Space Odyssey from Abandoned Mining Space Station

Chapter 61: Chapter 55: New Spaceship Connection_2

The foreman looked at Chen Ming with a strange expression and said, ”What work can there be at the maintenance plant?”

Chen Ming coughed awkwardly and shamelessly volunteered himself, saying, ”Actually, I know a bit about this stuff too. If you’re short on hands, I can give it a try.”

”You can?”

The foreman stared at Chen Ming for a while, either considering whether to trust him or trying to figure out what Chen Ming meant by this.

Just as Chen Ming was wondering if he was being too forward, a maintenance master following the foreman quietly whispered two sentences to him.

Chen Ming managed to catch the words ”yesterday” and ”left together.”

The foreman’s expression changed slightly, and he seriously observed Chen Ming for a bit.

But with the protection of the protective suit, he could only roughly determine that Chen Ming was a young male, nothing more.

Perhaps it was something he heard from his subordinate about Chen Ming knowing Old Wu, as he didn’t outright refuse but instead took out a terminal and brought up some photos of spaceship maintenance.

He pointed at a photo taken during engine maintenance and asked, ”What’s wrong with this spot?”

Chen Ming glanced at it and instantly replied, ”Damage from an explosive shock, plus line aging causing a short circuit. Replace the lines and plates to fix it. However, this engine seems to have issues overall, it’s refurbished goods, needs replacing, or it’ll cause trouble sooner or later.”

The foreman swiped his finger, brought up another photo, and continued to ask, ”What about this?”

The second photo showed the bridge control panel, with the outer operating board removed, revealing extremely complex electronic components and circuits inside.

These electronic components and circuits were a complete mess, just looking at them was headache-inducing.

Chen Ming almost blurted out, ”I suggest just tossing it and getting a new one,” but fortunately, he kept it in.

He carefully examined the various damages on it and began to give repair solutions for the control panel, one by one.

In the end, Chen Ming couldn’t help but say, ”Given the control panel is this damaged, it’s better to replace it.”

Old Wu’s superior’s expression remained indifferent throughout, showing a bit of satisfaction only after Chen Ming finished speaking.

At least he understood Chen Ming’s knowledge wasn’t just superficial, knowing he had obviously studied this field, temporarily replacing Old Wu wouldn’t be a problem.

”Come with me.”

The foreman didn’t make things difficult for Chen Ming and directly led him deeper into the maintenance plant.

”Since you’re looking for work, start by assisting others. You’ll get one and a half percent per maintenance task. Whether you can continue depends on the situation.”

Chen Ming was slightly stunned, not because the deal was too poor, but rather because it was too good.

Usually, in such piecework maintenance tasks, the worker would get half, the plant would get half.

For Chen Ming, helping out and getting nearly half the pay of a primary maintenance master was honestly a bit exaggerated.

Knowing he was someone who just popped out from who knows where asking for a job, it’s already nice enough that he wasn’t shooed away, let alone getting such a deal.

Chen Ming found it hard to believe.

Could it be out of respect for Old Wu?

Chen Ming’s mind was filled with doubts, but since he brought it up himself, he at least had to go take a look.

The foreman quickly led Chen Ming into the depths of the maintenance plant, a section separated from the outside where various tradable spaceship equipment was displayed for repairing ships.

This area had a passage on the side near the dock leading directly through, for ships needing repair to enter from there.

Ships waiting for repair here were different from those docked; they were all suspended in the air, implying the area where ships underwent maintenance was unaffected by the Space Station’s simulated gravity system.

When Chen Ming entered, he saw many spaceships being repaired, but it wasn’t maintenance plant staff doing the repairs; it was the ships’ crews themselves.

They were only borrowing the maintenance plant’s equipment.

Apparently, there’d be no need to ask Old Wu about this ship modifications business.

If others could rent maintenance equipment, so could he.

The foreman didn’t stop at the entrance and continued leading Chen Ming to a maintenance master who was organizing tools.

This maintenance master had a shaved head and looked to be in his thirties or forties.

Seeing people approaching, he immediately stood up respectfully and called out, ”Foreman.”

The foreman nodded in acknowledgment and said, ”Old Wu skipped work again. This person knows Old Wu and has some skills, let him assist you first. If there are problems, come find me later. I need to get Old Wu back now.”

”Okay.”

After the bald maintenance master agreed, the foreman left Chen Ming there and soon disappeared down the path they came from.

Seeing this, the bald maintenance master looked somewhat relaxed and took his tools, gesturing for Chen Ming to come over to a spaceship about to undergo repairs.

He pointed to a piece of equipment nearby and said, ”Place the terminal here, and plug that cable in.”

There was already a terminal placed on the equipment with a data cable plugged into it.

Following the instructions, Chen Ming saw the terminal load a bit before a ”1” count and a section introducing the maintenance task requirements appeared.

Chen Ming didn’t rush to look at the task, but first turned to glance at the spaceship.

This spaceship wasn’t a civilian one but an armed frigate called Sentinel Level.

Like the Conquest Level, the Sentinel Level was suitable for trade convoy escort missions.

Compared to the Conquest Level, the Sentinel Level had thinner armor, lower overall mass, and more mobility.

With two small load points and a special missile mounting point, its combat focus differed from the Conquest Level.

Many large trade convoys opted for a mixed composition of Conquest Level and Sentinel Level when selecting frigates to adapt to various combat environments.

The Sentinel Level before Chen Ming was heavily damaged, with engines and rear armor nearly entirely wrecked, seeming like it was destroyed.

Or, to be more precise, this ship was a pirate’s loot.

Having seen enough, Chen Ming looked back at the terminal.

The terminal showed that the client wanted only the least amount of repairs and maintenance for this ship.

Just enough to ensure the spaceship ran normally, start the Superspace Navigation System, and have weapon systems operational.

Requirements like these matched Chen Ming’s stereotypical views of certain pirates.

The bald maintenance master saw Chen Ming had about finished looking and beckoned him over to his side.

At the same time, he pointed to some equipment for assistance in a zero-gravity environment and said, ”Come, put that on and follow me; we’re going inside the ship.”

Chen Ming was quite familiar with such equipment.

Without needing help, he donned a protective suit and began strapping the equipment onto himself.

His lightweight protective suit didn’t interfere with wearing the gear, and in no time, Chen Ming was ready, standing next to the bald maintenance master.

The bald maintenance master, seeing this, couldn’t help but ask, ”We’re inside the Space Station, and you’re working in just this?”

Chen Ming moved a bit, confirming it wouldn’t affect his mobility, then said, ”I’m used to it.”

The bald one didn’t say much, as it wasn’t he who’d feel uncomfortable.

Leaving a ”Suit yourself,” he stepped forward into the zero-gravity area.

Using the equipment for assistance, he quickly stood at the ship’s starboard door, which showed signs of violent damage.

The bald maintenance master crawled inside as Chen Ming followed him into the zero-gravity area.

Approaching the damaged spaceship with the help of the equipment.

But when Chen Ming touched the spaceship, he froze for a moment.

His mind echoed with the lines he encountered when he first touched Iron Ore No.

[Detected new spaceship signal, change brain signal connection?]

[Current connected spaceship count: 1/1]