered simply. "As you’d expect, the Imperial Fleet's military network is on a war footing, with meticulous security, identity verification done every second, and ID keys changed every minute. Even a peek would send the intelligence police flying, so if you boarded without a guide, you'd be caught in an instant."

 

Show looked over the schematic diagram of the military network, which seemed to have every conceivable security system in place. Coorie continued.

 

"Right now, we have people here who can guide us, so it's fine. You can easily view the operation schedule for the next month or so."

 

"Stop it." Show tore his eyes away from the 3D display. "Our policy is to continue working smoothly without causing any trouble. We have no interest in making a quick buck or fraudulent business practices."

 

"Yes, yes, if you need anything, please let us know anytime. We can probably only do something about it while we're here."

 

 

"Marcus Information Systems' business seems to be going well, doesn't it?"

 

Marika couldn't help but ask back when Captain Hogarth told her. "Is that so?"

 

"Hasn't the captain received any reports about the work her crew is doing ashore?" The captain shot a suspicious gaze at Marika.

 

"Well, if you ask me something careless, I might say something unnecessary." Marika answered the captain with a smile. "That's the kind of thing my crew trusts me with."

 

Marika asked the captain again with a straight face. "Is my crew doing well in port?"

 

"Well," the captain switched between different 3D details displays on the information terminal in his left hand. "At least for the past two days, there hasn't been any crazy fluctuations in the tension of the information network like there was at the beginning, and it doesn't seem like there's any active information war going on. The fact that the network in the old town is calm means that the newcomers have successfully found their place."

 

"I hope so." Marika gave an ambiguous smile.

 

"Here we go." Coorie put up a list on the 3D display. "Some are on short voyages nearby, but their flight plans call for them to return soon, so if we're right and the enemy is an experimental ship, I think they're just on a nearby test voyage to make adjustments."

 

"That's impressive." Nora looked at the list of ship names, registration codes, and affiliations lined up on the 3D display.

 

"There's still more to come." Coorie looked up at Nora. "There are seven ships in the port, and more than thirty outside. Now we need to check the listed ships one by one."

 

"That's a necessary step." Nora said matter-of-factly. "Is there a problem?"

 

"The enemy is specialized in electronic warfare and is equipped with at least the same level of guns as a mobile cruiser."

 

Nora rearranged the list of spaceships she had picked out by type. "Unfortunately, there are only two cruiser-class spaceships on the list. I think these two are probably not the enemies we should target at this time."

 

"The rest are just freighters."

 

Nora noted the types of spaceships that made up the majority of the list. Cargo transports are the most common type of spaceship in the galaxy.

 

"There are also some survey ships, but if you regard them as cargo ships, you’ve covered most types of ships."

 

One of the reasons why there are so many privately registered cargo spaceships is that this type has the most relaxed restrictions when registering them.

 

Even civilian spaceships are allowed to carry weapons for self-defense. There's not much to worry about if you're only traveling within Imperial territory, but pirates are not uncommon on the borders outside the Empire, and there are many thugs claiming to be from independent star systems who are involved with pirate-like incidents. Large-caliber cannons that can sink an enemy ship in one hit are bulky and require a fire control system, so they're not very practical, but every ship is equipped with missiles to buy an opportunity to escape after a hit. Also, electronic warfare systems, which are not weapons for direct combat, are not as bulky as ship-mounted weapons.

 

"By inspecting, I mean going to look at each of the spaceships on the list and actually checking their exteriors."

 

"One by one?"

 

Nora repeated without changing her expression. Coorie nodded.

 

"All the spaceships?"

 

Coorie nodded.

 

"Us?"

 

Coorie nodded.

 

"There are very few opportunities to optically observe other spacecraft during flight. The only times you can actually see other spacecraft flying with your own eyes are when you are flying in formation very close to them or when they are in port."

 

Space is vast and spacecraft travel at high speeds. Even if you are flying in the same direction along the same route and can see many transponders around you, you will rarely get close enough to see other spacecraft with the naked eye.

 

"Fortunately, all of the spacecraft we are looking for are anchored at Port Seruna, and some are in port and moored at the pier. So we can actually see the shape of the ship with our own eyes and collect as much data as we can by pointing our sensors at them."

 

If it is a mass-produced spacecraft, the manufacturer will publish the structural diagrams. There are no restrictions on collecting data by simply pointing a passive sensor at it. However, even if you point a sensor at a spacecraft that is parked, a normal sensor should only be able to confirm that the main engine is operating at minimum power.

 

"The enemy's spaceships are probably disguised to look like their registered type. Therefore, we need to visually determine which ships are real cargo ships and which are disguised combat ships."

 

"Can you tell?" Nora asked, as if testing her.

 

"If we can't, we'll be the ones who get hurt." Coorie answered simply.

 

"Fortunately, we have a record of direct combat, even if it was only once. If you say that the identification as the Derrflinger class is a lie, we can assume the enemy's true identity."

 

"If they're disguised from the outside, I don't think it's easy to tell."

 

"I think they're disguised from the outside." Coorie nodded. "But if that's the case, there's a way to tell. If the enemy is actually a company, they wouldn't use a cost-inefficient camouflage to secure profits. Specifically, camouflage equipment would only get in the way of combat maneuvers, so they'd keep it to a minimum, and for a civilian ship it would be well-equipped with radar and sensors."

 

"Well, I guess we'll just have to do it." Nora sighed, guessing how much work that would entail.

 

"I understand. Is our person in charge around?"

 

"That was quick." Coorie chuckled. "Yes, the Bentenmaru can use its shuttle, so we'll check the spaceships in the anchorage airspace. Can you check the spaceships in the docks?"

 

"Where are the spaceships that need to be checked?"

 

"Of course, we'll send you all the data we've got." Coorie switched to the list on the 3D display. "The one that's in the shipbuilding dock at Roubaix Mass for inspection, but has an immediate departure date, the docks rented to companies, and the spaceships in closed ports."

 

"Aside from the ones in port, the rest are well guarded." Nora thrust one hand into the 3D display, pointed to a location on the list, and switched the display to a 3D map of Port Seruna. "Yes, the security measures that a military company should take in a port with many other companies in the same business are in place."

 

Coorie showed flashing points on the security patterns that had been identified so far in the industrial zone of private companies in Port Seruna’s port. "Of course, we can currently get images from the security cameras of the security companies and companies that manage each location by going into their networks. The data obtained in this way is also used to make this decision, but image data can easily be altered or fabricated, and if we want to get the latest, reliable data, it will make our work more difficult."

 

"At this stage, we can't have Marx Information System do anything flashier."

 

After checking several points, Nora turned to Coorie. "I understand. Our ground forces have been idle since the handover of the Barbaroosa and haven't been of any use, so let's put them to work a little."

 

"If necessary, we'll send some of our forces under Schnitzer." Coorie said. "I don't think there's any need to confirm this with the first officer, but we've been following the rules up until now. From this point on, asking the ground forces to retrieve data on spaceships at the docks and ports would be breaking the rules."

 

"In that case, it's better if we do this on our own." Seeing Coorie's face, Nora returned her eyes to the 3D display of Port Seruna. "The idea that the ground forces of a pirate ship under investigation are conducting intelligence activities in a closed dock of a company sounds too bad no matter how you look at it. In the worst case scenario, it would be easier to say that the ground forces of a defunct pirate ship went out of control to show off their strength, or that they were contracted by a competitor to gather information."

 

"... Thank you." Pushing up her glasses, Coorie bowed to Nora while still in her seat.

 

"You can thank me when it’s actually needed."

 

Waving her hand, Nora left Coorie's seat.

 

"I hope you don't have to say that."

 

"Captain Cayenne will be just fine." Nora raised one hand in response to the voice that was calling out to her back.

 

"I hope so."

 

"So what have you started doing next?" Captain Hogarth, who had just commuted to the Bentenmaru at the usual time, started as soon as he sat down facing Marika in the captain's quarters.

 

"What do you mean?" Marika asked back, still wearing her business smile. "Are our crew members working at the port causing you any trouble?"

 

"No, I haven't received any notable reports regarding the activities of Marx Information Systems. They're supposed to have opened as an information consultant, but they don't do any sales, they're registered but don't advertise, and even though they have a nameplate on the site where they're located, it takes a lot of effort to find the contact information of the representative. From what I can see, it doesn't seem like a legitimate information company."

 

"Because that's how our crew members work." Marika nodded with a smile at what would have been a scathing sarcastic remark if the military police had said it to the captain of a civilian ship. "If they're causing you any trouble, I’m sure you’ll let me know."

 

Hogarth looked up at Marika with an annoyed look on his face. Marika nodded again, still smiling, as if to say, "Please tell me anything."

 

"No, Marx Information Systems isn't making any strange attacks on the military network, and it doesn't seem like they're having any trouble with other companies on the private network, and even if there is some trouble, as long as it's just between the companies, it's not a matter for the military police to get involved, so it doesn't really matter." Hogarth shook his head in annoyance at Marika’s pasted-on smile, and switched the screen on the information terminal in his hand. "Are you aware that a shuttle and two aircraft belonging to the Bentenmaru have been coming and going since yesterday?"

 

"Yes, I've received a report." Just to be sure, Marika turned on the 3D display on the table and called up the flight plans for the shuttle and the two ship-based aircraft.

 

"Information gathering and familiarization training." Marika answered exactly as she had been briefed during the meeting. "Any information is useful for a small, self-sustaining company like us to continue working, so we check what kind of spaceships are in port, and since pilots' skills tend to get dull if they have to stay there all the time, we go out into the surrounding airspace for familiarization training."

 

"Information gathering, you say?"

 

The captain repeated Marika's words. Marika nodded.

 

"Maybe they've given up on their current job, which has a shaky future, and are looking for a new one." The captain shook his head boredly. "A crew member like that wouldn't join a pirate ship to later change to the Imperial fleet. If they're looking for a job, that isn't a good sales pitch."

 

"Well, I guess it's training to maintain skills." Marika checked the flight plans of the two aircraft. The number of sorties has increased from the report she heard at the meeting this morning. "If it's allowed, we'd like to use the nearby training airspace for the Bentenmaru to train, but it's difficult to do that while under investigation, isn't it?"

 

"Even though you turned yourselves in, there's no way they'd give permission for a wanted pirate to train with live ammunition while under investigation." Hogarth chuckled. "They're already criticizing us for not restricting the crew's actions, so what would they say if we gave permission for a pirate ship to operate?"

 

"What are they criticizing?" Marika asked enthusiastically. "Isn't it the case that the Bentenmaru, which was supposed to have become a pirate, was caught and now it's just being interrogated, and someone somewhere is putting strange pressure on us because their expectations didn't work out?"

 

"That's not what I'm saying." Captain Hogarth' wry smile turned into a grin. "Even if that were the case, we can't give that information to the Bentenmaru’s captain, who is the person being interrogated."

 

“That’s right…" Marika nodded in agreement, looking bored. "Regarding my request to cross-reference Maria Forte's battle records with ours, has there been any progress?"

 

"I haven't received any additional reports." Hogarth answered in a formulaic way. "We are currently requesting an investigation into where and how our request is being processed, or if it is being processed at all."

 

"What is your impression of that?"

 

"Of course I can't answer that." Hogarth answered the same way as before.

 

"Is there any progress or not?"

 

"Of course, I can't answer that." Hogarth answered in the same way. Marika listened carefully.

 

"Have you heard anything about the future of the Bentenmaru?"

 

Hogarth only nodded slightly. "I haven't heard anything. I've heard almost everything I needed to hear, and I've compiled it into a report, but so far there has been no positive response."

 

"Ah..."

 

As if waiting for the conversation to die down, a call rang in the captain's quarters. Marika thought that the bridge communications officer would answer, but then she remembered. Sandaime was adjusting the main engine in the engine room, Kane was flying around the anchorage airspace as the helmsman of the shuttle, Hyakume and Coorie were on loan to Marx Information Systems, Schnitzer was also called in to help, and Misa was away from the spaceship to buy groceries, so the bridge was empty right now.

 

"Sorry." Looking at the desk, Marika turned back to the captain. "The communications person is out right now, can I speak with them for a moment?"

 

"Go ahead."

 

The captain raised one hand. There were currently no restrictions on the Bentenmaru's communications. Marika stood up from the sofa and reached for the communication panel on the desk, which was ringing, and as soon as it was received, she turned off the 3D display.

 

"Yes, yes, I'll here I come." Seeing only the information that it was a FTL and Class II encrypted communication, Marika went around to the other side of the desk. She sat down in the captain's seat and checked the rest of the information on the communication panel.

 

"Gruier!?" After blurting it out, Marika stole a peek at the captain on the sofa, who was looking down at the 3D display on his information terminal, as if he wasn't listening.

 

Being careful not to read it out loud by mistake, Marika checked the rest of the information. Gruier had called Captain Kato Marika of the Bentenmaru via the Serenity Space Fleet HQ.

 

After taking another look at the profile of the military police captain sitting at the table across from her desk, Marika connected the line. The rainbow noise characteristic of FTL communication flowed on the flat display on the desk, and the crest of the Serenity Space Fleet appeared and stabilized.

 

Preparing herself, Marika answered the call. Gruier, wearing a dress with her hair tied up, appeared on the communication display.

 

"This is Gruier Serenity, from the Serenity Royal Palace, Big Blue sister."

 

"This is Kato Marika from the Bentenmaru, docked at Port Seruna."

 

As she answered, Marika considered the possibility that the Bentenmaru's FTL communication might be eavesdropped on. It would be immediately obvious that they were communicating via FTL, but it would be difficult to identify the other party. Glancing at the captain, Marika added "right now, I'm being interrogated by the Imperial Fleet in the captain's quarters of the Bentenmaru."

 

Gruier’s handsome eyebrows frowned slightly. "Is it okay if I speak to you? If you're busy, we can reschedule."

 

"Well, my business here isn't urgent, so it's okay. I'll have to keep Captain Peter Hogarth of the Military Police waiting, though."

 

The captain turned to look at her when he heard his name, and Marika bowed slightly.

 

"The Bentenmaru is still in a difficult situation." Gruier understated the current situation. "I understand. I'll keep it short. Colonel Roberto Belmar of the Serenity Space Force has sent us an interesting report.”

 

Alongside the audio and video data for communication, the communications panel displayed the receipt of a compressed information container.

 

"The details are in there, but it's information about a new product that won't be officially announced to the market. It's a promotion of war design by a military company."

 

"A promotion of a war design?" Unable to understand what she meant, Marika repeated Gruier's words.

 

"It's still in the planning stage for a presentation by an advertising agency, but it seems that such a project is being planned across a wide range of private companies from various industries."

 

"Um, well..." Marika opened the information container that had been sent in a separate package. The amount of data, including the video, wasn't that much, but it wasn't small enough to be skimmed over while talking. Returning her eyes to Gruier on the other side of the display, Marika decided to ask. "What is a war design?"

 

"They design wars according to the customer's orders, and control the development of the war from the start to the end according to the customer's requests."

 

Marika couldn't help but look back at Gruier's face as she answered smoothly. Gruier continued her explanation with a straight face.

