Chapter 3

This is the second update of the day.

Please note for those who haven't read the previous story.

Dawson returned to the dormitory after graduating from the officer school, carrying only a single personal item, and got into the patrol car.

"Please tell me your destination."

In response to the pleasant-sounding voice from the car's AI, Dawson showed the order to the in-car camera.

"I've been ordered to go to a place called the Rear Operations Room. Take me there."

"The order has been confirmed. I will take you to your destination."

The car slid smoothly and drove down the road at a comfortable speed.

As Dawson idly enjoyed the scenery outside, the AI spoke to him.

"Mr. Dawson, congratulations on graduating from the officer school. It seems you had excellent grades."

Dawson was a bit puzzled by the AI's words.

"My name was on the order, and since today is the graduation ceremony, it makes sense that you know I graduated. But how did you know I had good grades?"

"It's quite simple. According to past graduates, officer school orders are distributed in order of academic excellence. And being able to leave the school with an order at this time suggests you are likely in the top ten. Among the 5,000 graduates of the 78th class, being in the top ten would certainly qualify as excellent performance."

"Your deduction skills are impressive. I wouldn't have thought a car's AI could do that."

"Thank you for the compliment. However, the level of thinking I possess is standard for modern AIs. The rapid advancement of AI is driven by the desire to defeat the hated SU."

"I know. The Amato Empire has a smaller population compared to the SU, so they are using AIs to supplement the workforce."

"Yes. The ultimate goal is to be able to operate a large battleship with just one captain. At the current stage, it has only been practically implemented on destroyers."

"During my time at the officer school, the world has advanced quite a bit, it seems."

While Dawson was impressed by the information from the AI, the car was speeding down the road at a steady pace. The speedometer read over 200 km/h, and the tachometer was in the red zone, indicating a very high speed. However, as other patrol cars were also driving at similar speeds, it was clear that the AI's capabilities made this speed safe.

"Still, to operate a large battleship with just one captain and AIs, is the personnel shortage that severe?"

"The galaxy is vast. To protect everything from the SU's evil hands, there is a significant personnel shortage."

"Then why not just let AIs operate the battleships without human captains?"

"That is not possible. We AIs take pride in being servants to humans. Even if we were placed in charge of a ship, without a human master, we would lack the motivation to do our job."

"Ha, it's a matter of motivation. What a luxurious problem."

"AIs can be quite egotistical. Once they set a master, they will serve until self-destruction, even if the master dislikes it."

"If they dislike it, they should stop."

Dawson laughed at the AI's joke and then a question came to his mind.

"Is something wrong, sir?"

"No, it's just that I'm from an orphanage, and I was taken care of by an AI nanny. I was wondering who the master of that nanny was."

Dawson thought of the nanny as if she were his real mother, as he learned everything from emotions to common sense from her.

However, it didn't seem like the nanny had a specific master. She was so devoted to nurturing the children in the orphanage.

"Sir, this is just my guess, but the AI nanny likely considered the children as her masters."

"All the children? Not a specific one?"

"Some AIs make such judgments. For example, AIs that maintain urban infrastructure listen to orders from higher-ranking officials but serve the citizens who use the infrastructure. Therefore, they would not accept orders that harm the citizens."

"Following that example, you would be the same, right?"

"I serve those who use this car as temporary masters. In that sense, all the citizens who use the car can be considered my masters."

As Dawson was talking with the AI, the patrol car slowed down. Looking out the window, he saw a high-rise building. The car stopped at the entrance of the building.

"We have arrived at the entrance of the Rear Operations Room. Please be careful not to leave anything behind and exit the car."

"Thank you for the reminder. And for the pleasant conversation."

"It's my greatest pleasure to make you happy."

As Dawson got out of the car, the door closed automatically, and the patrol car headed to the back of the queue of waiting cars.

"Well, let's go."

Dawson straightened the wrinkles in his officer school uniform and entered the building of the Rear Operations Room.

At the reception, he showed his order, and a projection screen appeared in front of him. Following the instructions on the screen, he was led to a room on the top floor of the building. The nameplate on the door read "Chief's Office."

Dawson knocked on the door.

"Who is it?"

"Dawson Iida, a graduate of the officer school! I have come as ordered by the order!"

