Following the radarman's report, the ship's long-range optical observer quickly locked onto the cargo merchant ship a thousand kilometers away.

When the picture on the virtual screen of the main console gradually became clear in the lens adjustment, the fat man who had just come down from the maintenance mecha and returned to the main control room was stunned all of a sudden.

This old-fashioned light blue [Apollo] cargo spaceship fat man is all too familiar. This was the same smuggling ship with destroyer engines that he had been smuggling into Gachalin. It was also the first spaceship that was used to his modifications.

At the beginning, in order to refit this old merchant ship, the fat man did not work less. The control system and power system of the entire ship, the defense system have been optimized, not to mention, the hull has also been reinforced. In order to enhance the ability to resist attack and adapt to the needs of higher speed navigation.

What's more, under the bow side of the entire sky-blue [Apollo] cargo spaceship, there is a "Tian" mark that protrudes from the inside out. This is exactly the mark that the fat man secretly gave on a whim. This was the main reason why he recognized the ship at a glance.

As for the female captain Audrey, who was a combination of pungent and watery on the merchant ship, inherited the smuggling ship but couldn't control the situation, and finally relied on her own help to get the crew, the fat man still holds a grudge: "If it weren't for the fat man hiding quickly, the little lady who opened her eyes and shot would have opened a few holes in the fat man!" ”

On the virtual screen, the situation of [Apollo] does not look good. The energy shield was reduced to a thin layer of red. The civilian alloy kinetic energy resistant armor on the hull has also become dilapidated. There are still traces of burning on the ground left by the energy cannon's residual energy that breaks through the shield.

"Send a Directed Communication Request." Chekov ordered. For a merchant ship that had apparently been attacked, appeared in this inaccessible star field. He had to be careful. Perhaps, behind this merchant ship, there is a large group of fierce hounds!

Point-to-point directional communication was quickly established. As the communication screen dissipated in a few colorful balls of light, Audrey's image appeared on the screen.

"I'm Audrey, the captain of the merchant ship Audrey. Gro, it's a pleasure to call you, Dear Mr. Captain. I'm relieved to see you here. "On the virtual screen, Audrey is beautiful, calm, gentle and elegant. Compare with the previous impression of a fat man. Matured a lot.

"What's going on? Has anyone attacked you? Chekov was on his guard.

"Yes, Mr. Captain." Audrey nodded, "Now, the two high-speed plundering ships of the Redbeard Pirate Regiment are following our fleet, from the Salga Federation all the way here. In a few minutes, it may be another ten minutes, and they should have crossed the jump point. Of course, to you, Mr. Captain, and your warships, they are nothing more than a bunch of paper tigers. ”

"Redbeard Pirates?" The fat man was stunned. I couldn't help but ask, "They shouldn't be able to outrun your smuggling boat!" ”

The fat man still remembers the last time he went to Gacharin, and this pirate group also tried to rob Audrey's smuggling ship, but was dumped by himself.

The so-called "Audrey" is equipped with the engines of a [Admiral Karlov]-class light destroyer. It's all old-fashioned stuff though. But it's faster than the [Phoenix] destroyer, not to mention the high-speed ships converted from civilian speedboats of the pirates.

As soon as the fat man spoke, Audrey on the virtual screen was obviously stunned.

Audrey from the surface. It's an ordinary merchant ship that is innocent and even dilapidated. Few people knew that the merchant ship was a smuggling business. Only a few people know that this ship is extremely fast.

Right now. Suddenly, the people on a Lelei destroyer told her identity and the biggest secret of the [Audrey], and Audrey couldn't help but panic.

Carefully on the large number of communication screens, the fat man standing next to the captain of the destroyer, the image of a person gradually matched!

Zhang Yuan...... Dead fat man......" Audrey said in surprise: "Why are you ...... here"

Ever since the Fat Man's capture of James was hyped up by the Federation, Audrey has long known the true identity of the Fat Man who traveled to Gachalin on her own smuggling boat. Since then, she has been following all the news about the fat man in the Leray Federation.

In addition, Milan later rushed to Gachalin with Audrey's smuggling ship through the same clue, Audrey knew that Milan knew the fat man in a casual chat, and suddenly became good friends with Milan, and learned a lot about the fat man from Milan's mouth.

Audrey has always been grateful to this fat man who is a bit of a lust fan and a little bastard. If it weren't for the fat man, I would have fallen prey to Erik the cook or Anthony the vice-captain by now. Not to mention that the smuggling boat left by his father was buried in his own hands, these old fellows who had followed his father for decades would also fall apart in poverty.

