Episode 2: Thus, He Acquired Supplies
“Initiating shipboard registration. Commencing magical wavelength verification.”
This world has advanced science. To prevent forgery at the genetic level, registration requires identity verification via magical wavelength, which is impossible to fake.
『Understood. Commencing registration… Confirmed as Commander Takeo Brooklyn. Inputting code… Registration complete. Unless specifically instructed otherwise, you will be addressed as Captain from now on.』
“Ah, that’s fine as it is.”
『Understood. Optimizing the ship’s Magic Core to match the Captain’s magical wavelength. You are free to move about the ship, but you will be unable to disembark for ten hours until the process is complete.』
“Understood. Then, initiate the initial setup.”
『Understood.』
That afternoon, after taking a perfunctory exam and being issued a qualification on the spot, I used a brand-new lunchbox to move to the new ship.
I immediately boarded to carry out the initial setup. Now then, what’s hidden where? Well, I can roughly guess.
But before that.
“Shiny new seats. Peeling off the plastic is so satisfying.”
I stroked the captain’s seat in the control room. I don’t know if it’s genuine, but the leather upholstery is of very high quality.
I put the peeled-off trash into my Spatial Storage for now. This is how trash accumulates, you know. Captured goods, monster corpses, terrorist corpses, armaments, and so on.
“First, let’s confirm the Shipboard Regulations. Display them on the monitor.”
『Understood.』
I sat down in the captain’s seat again. The main computer is still undergoing initial setup, so the Androids haven’t been activated yet. I want to deal with things before any strange programs get into the Androids.
Shipboard Regulations are the unique rules set within the ship. Even among humans, common sense can vary greatly depending on the planet of origin or the star system where one was raised. To unify them, basic rules are set on combat vessels.
And these Shipboard Regulations can be freely changed or added to by the appointed captain or senior officers to a certain extent.
“Display any differences from the Angel’s Crown Shipboard Regulations issued in Unified Star Calendar 1220. Also, display the list of ship-owned patents.”
『Understood. Here it is.』
“Oh, they’re showing up after all.”
Conspicuously written are the personal names of Vice Admiral Falm and Colonel Randolph? There’s also a Special Lieutenant Flamley. Their command authority is set above the captain’s.
And then, perhaps to tamper with travel routes and Spatial Jump records, special procedures and the captain’s permission are required to access this unless you’re someone with authority equal to or greater than a General… This seems more convenient as it is.
“Still, it helps to know not only their names but also their personal codes.”
The Unified Space Force has a population of over a billion, so just names and ranks would overlap, making it impossible to identify anyone. Still, I won’t investigate on this ship. I’ll borrow Commodore Credos’s office later or swipe Vice Admiral Falm’s terminal to investigate.
“As for command authority, I’ll delete it and order the Androids to pretend to listen to orders later.”
I’ll give these instructions to the Androids verbally, without writing them in the regulations. If it’s a temporary instruction rather than an order, there’s no need to record it.
“The ship-owned patents concern preferential treatment regarding cargo inspection. Special Weaponry is possible, so there’s also a Special Weaponry Storage, but is this okay?”
This refers to special weapons. They don’t appear often, or rather, I don’t want them to appear. These are armaments with high power that can shatter space stations themselves, weapons that interfere with a planet’s gravitational field, and weapons for inhibiting Spatial Jump that affect space itself. Well, they are basically weapons of mass destruction and mass slaughter.
And it’s surprising that a battleship capable of carrying such weapons is allowed to refuse cargo inspection.
“Moreover, some are already loaded, huh.”
Looking at the list of already delivered items, Graviton Flare and Jumper Jamming are already loaded. I’d like to unload the Graviton Flare if possible… Well, I’ll consult with the Commodore about that. He’ll probably refuse, though.
“This is… standard Unified Space Force equipment. I haven’t heard any talk of building a new base around here.”
Looking at the list of cargo scheduled for transport next week, there are infantry weapons and equipment, uniforms, food and beverages, materials, and heavy machinery for processing. There are also Aircars and disaster relief containers such as emergency container houses. It looks like a basic equipment set for a newly built base.
The destination space station is a military facility, but it’s not exactly a newly built base. Why would they need something like this now?
“Also, I’m concerned that the weapons are biased towards infantry use. It looks like a prelude to terrorism… but not quite.”