 

"The Galactic Empire has generally maintained peace, but as you know, that peace is not something that comes without effort or cost. When there are multiple opposing forces, it is not uncommon for each side to use force to fulfill their respective demands. However, as long as you belong to the Galactic Empire, a full-scale interstellar war is practically impossible."

 

"Is that right?" Marika said, mobilizing all the knowledge she had learned about the political structure of the Galactic Empire in social studies. "If you want to wage war inside the Galactic Empire, you can't wage war unless you're planning to turn the entire Imperial fleet into your enemy, right?"

 

"That's how it is on the surface, but there are plenty of loopholes and tricks, and guidebooks for illegal activities." Gruier said, still staring at Marika. "War design is one way of doing things without following the order and laws of the Galactic Empire. Well, for example, what would you do if you tried to control Sea of the Morningstar?”

 

“Eh?” Marika blinked at a question she had never thought of before. “Well, run for president? No, I'm not old enough to run for office yet.”

 

“It may seem extreme, but if Marika can wipe out all opposition to her control of Sea of the Morningstar, the rest is up to her.”

 

“Huh?” Marika tilted her head. “Really? What do you mean?”

 

“Whether it's the current Sea of the Morningstar government or the principal of Hakuoh Girls Academy, it's clear that there will be people who will not follow Marika's attempts to control Sea of the Morningstar. But if no one opposes your rule, you can rule Sea of the Morningstar.”

 

“That's why I have no interested in doing something as difficult as ruling Sea of the Morningstar.”

 

“That's true. So what if the Serenity royal family wanted to rule the Seven Jewels like they did in the past?”

 

Since the Golden Ghost Ship returned to Serenity, the reconciliation of the Alllied Kingdoms has progressed rapidly. The authority of the Serenity royal family has been gradually reduced, and instead the authority of the parliament is being strengthened. In the parliament, royalists, restorationists, independence parties, and reformists are engaged in heated debates, but the threat of civil war and internal collapse is long gone.

 

“Please take this as a hypothetical story. If the Serenity royal family wanted to rule the Allied Kingdoms with force, they would just have to eliminate the opposing forces. If there is no one to speak out in opposition or to demonstrate their position by force, there will be no one to impede the rule of the Serenity Royal Family.”

 

“But...”

 

“Of course, it is not easy to eliminate the hostile forces for the current Serenity. But what if an unfortunate accident or disaster strikes the hostile forces? Or what if the hostile forces' inhumane plots are exposed in the light of day, or if illegal hostile acts are committed?”

 

“...You're saying they would make it up!?” Seeing Gruier’s social smile, Marika finally realized what she was trying to say. Gruier nodded slowly.

 

“For example, it might be easier to have one of the rival interstellar governments as a client. We could create a situation that could lead to an interstellar war in which the other side is completely at fault, and then have the other side destroy themselves through their own mistakes. If you plan a war that you know will be won unilaterally, arrange the details, and sell the execution, how many leaders can firmly refuse?”

 

“That's war design...” Marika swallowed hard. “Are they trying to sell something like that as a product?”

 

“Of course, it's not something that can be sold openly.” Gruier said with her social smile on her face. “You can't sell it unless you choose customers in specific situations and design the war to suit the situation. But there will be as many customers as there are troubles, and the deeper the problem is and the larger the scale, the greater the profit you can expect.”

 

“But how much would you have to pay to design a war?”

 

“War is designed and sold by corporations, mainly in the defense industry.”

 

Gruier said with a smile still plastered on her lips. Marika was the only one visible on her communications monitor, but Marika noticed that Gruier was speaking with the other audience member in the captain's cabin in mind.

 

"If war breaks out, they can sell a large number of spaceships and weapons. Of course, the cost of designing a war, from the timing of the outbreak to planning the operation, is not small, but the Intelligence Department believes that the explosive increase in demand for products caused by a war is probably what the corporations are aiming for." Gruier stared intently at Marika. "The most frightening thing about war design is that it proposes war as a service to customers. Of course, the cost of war itself would be enormous, but it would be a necessary cost for a star system government, and all expenditures would be justified."

 

"Service..." Not really understanding, Marika looked at Gruier again. "So, companies will prepare and sell how to start a war and set the stage for it?"

 

"For a company whose only goal is profit, designing a war is just a trivial investment in the pursuit of huge profits." Gruier didn't take her eyes off Marika.

 

"And war is the largest economic activity in the universe. Its purpose is destruction and loss, and if you ignore the fact that it produces nothing, war brings huge profits to companies."

 

"That's..."

 

"Of course, it's not a commercial activity that can be openly advertised. Designing and controlling war is in direct opposition to the Galactic Empire's ideals, so the corporations involved maintain the utmost secrecy. Even if they are accused of war crimes at any stage, for example, at this stage, it will be just a thought experiment, and even if they do start a war, they will be cleverly hidden in the background and will never come to light.“

 

“So they are aware that they are an evil secret society and are trying to be the masterminds.” Marika mutterd to herself as she looked at the captain, who was on the sofa uninterestedly poking around with his information terminal. “That is a very troublesome opponent. But is it that easy to design and start a war?”

 

“What would you do, Marika?” Gruier said in a provocative tone. “What would Marika do if you wanted to start a war and wanted the enemy to take full responsibility for starting it?”

 

“Um, well...” Marika looked up in surprise, thinking about the meaning of Gruier’s question. "Make up an enemy fleet to attack defenseless civilian ships?"

 

"Simple and easy, but it's an effective way to portray your enemy as the bad guy." Gruier’s social face turned into her familiar smile. "Finally, you see it."

 

Marika blinked and spoke. "Wait a second, why would people who want to make up random battle data to start a war for their own convenience choose pirates as their opponents? Are they just gathering data from pirates because they'd have problems fighting regular armies?"

 

"That was my first thought, too." Gruier’s professional smile returned. "But if you just want to give your actual troops some real combat experience, you can just use your company's fleet. You can do computer simulations as many times as you want, and if you're training with actual space battleships, you can start a battle in any situation."

 

The smile disappeared from Gruier’s face. "From here on, it's just my guess. The situation that the Bentenmaru was caught up in was probably not a training exercise or an experiment, but was planned with the clear purpose of eliminating pirates with privateer licenses."

 

"Pirates?" Marika pointed to herself without thinking. "Eliminate us? I don't think that we're welcome everywhere in the universe, but why would people who grandiose ideas like designing a war get in the way of small, independent pirates like us?"

 

"If there was a salesman trying to start a war in a specific place, what do you think would get in the way?"

 

Marika tilted her head in response to Gruier’s question. "The military? The press? Intelligence agencies?"

 

"For corporations, the military and the media are partners to do business with and to be exploited. If they want to start a war and manipulate its course as they wish, a force outside the chain of command that can be involved with both sides of the conflict and can exist both inside and outside the situation at the same time would be a huge hindrance.” Gruier stared intently at Marika. “Because forces that are not in the chain of command of either side cannot be controlled. If you design a war and want to proceed according to that, forces that you cannot control are unnecessary. So, if I were to sell the design of a war to a specific customer, I would start by eliminating the pirates there.”

 

“So that means...” Feeling as her head becomes a jumble of information and overflowing thoughts, Marika speaks out the conclusion she has reached. “...The Tau star system has been chosen as a sales destination for a corporation that designs wars?”

 

“Probably.” Gruier nodded. "I don't want to admit it, and I don't know how much the Sea of the Morningstar Administration has been sold on the design of the war, or if salesmen will come in the future, but if they were to design and control wars, the location would be a young star district in the outskirts that was recently annexed by the Empire, rather than a core star system. The star system governments of the former Federation of Colonial Stars that currently issue privateer licenses are more unstable than the older star systems of the core star systems, since there is more room for pirates to play an active role."

 

"So it's not the Tau star system that's being targeted, but the former Federation of Colonial Stars..."

 

"That's just my guess." Gruier said. "But if those who design wars are trying to eliminate pirates, then at least at this stage, I think that wars are not being designed with the existence of pirates in mind. Colonel Belmar's report is a compilation of rumors and information circulating in the arms market and the central military industrial market, and unfortunately it is not the kind of thing that can be verified by numbers.”

 

Marika glanced over the information container that had been sent separately.

 

“They are trying to eliminate the pirates using various methods. That would explain the disappearance of the Karyoubinga and the situation that the Barbaroosa is facing.”

 

“I understand. Thank you, Gruier. I'll have my staff and Captain Kenjo look at this data.”

 

"Please be careful, Marika." Gruier’s eyes were filled with concern. "If my guess is correct, the one who attacked the Karyoubinga and framed the Bentenmaru is a large corporation that thinks of the stars as tools for business and war as a commercial tool."

 

"Then we can't let them do what they want, can we?" Marika nodded to Gruier. "Don't worry, I'll do something about it. And thank you to Colonel Belmar for writing the report. Also, Gruier, if we're facing such a big enemy, can you stay at the palace for a while instead of going back to school?"

 

"Why?"

 

Gruier asked suspiciously. Marika answered with a smile.

 

"It seems that if Gruier is at Serenity's Royal Palace, she will be able to gather the necessary information."

 

"I understand." Gruier bowed on the other side of the monitor.

 

"If anything happens again, please contact me."

 

"I wish the Bentenmaru and the Barbaroosa the best of luck."

 

The FTL communication ended. After properly closing the channel and ending the communication, Marika looked up at Captain Hogarth at the table across from her desk. His hands on the information terminal were still.

 

"Sorry to have kept you waiting." Marika stood up from her desk.

 

"No."

 

The captain answered while still looking at his hands. After a moment of hesitation, Marika boldly asked.

 

"What do you think about that conversation?"

 

The captain's gaze, which had been fixed on the information terminal, turned to Marika, who was standing next to her desk. "She’s a princess with a rich imagination."

 

"Yes, indeed." Marika smiled and nodded. "The problem is that Gruier’s imagination is too big, and her accuracy is high about the things she doesn't want to be right about."

 

Marika reached over to her desk and copied the received information container onto a data card. "Um, well, I have a small favor to ask of you."

 

"What is it?"

 

"If there's room in the patrol boat's flight schedule, could you give me a ride to Port Seruna?" Marika pulled out the data card with the copied information container from a slot in the desk. "I'm thinking of sending the report I just received to the Marx Information System, but no matter how you look at it, I think it would be safer not to let this data pass through the port's network."

 

"Oh, that's unusual." In response to a knock, Chiaki, clad in work clothes, opened the door to the Marx Information System. "Wasn't there any questioning by the military police today?"

 

"They keep asking me the same questions every day, so I'm getting tired of them asking." Marika, who came in her school uniform because she would stand out too much in her captain's uniform, peered inside the Marx Information System, which she had only heard about.

 

"Oh." Marika's eyes widened at the sight of the messy electronic battle desk of Coorie, which was only in one corner of the bridge of the Bentenmaru, expanded to cover the entire floor.

 

"Come in." Chiaki quickly pulled Marika in and closed the door. "Even though we don't advertise anywhere, salesmen from the nearby deli, pushy salesmen, and errand boys come by, so I don't like to keep this place open too much."

 

"Hey, Captain Marika!" Kenjo, who was talking to Coorie in the middle of the electronic desk, raised his hand as Marika came in. "You've come at a good place. There's been a lot of progress."

 

"Same here." Marika looked around the floor, where even a tent had been set up to serve as a nap room, then walked over to Coorie's electronic desk. She took out a data card from the pocket of her uniform. "A report from Gruier, sent to me by the Serenity Space Force Intelligence Division."

 

"Is it highly classified?"

 

Coorie's swirly glasses glittered as she reached out from the other side of the desk to take the card. Marika nodded.

 

"If Gruier is right, I don't want you to see this while you’re connected to a physical network. That's why I brought it directly instead of going through a communication line."

 

"Understood." With that, Coorie disappeared from her seat. She slipped into one of the consoles around her and with practiced hands removed the network cable that was only temporarily connected, then inserted the data card into the reader of the information terminal that she had forcibly isolated. "An anti-theft quantum key with probabilistic multiple encryption? Serenity's intelligence department is really thorough."

 

Marika switched focus from Coorie, who had started to decompress the data inside the card, to Kenjo. "What progress have we made?"

 

"We've identified the civilian ships in Port Seruna that are likely hiding electronic warfare equipment or weapons that don't match their registered ship type. Two inside, seven outside."

 

"A total of nine ships?" Marika wondered how many of those ships had become opponents of the Bentenmaru when they rushed to the rescue of Maria Forte.

 

“I don't know the details of the spaceships, but they’re carefully constructed, with everything from new to used ships. Cayenne thinks they bought cruisers with similar performance and refurbished them, but if you don't look at it with that in mind, you wouldn't know they’re battleships."

 

"A battleship disguised as a transport?"

 

"Yeah. It's the opposite of being a disguised cruiser."

 

A disguised battleship is a civilian transport ship that has been armed and equipped with electronic weapons to be able to fight. The former White Swan, which was built as a solar sail spaceship and obtained a privateer's license during the War of Independence and became a pirate ship, now the current Odette II, is in the class of a disguised cruiser, judging from its size.

 

"Well, there's nothing to be too worried about." Kenjo said to Marika, who looked serious. "Camouflage in electronic data is common in battle airspace, and slow-speed combat where you’re close enough to actually see each other and shoot is almost unheard of in modern times. The only advantage of a warship disguised as a transport ship is that it won't be recognized as a warship when it enters port, but I can't imagine many cases where faking the exterior would be useful in actual combat. Compared to warships of the same class, the camouflage becomes dead weight, and the extra equipment it carries reduces its frontal combat power. The combat power of each ship is probably lower than that of the Bentenmaru, let alone the Barbaroosa."

 

"Let's say we found nine suspicious spaceships." Marika looked up at Kenjo. “Did you see their internal data?”

 

The original plan was to identify the warships disguised as civilian ships, then hack into their internal data and check their navigation and combat data. If they could obtain combat information from the spaceships disguised as the three Derrflinger-class ships, it would be evidence that would prove Bentenmaru's innocence.

 

"No." Kenjo shook his head slightly. "Even if they're disguised as civilian ships, they're actual combat ships, and they know that they're specialized in illegal missions. As long as we're using the equipment we brought here and the ready-made network, the best we can do is to scan the surface data."

 

"I thought so." Marika shook her head. If we want to engage in electronic warfare with an electronic warfare ship, we need electronic warfare equipment as well. "The problem is that we have to get their internal information without the enemy noticing."

 

Kenjo looked around the floor of Marx Information Systems with a nonchalant look on his face. "The Bentenmaru’s and our best crews are gathered here, but the enemy is also a professional, and it seems they've put up a lot of elaborate defensive walls. An undetectable attack that can be deflected won't reveal their system structure."

 

"Well then..."

 

"Well, there's no need to be so pessimistic. If we can identify the enemy spaceships, we can get the data on their arrival and departure schedules from control without any problems. We've easily found out that all nine ships will be leaving the day after tomorrow."

 

"The day after tomorrow!" Marika exclaimed. "That means the exercise using the Barbaroosa as a target ship will be held after the day after tomorrow!!"

 

"Yeah. So we want to get the Barbaroosa back safely by then, but the more we look into this matter, the more complicated things are happening behind the scenes."

