The first meeting was interrupted by this sudden episode.
Sun He, along with Tang Yuan and the others, came to the bridge.
“Captain, Deputy Captain. This is the message just received from the Grizzly Lord.” The communications officer pointed to the information on the screen.
The information above was basically the same as what the secretary officer Qiao Rong Rong had said before.
30,000 units of crystal ore and three industrial ships docked at a certain starport.
“Contact the Grizzly Fleet immediately. When we took the mission, it was clearly stated that we were to receive 100,000 units of crystal ore!” Deputy Captain Tang Yuan said angrily.
If it weren't for the huge reward of 100,000 units of crystal ore, Tang Yuan would never have taken this life-or-death mission.
“I've already contacted them before, and the Grizzly Fleet said that because we left the designated defense line prematurely, they can only give us this much.” The communications officer said helplessly.
Secretary Officer Qiao Rong Rong said dissatisfiedly: “What do you mean we left the designated defense line prematurely? Our mission was to stop the Ivork fleet from supporting them from that location.
We repelled the Ivork reinforcements and ensured that no enemy ships crossed our lines, which is considered a completed mission.
The mission requirements did not specify how we were to fight, nor did they require our fleet to be stationed in this place!”
As the fleet secretary officer, Qiao Rong Rong was well-versed in these matters.
“Alright. In any case, the Grizzly Lord just wants to renege on the deal. No matter how much we say now, they won't give us the money.” Sun He said calmly.
“But... can we just let it go?” Qi Bing said unwillingly.
This was a mission they had fought hard to complete.
“The message says they also added three industrial ships, right? Do you have information on those three industrial ships?” Sun He asked.
Secretary Officer Qiao Rong Rong immediately brought up three video clips.
These were three industrial ships docked at the starport.
However, these three industrial ships were clearly the kind that were almost unusable, with damage, and one even had a large hole in its hull.
“These three industrial ships are now located at the hx23 starport, and their ownership rights belong to us; the starport requires us to take them away within three days.
Otherwise, we, the Azure Iris Fleet, will have to pay the docking fees for each subsequent day.” Secretary Officer Qiao Rong Rong said.
Seeing the three industrial ships on the screen.
The female soldiers were even more angry.
“This is just scrap metal? They give this to us?”
“I think these are the junk they left behind when they attacked Serra Star that they didn't want to take away!”
“Even if we sell these three industrial ships, they won't be worth more than 20,000 units of crystal ore!”
Deputy Captain Tang Yuan looked at Captain Sun He beside her, who had been staring at the three industrial ships.
“Captain, do you have any thoughts?” Tang Yuan asked.
“Two of these are Ivork Class I industrial ships, and one is an Ivork Class II industrial ship. All of them are T1 level; two are light industrial ships, and the remaining one is a heavy industrial ship.
I just don't know how damaged their internal components are.” Sun He rubbed his chin and muttered to himself.
Deputy Captain Tang Yuan was taken aback; why was the Captain suddenly interested in these three industrial ships.
“How long does it take to get to this starport now?” Sun He asked.
“We are not far from the starport, only a day's journey at full speed.” Secretary Officer Qiao Rong Rong brought up the star chart.
“Good, relay my order. We'll go to this starport immediately and receive these three industrial ships.
Also, I need you, Qiao Rong Rong, to contact several component manufacturers for me, preferably those who can deliver the goods within three days.” Sun He said seriously.
“Huh?” Secretary Officer Qiao Rong Rong was stunned and subconsciously looked at Deputy Captain Tang Yuan beside her.
“Listen to the Captain.” Deputy Captain Tang Yuan glared at Secretary Officer Qiao Rong Rong.
This was a reminder to her that Sun He was now the Captain of the Azure Iris!
However, Tang Yuan herself still questioned Sun He in confusion: “Captain Sun He, I know I shouldn't ask about your orders now.
But I still want to know why you seem to be so interested in these three industrial ships, and how are you going to handle this incident with the Grizzly Lord?
Are you going to protest or just... let it go.”
“Would protesting be effective?” Sun He asked Deputy Captain Tang Yuan.
Deputy Captain Tang Yuan was speechless; indeed, protesting against the powerful Grizzly Lord would be almost useless.
“Actually, we can propose it to our patron, the Phoenix Lord. Maybe we can get some of it back.” Tang Yuan suggested.
The Phoenix Lord.
A lord who has the Azure Iris Fleet as a vassal. Most private fleets are not truly private, but are often attached to some forces.
When these forces need them, they go out and fight for them. In normal times, they do their own missions. If they encounter any difficulties, they can rely on the forces to stand up for them.
It's a kind of mutually beneficial relationship.
“The Phoenix Lord's strength is about the same as the Grizzly Lord, and the Azure Iris Fleet has been marginalized by the Phoenix in recent years.
If you go to them for help now, do you think they would go against another lord for a fleet that is about to be disbanded?” Sun He said in a deep voice.
Tang Yuan was speechless. She knew the situation, but it was the only way she could think of to recover the losses.
“There are things that we need to fight for ourselves. If you want the Azure Iris Fleet to become stronger, if you want the female soldiers of the Azure Iris Fleet to live better, then we need to have enough strength ourselves.
Otherwise, today it's a Grizzly who reneges on the deal, tomorrow it could be a Black Bear, a Brown Bear, or a Grizzly Bear.”
Sun He looked at the three industrial ships on the screen.
“You asked me why I cared about these three industrial ships, because these three industrial ships are the starting point for the Azure Iris's rise!
As for that Grizzly Lord who owes us, we'll get it back with interest soon!”
Deputy Captain Tang Yuan looked at Captain Sun He with a dumbfounded expression. While the words were passionate, weren't they a bit too unrealistic?
…
Grizzly Fleet · Flagship
Hong Xiu Lian swayed the red wine glass in her hand and looked at the starry sky scenery outside.
“Captain, this time we not only got the resource star, Serra Star. We also saved over 500,000 units of crystal ore on hiring fleets.” The secretary officer looked at the captain in admiration.
Hong Xiu Lian smiled: “Those cannon fodder are lucky to die for us.”
“But, the Azure Iris Fleet survived and completed the mission. We didn't give them the 100,000 units of crystal ore as agreed, but instead used three broken industrial ships and 30,000 units of crystal ore... isn't it a bit inappropriate?” The secretary officer asked with some concern.
Hong Xiu Lian snorted with disdain: “What's inappropriate? They're lucky to be alive. Otherwise, I would have saved even those 30,000 units of crystal ore.
If they have any complaints, they can come and ask me for it.”