Chapter 659 06.658: “The Fate of the Epic”

Inside the spacious conference hall, hundreds of colonels were busy with various complicated affairs. The atmosphere was depressing and dull.

Horatio Cochrane’s sudden appearance was like a different kind of fresh breeze, giving everyone something new and refreshing.

“Now, let’s suspend the previous discussion, ladies and gentlemen!” The colonel chairman stood up, scanned the audience, and said loudly.

As an experienced colonel, he has a long career in the Imperial Navy. You know, in the Imperial Navy, the rank of colonel is often the end of many people’s service career.

Most people, no matter how good they are, will eventually stop here. According to the service chapter, colonels are divided into junior colonels who have served on capital ships for less than three years, skilled colonels who have served for more than three years, senior colonels who have served for more than five years, and experienced colonels who have served for more than ten years.

Based on their military merits, a few people can obtain the honorary rank of “Lord Colonel”. In the Empire, “Lord Colonel” is equivalent to “Lord Captain”, both of which are Lord Captain.

From this level on, they are qualified to represent the Imperial Navy. When the Navy’s designated agent is unable to be present, they can make statements and decisions on behalf of the Imperial Navy on the spot. They also have the power to change patrol locations on their own or recruit void armed forces that are not part of the Imperial Navy to better execute the “missions given by the Emperor”.

Facing this young colonel with a good family background and whose ancestors for more than three generations had served in the Imperial Navy, and who was also from a naval family that had produced a legendary hero, the senior elders present showed extraordinary tolerance and generosity in their eyes.

“Hehe, I didn’t expect that our little hero, Colonel Cochrane would come to visit us. I wonder what’s the matter?” A senior colonel sitting in the front row leaned forward slightly and asked with a smile on his face.

Horatio Cochrane walked up to the podium slowly with a serious expression, looked at the crowd with a firm gaze, and spoke in a loud voice with a hint of excitement that could not be concealed: “Ladies and gentlemen, please allow me to take up your precious time, but what I am doing is indeed necessary.

Not long ago, the Imperial Navy decided to dismantle the E-96 Epic long-range attack ship, which had previously made great achievements under my command! As her first captain, I cannot accept that this ship, which has made outstanding achievements, has to end up like this. “

As soon as these words came out, the whole place was in an uproar.

The captains who were originally communicating in low voices suddenly looked at each other, and many of them couldn’t help but exclaim at this sudden news.

A female colonel with an artificial eye shook her head slightly and said, “The dismantling order for non-capital ships does not need to be approved by the Colonel Council, so we did not know this sad news, Colonel Cochrane.

But she is just a non-capital ship, and it is not worth our annual special maintenance expenses. “

“Please rest assured, if the Epic does not have to face such a tragic fate, the Imperial Navy will not be responsible for her future maintenance costs!”

Horatio clenched his hands, leaned forward slightly, and said firmly, “All future maintenance expenses of the Epic will be borne by my Cochrane family alone!” As he spoke, he patted his chest heavily.

He knew very well that the Epic deserved this honor. The bounties it had earned from hunting, as well as the hunting bounties it had earned from destroying the enemy fleet and the starport, were so much that he and his descendants could never use up the money even in a hundred lifetimes.

If he wanted, he could even use half of the value points exchanged for the hunting bounty to buy an old imperial large cruiser from somewhere else.

In the Empire, currencies that are generally recognized by the star regions, such as Sky Eagle Coin and Throne Coin, are still widely accepted.

Gothic coins can be exchanged for Eagle coins and Throne coins. After the exchange, his assets will be generally recognized by more people. After all, no one will question the value of gold! Throne coins and Eagle coins are made of different contents of gold and silver. Even primitive people recognize gold as a general equivalent and use it for trade.

“Do you want to buy this warship?” someone asked doubtfully.

“If she is to be dismantled, she will be retired first. In this case, I will buy her and donate her to the Abridar Zhongsi Academy where I once studied! This will give the new naval recruits a chance to directly understand the military merits of the warship.

