From Titan Corporation to the Empire of Man

Chapter 447 Life on the Ship

Soon after, the Halo universe was numbered "Zero Eight";

A Phoenix-class support boat is sailing quickly in the jump space.

In the sleeping cabin on the right side of the ship, a group of recruits dressed in Imperial Marines training uniforms were gathered near the porthole.

The vast majority of them had expressions of unconcealable curiosity on their faces, their eyes fixed on the seemingly endless "blue waves" outside the window.

The beautiful scenery of the mezzanine space casts a colorful reflection on the porthole, adding a touch of dreaminess to the slightly monotonous sleeping environment in the cabin.

"I never get tired of watching this warp sailing scenery," a new recruit said with deep admiration in his tone.

"Oh, you just haven't seen enough." Another recruit standing nearby smiled and shook his head, with a hint of ridicule in his tone:

"When you spend a few months in this bizarre place, you will definitely feel dizzy and even the darkness of the universe will seem refreshing to you."

"That's much better than the empty space without any nebulae." Another recruit pouted and retorted, "At least it's not dead silent here."

While admiring the scenery outside the window, they chatted casually, and their words could not hide their curiosity about the unknown universe and their anticipation for the new journey.

These recruits are the best who have been selected through layers of screening and rigorous testing to join the Imperial Marine Corps. Each of them has outstanding physical fitness and willpower.

But at this moment, they are still like a group of fledgling children, feeling delighted by the unique scenery of the mezzanine space.

However, what makes them excited and even look forward to is not the usual jump voyage, but the "battlefield" they are about to officially step into.

Because according to the original plan, these recruits were supposed to accompany the fleet to perform routine mopping-up missions, and then use the guidance and practical experience of veterans to replace training courses with real combat.

However, not long ago, the fleet command suddenly changed the original operational deployment.

The patrol plan, which was originally aimed at clearing out sporadic hostile forces, was quickly upgraded to a full-scale combat readiness state.

The entire fleet adjusted its course and headed at full speed towards the border of the chaotic star field, about two hundred light years away from the fleet's current coordinates.

Their superiors informed them that there was a group of "rebel" organizations in the Chaos Star Region with a number of possibly tens of millions, whose personnel were mainly composed of the remaining Jiralhanae and those who still believed in the supremacy of the Star Alliance.

Therefore, the 36th Fleet, to which they belonged, received very clear orders, namely that the core goal of this operation was to launch an all-round "clearing" operation.

In other words, they had just officially joined the imperial army and happened to catch up with a large-scale military operation.

This is undoubtedly a shocking news for the new recruits who have just passed the rigorous selection and officially joined the imperial army.

They originally thought that they would have a relatively smooth adaptation period, gradually becoming familiar with the rhythm of the battlefield through training and simple tasks.

But now, they are about to be on the front lines of a massive combat operation.

In addition, at the age of full vigor and vitality, these young warriors were extremely excited about this.

Far from being cowardly, they were full of anticipation and eager to prove themselves in the upcoming battle.

Many recruits even had images of glorious battle scenes in their minds, and everyone was filled with enthusiasm, hoping to use this battle to climb the ladder of military merit and gain glory and prestige.

As for this moment, they have obtained approval from their superiors to move freely and have fun for a while until the Phoenix-class support boat they are on leaves the jump space with the fleet.

"."

Charlie Hoind, who was sitting on the bed, shook his head slightly, a faint smile appearing on his face.

He did not join in the arguments and chit-chat of his comrades, but felt somewhat helpless, yet he could not help being infected by the relaxed and happy atmosphere.

He was well aware that the excitement of his comrades mostly came from the anticipation of future battles and the desire for glory and rewards, and he was no exception.

Charlie also had a burning desire for achievement in his heart.

He knew that if he performed well in the upcoming military operation, he would have the opportunity to receive a generous bonus.

This will not only make his military record more convincing, but also bring him one step closer to his "dream" -

Customize a high-end synthetic companion for yourself.