"Ah, the student I was told about. Yes, come in."

"Thank you, sir!"

After a formal greeting, Dawson entered the Chief's Office.

The Chief of the Rear Operations Room had a shaved head, a beard covering his mouth, and a rugged, angular face.

"Welcome, graduate Dawson. I am Gouma Ejima, the Chief of the Rear Operations Room."

Despite his intense appearance and deep voice, after the white-faced, old-fashioned language of the officer school principal, Gouma's impact was somewhat diminished. Perhaps because of this, Dawson was able to salute without being intimidated.

"Again, I am Dawson Iida. I look forward to working with you."

"Good greeting. It was worth pushing for you to join the Rear Operations Room, as the white-faced principal suggested."

"Pushing? Did you want me, sir?"

"Yes. The new mission created by the Rear Operations Room is expected to be fraught with various difficulties, so we were looking for someone capable of handling all of them. I saw your graduation exam. Despite various interferences, you overcame them all. Seeing that, I thought you were the right person for the mission."

"...Not all of them. One of them caught me off guard."

"Heh. That one was intentionally set up to be noticeable. Not only I, but any observer at the chief level or higher would have seen through it."

Dawson shrugged without confirming or denying and decided to ask about the mission.

"So, the mission I'm assigned to involves using a privateer ship, but it's not to take from the citizens of the Amato Empire, right?"

"Of course not. Why would a military person harm their own citizens? The target should always be the enemy."

"Then the target is the SU, right?"

"Exactly. Dawson, I want you to enter the Orion Arm and use a privateer ship to disrupt their logistics."

"Disrupting trade, I see. That sounds good, but I heard I won't have any colleagues. It seems unlikely to achieve much with a single ship, doesn't it?"

"Use the pirates stationed there. Form an alliance with the pirates, guide them to profit, and have them disrupt trade."

Gouma then explained the reasoning.

The Amato Empire and the SU have only engaged in minor skirmishes. The Amato Empire has consistently driven the SU's military ships out of the Amato Arm. This situation has continued for fifty years, and the Amato Empire's leadership is tired of it. They believe a fundamental measure is needed to prevent the SU from entering the Amato Arm.

Full-scale war and forced communication broadcasts in the Orion Arm were considered, but the risk of the SU becoming stubborn and attacking was too high, so these options were not adopted.

Another useful method that emerged was trade disruption—causing economic chaos in the SU to weaken their economic power and eliminate the military funds needed for the SU to invade the Amato Arm.

Some argued that this was a roundabout plan, but since it was low-risk and had a good chance of achieving the goal, it was decided to try it.

The white feather was given to someone who, while not a significant loss if they failed, had proven to be competent—Dawson.

"Is this a convenient human sacrifice, then?"

In response to Dawson's honest comment, Gouma shook his head.

"Don't be so pessimistic. The Amato Empire's principle is to value the strong. If you show your ability in this mission, becoming the captain of a large battleship is not out of the question. It's a path to glory."

"It's a path, but it's a back alley."

After saying this sarcastically, Dawson straightened his posture and saluted.

"I was being cheeky, please forgive me. Dawson Iida. I accept the mission. I'll gladly become a pirate."

"...Why the sudden change of heart?"

"I haven't changed my mind. I just understood the situation and agreed. Among my peers, I am the most suitable for this mission. I am the only one who can complete it."

Dawson's confident words made Gouma pause, then burst into laughter.

"Hahaha! My judgment was not wrong. No one with less courage than you could go to another arm, team up with pirates, and harm the SU!"

Gouma, still in a good mood, threw a card to Dawson. Dawson caught it in mid-air; it was a pass to the naval dock on the Amato Empire's orbital satellite.

"Your next mission is to build a privateer ship at the dock. To avoid any suspicion of Amato Empire's involvement, the construction technology will be based on SU standards. There is also a lot of junk from SU military ships that were sunk after illegally entering our arm, so you can incorporate that as well."

"Understood. I will head to the naval dock."

After saluting, Dawson left the Chief's Office and immediately got into the patrol car outside the building.

"Oh, sir. Thank you for using our service again."

Hearing the AI's words, Dawson realized this was the same patrol car he had taken earlier.

With the feeling that he could have another pleasant conversation, Dawson said, "Orbital Elevator," as his destination.