Star Ocean: Starting from the Abandoned Mining Space Station

Chapter 99 Fourteenth Legion
In hyperspace in the galaxy where the pirate space station is located.

The activation of the Afterglow fleet's jump engine had reached the last moment, and Sindar's fleet led by the Defender-class cruiser barely arrived.

They had no way to stop them, they could only watch the Afterglow Fleet leave and turn their attention to other places in hyperspace.

After contacting the remaining company fleet in hyperspace and investigating what happened before, the captain and commander of the cruiser immediately transmitted all the situation inside the galaxy back to the company headquarters.

Sindar Corporation headquarters in the Asconia system.

In the conference room on the top floor of the headquarters building where the meeting should have ended long ago, all the directors are still gathered here, waiting for the results.

The appearance of the Defender Captain was displayed on the projection screen in the conference room.

The chairman had already listened to the Defender Captain's explanation of the situation in hyperspace. Although he was a little anxious, he still kept a calm face and asked the captain: "What does it mean that the military's Dominator class may be destroyed by Afterglow?" The cruiser was killed? I need clear information."

The Defender Captain lowered his head slightly when facing the Chairman's question and said: "According to the information provided by the surviving Cowherd Captain, Chen Ming did indeed enter this hyperspace channel."

"But after our search, we only found some fragments of the ruler's wreckage inside the channel."

"There are no remains of any mining ships and no traces remain."

"Combined with the fact that when we first arrived at the target location, we only saw an afterglow fleet whose jump was in the final stage."

"We can only speculate that Yuhui killed the ruler who was pursued by the military and killed Chen Ming. We are not 100% sure of what happened next."

The chairman's eyes stayed on the captain for a moment, and he said: "Leave some ships to continue the search, and other ships will be responsible for the rescue work. The military will definitely send spaceships over later, and then contact me."

"Yes."

Screencasting is terminated.

The projections of other directors in the conference room focused their attention on the chairman again.

The chairman cleared his throat slightly and said: "First rule out the possibility that Chen Ming was killed by Yuhui and that the entire spacecraft was completely destroyed."

"Although Chen Ming's spaceship was modified from a civilian mining ship, it can be determined that he mixed dolomite steel into the material."

"This kind of material cannot be directly annihilated even when faced with an attack from a tachyon spear, so this possibility should be ruled out first."

A director followed the chairman's words and said, "Then there is only one possibility left. Yuhui took Chen Ming away."

Another director agreed: "I think the possibility is really high."

"However, there is a big difference between whether a person was taken away by Afterglow, whether he was captured or whether he left on his own."

"Have we not discussed the possibility of Chen Ming's ability before? He has the ability to control all spaceships, and the Afterglow spacecraft is also a spaceship."

The directors present had basically already had some thoughts on this conjecture.

One director immediately asked the question he had been thinking about before: "But if he can already control a cruiser-level ship, is it necessary for him to return to the company? Or even put himself in the danger of being hunted?"

"We all know his history. We can't say that he suddenly had any special purpose out of nowhere, right?"

The director's question immediately triggered a rebuttal from the director who had just proposed the idea: "In fact, I don't think he can control the cruiser yet. The use of psychic powers always requires mental support."

"It takes at most half a year for him to awaken his psychic powers. No matter how talented a psychic is, it is impossible for him to have enough mental power to cover an entire cruiser after half a year of awakening."

"you sure?"

"This is the upper limit determined by human physical fitness, and I have a say in this aspect."

The director said this and no one else had any objections.

At this time, the chairman who was listening to the directors' discussion also spoke: "My opinion is that Chen Ming definitely has the ability to control Yuhui AI."

"As for Yuhui's fleet, Chen Ming found a way to contact them through the Yuhui AI on the Yuhui spaceship that he once controlled."

"Why did Yuhui come?"

The chairman immediately replied: "It depends on Chen Ming's ability."

"Then Yuhui isn't worried that Chen Ming will control them in turn?"

The chairman immediately gave another answer: "If Yuhui and the others were worried about this, they shouldn't have appeared in the first place. Letting Chen Ming die there, wouldn't it be the easiest and most convenient choice for Yuhui?"

"Even if they are worried about Chen Ming's death, wouldn't it be better to wait until the military fails to take action and come out to give Chen Ming a shot?"

"really."

"I think so."

The chairman's statement was recognized by several directors.

"So I think there is a high probability that Chen Ming chose to call for Yuhui to rescue him when he was pushed to the end by the rulers. This is the only completely unrestricted force near the edge star field that can support him."