 

"Captain!" Coorie cried out. Almost simultaneously, Marika and Kenjo turned to Coorie, who was surrounded by 3D images displayed in multiple layers in the center of the electronic desk. "Captain Marika, thank you for the valuable information. Captain Kenjo, please take a look."

 

Coorie flipped the display on the nearest 3D display toward Kenjo. "The report from the Serenity Space Force Intelligence Division isn't very accurate and is probably not reliable enough to talk about, but it's very interesting."

 

"Oh?" Show began counting the number of people in the group that had arrived at the Port Seruna branch of the Harold Lloyd Insurance Association. "Oh my? Not only the main force of Marx Information Systems, but also the ground forces commanders of the Bentenmaru and the Barbaroosa?"

 

"Show!"

 

Marika stepped forward from the group. Show adjusted his flashy sunglasses.

 

"Oh dear Captain Marika, I'm surprised you managed to get out of the Bentenmaru."

 

"I'm not under house arrest." Marika bowed to Show and lowered her voice. "I have an important secret to tell you. Please let me use your reception room."

 

"A secret?" Show tapped on the console to check the reception room's reservation status. Nothing was scheduled. Show stood up from his desk. "It can't be helped if it's a secret. I'll provide it to you."

 

"Are you closing up shop?" Was the first thing the captain asked as he was greeted by Marika at the docking port. "It seems that Marcus Information Systems, which had just opened up after much effort, has been closed since this morning."

 

"Yes, it seems so." Marika nodded as she walked ahead of him down the ship's corridor.

 

"Also, the Cetus constellation aerospace company is urgently purchasing a high-speed transport ship."

 

Even though her back was turned, Marika struggled to keep her expression constant as Captain Hogarth spoke.

 

"Isn't the Cetus constellation aerospace company one of your dummy companies?"

 

"You know a lot about it" Marika answered in as calm a voice as possible. "Yes. the Cetus constellation aerospace company is one of the companies Bentenmaru uses for work."

 

"If you don't mind, could you tell me what you're planning?" Hogarth' tone changed. "Aren't we going to the captain's quarters?"

 

"Eh, I'll take you somewhere different today." Still facing forward, Marika continued speaking. "The high-speed transport ship purchased under the name of the Cetus constellation aerospace company has already departed. According to the flight plan, its destination should be Sea of the Forest Star in the Uzumasa star system, but it will pass through the Fountainbleau airspace before that."

 

"Who's on board?” The captain asked, looking around the corridors of the Bentenmaru, where the number of crew members coming and going had increased dramatically from the previous day.

 

"I’m sure you know, don't you?" It takes a lot of mental strength to ask such a question to someone like Captain Hogarth.

 

"Well, when I looked at the submitted crew list, there were no good records or backgrounds for the captain or any of the other crew members." Even though Hogarth probably knew everything, he said it as if it was surprising. "Just like when you look into the Cetus constellation aerospace company, there's no good records, so maybe they recruited ghosts to be crew members?"

 

Marika answered as calmly as possible. "Due to circumstances, the crew list for everyone from the captain down are all under false names."

 

That means they're lying to the control tower. While thinking about the worst case scenario that might happen and how to deal with it, Marika pulled the lever of the door leading to the bridge.

 

All the stations on the bridge were lit. All the seats except the captain's and observer's seats were occupied by the usual bridge personnel.

 

"Please come in. This is the third time I've shown you the Bentenmaru’s bridge."

 

"I’ve been shown it twice before during my investigation." The captain, who followed Marika in, looked around the bridge, which was operational and all the crew were in their positions. "But this is the first time I've seen a bridge that looks like it's about to set sail at any moment."

 

The captain asked with an amused look on his face. “What exactly are you planning?"

 

Marika turned to Captain Hogarth with a big smile on her face. "We're kidnapping the military police interrogator in charge of the Bentenmaru."

 

"Oh?" Hogarth looked back at Marika and turned his head slightly, looking even more amused.

 

"I will tell you everything that has happened. I will disclose all the information I have. However, as long as we are proceeding through the proper channels, it is likely that all evidence will be destroyed and it will be as if nothing had happened. If we act now, we can still make it in time. Captain, would you like to be kidnapped by the Bentenmaru?"

The flight plan for the Bentenmaru was submitted to Port Seruna Control and was easily accepted, thanks to the endorsement of Captain Peter Hogarth of the Imperial Fleet Military Police. The destination was the Core Star Systems, Joint Staff Headquarters. This was the headquarters that had commanded the Imperial fleet throughout the galaxy during the Eradication War that had wiped out pirates from the Empire.

 

"If we put our destination as the Joint Staff Headquarters, they wouldn't have bothered to follow us and make sure we were really going there." Hogarth, who had confirmed the departure permission from Control in the observer's seat on the Bentenmaru bridge, transferred it to the helmsman's seat, navigator's seat, and captain's seat. "However, the Imperial Fleet will not take action just because a pirate ship that was supposed to have been sent to the Joint Staff Headquarters has gone missing. What are you planning to do from now on?"

 

"What if the pirate ship kidnapped a military police officer?" Marika looked up from the display in the captain's seat showing permission to depart. "Kane, move when it's our turn."

 

The anchorage airspace is wide, but the entry and exit of spaceships is managed by the control center. The order of departure is determined by the order of application, but there are also special fees to raise the order and changes in priority due to the convenience of the Imperial Fleet.

 

"Roger that."

 

The Bentenmaru was already fully prepared for departure. The patrol boat that Captain Hogarth had come on had also undocked and moved to the adjacent airspace.

 

"The Bentenmaru is heading to Fountainbleau, and I'm sure you already know, Captain."

 

"Is that the airspace for a private company's live ammunition training?" Captain Hogarth pulled his seat back from the observer console and turned to face the captain's seat.

 

"Yeah." Marika nodded. "The transport ship purchased under the name of the Cetus constellation aerospace company is still named the Glamorous Grace, but Captain Kenjo and the rest of the Barbaroosa crew have boarded it and should have already arrived at Fountainbleau."

 

"By transport ship?"

 

"Yeah." Marika nodded.

 

"Unarmed?"

 

"They’re seasoned pirates with fully armed ground forces."

 

"The Glamorous Grace left Port Seruna yesterday. According to the flight plan submitted to the control station, its destination was the Uzumasa system via Gallia Gallia's junk belt. However, we have not yet received a report that the Glamorous Grace has arrived at Gallia Gallia."

 

Marika couldn't help but look back at the captain as he spoke smoothly without even looking at his information terminal.

 

"You knew?"

 

Without answering, the captain stared back at Marika who, in the captain's seat, forced a smile.

 

“That makes it easier to explain. An exercise is supposed to take place at Fountainbleau, with the pirate ship Barbaroosa as the target ship. The exercise was planned by military consultant Caligari Inc., with cooperation from shipbuilding companies including Roubaix Mass, and will involve six Derrflinger-class mobile cruisers, with the exercise being conducted under the pretext of testing new weapons. Although it is a private sector exercise, the military industry has rented out the battle airspace for a live-fire exercise, so there will be strict restrictions on entry to the surrounding airspace. The company responsible for security and execution of the exercise is Rakion, a corporate consortium to which all the participating companies belong.”

 

"The Fifth Fleet has been notified of the Rakion's exercises at Fountainbrow." The captain said without even looking at his information terminal. "The need to maintain secrecy when conducting live-fire exercises of experimental weapons is the same for both the military and the civilian sectors."

 

"The six Derrflinger-class ships participating in the exercise do not actually exist." The captain didn't respond, but Marika continued without paying any attention. "The Derrflinger-class mobile cruisers scheduled to participate in the exercise are two belonging to the invasion company Beta Union, two new ships just completed by Roubaix Mass, and the rest are provided by the military rental company Five Axis Services, but of these, only the two built by Roubaix Mass actually exist, and the remaining four are ghost ships that only exist on paper."

 

"The Imperial Fleet does not investigate and check each and every exercise conducted by a private company. Of course, we do not check whether the spaceships scheduled to participate in the exercise actually exist."

 

"According to our investigation, there are more than 20 spaceships related to the Rakion corporate alliance deployed in the exercise airspace."

 

Marika, in the captain's seat, raised one hand while facing Captain Hogarth. As if waiting for a signal, Coorie, in the electronic warfare seat sent, a list to the observer seat.

 

The captain glanced at the new display, then immediately returned his gaze to Marika.

 

"Among them, ten spaceships departed from Port Seruna for the Fountainbleau training airspace. Nine medium-sized high-speed freighters, and one unmanned target ship formerly known as the Barbaroosa."

 

The captain nodded slightly, a sign that he was listening. Marika continued.

 

"Do you need data on the nine freighters?"

 

"Shall I take a look?"

 

Coorie transferred a report created by the Marx Information System to the observer's seat. Images and data of the two high-speed freighters inside Port Seruna and the seven in the outer anchored airspace were displayed in a line-up.

 

"These nine vessels are operated by different companies, and the ages and history of the vessels vary. However, all of the companies belong to or are affiliated with Rakion, and recently several vessels have been operating together with similar flight plans."

 

The captain quickly switched between images of freighters superimposed on the observer seat's display. "So?"

 

"We believe these nine freighters are the Derrflinger-class ships that attacked the Maria Forte in the Tau system."

 

"Are you saying the mobile cruisers are disguised as freighters?"

 

The captain asked, his eyes still on the display. Marika answered.

 

"That's right. These nine freighters are equipped with engines that are too large even for high-speed ships, and there is enough space inside for electronic armaments and ship-mounted weapons."

 

"For disguised freighters, they seem to be carrying a fair amount of cargo?" The captain said, switching to the appropriate display.

 

"You can falsify the payload numbers as much as you want. No one cares if you're carrying less than the actual amount, as long as the duties and fees are paid. Besides, the cargo is sent and received by Rakion's affiliates."

 

"You're saying that their entire corporate alliance is helping to disguise the freighters?"

 

"It's not just cargo shipments that are being disguised. The Derrflinger class isn't the only one that can disguise itself as a freighter. If we get the necessary data, even the Bentenmaru can disguise itself as another spaceship."

 

Marika stared at the captain in the observer's seat, who looked up at the captain's seat.

 

"With the right data, a freighter could disguise itself as either an Imperial fleet cruiser or a Rebel battleship."

 

"Why would an Imperial corporate alliance do something like that?"

 

The captain asked calmly, with no sign of surprise. Marika answered.

 

"To start a war wherever and however they want."

 

A quiet chime rang out on the bridge.

 

Hyakume reported “port Seruna control has informed the Bentenmaru that it’s our turn to leave port."

 

"The Bentenmaru will now proceed to the Fountainbleau training airspace to uncover the true identity of the nine cargo ships that are supposed to be conducting training exercises with the Barbaroosa as the target ship. We've got a front-row seat for Captain Peter Hogarth of the military police. Would you like to join us?"

 

"What choice does a kidnapped military police officer have?" Grinning, the captain raised both hands. “No matter where I’m taken or what I’m shown, there's no way I can resist."

 

"You idiot."

 

Ignoring Hyakume's mutterings, Marika smiled.

 

"Well, let's go. Bentenmaru, launch!"

 

"The enemy has nine disguised battleships, four research and observation ships, and even if we can ignore the supply and maintenance fleet, it seems that there is also an escort fleet from a military company affiliated with Rakion, isn't there?"

 

On the bridge of the Bentenmaru, which was traveling faster than light, the captain asked Marika a question. Marika turned to the captain in the observer seat. The Bentenmaru still had no reliable information about the escort fleet that would be deployed to the Fountainbleau training airspace to maintain secrecy.

 

"Let me ask again, what forces do you have?"

 

"There are only two ships, the Bentenmaru, and the Glamorous Grace which is ahead of us with the crew of the Barbaroosa aboard." Marika answered honestly. "If we can get the Barbaroosa, which has been converted into a target ship, back into our hands, our fighting power will increase significantly."

 

"Anything else?"

 

"We have a capable captain from the Imperial Fleet's Military Police with us."

 

Marika managed to say, trying to hold back from bursting out laughing. The captain looked troubled and averted his eyes from Marika.

 

"No matter how you look at it, isn't there just too much of a difference in military strength? If we believe the Bentenmaru’s previous battle data, the fighting power of the enemy ships disguised as Derrflinger-class ships is twice that of the Bentenmaru, and if there are multiple of them, the difference in military strength becomes exponential."

 

"If we know that the enemy can disguise their ship type, there are plenty of ways to fight them." Marika said, wondering how persuasive her words, as the youngest person on the bridge, would be to the military police captain.

 

"The enemy must think that this battle is a scenario-based exercise. We were particularly careful about counterintelligence this time, so they probably don't realize that outside forces are planning to intervene."

 

"Have you gotten the drill scenario?"

 

He asked in a leisurely voice, and this time Marika looked away.

 

"Unfortunately, we haven't gotten a detailed schedule, let alone a complete scenario." Marika said, frantically making a list in her head of the points she needed to make. "If the enemy notices this operation and cancels the planned exercise, we will lose. We kept our information gathering to a minimum so as not to alert the enemy."

 

"Is that the result of Marx Information System's activities in Port Seruna?"

 

"Yes." Marika nodded.

 

"I didn't listen to anything because I thought it would be bad if I accidentally overheard a report and you found out about it, but our skilled people investigated various places together with the staff of the Barbaroosa. If they noticed that we’re setting up for electronic warfare, they can counter it, so the key to success is how well you can set it up without being noticed."

 

"I see." The captain looked around the bridge of the Bentenmaru, then turned his attention back to Marika in the captain's seat. "There's a whole bunch of wizards here who could stir things up if they wanted to, so I thought they were being pretty quiet, but was that intentional?"

 

Marika glanced over at Hyakume and Coorie. Both of the were working behind the scenes as usual on the bridge, as they sailed at FTL speeds.

 

"So you were watching after all." Marika turned her eyes back to the captain. "So, if we've been able to get along peacefully up to this point, does that mean that this exercise being organised by the Rakion corporate alliance will go ahead as originally planned?"

 

"The Imperial Fleet is not concerned with private companies' exercises, except for the schedule." The captain answered in his usual tone. "It would be a different story if they were to carry out large-scale environmental destruction like shattering a star as part of a new weapon test, but as long as it is within the scope of corporate activities, we have a policy of not wanting to be unnecessarily involved in corporate secrets, so we will not be involved in the content of the exercise."

 

"According to the information we have obtained, the exercise at Fountainbleau is a test of a combat system being developed by a company affiliated with Rakion." Marika knew that no matter how much she persisted with the captain, she would not get much information. She continued her story. "I expect that they will use the Barbaroosa as a target ship and try various patterns with an electronic warfare ship that can be disguised as a battleship or cruiser."

 

As she explained, Marika carefully tried to read the captain's expression. If her understanding was different from the information the captain had, she might be able to get some hints.

 

"If it's an exercise, and an experiment with nine dummy ships moving in tandem, the scenario should be much slower than a real battle. The budget for an exercise involving so many spaceships and renting out a large training airspace would be quite large."

 

"Unfortunately, I don't know much about what kind of exercises private companies are conducting." The captain scratched his shaggy head. "When the Imperial Fleet hires you pirates or company fleets as hypothetical enemies, isn't it a speedy battle that's just like a real battle?"

