Chapter 2343: No Good Solutions (1/2)

A cloud hung over the task force as it flew past the endless asteroids. Already, the outlying patrols detected the presence of pirate scouts.

Though these weak and paltry mechs posed no threat to the Larkinsons, they were consistently stalking and keeping tabs on the task force.

The patrolling Larkinson mechs did their best to shoot at them in order to deter their actions, but so far that has accomplished little more than pushing the pirate scouts back.

More pirate outfits were on their way. With the major pirate powers of the core regions directing the smaller pirate groups, everyone knew what to do. With the Allidus Alliance's punitive fleet serving as the main means of taking down the task force, the other pirate outfits didn't have to take too many risks.

This doubtlessly increased their enthusiasm. Who didn't want to earn some easy rewards? The Allidus Alliance paid very generously this time!

”Meow…”

”C'mon, Lucky! Heal faster!” Ves begged his cat. ”I need you to get back into tip-top shape as soon as possible. While I don't have much confidence in your ability to sabotage the Gravada Knarlax, at least we have a chance to make it out alive if you can reprise your role as a commando cat. I'm already prepared to build a new and improved Misfortune Harness for you. The pirates won't be able to harm you so easily next time!”

His tired and lethargic cat continued to lie on the surface of the bed without any movement.

”Meooplex as Lucky was out of the question.

”Will it help if I feed you with something? We've looted quite a variety of high and medium-grade exotics from Ulimo Citadel. Would you like to pay a visit to the vault?”

Lucky faintly shook his head. ”Meooow…”

Ves looked glum. Of all the times to suffer a stomach ache, this was the worst!

With his cat unable to eat any exotics, there wasn't any way to speed up the regeneration process. Ves estimated that it might take at least a month for Lucky to repair his exterior wounds, but that did not address his digestion problems.

Ves truly didn't know how long it would take for the gem cat to handle all of the Unending alloy he had eaten. While Ves didn't know much about how Lucky digested minerals, something as resilient and difficult to work with as Unending alloy couldn't be broken down in a single day!

What was even more concerning was that Lucky had eaten the Unending alloy as it was actively pumping out darkness. His cat may have inadvertently eaten the negative spiritual energy contained in the metal, thereby potentially causing all sorts of issues!

”Well, I hope you don't turn into a dark god or something, Lucky.” He petted his tired cat's back. ”I'll do my best to find other solutions.”

Ves turned away and moved back to his desk. With the losses the Larkinsons and Penitent Sisters suffered in the Battle of Ulimo Citadel, his fleet was not in a good shape to fight.

Even if the mech technicians finished repairing as many damaged mechs as possible, they still lacked the numbers to fight the Gravada Knarlax alone by herself, let alone the rest of the pirate fleet!

When the disparity in strength had become so big, conventional solutions no longer worked. The Larkinsons could never win a fair fight against the pirates.

The only viable means of overcoming this difficulty was if the Larkinsons played dirty. Just like the pirates who inhabited the Nyxian Gap, Task Force Predator had no choice but to take after the locals!

This happened to be the first suggestion that Major Verle proposed.

”Sir, is the special dispensation you received from the MTA still valid?”

Ves rapidly recalled the exact wording of the deal he made with the MTA. ”Yes. It is valid until we leave the Nyxian Gap or until my wedding is about to take place.”

There was no way that Ves would stay longer in the Nyxian Gap than the date of his wedding, so he didn't argue for any further extensions. Even now when the entire Nyxian Gap was ganging up on the Larkinson Clan, Ves still believed it was possible to make it back in time and avoid Gloriana's wrath!

Everyone looked around. None of the mech commanders looked comfortable with this suggestion, but they declined to speak against it. Against warsh.i.p.s and superweapons, it made sense to hit back as hard as possible.

”While the suggestion sounds reasonable, we don't have any superweapons in stock.” Commander Melkor reminded everyone. ”Unless one of us here has secretly squirreled some of them away, we shouldn't be in the possession of any weapons of mass destruction.”

He was right. The Larkinson Clan explicitly cataloged and destroyed any prohibited weapon. This was needed in order to give the MTA confirmation that the dangerous weapons were truly gone.

Now, it seemed that the Larkinsons had been acting too hasty. Ves really could have used some of those potent armaments in order to give his task force more teeth against the Allidus Alliance!

Ves activated a small projection at his side of the conference table and began to look through the abundant resource stockpile his fleet had acc.u.mulated.

”We can build new superweapons.” He announced to everyone. ”We have collected plenty of fissionable materials and energetic exotics to produce powerful explosives. Whether they are strong enough to crack through the hull plating of the Gravada Knarlax is questionable, but they should at least pose a greater threat against her escort sh.i.p.s.”

”Can we build something else with the resources we have at hand?” Commander Magdalena asked.

”I'm not sure. We have collected a lot of materials, but I'm not familiar with much of them and none of them immediately stand out. We'll have to look into them further in order to figure out our options, but don't expect too much.”