<h4>Chapter 496: Changes IV</h4>


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    What was the Research Consortium thinking?


    This was the question that everyone in Ye Chong''s group was asking. No one was on the S.S. Iron Scorpion. It was like an abandoned city. The base was a mess. Things were scattered everywhere. Even the memory chips, which probably contained ssified information, were simply left lying on the floor. The staff must have left in a rush.


    What happened here? What happened to the Research Consortium? Ye Chong could not understand.


    "What a nice piece of real estate! Too bad we can''t use it. Would''ve been the perfect ce for headquarters," Shang sounded regretful. Ye Chong did notment further. It was true that the S.S. Iron scorpion was a wonderful choice for their base of operations. However, defending this ce right now would be suicidal. The space station itself was of no value to Ye Chong.


    Over the years, the S.S. Iron Scorpion was fitted with world ss facilities. It was apparent that the Consortium spent a lot of effort in designing the space station.


    With 500 mech pilots aboard, the ce would practically be a castle, fortified by soldiers. Taking down the ce with Ye Chong''s army would not have been possible.


    Ye Chong realized then the naivety of his optimism.


    Fortunately, the Research Consortium''s unexined retreat had benefited him.


    Ye Chong raised his voice abruptly, "Find the warehouse immediately!" A base like this must surely have a huge warehouse. That was their primary concern right now.


    Ye Chong could only hope that the warehouse was not empty.


    "Instructor! We found the warehouse!" Xi Qing reported to Ye Chong excitedly. Few people in the fleet were qualified to call Ye Chong "instructor". Most were his former student like Xi Qing and Shu. Most of the students worked at the grassroots level. They were Ye Chong''s most loyal supporters.


    The warehouse was located at the inner parts of the S.S. Iron Scorpion. Its structure waspletely made of alloy to fortify it against attacks. Even a direct hit from a warship cannon would not be able to prate its tough walls.


    The heavy alloy doors silently slipped open to both sides. It was dark inside the warehouse.


    As the lights were switched on, the hopeful crew members quieted down, so much that one could hear a pin drop.


    Inside the warehouse were stacks and stacks of goods. All the things were arranged methodically by their ssifications. Some still had their identification barcode on them.


    "This world is too crazy!" Ye Chong muttered to himself. He did not know why he said that, but the words seemed to spill out from his mouth.


    After the initial shock, everyone recovered quickly. They looked overjoyed, but their ingrained discipline allowed to remain rtively calm.


    Ye Chong waved his hand in a single and decisive stroke, "Take them! Take them all!"


    After nning for the retrieval of all those resources, Ye Chong returned to Haskel. He was very happy with the operation. Perhaps the only people in the operation who were disappointed were the battle-hungry warship crew members. They had expected to demonstrate their strength to Ye Chong, but did not even get to fire a single cannon in the end. Once again, their roles became redundant.


    The Research Consortium was rich! Even someone as unmoved by money as Ye Chong was amazed by their wealth. The mountain of resources in the warehouse had left him a little shell shocked.


    However, what happened to the Research Consortium? He knew from intel that the Research Consortium was a organization that specialized in technology, butcking in military strength. Nevertheless, their findings in the warehouse seemed to suggest that this was not the case. Ye Chong could tell that the S.S. Iron Scorpion was built as a military base.


    All the signs suggested that the Research Consortium had left in a hurry, without time to organize themselves properly.


    Well, in the end, what did all these had to do with him? Ye Chongughed at himself wryly. If the Research Consortium had not left in a hurry, the resources in the warehouse would not have been left behind for him. Right now, he should worry more about his own predicament.


    Ye Chong''s expression turned heavy.


    "Ye, don''t look so sulky. Beware the wrinkles! Wrinkles are humanity''s worst enemies! But I gotta say, Ye, you''re doing not so bad recently Haha, keep it up!" Shang continued slyly, "Ye, I''ve been setting up a database of beautifuldies recently. Would you like a copy? Hehe, it''s got a chapter on Bing Bing!"


    Ye Chong had nothing to say to Shang''s bbering.


    Just then, the inventory list arrived for Ye Chong.


    Ye Chong looked at the lines and lines of huge numbers in the inventory list, and realized once again just how much they had gained this time!


    There were enough energy cells tost them quite a while. The fleet will not have to worry about energy cell supplies. One of the things that surprised Ye Chong was the number of mechs they acquired. They now had 5,000 D-6''s! Ye Chong wondered what the true purpose of the S.S. Iron Scorpion really was.