 

"Because exercises with the Imperial Fleet are premised on real combat." Marika didn't know how much she should explain to the captain in front of her. It's not surprising that fleet battles are not the specialty of the military police. "If it is an experimental vessel, and especially if it is against a target vessel, the exercise will be conducted while data is collected by surrounding observation ships, so I think the progress will be slower than a live-fire exercise that assumes actual combat. In fact, it seems that tests of newly developed combat ships are conducted slowly on a schedule far from that of actual combat."

 

Marika has never seen a test flight of a newly built ship. It's all second-hand information from the crew.

 

"However, there will be four observation ships in the exercise airspace, and an escort fleet will also be deployed." The captain leisurely switched between displays. "Leaving aside the Bentenmaru, which is good at stealth, how in the world are the crew of the Barbaroosa, who are using a transport ship without electronic weapons, planning to get into the field?"

 

"During an exercise, they will need supplies."

 

The supply schedules of the ships participating in the exercise at Fountainbleau are not yet known.

 

"The tests will simulate various situations by loading live ammunition onto the target ship. The data from each experiment will be collected by the observation ship, but among the supplies procured by the transport bound for Fountainbleau were old missiles intended for the Barbaroosa."

 

The supplies for the training fleet were procured at a rural relay station with a much lower level of security than Port Seruna. In a daunting investigation into where and what a transport bound for Fountainbleau would be loading from anywhere in the galaxy, the electronic warfare staff of the Barbaroosa found an order for old-fashioned, mothership-guided missiles that are not installed on modern combat ships.

 

"I think they plan to make the most of the pirate ship they got for a not-so-cheap price while they can. And if they want to carry out a number of experiments, they'll need to resupply the target ship."

 

"...Are they planning to use the Glamorous Grace to replace the Barbaroosa’s supply ship?"

 

"I haven't heard any detailed plans." Marika said honestly. Because there was little information that could be confirmed in advance, Captain Kenjo had only come up with a very vague operational plan to ‘use a cargo ship as a decoy to retrieve the Barbaroosa.’

 

"But if we leave the Barbaroosa in the enemy's hands as a target ship, the enemy's fighting power will increase. Conversely, the Barbaroosa in the enemy's hands will be our strongest asset."

 

"...Can you control the Barbaroosa from the outside?"

 

"Captain Kenjo said he could." Marika nodded.

 

"The Barbaroosa is a spaceship that has been an active pirate for over a hundred years since it first received its pirate license. It's not an easy spaceship to turn into an unmanned target ship with just a few days of refitting."

 

"Well, that means..." Captain Hogarth turned his observer seat to the front of the bridge, aligning with the Bentenmaru’s movement, with a serious look on his face. "Are you really planning to use just one old pirate ship to sneak into an airspace where a private company is conducting training exercises with its latest experimental battleships, and even worse, to use it to recapture a spaceship that has fallen into enemy hands as a target ship, and to defeat the far superior experimental fleet?"

 

"We don't have to win." Marika said with relief. "If we can just steal the combat data that shows that the experimental fleet in the exercise can disguise itself as multiple ships, there may be no need for direct combat."

 

"Are you planning to take on an experimental fleet whose combat power has not yet been accurately calculated, including spaceships that you haven't even gotten any information on yet and that are being used as unmanned target ships, and transport ships whose status is unknown?"

 

Marika answered with a smile. "Yes, probably."

 

The captain let out an exaggerated sigh. "This is even more outrageous than I'd heard. You're even worse than Captain Gonzaemon."

 

The bridge crew, who had been concentrating on their duties and pretending to be expressionless, now focused their attention on the observer's seat. With a smile plastered on her face, Marika asked in a strained voice. "…Do you know my father... the previous captain of the Bentenmaru, Kato Gonzaemon?"

 

"I just looked at the old records when I was assigned to this case." The captain replied, looking around at the bridge crew with interest. "There are so many unbelievable records left, and I was shocked that such carelessness in reports not related to the Imperial Fleet were allowed to pass without question, but it seems that they weren’t so far-fetched after all."

 

Marika glanced around at the bridge crew. She had hardly heard anything about her father's time in active duty.

 

Kane, at the helm, turned to face the front. "We'll touch down soon. Returning to normal space."

 

"Just in case, we’ll be on high alert."

 

The touchdown point is Fountainbleau, but it should be far away from the training fleet. Touching down near a fleet with sensitive observation ships would mean their spatial tremors would be detected.

 

"It shouldn't be a sudden surprise, but be as careful as possible."

 

Captain Hogarth, who was fiddling with the control panel in the observer's seat with an indifferent look on his face, suddenly spoke up. "Wait a moment, where's this touchdown point!?"

 

"Our destination is already in enemy territory." With a composed look on her face, Marika sat back in the captain's seat. "There might be a bit of shaking."

 

"Aren't these coordinates right next to a red giant?" The captain checked the numbers several times, as if looking for an error in the data in front of him. "There's no way we could touch down so close to such a huge star over such a long distance!!"

 

The accuracy of a FTL jump is governed by the conditions in normal space. For an accurate jump, takeoff and touchdown must be performed in stable space as far away as possible from celestial bodies that are sources of gravity or energy radiation.

 

The touchdown point of the Bentenmaru was right next to a red giant star that was near the end of its life and had the strongest gravity of all the star systems in Fountainbleau. If the displayed numbers were true, the touchdown point was far below the safety standards for FTL jumps set by the Imperial Fleet.

 

"Since it's a long-distance jump, if we don't get this close to the star to touch down, there's a risk that the enemy, who is expanding their observation network, will detect us." Mostly for the sake of appearances, Marika pulled out her seat belt from the backrest of the captain's seat. "It's far from the star system that Rakion designated as the assembly point for the exercise, so I don't think we’ll will be found unless they have very sensitive observation ships concentrated there."

 

"What about the jump error?" Captain Hogarth asked in a panicked voice. "If the touchdown point is set so close to the surface of the star, there is a possibility that we’ll appear inside the star!"

 

"It's okay, it should just be a little hot."

 

Even though it is the surface of a star, its substance is plasma, not solid like a rocky planet.

 

"Considering our speed at touchdown, it would be almost like a solid object!"

 

If one were to enter at interplanetary speeds, even plasma would offer enormous resistance.

 

"Don't worry." It was Kane, at the wheel, who called out. "Trust a pirate's map and skill."

 

The Bentenmaru touched down in normal space.

 

 

The longer the distance, the more powerful the energy required for a FTL jump. The more energy put into the jump, the greater the impact on the surrounding space. The Bentenmaru returned to Fountainbleau's normal space, keeping as far away as possible from the expected training fleet.

 

Fountainbleau is not the name of a single star system. It is the name of a vast space that is undeveloped and uninhabited by intelligent life.

 

The training space set up at Fountainbleau is over a dozen light years across, including several star systems and dark clouds.

 

There are no inhabited planets, relay stations, or resource-rich planets with mines. Unmanned observation ships are placed at regular intervals to report the spatial situation within the airspace to the management company, but no other activities are carried out.

 

The airspace is not in the galactic arm where stars are densely distributed, but in the area called the Dark Gulf between the Orion and the Perseus arms, where no civilization has arisen and there are few stars suitable for life to survive, so it has remained in a primitive state with little development.

 

In space, there are actually only a limited number of situations in which combat can occur. Life depends on stars, and even if it isn't on the surface of a planet, an environment for life must be created and maintained in space cities, relay stations, space colonies, or artificial planets.

 

All battles are fought by the will of both sides, which could be to secure or seize star systems, planets, or life and resources.

 

The fighting power of each side is maintained as much as possible. In reality, it is rare for large fleets to clash in interstellar space for the sole purpose of crushing each other's fighting power to the point of being completely satisfied.

 

The exercises are conducted to simulate situations where a battle is likely to occur. Most battles are not fought in interstellar space far from the home planet, but in star systems close to the home planet.

 

The airspace where the exercises were scheduled was an exoplanetary system centered on a Spectral F-type star, the most active star in Fountainbleau. Marika asked quietly.

 

"Do you think we’ve been found out?"

 

Even though they are fading as stars, red giants still radiate enormous heat in the immediate vicinity. The Bentenmaru operated its thermal protection system at full power and remained as close to the star's surface as it could withstand.

 

"If everything went according to plan, the training fleet should be deployed in the outer planetary system of LF525." Luca answered from the navigator's seat. "The touchdown point was exactly as planned, on the opposite side of the red giant from LF525. With such a long jump, it's possible that background fluctuations could have been detected by focusing on the red giant, but unless a dedicated research vessel is sent out, there's no way to know what happened."

 

"Even if it was to dazzle the enemy, touching down so close to a star..." Captain Hogarth asked a question while tapping on the control panel in the observer's seat at a much faster pace than before. "Are the Bentenmaru's voyages always like this?"

 

"Yeah, well." Not knowing how to respond, Marika gave an ambiguous smile. “Maybe it's peaceful this time because we haven't started actual combat yet?”

 

"All right, surrounding conditions confirmed!" Hyakume passed the observation data to the captain's seat. "Of course, we can't see through the red giant star, but as far as our sensors can see, we can't see any spaceships or unmanned observation vehicles. It's okay to move."

 

"If we use radar, we'll give away our location." Coorie, in the electronic warfare seat, continues to check the radar screen, which is set to receive only.

 

"Unless we use FTL radar, I don't think we'll be noticed right away."

 

"What's the situation around LF525?" Though she thought they probably couldn't see the neighboring star system, Marika asked just to be sure. "Can you see the training fleet?"

 

"I can't see it." Hyakume answered simply. "But data has arrived."

 

The FTL line, which was opened for just a moment, received a data packet that was waiting in hyperspace, addressed to the Bentenmaru.

 

"The latest information from the Glamorous Grace, which is ahead of us, with a timestamp of 10 minutes ago."

 

"Is it real?" Marika asked just to be sure. Even on a FTL line, there are many ways to disguise data.

 

"I think so." Hyakume started to decompress the densely compressed data received. "This is video data. Do you want to see it?"

 

"Please."

 

Hyakume started playing the video data on the bridge's main screen. A bust shot of Chiaki Kurihara in work clothes was projected on her bridge, which was much larger and bleaker than the Bentenmaru's.

 

"This is the Glamorous Grace, current location LF525, inside the second asteroid belt." Chiaki looked up from the notebook in her hand, which seemed to hold the message she was supposed to be conveying, to a camera that seemed to be used as a communication monitor.

 

"It's Chiaki." Marika said happily.

 

"I'm the messenger to prove that this communication is coming from us. Please see the enclosed data for the information we have obtained so far. The Glamorous Grace is currently under radio silence, and we have found some holes in the monitoring of the communication lines of the Rakion training fleet, but since they are so obvious, we are not using them as we think they are probably traps to lure industrial espionage from other companies. Please ignore them as well. We will only receive regular contact. Please check the data for the communication code and time. We will be moving soon."

 

After reading the message, Chiaki looked into the camera with a worried look on her face. "I realized after coming here that this training is nerve-wrackingly strict. Even the old men are nervous. Be careful."

 

"That's all." Hyakume announced the end of the video data. "The rest is the position and progress of the training fleet, as captured by the Barbaroosa, or now the Glamorous Grace, with their makeshift observation equipment."

 

Hyakume explained as he scrolled the decompressed data on the display. "It's amazing how much data they can gather with just the standard sensors and observation equipment on a simple transport ship."

 

"They’re a battleship." Marika looked at the data transferred to the captain's seat. "They've done a lot more direct combat than we have, and still managed to survive. Where is the second asteroid belt where Glamorous Grace is located?"

 

"LF525 has four asteroid belts in its orbit." Luca projected a diagram of the star system with LF525 at its center on the main screen. "It's too new to be a ring from a protostar ring, so something probably caused its formation. "

 

"Something caused it..."

 

"This is the training airspace." Luca said in a bored tone.

 

"Did they blow up a planet that was there originally, or did they target a planet brought from somewhere? Looking at the composition of the asteroids in the catalog, not all of them are from this star system, so it seems there are not only asteroids from other star systems, but also scraps from target ships and fragments of planet ships."

 

"I always thought that training airspace was a dangerous place, but I guess that's just how rough it is."

 

Marika checked the conditions of the four asteroid belts that exist along with the six planets of LF525. According to the Glamorous Grace's observations and the official information in the catalog, the second innermost asteroid belt is the densest.

 

"Isn't it pretty dense?"

 

Asteroid belts in star systems that have been formed for many years do not become very dense because they are pulled apart by planets with large gravitational forces. However, even when viewed on a star chart, LF525’s asteroid belt appears to be much denser than would be expected.

 

"I'm surprised the asteroid belt is stable."

 

"It's not stable." Luca answered.

 

"The thickness of the asteroid belt is too large for LF525. If it were to stabilize as a ring, it would have to be thinner. At this thickness, it will probably become a planet in a few million years."

 

"Millions of years..."

 

That's only a short time for a star.

 

"Um..." Marika called up the information about LF525’s asteroid belt on the star chart.

 

"Are they all catalogued?"

 

"Because it's set as a training airspace, it's a military-level restricted airspace, so the catalog only lists large rocks with a major axis of over 500 meters and a mass of over 10 million tons." Luca said, bringing up a list with far more blanks than a normal star chart on the main screen.

 

"But there's no way that a private company like this, which conducts experiments and exercises with such a meticulous secrecy, would use only star charts from the official catalog to create a scenario for their exercises. I don't think they're tracking even the smallest pieces of debris, such as grains of sand, by assigning numbers to them, but even the Bentenmaru can observe rocks that are meter sized. There's no way that people who use dedicated observation ships wouldn't know about this."

 

"It's troublesome when the map they have is more detailed than ours."

 

Marika zoomed in on the star chart, which was densely packed with asteroids orbiting around LF525. Even though only large and heavy asteroids are shown on the star chart, the display felt crowded just by looking at it.

 

The asteroid belt that surrounds the spectral F-type star LF525 in a ring shape at a great distance has places where the density is abnormally high and low.

 

Normally, even if all the pieces of an asteroid belt in a star system were collected, they would only make a small planet. but the mass of the LF525 star system is so large that if we add up all the asteroids in the second asteroid belt, it could make several rocky planets with enough gravity to have atmospheres and oceans.

 

"The main training area between the second asteroid belt and the orbit of the third planet?" Marika looked at the training records in the data sent by the Glamorous Grace. She enlarged the star system chart centered on LF525 and overlaid it with the training records.

 

LF525 has a modest asteroid belt at its innermost region, like a ring of stars. It seems that what was once the first planet broke up. Outside of that are the current first and second planets, the second asteroid belt, and the third planet. Only the first three planets are rocky planets, the fourth planet is a gas giant planet with a thick atmosphere as its main component, and the next planet, the fifth, is also quite large, though not as large as the fourth, and all of them have rings.

 

Further outside of that is the thin-density third asteroid belt, and even further outside is the rockiest planet, the sixth, which would have been counted as an asteroid if it were a little smaller, and the fourth asteroid belt at the very outside.

 

Because it is a star system where even the main star is only referred to by its catalogue designation, the six planets are only given catalogue listings. The asteroids in the asteroid belt, the largest of which can reach sizes of several hundred kilometers, are only given listings with suffixes.

 

"Just to be sure," the captain stopped tapping on the control panel in the observer's seat, having apparently finished gathering all the information "will the Bentenmaru also jump to LF525?"