It is precisely because of the modification of the fat man that the old [Apollo] can do a good job in the war-torn pirates and the increasingly difficult interstellar smuggling line, and his reputation is getting bigger and louder

Many goods that others dare not take, Audrey dares to follow. Others dare not run the ground line, but Audrey dares to run. Rely on the speed of the Audrey. She slipped out from under the noses of pirates countless times. The crew of the smuggling ship, with a more lucrative income, became more united and more obedient.

All this is a blessing for the fat man.

When the communication was connected, Audrey did not recognize the fat man. After all, the appearance of the fat man who made up as Zhang Yuan at the beginning is really very different from his current appearance. As soon as the fat man asked at this moment, Audrey immediately reacted, and the fat man who had been engraved in her mind for more than a year was right in front of her.

"Dead fat man......" The fat man has a black line in his head.

Audrey said excitedly: "Great, I really didn't expect you to be there...... How have you been? Wow, your appearance has changed a lot, so you really look like this. Dead fatty, how did you put on makeup at that time? I heard you are a hero of the Leray Federation! ……”

In the main control room, everyone was a little dumbfounded.

Why is this female captain who was still mature and elegant just now. In the blink of an eye, she becomes a little girl who is very excited about twittering? Everyone looked at the fat man with muscles twitching on his face. I can't help but admire: "I deserve to be a federal hero, a legendary miracle maker, who can turn a mature woman into a Lori." That's a lot of work! ”

"Stop!" The fat man rolled his eyes: "Let's talk about the pirate land first!" ”

"Oh......" Audrey, who screamed like a yellow bird, immediately quieted down and said obediently, "That's right, the Redbeard Pirates ambushed us as we passed through the IE-1404 public galaxy, and they didn't know where to buy two high-speed plunderers converted from civilian frigates, and they were very fast. Now, something is wrong with our main thruster. So, I can't get rid of them. ”

"Only two Marauders?" The fat man breathed a sigh of relief. This time. Only two secondary guns on the flanks and a dozen rotating turrets remained of the [Berlan Rose]. It can't stand any big toss. To say paper tigers. These people are paper tigers.

"Hmm." Audrey nodded, "There are only two plundering ships. The main force of the Redbeard Pirate Regiment seems to be plundering the public galaxy outside the Salega Longbow Star Field. ”

"Redbeard Sea Regiment......" Chekov frowned and interjected, "Aren't they active in the triangular star field between the Tatanian Free Business Alliance and Desik and Gacharin for a long time?" Why did these bastards run away to the Salga Federation again? ”

"Recently, there have been some signs of turmoil in the situation in the Salga Federal Land. Due to the depletion of resources, the processing export trade was affected by the war. The financial system is also in trouble, the economy is in recession, and people from all walks of life are marching in the streets every day. The law and order situation has become dire. Plus some people deliberately create unrest. The Salgar government is no longer able to control the situation...... "Audrey said. Somewhat embarrassed, he said, "Whether it's a smuggling ship or a pirate group." Recently, they have been gathering here, trying to take advantage of the chaos to make a profit. ”

Chekov and Tian Xingjian glanced at each other. I was a little worried. As Leray Federation soldiers, they naturally know the problems of the Salga Federation at the moment. It's just that I didn't expect the situation to reach such a point. Generally speaking. Pirates are afraid to get too close to a sovereign state in their area of activity. Usually public galaxies are located more than five hops away from these countries.

And now, it is conceivable that the Redbeard Pirate Regiment dared to openly commit crimes at a distance of two jumps from the Longbow Star Field of the Salga Federation. The chaos of the Salga Federation. It has definitely affected the military. Otherwise. Pirates and smuggling ships are never so rampant.

The Salga Federation is in disarray. The situation in the Federal Land of Lere is even more severe.

Thinking of Russell's prediction of a chain reaction from this. The fat man wanted to rush to the Salga Federation, arrest all the pro-Sirk guys, beat them up, and lock them up. Don't change your position, don't eat!

Hearing Audrey's news, the officers and soldiers in the main control room of the entire [Blue Rose]. For a while, I was deeply worried. There, after all, it was another country, although it was an alliance, but Leray had no reason or strength to influence the political situation of the Salga Federation.

You can only watch! Watching this neighbor go into chaos, and even watching her fall to the West. This deep sense of powerlessness. It makes everyone feel a little depressed!

"How so?" Helen muttered: "Isn't there still General Tolstoy in the Salga's Federation, how could he let the Salga's Federated become like this?" ”

There was silence in response.

Helen called Tolstoy, the Salga people most familiar to the people of Leray.

This seventy-year-old veteran general is the former chief general of the Salga Federation Army and one of the staunchest allies of the Le Ray Federation.

As a young man, Tolstoy studied at the Federal Military Academy of Steel in Leray, and later at the Military University of Heidfeld, the capital of the Republic of Fyan.

