The factory director was really surprised that Chen Ming told him so directly that he had a military ship.
And Chen Ming did have some gambling ideas in mind.
Because now the factory director is facing the fact that the military is not taking action and does not help the space station when the afterglow attacks, and Chen Ming is providing the factory director with a lot of benefits.
So Chen Ming felt that under such circumstances he could take the initiative to test the factory director's attitude towards the military.
This will help you decide whether to continue maintaining the current relationship with the factory manager as colleagues, superiors, and business partners, or even a closer one.
However, Chen Ming's test didn't seem to be of much use.
The factory manager didn't seem to care. He just stared at Chen Ming with a puzzled look on his face for a few seconds, and then realized where Chen Ming had been when he was out.
Then he did not shy away from mentioning the military ships at all, saying directly: "The identification codes of military ships can indeed be obtained, and they are easier to obtain than those of the Afterglow ships."
"Their ships are often obsolete models that are sold to civilians after their military systems are removed."
"You can use the fake IDs as you like, just don't expose the military system to the military."
"Speaking of this, I have to remind you again. If you really want to return to the prosperous star field in the future, it is best to dismantle those military systems directly, otherwise it may cause trouble."
Dismantle the military system?
Chen Ming was stunned for a moment, his mind suddenly went blank as if he had been electrocuted, and only this sentence remained.
All along, he had intentionally or unintentionally ignored one thing.
It is the prosperous star field within the human empire. It is a place with perfect order and rules, and there is also powerful military force to ensure the existence of order and the implementation of rules.
If Chen Ming wants to go back, he must follow the order and rules established by force.
According to the requirements of the empire's laws, people like him who do not have special identities can only drive civilian castrated versions of spaceships.
This means that all the ships he has except the Iron Ore must be castrated before they can be safely sailed in the prosperous star field.
Even the Iron Ore's weapons had to be partially castrated according to regulations. At least the weapons removed from the two mechanical clans were absolutely unusable.
Chen Ming felt a little uncomfortable when he thought of this.
But he also knew that this was not something the factory director could decide. The factory director was just reminding him of the rules he must follow if he wanted to go back.
Faced with the factory director's kind reminder, Chen Ming could only honestly say, "I will pay attention."
As soon as he said this, Chen Ming suddenly felt an inexplicable feeling of anxiety and discomfort in his heart.
This is not a physical discomfort, but a psychological discomfort.
It's like if you're used to wearing loose casual clothes here, you'll have to wear tights when you go back.
And the actual situation is much more serious than what you wear.
If Chen Ming did not do this, and was discovered by the authorities after he returned, having the spacecraft towed away and required to make rectifications would be considered a light punishment, and he might even have to spend several years in prison.
When Chen Ming thought about what might happen in the future, he felt an indescribable feeling in his heart.
Not only is there the need to be bound by the most restrictive rules, but there is also the uneasiness of losing the ability to fight and protect oneself.
No matter how prosperous the interior of an empire is, it is not solid. It is impossible for there to be people in every galaxy and every planet.
This means that there are also pirates in the prosperous star fields, and those pirates in the prosperous star fields who can form their own fleets will be more powerful and brutal than those in the marginal star fields.
Although Chen Ming knew that there would not be as many pirates in the prosperous star field as in the marginal star field, the probability of encountering them was very low.
But if his spaceship dismantles the military system, he will have no ability to resist if he really encounters danger.
This insecure situation made Chen Ming, who has always tended to plan before taking action and take a safe approach, very uncomfortable.
To the extent that he now has slightly wavered in his previous idea of returning to the prosperous star field.
He even somewhat forgot the current situation.
Chen Ming's sudden silence and somewhat strange behavior made the factory manager discover something.
He reached out and dragged a chair next to Chen Ming, and asked gently, "Is this your first time in the Edge Star Region, little Mu?"
Chen Ming suddenly got out of his anxious thoughts. After hesitating for a moment, he decided to answer truthfully: "It can't be considered the first time, but it is definitely the first time I come to a place like this."
"That's not surprising. Do you feel that you don't have to follow any rules now, but you still have to follow a lot of rules when you go back, which gives you a headache?"
The factory manager said everything that Chen Ming was thinking at once. After all, he must be an experienced person and was definitely accustomed to many things.
Chen Ming is indeed a little confused now, so he can try to listen to other people's opinions and make a decision based on his own situation.
So Chen Ming nodded and said, "Yes, a little bit."
