While Andrew was dealing with everything inside his territory, he didn't forget about the incoming pirates.
Their approach was a bit suspicious, especially since he already took in two pirate fleets, and as far as he knew, there was some kind of agreement between all the pirates that they could not attempt to become the subordinates of a system master who already took some pirates in.
The only exception to this was if they were in a desperate situation.
-Lan, how far out are the pirates now?
Andrew asked once he dealt with most of his duties and small matters, inside his territory.
-They are still over ten hours away at their current speed.
The geologist asked.
-Well, I think it's about time we learned what they want.
Sarill, open a channel to them.
-Channel opened.
The girl said calmly.
-This is System master Andrew Eagle. You are approaching my territory; state your business here.
Andrew said, and waited for a moment, giving them time to answer.
-System master, we come in peace; we don't wish to attack your territory.
A female voice came back, and the image of a pretty female alien showed up on the main screen.
-I'm Captain Giarna, and we came to pledge our loyalty to you in the hope of joining your territory.
The pretty pirate introduced herself.
-I have already taken in two pirate fleets, and according to my knowledge, there is an agreement forbidding you to approach a territory that already took some pirates in.
Andrew answered, hoping that he could avoid adding another female or two to his station's crew.
With his luck, all the ladies on the station could easily put most of Earth's models to shame, and he was having a hard time with all the ladies he already had on board.
He didn't need any more.
Not that he didn't want to have more subordinates, as this would allow him to take over another system, but he sure as hell didn't want to be called a harem master if this continued.
-The agreement no longer applies.
-What do you mean it does not apply?
Andrew asked, surprised as this was the first time he heard about it.
-The agreement was only supposed to apply before the fleets from other universes showed up, and the fleet that just turned back and left is definitely not from this universe.
What's more, we are in desperate need of resupply and repairs, so even if you don't wish to take us in, can we at least trade with you to get what we need?
Giarna asked, pleadingly.
-I need some time to discuss this with my people.
I'll contact you within an hour.
Andrew explained.
The pirate captain simply nodded before they ended the call.
-Well, ladies, you heard the captain.
Do you think we should agree to take them in?
Andrew asked everyone present as everyone on the station was now present in the command center except for Iliana who was now most likely sleeping.
-We could always use more people and ships to expand the territory.
Nairin expressed her thoughts.
-Actually, why are you even asking us?
Lanarine asked, surprised, as Andrew usually just decided by himself.
-Because I want to know your thoughts on this matter, I'm not all-knowing, and we already took in two fleets and this would be the third one.
Andrew explained.
-As long as they are similar to Arien's and Theresa's people, I dont have a problem with them joining us.
Lan said after hearing his explanation.
-We still need to expand the territory if we want to be seen as the major players in this sector of the galaxy, so I'd say we take them in and give them a system to conquer.
Tarina said.
-Sarill, what's your opinion?
Andrew asked the girl, who still didn't think that she was worthy of expressing her thoughts before everyone here because of her past.
-I think we should take them in or at least help them with the repairs and supplies if we can.
She answered.
Every lady in the room had the same thoughts.
Aelita and Jalina were no different when Andrew contacted them to ask their opinions.
Arien, Rhunek, Drevon, Zira, and Kirna were all in agreement, to take the new group inn to boost their numbers and overall strength of the fleet.
They also remembered how bad their situation was before they joined Andrew's territory and there was also the tiny detail about most pirate crews not being actual pirates to begin with.
After hearing everyone out, Andrew thought for a few minutes about welcoming this new group as his subordinates.
He had to admit that the number of beings in his territory was extremely limited, considering he had already conquered four systems.
Not to mention that Tarina was right about being taken seriously in the future by other factions.
Nobody would bother with him if he wasn't powerful and influential enough.
-Lan, find me a system that we can conquer in our vicinity, preferably next to our territory.
He finally said, deciding to take the pirates in.
-I already found one.
She smiled.
-I figured that you would accept them and found a system for them to take over.
However, there is a small problem as there is a single station master still present in that system, but whoever he is, he hasn't added anything to his station for a very long time.
Lanarine displayed the system on the main screen.
-The biggest reward from this system is this planet, which is in the habitable zone, and according to the sensors, there is life there and a lot of it.
Additionally, it also has a quite substantial asteroid belt and some gas planets, which could easily provide a lot of fuel for their fleet.
And with another system we will be able to collect more helium 3.
-Do we have any information about the station master currently residing there?
Andrew asked.
-And are there any other systems nearby that we can take over?
I'm not dismissing this one, but I would like to have more options.
-Within 150 light-years, there are several more systems, but most of them are almost empty.
The only things we can find in them are stars and some asteroids, but not much of these.
I would recommend leaving them as possible fuel collection sites for the future.
Other than that, there are also other systems that contain enough resources, to warrant taking them over, but most of them have an active station or system masters and they are mostly quite well armed.
Lan explained.
-This sector is quite densely packed with star systems, but unfortunately, we can't take it over without starting a war, which I think we would want to avoid for now, considering that the invasion is coming and there is not much time till it starts.
