Chapter 1070: An Interstellar Merchant Fleet

Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance.

After the communication with Horus ended, just as Yingzhou prepared to get up and head to the Xiuluo database, his communication device lit up again.

The initiator of this communication request was Guilliman.

Yingzhou's eyebrows raised slightly.

Guilliman's communications were usually routine reports conducted at a fixed time every standard week.

This unscheduled communication meant that a special situation had occurred in the Seventh Star Sector that required his direct intervention.

"Selina, connect the channel, encryption level 'Archon'."

Yingzhou said.

The encryption level for communications with Guilliman was usually slightly lower than that with Horus, because Guilliman was responsible more for administration and internal affairs rather than frontline combat.

The holographic projection gathered and took shape once again.

Guilliman was wearing deep blue Power Armor, the armor polished until it shone.

"Father."

Guilliman bowed slightly.

"Apologies for disturbing your schedule, but an incident has occurred in the Seventh Star Sector that requires your personal decision."

"Speak, Guilliman. What has happened?"

Guilliman pulled up a series of data panels and video records and began to report.

"Time: Yesterday, 14:32 Star Alliance time."

"Location: Edge of the Seventh Star Sector, star system serial number GC-7783."

"Incident: My fleet patrol unit discovered a fleet of non-human interstellar origin of unknown identity on the periphery of the system and, in accordance with Chapter 7, Article 3 of the Star Alliance Border Security Ordinance, detained it."

The video showed a peculiar fleet: three main ships, their designs unlike the warships of any known civilization, appearing more like a hybrid of some kind of commercial vessel and exploration ship.

"Preliminary fleet analysis: Weapon configuration is limited to basic defense systems. The hull identification mark is a type of unknown ring-shaped script, preliminarily deciphered as 'Flowing Ring Chamber of Commerce' or a similar meaning."

Guilliman continued: "After we issued a standard stop-and-inspect order, the fleet complied with the order and showed no hostile intent. Subsequently, our boarding party conducted an initial contact."

The video switched to the boarding party's records: Ultramarines Space Marines entered the interior of an alien ship.

The interior space was tidy and orderly.

The corridor walls were a warm, milky white, with slowly flowing light patterns on the surface.

"Description of contact subjects: They call themselves 'Terrami', a humanoid race, average height approximately 1.9 meters, skin is pale gold, pupils are vertically oval, capable of adapting to various lighting environments. Physiological characteristics indicate a gentle omnivorous species, with no obvious offensive organs."

The image showed the Terrami: they wore simple but well-tailored multi-functional clothing, their demeanor elegant, showing a cautious but not fearful attitude when facing the fully armed Ultramarines.

"Initial communication information extraction: The Terrami claim to be 'Star Interstellar Merchants', having been active in the Bode Star System for about three thousand standard years."

"They do not belong to any large political entity, but exist in the form of small chambers of commerce, focusing on inter-civilization trade, information exchange, collection of rare items, and technical mediation."

Guilliman pulled up more data.

"According to their navigation logs, this fleet has been sailing in the Bode Star System for about one hundred and twenty years, having visited over three hundred different civilized worlds, most of which are small to medium-sized civilizations."

"Their business model is: exchanging the products of Civilization A for the needs of Civilization B to earn the price difference; simultaneously collecting technologies, cultures, and biological samples of various civilizations to build a database; and occasionally serving as neutral mediators between different civilizations."

"It is worth noting that in their database, we found records regarding the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance, which, although incomplete, are basically accurate. They know we are a 'powerful Human Civilization that has risen recently'. They claim their entry into the Seventh Star Sector this time is to 'explore new trade opportunities'."

Yingzhou listened quietly.

Star Interstellar Merchants... this concept was not unfamiliar in the Bode Star System.

When the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance was first established, Yingzhou had received some scattered information from Selina.

These Star Interstellar Merchants were neutral, trade-driven inter-civilization travelers.

They usually did not participate in politics and only pursued profit, so they were often able to shuttle between major powers without being treated with hostility.

But the problem was: the Star Alliance had only been established for a short time and was in a period of rapid expansion, maintaining a rather cautious attitude toward external contact.

Horus's actions in the Ninth Star Sector were an example; for aliens who did not submit, they were either destroyed or reformed.

"Assessment of the credibility of their intentions?"

The Emperor asked.

Guilliman pulled up a psychological and behavioral analysis report.

"According to the assessment of the contact team and the accompanying Star Alliance Diplomat, the Terrami's claims have a high degree of credibility. The evidence is as follows:"

"First, their ship configuration is indeed dominated by cargo holds, laboratories, and living quarters; combat systems are limited to the minimum requirements for self-defense."

"Second, their cargo manifest contains products from at least seventeen different civilizations, including characteristic products from some civilizations we know of that have no direct contact with the Star Alliance."

"Third, they proactively provided parts of their navigation logs and transaction records for verification, which show that they have maintained neutrality in various inter-civilization conflicts multiple times and have even assisted in the transport of humanitarian supplies."

"Fourth, their physiological and psychological characteristic analysis shows that the Terrami are a highly socialized species inclined toward cooperation rather than confrontation. Their early civilization history shows that they integrated their forces by establishing trade networks rather than military conquest."

Yingzhou nodded: "Then, Guilliman, what is your preliminary judgment? And why do you think it requires me to make the decision personally?"

Guilliman adjusted his standing posture slightly.

"Father, according to the current laws of the Star Alliance and my authority, I have several options:"

"One, in accordance with Article 4 of the Alien Contact Management Ordinance, for non-human fleets that enter the Star Alliance territory without permission, forced expulsion or detention for investigation can be adopted. The investigation period can be up to one standard year."

"Two, if judged to be a potential threat, in accordance with Article 12 of the Border Security Law, stricter controls can be implemented, including comprehensive searches, data extraction, and even detaining some personnel as a guarantee."

"Three, if judged to be harmless and useful, in accordance with Article 3 of the Inter-civilization Exchange Interim Regulations, limited transit permits can be granted, allowing them to conduct limited trade activities in designated areas, but they must be subject to strict supervision."

Guilliman paused for a moment.

"But the problem is that the Terrami represent a type of civilization we have not systematically contacted before—non-hostile, non-settled, and a mobile civilization that lives by commerce and information."

"Our legal system is mainly aimed at two types of aliens: hostile civilizations that need to be conquered, or vassal civilizations that need to be regulated. For this kind of 'third-party neutral merchant traveler', there is a gray area in the law."

Guilliman pulled up another report.

"What is more complex is that my advisory team believes the Terrami may have unique value."

"First, they possess an extensive information network of the Bode Star System and may know of many civilizations, resource stars, and ancient ruins that we have yet to discover."

Second, their trade network could become a channel for the Star Alliance to acquire specific rare resources, for example, some special materials that we urgently need but are difficult to produce.

Third, they could become a neutral bridge for the Star Alliance to make contact with other civilizations, reducing the risk of diplomatic conflict."