Twenty hours later, an Imperial Army Starfleet of thirty Starships arrived at the location where the Interstellar Transport Ship fleet had sent out a distress call.

"Where are those Mechanical Race Interstellar Warships mentioned in the distress signal?" an Imperial Army officer with the rank of Colonel asked, frowning, in the video window.

"The Starship wreckage outside is them," Zhao Chen said coldly.

"You destroyed them?" the Colonel asked in surprise.

"If not us, then was it your Imperial Army?" Zhao Chen retorted.

The Colonel heard the hostility in his words: "What do you mean?"

"I'd like to ask what *you* mean! This was clearly an escort mission, so why were there Mechanical Race Interstellar Warships ambushing us, and even using a Warp Interdictor!"

"Colonel, this is not a simple escort mission," Zhao Chen stared at him.

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 Race Starfleet's attack was just a coincidence. It's very normal for coincidences to occur in such bounty missions. Besides the normal mission remuneration, we will recover the wreckage of the Mechanical Race Interstellar Warships you destroyed at the highest market price, and according to Imperial Law, we will give you a bonus for destroying Mechanical Race Interstellar Warships," the Colonel said without changing his expression.

"Coincidence? Then tell me, why are the cargo holds of those Interstellar Transport Ships empty!" Zhao Chen directly threw out several captured images.

The images showed destroyed T1 Interstellar Transport Ships, and from the wreckage, it could be seen that some T1 Interstellar Transport Ships' cargo holds were empty, with no trace of any scattered supplies. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

A cold glint flashed in the Colonel's eyes.

"Colonel, we're not fools who just stumble around. Since we dare to confront you here, we have a backup plan.

We have made a data backup of everything that happened here. If... we cannot return safely, then this matter will be exposed!

The Imperial Army's credibility will also be greatly damaged!

Is this a responsibility that you, an Imperial Army Colonel, can bear?" Uncle Zheng Xiong 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 whatsoever.

If not for our valiant 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 with me!

We want an explanation, is that not allowed?!"

As a seasoned veteran, Zheng Xiong had already discussed this with Zhao Chen beforehand.

Regarding this bizarre Imperial Army bounty mission, they couldn't just swallow their anger so easily.

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 and said in a deep voice: "I don't have the authority to handle this matter. I will give you a satisfactory answer when we reach the Quicksand City Interstellar Fortress."

Destroying these few mercenary fleets in front of him was not difficult for an Imperial Army Starfleet, but the trouble lay in the subsequent mess.

If it were to damage the Imperial Army's reputation, it would not be worth the loss.

"Good, I'd like to see what kind of reasonable explanation ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) your Imperial Army can give us!" Uncle Zheng Xiong finished speaking, angrily ending the communication.

Zhao Chen said indifferently: "We also want to give our crew a reasonable explanation. You are also a Captain Commander.

You should understand that feeling."

With that, Zhao Chen also exited the communication.

The Colonel was not angered by their aggressiveness; this was, in fact, within his expectations.

Because this escort mission was indeed not that simple, and the fact that these escort fleets survived an attack by a Mechanical Race Starfleet was quite surprising to them.

Among the destroyed Mechanical Race Starfleet, there was even a T3 Black Iron-Class Medium Star Destroyer!

"Contact the person in charge of the Interstellar Transport Ship fleet and have him send me all video records of this battle.

Clean up the battlefield in three hours, then we will escort the Interstellar Transport Ship fleet back to Quicksand City," the Colonel instructed his subordinate.

"Yes."

...

"With that attitude we just had, will the Imperial Army officer really not do anything to us?" Shen Bing asked with some concern, looking at Zhao Chen beside her and Uncle Zheng Xiong on the video window.

Uncle Zheng Xiong took a drag from his cigarette: "Sister Shen Bing, don't worry about that.

The Imperial Army always cares about its reputation, and this escort mission was clearly them being dishonest.

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 point, which private fleet would dare to accept Imperial Army missions?"

"And both of us are outstanding students of the North Star Starship Military Academy. If the North Star Starship Military Academy intervenes, it won't be a small matter," Zhao Chen had already made his calculations.

"Brother Zhao Chen, how much do you think is appropriate for us to ask for this time?" Uncle Zheng Xiong showed a cunning expression.

Zhao Chen thought for a moment and held up five fingers.

"Hmm... that's a bit much, but we can try," Uncle Zheng Xiong nodded.

Afterward, the Imperial Army Starfleet began to clean up the battlefield.

And at a certain distance from the combat zone, they discovered another battlefield trace.

That was the direction from which the T3 Black Iron-Class Medium Star Destroyer had previously appeared.

There were several Starship wrecks there. After confirmation, they belonged to the Leather Jacket Woman's fleet, which had fled the battle earlier.

All Starships were destroyed, and judging by the cannon damage on the fleet, they were all heavily damaged and destroyed by that T3 Black Iron-Class Medium Star Destroyer!

This news made Zhao Chen and the others feel relieved.

Such people never come to a good end!

After dealing with these matters, the Imperial Army Starfleet escorted the Interstellar Transport Ship fleet and Zhao Chen's fleet, setting off again for the Quicksand City Interstellar Fortress.

This time it was smooth. After ten days of navigation, they successfully arrived at the Quicksand 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 moons that had been transformed into military asteroids and military satellites.

Its scope was not as large as the Northern Third Star System, and the number of Starships stationed there was not many.

But they were all T2 Combat Starships and T3 Combat Starships!

After Zhao Chen's fleet arrived, the military Starport provided free basic repairs for Zhao Chen's fleet.

On the other side, the lawsuit request from Zhao Chen's fleet was also passed up to his superior by the Colonel.

"This escort fleet actually survived? And completely annihilated a Mechanical Race Starfleet?" A General-like figure was startled upon hearing this report.

He then had his subordinate retrieve information on this battle, as well as the escort fleet's data.

"A T2 Aircraft Carrier Starship actually has Star Shield technology!" The General looked at the battle footage with a shocked expression.

"General, can I handle this matter?

Also, please seal these video materials and ensure that everyone who already knows about this matter does not spread it externally." At this moment, a young man serving as the General's adjutant stepped forward and said.

The General looked at the young man in surprise: "Xiao Song, this matter is no small thing. A T2 Aircraft Carrier Starship possessing T2 Star Shield technology!"

"General, this person is related to the Chu Family. I'll trouble you, General," the young officer said humbly.

The Chu Family?

The General narrowed his eyes, looking at the young officer. This person had been arranged by the Chu Family some time ago, a very young One-Star Brigadier General, and he had a good relationship with the Chu Family.

It seemed this T2 Aircraft Carrier Starship was related to the Chu Family.

Then he would do the Chu Family this favor.

"Alright, do as you say. I'll leave this matter entirely to you, Xiao Song," the General said solemnly.

The young officer smiled and said: "Thank you, General. I will mention your heroic performance here to Governor-General Chu He!"