Twenty hours later, an Imperial Army interstellar fleet of thirty starships arrived at the location where the Interstellar Transport Ship Fleet had sent the distress signal.
"Where are those Mechanoid interstellar warships mentioned in the distress message?" In the video window, an Imperial Army officer with the rank of colonel frowned as he inquired.
"The starship wreckage outside is them," Zhao Chen replied coldly.
"You destroyed them?" the colonel officer asked in surprise.
"If not us, then who? The Imperial Army?" Zhao Chen retorted.
The colonel officer detected the hostility in the man's tone. "What do you mean by that?"
"I should be asking you what you mean! This was clearly an Escort Mission. Why were we ambushed by those Mechanoid interstellar warships, and why were Warp Interceptors used?
Colonel, this was no ordinary Escort Mission," Zhao Chen stared at the other party.
Uncle Zheng Xiong, also present in the video communication channel, spoke with a hostile glare, "Withholding mission information violates the rules of issuing missions."
"The attack by the Mechanoid interstellar fleet was merely a coincidence. Such coincidences are quite common in Bounty Missions.
In addition to the standard mission remuneration, we will purchase the starship wreckage of the Mechanoid interstellar warships you destroyed at the highest market price. Furthermore, in accordance with Imperial law, we will grant you the bounty for destroying Mechanoid interstellar warships," the colonel officer stated without changing his expression.
"Coincidence? Then tell me, why are the cargo holds of those interstellar transport ships empty!" Zhao Chen directly threw out several captured images.
The images showed the destroyed T1 interstellar transport ships. From the wreckage, it was evident that some of the T1 interstellar transport ships' cargo holds were completely empty, with no trace of any scattered supplies.
A cold glint flashed in the colonel officer's eyes.
"Colonel, we're not fools in this line of work. Since we dare to confront you here, we have backup plans.
We've already made data backups of everything that happened here. If... we don't return safely, this incident will be exposed!
The Imperial Army's credibility will suffer greatly!
Is that a responsibility you, an Imperial Army colonel, can bear?" Uncle Zheng Xiong slammed the table and said, "I led my fleet here, fighting desperately.
Turns out it was all a trap, having us escort an Interstellar Transport Ship Fleet carrying no supplies at all.
If not for our brave efforts, we might have been completely wiped out.
My fleet lost three T1 Starships and over a hundred brothers who fought through life and death!
We want an explanation. Is that too much to ask?"
As an old hand, Zheng Xiong had already coordinated with Zhao Chen beforehand.
Regarding this bizarre Imperial Army Bounty Mission, they couldn't simply swallow their grievances.
However, to confront the Imperial Army, they needed some preparations in hand.
After a few moments of silence, the colonel officer looked at the two and said gravely, "I don't have the Authority to handle this matter. You'll receive a satisfactory answer once we reach the Quicksand City Starship Fortress."
Destroying these few Mercenary Fleets present wouldn't be difficult for an Imperial Fleet, but the troublesome part would be dealing with the ensuing mess.
If it damages the Imperial Army's reputation because of this, it wouldn't be worth the loss.
"Fine, I'd like to see what kind of reasonable explanation your Imperial Army can give us!" After saying this, Uncle Zheng Xiong angrily ended the communication.
Zhao Chen said coldly, "We also want to give our starship crew a reasonable explanation. You are also a captain and commander.
You should understand this mindset."
After speaking, Zhao Chen also exited the communication.
The colonel officer wasn't angered by their aggressive attitudes; this was actually within his expectations.
Because this escort mission was indeed not simple, and it was surprising that these escort fleets managed to survive an attack by a Mechanoid interstellar fleet.
Among the destroyed Mechanoid interstellar fleet was even a T3 Black Iron-class medium interstellar destroyer!
"Contact the person in charge of the Interstellar Transport Fleet and have him send me all the video records of this battle.
We'll spend three hours cleaning up the battlefield, then we'll escort the Interstellar Transport Fleet back to Quicksand City," the colonel officer instructed his subordinate.
"Yes."
...
"With the attitude we just showed, won't the Imperial Army officer really do anything to us?" Shen Bing looked worriedly at Zhao Chen beside her and Uncle Zheng Xiong on the video screen opposite.
Uncle Zheng Xiong took a puff of his cigarette: "Don't worry about that, Sister Shen Bing.
The Imperial Army has always cared about face, and this escort mission clearly shows they weren't being fair.
Although we don't know what they're planning, if we expose this matter, it would definitely greatly affect the Imperial Army's authority. After that, which private fleet would dare take on Imperial Army missions?"
"Moreover, both of us are outstanding students of the North Star Starship Military Academy. If the North Star Starship Military Academy gets involved later, it won't be a small matter," Zhao Chen had already thought this through.
"Brother Zhao Chen, how much do you think we should ask for this time?" Uncle Zheng Xiong showed a sly expression.
Zhao Chen thought for a moment, then extended five fingers.
"Hmm... that's a bit much, but we can try," Uncle Zheng Xiong nodded.
Afterwards, the Imperial Fleet began cleaning up the battlefield.
At a distance from the combat zone, they discovered traces of another battlefield.
That was the direction from which the T3 Black Iron-class medium interstellar destroyer had previously appeared.
There were the wreckage of several starships there, confirmed to be the fleet of the leather-clad woman who had fled earlier.
All the starships had been destroyed. Judging from the artillery damage on the fleet, they were all severely damaged and destroyed by that T3 Black Iron-class medium interstellar destroyer!
This news made Zhao Chen and the others feel much better.
People like that deserve no good outcome!
After handling these matters, the Imperial Fleet escorted the Interstellar Transport Ship Fleet and Zhao Chen's fleet, setting off again for the Quicksand City Starship Fortress.
This time, it went smoothly. After ten days of travel, they successfully arrived at the Quicksand City Starship Fortress.
Looking at this starship fortress before them.
It was a starship military fortress built on a planetary base, with several asteroids and moons around it transformed into military asteroids and military moons.
Its scope wasn't as large as the Northern Three Star System, and the number of starships stationed there wasn't high.
But they were all uniformly T2 combat-type starships and T3 combat-type starships!
After Zhao Chen's fleet arrived, the military starport provided free basic maintenance for Zhao Chen and his companions' fleet.
On the other side, the lawsuit demands from Zhao Chen and his companions' fleet were also forwarded to the superiors by that colonel.
"This escort fleet actually survived? And annihilated an entire interstellar fleet of the Mechanical Race?" A man who appeared to be a general was startled upon hearing this report.
He then ordered his subordinates to retrieve the information about this battle and the data of the escort fleet.
"A T2 carrier starship actually has star shield technology!" The general looked at the battle footage in shock.
"General, could you entrust this matter to me to handle? At the same time, please seal these video materials and ensure that everyone who already knows about this does not leak it." At that moment, a young man serving as the general's adjutant stepped forward and said.
The general looked at the young man in surprise: "Xiao Song, this matter is no small issue. A T2 carrier starship possessing T2 star shield technology!"
"General, this person is related to the Chu Family. I would appreciate your help, General." The young officer said humbly.
The Chu Family?
The general narrowed his eyes and looked at the young officer. This person had been arranged by the Chu Family some time ago, a very young One-Star Brigadier General, and he had a good relationship with the Chu Family.
It seemed that this T2 carrier starship was related to the Chu Family.
Then he would do the Chu Family this favor.
"Alright, we'll do as you say. I'll leave this matter entirely to you, Xiao Song." The general said solemnly.
The young officer smiled and said: "Thank you, General. I will mention your heroic performance here to Governor Chu He!"
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