Chapter 1431: Catching an Alien Orc

Bridge of the Sons of the People Chapter flagship, "Burning Sun."

On the holographic star map, Wala Star, Heluo Star, and other planets have already become liberated zones.

Iron Tooth Star is still red, with several Orc fleet markers scattered around it, but the quantity is far less than expected.

Sebastian stands before the star map, his red Power Armor gleaming dully under the lights.

"Comrade Chapter Master, the scout ship has sent back a report."

The Communications Officer's voice comes from the side.

Sebastian turns around.

"Report the situation."

"An unidentified airship has been detected ahead, coming from the direction of Iron Tooth Star; its course is deviating from the main shipping lanes of the Broken Bone Empire, and its speed is very slow. The exterior is crude; it is judged to be a single-person craft."

Sebastian asks.

"What is on the airship?"

"Sensors indicate one life sign; the scout ship requests instructions."

After thinking for two and a half seconds, Sebastian speaks.

"Capture the Alien on that airship and send it to the flagship."

"Yes, Comrade Chapter Master."

The order is relayed.

A Destroyer breaks away from the formation and heads toward the direction of the airship.

On the other side, Jiate sits in the cockpit of the airship, looking at the starry sky ahead.

He has already flown for more than twenty standard hours, fuel consumption is over half, and food and water are only enough to last two days.

Suddenly, the airship's alarm sounds.

Jiate looks down at the sensor screen; a light spot is approaching rapidly.

The speed is very fast, much faster than his airship.

His heartbeat accelerates, and his fingers grip the control stick tightly.

It is a ship of the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance! This is truly the worst possible outcome!

Jiate pushes the airship's thrusters to the maximum, but the speed is still far from matching that light spot.

A few seconds later, a red Destroyer appears in his field of vision.

The hull is slender with smooth lines, and it bears an emblem he does not recognize.

The Destroyer decelerates and hovers in front of the airship, blocking the way.

The Destroyer's hatch opens, and a Thunderhawk Gunship flies out, approaching Jiate's airship.

The Destroyer fires two magnetic locks, dragging Jiate's airship inside.

Several Two-legged Sheep wearing red Power Armor walk out.

They are tall, much taller than him, at least around two point four meters.

They walk to the side of the airship, and one raises a Bolter, aiming it at the cockpit.

"Come out, Alien, hands over your head, do not make any unnecessary movements."

Jiate puts his hands over his head, slowly climbs out of the cockpit, and stands on the wing of the airship.

Several Sons of the People Space Marines surround him, and one of them grabs his arm, dragging him down from the airship.

Another Sons of the People Space Marine scans his body with a scanner to check for weapons.

"No weapons, vital signs normal, take it away."

"This is that Orc? Why is it so small?"

"The scout report said it was much smaller than a normal Orc, it is indeed small."

"Take it to see Comrade Chapter Master."

Jiate is pushed through the corridor.

On the bridge of the flagship "Burning Sun," Sebastian sits on the command chair, with the holographic star map in front of him.

The Adjutant walks over, salutes, and reports.

"Comrade Chapter Master, that Alien has been brought."

Sebastian nods.

"Bring it up."

A few minutes later, the bridge door opens.

Two Sons of the People Space Marines escort Jiate inside.

Jiate keeps his head lowered, not daring to look around.

Sebastian stands up, walks in front of Jiate, and looks down at him.

He is nearly a meter taller than Jiate, his red Power Armor gleaming with a cold light under the lamps.

"Lift your head."

Jiate slowly lifts his head; he sees a stern face, short gray hair, and gloomy eyes.

Sebastian looks at Jiate and speaks to this Alien through the translation function.

"Are you an Alien of the Broken Bone Empire? Coming from the direction of Iron Tooth Star, where are you going?"

Jiate opens his mouth and explains.

"I... I am not... I am not a warrior, I left the Broken Bone Empire, I want to... I want to go somewhere else."

Sebastian, who understands the words from the opposite side through the translator, frowns slightly.

"You want to go somewhere else?"

Jiate shook his head.

"I just want to leave the Broken Bone Empire; it's too oppressive there."

Sebastian stared into Jiate's eyes; this Orc was thinner and smaller than any Orc he had ever seen.