After returning to China, Tolstoy successively served as the military chief of the battalions, regiments, and divisions of the Eighth Panzer Division of the Salga Army, and later served as the deputy chief of staff of the Operations Department of the Third Army, the deputy chief of the general staff of the group army, the commander of the group army, and the deputy commander and commander of the Longbow Military District

Late bloomer. Twenty years ago, after serving as the commander of the two armies of the Salga Federation, he was promoted to commander-in-chief.

Tolstoy was an upright man, resolute but not pedantic. He may not have any special talent in military command, but he has an unusually unique vision in recognizing and employing people and in army building. It was during the ten years that he was in charge of the Salga Federal Army that the Salga Federal Army, which originally belonged to the third-rate army, completely changed its appearance. It has become the main force in the southeast star field of Fimeng Dingzhen.

Nearly one-third of the high-ranking generals of the federal army who are now in charge of military power were promoted by Tolstoy without exception. None of these people have been promoted by nepotism or sloppiness.

It is not an exaggeration to say that Tolstoy was the anchor of the Salga Federal Army. Although as early as eight years ago, Tolstoy had already stepped down from office and returned home to spend his old age in peace. However, in the minds of many Salga's soldiers, this general, who was a federal general, was their eternal leader and idol.

Helen had interviewed Tolstoy when he was invited to give a lecture at his alma mater at the Military Academy of Les Les Steel, after he left office, and was very shrewd. Talkative. Straightforward, open-minded old man. I was extremely impressed. Therefore, when she heard that the Salga Federation was in such a mess, she was extremely shocked.

Helen couldn't imagine it. When the Salga Federation was in chaos, General Tolstoy turned out to be indifferent. You know, as long as he stands up and says a few words, there will never be a thing of pirates going rampant and plundering two places away from the Longbow Star Field.

The Blue Rose has bypassed the meteorite belt. Merge with the merchant ship Audrey.

"Captain Groh......" Chekov broke the silence.

"Call me Audrey." Audrey smiled.

"Hmm...... Captain Audrey..."Chekov nodded, "Where are you going?" ”

"I was going to go to the Tatanian Free Business Alliance. But......" Audrey said with some worry: "With the current situation of merchant ships, I am afraid that it is not suitable for long-distance navigation, I plan to find a free dock for repair first, and I am afraid of encountering pirates......"

Between words. The Audrey had slowly glided behind the Blue Rose.

Chekov just smiled slightly at Audrey's little calculations, for the [Blue Rose]. Solve two ships that have just broken through the jump point. Engine. Civilian frigates whose radar and protection systems are necessarily at a temporary standstill. It's not a problem. These civilian ships. But there is no military unmanned detection aircraft for early jump monitoring!

"Captain Audrey......" Chekov pondered for a moment and said, "You can see it too." We've just gone through a fight. The ship needs to be repaired. We don't know much about the current situation around the Salga Federation Star Field, so we ...... I think we need your help and your merchant ships. ”

For Chekov, the most important thing now is to pass this jump point and get rid of the pursuers. Find a way to complete the repair and resupply and get in touch with Leray.

However, without receiving precise instructions from the country, Chekov did not dare to swagger the destroyer into the Salga Federal Territory.

Although it is still an ally with the Salga Federation, with the current situation of Salga, once someone makes a fuss about this Lelei destroyer, or wants to see what secrets are in the computer on board this new destroyer, then the matter will be troublesome.

Therefore, the [Blanx Rose] needs to rely on forces other than the forces of the Salga Federation.

This kind of power is the free space power that has continued since the era of space exploration. Countless cargo merchant ships, smuggling ships, exploration ships, pirate groups, and even various gangs, mechanics, supply merchants, government officials, and regular organizations make up the bulk of this free force.

They have Freeport, they have Freedock, Freedom Base, Free Space Station. There, as long as you have money, you can buy everything you need! Don't talk about energy, weapons, drugs, women, even if you want a slave, buy a horse to run in a small space station, hunt a dog, someone will send it to your land!

And if a new destroyer wants to mingle around the current Salga Federation, many things will be inconvenient without the assistance of smugglers or pirates. Outside the star fields of sovereign states, only these opportunists, who travel around the universe all day long, know where there is a free dock, where to replenish, where to hide their tracks.

Audrey needs to help, but it's just because the fat man and Audrey know each other that this is a kind word. In fact, in the territory of space, the strong have always been respected. In the face of a new destroyer, whether it is smuggling or piracy, there is no right to speak.

Audrey didn't seem to be the slightest rejection of Chekov's request, she just smiled, glanced at the fat man nonchalantly, and then agreed to Chekov cheerfully: "I feel very honored to be able to help you." ”