"Wait a minute, it doesn't seem certain when it comes to this. Where is Wu An?"

The chairman's question made all the directors present look at the director who manages the pirate space station.

I saw him spreading his hands and saying: "I asked, and the person gave me an answer that he knew. I don't know what he did."

"Is it possible that it wasn't Yu Hui but the one he rescued?"

"He is not a psyker who can personally save people. When our ship arrived, there were no traces of conflict with Yuhui other than the ruler. It shouldn't be the case."

"Maybe he has other plans?"

"The arrangement that almost killed Chen Ming?"

The chairman reached out and knocked on the table lightly, interrupting the discussion of what Wu An had done, and said: "Stop guessing, you will definitely not be able to guess. We can't figure out what the people of the Psychic Association did. , maybe he has already rescued Chen Ming elsewhere."

"And now all the evidence we have found has completely pointed to Yuhui, so now let's assume that it was Chen Ming who was taken away by Yuhui, and then consider other things."

"Of course, we have to pay more attention to Wu An's situation during this process."

The director who was in charge of the pirate space station nodded and said nothing.

Another director asked: "Then what should we do now? Go find Yu Hui? Call him?"

The other directors directly answered on behalf of the chairman: "We can't beat it, right? Even if there is only a small wave from Yuhui, we can't handle it."

"You can use the thing in the test. You should be able to try it. The combat effectiveness is guaranteed."

The chairman directly rejected the director's proposal and said: "This is the key to our company's competition with several established companies. It is still in the research and development stage and absolutely cannot be used. And even if we have it, won't there be afterglow?"

"Just attack them like Yuhui attacked us before. If the efficiency is high enough, we shouldn't run into them."

The chairman glanced sideways at the proposed director and said, "Okay, if we agree to the call, where will you find Chen Ming?"

"Do you have Yuhui's star map? Do you know which galaxy has Yuhui's colony after passing through the buffer zone? Do you know where Chen Ming was taken by Yuhui? Looking for someone is just empty talk now."

"Furthermore, given Chen Ming's current situation, I'm very curious about his thoughts on Yuhui. Does he want to stay with Yuhui forever, or does he still have the intention of coming back?"

"Although there is pressure from the external environment, since Chen Ming has prepared backup plans for Yu Hui to rescue him, he must have considered what he will do after going to Yu Hui's side."

"This is information we have absolutely no way of knowing for sure."

The chairman paused for a while, sighed slightly in his heart, and said: "Chen Ming can use the spacecraft he controls to contact us, but we can only send the information we want to convey to his spacecraft."

"It's really not certain when you will be seen by him and when you will wait for his reply after being seen by him."

"We can only wait for Chen Ming to contact us now."

"So instead of wasting time waiting, let's get started on other things first."

"To take back the galaxy that belongs to us, the space station that belongs to us has to do more than just bring Chen Ming back, there are many other things to do."

"And even if there is no statement, after learning that Sky Steel is produced in the galaxy, we must take back the galaxy by any means necessary."

"Compared to before, now is definitely the best time."

"In addition, we have the escort fleet that needs rescue, the government that needs explanation, and the military that needs to respond."

"These are still new things, and all the company's original work needs to be continued."

“There is never enough to do.”

The director sitting on the left side of the chairman stood up and said: "Then I will continue to contact the government and explain clearly the matter of the armor-piercing ship, otherwise the company's business will be difficult to do in the future."

"Chen Ming's situation must also be explained clearly. We will definitely not be able to keep Chen Ming in the future, and it will be difficult to bring Chen Ming back in person."

"Since we're not sure whether Chen Ming can come back alive in the end, let's use up the value of what he left behind."

"We have already lost a lot, at least we can't even make back what we lost."

The chairman opened his mouth slightly, but finally said nothing.

Watch the director exit the meeting after speaking.

Another director suddenly noticed a key word in the chairman's words and asked: "Chairman, what do you mean by the best opportunity?"

"This has something to do with the situation on the military side."

The chairman looked at the director responsible for handling military-related matters.

Although there is a military faction in the company, he can be sure that all directors, including this director, are absolutely firm corporate faction.

The middle management of the company may have some thoughts due to the temptation of the military in terms of interests.

But the company's top executives, especially the top executives, that is, the board of directors, all know that the military is a hungry wolf that eats people without spitting out bones. The mining space station is the best evidence.

If you sell the company for your own benefit, you will definitely be swallowed up by the military in the end.

The director in charge of military affairs saw the chairman looking at him and said: "The situation in the military is very strange. Their rebels should have been caused by themselves."