"What is your name?"

Sebastian asked.

"Jiate."

"Jiate, you say you aren't a warrior; what do you do in the Broken Bone Empire?"

Jiate said.

"I... I build things. I built an airship using parts from a junk pile."

Sebastian looked toward the Adjutant, and the Adjutant pulled up the reconnaissance report.

"Comrade Regiment Commander, that airship was indeed cobbled together from discarded parts."

Sebastian turned his head back and continued to inquire.

"Why do you want to leave the Broken Bone Empire?"

Jiate was silent for a moment, then spoke.

"I don't like fighting; I like building things. The other Orcs mocked me and bullied me. I couldn't take it anymore; I had to leave there!"

Sebastian walked back to the command chair, sat down, looked at Jiate, and said.

"Jiate, can you repair things?"

Jiate nodded.

"I can. Mechanical, electronic—I know a little of both."

Sebastian thought for a moment.

"Adjutant, take him to the hangar and have him repair a damaged engine. If he can fix it, we will talk further. If he can't, dispose of him."

The Adjutant stood at attention.

"Yes, Comrade Regiment Commander."

He walked over to Jiate and grabbed his arm.

"Follow me."

Jiate was led out of the Bridge.

An hour later, the Adjutant's report came through.

"Comrade Regiment Commander, that Orc has fixed the engine."

Sebastian did not respond immediately, but instead connected to the channel for the Xiuluo Holy Star.

"Selina, I need to report to the Emperor."

A holographic projection appeared in the center of the Bridge.

Selina's face appeared on the screen, with data streams flickering around her.

"Regiment Commander Sebastian, please speak."

"We captured an Orc on our way to Iron Tooth Star. He calls himself Jiate, a technician who can build airships from discarded parts. He claims he dislikes the violent culture of the Broken Bone Empire and fled Iron Tooth Star. He has repaired one of our damaged engines. My judgment is that this Alien has utility, but it requires the Emperor's decision."

Selina's data streams flickered rapidly.

"Request recorded, please wait."

The wait was not long before Selina's projection lit up again.

"The Emperor has decreed: use him, then dispose of him as soon as possible."

Sebastian nodded.

"Understood."

The communication cut off, and the Adjutant stood to the side without speaking.

Sebastian stood up and walked to the window.

"Adjutant, bring that Orc here."

A few minutes later, the door to the Bridge opened.

Two Sons of the People soldiers escorted Jiate inside; Jiate's hands were still stained with machine oil, and there were oil stains on his clothes.

Sebastian walked up to him and looked down at him. "Jiate, you can repair things; I don't deny that."

"But you fled the Broken Bone Empire because you couldn't stand the environment there. But have you ever thought that you are just running away? If you run to another place, will the environment there be suitable for you?"

Jiate raised his head.

"I... I don't know. I just wanted to leave."

Sebastian said.

"Leaving doesn't solve the problem. Your kin are still on Iron Tooth Star. They are still killing, still enslaving Humans, and still using Two-legged Sheep for sacrifices. If you leave, they won't change. The next Orc who wants to leave just like you will still experience the same pain you went through."

Sebastian said.

"Don't you want to see change?"

Jiate said.

"I do, but they won't listen to me. I am the weakest in the Buluo; everyone looks down on me."

Sebastian said.

"You don't need them to listen to you; you only need to let them see another possibility. You prove with your actions that Orcs don't have to be beasts that only know how to kill."

Jiate looked at Sebastian.

"You... what do you want me to do?"

Sebastian said.

"Come back with us, back to Iron Tooth Star. After the Broken Bone Empire is destroyed, the Orc civilians there will need someone to manage them, and you can be responsible for handling the relations with those Orc civilians. Tell them to learn to live like you."

"Me? How could I..."

Sebastian said.

"You are stronger than them, you know what technology is, what creation is, you can do it."

Jiate's eyes turned red.

"I... I never thought..."

Sebastian said.

"You can think about it now, think boldly."

After thinking for a few minutes, Jiate raised his head and looked at Sebastian.

"I will go back, but I don't guarantee I can succeed."

Sebastian said.

"It doesn't matter, you just need to go back; everything is worth a try."

"Mm, I'll try!"