Twenty hours later, an Imperial Army Interstellar Fleet of thirty starships arrived at the location where the Interstellar Transport Ship fleet had sent its distress signal.
"Where are those Mechanical Clan interstellar warships from the distress message?" an Imperial Army officer with the rank of Colonel asked with a frown in the video window.
"Those starship wrecks outside are them," Zachary Chase said coldly.
"You destroyed them?" the Colonel asked, surprised.
"If not us, then was it your Imperial Army?" Zachary retorted.
The Colonel heard the displeasure in his words: "What do you mean?"
"I'd like to ask what you mean! This was clearly a simple escort mission, so why were there Mechanical Clan interstellar warships ambushing us, and even using a warp interceptor? Colonel, this is not a simple escort mission at all." Zachary stared at him.
At the same time, Smoking Uncle (Zheng Xiong) , who was also in the video communication channel, said with an unfriendly look: "Concealing mission information—this violates the rules for issuing missions."
"The Mechanical Clan Interstellar Fleet's attack was just a coincidence. It's quite normal for coincidences to occur in bounty missions like this. Besides the normal mission compensation, we will repurchase the wrecks of the Mechanical Clan interstellar warships you destroyed at the highest market price, and according to Imperial law, we will give you a bonus for destroying Mechanical Clan interstellar warships," the Colonel said without changing his expression.
"Coincidence? Then tell me, why are the cargo holds of those Interstellar Transport Ships empty!" Zachary directly threw out several captured images.
The images showed destroyed T1 Interstellar Transport Ships, and from the wrecks, it could be seen that some of the T1 Interstellar Transport Ships' cargo holds were empty, with no trace of any scattered materials.
A cold light flashed in the Colonel's eyes.
"Colonel, we aren't fools out here. Since we dare to lay our cards on the table with you here, we have a backup plan. We have already backed up all the data from what happened here. If… we cannot return safely, then this matter will be exposed! The Imperial Army's credibility will be greatly damaged! Is this a responsibility that you, an Imperial Army Colonel, can bear?" Smoking Uncle slammed the table and said: "I led my fleet to fight desperately here. It turns out this was all a trap, making us escort an Interstellar Transport Ship fleet with no supplies. If it weren't for our courageous fight, perhaps we would have been completely annihilated long ago. My fleet also sacrificed three T1 starships and hundreds of brothers who faced life and death together! We want an explanation—is that too much to ask!"
As an old hand, Smoking Uncle had already discussed this with Zachary beforehand. Regarding this strange Imperial Army bounty mission, they couldn't just simply swallow their anger. However, to confront the Imperial Army, they also needed to have some preparations.
After a few moments of silence, the Colonel looked at the two of them and said in a deep voice: "I don't have the authority to handle this matter. We will give you a satisfactory answer when we reach Liusha City Interstellar Fortress."
Eliminating these mercenary fleets in front of him was not difficult for an Imperial Army fleet, but the troublesome part was the subsequent mess. If it damaged the Imperial Army's reputation because of this, it would not be worth it.
"Alright, I'd like to see what kind of reasonable explanation your Imperial Army can give us!" Smoking Uncle finished speaking and angrily ended the communication.
Zachary said indifferently: "We also want to give our crew a reasonable explanation. You are also a captain commander. You should understand that feeling."
After speaking, Zachary also exited the communication.
The Colonel was not angry because of their aggressiveness; this was actually within his expectations. Because this escort mission was indeed not that simple, and it was surprising that these escort fleets could survive an attack by a Mechanical Clan Interstellar Fleet. Among the destroyed Mechanical Clan Interstellar Fleet, there was even a T3 Black Iron-class Medium Star Destroyer!
"Contact the person in charge of the Interstellar Transport Fleet and have him provide all video records of this battle. We will clear the battlefield in three hours, and then we will escort the Interstellar Transport Fleet back to Liusha City," the Colonel instructed his subordinate.
"Yes."
"With our attitude just now, will that Imperial Army officer really not do anything to us?" Serena Frost looked at Zachary beside her and Smoking Uncle on the video window, a little worried.
Smoking Uncle took a puff of his cigarette: "Little girl, don't worry about that. The Imperial Army always cares about its reputation, and this escort mission was clearly their doing something unethical. Although we don't know what they are planning, if we expose this matter, it will definitely greatly affect the Imperial Army's prestige. At that time, which private fleet would dare to accept the Imperial Army's missions?"
"Moreover, both of us are outstanding students of the North Starship Military Academy. If the North Starship Military Academy intervenes, it won't be a small matter," Zachary had already made his calculations.
"Brother Zachary, how much do you think is appropriate for us this time?" Smoking Uncle showed a cunning expression.
Zachary thought for a moment and held up five fingers.
"Hmm… that's a bit much, but we can try it," Smoking Uncle nodded.
Afterward, the Imperial Army fleet began to clear the battlefield.
And at a certain distance from the battle zone, another set of battlefield traces was found. That was the direction from which the T3 Black Iron-class Medium Star Destroyer had previously appeared. There were several starship wrecks there, and after confirmation, they belonged to the Leather Jacket Woman's fleet that had fled the battle earlier. All starships were destroyed, and judging from the bombardment wounds on the fleet, they were all heavily damaged and destroyed by that T3 Black Iron-class Medium Star Destroyer!
This news made Zachary and the others feel relieved. People like that deserve a bad end!
After dealing with these matters, the Imperial Army fleet escorted the Interstellar Transport Ship fleet and Zachary's fleet, setting off again for Liusha City Interstellar Fortress. This time it was very smooth. After ten days of navigation, they successfully arrived at Liusha City Interstellar Fortress.
Looking at the Interstellar Fortress before them, it was an interstellar military fortress built on a planet as its base, surrounded by several asteroids and satellites that had been converted into military asteroids and military satellites. The range was not as large as the Northern Third Star System, and the number of starships stationed there was not large. But they were all uniformly T2 combat starships and T3 combat starships!
After Zachary's fleet arrived, the military starport provided free basic maintenance for Zachary's fleet.
On the other side, the lawsuit request from Zachary's fleet was also passed on to his superiors by the Colonel.
"This escort fleet actually survived? And completely annihilated a Mechanical Clan Interstellar Fleet?" A general-looking man was startled when he heard this report. He then had his subordinate retrieve the information about this battle, as well as the data on the escort fleet.
"A T2 Aircraft Carrier Starship actually has Star Shield technology!" The general looked at the battle footage with a shocked expression.
"General, can this matter be handled by me? At the same time, please seal these video materials and ensure that all who know about this matter do not spread it," a young man who served as the general's adjutant stepped forward and said.
The general looked at the young man in surprise: "Lieutenant Song, this matter is not trivial. A T2 Aircraft Carrier Starship has T2 Star Shield technology!"
"General, this person is related to the Shaw family. Please trouble the General," Lieutenant Song said humbly.
The Shaw family? The general narrowed his eyes, looking at this young officer. This person was arranged by the Shaw family a while ago, a very young One-Star Brigadier General, and he had a good relationship with the Shaw family. It seemed that this T2 Aircraft Carrier Starship was related to the Shaw family. Then he would do the Shaw family this favor.
"Alright, do as you say. This matter is all yours, Lieutenant Song," the general said seriously.
Lieutenant Song smiled and said: "Thank you, General. I will mention your heroic performance here to Shaw River Governor!"