On our eighth day in hyperspace, we reached the outer edges of To Akul Prime, and were pulled out by a hyperspace capture. Weren’t those things only used by the military?
As I think that, the patrol from To Akul Prime will be here in less than ten seconds.
“I have a theory that To Akul Prime’s army diverted equipment to pirates.”
“I understand how you reached that conclusion, but stop. That gets brought up in Zadar too from time to time, but it’s mass media gossip.”
“It’s supposed to be managed~.”
I was wondering if it was installed on the frigate, and we found burnt remains that looked like it. It makes sense, I turned it into a lotus root.
“Then how come space pirates had that?”
“Did they pick it up somewhere~?”
“I did hear of a guy who picked up a military medium sized combat ship…”
When you put it like that… Let’s make sure the VLS are loaded with guided missiles just in case. Get torpedoes ready to fire, and prepare the main cannon.
▽▽▽
“<This is Commander Dieter of the patrol from To Akul Prime. We received your distress signal.>”
A patrol really did come. It’s a large combat ship and two medium sized ones. I figured they’d have corvettes and frigates, or destroyers patrolling.
“It’s smaller than I expected.”
“What did you think the army of a country composed of a star system would be like? Mishun is like this too.”
“But~… They really are small ships for an army that supposedly makes a lot of money from cutting edge technology~. Did they get demoted~?”
“Don’t speak out of line. If you ask them that by mistake, it’s gonna be trouble.”
“Maybe we should tie her up.”
“That’s awful~!!”
We lighten the mood a little until the authorities get here, but a channel is soon opened.
“This is the grassland three ship Tortilla Double. Communications officer Koooo!?”
The large transport ship Tamani Oishi No. 3 is firing its defensive lasers on the patrol that’s here to help us.
What?
I look outside again, and see Tamani Oishi No. 3 pelting them with defensive lasers.
“Raise shield! Stop defensive lasers! Hail them! This is Tortilla Double! Don’t think we are hostile to the authorities! Don’t Shoot! We are not hostile!”
Why!? You sent out a distress signal and you’re shooting at them!! Kori is bubbling up, and I tell them we are not hostile in her place. Kori is foaming up like someone threw mentos into cola. She’s not going to explode, right…
The large combat ship and one of the medium ones are encircling Tamani Oishi No. 3. The other medium ship is approaching with its cannons pointing this way, but I’m not moving.
Kori keeps awawa’ing and foaming, and I keep yelling we’re not hostile. Saratha is dumbfounded. There’s nothing I can do.
“<You there! Why is your turret moving!?>”
“We are not hostile to you! This is Genma, a grassland three mercenary! I accepted Tamani Oishi No. 3’s escort quest through the Mercenary Guild, and we were in the middle of traveling from the Zadar colony to the Akul colony! I’m sending you the guild’s quest acceptance code! Confirm it! We are not hostile to you!”
I’m not moving the turret in a situation like this, you idiot! Do you have eyes!?
The situation is getting worse, as the two ships surround Tamani Oishi No. 3 and start firing at it, targeting its engines.
“<Confirmed, stay put and try not to move. Especially that dangerous turret.>”
The voice of the communications officer of that medium ship sounds a little more relaxed. Now they know I’m just a mercenary who accepted a quest. Well, I’m supposed to guard them, but I’m not obligated to protect them when they decide to fire on the authorities.
The Mercenary Guild provides its mercenaries with the right to break contract if something illegal happens. That means the contract is pretty much null and void. I’ll have to provide footage from the ship camera and explain when I get to Akul.
But seriously, what is going on? Tamani Oishi No. 3 is still attacking with defensive lasers, but it’s not sending out its small ships or armor. What happened in there?
Kori is trying to hail them, but there’s no response.
The patrol takes its time to carefully destroy the engine, and then the defensive lasers.
Now they’re charging towards the dock to board it, with the other ship drawing closer to us.
“<Tortilla Double, this is Lieutenant Commander Klaus of the No. 753 patrol vessel of the To Akul Prime 63rd unit. Can a three meter power armor board your vessel for an inspection?>”
Kori looks this way, and I’ll handle it.
“This is Tortilla Double, we accept the inspection. I’m switching to deflector shield and moving forward. I’m opening the rear hatch, but can I move the shield?”