"Well, I have a few ways to help you solve the problem. Just listen to them. It's up to you to decide."
"The first one is the easiest. Go to any decent space station in the fringe star region and stay there for a while. It's best to find a temporary job and try to stay in a normal environment and calm down."
"Just follow the rules and don't run around everywhere. It will usually take you a month or two to get used to it. Then you can go back with a large caravan with an official background, and your safety will be guaranteed."
The factory manager looked at Chen Ming as he spoke.
However, Chen Ming is now sitting motionless on the chair, and no one can tell what kind of expression or thoughts he has under the protective suit.
The factory manager exhaled slightly, and after a slight hesitation, he suddenly said as if he had made up his mind: "Another way."
"You saw it when you signed the contract before. We are a subsidiary of Xinda Company."
"In fact, the Xinda Company has a special armed fleet that can drive military ships in the prosperous star field."
"You know what an armed vessel license is?"
"Know."
An armed ship license is something that an ordinary person can never apply for, but it is issued by the imperial officials to certain specific people.
In addition to giving licenses to large companies like Sinda, the authorities will also give such licenses to some bounty hunters or mercenaries who have made a name for themselves in the fringe star fields, requiring them to deal with pirates.
Deal with those elite pirates in prosperous star regions who are not worthy of the army's special treatment, but who cannot be dealt with by the galaxy's own patrol teams.
It is normal for Xinda Company to have such things within it, and it is also normal to distribute them to others, but it is not normal to distribute them to Chen Ming.
So Chen Ming didn't say anything and waited for the factory director to continue.
"Although our space station is located in this kind of a weird place and has no real name, the promotion channels within the company are counted together."
"That is to say, if you do well here, you can also be promoted to the main company."
"As long as your skills can be used for promotion, it won't be a problem to get a license."
The factory manager's words were very clear, but Chen knew that he hadn't said anything else. However, both people present understood one thing.
If Chen Ming wants to get promoted through the internal channels of Xinda Company, he must join with his real identity.
In the past, Chen Ming only wanted to support himself, but now he is always pursuing opportunities to improve and develop himself.
So joining a big company is definitely an option.
Moreover, Chen Ming has indeed had a general idea during this period of time.
Thirty years ago, Chen Ming wanted to gain some experience by doing this more difficult job in the fringe star field.
Once the task arrangement cycle is over, I will definitely be able to be promoted one or half a level when I return to the company headquarters.
I repeated this several times when I was young, from a maintenance technician to a chief maintenance technician, and from a technical position to a management position.
At this point, it was enough for Chen Ming.
But it is far from enough for Chen Ming now.
Now he wants to return to a technical position from a management position on this basis.
Of course not to be a maintenance worker, but to be a researcher.
Chen Ming knew that large companies like Xinda generally had their own specialized research institutes, and only the most top technical talents could enter.
Even if these technicians have been in laboratories and research institutes for many years, the skills and techniques they have mastered are definitely more and stronger than Chen Ming has now.
That's why Chen Ming wanted to invest more in the research of spacecraft technology and wanted to join such a place on his own.
The purpose is very simple, one is to improve oneself.
The other one is to match his panel.
Chen Ming's ability to directly control the spacecraft through the panel can definitely be used to great effect in the research of spacecraft technology.
As long as Chen Ming can use his abilities to publish some research results and give full play to his abilities and technical talents, he will gradually gain a certain voice within the institute.
If everything goes well, he should be able to have his own research institute in the end.
Isn't this much better than being a low-ranking manager in the company?
Chen Ming believed that he was talented.
Because if he remembered correctly, he should be 25 years old now, not counting the time in cryogenic hibernation.
An orphan spent twenty-five years going from having nothing to becoming a professional repairman in charge of important maintenance tasks under the Xinda Company. If this is not a talent, then no one can be said to have talent.
As for Chen Ming himself, without having any foundation at all, he only took half a year to master everything in the past 25 years through memory.
Even the actual operations have not fallen behind, at most there are only some long-term deficiencies in experience.
So with the right time, right place and right people, Chen Ming had both the right timing and the right people's talent.
Joining a large company and becoming a professional technical researcher is a path that Chen Ming is very happy to accept.
But this matter happened to have a problem with the geographical location.
The factory manager happened to bring up Xinda Company at this time, leaving Chen Ming completely unable to make a decision.
Although it is now certain that the factory director does not have a good attitude towards the military, and the millions of profits he made that day are enough for him to protect Chen Ming in many places.
But Chen Ming is still unclear about the company's attitude.