 

Even though it's a neighboring star system, the distance from their current position to the LF525 system is measured in light years.

 

"Yeah," Marika answered "otherwise we won't make it in time."

 

"It can’t be helped." Shaking his head slightly, the captain tapped on the control panel. "The latest edition of the Fountainbleau star chart, from the Fifth Fleet Command."

 

"The latest edition?!" Luca let out a rare high-pitched voice. A large data container was delivered from the observer's seat to the captain's seat.

 

One of the missions of the Imperial Fleet is the creation of star charts.

 

In order to operate a fleet, it is necessary to accurately grasp the operational airspace in which a large number of ships are deployed. And it's impossible to predict when and where a battle will break out. For that reason, the Imperial Fleet is required to have the most accurate star charts.

 

Any inhabited star system must be accurately charted by its government. The Galactic Empire shares charts with star systems under its control, but for those it does not, the Imperial fleet surveys and charts them.

 

"Check it out." Before opening it herself, Marika passed the data that had been passed around to the captain's seat to Hyakume, Luca, and Coorie. "Why are you providing us with the Imperial Fleet's star chart?"

 

Marika looked at the captain's profile. Star charts are assets that should be shared by those who navigate the vast universe. However, an accurate star chart that reflects the latest information is useful battle information in itself.

 

"The data was submitted by Marguerite Services, which manages Fountainbleau." The captain waved his hand nonchalantly. "It's probably a little more detailed than the official star charts, but probably not as accurate as the ones used by the training fleet."

 

"Is it okay for the Imperial Fleet to make it public?"

 

Marika asked again. The captain answered without looking at Marika.

 

"We didn't make it public without limit. We only provided some of the information that we thought was necessary to ensure safe navigation. Part of the work of the Galactic Imperial Fleet is ensuring safe navigation."

 

"...Amazing." Luca groaned as she quickly expanded the star chart on the navigation display in front of her. "Marguerite Service seems to have avoided the trouble of lowering the accuracy of the information they provide to the Imperial fleet. It's raw data, so it needs to be processed before it can be used as a star chart, but it's plotted down to a few meters."

 

"Thank you for providing us with this valuable information."

 

Marika bowed to the captain's profile. The captain's face contorted slightly and he shook his head.

 

"No, I’m just worried about my life. We’re going to jump in close proximity to LF525, aren’t we?”

 

"Yeah, otherwise they'll find out that an outsider has infiltrated the training fleet, which even has a research ship deployed."

 

"Survival is one of the fleet's most important missions."

 

"Thank you. With this, our chances of returning from Fountainbleau alive have improved considerably."

 

"I don't know where you pulled this out of." Hyakume looked back at the captain's seat after seeing the data, which had blank fields such as the last proofreading date and the location of the original data, which would have been filled in on a star chart provided by the Imperial Fleet. "The fact that it’s raw data means the Imperial Fleet didn't check the submitted star chart data."

 

"I'm sorry, but the Imperial Fleet is the largest government office in the Empire."

 

"Does it take a long time to produce a star chart?"

 

It was Luca who answered Marika's question. "If you're okay with machine processing, it'll be done quickly. After that, you have to check if it's actually usable before you can trust it."

 

"Let's check it while we use it. Once it's processed into the star chart, send it to Chiaki in the next scheduled contact."

 

Marika checked the scheduled contact information included in the FTL communication from the Glamorous Grace. Although there is little risk of FTL communication being intercepted, as it is transmitted through hyperspace, it is easy to observe associated phenomena. The Glamorous Grace, hiding in the second asteroid belt of LF525, set the timing of sending and receiving FTL communication to just a few seconds every few hours to minimize the risk.

 

"Then, we will analyze the information from Chiaki and decide when and how to jump there. The training has already started, right?"

 

"Yes." Hyakume answered and displayed the solved battle data on the main screen in the captain's seat. "The observation data from the Glamorous Grace already contains data from two exercises. One of them is an attack exercise by three Derrflinger-class ships, and the other is an electronic warfare exercise simulating fortress warfare by two Locutus-class electronic warfare ships."

 

"Locutus-class electronic warfare ships?"

 

Marika repeated the name of the class she hadn't heard before. Coorie brought up the image of the ship from the catalog on the display.

 

"It's a new type of electronic warfare ship. It's the same model as the Jabberwocky, the flagship of the Hugh & Dolittle interstellar transport escort fleet."

 

"Jenny's family's battleship..." Marika remembered and immediately gave her next command. "If the ships are that big, it'll be easy to find out where they all are. Check the current location of the Locutus-class ships now!"

 

"You don't have to tell me, I'm already doing it." Coorie displayed a list of the current locations of the Locutus-class electronic battleships from the latest data of all the warships in the Empire that she had checked before the jump. "There are currently 28 Locutus-class ships in operational status, six belonging to civilian escort fleets, eight belonging to star systems’ military and defense forces, and seven each in the Imperial Second Fleet and Third Fleets!"

 

Coorie plotted the current locations of the Locutus-class electronic battleships on a star map that showed the entire galaxy.

 

"The data was updated before Bentenmaru's jump, so there is a slight time lag and it can't be said to be the latest information, but at the very least, there is not a single Locutus-class electronic battleship within a 100 light year radius of Fountainbleau!”

 

"What do you think, Captain?"

 

Marika asked the Captain, who was looking at a chart of the galaxy with a disinterested look on his face.

 

“Should we update this with the latest information on the current location of the Locutus-class ships here?”

 

"You want to keep the use of FTL communications to a minimum, don't you?" The Captain looked down at the display in the observer's seat. He opened the second battle information sent from the Glamorous Grace and displayed it. "As I said before, this is merely electronic information. It is not up to me to decide whether this combat information is real or is merely data created by electronic means."

 

"The only vessels that were reported to the Fifth Fleet as participating in the Fountainbleau exercise were the Derrflinger class." Marika said, carefully observing the captain's expression. "If this combat information is true, then the exercise fleet falsified its report to the Fifth Fleet."

 

"It's possible that participation of the Locutus-class electronic battleships was reported later. There are mistakes that can be easily corrected." The captain answered nonchalantly. "If it's not true, we have to consider the possibility that the Glamorous Grace created fictitious battle information and sent it to the Bentenmaru."

 

"Well, then, we have to go to LF525 and see the camouflage ship training right before our eyes."

 

The captain turned his attention to Marika, who had spoken what seemed to be a prepared remark. He looked at the battle information in front of him and pointed in the direction the spaceship was heading.

 

"Are you really going?"

 

"That’s been the plan from the beginning." Marika sat back in the captain's seat. “The captain was so kind as to cooperate with me in being kidnapped, so he will have to stay with us until the end.”

 

"It's not my job to take on dangerous situations." Captain Hogarth scratched his shaggy head with a troubled look on his face. "Well, I don't think you'll listen very much since I've been kidnapped, but please be as gentle as possible."

 

"I'll try my best."

 

Two hours later, Bentenmaru sent the star chart data of LF525, which had been processed and was ready for use, in a timed scheduled call to the Glamorous Grace. Their reply quickly came back to the Bentenmaru.

 

The plan to recapture the Barbaroosa, which had been prepared as a rough plan in the first call, was now written in considerable detail and specificity with the star chart from the Bentenmaru.

 

"As always, her planning skills are monstrous." Hyakume spoke up after seeing the timestamp of the operation plan they had sent. "Just ten minutes after our scheduled contact, the first officer revised her plan based on the star chart we sent them."

 

"Nora?"

 

Marika asked, and Coorie answered.

 

"Most of the Barbaroosa's operations are the work of first officer Nora. Captain Kenjo is an expert in actual battle command, and apparently leaves the task of carrying out detailed operations to the first officer."

 

"Oh, well, it does seem that way." Marika showed Captain Hogarth the operation manual sent by the Glamorous Grace. "What do you think?"

 

"I'm sorry, but I'm not an expert in anti-ship combat, let alone planning such operations." The captain made a bowing gesture with one hand.

 

"It's a plan to recover the target ship during live ammunition training." There's no need for a military police officer to be an expert on anti-ship combat in space, Marika explained, wondering how much she could trust the captain, who was pretending to be an amateur. "The exercise is supposed to involve a long-distance bombardment of a target by a mobile cruiser. The target is QD0443, the Barbaroosa. The location is between the second asteroid belt and the third planet’s orbit, and the participating ships are four Derrflinger-class ships."

 

Marika plotted the current positions of the first four Derrflinger-class ships of the exercise and the distant target ship QD0443 on LF525’s star chart.

 

"The target ship is semi-autonomous and controlled by the exercise fleet. The scenario is that they are under strong electronic interference, so the four Derrflinger-class ships will launch long-range bombardment at the fleeing Barbaroosa while engaging in electronic warfare."

 

"That's quite a long-range artillery battle." The captain commented after seeing the initial arrangement. "Is it possible to hit something at such a long distance?"

 

"Only if it’s in the catalog." Marika replied.

 

"If the target is stationary, even a cruiser class ship can target it from about the radius of a planet's orbit. However, in reality, energy beams cannot exceed the speed of light, so if the target is going to be hit a few minutes later, the enemy can easily escape unless you accurately predict its future position."

 

"The target ship will escape while scattering electronic jamming and chaff as planned, and the pursuers will pursue and fire long-range naval gunfire."

 

Captain Hogarth looked up at the captain's seat after reading only the general flow of the exercise scenario. “So how does Captain Kenjo plan to get the Barbaroosa back?”

 

"By boarding the Barbaroosa during the exercise."

 

Marika showed the movements of the Glamorous Grace, which were added later to the exercise scenario, superimposed on the 3D display. The captain grimaced obviously.

 

"Is that even possible? Aren't target ships in training being targeted by all the other ships?"

 

"Normally, I don't think that's possible." Marika tried to track the planned trajectory of the unmanned target ship on the display. "The Barbaroosa is an old light battleship, and even though it's unmanned, it will be doing combat maneuvers, so it'll be hard for a transport ship like the Glamorous Grace, no matter how fast it is, to keep up."

 

"And yet, you're going to do it?"

 

"Fortunately, the target ship will be far away from the main force at the start of the exercise." Marika rewound the fleet's arrangement to the start of the exercise scenario. "The observation ship that records the entire exercise will also be located at the farthest distance. If we can launch the attack at this timing and falsify the latest status of the Barbaroosa, the Glamorous Grace will be able to come alongside the Barbaroosa and regain control without being detected by the approaching mobile cruiser fleet."

 

As usual, Marika was looking at the opportunistic operation scenario and explaining it, thinking about the worst-case scenario. If the Glamorous Grace becomes the target of the cruiser fleet, the crew must be safely rescued.

 

"How are we going to deceive the observation ship and the attacking cruisers about the target ship's status?"

 

Marika answered with a smile when the captain asked. "Of course, the Bentenmaru will launch an electronic attack on the exercise fleet from the site. How's that, Coorie? Are you sure we can do it?"

 

"It's a good thing that the attacker's disguise is of the Derrflinger class." Coorie answered, running her hands over the control panel. "However, the conditions for setting the combat power are only for the Derrflinger class, and we must assume that the electronic warfare level, including camouflage, is something else. At the very least, it would be bad if the observation ship watching the exercise found them before they regained control of the Barbaroosa."

 

"When is the right timing?"

 

"If we believe the latest scenario from the Glamorous Grace, we need to move now." Coorie said, tapping the control panel with a quick touch. "In their initial communication, the Glamorous Grace said that it would be moving soon. The exercise starts with a super long-range artillery battle, so the success rate of the operation will be higher at the beginning when the ships are far apart."

 

"Can we move?"

 

"The data from the Imperial fleet allows for precision jumps." Luca answered leisurely. "We will get as close to LF525 as possible and touch down on the opposite side of the training airspace so that the pre-jump phenomenon is not noticed by the training fleet, but this time it's a short distance and the data is perfect, so unless we're really unlucky we'll be able to touch down right next to LF525." Luca drew the planned trajectory on the main screen.

 

"Are we going to land right next to a star again?"

 

The captain let out a voice of disgust, and Marika laughed.

 

"Shall I lend you a space suit?"

 

"No thanks. Unless you’re going to to release the pressurized atmosphere inside the ship to endure the high temperatures."

 

"To reduce the possibility of being noticed by the training fleet's observation ships as much as possible, we will remain directly above LF525 for a while after touchdown." Marika frowned as she saw Luca's planned trajectory. "Is that okay? Aren't spectral F type stars hotter than Tau?"

 

Tau is a spectral G type yellow star. LF525 is classified as a spectral F type yellow-white star, which is hotter than Tau.

 

"Its surface temperature is about 1000 degrees higher than Tau." Coorie answered simply. "Don't worry, there's not much difference in heat between 5000 and 6000 degrees."

 

"A 20% difference would be a big difference! Is that okay?"

 

"Of course, it last for last long." Kane answered while checking the flight plan that had been transferred to the helm. "Since we don't know where flares will come from, we have to just go with the flow and avoid them, and considering that we will be using the antennas later, we can't expose them to high temperatures, so we will fly over the surface of the star with all the antennas retracted."

 

The planned touchdown point is on the back side of LF525 as seen from the training airspace, where they will stick to the surface of the star, make half an orbit, then leave and head to the training airspace. The closer the touchdown point is to the star, which is a source of high gravity and high energy radiation, the easier it is to camouflage the pre-jump phenomenon, and the closer they approach to the training airspace with the star on their back, the lower the chance of being discovered.

 

The airspace allocated for the training scenario was set along the ecliptic of LF525, that is, the planetary orbital plane. The observation ships are placed at wide intervals to obtain multi-dimensional data, but they can also hide in the shadow of asteroids until they leave the second asteroid belt.

 

"That's crazy." After a glance at the planned orbit, the captain leaned back deeply into his observer seat.

 

"Just to be sure, what would happen if the Bentenmaru's touchdown at LF525 was detected by the training fleet, or if it was discovered while approaching?"

 

"In that case, unless the training is canceled, I think the Glamorous Grace will probably move to recapture the Barbaroosa without the Bentenmaru's protection."

 

"No, that's not what I want to ask." The captain lightly pressed his temples. "If we're late, Captain Kenjo might start on his own. Sandaime, are the engines OK?"

 

"We have plenty of power! I'm worried about what will happen after we jump so close to a spectrum F-type, but if we use a lot of coolant, it should be fine."

 

"Luca?"

 

"The jump settings are complete. We plan to adjust the trajectory after touchdown on-site."

 

"Schnitzer?"

 

"We’re good to go. However, if we start fighting right after touchdown, this operation will fail at that point."

 

"Coorie?"

 

"I'll finish setting up the electronic warfare after touchdown, before we leave the star." Coorie said, moving both hands quickly. "We can't expand the antenna directly above the star anyway, so there's I’m not needed."

 

"Hyakume?"

 

"Same here." Hyakume said, quickly setting up the radar and sensors. "We can't open sensors directly above the star, and we can only use radar to a minimum extent, considering the possibility of being found by an observation ship. Just jump without worrying."

 

"Any other areas that could be problematic?"

 

Since they were touching down directly above a red giant, it's not surprising that problems could arise anywhere. Marika checked the display in the captain's seat to make sure that there were no problems with the Bentenmaru that required immediate attention.

