Vice Captain Charlotte faced Captain Zachary's words and pondered for a moment without saying much.
She put the handheld terminal on her wrist and used its permissions to access the relevant data files for this starship.
What she saw was astonishing.
Charlotte's eyes widened, and she looked at Captain Zachary beside her in disbelief: "The data for your starship… is all real?"
"Of course it's real," Captain Zachary said, as if showing off his child: "How about it? How's my starship?"
Charlotte said with a serious expression: "If the data displayed on it is real, then this starship can almost be said to be invincible in T2 starship duels!"
Invincible.
What a terrifying evaluation that was. If Wendy and Levi heard this evaluation, they would definitely scoff—how could a starship assembled from three dilapidated starships become an invincible T2 starship? What a joke.
"Later, we'll go out for a test run. You can arrange the crew's positions."
Captain Zachary rubbed his nose and said somewhat awkwardly: "Because I… don't have much funds right now, this test run will be a phase for you to familiarize yourselves with the starship and train. I hope you can master controlling this starship as soon as possible."
"Can I see the list of slaves you purchased?" Charlotte asked.
"Yes, you can see it in your permissions."
Charlotte clicked on the list of crew candidates, and it showed the one hundred half-orc slaves. They were all Charlotte's companions, which softened Charlotte's gaze considerably, and at the same time, her heart was filled with guilt. The thought of many of her compatriots still being prisoners made her feel uncomfortable.
"Fortunately, these are all experienced crew members. Plus, this starship is only a T2-class starship, so after three to five hours of skilled operation, they should be ready for combat." Charlotte replied.
Captain Zachary showed a satisfied smile.
Half a day later, Charlotte was familiar with the Blizzard Zero, and the other half-orc crew members had also rested.
"Here are the positions I've arranged for these half-orc crew members. Operating this Blizzard Zero only requires fifty crew members." Charlotte handed Captain Zachary a list.
"The extra personnel will serve as reserve staff for various positions. Let them familiarize themselves with the working environment first," Captain Zachary instructed. This was his first starship, but not his last. These crew members could also be assigned to other starships in the future.
"I've already applied for permission to depart with the starport. The time limit for my rental of this starship workshop is almost up. I've used my remaining limited funds to rent a berth at the academy's starport.
"After the test run and training are complete, we will return directly to the starport berth. I've purchased some simple bedding and daily necessities; from now on, you will live on this starship. As for living supplies, I will figure that out later." After Captain Zachary finished speaking, his heart couldn't help but ache.
His account funds were dwindling. He still had to support these one hundred half-orc girls, so he had to find a way to make money. To think that a dignified interstellar lord was so poor was truly a bit shabby.
"Yes." Charlotte accepted Captain Zachary's order and gradually embraced her new identity.
Captain Zachary sat in the Captain's chair, looking at the old Bridge, his heart firm. He was determined to own a true T3 Blizzard-class Light Interstellar Battlecruiser!
"This is your living area, five people per room. As for meals, there will be two per day for now, to be collected on time in the dining area. Each work position will operate on a three-shift rotation. Understood?" Charlotte looked at the one hundred half-orc crew members before her. This feeling was as if she had returned to the era when she was still fighting in the Resistance Interstellar Fleet.
Months felt like a lifetime.
"General… do we really have to fight for that human?" A half-orc female crew member raised her hand and asked.
The other half-orcs were also in low spirits. After all, their slave status remained, putting them under great mental pressure.
"You were all my former subordinates, and it is due to my incompetence that you have fallen to this state. If you are still willing to trust me, I promise I will restore your freedom.
"Captain Zachary has promised that as long as we fight for him for three years, he will grant us our freedom. At the same time, as long as we achieve military merits, he will also help us find our compatriots who were sold to the Star Glory Empire.
"Perhaps you don't trust humans, but… I, Charlotte, am willing to trust that man. So… please trust me. I swear by the honor of the White Tiger Clan that I will bring you all back!" Charlotte's words and emotions infected the half-orc warriors present.
And this scene, this oath, was seen by Captain Zachary, who was currently on the Bridge. The Bridge had surveillance of 80% of the starship's areas.
It must be said that Charlotte was very direct. She was fighting for Captain Zachary now, not out of loyalty, but for freedom. Captain Zachary was not repulsed by this; on the contrary, it was this very point that made him choose to trust Charlotte. He wouldn't trust someone who would buy a slave and then have them kneel before him, pledging loyalty. Captain Zachary wouldn't trust that kind of person.
Soon, the originally cluttered starship workshop was cleaned out, and everything that could be taken was taken.
At the same time, the starship workshop's navigation channel was opened.
'Number… Blizzard Zero… permission granted to enter branch channel D13.'
Captain Zachary sat in the Captain's chair, looking at Vice Captain Charlotte beside him, and the more than a dozen half-orc crew members currently on the Bridge.
"Depart." Captain Zachary spoke.
Vice Captain Charlotte relayed the order: "Activate starship engines, enter branch channel D13."
The half-orc crew members operated the starship somewhat clumsily, but it was still smooth.
A few minutes later, the Blizzard Zero sailed out of a channel from the North Starship Military Academy, an interstellar city.
The Blizzard Zero's Bridge was a fully enclosed structure, relying on image capture equipment on the outer hull to project several views from outside the starship onto the Bridge.
Looking at the cosmic scenes appearing on the projected screens before him, Captain Zachary felt a bit excited.
He was currently sitting on his own starship, navigating the cosmos…
"Captain, next we will conduct twenty-nine test run training exercises. Please give the order." Vice Captain Charlotte looked at Captain Zachary.
"Begin," Captain Zachary said.
It was good to have a competent subordinate; he didn't need to do everything himself.
"Heading 071/299, starship engine power output 30%, speed 30 Star Radiance knots." Vice Captain Charlotte gave the navigation orders very professionally.
Subsequently, this Blizzard Zero began its first test run training.
Continue to sail on this heading, starship engine full power output, speed 100 Star Radiance knots. All compartments within the starship, closely monitor relevant data. Report any anomalies immediately. Vice Captain Charlotte was now on the final test run training.
Full speed navigation.
This was to test how the starship's various systems performed at its fastest, most extreme speed. This was also Charlotte's biggest concern for this starship. One had to know that less than a month ago, these were still three separate starships!
One minute…
Three minutes…
Five minutes…
Ten minutes…
"Report, engine system all normal, power supply all normal."
"Report, hull structure all normal."
"Report, navigation stable, no anomalies."
Three hours later.
Vice Captain Charlotte let out a long sigh of relief. She looked at Captain Zachary, standing straight: "Report, Captain. Blizzard Zero, all 29 test run training items completed. Please instruct."
"Return to starport," Captain Zachary said with a smile: "I think someone is already impatient for a beating."