"That man turned out to be the commander of a military outpost. He had high authority within the army and was also an old soldier. He had no reason to suddenly rebel. He also took away a complete ruler and came to hunt down Chen Ming."

"It is speculated that they thought that the ship they sent out at the beginning was not enough to kill Chen Ming, and then in order to complete this task, they made people take the initiative to rebel and cause trouble."

"Although the military has very high authority, the deployment of cruisers still needs to be approved."

"Unless their outpost is attacked by Afterglow like before, other places can immediately bypass the approval process and directly attack the cruiser." "But Afterglow didn't come before, so they used this method."

After the director finished explaining, he said with confusion: "I really don't understand how they can do this kind of thing."

"And they seem to have been stuck in their ways for too long. They don't even want to understand the information outside the star zone. There is already something wrong with their brains."

"They dare to mess with anyone who comes over there."

The director who had just asked the chairman said, "You mean the rebel who destroyed the ship of the man who came from there?"

"Yes, that's why I said there is something wrong with their brains and they have messed with people they shouldn't have messed with."

"So the sector military will definitely undergo a major change in the future, and this is our best chance to regain the space station."

At the end of Sindar's board meeting.

The star gate near the colony planet where the star domain capital is located suddenly activated.

The huge ring-shaped star gate lit up with a glow caused by the energy required to activate the star gate.

Then, in the center of the star gate's ring structure, a thin film like a chaotic starry sky appeared.

A few minutes later, a ruler flew out of the star gate with a fleet of exactly a hundred ships.

This special ruler, which was very different from ordinary rulers, did not stop at the capital of the star field. It directly led the fleet to turn around and leave the galaxy and enter hyperspace.

In the center of the ruler's command room, a three-dimensional image of a galaxy is projected.

The galaxy in the middle of the projection is a planet filled with volcanoes and unstable geological structures.

This is the Galo-2 star sector where the Pirate Space Station is located, and the military's general station.

The fleet led by the special ruler entered the hyperspace channel.

And in the only military colony on the planet located under the protection of a biodome.

The headquarters building of the sector military.

In the office of the supreme commander, an imperial major general.

The adjutant, who was wearing a straight military uniform, was reporting the situation to the gray-haired major general behind the desk.

There were two other people listening next to him, also wearing military uniforms. From their epaulettes, it could be determined that one of them was a colonel and the other a lieutenant colonel.

The adjutant did not avoid them and said directly: "The ruler lost the positioning signal and is suspected to have been destroyed. Before losing the signal, he did not report that the mission was completed."

The major general's forehead was filled with wrinkles, and he slapped the table and said: "Impossible! Which force in the edge star field can use a fleet capable of destroying the ruler without any movement, and give me their last communication record."

The lieutenant colonel next to him reminded: "He went out with his cronies to rebel, and has cut off contact with us. We can only locate the approximate location of the ruler through background programs."

The major general immediately realized that he had said the wrong thing in a hurry, but fortunately, the people in his office were all his own people.

He adjusted slightly and said: "Xinda Company's support is quite slow. We have also relied on other connections to block Wu An's side. Who else can help Chen Ming escape?"

The lieutenant colonel suddenly thought of something and asked: "Could it be Yuhui? They have a criminal record."

"Chen Ming was blocked in hyperspace. Why did Yuhui go to hyperspace for no reason?"

The lieutenant colonel shut his mouth and said no more.

The military had not yet learned the identity of Chen Ming's psyker, so they could not understand why the ruler had suddenly disappeared.

The major general didn't get an answer from anyone else, so he could only say: "Go figure out what's going on. I want an answer."

The adjutant nodded and asked, "Then where should we start?"

The major general frowned and glanced at the adjutant and said: "Two places, one at the outpost. The people who killed Chen Ming in the past cannot be dead. The people who came back must know something."

"The other one is Sinda Company. You can also give it a try. Some people within them have always had ideas about establishing a good relationship with us, and they will always know something."

The adjutant took note of what the major general said, saluted and prepared to leave.

The major general continued to warn: "There is also the commander of the outpost. He still characterizes the traitor as a traitor and asks the outpost to recommend a temporary replacement. We will arrange someone later."

"Now let's find out whether Chen Ming is dead. The output of Sky Steel must not fall into the hands of others."

Just as the adjutant pushed open the office door.

The major general suddenly received an emergency communication.

He immediately called his adjutant back and read the contents of the communication.

Emergency communications revealed that a fleet had entered the system from hyperspace without approval.

The flagship of the fleet is a ruler, but for no reason its size is nearly one-third larger than the rulers that the sector military also has.