 

"So, Captain, are you sure?"

 

"Go ahead. The captain waved his hand casually. "Nothing I say will stop you now."

 

"Yes, we’re not stopping now. Bentenmaru, let's go."

 

 

As soon as they returned to normal space, the bridge alarms started ringing all at once.

 

"We're in combat, we can postpone checking the ship!" Marika shouted from the captain's seat. "Is there anything around the spaceship that looks dangerous?"

 

"Our sensor don’t detect any unidentified objects flying around us!" Hyakume answered while quickly reviewing the data.

 

"As long as the main thrusters work, there's no problem!" Sandaime announced while busily moving his hands. “There are a lot of other problems, but don’t worry, I’ll handle it!"

 

"I'll leave it to you. We'll maintain the current altitude, stick to the surface of the star, and exit on the other side!!"

 

Even with the optical sensor's sensitivity reduced to its lowest setting and using all available filters on the monitor camera, the view remained completely white. Kane switched the optical observation data to color temperature display. "External temperature: 6,250 Kelvin! A flare of unprecedented magnitude is erupting!"

 

"Low temperature on the port side!" Luca announced, still wearing the head-mounted display. "Elevation angle minus four, hurry!"

 

"I can see it!"

 

In the worst flight conditions, directly above the star, the Bentenmaru began its charge while controlling the ship's attitude with minimal maneuvers.

 

"Coolant spraying started"

 

Schnitzer reported. Coorie added.

 

"It won't last long anyway. Even if the hull survives, the Bentenmaru will be useless if it can't deploy its antennas."

 

"It's better to be found than to be unable to do our job." Marika sat back in the captain's seat. "Kane, Sandaime, I don't care, just take off at maximum speed!"

 

"Roger!!" "Okay, go!"

 

"Wow, even after spraying coolant on it, the nose is still red hot."

 

Ignoring Hyakume's comments, Kane put the throttle lever into maximum combat power. With the maximum possible power set by Sandaime, who was in charge of the engine, the Bentenmaru, which was positioned directly above the Spectral F-type star, began to accelerate while being roasted.

 

"Hey, you mentioned before that the inertial control system can be used for heat exchange, can't you do something with that?"

 

"I'm doing it!" Sandaime answered while spraying coolant on the exhaust system of the main thruster, which was quickly entering the danger zone. "But this isn't a sundiver that can convert thermal energy into kinetic energy efficiently. We already have to fly without falling into the gravity well of LF525, and even now the superfluid condenser is on the verge of exploding!"

 

"... Is everything okay?"

 

Marika didn't miss the captain's whispered voice amid the various alarms and flashing warning lights, and turned to the observer's seat with a smile. "Of course it's okay. Are you hot?"

 

"Err..." The captain looked around the displays in the observer's seat. More than half of the lighted displays were flashing bright warnings. “I've never seen it this hot before.”

 

"Once we get to the other side, it'll cool down." Marika turned her eyes back to the direction of travel. "Once we leave the heliosphere, we'll be on the battlefield."

 

After completing nearly half an orbit around LF525, the Bentenmaru left the star's surface earlier than planned. The coolant had run out in the reserve tanks.

 

The Bentenmaru had gained enough speed to escape from the Spectral type-F star, which has a much greater gravity than an average planet, and cut off its main thrusters as it left the heliosphere. Although they were beyond the second asteroid belt, the training fleet was spread out at a sufficient distance, and there were only a limited number of ships in a position to see their approach with the sun at their back.

 

By not using thrusters, their chances of being detected by infrared reactions is reduced.

 

“However, the ship’s hull is starting to creak from the heat.” Kane carefully controlled his attitude to minimize their cross-section in the direction of travel.

 

"If a sensor could see us from the side, I wouldn’t be surprised if it found a picture-perfect hot object that had come out of a star."

 

"High-heat sources near stars aren't uncommon." Coorie said. The Bentenmaru accelerates without propellant by converting the thermal energy stored in the superfluid condenser into kinetic energy. "If we don't fire anything unnecessary, we won't be noticed, but if we are noticed, they'll have to send a spaceship over to confirm. Do you think a fleet in the middle of such a large-scale experimental exercise has the capacity to do that?"

 

"Can you see them?" Marika asked. "Can you confirm the locations of the training fleet, the Glamorous Grace, and the Barbaroosa?"

 

"The antennas and sensors have only just been opened, and they haven't been able to dissipate heat sufficiently, so there are a lot of errors, but they are around here." Hyakume plotted the current locations of the fleets deployed on their course, including the first asteroid belt, the first and second planets, and beyond the second asteroid belt, on the star chart.

 

"There are also four Derrflinger-class ships in the supply fleet. The target ship, the Barbaroosa, is a long way away and is around here."

 

The current locations of dozens of ships are superimposed on the star chart, not as points, but as a distribution. Marika glanced and asked.

 

"Any high-speed freighters other than the Derrflinger-class?"

 

"I can't see any." Hyakume answered simply. "There are nine disguised cargo ships participating in the exercise. I don't know how many are needed to create one Derrflinger-class ship disguise, or if all nine are simulating four Derrflinger-class ships, but with our current observation accuracy we can't see any of them."

 

"But the Derrflinger-class's battle direction isn't facing us, is it?"

 

"As things stand, the target ship, the Barbaroosa, is far away from the main force of the exercise fleet. The Derrflinger-class has already begun advancing toward the target ship, so the Bentenmaru is currently in a position to observe the long-range artillery battle from the side."

 

"They're not even in front of us, but you can't see through the disguise?" Marika checked the situation once more. "That's amazing."

 

"It might be a different story if we hit it with a high-powered radar from the side, but that's how it is with passive observation. We can only see what the enemy wants to show us. The visual situation being useless is a nightmare for a radar operator."

 

"Whether it's a Derrflinger-class or not, there's no doubt that there's something there where there's a reaction." Coorie said, re-examining the highly inaccurate data against the star chart. "It's not uncommon for electronic battleships to appear and disappear these days."

 

"Where is the Glamorous Grace now?"

 

"I can't see it."

 

The temperature of the radar and sensor systems, both of which had been thoroughly heated, was slowly decreasing. Hyakume spoke, searching the space around the target ship with sensors that were becoming more and more accurate as time passed.

 

"However, if we can see the Glamorous Grace near the Barbaroosa with our current observation capabilities, that means it can be clearly visible by the training fleet."

 

"It's still too early to show ourselves, isn't it?"

 

Marika nodded.

 

"Understood. I will gather combat information and prepare for battle while approaching the Barbaroosa."

 

Marika confirmed the current positions of the training fleet, the target ship, as well as the observation ships that were spaced at regular intervals to cover the vast training airspace.

 

"...Hyakume, can you see anything in the airspace on the other side of the Barbaroosa from the training fleet?"

 

"...No." After reconfirming Barbaroosa's current position, Hyakume pointed their sensors at a distant spot in space. "At the moment, there are no reactions other than natural celestial bodies. What's wrong?"

 

"If we want to approach the target ship without being seen by the training fleet and observation ships, we have no choice but to approach from the other side." Marika answered thoughtfully. "With this arrangement, if the Glamorous Grace, which should have been in the second asteroid belt, wanted to approach the Barbaroosa, which was being observed as a target ship, the only way would be from the opposite direction. If we want to assist them, we would have to approach from the same direction."

 

"We have to deceive not only the Derrflinger-class, which will attack from the front, but also the wide-area observation ships and the supply ships, which we can't ignore." Coorie transferred the new route plan to the main screen. "The observation ships will approach the target ship as the exercise progresses, and if the four Derrflinger-class ships close the distance and switch to precision naval bombardment, it's probably safer to go around them."

 

"Ah, they fired." Hyakume reported. The four mobile cruisers fired simultaneously at the target ship, which was almost at the limit of their range, even though it was within the target catalog.

 

"Well, I don't think they'll hit it, but I hope it's okay." Marika muttered worriedly. Although it's a matter of probability, there is an astronomical chance of a lucky shot.

 

"It should be okay." Coorie zoomed in on the current position of the target ship, which was occupying the space in line with the axis of the guns. "It's far from the electronic warfare power of the Barbaroosa, but it can at least hide its current position against long-range fire. Besides, even a cruiser's main gun will spread at this distance, so even though it's old, the armor of the Barbaroosa, a light battleship, won't be penetrated."

 

"A pursuit battle while using electronic jamming?" Marika remembered the scenario for this exercise.

 

"Four against one is unfair, but I guess it can't be helped if you're being chased."

 

 

 

By the time the Bentenmaru left the second asteroid belt, the pursuing Derrflinger-class ships had fired four more long-range salvos at different distances and conditions.

 

Before firing, the target ship, the Barbaroosa, is using electronic jamming on the pursuing ship. As the pursuit scenario progresses, the range of the shots gets shorter and shorter, but no shots have been landed on the Barbaroosa yet.

 

"That's terrible."

 

As the Bentenmaru moves farther away from LF525, the temperature of the ship's hull, which had been heated by the surface of the star, drops sufficiently. Alarms are still going off here and there, but the measures have been taken to ensure that the ship can continue sailing for the time being.

 

"Even if it's not as good as ours, the Barbaroosa has enough electronic warfare capabilities to continue as a pirate for many years, but they're only allowed to use textbook-level electronic jamming. Is it really worth setting the stage for an exercise like this?"

 

"If you want to disguise your ship type, don't you need some pretty advanced electronic warfare technology?" Marika asked Coorie, who was constantly grumbling and complaining. "At least the camouflaged Derrflinger class have better electronic warfare capabilities, don’t they?"

 

"They're just using the equipment they were given as instructed." Coorie replied, sending some data to the captain’s and observer’s seats. "I can commend them for following the exercise’s scenario, but that's all. We're still far away and we haven't initiated anything, so we can't see the big picture, but they're not coordinating and are only using basic anti-electronic defenses."

 

"The naval gunfire seems a lot more accurate than it was at first though."

 

"That's to be expected, since they're closing in on the distance." Coorie showed additional data on the display. “The Derrflinger-class’s rate of fire is the same as in actual battle, but their accuracy hasn’t been increased much for the exercise. The Barbaroosa’s armor is enough to deflect the attack, so this exercise is set up so that it’s safe to hit the target seriously. Despite this, not a single shot hit the target.”

 

After rattling off all that at once, Coorie took a breath.

 

"Well, I guess that's better for us as their enemy."

 

"No, that's about to change." Hyakume said. "If the exercise scenario plays out, they'll move from long-range artillery fire to anti-ship combat. It'll be difficult to engage in anti-ship combat with a disguised cruiser."

 

"What's the Glamorous Grace's current location?" Marika asked just to be sure. As if waiting for the right moment, a ringtone sounded on the bridge announcing a message.

 

"Still not visible. But there’s a direct message from target ship QD0443."

 

Marika reflexively checked for a message on the communication display in the captain's seat. In addition to the data communication that the target ship was broadcasting to the observation ship, the communication line opened for a moment and audio data was transmitted.

 

"I'll play it." Hyakume opened the received audio data.

 

Chiaki's voice carried across the bridge, saying just one word. "Start!”

 

"Begin!" Marika immediately gave orders. "Launch electronic warfare attacks on the entire training fleet, including the Derrflinger class, to create an illusion as to the Barbaroosa's current location!"

 

"I've been waiting for this!" Coorie gleefully began her work.

 

"The Bentenmaru will be protecting the Barbaroosa. Kane, Hyakume, we can't help being noticed, but we'll try to delay it as much as possible and approach the Barbaroosa!!"

 

"Roger!"

 

Using minimal thrust from the main engine and a combination of inertial control and anti-gravity engines, the Bentenmaru leapt out from the outer edge of the second asteroid belt.

 

There is no set distance that separates long-range artillery battles from maneuvering anti-ship battles. When firing energy beams at each other in space at great distances, warships stay still when they are far away, gather information on the enemy's location, and stabilize their own ships as much as possible to perform precise long-range fire.

 

As the distance closes, the position information of both sides becomes more precise, and the destructive power of each side's beams increases. If they perform evasive maneuvers between each other's firing opportunities, it becomes a mobile anti-ship battle.

 

On a trajectory that would allow it to catch up with the Barbaroosa before the four pursuing Derfringe-class ships, the Bentenmaru began to interfere with the exercise. It sent false information to the four pursuing cruisers and the observation ships positioned at a distance, disguising the current location of the Barbaroosa, while keeping its own position secret.

 

The Bentenmaru's trajectory is quite different from that of the Derrflinger-class ships chasing the Barbaroosa. Spaceships are miniscule compared to outer space, so unless it does something that will cause it to be detected, the Bentenmaru should be able to keep its presence secret until it gets quite close.

 

"The Barbaroosa's electronic warfare has changed its pattern!" Coorie reported as she continued to jam the observation ships and the Derrflinger-class ships electronically. "The jamming signal output towards the pursuing forces has suddenly increased! I think it's being directly set up by the crew of the Barbaroosa!"

 

"Does that mean control of the target ship has been returned to the Barbaroosa?"

 

"Captain Kenjo said he had a plan in place for that." Coorie changed the electronic attack pattern of the Bentenmaru to match the Barbaroosa's electronic jamming.

 

"Now, we're deviating from the scenario. What should we do about the training fleet?"

 

The target vessel increased its electronic jamming power dramatically without altering its planned trajectory as outlined in the exercise scenario. The Derrflinger class did not inquire about the change in plan, and the observation ships did not issue a command to cancel or stop the training. Perhaps interpreting this as a common event in live-fire training, the four Derrflinger class ships fired their guns at the same time as before.

 

"Ah..." Hyakume made a strange noise. "They fired back."

 

"What did you say!?"

 

The target ship QD0443 fired its guns at the pursuing Derrflinger class. Even from Bentenmaru, it was possible to observe the salvos of two Class 90 four-barrel main guns tearing through space.

 

"Wait a second, is the target ship's counterattack planned for in this exercise?"

 

"If the exercise scenario circulated by the Glamorous Grace is correct, then yes!" Hyakume answered immediately.

 

"What are we going to do? This is clearly a deviation from the exercise scenario."

 

"Derrflinger, what are you doing?"

 

"Increased communication traffic." Coorie answered Marika's question.

 

"Are they discussing what to do in the event of an unexpected situation?"

 

"Ah, well, I guess there's no other way." Marika stood up from the captain's seat. "Activate the Bentenmaru’s transponder!"

 

"Roger!" Coorie quickly switched on the transponder. "So what's next, communications?"

 

"I'm going to pick a fight with all the fleets in this airspace! Force open communications!"

 

"Directional communication with all spaceships whose positions are known, set up complete." Coorie quickly finished setting things up as if it was routine, and ran the communication line to the captain's seat.

 

"With image transmission, please." The camera on the communications panel lit up. Marika took the microphone. "This is captain Kato Marika pf the pirate ship Bentenmaru. We are grateful for your cooperation in collecting data on the Derrflinger class during this exercise."

 

Marika glared at the camera with a smile, trying to look as cheeky as possible. "Notice to all spaceships belonging to Rakion. The pirate ship Bentenmaru has completed collection of all data necessary for your trial. If you surrender now, we'll be lenient with you."

