Chapter 52: Comprehensive Search

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh...

A fleet of miniature drones shot out from the underside of the Bluebird aircraft, their metallic shells gleaming as they dispersed into the atmosphere. Each drone, equipped with cutting-edge reconnaissance systems, swiftly connected to the Bluebird's advanced computational hub. The massive onboard display came alive, showcasing a grid of high-definition live feeds. Every dip, rise, and anomaly in the terrain below was instantly analyzed, cross-referenced with prior intelligence, and flagged for discrepancies. The hunt had begun.

Ten Bluebirds unleashed a swarm of 500 drones, spreading out to meticulously comb the areas surrounding three fortified military installations. Hugging the ground, the drones darted into every accessible crevice and cavern, seeking signs of hidden underground passages or concealed bunkers. Equipped with penetrating radar, they mapped subterranean structures within moments, ruling out dead ends before swiftly returning to the surface.

Aboard the Sturgeon, a massive command ship, the operations center was a flurry of activity. Hundreds of live drone feeds populated the vast screen wall, each window representing a different sector of the search. At the center of the display, a map highlighted the territory already scanned. The progress was promising: vast swaths of green signaled areas cleared of anomalies.

So far, nothing.

The initial sweep suggested that the notorious Star River Corsairs had been wiped out completely. Hours passed, and the search radius expanded. Yet, for all the advanced technology and manpower deployed, the Bluebird squads came up empty-handed.

Commander Zhang Lian's brow furrowed as he stared at the display.

"Meng Ai," he called out, his voice carrying a sharp edge. "Take a team to the crash sites. Search the wreckage for any trace—corpses, equipment, anything that might give us a lead."

"Understood," Meng Ai, a seasoned G-class security officer, replied with a curt nod. He motioned to his squad, and moments later, another wave of aircraft roared out of the Sturgeon, streaking toward the planet below.

The crash sites proved a bitter disappointment. The downed vessels had been reduced to twisted husks of metal, their bio-chips obliterated in the explosions. No survivors, no clues—nothing but smoldering wreckage. Meng Ai's team pressed on, scouring the three fortified bunkers that had been obliterated in prior assaults. They were greeted with scenes of devastation: rock and alloy walls melted into grotesque shapes by the intense heat of the blasts. Any hope of finding usable intelligence dissolved in the face of such destruction. Shaking his head in frustration, Meng Ai reported back.

The search continued, relentless but fruitless. Hours ticked by, with drones and personnel covering a tenth of the planet's surface. Exhausted, the teams paused briefly to refuel their bodies with nutrition bars before resuming their mission.

Zhang Lian paced the command center, his frustration barely contained.

"D*mn it," he muttered under his breath. "Where the hell did those blasted pirates stash their loot?"

Every operation burned resources, and this one was no exception. Deploying the Sturgeon and its arsenal, including main cannons, was a costly gamble. Without results, the financial toll would be steep.

Then came the breakthrough.

"Commander!" a voice crackled over the comms. "Bluebird 02 has found something—a massive sinkhole, 300 meters deep. Scans indicate a large, dormant vessel buried within."

Zhang Lian's eyes lit up as he gripped the edge of the console.

"Finally!" he exclaimed, slamming a fist into his palm. "Bluebird team, secure the area and neutralize any threats. Meng Ai, take your squad and establish a perimeter. Skyclear, dispatch your technical team to assess the ship and determine its condition. The rest of you, monitor the surface for any anomalies."

Amid the buzz of activity, one figure remained calm and focused: Tian Xiao. An experienced operative, he studied the drone's live feed of the uncovered vessel, his keen eyes taking in every detail.

The ship was massive, over 300 meters long, its dark hull battered and scarred. Recognizing its silhouette, Tian Xiao muttered to himself, "An F-class Shark Hunter, part freighter, part combat vessel. Must've cost over three billion credits when it rolled off the assembly line centuries ago."

But the glory days of this ship were long gone. The hull bore the pockmarks of countless battles, and its once-formidable weaponry had been stripped away. Closer inspection revealed gaping holes where circuits were exposed, encrusted with layers of frost—a ship reduced to a corpse.

Tian Xiao's drones ventured into the vessel's bridge, capturing footage of the gutted interior. The control panels, once the nerve center of the ship, were barren. The primary chip clusters had been ripped out, leaving only empty sockets.

"Stripped for parts," Tian Xiao muttered, shaking his head. "Whatever had value is long gone."

His assessment was grim but accurate. The Star River Corsairs had used the ship as a resource depot, cannibalizing it for upgrades, modifications, or trade. What remained was little more than a hollow shell.

When Skyclear's technical team arrived, their initial excitement quickly turned to dismay. After a thorough inspection, they delivered their report to Zhang Lian.

"Commander, the power systems are beyond repair. Weapon control systems are completely dismantled. Primary chips are missing. The hull has over 20% structural damage. At best, its value as scrap is under two million credits. Transporting it back would cost more than it's worth."

Skyclear's verdict was a bitter pill to swallow. Zhang Lian's frustration boiled over as he slammed a fist onto the alloy table with a resounding thud.

"D*mn those corsairs!" he growled. "All teams, return to the Sturgeon. We'll regroup and launch the second wave of searches in five hours."

The weary crews boarded the Sturgeon, grateful for the reprieve but acutely aware that their mission was far from over. In the operations chamber, Bluebird squads remained on standby while Meng Ai and Skyclear joined Zhang Lian for a debrief.

"This Shark Hunter," Zhang Lian began, his voice heavy with frustration, "is one of three ships the Star River Corsairs allegedly commandeered. Its current state doesn't match our intelligence. Skyclear, based on your findings, when were the components removed?"

"Recently," Skyclear replied without hesitation. As the lead technician, his expertise was unquestionable. "The frost covers everything now, but the mechanical imprints are fresh. The dismantling was done hastily, likely after the corsairs' defeat. Whoever did this wasn't a professional; there are signs of damage to the remaining parts."

He sighed, his frustration mirroring that of the commander. "What was once a billion-credit vessel is now barely worth salvaging."

Meng Ai spoke up, his voice measured but firm. "Commander, I'd wager that the remnants of the Star River Corsairs, upon hearing of their leader's demise, panicked. They must have dismantled their assets for quick profit. If that's the case, the other two ships are likely in similar condition."

Zhang Lian's fist tightened. He had mobilized his forces precisely to prevent such a scenario, yet it seemed they had arrived too late. His thoughts churned as he weighed his options. Would further searches yield any meaningful results, or was this mission destined to end in disappointment?

For now, the Sturgeon remained anchored above the desolate planet, its crews preparing for the next phase of their arduous task. The silence of the void was broken only by Zhang Lian's quiet vow:

"We'll find them. We'll bring them to justice. No matter the cost."