Chapter 2002: Is Zhang paying to work?
"With this arrangement, we will not need to pay any crew member fees or benefits."
They are responsible for all aspects of starship maintenance, upkeep, repairs, and resupply. Charlotte finished speaking.
Zhao Chen looked at Charlotte with some surprise.
"Paid...to work?"
These were the first things that came to Zhao Chen's mind after hearing Charlotte's arrangements.
With Charlotte's arrangements, isn't this just like paying to work?
The only benefit these people can gain is the right to use a Xiaolong-class interstellar warship at zero cost.
The previous bounty agreements required at least some cost, as it necessitated owning a fleet.
This plan further reduces costs.
This will allow people at the bottom of society to participate in the program.
"With such a low barrier to entry, won't there be any problems?" Zhao Chen asked with some concern.
Charlotte confidently replied, "I know what you're worried about. It's simply whether these people are capable of operating an interstellar warship."
Regarding this point, we can actually set a certain threshold beforehand.
For example, if we consider a T4 Wolverine-class heavy interstellar armored destroyer, the full crew capacity of this interstellar warship is one hundred people.
That means you need a team of one hundred people.
Then we need one person out of these 100 people to step forward as a guarantor, and this person needs to have a certain amount of wealth.
This wealth is enough to cover the daily expenses of these 100 people for at least the next three years, as well as the cost of ten resupply trips for this interstellar warship.
Only with this funding can we sign an agreement.
After the agreement was signed.
We can provide training, and after the training is completed, they can pilot this starship and become our JF-17 mercenaries.
Earn points by completing missions, engaging in combat, and defeating enemies. These points can be used to redeem energy fuel and combat supplies needed for interstellar warships, as well as to repair them.
Eventually, they amassed enough starships to eventually gain full ownership of them.
Once they acquire ownership, our employment agreement expires, and they are free to come and go, or they can continue to serve as our mercenaries.
Before we gain ownership, we will install remote programs on these interstellar warships, which will only be able to operate within a fixed range.
In addition, this is to ensure that they will perform tasks in exchange for points.
We can set a system where points are paid out every month or every three months, and if there are no points available, real currency can be used to pay.
If none of them can make the payment.
We will deduct their initial 'down payment' and confiscate the starship.
However, if casualties occur during the battle...
The wreckage of the interstellar warship will be handled by us, and we will not be responsible for the crew's compensation.
Doesn't that seem like a very high requirement?
However, it should be understood that many people at the bottom of society yearn for this opportunity to defy fate.
Having interstellar warships to fight is a chance to defy fate.
Zhao Chen frowned slightly, then said as if he had thought of something, "But wouldn't it be a bit too cruel not to provide compensation?"
"That would allow our interstellar bank to set up an insurance company."
Insurance is specifically provided for these individuals, who can receive a compensation payment if they are killed in a qualified mission environment and have purchased full ship insurance.
If there are concerns that the Starship's leadership might not purchase this insurance, we can make it mandatory.
In this way, we can both ensure the well-being of the crew members after their deaths and earn some income for ourselves.
According to our calculations...
A starship typically only needs to complete about five combat missions to earn the required points.
For other security patrol missions, the number would be around fifty.
Including the costs of supplies, repairs, and other expenses incurred in the process.
That is, doubling the original time.
If it's ten combat missions, it should take at least three years to complete.
Just imagine, an ordinary person could acquire a powerful interstellar warship in three years.
Is this the hope for ordinary people to rise up?
Hearing Charlotte's words.
Zhao Chen seemed to be witnessing an era of dreams.
In the current Dragon Star Empire, everyone has met the most basic living needs.
Then some people will pursue higher ideals.
That was a dream!
All kinds of dreams.
Since the vast majority of dreams are based on wealth, some people will pursue wealth.
In the interstellar era, interstellar warships are naturally indispensable.
Aside from those large families, conglomerates, and those with decades-old established influence.
The difficulty for an ordinary person to own an interstellar warship is unimaginable.
"To increase credibility, we can train a few mercenary starships and have them grow up in a short period of time."
They have become the role models we have established.
"Wouldn't that increase the credibility of the plan?" Charlotte really had a whole process planned out for this.
"As for the related tasks, apart from the most common escort and patrol missions."
There may be relatively few war missions.
But don't forget, there's a Black Great Wall defense line over there that we need to station troops on all the time.
In this way, a long-term Black Great Wall defense mission can be established!
And that's how this entire ecosystem came into being!
After listening to Charlotte's explanation, Zhao Chen was indeed somewhat convinced.
Just then.
Charlotte tapped on the table.
"Hey you who's been stealing food, what's your opinion?"
Zhao Chen realized that Charlotte had noticed him, so he moved his chair back slightly.
At that moment, a beautiful figure crawled out from under the desk.
Lilith climbed out, wiped her mouth, and looked at Charlotte nonchalantly: "General, you must have noticed this as soon as you came in."
Why didn't you just call us out on it directly?
"Seeing you all in such a good mood, I'll just help you have some fun," Charlotte said nonchalantly.
However, his gaze still drifted to a certain spot, where he could smell a certain odor in the air.
Lilith licked her lips and zipped up her shirt.
In an instant, she transformed from a seductive succubus into the secretary of the Dragon Emperor Interstellar Empire.
"I think there's a good reason to try Grand Marshal Charlotte's plan just now."
The shortage of manpower has always been a major problem for our Xiaolong Interstellar Empire.
Even though we've patched it up time and time again, we can still see this situation on the battlefield.
In short, we have too few cannon fodder.
Charlotte's plan first and foremost addresses the problem of having too few cannon fodder.
Secondly, it can also promote some economic development to a certain extent.
It has created some jobs in various industries.