 

Marika added a wink as a courtesy and then hung up the microphone.

 

"Schnitzer, can you target the four Derrflinger-class ships?"

 

"Of course."

 

"Then fire, and as soon as the salvo is complete, fire a smoke screen and send out jamming signals to let the enemy know that we're here."

 

"Roger that."

 

The captain's seat received a signal that the two triple main gun turrets of the Bentenmaru were ready to fire.

 

"Fire!" Marika immediately gave orders. A long-range beam was fired at the Derrflinger-classes from a different direction than the target ship.

 

"Captain." Marika looked forward and said to Captain Hogarth in the observer seat. "Sorry to keep you waiting. Things are about to get interesting."

 

"A sudden declaration of war?" Hogarth said with an amused look on his face. “As expected from a pirate.”

 

"We need to get them to take us seriously." Marika said, glancing sideways at the movements of the four Derrflinger-class ships that had been hit by artillery fire from a direction they hadn't been paying much attention to. "If those four Derrflinger-class ships are real, then the Bentenmaru would be a real pirate that had entered the training airspace and launched an attack. But the data for three of those four Derrflinger-class ships matches the data for the ones that attacked the Maria Forte."

 

Marika looked down at the battle information display, where the individual ship data for each of the four ships was beginning to populate. "So, are we okay?"

 

“If it's fake electronic data, it's difficult to track them down if the details are altered, but yeah, we’re fine.” Coorie had taken the trouble to line up the battle data for the three previous Derrflinger-class ships so that the captain could see them, and then matched it with the data for the four ships in front of them.

 

"Of course, it's a battle cruiser, so there's no transponder, but it matches perfectly with the data from the closest Derrflinger class. At this level, it could be presented as evidence in court."

 

"If we were to disclose the firing pattern of a state-of-the-art cruiser as evidence in court, the manufacturer would definitely try to settle."

 

That combat information is a valuable commodity and they don't want to make public.

 

"Here they come.!" Coorie said happily. "The radars of four Derrflinger class ships and an observation ship are heading our way!"

 

"Continue with electronic jamming for the Barbaroosa, but ease up so we're not targeted." Marika, in the captain's seat, also smiled. "Tell them exactly who we are and where we are."

 

Marika looked down at the chronometer on the captain's seat, which displayed Galactic Standard Time and local sidereal time. She waited ten seconds to give the enemy enough time to confirm the Bentenmaru's current position, then gave the next order. "Resume electronic jamming! Target the training fleet with the intention of taking them over!"

 

"Are you going to pick a fight with the training fleet with just one pirate ship?" The captain in the observer seat couldn't stop grinning. “How do you think it will turn out?”

 

"An outsider suddenly invaded the airspace that a private company had rented out for live ammunition training." Marika explained the situation, which was obvious. "Normally, they would request that we leave peacefully and immediately. However, if they found out that we were pirates that they were supposed to be framing, their response would be different. They're probably thinking about how much of their hand they've exposed."

 

Marika kept her eyes on the movements of the four Derrflinger-class ships visible on the radar and the observation fleet deployed in the distance.

 

"The energy response of the four Derrflinger class ships has increased sharply!" Coorie reported while taking countermeasures. "They changed course while scattering! We've made them realize that we are their prey!!"

 

"They seem to have gone for forced removal without negotiation." Marika smiled at the observer seat, relieved of tension. "We have won."

 

"All we have to do now is to flee, right?"

 

"Not at all. Even if we flee now, they will tamper with the battle information again to suit their own convenience, and this time they will make us out to be real pirates. Since they have taken the trouble to recognize us as an enemy to be sunk, we have to deal with them properly."

 

"The escort fleet is on the move." Hyakume, who was following the movements of the company fleet which was on guard duty for the outer planet instead of the training fleet, announced.

 

"Uh, no. The escort fleet is heading for the Barbaroosa."

 

"How is the Barbaroosa doing?"

 

"They're not moving at the moment. According to the plan, they'll come in the Glamorous Grace and take back the Barbaroosa while we distract the fake fleet."

 

"Well then, let's go wild and cooperate with the training. Let's release decoys and take the initiative to make the enemy respond!"

 

"Roger!!"

 

While releasing decoys with identical signatures in all directions, the Bentenmaru began accelerating towards the four Derrflinger-class ships.

 

"They’re firing!" At the same time as Hyakume's statement, the Derrflinger-class ships fired a barrage of gunfire aimed clearly at the Bentenmaru. A dozen powerful, somewhat scattered energy beams cut through space.

 

"They’re not fake beams for training, they’re armor-piercing beams that have been highly charged and narrowed down as much as possible!!"

 

"If we get hit directly, our armor will be pierced in one shot, but as expected, their aim is poor."

 

Marika glanced at the observation results of the beams that passed through the space near the Bentenmaru.

 

"Schnitzer, can you hit them?"

 

"Even if our Class 40s hit them at this distance, they won't penetrate their armor." Schnitzer sent orders to fire to the two main gun turrets. "But if we don't focus the fire, we should be able to do a lot of damage to the antennas that are essential for electronic camouflage."

 

"Do it."

 

“Roger that. Shoot and perform an evasive maneuver at the same time, or they’ll hit us in our firing position."

 

Naval gunfire is one of the few chances to check the enemy's current position during battle. The Bentenmaru fired a volley of six triple-barreled Class 40 beam cannons at the four Derrflinger class ships that were still far away.

 

"They’re increasing!" Coorie reported, counting the enemy figures on the battle display that suddenly seemed to split apart. "Eight, sixteen! The Derrflinger-class split into sixteen ships!"

 

"Are they decoys? Or shadows?"

 

"Some are shadows, but the rest are probably real." Coorie answered, quickly comparing it with data she'd pulled from somewhere. "It's useful that we were able to get detailed data on the cargo ships' configuration in Port Seruna before they were disguised. They were probably forming a tight formation that made it look like one ship, sharing the disguise and attack roles, but then they dispersed individually."

 

"And yet their signature is the same as the Derrflinger-class. I wonder how much money they've spent on electronic weapons."

 

"They'd be able to fool amateurs, but it's a piece of cake when it comes to professionals like us." Coorie activated an improvised filter. In an instant, the number of Derrflinger-class ships shown on the battle display dropped from sixteen to nine. "These are the only real ones, you can ignore the rest."

 

"Wow... that’s impressive."

 

Marika gave orders while ignoring what Captain Hogarth was saying in the observer's seat.

 

"Unless the enemy is a real mobile cruiser, we can take them on one at a time. There's no need to sink them, as long as we can take out their electronic warfare power we'll win!"

 

The Derrflinger class, which had split into 16 ships, took a trajectory that would envelop the Bentenmaru as they spread out. If you have superior numbers, it's basic to attack the enemy with many against one.

 

The Bentenmaru, which should have appeared to the enemy as having split into five ships after releasing decoys, further applied electronic jamming to deceive the enemy about its current position and headed for the nearest Derrflinger class. The enemy's aim was a long-range artillery battle, while ours was to jump into their inner circle and engage in anti-ship mobile warfare.

 

The Derrflinger-class fleet fired several volleys at the approaching Bentenmaru, including the decoys. It seems that the volleys were intended to confirm whether the target was a decoy or real, but it is unclear how effective they were.

 

"The Barbaroosa is on the move!" Hyakume reported from the data he was gathering between the gaps in the fierce electronic attacks. "It’s heading this way."

 

"A battleship class coming here?" Marika checked the current positions of the enemy ships, the Bentenmaru, and the Barbaroosa on the battle display. “…and with the added bonus of an escort fleet?”

 

As the Barbaroosa began to reverse course on the training trajectory, the escort fleet that had been scattered and waiting in orbit around the outer planet began to gather and approach from the side. Some of the impatient escort ships seemed to have begun long-range firing at the Barbaroosa, which was taking a simple straight trajectory to get to the shortest distance possible.

 

"It's one thing if it's the usual, fully prepared Barbaroosa, but for just an unmanned target ship, it's a bit too much."

 

"It would be annoying if it came flying into our area with that added bonus." Marika looked up from the battle display. "But they're probably more of a problem. Even though it's old, it's still a battleship, so it won't be easy to stop."

 

"It's up to them to decide, but if they judge it as an enemy force, it’s more of a threat. Plus, at their current speed, the escort fleet will be able to reach the Derrflinger class before it can catch up with the Barbaroosa. For us, it's simply a doubling of our forces, but what will they do?"

 

"If I were the commander, I'd concentrate all my forces on the Barbaroosa first."

 

Concentrating forces on a strong enemy is also a basic principle of battle.

 

"It looks like they heard you." Coorie switched the display.

 

"Huh?"

 

"The Derrflinger class has disappeared."

 

"What!?"

 

"Instead, nine reactions of unknown format appeared. It seems they changed course in a hurry because the mysterious pirate ship and the target ship they had in their hands turned against them."

 

"Oh dear."

 

Marika stared at the battle situation display, where the status had changed from sixteen Derrflinger class ships to nine unknowns. The nine ships turned around and changed course for the Barbaroosa, accelerating more like assault boats than mobile cruisers.

 

"What's with the Derrflinger class? Were you hiding such acceleration?"

 

"It's almost the highest performance estimated for a high-speed cargo ship." Hyakume reported.

 

"Anyway, we need to make sure that our acceleration is at least as good as that of a transforming spaceship, otherwise we won't make it to the stage in time."

 

Marika asked. "Can we catch up?"

 

"We're out of coolant." Sandaime let out a pathetic cry. "The next time the engine overheats, the only way to cool it down is through natural heat dissipation."

 

"The enemy has already shown us their true colors, so we should give them a little something in return! Schnitzer, it's better to have as few enemy ships approach the Barbaroosa as possible, so aim for the closest spaceship!"

 

"Shall we turn off the electronic jamming as well?"

 

Marika turned to face Coorie who had made the unexpected suggestion.

 

"It's just a little, but if we turn off our jamming signal, we can improve our firing accuracy. Want try it out and see which one the frontline ships will target: a battleship charging from afar, or a cruiser that's in full view right in front of them?"

 

"Try it." Marika ordered. "Isn't this the first time we've ever tried disabling our electronic jamming on the battlefield?"

 

"The enemy will know what we're planning." Schnitzer said as he gave orders to the main gun turrets. "Target: former Derrflinger-class Charlie. Long-range precision fire. Kane, stabilize the ship."

 

"Oh, leave it to me!" Kane pointed the axis of the hull precisely at the target and cut off the Bentenmaru's thrust. Without electronic jamming, the Bentenmaru entered inertial navigation, completely defenseless.

 

Without waiting for Schnitzer's report, Marika spoke. "I'll leave the timing of the firing up to you."

 

"Roger. Firing main guns."

 

The two triple turrets of the Bentenmaru opened fire on the high-speed cargo ship that had turned around and was heading for the Barbaroosa.

 

"Hit confirmed!" Hyakume reported as she saw the target's infrared response rapidly increase. "Its acceleration has also slowed, but it's not a fatal blow."

 

"Next, the other one!" Marika ordered. The Bentenmaru temporarily resumed thrust from inertial navigation and shifted its future position with minimal evasive maneuvers.

 

The Bentenmaru fired two more volleys at the disguised ship heading for the Barbaroosa, but the long-range volleys were ineffective against the distant targets.

 

"Follow them!" Marika ordered, not wanting to be left any further behind. “The Bentenmaru won't let you get away!”

 

"Don't be absurd." Ignoring Sandaime's screams, Kane opened the Bentenmaru's main engine to maximum speed.

 

"Resume electronic jamming, can we provide cover for the Barbaroosa?"

 

"We can, but the escort fleet is closing in on Barbaroosa faster than we are." Coorie reported the situation as she saw it. "I don't think it will have much effect."

 

"It's better than nothing, right? Do it!"

 

"The escort fleet has opened fire!"

 

The escort fleet, led by two battleships, began coordinated naval gunfire on the Barbaroosa, which returned fire while making a token evasive maneuver.

 

Marika stared at the distant battlefield on the display. The escort fleet fired several corrective shots at the Barbaroosa with coordinated fire, then two battleships and four heavy cruisers began firing simultaneously.

 

"This isn't good." Hyakume's surprisingly loud mutterings were heard on the bridge. “That is going to hit.”

 

The Barbaroosa didn't seem to take any evasive maneuvers. The unlit light battleship's response was enveloped in a powerful energy beam.

 

Next, an even larger explosion signature appeared on the display.

 

"..." Marika stared at the huge explosion reproduced on the battle display. The energy expanded into a sphere, instantly engulfing the entire attacking escort fleet.

 

When the explosion dispersed and disappeared, the Barbaroosa's signature had disappeared from the display.

 

"It's a pre-jump phenomenon." Coorie announced, almost as if she knew it would happen. An abnormal space-time vibration was occurring at the point in space where the Barbaroosa had disappeared. "Pattern match... it’s the Karyoubinga."

 

"Huh?"

 

Marika looked at the name of the ship again, and saw the name of a pirate ship that was supposed to be missing appear on the display.

 

Marika noticed that several more pre-jump phenomena were being observed.

 

"What is this... What's going to happen?"

 

"A missing pirate ship rushes to the aid of fellow pirates in danger." Captain Hogarth rose from the observer's seat. "Furthermore, the Imperial Fleet, which had been pursuing a pirate ship that was supposed to be sent to a core star system but instead had kidnapped a military police officer, has finally caught up with them."

 

The captain gave the captain’s seat the same sloppy salute he had given when he first boarded the Bentenmaru. "We have now secured data that shows that the Rakion corporate alliance was conducting experimental training in the Fountainbleau training airspace for a combat ship that can disguise its type in individual ship data. Thank you for your cooperation. The Fifth Fleet will take over from here."

 

Following the Karyoubinga, the Imperial Fifth Fleet's mobile strike force was touching down one after another in the training airspace.

 

Marika suddenly came to her senses. "Bentenmaru, head to the sinking point of the Barbaroosa at maximum speed! We need to go and retrieve any life capsules or whatever!"

 

"Ah, I think they’re okay." Hyakume sent a short data communication to the captain's seat. "This is the communications data that arrived here just before the Barbaroosa’s direct hit. The sender is Chiaki Kurihara, and the contents are only numbers for spatial coordinates a little distance away."

 

"Eh?"

 

Marika looked at the numbers displayed on the screen. It was a short jump away in space.

 

 

 

"The biggest problem was how to legally get the Barbaroosa back into our hands after we sold it." On the other side of the communication monitor, Captain Blackbeard had a broad smile on his face. "No matter how many underhanded tactics the other side uses, if we do the same thing, we'll fall to the same level. Then I remembered the regulations for recovering sunken spaceships.”

 

“Is it true that ownership of a sunken spaceship is transferred to the person who recovers it?” Marika quickly looked at the relevant clauses of the navigation law that Coorie had sent to the captain's seat, then turned her eyes back to the communication monitor.

 

“Yes, that's right. Well, to be precise, the owner must acknowledge the sinking, or a third party must confirm the sinking situation, or there are various other things, but for now, unless I can see the Barbaroosa sink in front of me, it won't be legally returned to me, that's how it is.”

 

“But still, flying the Glamorous Grace loaded with energy containers, hitting the escort fleet directly, and make a short jump at the same time...” Marika looked over the navigation data that had been sent to her with a dizzy feeling. "If the timing was off even a little bit, everything would be lost in the explosion, including the Barbaroosa.”