In a sense, ever since his emotional setback in high school, Charlie has become disappointed with, or even afraid of, ordinary opposite sex, fearing that he would be targeted by the "Sea Queen" again.

Therefore, he hopes to have a synthetic human partner who will always be sincere and become a comfort to his lonely life, which is also one of his long-term goals.

He collected his thoughts, lowered his head to tidy up his bed and personal belongings. After making sure everything was in order, he stood up and smoothed out the wrinkles on his training uniform.

Then Charlie left the cabin and walked into the bright and spacious deck corridor outside.

The smooth walls and decks around it also shone with a faint metallic luster under the cold lights.

Occasionally, he could see a few fully armed Marines on patrol walking in the corridor and passing by him.

The ship continued to operate smoothly as usual, and the faint hum of machinery added a sense of calmness to this Phoenix-class support boat.

Charlie decided to go to the "convenience store" in the belly area of ​​the ship.

It is one of the most popular leisure places for soldiers on the ship. It not only sells various daily necessities, but also snacks and comics produced by its own company (Atlas).

And he has a special liking for snacks, especially a popular "energy block".

During the walk, in addition to the patrolling Marines, one can also see synths and engineers working together to perform routine inspections on various areas of the ship to ensure that there are no abnormalities in the equipment and that the voyage is smooth and worry-free.

In this busy scene, Charlie's attention was instantly attracted by several dwarves.

These short "technical directors" work side by side with synthesizers and engineers.

The dwarves use hand-held tools with precision and skill, and their conversations are tinged with a thick accent, revealing their unique cultural background.

After all, the racial talents of dwarves are construction and repair.

Since the dwarves were fully integrated into the imperial system, they achieved "overtaking on the curve" within a few years and instantly surpassed the common engineers of Atlas.

This led to the dwarves beginning to serve as technical directors of legions, fleets and other armed organizations.

As Charlie continued to move forward, he saw several more elites wearing tight training uniforms.

These elites, who are tall and strong but have extremely harmonious proportions, possess a unique majesty and assertiveness.

They gathered in groups, perhaps having just finished their daily "fights", and were talking about jokes in low voices. Occasionally, you could hear their unique "Ah~Ah!" hearty laughter.

This extroverted character adds a lot of vitality to the cold and hard ship.

This natural fighting race can perform at the level of "super soldiers" without the need for Inquis serum or expensive genetic modification surgery.

As a fleet that has been deployed in Universe 08 (Halo) for a long time, elites often account for about 30% of its combat members.

Soon, Charlie arrived at the belly area of ​​the ship, which was not only a center for relaxation and leisure for the soldiers on board, but also a place for the crew and soldiers to purchase goods.

What lies before you is a spacious space divided into a canteen that provides hot meals on one side and a supermarket with shelves full of goods on the other. The most eye-catching thing is a small bar with simple decoration.

Inside the bar, the elites chatted happily with their human comrades, drank from huge wine glasses, and took big bites of barbecue. It was very lively.

Some dwarves were also joining in the fun, and after drinking too much, they would curse at their fellow dwarves or push each other, but everyone knew that this was the nature of lovers, so they didn't pay too much attention.

It wouldn't be long anyway before the dwarves got drunk, fell to the ground, and then fell into a deep sleep.

At that time, the cleaning staff will carry these dwarves away and place them in the public rest area of ​​this area to let them sober up on their own.

In addition, there is another ethnic group mixed in this area, namely the elves.

These elegant and handsome races are obviously more attractive to Charlie than the elites and dwarves.

They have taller and slender figures, and their steps are light and graceful, which is in sharp contrast to the rough atmosphere inside the ship.

Whether they are selecting products in a supermarket or having a drink in a bar, the elves always display their unique calm temperament.

"."

Charlie did not linger on the lively scene around him. He just casually glanced at the bar with its doors open and walked straight into the convenience store.