Of course, it’s just the transportation of these materials. It’s not unusual for weapons to be mixed in. However, normally, they wouldn’t transport this many infantry weapons all at once. In the first place, the destination station is more of a resource recovery and supply base, not an environment where soldiers would fight with weapons.
And yet, a formal order from the logistics department has been issued. Orders managed by electronic processing cannot be forged by anyone.
Furthermore, Vice Admiral Falm, who belongs to the operations department, cannot issue orders from the equipment management department. The order itself is official.
“I wonder whose intentions are at play here.”
The involvement of someone of the same rank as Vice Admiral Falm, or someone higher, is possible. At the very least, it must be a flag officer. However, since there are useful items for me as well, I intend to stop at partial tampering without making any changes.
Around the time those processes were finished, part of the new ship’s initial setup was completed. Well, I guess it’s time to meet the Androids.
The first instruction will be to secretly install cameras in rooms without surveillance cameras, including VIP rooms.
“You’re doing something quite bold… it makes me want to puke.”
“…Captain, what shall we do?”
“Standby for now. The Vice Admiral… should be returning, see?”
“At that timing… it feels too coincidental.”
“Keep a solid record of everything. And from here on out, thoroughly pretend to listen. If any orders come, be sure to send a telepathic message.”
“「「「 Understood. 」」」”
While gazing at the collapsing space station with the three members of the operator Android team, I visually confirmed the lunch that had escaped from it. Vice Admiral Falm and his entourage are probably on board.
“Well, I’m going to go greet them. If there are any other escape pods, protect them.”
…Though there probably won’t be any.
Damn, if I greet them with this mindset, it’ll probably show on my face. I lightly massage my face with my hands and take a breath.
While doing that, I move from the control room to the lunch reception area. Waiting at the entrance, I saw the Vice Admiral and his crew appear on the monitor.
『Commander Brooklyn, we’ve returned.』
“I’m glad you’re safe, Vice Admiral. I authorize entry.”
『Hmm.』
With a short reply, Vice Admiral Falm disembarked from the lunch.
“It was an unexpected and unfortunate accident.”
“Yes, indeed.”
“Truly, it pains my heart.”
Saying such things, the Vice Admiral and his followers disembarked. Oh, there are two unfamiliar faces.
“Commander Brooklyn, this is Colonel Alexei Randolph. Miraculously, we were able to escape together.”
“I’m Alexei Randolph from the logistics department. Commander, I’ll be in your care.”
“Likewise, I’m Lieutenant Sergey Filchev from the logistics department.”
“I’m glad you’re both safe. I authorize entry.”
So this is Colonel Randolph. He’s more physically built than he looks in the photos. Is he one of the operatives?
“I hate to ask right away, but given the circumstances, I’d like to share information.”
While saying that, the Vice Admiral glances at the camera. Yes, yes, you want to have a secret conversation.
“Understood. However, you won’t be able to rest in the conference room. Your Excellency’s room remains as it is, so why don’t we talk there?”
“That’s thoughtful. I agree with the Captain’s suggestion. Everyone okay with that?”
“Yes, sir!”
“Then, by cart.”
The ship is large, so we use dedicated carts for transportation. Ridiculously, even these carts have VIP specifications exclusively for the Vice Admiral, so it’s thorough.
We board them, though I and the Lieutenant follow behind in a normal cart.
“Now then, Commander Brooklyn. First, I’d like you to sign here.”
Upon entering the VIP room, the Vice Admiral’s secretaries begin preparing drinks and snacks. They seem to be secretaries but not really secretaries.
“Yes. This is, the transfer… understood.”
It’s a document for the completion of the transfer of the large amount of weapons and equipment that I was transporting. An unfamiliar name is already written in the recipient’s signature.
“The handover was completed, wasn’t it? I thought the processing was finished, and then that accident happened. Quite a surprise.”
“Yes, exactly. I owe my life to being occupied with the acceptance procedures.”
“Kukuku, ha-ha-ha-ha! You two are quite the actors. But that’s not necessary here, you know?”
Vice Admiral Falm burst into laughter, seemingly amused by Ore and the Colonel’s farcical performance. The Colonel also started grinning along.
Yeah, there are bugs and hidden cameras galore, you know?