 

"That’s why I let them dictate the timing of the explosion." Captain Kenjo raised his index finger to Marika on the monitor. "Fortunately the escort fleet's gunfire was more accurate than I expected. When it hit, it pressed the switch for the explosion, and we jumped at the same time. How was it? Did it really look like the Barbaroosa was vaporized by the direct hit?"

 

"Yes, it really was." Marika glanced over at the observer's seat, where captain seemed to be in contact with the 5th Fleet, which had rushed to the scene.

 

"The 5th Fleet will testify about the sinking of the Barbaroosa. As for the disguised ships, the 5th Fleet has captured the entire training fleet and will be questioning them."

 

"Well, I'll leave the cleanup to you, Bentenmaru."

 

He raised his hand, and Marika looked back at Captain Kenjo in shock.

 

"What about the Barbaroosa? You're also involved, aren't you!?"

 

"Look, we're supposed to have sunk just now." Captain Kenjo waved his hand. "I can't go out in front of the 5th Fleet, who will testify about the sinking, or the training fleet that thinks sunk they it. The rest should be handled by Count Kahn, who has been working behind the scenes with the Karyoubinga and the 5th Fleet.”

 

“What exactly do you mean by clean up?”

 

“It's not a big deal.” Captain Hogarth, in the observer's seat, said while talking on the radio. “All you need to do is be interviewed about this incident and help me write a simple report. You can take it easy in Port Seruna, you’ll be fine.”

 

“But I'm in school...”

 

 

The Imperial Fleet's pirate designation for the Bentenmaru was lifted the same day. Three days later the Sea of the Morningstar Administration lifted the suspension of their privateer's license.

 

However, Marika was forced to help write a detailed report in Port Seruna.

 

 

"So why did you come out here?" Coorie gave a suspicious look at Nat Nashfall, an intelligence officer attached to the Imperial Fleet Command, who appeared at Marx Information Services while they were cleaning up.

 

"I thought you might want to hear at least a basic explanation about this incident."

 

Standing on the other side of the open door, Nash held up in his right hand a colorful box from Petit Etoile, a high-end confectionery shop in the core, that he had brought as a gift.

 

"You've probably been questioned thoroughly about the movements of pirate ships, including the Bentenmaru, at Fountainbleau, and the battle information, but the Imperial Fleet has never explained what the Rakion-affiliated company fleet was thinking when they tested a device to disguise individual ship types, or why they were buying up privateer licenses or trying to trap pirate ships."

 

"They're making all kinds of excuses, like it's outside their jurisdiction, they haven't received any information, or they're not qualified to disclose information. Can you explain that to me?"

 

"Of course not." When Coorie didn’t even try to take it, Nash held up a large case of high-quality liquor in his left hand. "There's no way an intelligence officer could say something like that. Not in a place like this, where you don't know if anyone is listening in."

 

After glaring at Nash for a while, Coorie retreated to the back of the office. "Come in. Captain, we have a guest."

 

"Yes, who is it this time?" Marika came out, pushing through the packed office furniture and electronic devices, and took a second look at Nash, who was holding a gift in each hand. "Nat Nashfall, the intelligence officer?"

 

"I'm honored you remembered me." Since both his hands were full, Nash bowed to Marika.

 

"We're closing up shop, but all the jammers and decoys are still in operation, so there's no need to worry about being eavesdropped on from outside in this office."

 

Although the desk and chairs are still there, most of the electronic devices necessary for work have been removed, making the office much neater. After offering Nash a chair, Coorie finally accepted the large box of sweets as a gift.

 

"Thank you very much."

 

Hyakume received a large case of high-quality liquor, and opened it with practiced hands to check the labels on the bottles inside.

 

"This is the first time I've ever seen a royal five-star champagne, and even in a crystal bottle. Should I analyze it just to be sure?"

 

Coorie quickly opened the large box of sweets. She took out a small box that looked like a jewelry box, opened it, and popped the colorful chocolates inside into her mouth. “I’ll check this for poison, so we’re good.”

 

With one cheek puffed out, Coorie glared at Nash. "Count Khan of the Karyoubinga is on his way here now. I'm sure he'll give us a satisfactory explanation."

 

"Of course, I will explain as best I can." Nash looked around at the faces of Marika, Coorie, Hyakume, and Schnitzer who were there. "The conclusion is that you may have uncovered part of a huge conspiracy hidden within the military industry."

 

The Karyoubinga was anchored in the military-controlled anchorage airspace of Port Seruna along with the Bentenmaru. The captain, Count Khan, had been summoned to the fleet headquarters every day for questioning, and although there were no restrictions on the ship or its crew, they were essentially under detention, which meant that they were under the protection of the Imperial fleet.

 

Count Khan, who had just landed at Port Seruna, appeared at Marx Information Services with Lady Anne.

 

"Thank you for your hard work." Nash looked around at the two pirate captains and their subordinates who had gathered in this soon-to-be-moved office.

 

"Thank you for your information and cooperation in this matter. The Fleet Commander's questioning will soon be over, so I'm sorry, but please bear with this gimmick for a little while longer."

 

"Is that all you can tell me?" Count Khan was enjoying the aroma of Five Star Champagne poured into a makeshift mug. "We would like to continue to maintain a good relationship with the Imperial Fleet."

 

“We will do our best. The intelligence department has determined that the person who tried to obtain your pirate licenses or eliminate your pirate ships was not a Rakion-affiliated corporation, but rather a higher-ranking force within the military industry, including the Big Three.”

 

"So it's not just Rakion that's the problem?"

 

"No matter which chain of command you trace, there are impressively clever disruptions and concealments, as if they were assuming that they would be investigated, but some of the communication lines extend beyond the Rakion-affiliated to external networks."

 

"So you couldn't trace it to the inner circle?"

 

"Unfortunately." Nash nodded to Coorie, who was playing with a small decorative box of sweets. "However, the existence of those who are trying to sell interstellar wars as a commodity has long been whispered about in this industry as a legend. Now, with the cooperation of the Serenity Space Force Intelligence Department, their existence has been clearly recognized by the Intelligence Department."

 

"So you've got your fingers all the way to Serenity's Intelligence Department." Coorie opened a small box case and popped a large jewel-like candy into her mouth. “So, what is the Intelligence Agency's opinion on friend or foe? Neither the Big Three nor Rakion are enemies of the Imperial fleet. If there is someone hiding among them plotting something evil, what do you intend to do about it?”

 

"They're enemies." Nash smiled. "Don't you know? The Imperial Fleet exists to build peace and tranquility in the Galactic Empire and the universe. I believe that the enemy this time has cleverly infiltrated and used military companies such as Rakion and military industries, including the military companies that operate weapons. And since they are aware that they are against the ideals of the Empire, they will be hiding carefully and keeping a low profile. Also, although their purpose is against the ideals of the Empire, it is not clearly hostile. As an enemy, they are much more troublesome than a rebel army."

 

"Isn't it the intelligence department's specialty to deal with troublesome and bothersome beings?"

 

"That's right." Nash looked around at the faces of the pirates gathered there. "This time, the enemy set out to eliminate you pirates. Fortunately, the result was far from successful, but it is possible that our enemy has clearly recognized you as a potential enemy. Please be careful."

 

The pirates looked at each other.

 

Count Khan sipped his mug of champagne.

 

"We pirates have more prey. So what exactly do you want?"

 

"First, please help me write the report. As long as you are close to the fleet, the enemy, who sees pirates as their hypothetical enemy, will not make any rash moves. Well, this is just wishful thinking, though."

 

"What's next?"

 

"Keep in close contact. This situation means that the Intelligence Department has more potential enemies. Depending on the results of the ongoing investigation, we may need your cooperation in various ways."

 

"Roger that." Count Khan placed his empty mug on his desk. "I will cooperate to the extent that I can. Can I expect a reward?"

 

"Of course. Even though they are internal enemies, their scale is expected to be considerable."

 

"Can I trust him?"

 

Marika asked Coorie secretly as she reached for the next box.

 

"You're just being deceived. Don't forget, Captain, that people who don't pay well are just stingy, but people who are too nice are dangerous."

 

It was a week later that Marika returned to her classroom at Hakuoh Girls' Academy.

 

Afterword (Asahi Novels version)

 

This summer, I rented a new workspace.

 

I used to take my charged laptop to a family restaurant after the lunch rush had died down, and work until the battery ran out, enjoying the drink bar that came with the lunch set, but now that I'm getting older, I can't eat that much. Also, it's not like any family restaurant will do, and there are only a few places near my house that are easy to work in.

 

It's true that I should just work from home, but there are many temptations here. I'm indecisive and have a weak will, so when I start up my PC to work from home, I first connect to the internet, check my email, look at Twitter, and walk around here and there, turn on the TV and glance at the news while following articles that interest me, and no matter how much I do, the text editor I need to write never starts up.

 

When you're backed into a corner, you may have no choice but to try turning off your browser and email client, and if that doesn't work, try turning off your wireless LAN or powering down your hub, but it's like building castles on sand.

 

Then a friend in the same industry told him, "I'm thinking of renting a room in a certain facility to use as a workspace." The workspace is about a 30-minute walk from his current apartment, 15 minutes by bicycle, or 10 minutes by car. It's a little inconvenient that you can't get there by public transportation, but it's a reasonable distance away, so I can make the excuse that commuting is good exercise. I wonder if my work efficiency will improve a little if I install a computer that can only be used for writing in my workplace, which has no Internet connection.

 

Hoping for this, Sasamoto agreed to rent a workspace as a shared studio, and brought in a second-hand desk and an old desktop that had been retired from his home. The old machine from the last century on which "ARIEL" and "Star Pilot" were written is Windows 98, not even SE, but it wasn't connected to the Internet and didn't cause any inconvenience as long as I’m was just writing text.

 

There is no Internet environment at my workplace. Sasamoto basically works from home, and has not yet purchased the equipment to connect to the Internet when he goes out. Thus, when I go to my workplace, I automatically have a computer dedicated to writing and an environment without the Internet.

 

The shared studio where I work started operating before the summer. Of course, the shared studio in downtown Sapporo has no air conditioning, so I have to open the windows in the middle of summer, and I'm sure I'll have to experience just how cold a huge space can get in the middle of winter. For now, I can say that my writing is going well at my new workplace, and at least it's progressing at a better pace than my workroom at home. Despite this, I'm working with a terrible schedule again.

 

"Bodacious Space Pirates", an anime adaptation of "Miniskirt Space Pirates" that started airing in January this year, seems to have received mixed reviews at first, due in part to the strange title proposed by the original author himself. However, I wasn't too worried about the anime being made by that director and that staff, and the reviews have been getting better and better with each episode.

 

For Sasamoto, it was the first time in his life that an anime he created was broadcast on TV every week, and it was a long series of 26 episodes over two seasons, which is rare these days, so it's been a really fun six months.

 

It was still airing when he heard the exciting news from the editorial department that it was going to be made into a movie.

 

So, Space Pirates time will continue for a while longer. Thank you for your support.

 

October 26, 2012

Yuichi Sasamoto

 

Afterword (KADOKAWA version)

 

Seventh Year, a License to Lawlessness

 

This time, the additional afterword is short.

 

When you're republishing at such a high pace, it is not so easy to come up with a story for the afterword for an author who left everything up to others, even after it was made into an anime and a movie. In that case, it would be easier to add to the main story that came to mind later, or add in parts that were missing here and there.

 

The workspace I rented around this time is still in operation. Although I moved from the corner of the third floor of the old elementary school building to the center of the second floor, where the heating works a little better, but it's cold in the middle of winter, so I can only use it occasionally. This year in Sapporo, the snow melted quickly after the strongest cold wave ever recorded at the beginning of February, and I was able to commute by motorcycle from March. My writing machine is an old IBM that's in its 22nd year. It's still going strong, along with the spare machine I have saved.

 

There's no doubt that one of the secrets to continuing as a writer for many years is health and stamina. To keep my stamina up, I try walking to work and taking the stairs instead of the elevator. .Action scenes use a lot of physical strength, though not as much as actually doing them. For a writer, stamina is key. As long as I have that, I'll probably be able to write my next work.

 

See you in the next one.

 

March 25, 2019

Sasamoto Yuichi

 

This book is a new edition with additional corrections and a new cover of "Miniskirt Space Pirates 9: License to Lawlessness," published by Asahi Novel in November 2012.

Sasamoto Yuichi

 

 

 

1963: Born in Tokyo.

 

1974: Becomes hooked on "Space Battleship Yamato" from the original broadcast.

 

1979: Watches "Mobile Suit Gundam" from the original broadcast.

 

1982: Reads "Galactic Beggars’ Army" and learns how to use airplane pilot manuals as reference books.

 

1984: Published "Operation Fairy"

 

1992: Published "Come and See the Stars Dance"

 

1992: Begins researching rockets from the first H-II rocket to write a space opera.

 

2008: "Miniskirt space pirate" battle begins!

 

2012: "Bodacious Space Pirates" televised.

 

2014: "Bodacious Space Pirates" theatrical animation was released.

 

2018: "Miniskirt Space Pirates" second battle begins!

 

 

Matsumoto Noriyuki

 

 

 

Worked for a game company for about 10 years. After that, he became a freelance illustrator, working on illustrations for light novels. Currently, his main activity is manga. His representative works include "Rin - Noriyuki Matsumoto Art Collection" (Enterbrain), "Tsubame Yodamari Shoujo Kiko" (Tokuma Shoten), and "Minami Kamakura High School Girls Bicycle Club" (Mac Garden).

 

 

 

Notes

[←1]

TL note: The Japanese is “青の姉” (“ao no ane”, big blue sister) and “青の妹” (“ao no imouto”, little blue sister)

[←2]

TL note: The kanji for the “Turquoise Brothers” is “碧の兄弟” with furigana of “あお” on the “碧” kanji, so “blue”. However, I’m going to go with “Turquoise”, the name used in mouretsupirates.fandom.com/wiki/Serenity, to make it more distinct from the “Blue Sisters” and give a nod to the “green” reading of the kanji.

[←3]

TL note: The Japanese wording here, literally “boarded”, makes reference to the “pirate show” boarding of a ship, but it’s hard to express in English.

[←4]

TL note: The kanji here is “天上人”, which directly translates to “heaven person” or “celestial being”.

[←5]

TL note: The kanji here is “猿芝居”, literally “monkey”, “lawn”, “reside”, which translates into the idiom “monkey show”

[←6]

TL note: This isn’t the first time the author has snuck in a Star Wars reference using “hydrospanner”

[←7]

TL note: The “captain” here uses the kanji “大尉”, captain (with a military flavor). The “captain” associated with Marika uses the kanji “船長”, captain or ship’s captain. The distinction is clear in Japanese, but muddled in English, and is a bit confusing later when the two (Hogarth and Marika) interact in Marika’s captain’s cabin.

 

I considered using “commander” for Hogarth (in Naval ranks, a “commander” is in charge of a smaller vessel like a destroyer or police boat, while a “captain” is in charge of a large vessel like an aircraft carrier), but that loses the “military flavor” of “大尉” and changes it to a naval rank.