“<Understood, thank you for your cooperation. Move the shield.>”
We prepare to receive them, but the patrol ship scans us, and they don’t really say anything. A three meter tall power armor leaves their ship, and flies towards our rear hatch.
“Saratha, take the cockpit. I’m going to meet the lieutenant commander with Kori. Hide a laser gun in your body.”
“Got it. I’m sure it’ll be fine, but watch yourself.”
“Okay~. Let’s pump ’em with holes the moment we see ’em~~~.”
“Can you not?”
By the time we reach the cargo bay through the elevator, the armor is finishing pressurizing.
We assembled the five meter battle drone in our free time, and it’s ready for combat at any time. The disk-shaped battle drones lil’ killers appear around here, and the spherical escort drone is behind us.
“No, stop, lil’ killers. Disperse. Go back to cleaning.”
After they receive my orders through voice recognition, they hide in the shadows and clean. They’re all in positions where they have a clear shot.
“I’m a little scared of these smart AI.”
“You didn’t even give them instructions~. What’s that about~.”
The rear hatch opens, and an armor appears. Its blue paint is faded and it has damage, but it’s been polished to a shine. It has what I assume is a military laser rifle on its right hand, and a cylindrical thing strapped to its back.
“Welcome to Tortilla Double. I assume you are Lieutenant Commander Klaus.”
“Yes, hold on a second, I’m coming down.”
I hear a pshh sound, and the front of the armor opens on both sides to reveal a person. He looks like just a slim person with blonde hair, blue eyes, and white skin, but I get the feeling he’s pretty high strung.
“This is quite the welcome. It would be terrible if that thing fired on me. It might’ve started a war with To Akul Prime.”
“That would have caused an economic war with the Mercenary Guild. The name and face of Lieutenant Commander Klaus would have been in textbooks for centuries.”
The moment he got down from the armor, he pointed at the five meter battle drone, and I immediately asked myself if I could shoot him.
If there’s a clash between a mercenary and a soldier, and it turns out it began with a false accusation from the soldier, the Mercenary Guild could leave that star system. That would boost space pirate activity there and ravage transport ships. There are star systems where such soldiers are used as negative examples in textbooks.
He shrugs and salutes, remaining alert while putting his left arm on his chest, with his open left hand on his heart.
“I am Lieutenant Commander Klaus of the To Akul 63rd patrol unit. Thank you for accepting the inspection.”
“I’m Genma, a grassland three rank mercenary. The Mercenary Guild told me to cooperate with local armies unless I was being mistreated.”
“I’m Kori! The communications officer~!”
Unfortunately, I don’t have the habit of saluting. I’m a mercenary, so I just watch myself and reply while trying to stand straight.
“You look pretty wary.”
“You can act as you want. After all, the footage from the ship’s camera will be sent to the Mercenary Guild.”
“Of course, a military man such as myself is aware.”
“I see. So, I know they shot first, but why did you fire on the civilian ship Tamani Oishi No. 3?”
“Because it has a stupid name.”
Both of us smile. I’m sure they had their reasons, but I feel like telling the inspection to go to hell because they fired on a civilian ship. I know they fired first but… Did they want a bribe?
And Kori is really scary. She usually looks cute no matter her expression, but she’s frowning and glaring like her face is about to fall off. Her eyes are especially scary. She’s looking at him like he’s a dirty glove on the side of the road.
Lieutenant Commander Klaus sighs, and he looks up.
“The moment we got here, we scanned their ship and found a nuclear weapon.”
He says, and I can feel this situation becoming a real problem.
The Galactic Credit Union Alliance expressed regret over the use of nuclear and antimatter weapons inside planet atmospheres that led to dozens of dead planets. The creation, possession, and use of such weapons of mass destruction has been prohibited, and if this law is broken, the galactic army will come with their battleships.
I’m getting off track, but when the mechanized fleet invaded Earth, they attacked with antimatter and nuclear weapons, turning it into one of those dead planets
If someone happens to find one of those things, they are to deliver it to the Galactic Credit Union Alliance post haste, but… Since possession is prohibited, they have to get in touch from there or dispose of it. If they dispose of it, they have to deliver proof and a report.
But the biggest question is, is he telling the truth?
Thanks for the treat.