Then he walked straight to the shelf area marked "snacks" and took away the energy bars with pineapple and strawberry flavors as if he was familiar with the place, and also picked up a few bags of tomato-flavored baked potato chips.

Finally, he took away two cans of energy drinks and a few physical comics that had just been put on the shelves.

Although the human empire now has a highly developed network system and all kinds of digital entertainment are at your fingertips, physical comics still occupy a special position.

Charlie understands this well.

Although electronic versions are convenient, they can never replace the authentic texture of paper books and the satisfaction that comes with collecting them.

Especially when these comics are neatly placed on bookshelves and bookcases, the visual "impact" and sense of accomplishment are incomparable to virtual devices.

However, when he was about to leave the comics area and prepare to check out, a gentle and charming voice came from behind him:

"Huh? Do you also like the comic series "Starfighter"?"

The sound was pleasant to the ears, with a hint of light curiosity and intimacy.

Charlie stopped and turned his head slightly, with a little surprise and expectation in his heart, wanting to see who the person who suddenly spoke to him was.

He saw a female elf who was also wearing a Marine Corps training uniform and had long fiery red hair standing not far behind him. It seemed that after just glancing at him, her eyes were mainly "focused" on the comics in his basket.

Seeing the other person's face clearly, especially the fact that the other person's height was almost the same as his, or even a little taller, Charlie couldn't help but open his eyes wide and was stunned on the spot.

Her temperament is not that of a tough warrior, but rather has a unique softness and nobility.

I have to say that after seeing the elf's appearance up close, Charlie was indeed a little flustered.

Fortunately, Charlie quickly adjusted his mentality and suppressed the shock in his heart. He acted as if he was used to this kind of scene and regained his calm.

So, he asked with a little confusion:

"I like it very much, what's wrong?"

"It's okay, it's okay~."

After hearing this response, the female elf smiled unconsciously, and then said with a happy and cheerful tone:

"I just saw that you also like "Starfighter". I happened to be discussing the plot with my friends and found it quite interesting, so I couldn't help but want to chat about it."

She paused, as if trying to start a conversation. "Which part of the story do you like? I'm particularly interested in the final battle on Mars, especially the decision made by the protagonist at that moment."

Her words were easy and natural, and didn't seem to bring any pressure to Charlie. Instead, they made him feel relieved.

Obviously, this female elf is not bound by form, but is simply passionate about the content in the comics.

"Well, the protagonist's choice to rush into the vortex of the alien space for the sake of all mankind is indeed worthy of admiration." Charlie nodded, his tone full of seriousness and approval.

And his answer seemed to resonate with the other party.

"Haha, it seems that our focus is quite similar." The female elf laughed heartily, and then, her tone became more frank and straightforward:

"Excuse me, do you have any special plans next? If not, do you mind if I buy you a drink? We can chat about the plot, how about that?"

???

"Uh" Charlie's mind went blank.

The other party's sudden invitation completely stunned him.

After all, he had never encountered such a situation before.

According to common sense, especially in the main universe, whether it is a man or a woman, when making such an invitation, it often carries some subtext or additional "purpose".

But now the actions of this female elf seemed to be completely undisguised.

Charlie thought secretly that although he thought his appearance and figure were above average, he found it hard to believe that his qualifications could make such an elf with such good temperament and appearance take the initiative to talk to him.

You know, among her people, the male elves not only have stronger physiques, but also often have handsome faces and long lifespans.

Is it a deliberate attempt to get close to someone and then carry out some kind of "scam"?

Or maybe the other person lost a bet with a friend and needs to take a “big risk” action?

Or do you simply think he is easy to deceive? ?

In just a few seconds, countless guesses flashed through Charlie's mind.

Seeing that he was stunned, the female elf couldn't help but raise her eyebrows slightly and added:

"Hello? Excuse me."

"Ah? Um, no special plans, if you're free, you can."

However, Charlie responded reflexively and agreed to it.