“Gentlemen! Ladies! There will be thousands and tens of thousands of attack ships in the future! But there will never be another prototype ship like this one! Is the Imperial Navy really reluctant to pay for such a commemorative warship? If the Navy is reluctant, it doesn’t matter, I am willing to pay!” Horatio’s tone became more and more excited, echoing in the conference room.

The colonels were talking to each other, some of them secretly approved of his generosity and extraordinary courage, while most of them were considering the significance of Horatio’s proposal.

“Now, let’s start the secret ballot voting on this resolution.” The chairman colonel’s voice sounded, breaking the discussion. The colonels each took up a pen and paper and wrote down their opinions carefully. Then, several assistant captains walked along the aisle one by one with ballot boxes to collect ballots.

“Start counting the votes!” As the order was given, several servants and clerks from the Ministry of the Interior opened the boxes swiftly, and they worked together to skillfully begin counting the votes. The several servo skulls floating behind them recorded the entire process according to the procedure, without omission, and sent it to all colonels participating in the vote.

There was silence in the meeting room, and everyone was waiting for the final result.

About ten minutes later, a clerk raised his hand to signal that the counting was over.

The counting results were presented to the Colonel Chairman. He took the paper and his brows gradually furrowed.

Horatio’s heart was pounding as he nervously watched Colonel Chairman’s every move.

He thought to himself, if this way doesn’t work, then he has to find another way.

[Epic, I will save you no matter what! Wait for me!]
“Now let me read out the voting results…” The long voice of the colonel chairman drowned out the noisy discussions in the audience.

“Well, that’s unfortunate and surprising,” he said, shaking his head slightly.

When Horatio heard this, he bit his lower lip and frowned tightly, but his heart was unexpectedly calm, as if he was ready to accept this fact.

[After retirement, the Epic will be sold to the Dismantling Order, and I will find a Rogue Trader to buy it! From now on, it will be placed in my manor in Macragge! It will be open to the public. ‘Look, this is the heroic warship that destroyed the alien fleet in the second Damocles Gulf expedition! ‘]
He secretly made up his mind to do it!

“It would be great if you could be so united on other agendas.” The Chairman Colonel suddenly raised the corner of his mouth and smiled. “Colonel Horatio Cochrane’s resolution was passed unanimously by the Council! This is the first time I have seen this since I became the Chairman Colonel! It was passed unanimously!”

When Horatio heard this, he stood up in astonishment, his eyes full of joy at having escaped from a desperate situation.

The colonels present also stood up, took off their bicorne hats, tucked them under their arms, and looked at him collectively.

“The battleships are our good friends and partners. The damage of each battleship and the demise of each machine spirit pain us.

The Epic is a meritorious warship that carries too much glory. She should not be treated so carelessly.

The Colonel Council decided that the E-96 Epic Bayonet will be permanently in service! The Imperial Navy’s Gothic Fleet will cover its maintenance expenses, and it will be sent to the Abridar Loyal Academy, where it will serve as a demonstration and ground training ship to train new generations of Void Sea Wolves. “The Chairman Colonel preached passionately, and the colonels in the audience applauded.

Horatio let out a long sigh, his tense nerves finally relaxing.

He hurriedly shook hands with the captains who supported him and expressed his gratitude one by one.

“Young man, work hard. Your achievements and strength are obvious to all. In the future, you will become a great general, and we will all witness the arrival of that day.” A senior colonel walked up, patted him on the shoulder, and said earnestly.

“Thank you! Thank you all for your support! Thank you!” Horatio was full of gratitude and shook hands with these men and women one by one humbly and sincerely.

This action gave hundreds of colonels from different star fleets of the Imperial Navy a real and concrete impression of this rising star of the navy and the heir of the legendary hero.

He was unexpectedly friendly and sincere, without any heroic airs.

Moreover, everyone can see that this young man is gradually getting rid of the halo of “heroic blood” that was passively given to him. He himself is becoming a respected “imperial hero”. This new halo is gradually expanding and gradually overshadowing the glory of the former.

(End of this chapter)