And the armor of this ruler has a clear orange paint, and also has the emblem of a spreading eagle, as well as a "ⅪⅤ" logo.

"The mark of the Fourteenth Legion? What's going on with that ruler? Is it a new model? Why did it enter our jurisdiction without approval?"

A series of questions came out of the major general's mouth.

But no one in the office could give him an answer.

"I have to deal with it."

The major general stood up and said to the lieutenant colonel: "Go and make Chen Ming's wanted list even more serious. Find ways to get in touch with him and get him to be wanted in other sectors, so as to put some pressure on Xinda."

"Add the charge of having an affair with Yuhui and treason, and add whatever is serious."

"And you."

The major general looked at the colonel and said, "You continue to appease those people who have been urging us to solve the problem because of Chen Ming, and give them more confidence."

The lieutenant colonel and the senior colonel immediately left the office after responding.

The major general took the adjutant to the general command room in the headquarters building.

At this time, a communication in progress was displayed on the large screen in the general command room.

On the communication screen, you can see that the other party is a soldier wearing the special military uniform of the [-]th Legion. He wears a pair of glasses and has the same military rank of major general.

But it was obvious that the major general of the Fourteenth Army Corps did not want to talk to anyone else.

It wasn't until the major general arrived at the command room that the major general of the Fourteenth Army Corps said like a notice: "The military jurisdiction of the Galo-2 sector will be taken over by our Fourteenth Army Corps in the future, and the formal transfer document of the jurisdiction's management rights has been submitted. .”

"Major General Guo Hongzhuo, please return to the Star Territory Military Headquarters to report on your work."

Guo Hongzhuo did not show any special emotions because of the words of the 35th Army Corps. Instead, he asked: "What's the reason? I have served here for [-] years and will retire in two years. What does it mean to suddenly ask me to go back and report on my duties?" ?”

"The sector where the traitor appeared and lost a cruiser should be yours, right? This alone is enough for you to go back."

Guo Hongzhuo's face suddenly turned cold.

He has obviously passed the responsibility for this matter to other people who can take responsibility through the relationship in the Star Territory Joint Theater, which is a higher level than the Star Territory Military.

In this way, even though he has a certain degree of negligence, he should not be driven back directly.

And the person who helped him do this is definitely a trustworthy person and should not be questioned.

Guo Hongzhuo said with some disbelief: "Although I have a certain responsibility for the traitor's matter, it should not be to this extent."

The major general of the Fourteenth Legion pushed up his glasses, and the reflection of the lenses made it difficult for everyone in the military command room of the Star District to see his eyes clearly.

"It's not true, but I wonder if you have ever heard of active smuggling within the military region?"

"Someone sent the reporting documents to the inspection team, and after verification, the inspection team found many problems."

The major general of the [-]th Army Corps simply named a few items controlled by the army and reported several locations, dates and times.

As Guo Hongzhuo listened, some cold sweat gradually appeared on his forehead.

Because the major general of the [-]th Army Corps mentioned a few, which happened to be the smuggling in which he made the most profit.

But he still said with some reluctance: "If we do something wrong, it should be reviewed by the inspector. Your directly affiliated army has no right to dictate to the local army. Why do you do these things? Where are the documents of the inspection team?"

"First of all, you call this something wrong? You may have some misunderstandings about doing something wrong. What you did is going to a military court."

"Secondly, what was just sent to you is the document of the inspection team."

"In the end, the inspection team was driven back by us."

"This is a temporary duty substitution consent form with the seals of the Inspectorate and the Imperial Military Administration. Please accept it."

Four simple words, each one made more beads of sweat break out from the Major General's forehead. He had never heard that the once weak Fourteenth Army could do such a thing.

In other words, he has been here for more than 30 years and has only heard about the reorganization of the Fourteenth Legion once.

Is it possible that the Fourteenth Army underwent such big changes after that reorganization?

The major general of the Fourteenth Army Corps obviously would not have any explanation for this. Anyway, all the contents of the document were true.

He pushed up his glasses again, revealing his terrifying eyes to everyone.

"The reason we sent the inspector team back to come here in person is because we lost one of our men here."

"It seems that he happened to be killed by that traitor of yours."

The threat in the eyes of the Major General of the Fourteenth Army was almost overflowing.

"For soldiers who violate the law and military discipline, the Imperial Independent No. 14 Corps now has the power to review them."

Communication hangs up.

The entire fleet, led by the special ruler of the Fourteenth Legion, composed of ships modified by the Fourteenth Legion itself, has appeared in the orbit of the planet.

(End of this chapter)