The Mech Touch novel Chapter 7425

Chapter 7425: The Leading Terrans

Due to time constraints, Ves could only pay a short visit to Benny.

He grabbed Lucky before boarding a shuttle to a small frigate flying under the colors of the Streon Ancient Clan.

As befitting an old and leading Terran institution, the Streon vessel was both modern and premium. The frigate was only a few years old and had already received a recent upgrade that incorporated a small amount of superdimensional alloys.

Such an expenditure sounded extravagant even for a wealthy ancient clan, but the identity of Benny Smit far outweighed that of most members of the Streon Ancient Clan.

The lifelong assistant was one of the few individuals who repeatedly earned the trust of the Renewer of Terra.

They may be very different individuals, but their bond of brotherhood far outweighed their nominal ranks and positions.

For this reason, Ves did not feel insulted that the Streons merely dispatched their senechal this time.

In fact, Ves felt honored by this decision as he knew how much Benny mattered to Axelar over the years!

"Professor Larkinson." The impeccably dressed and highly composed senechal greeted the new arrival. "It has been too long since we last met in the flesh. My principal and I have missed your company. You are one the few mech designers who possess an intimate appreciation of the Ouroboros. Before you ask, the general’s ace hero mech is in its best condition yet. Our ancient clan has allocated the bulk of armor-grade and weapon-grade superdimensional matter into its upgrade and final reinvention before attempting to bridge the impossible divide."

Ves had scarcely entered the small but expertly decorated lounge compartment before he became overtaken by numerous important data points.

He rapidly processed the individual subjects in his augmented mind. By the time he shook hands with Benny’s incredibly tough and physically superior form, he already prepared a measured response.

"I would love to visit you and General Axelar more frequently in the future. Everyone knows that we do not make for good company, especially since..."

The personal assistant of one of the most powerful Terrans in existence began to showcase the plan that had gone through many refinements.

Of course, he was not stupid enough to showcase the full and redacted plan.

"...the future of our entire ancient clan will sit on a razor’s edge, professor. The immense need to safeguard our forces and allow them to survive long enough to help our great general cross the mortal divide has forced our people to make a difficult decision. We could either go all-in and make an enormous bet on the general’s eventual success, or we could hold back as much as possible and only give him the minimum amount of support. That way, a failed breakthrough will not cause our ancient clan to incur too many losses."

As a man who enjoyed taking high-risk decisions, Ves couldn’t help but sneer and express his contempt at the latter option.

"The Red Ocean is dangerous, but it is also not kind to slow and timid entrepreneurs. It is normal behavior to minimize the risks and ensure that an ancient clan can keep running after suffering so many setbacks. However, few groups are truly set up for success in the new frontier. The Streons may have been luckier than most by investing much more at an earlier stage, but all of these prior advantages will wear away in time. What ultimately matters is whether the Streons can hold onto their existing assets and whether they can replenish their losses."

Compared to the original Streon Ancient Clan in the old galaxy, the branch that existed in the Red Ocean still lacked a thorough enough foundation. The latter relied too much on a single charismatic leader and an unstable foundation to remain safe and in their own hands.

The fall of the Renewer of Terra would have a disproportionate impact on the morale of the Streons.

He was more than just a figurehead. He was a pillar of strength and a beacon of hope. His potential demise would have an undeniable negative effect on the Streons, and many of their allies as well.

This included the Larkinson Clan!

The importance of Axelar’s imminent deep strike operation was so high that Ves even made a spontaneous offer.

"If there is anything you need from me and my clan, you only need to ask." He softly said. "I believe my clan can spare one of our powerful ace pilots if necessary. They may only be junior ace pilots, but their powerful mechs make up for their lack of tempering and experience. Their performance speaks for themselves."

Benny responded with a slight but patronizing smile. "Your generosity is great. It is not every day that another clan is willing to make such a proposal. We respectfully decline. We have already solicited enough assistance from other clans and ancient clans. This must be a flagship Terran operation from beginning to end. It is a matter of national pride. Besides, your ace pilots have not trained alongside our own forces and do not fully understand how we fight. They have no place in our lineup. What is even more important is that we cannot ask your clan to suffer the dire consequences of a potential loss. No matter our chosen target, a loss will mean complete annihilation. The chances that any of our forces will be able to complete the long trek back to human-occupied space is minimal."

The air grew heavy as the senechal pointed out the obvious truth.

The Streons were gambling on success. While it was admirable that they had put their faith in General Axelar’s strength and preparations, failure would definitely make it difficult for the remainder of the forces under his command to remain strong and cohesive when surrounded by angry alien defenders!

Ves had been serious when he made his previous offer, but he recognized that he had been a little too impulsive.

If Benny accepted the help, then Ves would put his clan in a difficult position. The Larkinsons would not be happy to send one of their precious ace pilots to Bridgehead One in a hurry and have him or her participate in a high-risk military operation!

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