“I see, then I should clear out the cargo from the Spatial Storage as soon as possible.”
“Hoh, I’ve heard the rumors… to be the owner of a Spatial Storage that can hold that much is quite daunting.”
“Even I don’t know its maximum capacity. Also, the standard-sized containers are almost the maximum, and anything larger won’t fit through the entrance.”
“That’s why I contacted you. Though I was skeptical.”
“I’m aware that it’s beyond common sense, so I haven’t been advertising it much. However, if I can be of service to you, Vice Admiral-sama, I’m happy to help.”
“Hmph. Such transparent flattery…”
“Well, it’s a different story when I can actually get my hands on the goods. Ah, did you take a look at the list of luxury items?”
“Don’t you dare take the 120-year-old red! I arranged for that specifically for this occasion.”
“Ah, is that a no-go? Then I’ll return it.”
Ore took out a bottle of red wine that he had prepared separately from his Spatial Storage and placed it on the table.
“Ha! You seem to be a man who doesn’t miss a trick!”
“But you also seem to be a reasonable man. Alright, let’s open this one for the toast. Hey, take care of this.”
The Vice Admiral called his secretary and handed her the wine. Hmm, she’s a needlessly alluring lady.
“By the way, where should I ultimately deliver the cargo?”
“I’m developing a private planet, and I want you to transport it there once it’s ready. The base should be completed within two years, and the planet’s environment itself should be adjusted within five years.”
A privately owned planet, huh? And it’s being terraformed? The scale of these wealthy and powerful people is on a different level. But considering the scale, it’s unlikely that the people here alone could plot this embezzlement or mass murder. There must be many other people involved.
I intend to follow the Brigadier General’s instructions, but more investigation is needed.
“Understood. I’ll keep it hidden in my storage until then.”
“Hmm. The monitors inside the warehouse are set to have initial errors, so there shouldn’t be any problems.”
Come to think of it, they were planning to operate the ship in that state. I’ve already fixed it, though.
“Understood. By the way, Vice Admiral, won’t your private planet base need a destroyer?”
“Fuhahaha! It seems you’ll be using the planet more often than I will! Depending on your performance, I might even prepare a territory for you!”
“By the way, I’m going to be the base commander, okay?”
“I’m scheduled to be the vice commander.”
“Understood, then I’ll head to the warehouse after the toast. I want to fix the monitors as soon as possible. Though they might malfunction again. And I also have to prepare the accident investigation report for the station… Colonel, I’m sorry, but I’ll need you to help me with the detailed processing.”
“I’m counting on you, Colonel.”
“Understood, Vice Admiral. Just give me your orders. On the ship, the Lieutenant Commander’s command authority is higher, after all.”
I highly doubt he believes a word of that.
“Alright, it seems the preparations are complete. Let’s have a toast!”
“““Yes!”””
Expensive wine is poured into expensive glasses. The Vice Admiral himself is pouring. He seems to be in a very good mood.
“The toast should be, let’s see… to the success of the operation.”
“““To the success of the operation!”””
What a ridiculous operation.
From here, I would be involved in such misdeeds about three times. I didn’t want to participate in or carry out anything like this mass murder, so I had a hard time making adjustments.
I began investigating Vice Admiral Falm and his associates, including their connections. Since the investigation included related companies as well as the military, it took quite a bit of time.
In the end, the overwhelming evidence led to the downfall and execution of Vice Admiral Falm and the related military superiors in his faction. His direct subordinates and secretaries also received some form of punishment.
On Ore’s end, he was treated as an undercover investigator who had infiltrated the Vice Admiral’s inner circle under the orders of the Brigadier General, so he was able to avoid being caught up in the downfall.
…However, some of the weapons, equipment, and assets that the Vice Admiral had hidden were not found, and their whereabouts were unknown. Due to this lack of investigation and the rank given to him by the Vice Admiral’s authority, he was demoted from Lieutenant Commander to Major. Whether he wasn’t removed from his position as captain due to the military’s mercy or the Brigadier General’s intervention is unknown.
Now then, where could his remaining possessions be stored in his Spatial Storage?
＝＝＝＝＝＝
Interesting! I want to read more! Write more, damn it!
If you feel even a little bit that way, please follow the work, give it a ☆ review, and a ♡!