Characters:
Katou Marika, Rin Lambretta, Yacht Club members, Kain, Hyakume, Courier, Gruelle Serenity
Setting:
Hakuoh Yacht Club room, Bentenmaru (bridge), C-68 pier at Relay Station, Odette II bridge
Time: Present
Ships:
Odette II (formerly known as White Swan), Bentenmaru, Silent Whisper
Marika released a shriek as she gazed upon the endless list of Bentenmaru's necessities.
She who was alone in the club room questioned if the past Captains really did what she's
doing then, no matter how important is a ship's Account Book.
Rin came and asked what was the commotion while taking a peek at the book. It was
something that Marika should not show to an outsider, but Rin was not one anymore.
The Captain said until the time comes for them to abandon ship, they will need money,
and even though she's not in charge with the accounting, it is a Captain's job to have
understanding and give the approval for the flow of money. Or else she would not be able
to present the Accounting Book to the Government. The Club President asked if she could
see the display. Marika replied that it wasn't something interesting.
Rin said it was interesting. The insurance is on annual contract, and for every job that
Bentenmaru took, they'll need a statement of account for each. Rin added that it was hard for
them to do such jobs. Marika agreed.
Rin changed the subject asking Marika if it was true that the Pirate ships didn't have to
pay the taxes. Marika asked her from where did she heard such story, with an angry tone.
She explained that the pirates have to pay value-added tax for their propellant they bought,
and if they carelessly made port to any stations, bills will chase after them. Marika asked
again who was it that told Rin that pirates does not have to pay taxes.
Rin laughed at Marika threatening tone while waving her hand. As there are many other things
that are taxed, she asked Marika if it was true that during war, pirates ships are treated like
the military ships, and that they are waived from paying taxes.
Marika asked her if there were no taxes for military ships. A question that she never thought it
before. Rin answered that a military ship belongs to the nation, and the tax will go back to the
country, so there was no point on attaching tax on it.
Marika replied that the people from the Tax Bureau were the most unforgiving groups, as they will put
tax on everything whether it is their or others, and they will seize those items unless
the taxes are paid.
Rin said that a military ship is still a space ship, and during peace time, the military
would still make use of ships, and the ship needs to pass its regular check-up tests.
But the hellish Tax Bureau are Bureaucrats that will cut any extra labors to collect taxes from
their own things. That's why military ships are not taxed. As nationally-owned space ships
will be treated the same as military ships, Rin thought that pirate ships will not be taxed.
Rin added that pirate ships are within the law while at the same time are outside of it.
She heard from someone that the pirate ships are not taxed. She asked Marika about
the periodic inspections of Bentenmaru. Marika replied that the Bentenmaru is a dirt poor ship,
so they'll try their best to reduce the amount of ship inspections.
Ships that didn't pass the inspections will not be able to fly in the galaxy legally.
Rin scrolled through Marika's account book until the end, and with a triumphal smile she said to Marika
there were some of the taxes that are usually imposed on ordinary space ships on Marika's list.
Marika wondered why Bentenmaru always have financial problems when they didn't have to pay taxes.
Rin replied because Marika always took jobs with little profits on them. Marika agreed
Marika suddenly remembered about the club's space ship. She asked Rin if the taxes for Category I
and Category II ships are the same. As Category II ships are unable to go FTL, they won't be able to
give much affects on the structure of Space, and so the taxes are lower.
But there were not much difference when considering the nominal of public utilities charge.
Marika asked if their ship, the Odette II, was paying any taxes.
Rin answered that for official institution like schools and for education purposes, ships would
get reduction/exemption from taxes. But since their school is a private one, plus since Odette II
is registered under Sea of Morning Star, there are some taxes imposed on Odette II.
Marika and Rin started to search through the computer regarding taxes on Odette II based on
several model cases. As the captain watched the lists, she remembered about Kain when he was
surprised to see Odette II has her own private pier. (back in vol 1). The taxes should be
expensive for having a closed type of dock. Marika searched at the Relay Station's communique
to find out if one could get a rebate for long-period of use of the pier, but she
couldn't find it.
Rin used her personal PDA, HAL-bou to hack into Hakuou Academy's computer. She couldn't find any data
related to Odette II. Marika said to try other name, White Swan (Haku-chou Gou). Marika was worry if
the school budget was insufficient to support Odette II. Hakuou Academy is an academic institution that is also established on other planets. If they pool the money, it should be enough.
Rin said the Hakuou of Sea of Morning Star doesn't have much affinity with other planet's Hakuou, and it
was hard to think that they would give financial support to pay for Odette II.
She added it was natural to think that Odette II has her own separate account to receive
the money. Marika asked why and where. Rin answered "Who knows?".
The Yacht Club members came in, and Rin asked them to help with the new program for the
simulators before their juniors come.
The scene then changed to Marika aboard Bentenmaru. She wanted to know why
the White Swan became a training ship for her school. Hyakume said even before Marika became
their captain, the Odette II has been sleeping at the Relay Station for 20 years.
After the War for Independence concluded, White Swan has been disarmed, gave up her Letter of Marque, returned to
Transport Ship class from a masqueraded Cruiser, and for a short while, she did became a freighter.
Finally it went to Hakuou Girl Academy and registered as Training Ship.
Marika took it with pains when she heard that the White Swan gave up her license.
Marika asked for more on what happened to White Swan after the crews quit being pirates. Hyakume said
to look on the ship's logs, as the paper books were inside the Captain's Cabin. Marika said they were handwritten
and in old language. Courier said to go and study and decode them. Marika replied that she is bad
with Classics. Marika averted her eyes from Courier and a certain princess's face came into Marika's mind.
She said if she relies on Gruelle again, sooner or later the princess would take the Letter of Marque from her.
Later, the Yacht Club was having a simulation practice inboard Odette II. Marika and Rin were thinking
on why C-68 Dock was for Odette II's exclusive use, and that other shape space ships wouldn't be able to use the dock.
Marika said that the facilities at the port were not the latest and greatest, but they were adequate, and even enough
for modern space ships. Marika was wondering on the money it should have cost Odette II to have a closed-type dock for herself.
Gruelle came and asked what was Marika and Rin were talking about, and Marika answered that they were thinking on
how it should have cost Odette II a lot of money. Gruelle asked back if the money wasn't enough, and Marika denied it while
waving both of her hands.
Marika asked Gruelle if she could guide a tour for the middle school section of Yacht Club members. She asked the princess to be careful
as they were girls that were going to experience the 0 G for the first time. Rin had told the new club members to not to get close
to the Cargo Bay. Marika opened the door and took a quick look inside it. It was the Silent Whisper. The newest Reconnaisance Ship
is able to fly from the surface up to the relay station, and the Club should have made it their Connecting Shuttle, but when Marika
thought about it again, it would be too glaring and the Stellar Force would notice Silent Whisper which was too expensive for School
girls to use.
At the bridge, Rin was moving her fingers on the Electronic Warfare equipments. Marika came and asked what was she doing
as those equipments weren't needed because the Club was going to do sailing simulation inside the dock. Rin joked about how she was driven out
from the Captain Seat, for this time practice. Second year Yayoi was giving the orders from the seat. Rin added she would assist the girls, and
the only place she would be at ease was the EW seat. Marika said Odette II could bring down the entire station. Rin replied that there was no need
to be worry as the main engine was not on, and the external power could be cut if someone really wanted to do the EW.
Marika asked if what Rin was thinking was "Let's test it if we really don't have anything to worry about."
Rin said Silent Whisper which haｓ a high output radar system and processing power of a Battle Ship could easily haｓ 100 times the range that of
Odette II's.