Thomas took a sip of his sweetgrass juice and turned to Henry, asking, "What's your take on these folks?"
Henry, the leader of the mech squadron hired by Thomas, was tall with a stern, stoic face that resembled a sculpture. His short, coarse hair stood up like steel wires, and a scar about two to three centimeters long diagonally crossed his brow, though it didn't give him a sinister appearance; instead, it added to his rugged charm. His imposing physique instilled a sense of security, and in the Tianluo Star Region, many young women were drawn to him.
However, Thomas valued him not for his looks but his remarkable insight, cautious demeanor, and strategic command skills. Moreover, Henry was known for his integrity, which Thomas deeply appreciated. If it hadn't been for Henry's reluctance, Thomas would have eagerly recruited him to work under his employ. Henry was indeed a force to be reckoned with! His prudence and adept coordination had steered them safely thus far.
Henry's posture resembled that of a soldier: his back straight, eyes focused straight ahead. Once seated, he could remain motionless for hours on end, a trait that Thomas found admirable.
After a moment of contemplation, Henry responded clearly and forcefully, "The young man appears to be a scion of some influential family. None of the three exhibit any major flaws, though his bodyguard seems to possess considerable strength, though I can't be certain. According to their account, their spacecraft sustained severe damage due to a meteor collision. However, upon examining the impact site of their vessel, it was evident that their hull had been reinforced. There were no traces of debris nearby, which makes it highly unlikely that it was a meteor collision!"
Thomas's eyes widened. "Could there be something amiss with them? Could they be insiders collaborating with pirates?"
Henry continued, "Insiders collaborating with pirates? I doubt it. Numerous bodies were found aboard the spacecraft, most of whom were equipped with mechs." Here, Henry's expression turned peculiar. "And their mechs are peculiar."
"Peculiar?" Thomas inquired, intrigued. If even the leader of the mech squadron found their mechs peculiar, it was bound to pique anyone's curiosity.
Henry paused for a moment before explaining, "Yes, exceedingly peculiar! All their mechs are undoubtedly high-end models. Just imagine, if over fifty individuals are equipped with high-end mechs, their collective strength would be formidable! Moreover, from the bodies, it's apparent that these deceased individuals were highly skilled; they must have been advanced mech pilots."
"Fifty high-end mechs? And over fifty advanced mech pilots?" Thomas couldn't help but exclaim. The title of advanced mech pilot implied formidable strength, coveted by various factions. The "Sundered Star Legion," the mech squadron led by Henry, was renowned, yet they only had ten advanced mech pilots, including Henry himself. Therefore, when Thomas learned that there were over fifty advanced mech pilots aboard the spacecraft, his surprise knew no bounds.
Henry nodded solemnly. "Indeed, without a doubt. I personally inspected them! As you know, when a mech's owner dies, the mech automatically resets, becoming a blank slate. However, what's peculiar about these mechs is that all their owners have perished, yet they haven't reset; instead, they've entered a self-preservation mode. No one can operate them or retrieve any information from them!"
"Mechs capable of self-preservation?" Thomas was dumbfounded.
"As far as I know, only a few prominent families and the military employ such technology!" Henry revealed his knowledge candidly.
Prominent families were one thing, Thomas thought; perhaps there would be some benefits to gain. But if it was the military, Thomas couldn't help but shudder. That would spell trouble. Three hundred years ago, the governments of the five major star systems jointly declared the prohibition of the production and research of warships. Since then, mech pilots have emerged as the primary combat resource.
"And..." Henry hesitated, his face betraying a hint of anguish, though the excited Thomas failed to notice.
Seeing Thomas teetering on the brink of collapse, Henry felt compelled to reassure him. "Rest assured, although the spacecraft is highly advanced, it isn't armed with any weaponry, so it can't be classified as a warship."
Thomas let out a sigh of relief. "Phew, you had me scared there for a moment. Let's not joke like that again in the future. I'm not sure my fragile heart can take it!"
Henry smiled wryly. The spacecraft, despite lacking weaponry, had already surpassed the boundaries set by the government.
However, Henry's expression grew serious. "There's one more crucial point."
"Are you trying to give me a heart attack?" Thomas lamented.
Ignoring him, Henry continued, "From the damage sustained by the vessel, it's evident that they encountered an impact of considerable force. To cause nearly fifty advanced mech pilots to perish simultaneously, the energy of the impact must have been immense. However, I'm not interested in how these three survived under such circumstances."
"But there's no debris at the site of the crash, suggesting that whatever happened was unnatural. Whether it was sabotage or a freak occurrence, I'm curious. If it was sabotage, would the assailant continue their assassination attempt upon learning that three survivors remain? If so, I doubt they would show mercy or spare us bystanders. Moreover, I doubt our vessel could withstand even half the impact they experienced. If it was a natural phenomenon, could it happen again? That's what I'm interested in!"
Thomas was speechless. If only he hadn't gone to rescue those three, he thought, consumed by regret.
As the fleet sailed silently and steadily ahead, what awaited them beyond the endless darkness? Thomas and Henry dared not ponder the question any further!