Clang! The enormous metal hatch closed. Watching the towering gold-and-red Mecha disappear from view, the Mecha Pilots felt a pang of loss.
When they heard that the fleet commander was coming aboard today-and bringing a Sea Storm-class Mech with him-the Mecha Pilots could no longer sit still. They flocked over to watch, finally getting a look at the powerful Mecha they had only ever heard about.
"The legendary Sea Storm-class, capable of taking down a warship single-handedly... I'd love to take it for a spin..." A young Mecha Pilot smacked his lips.
"Train hard. Once you become the top pilot, you might get your chance." A slightly older Mecha Pilot chuckled.
"You've got to be kidding. How could they let us pilot something that valuable?" The young Mecha Pilot sighed.
"You haven't heard? The new commander won this Mecha off the Sea Race in a bet, and he hasn't brought a pilot aboard at all. Just an adjutant. So maybe we'll get to... Hey! Where are you going?"
"To train! I'm going to be the top pilot!"
"..."
Outside the hatch, the Mecha Pilots excitedly discussed the Mecha. Little did they know that, in the dim compartment just beyond that door, a silver tide was surging. Countless silver Little Spiders easily chewed through the metal floor and began spreading throughout the ship along its dense, intricate network of cables and pipes.
Before long, the Mecha's enormous metal body was nothing but an empty shell...
On the bridge, Nie Yun sat in the commander's dedicated seat toward the rear of the center section. Nearby sensors began emitting beams of light, scanning him back and forth.
"Identity verification complete. Transfer of supreme control authority over Ship EH65446 complete! Fleet commander in position... Welcome aboard, Lord Alsace! This unit is at your