The impact triggered Astra's automatic feedback mechanism, immediately displaying the external situation on the screen. Astra quickly analyzed and provided a suspicious inference.
"Ordinary pipes, when torn apart and entering outer space, are large but lightweight, quickly twisting and hard to maintain their shape. However, this pipe not only retained its shape but also had a weight disproportionate to its size, which is highly suspicious," Astra's voice echoed in the cockpit.
The mechanical arm swiftly extended, grabbing the ejected pipe. Tearing open the silver metal casing, just a small corner revealed a dark, dense metal object inside.
Ryan's eyes lit up, and he immediately realized, "The black box!" He quickly ordered Astra to stop tearing the silver metal casing and brought the precious item into the cabin.
Ryan felt a surge of excitement. He didn't intend to hand over the black box immediately. He had other plans for it.
"Astra!" he issued a new command, "Connect to the black box's data port and start scanning and collecting the information inside."
"Yes!" Astra promptly executed the order.
The black box contained personal data of the space pirates, including their flight logs, action logs, chat records, and communication signals. These signals were linked to various mobile black market outposts. These outposts were usually established by skilled individuals or organizations operating in the gray areas, serving corporate groups, mercenaries, and space pirates, while also providing intelligence to the space military. Their identities were mysterious but highly influential.
Astra quickly completed the data copying from the black box. While Astra continued to collect nearby space debris, Ryan began to carefully review the contents of the black box.
The content was extensive, including lnterstellar route map, flight logs, and casual daily chatter. Sifting through to find useful information wasn't easy, but it didn't daunt Ryan.
Ryan started organizing the information in the black box, listing the identities of all individuals. He paid special attention to the captain and the second-in-command of the Galactic Tempest Syndicate.
The captain of the Galactic Tempest Syndicate was a D-level expert, quite formidable in the current era. However, due to equipment disadvantages, he ultimately died an obscure death.
Ryan meticulously reviewed the captain's logs, communication records, and conversations, quickly uncovering valuable intelligence. First, he found that the captain's stopover star system was not far from TerraNova's base, requiring at most two days of travel. Second, the captain had made a transaction worth 90 million dollars, purchasing a limited-lifespan D-class high-frequency pulse particle weapon from a black market outpost.
Most importantly, Ryan discovered two emails in the captain's inbox. One detailed TerraNova3's route and various parameters of the ship; the other, received just a few hours ago, contained information on all members of the security team.
Seeing this, Ryan's face turned grim. The security team's roster was a last-minute decision. The only person who could quickly grasp and send this email had to be an insider from TerraNova's base security team. This was a clear act of betrayal!
Ryan had already guessed the traitor's identity. He hadn't expected that to replace Carlos as the security team leader, the traitor would collude with space pirates, creating a major enemy for TerraNova. Such a person could not remain in the security team anymore.
After three hours of searching, all Bluebirds returned to TerraNova3. Ryan handed over the black box and successfully received a personal reward of one million from Vicente Rojo Lluch, which aroused envy among the others. Most people's gains ranged from 300,000 to 700,000.
However, the most surprising discovery was made by Jane. She found a jewelry box in a pile of space debris containing a gold coin, valued at 1.3 million, making her the luckiest person in this search operation.
The only mystery was the disappearance of the two modified Bluebirds.
After TerraNova3 resumed its journey, the following trip was surprisingly smooth, with no further incidents. After two days of travel, it finally reached its destination—Starport City.
Starport City was located on the surface, with a massive space station in low Earth orbit above it. From a distance, dozens of large transport ships were docked outside the station, with hundreds of small spacecraft shuttling back and forth, creating a bustling scene.
The captain of TerraNova3 applied for entry into the jump sequence at the Starport City outpost. Meanwhile, Carlos led Maughan and others off the transport ship, preparing to take a spacecraft from the Starport City outpost back to the base.
They were about to board a small deep-space transport spacecraft, as fast as TerraNova3. However, before officially embarking on their return journey, they had half a day to rest and resupply at Starport City, a benefit provided by the company.
The group of eight boarded the spacecraft to Starport City—a G-class Seahorse. Known for its sturdiness, speed, and spaciousness, it could accommodate a hundred people, specifically serving security personnel from various planets. While it excelled in speed and space, it was quite basic in other aspects.
Carlos was very familiar with Starport City. He briefly spoke with the pilot, who immediately closed the hatch and started the engines.
"We don't have much time," Carlos said, returning to the group without changing his expression. "I've sent you a map of Starport City and some key locations. Familiarize yourselves quickly. Our departure time is in five hours later. You must reach the designated assembly point in four hours. Anyone late will have to pay 100,000 for a private flight back to the base. Understood?"
"Understood!" everyone responded in unison.
The Seahorse plunged into the atmosphere, passing through the clouds towards Starport City. As the clouds cleared, the ground scenery came into view. From high above, Starport City was a dazzling spectacle of lights and colors. Skyscrapers stretched endlessly, their glass facades reflecting the glow of neon lights and the shimmer of countless stars. Giant holographic advertisements floated in the sky, displaying everything from the latest tech gadgets to interstellar travel deals, adding a dynamic layer to the city's skyline.
The streets below were a hive of activity, with hovercars zipping through the air and pedestrians bustling along elevated walkways. The city was a blend of advanced technology and diverse cultures, with marketplaces selling exotic goods from distant planets and street performers showcasing talents from across the galaxy.
Massive spaceports dotted the cityscape, with spacecraft of all shapes and sizes taking off and landing in a well-orchestrated ballet. The air was filled with the hum of engines and the chatter of communication devices, underscoring the city's vitality and constant motion.
Compared to TerraNova's base, Starport City was a beacon of prosperity and energy. Numerous spacecraft shuttled orderly in the sky, their sleek designs and bright lights showcasing the city's advanced infrastructure and bustling economy. The city was alive with the promise of adventure and the allure of the unknown, a true testament to humanity's reach into the stars.
However, Ryan was indifferent to the spectacular scene. Starport City was not unfamiliar to him. He had visited many times. Built by the Earth Alliance and guarded by the space military, Starport City was a large outpost with a complete system.
It was equipped with a jump center, a division-level armed defense force, its own research center, and various raw material smelting factories. With a permanent population exceeding hundreds of millions, Starport City boasted fashion elements comparable to many cities in the Earth Alliance.
In Starport City, everyone had three hours of free time to purchase daily necessities. Whether it was gourmet food, bags, cosmetics, combat suits, or ammunition, everything was available.
Ryan glanced at his accumulated wealth from dealing with space junk and the black box: 3.25 million dollars. As a professional soldier, he felt quite poor. His equipment included an H-class chip, an H-series aircraft, and a basic security combat suit, simple and somewhat crude. He didn't even have a custom weapon.
What could he do with this money? Ryan thought, it might be better to find a place to train and absorb the Lacertoclaweus pancreas to enhance his strength.