In the E3 area, Jiela was in a heated argument with a bald old man.
"It's absolutely outrageous. The training time is already very short, and you want to move it up? Isn't that just sending them to their deaths?" The old man replied in an irrefutable tone.
"Anyone who takes on this job must be mentally prepared. This resource extraction must proceed smoothly. The previous supply missions were very unsatisfactory. We've finally discovered a giant planet and detected glaciers within it. We need to replenish enough water resources; otherwise, who knows when the next opportunity will come. The original plan to supply at Bellock Star has long been canceled."
"There's an unknown atmospheric layer shrouding this planet numbered V42-52. The detection signal has attenuated by 60%, and very little information is coming back. The internal conditions are completely unclear. What if there's a problem with such a rushed supply plan?"
"There won't be a problem. I've already applied to the operations department for an elite escort team to accompany us. They will do their utmost to protect the Harvester's safety. There's no room for negotiation on this matter; all you need to do is execute."
A female clerk in uniform approached, holding a mini control panel.
"The minister has already been brought over and is heading to the hangar. Preparations will be completed soon. This operation plan consists of teams of three, with two experienced Harvesters and one novice. A total of 300 teams will be deployed, with three giant resource plunder ships and ten large resource plunder ships. The escort will be handled by the DT mobile mecha department, which is expected to deploy 120 mechas, including 100 Type I new light mechas, 17 Type II heavy mechas, and 3 Type III energy-gathering high-power mechas."
"Very good, the escort strength this time is much stronger than before." The old man nodded in satisfaction.
At this moment, Qianlong arrived at a massive hangar in the E3 area, where a giant resource plunder ship measuring 800 meters lay before him. The entire spaceship was equipped with only a few weapons, while the rest had been modified to remove unnecessary equipment, maximizing space. The exterior was reinforced with alloy armor plates, and the underside was fitted with 120 fixed mechanical arms specifically for operations. It was powered by four advanced Type T fusion-fission engines, with a maximum load capacity of 400,000 tons.
The ground maintenance staff were busy making final adjustments, ensuring the plunder ship reached optimal performance. Their target was the giant glacier belt, where a large number of glaciers drifted. Their first target was a glacier approximately 6,100 square meters in size and 180 meters high, with an ice block weight of 0.9 tons per cubic meter. Calculating the weight of this glacier alone exceeded 1,000,000 tons. Coupled with the weight of the spaceship itself, the three giant plunder ships would be operating at full capacity, which was not a good thing; the theoretical load rate differed from the actual one.
Other large plunder ships would be responsible for recovering other resources.
"Hey, don't daze off." A voice from behind pulled Qianlong's attention back.
He turned around to see two people approaching: a tall woman with blonde hair wearing a gray short T-shirt and tanned skin, a cigarette hanging from her mouth, and a middle-aged man with messy hair, reeking of alcohol, occasionally yawning.
"This is the trouble assigned to us."
"Shut up, Jones," the blonde woman said rudely.
Jones waved his hand dismissively, "It's just how it is. With such a serious job, we still have to bring a newbie. I don't know if those supervisors have been kicked in the head by a donkey."
The blonde woman looked at Qianlong and said, "Although you're not very welcome, there's no helping it. Since we're in the same team, I don't want you to die easily. Just stick close to us and don't act on your own; that's the best way to stay alive."
"Thank you." Qianlong wasn't offended by their attitude; in some ways, he was indeed a burden in their eyes.
"My name is Aina. Let's go; we need to board the ship." Aina said simply.
Qianlong followed Aina and Jones toward a large plunder ship. According to Aina, they hadn't drawn the water resource collection task; instead, they were assigned to explore another area. It was said that the imaging feedback from that area was somewhat strange, and excluding interference, the higher-ups believed there was a slight chance of rare minerals existing.
Their task was to survey and confirm; if resources were indeed found, they would extract them based on type. The urgency of this mission was actually related to Bellock Star, where supplies were severely lacking, and it was expected that resupply at Bellock Star would fall through.
The captain believed that the probability of encountering alien species here was quite high, so additional personnel were dispatched for rapid resupply.
The three of them arrived at the bottom of a Marauder spaceship codenamed Fat Fish, just as they were about to board.
A young man with a beaming smile approached from a distance.
"What a coincidence, Aina, we're working together again."
Aina was completely uninterested and impatiently replied, "Quake, why aren't you in the cockpit preparing for takeoff? What are you doing here?"
"Don't be like that. We're friends after all. Once the mission is over, how about grabbing a drink together?"
"Not interested."
Jones yawned and said, "Alright, Quake, just give it up. Go find another girl, or you might end up with your eggs crushed."
Quake's smile stiffened, "I just came over to say hello. What are you thinking? Oh, is this the newbie? Did your team get a replacement?"
Jones replied listlessly, "There's no one newer than him. He probably hasn't even finished training before being thrown in."
Quake shook his head, "I really don't know how to describe it. Good luck to you all; I'll be on my way."
"Hey!"
Qianlong felt as if someone was calling them and looked up to see a woman in a yellow hat and repairman's outfit, one hand gripping a steel wire above her and the other waving a wrench.
"Aina."
In the next second, the woman slid down the steel wire.
"Camille, what's up?" Aina asked.
"Are you going on a mission?" Camille asked with concern.
"What's so strange about that?" Aina replied.
"I heard this mission is very dangerous; you need to be careful." Camille advised.
Aina nonchalantly responded, "Don't worry, I know. We're about to board."
With that, Aina led the way onto the ship. The Harvester mechas had already been moved to the cargo hold at the back of the Marauder spaceship.
Inside the spacious cargo hold of the spaceship, the harvesters were neatly arranged in two row
s, fixed onto the ground with 12 units per row, totaling 24 units.
(End of Chapter)