It also created a fervent atmosphere within our Xiaolong Interstellar Empire.
This atmosphere of fervor is important for an interstellar empire.
We need to ensure that people at all stages can see room for advancement.
Therefore, I support Grand Marshal Charlotte's plan.
"Then I'll leave this matter entirely to you, Lilith," Zhao Chen said, looking at Lilith.
Although this plan was proposed by Charlotte, the aspects involved are mainly those of Lilith's responsibilities.
It would be most appropriate for Lilith to take charge.
Charlotte, who was standing to the side, did not refuse. Clear division of labor and each person performing their duties has always been a fine tradition of their Xiaolong Interstellar Empire.
“Okay, then leave it to me.” Lilith shrugged helplessly.
Then she said goodbye and left.
Just as Zhao Chen was about to get up, he was ridden by a large white tiger.
Zhao Chen looked at the large white tiger in front of him with surprise.
The white tiger grabbed Zhao Chen's collar, revealing its fangs, licked its lips, and said, "Isn't it my turn next?"
Your Majesty.
Now, the office is a battleground of fierce competition.
This plan was proposed by Grand Marshal Charlotte, approved by Emperor Xiaolong, and executed by Secretary Lilith.
It caused a sensation immediately after being announced to the public.
With a minimum investment of just tens of thousands of ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) star coins, one can own their own interstellar warship, which seems like a dream for many people from the lower classes.
"I've made up my mind. I want to own my own starship, and I want to become its captain!"
On a certain planet, a filthy repairman crawled out from a pile of starship wreckage.
"Li Hua, are you kidding me?"
"You're just a mechanic for interstellar warships. You should focus on running your small interstellar warship wreckage disposal plant well, that's better than anything else!" The man next to him said bluntly, smoking a cigarette.
"I'm not kidding. My dream since I was a child has always been to own my own starship and become its captain!"
"Alright, alright, Captain."
How about that starship over there?
"That can be considered fulfilling your wish." The other person pointed to a rusty but still navigable interstellar warship in the distance.
But that interstellar warship was only a hundred meters long.
It was an old T1-class interstellar warship.
Although it's called a warship, its current role is more that of a small, modified interstellar transport ship.
All the original weapons and other equipment on it were dismantled and converted into cargo warehouses.
"What I want is a real interstellar warship, and one that won't be outdated in this era!" Li Hua said, tapping lightly on his handheld terminal.
A holographic projection of a starship immediately appeared in front of everyone.
That was a JF-17 series interstellar warship.
T4 Medusa-class Heavy Starship!
"See this? This is a real interstellar warship."
Previously, its market price was 600 billion Star Coins.
But now, all you need to own it is a property pledge of 500 million Star Coins!
"Only 500 million!" Li Hua shouted excitedly.
"Five hundred million! Do you know what you're saying? How long would it take your crappy factory to operate with five hundred million star coins?"
Come on, stop dreaming!
If all else fails, don't even think about such a good interstellar warship.
Why don't we get a T3-level ship first?
Take, for example, this T3 Blizzard-class light interstellar battlecruiser, even though it's only a T3 class.
But it was once the flagship interstellar warship of the Xiaolong Interstellar Empire.
The minimum investment for the employment agreement is only 1.3 million star coins!
"No! In this day and age, if we're going to build something, we have to build a T4-class interstellar warship."
Moreover, the future must consist of interstellar heavy artillery ships and interstellar missile ships.
The materials for interstellar missile ships are too expensive; interstellar heavy artillery ships are our only hope.
As for the five hundred million... Star Coins..."
Li Hua clenched his fists, looking at the small factory that had been passed down from his father.
"By mortgaging this small factory, we can get a loan of at least 100 million Star Coins."
I know a few other people who share the same idea.
If everyone pools their money, we can raise 500 million!
I heard that Li Hua was planning to mortgage his father's factory.
Those around him were astonished. Only then did they realize that Li Hua wasn't joking; he was really going to do it.
Are you crazy?!
That's a venue that your family has passed down for generations.
A venue that's been around for hundreds of years.
Are you planning to mortgage it?
He saw his brother roaring at him.
Li Hua didn't care at all. He pointed to the sky above his head and said, "I know you all usually think that I'm living a pretty good life as a young master, with a place passed down from my father."
If you manage your business well, you can live a life free from worries about food and clothing.
But you know what?
Me, my father, my grandfather.
Their dream is not to make a living on this dirty land, but to be among the stars, above the stars.
When my grandfather passed away, he kept staring at the sky, and I could see it in his eyes.
He longed to live a completely different life.
Even my father was the same; he had a little hobby of turning worthless materials into models that looked like interstellar warships.
Throughout his life, he was never able to own a real interstellar warship.
Now, such an opportunity is presented to me.
How could I possibly give up?
I will fulfill their wishes.
I don't want to be like them, lying in this dust, only able to gaze resentfully at the sky when I die!
Everyone fell silent upon hearing Li Hua's words.
It goes without saying how many people dream of reaching for the stars and the sea.
But many people lack the courage to go out.
Because they lack the resources, they dare not step out of their comfort zone.
Just when they all thought that this dream was getting further and further away from them.
The Dragon Star Empire has once again brought this dream to their doorstep.
Li Hua used his handheld device to contact those friends.
"Hey, have any ideas?"
Let's build a starship and have some fun together.
This message flashed briefly in their shared group chat.
Time passed slowly, but no one replied to the message.
Li Hua's enthusiasm gradually cooled down at this point.
Perhaps... he really was wrong.
Count me in.
"Count me in too."
"I've long since given up on staying in this lousy place, I'm leaving!"
Suddenly, messages started flashing in the group chat, one after another.
Li Hua smiled, raised his head, and stretched out his hand towards the stars above.
The vast universe, here I come!