If the top management of Xinda Company and the military are of the same ilk, then Chen Ming is basically walking into a trap.
It was impossible for Chen Ming to run to the office of the director of the Space Station Administration and ask him what he thought about the abandoned mining space station.
The investigation can only be conducted indirectly through the factory director.
Moreover, it would be better for Chen Ming to wait until the factory director has seen the benefits brought by his technology and has substantial interests tied to it before trying to ask the factory director whether he knows anything about the mining space station.
Only after Chen Ming was completely sure of the company's attitude did he make a real decision.
So now, Chen Ming’s answer can only be: “I’ll think about it again.”
"Okay."
The factory manager said casually: "Anyway, you actually have a third option. Just stay here."
"When I have made enough money to live a life of luxury, wouldn't it be better to find a good planet to stay on?"
"Come to me if you change your mind. The same goes for the previous one. I will definitely give you the best price."
Chen Ming nodded solemnly to the factory director, then stood up and left the office.
After leaving the administration building, Chen Ming returned to Space Arm No. 15, but he did not go back to the maintenance shop. Instead, he chose to skip work.
Arrived near the Iron Mine.
The Iron Ore was now very different from when Chen Ming had just returned to the space station.
Because he has carried out a major transformation on the Iron Ore in the past few days.
The overall appearance of the Iron Ore has changed from the original square iron block to the current slightly streamlined appearance, while the overall bright white color has not changed.
And not only the appearance, the interior of the Iron Ore has also undergone a lot of modifications.
Chen Ming dismantled all the old equipment on the Iron Ore that was built thirty years ago and replaced them with the best models that his wallet could accept.
After the equipment was updated, Chen Ming also deliberately reduced the proportion of useless space in the ship, such as the completely useless captain's room.
More space and load are used for cargo hold, armor and engines.
These are nothing. The most important thing is that Chen Ming also installed a new system on the Iron Ore, the radiation energy system.
This means that the Iron Ore can begin using shield modules, as well as truly professional, high-powered military weapons.
This entire system cost him nearly 10 million yuan, almost one-fifth of his assets.
So much so that Chen Ming was still thinking about it during the transformation.
Can we save money by cutting a complete shield module on other frigates into two halves, then repairing each one to make two complete shield modules?
Unfortunately, after trying, Chen Ming found that it didn't work. The shield module that was cut in half could be reconnected once it was repaired.
The panel's repair interface always only shows the almost negligible amount of materials needed to glue the shield module that was cut in half together.
It would be the same even if he stayed in the space station with half of the shield module and threw the other half into the dark cemetery.
As long as the repair button is pressed, the other half of the shield module will suddenly appear out of thin air in the palm of Chen Ming in liquid form, and connect with the half of the shield module in his hand for repair.
Moreover, doing so would consume a lot of his mental energy, which was totally not worth the cost.
So in the end Chen Ming had no choice but to spend the money with great reluctance.
The final result of the transformation is that although this ship still looks like a civilian mining ship, it is actually a professional military spacecraft with extremely strong survivability.
After all, the purpose of the Iron Ore is very clear. It is the spaceship that Chen Ming drives on a daily basis, and it is also the last line of defense to protect him.
All modifications were carried out with the highest priority on saving lives, which took Chen Ming a lot of time and effort.
But it was such a spaceship that gave Chen Ming a headache when he saw it.
The reason for his headache was naturally the rules he had to abide by after returning to the prosperous star field.
Chen Ming hasn’t figured out what to do yet, so he can only sigh slightly, shift his gaze away from the iron ore, and not think about this aspect for the time being.
He didn't come here to see what happened to his spaceship, but because he had other things to do.
At this time, next to the Iron Ore, several strong men wearing exoskeletons were waiting for something.
Chen Ming naturally knew who they were waiting for, but he did not rush over. Instead, he took the opportunity to take a few more glances at the exoskeleton equipment on them.
This was the rare time that Chen Ming saw someone wearing this kind of mechanical exoskeleton for assisting work since he arrived at the space station.
Chen Ming is definitely interested in these things.
However, there is no idea of actually researching or actually using it.
Because most of the knowledge in Chen Ming's mind was about spacecraft technology and large equipment technology, he didn't know much about this kind of exoskeleton machinery used on individuals.
If he really wants to study, he will have to learn a lot of new things.
But now, apart from work, he spends his evenings and other free time reading various professional books, and has no extra energy to do other things.
And there is actually no suitable environment for using exoskeletons.