She added.
-Alright, we will try and take the system you recommended, but let's send some scouts first.
I want to know what's going on there before we act.
Andrew said and contacted Drevon as he was the closest to the system they were targeting.
The muscular alien immediately gathered five ships and sent them on a reconnaissance mission after he heard what they were planning.
The main reason for sending scouts was that there were several more stations in that system along with some pirate ships, and other than being powered down and without any life signs on board any of them, they seemed to be intact.
Andrew ordered the scout ships to maintain vigilance and retreat at the slightest sign of trouble.
They were also instructed to jump out of FTL at the edge of the system and proceed on sunlight engines, one at a time, to avoid being ambushed.
While the scout ships were on their way, Andrew contacted Captain Giarna.
-Captain, I will accept your allegiance, on the same conditions I accepted the previous two fleets.
Then, he proceeded to explain how it all worked.
Giarna accepted the conditions, and soon, two ships from her fleet were on their way to Andrew's station to finalize their agreement.
In the meantime, Aelita called him to send a list of materials necessary to repair the three heavy frigates.
Altogether, they needed almost two thousand tons of resources to repair the ships.
Not that the damage from the battle was so substantial, but there were also a lot of parts that needed to be replaced, thanks to the lack of maintenance.
She also informed him that she and Jalina should be getting back in a few hours as they wanted to stay until the AI of the shipyard activated.
The scouting ships arrived at their designated system quite fast since they only had a few dozen light years to cover.
Just as they were instructed, they entered the system one at a time, from two different directions.
One of the ships approached a deactivated station that didn't have many modules attached to it.
To the crew's surprise, all the drones were attached to the charging modules, and there was not a scratch on the station itself.
It looked like the station master decided to deactivate everything and just die when the air ran out.
However, the sensors didn't detect any traces of an organic life form inside.
-Boss, we want to send two people to check this station before we proceed any further.
The captain of the gunship said.
-Good idea, but don't dock with the station; get them close and let them jump.
Andrew said after contemplating the idea for a moment.
It didn't take long for two crew members in space suits to get inside the station.
They proceeded carefully, with tasers at the ready, in case there was any danger.
A few minutes later, they checked the whole station and found nothing.
Not a trace of the owner, and even the chest in the beginning module was emptied.
-Boss, this looks like the station master just got their stuff and left.
No signs of a fight, no trace of anything abnormal, other than the station being powered down and everything that belonged to the owner of this place missing.
The crew member reported that once they finished checking the station for the second time, just in case they missed something the first time.
-Alright, get back to the ship and proceed with the mission, but do another stop at the nearest station and see if you can find anything there.
Andrew ordered.
He was starting to get a bad feeling about this.
-Boss, we are approaching a pirate ship.
Permission to board it and see what we can find.
Another captain reported.
-Granted, but like before, don't dock with it and be ready to leave at any moment.
-Yes, boss.
The captain said, and sent two of his men to board the ship.
-Boss, the airlock on this ship is wide open, and I don't see any signs that it was forced open.
One of the two scouts sent to the ship reported.
-Proceed with caution; if possible, retrieve the ship's logs.
We need to know what's going on in that system.
Andrew said, liking this whole thing less and less.
-Boss, we found bodies of the crew on board.
The same scout said a moment later when they entered the ship and were on their way to the bridge to retrieve the logs.
-Are there any signs of combat?
Andrew asked.
-No, boss, it looks like they died when the ship lost its atmosphere; they didn't even have time to put on their space suits.
This was strange, and Andrew's bad feeling grew by the moment.
He had seen a similar scenario somewhere but could not remember where.
-Boss, we are on the bridge.
The whole crew is dead, there don't seem to be any signs suggesting that a fight took place here.
It seems that the ship was simply vented.
The scout reported.
-I have the logs disc.
-Good job. Return to the ship for now.
Andrew ordered, still trying to remember where he had seen a similar situation.
-Boss, the ship is powering up. What are your orders?
The captain of the scout ship reported just as the two scouts came on board.
This was the final piece of the puzzle, and Andrew finally remembered where he had seen this situation before.
-All ships, abort mission, jump out of the system immediately, he ordered in a panicked voice, finally knowing what was going on.
All five captains ordered an emergency jump the moment they heard Andrew's panicked voice.
They heard him over the comms many times, even during a battle, and he never panicked.
So they immediately understood that they were in a heap of trouble when they heard panic in his voice for the first time.
All five ships jumped away within seconds, leaving FTL at a distance of two light years from the system they were in just now.
-Boss, what's going on?
The commander of the scouting fleet asked once they were at a safe distance.
-That system master is either a very skilled hacker or has an AI that can hack the ships and stations at his disposal.
Either way, it's too dangerous to approach this system for now. Return to base.
Andrew explained the situation.
He didn't have any definitive proof of what he just said, but he was not going to risk the lives of his crew just to find out.
-Bring the logs from the pirate ship, here, we need to figure out what we are up against.
-On our way, Boss.
The commander said, and all five ships jumped into FTL to return to the main station.