Suisxing looked at Qingliu, whose face all but declared, "My vision has been fulfilled," and finally could not help speaking up. "Qingliu, you were too rash. We know nothing about them."
"I already know enough." Qingliu waved a hand confidently. "I know they hate the Orks, and I know they aspire to be like us. That is enough. Suisxing, sometimes victory in war depends not just on firepower, but even more on winning hearts. And today, we won over an entire oppressed heart."
Suisxing fell silent. He could not argue with that. Strategically speaking, accepting this Gretchin fleet offered every advantage and no drawbacks.
Meanwhile, aboard the Lighthouse, the moment they confirmed that communications with the T'au Empire had ended, the bridge erupted in thunderous cheers, its atmosphere of tragic heroism and gratitude vanishing in an instant.
"The blue-skinned beanpoles are gonna give us good stuff!!"
"Long live the Big Boss! The Big Boss is bloody amazing!!"
Countless Gretchin bounced around, tossing wrenches and nuts everywhere as they celebrated the success of this epic con.
Liu Zhipeng leaned back on his captain's throne and let out a long breath. Through the viewport, he gazed at the beautiful colony world Jade VII, glowing blue-green, and the spaceport in its orbit, as pure and holy as a white lotus.
Countless high-tech devices, advanced weapons, precision instruments... all seemed to beckon to him.
A greedy, delighted smile curled his lips.
"Children," he drawled to the cheering Gretchin, "are you ready? Let's go have a friendly... in-depth exchange."
An almost unreal sense of harmony filled the orbital repair docks above the colony world Jade VII. The enormous T'au Empire spaceport resembled a white lotus suspended in a sea of stars. Its interior passageways were smooth as mirrors, and soft lighting shone on the Water