    These 5,000 D-6''s would be enough for Ye Chong''s 2,500 mech pilots to use and swap turns. D-6 had much higher specs than Fighter. After the mech pilots got used to these mechs, Ye Chong''s army would be significantly more formidable.


    Numerous other things were retrieved from the warehouse. Ye Chong had ordered his subordinate to empty the warehouse, after all. Xi Qing and Shu executed his orders to the letter. Not even a single piece of paper was left in the warehouse. Even all the memory chips that were scattered on the floor in the base were salvaged. However, the information within them would have to be organized.


    As the joy from their stroke of luck wore off, Ye Chong''s frown returned.


    The problem of energy cell supplies was resolved, but the main and most crucial problem remained. They had to figure out how to escape the surrounding formation of the red-tailed beasts.


    He still did not have a viable solution.


    The red-tailed beasts were much faster than they were. As the two nking armies of red-tailed beasts were pushing their way forward as fast as they could, they were now left far behind. In other words, they were already in the trap of the red-tailed beasts, it was only a matter of time before they werepletely enveloped by the enemy. Once that happened, there would be no escape.


    Haskel was still in a joyful atmosphere. The crew members in thems rooms were discussing excitedly about all the things that they managed to acquire. Their jobs did not require much from them. Most of the crew were either sitting or lying around, enjoying a cup of hot tea while they chatted with theirrades.


    Thems room should have been a very important ce in a starship fleet. It was rare for to see its staff unupied like this. After all, they needed to ry orders from the fleetmander to the ships in the fleet, and mediatemunication between other ships and the main ship. It was a very important job. However, their respected and beloved Sir Jay rarely used thems room. His orders were usually directly given to Xi Qing or Shu.


    "Say, how much do you think we got this time? I heard that we''re filthy rich now! The things pile up like mountains!" One of the staff said.


    "Of course, tsk tsk, the Research Consortium is wealthy after all. I''m so jealous!" Another staff replied from his half-lying position on a chair.


    Thems room staff leaderughed and teased him, "Then go to the Research Consortium, why don''t you? Hehe, don''t worry, no one''s gonna stop you."


    "No way," the staff replied shaking of his head, "I wanna still live. Who else but Sir Jay who helped us survive right now? The Research Consortium? If they can help us , the S.S. Iron Scorpion would not have been left empty."


    All around, people who were listening no longer felt so chatty. All this while, they had high hopes on the Research Consortium. However, reality is cruel. The Research Consortium''s powerlessness had chipped away the confidence of Gray Valley''s residents in them.


    Suddenly, the mainms activated. The shrill beeping rm cut through the silentms room. The staff froze in surprise for a moment, exchanging looks of confusion before someone finally yelled, "It''s Sir Jay!"


    Everyone quickly got into position and linked to the mainms.


    Ye Chong''s holographic image came up on thems. His calm voice came through like winter breeze, "Hear me. All ship captains with more than two decades of experience, meet me in the control room, immediately!"


    "Yes sir!" All the crew members saluted.


    Crack! The holographic image of Ye Chong vanished, and the staff members heaved a sigh of relief. Sir Jay had abruptly passed down an order through them, and it had caught them off guard.


    "Back to work," the staff leader said solemnly, all traces of his earlier congeniality gone. Everyone went to their stations and busied themselves. They must ry Sir Jay''s orders to every starship in the fleet as soon as possible.


    The anxious undertone in Sir Jay''s voice was noticed by the staff. They tensed up immediately, and went about their tasks quickly. They were also feeling unsettled. Sir Jay had always been a symbol of invincibility to them. If anything could trouble the man, it must be a very big problem indeed.


    They ryed Ye Chong''s orders as quickly as possible, worded most strictly to every ship captain in the fleet.


    About 10 minutester, all captains with more than two decades experience in their position were gathered in the meeting room. They had dropped whatever was upying them when they received the order and rushed for the meeting. Discipline in the fleet was strict. No one would dare to challenge Sir Jay''s authority. By the time they arrived, Xi Qing and Shu were also present.


    Those who were close to the two approached them to ask about the meeting, but it seemed that they too were unaware of the reason behind their gathering.


    Just then, Ye Chong entered the meeting room.


    Everyone stood up and salute, and Ye Chong saluted them back. Of course, Ye Chong was not the one who came up with these protocols. All the fleet''s rules were Shang''s doing. The effect was apparent, however. Everything was organized, and managing the fleet''s personnel no longer felt like a messy job.


    Ye Chong minced no words, and went straight to the point.


    "Currently, we face a problem that threatens our very survival!"