Half a month passed in the blink of an eye.
In the Xinggang Industrial Workshop, the original three Ivock I, II industrial ships had completely disappeared.
In their place stood a massive starship, looking quite bulky.
"Is this our industrial ship?" Rona, holding a cigarette, gazed at the gigantic vessel, three times larger than the Qingyuan, her eyes burning with excitement.
Qi Bing, standing beside her, sighed with awe, "It’s hard to believe that in less than half a month, under Captain Sun He’s leadership, we managed to turn those three pieces of scrap metal into a brand new industrial ship."
"The last time our Qingyuan Fleet had its own industrial ship, it was like, twenty years ago," Rona chuckled self-deprecatingly.
"We weren’t even in the service back then," Qi Bing shook her head.
At this point, the industrial ship had reached the final stage – painting.
The ship's hull was primarily black, with the Qingyuan’s emblem emblazoned prominently on its side.
Finally, the industrial ship’s number was painted.
Zero.
"Huh? Why is it Zero? Usually, ships of the same type start from 001, don’t they?" Rona looked at the painted "Zero" with a hint of confusion.
"This Giant Turtle-class industrial ship is not a standard Giant Turtle-class, so its designation is simply Zero," Sun He and Tang Yuan appeared behind Rona and Qi Bing.
Rona and Qi Bing immediately stood at attention.
"Captain."
"Qi Bing, you’re a fighter pilot, right?" Sun He looked at Qi Bing.
Qi Bing nodded.
"You've piloted the modified Hummingbird-class starfighters and learned about the assembled Modified-Grey Wolf-class starfighters. How would you rate them?" Sun He asked.
Mentioning fighters, Qi Bing's eyes lit up.
"Your modifications are amazing. The combat capabilities of both the Hummingbird-class and Grey Wolf-class starfighters have increased exponentially.
The Modified-Grey Wolf-class, in particular, are practically the highest-level T2 fighters.
And the Dragon Network strategic core system is simply phenomenal!"
Sun He smiled, "These are all based on modifications of a single fighter blueprint. And the first task for the Giant Turtle Zero industrial ship is to produce a batch of these brand new fighters."
Hearing about new fighters, and the implication from Captain Sun He that these fighters might surpass the Modified-Grey Wolf, Qi Bing couldn’t help but ask, "What class and type of starfighters are they?"
"Don't worry. The raw materials have arrived. In ten days, these first fighters will be ready to meet you.
Be prepared to pilot them and fight for the Qingyuan Fleet," Sun He patted Qi Bing's shoulder and left with a smile.
Qi Bing pulled Secretary Qiao Rong Rong aside.
"Rong Rong, tell me. What kind of new fighters are these?" Qi Bing asked with anticipation.
Secretary Qiao Rong Rong shrugged helplessly, "You know, I can't understand blueprints or anything like that. So I don't know.
But I do know that Captain Sun He spent every last bit of our fleet's funds on raw materials."
Qiao Rong Rong sighed sadly.
As the one in charge of finances, Qiao Rong Rong was incredibly stressed.
The Qingyuan Fleet's funds were once again depleted, and their supplies were only enough to last the fleet for a month.
And half of that month had already passed.
Adding the ten days for building the new fighters, they had only five days left for Captain Sun He to secure new funds.
Otherwise, their Qingyuan Fleet would truly be left with an empty pot.
"Captain Sun He is so decisive, isn't he?" Rona was taken aback. "Has he planned out his next move? Or did he already receive new orders?"
Secretary Qiao Rong Rong shook her head, "I have no idea. Captain Sun He keeps things very confidential, and never divulges much to me.
He just told me not to worry too much, and said he would get the funds in the nick of time."
Ten days later.
In the Qingyuan's dining hall.
Rona and Qi Bing were enjoying their lunch together.
Unlike before, they now savored their meals each day.
Captain Sun He's new policies had dramatically changed their menu.
The previously inedible artificial vegetables had been removed from their meal plan.
They were now served simple but delicious dishes like noodles, bread, milk, steamed buns, rice, and various side dishes.
While the food was rationed, it was a huge improvement for the 3,000 interstellar female soldiers.
After all, they had been eating nothing but those awful artificial vegetables.
"This egg noodle soup is absolutely delicious!" Rona finished her last sip of broth, her face filled with contentment.
Across from her, Qi Bing sighed, "We’re enjoying it now. But we've been in this spaceport for twenty-five days.
I got some information from logistics. Our food reserves are only enough for five days, and their requests for purchasing more supplies have been repeatedly denied.
Soon, we’ll have nothing left to eat."
"Honestly, after eating so much good food, I can't stomach those old artificial vegetables anymore. I really wish we could eat like this every day.
If that's what it takes, I'd give up ten years of my life!" Rona declared dramatically.
"If wishes were horses, beggars would ride," Qi Bing rolled her eyes.
Tick
Tick
"Relaying bridge command, all starfighter pilots report to the hangar immediately."
"Repeating, all starfighter pilots report to the hangar immediately!"
The sudden broadcast caught everyone off guard.
"Why are they suddenly calling for all the pilots...?" Rona was still trying to process the announcement when she realized Qi Bing had already left.
Fighter hangar.
Rows of fighter pilots stood in formation, Qi Bing at the front.
Ten fighters, covered in black tarpaulins, stood in the hangar.
"Everyone here?" Captain Sun He looked at the pilots.
Qi Bing stood at attention, "All 357 official starfighter pilots present and accounted for."
The Qingyuan only had a hundred or so starfighters, but there were 350 fighter pilots. This showed just how severely the Qingyuan was understaffed.
Captain Sun He looked at the female soldiers.
Rumble rumble rumble
At that moment, everyone felt the Qingyuan moving.
They looked around curiously.
"Don't bother looking. I gave the order earlier. The Qingyuan and the Giant Turtle Zero industrial ship have left the spaceport. Our destination is McCarthy, in the Grizzly Star System."
Captain Sun He announced, hands clasped behind his back.
"McCarthy?"
"Why are we going to McCarthy? Isn't that Grizzly Lord's territory?"
"Is there a new mission?"
The female soldiers whispered among themselves.
"McCarthy is a resource planet owned by Grizzly Lord. It mainly produces crystal ore and other minerals.
It’s located on the border of the Grizzly Star System. This time, we’re going on a special ‘mission’.
To reclaim the payment Grizzly Lord owes us with interest."
The female soldiers were astonished by Captain Sun He's words.
"You mean… we’re going to rob him?" Qi Bing was startled. This plan from their captain was absolutely crazy.
They were going up against a lord’s forces.
"Robbing is too harsh a word. We’re just going to collect what’s owed." Sun He smiled, then pointed at the ten fighters covered in tarpaulins.
"You might be wondering how we’re going to take on Grizzly Lord’s forces.
Let me tell you, these are our trump cards. They are the future of our Qingyuan Fleet.
Congratulations, ten of you will be piloting the Qingyuan Fleet’s newest fighters in our inaugural mission!"
Including Qi Bing, everyone's eyes were fixed on the ten fighters covered in tarpaulins.
Just what kind of fighters could inspire so much confidence in their captain?