Chen Ming has now returned from Ruimu, so it is unlikely that he will be required to go out to work in person, so the exoskeleton is only for viewing, but it is not necessary for actual use.
Chen Ming looked at the exoskeleton for a while and then walked up and greeted the people waiting next to the iron ore.
After confirming their identities, he asked them to help carry all the dozen or so heavy boxes of cargo he brought onto the spacecraft.
These goods were a large batch of materials that Chen Ming purchased a few days ago from the owner of the recycling shop recommended by Lao Wu.
Because some materials need to be pre-ordered or are out of stock, we have not been able to get them all together until today.
It just so happened that Chen Ming was on duty today and didn't need to go out, so he simply asked the owner of the recycling shop to deliver it today.
In addition to a large amount of basic materials and advanced metal materials, there are also a small amount of special metal materials.
The effect is naturally obvious.
After more than a dozen boxes of goods were moved, although Chen Ming had already made sure that the boss had not shortchanged them, he still pretended to count them and signed the receipt.
But today's story doesn't end here.
Chen Ming directly closed the hatch and started the engine of the Iron Ore.
He flew out of the space station alone in the Iron Ore and entered the hyperspace channel at the edge of the galaxy.
Set off to the Dark Cemetery.
The Iron Ore arrived at its destination almost instantly and connected to the communication channels of two spacecraft controlled by Gamma AI.
Although Chen Ming takes time every day to chat with the two AIs that stay near the dark cemetery, talking about afterglow or humans.
However, out of concern, in case Yu Hui also suffers from depression or something like that, Chen Ming specifically asked, "Is it okay for you to stay here alone?"
Gamma A was still the same as before; he immediately answered Chen Ming's question: "No problem, we can kill time by studying the data we downloaded before."
"As long as you can take us back to a system with an afterglow communication beacon every once in a while, we can stay like this forever."
After Gamma A finished speaking, Gamma B simply said, "Me too."
"That's good."
After Chen Ming confirmed that there was no problem with the Gamma AI, he turned around and began to prepare what he needed to do.
Repair the spacecraft.
There are four spaceships parked here in the Dark Cemetery, namely, Refraction, Glimmer, Gladiator Kai and Centurion.
The Refractor had been overhauled previously at the Afterglow Colony and required no repairs, while the remaining three ships were repaired with the help of panels.
Except for the twilight-level afterglow ship which had relatively serious damage and took a little longer, the other two were basically repaired instantly.
In fact, there was a chance that the Glimmer-class ship could be repaired when the Refraction docked at the colony before, but because the ship was taken away by the Refraction-class in a destroyed state, the original AI core on it had been removed and the hull had been abandoned.
So on Yuhui's side, this Glimmer-class ship is in the hands of Gamma A.
Therefore, repairing it in the colony is not free, but requires the consumption of Gamma A's material quota.
Although it is not impossible to repair it, if it really needs to be repaired, all four ships that were squeezed together in the belly of the Refractive Class will have to be taken out.
What places like factories are most lacking is various equipment with strange functions.
If the ship factory has scanning equipment and it happens to scan the interior of the Iron Ore, that would be a big problem.
So Chen Ming felt that it was too dangerous to do so at the time and simply gave up the idea.
It was not until later, when Chen Ming was chatting with Gamma A, that he learned about the specific situation of Yu Hui's ship factory.
Simply put, the factory will do what you need it to do for you.
Without specific requests and without obvious damage to the ship, the factory would certainly not waste fuel to activate the scanning equipment.
But the problem is not big. At worst, Chen Ming can just fix it himself.
Anyway, Gamma A’s property is now his property, and using Gamma A’s material rations is equivalent to using Chen Ming’s own money.
So from the results, Chen Ming did not spend any unnecessary expenses.
After waiting for a while, the low-light level was completely repaired.
Chen Ming opened the panel and confirmed that there were still a lot of materials left from the batch he purchased.
These were not extras due to miscalculation, but rather extras that he had bought on purpose, intending to make similar modifications to other spaceships as he had done with the Iron Ore.
Although after the factory director's reminder, Chen clearly knew that his deformed modification might be useless in the future and would have to be dismantled.
But what if? What if he got the license for the armed ship? What if he didn't go to the prosperous star field in the end? Wouldn't these modifications come in handy? So Chen Ming finally decided not to think too much and just modify it first.
Things will work out when the time comes.
If it couldn't be straightened, he would rely on his own abilities to straighten the boat.
(End of this chapter)