The broken remains of the UGTR ships now floated aimlessly in space, electric sparks, and fires lighted up the dark, destroyed ships were now added to the space debris of the Belt. All of it was displayed in front of the pirates present and under restraint on all ships.

And now there was a new looming figure before them a behemoth from the depths of space. The largest ship he had ever seen. Munda's eyes widened in disbelief as he took in the sheer size and magnitude of the vessel before him. It was unlike anything he had ever encountered, a towering monolith of metal and machinery that seemed to dwarf even the largest of the pirate vessels he currently has.

It was the same ship that completely wiped out the UGTR naval fleet.

"What... what is that?" Munda Ek're whispered, his voice trembling with awe and fear.

Mostly, pirates use either a ship that has the best firepower with good to great speed in their fleet as their flagship. Easier to harass and run away if needed. And Munda heard about the tales of capital ships, wreaking havoc on the battlefield in the depths of space. Being used as flagships by admirals and fleet admirals in every battle that will define the fate of a state.

He never saw one in person as he would never or always try to avoid military ships a few jumps away after being detected. He only saw an image of a UGTR Capital class, Nidhogg Type ship that was leaked on the BLACNET. It was claimed to be UGTR’s one of the top-of-the-line ships against their enemies.

But in comparison to that, the ship that his eyes were now resting upon was what he could call a supercapital. A ship so massive that he could feel the space around it, crying in pain for its presence.

His pirates who also saw the entire battle on their respective cargo bays, could do little but stare in awe and disbelief. The sheer size of the vessel alone was enough to make them feel insignificant and powerless.

Ubel’s eyes alight with anticipation.

"That my dear friend," he said, his voice tinged with excitement, "...is my masterpiece. And soon, it will be the instrument to my rise. To be honest I didn’t expect to use it right after appearing on this world… or shall I say, universe."

He smiled proudly as he gazed upon his creation, his eyes alight with excitement.

"Behold," he declared, his voice ringing with triumph. "The Blitzkrieg."

Ubel then started explaining the capabilities of the Blitzkrieg, detailing its advanced weaponry, impenetrable defenses, and unparalleled firepower. It was a vessel designed for one purpose and one purpose only: total domination of the battlefield.

"This is not just any ship," Ubel continued, his voice filled with pride. "This is an Apocrypha Titan Class- Bihorn Type ship with Stealth Modules, the first of its kind. Well, your civilization still hasn’t reached the Titan Technology yet so you can consider it as a Supercapital Ship. It has a length of approximately 20 kilometers, with the width of about 3.8 kilometers and a height of 6.4 kilometers. It is equipped with nanoveramite hulls, photon shields, a Gravity engine, and a host of other advanced technologies that make it virtually unstoppable. And not only that, it-"

Before he could continue, he was interrupted by a droid who inserted itself into his immersed explanation of his beloved ship.

“Commander, we have successfully subjugated the entire fleet of enemy ships. We have captured their crews and are awaiting further orders.” Ubel, obviously annoyed at being interrupted, sighed and ordered his droids again.

The robot was referring to the pirate fleet that his droids have commandeered.

“Nevermind. Treat their wounded but keep them restrained. Then gather them all in a single location and wait for my holos on each ship. I may need to send a message to all of them.”

Then he turned to Munda.

“Oh yeah, take him to his friends on the cargo bay.”

The droids followed his orders on every word and marched towards their assignments. Ubel took a final glance at Blitzkrieg, smiling as he finally saw the ship that he always wanted and witnessed its baptism of fire. Then he hurriedly went towards the cargo bay where the final phase of his plan would occur.

He arrived at the scene of wounded but still hostile pirates in restraints, surrounded by his armed droids. Then using the eyes of the droids from other ships, he scanned his vision across each of the ships in the fleet.

As Ubel surveyed the captive pirates gathered in the cargo bay of his mining ship, a sense of anticipation filled the air. He counted their numbers; each one had a potential that he could see. But he also knew the risk of keeping them alive. So, he had to make a decision.

"Twenty-seven,” he said then asked one of the droids. “What of the other ships?”

“Excluding this ship, we have exactly three hundred and forty-five prisoners in total. If the one hundred and seventy-two injured survive their treatment, then we will have five hundred and seventeen captured personnel.” the droid answered.

“Five hundred and seventeen…” he murmured to himself, a satisfied smile playing at the corners of his lips. It was a sizable number, one that would serve him well later.

He mulled for several seconds then decided to go further on his plans.

Seated again upon one of his droids, Ubel addressed the pirates that were forcibly gathered before him, his voice calm and measured.

"Members of Demonic Monkeys," he began, his words carrying across the cargo bay with a commanding presence. His droids also captured footage of himself to send a holo across other captured pirate ships. “I must introduce myself again. I am Audubel Bladd Ulricht. Captain of the Blitzkrieg. And I have a proposition to all of you.”

All of them went silent as his voice and comms echoed across the paralyzed fleet. Their faces were painted in exhaustion and confusion.

"I invite you to join me on my grand venture. As my part of my crew… as pirates."

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

The pirates who heard him speak this statement, exchanged bewildered glances, their expressions a mix of confusion and disbelief. Their captor was now offering them to be their new boss or commander.

But as they listened to his words, a sense of intrigue began to take hold. And as part of his measures, he silenced Munda on the corner, gagged and restrained by several droids.

“To be honest, I have taken an interest in your way of life, your sense of freedom and rebellion against the established order, which tingles my heart for it struck me, relates to my past life woes... and I have decided to embrace it also."

Ubel continued to speak, outlining his vision for the future and his plans for their newfound partnership.

“As you may have experienced in fighting me, and now know after wiping out the UGTR fleet, I have the strength, capability, and the ship to overpower all of you with just a single ship. Then imagine that again, being part of my venture as I plunder the riches of those above you. We will be... unstoppable.”

“But you may ask,” he walks around to soften the atmosphere of the pirates that had now focused their attention towards him. “Why do you need us? You already have an army of droids and a ship that could destroy a fleet on its own.”

Then he stopped in front of Munda, grinning at him as he answered his question.

“Humans are much cheaper to make than droids.”

Silence stilled upon them.

“And unlike droids, humans have the initiative and capacity to adapt. Making very interesting conclusions and responses that deemed it right for every situation.”

But Ubel sensed something in the eyes of the pirates.

Something that he confirmed about their mindset and lifestyle.

Something that he first thought to have only existed as a lore in the game.

The mindset of a wolf pack and the rational mentality of people who lived only for the sake of survival.

As Ubel's words hung heavy in the air, the pirates exchanged confused glances, unsure of what to make of Ubel's proclamation. But before they could react, Ubel issued a chilling command.

"But first I need to clean up the backyard… those who currently hold positions of power among you… I have no need of you," Ubel declared, his voice dripping with authority.

Then with a nod from Ubel, the air crackled with energy as his droids sprang into action. In a swift and coordinated movement, they unleashed a volley of precise shots, striking down the commanders and captains where they were. The cargo bay echoed with the sound of blaster fire, the lifeless bodies of the dead and burnt bodies of pirates littering the floor.

Ubel then turned his attention to Munda Ek're’s body. The pirate commander lay motionless on the floor, his lifeless gaze fixed on the ceiling above. He could have become a formidable adversary in the future or even an ally. But Ubel needed him to die along with his captains. With this, Ubel had displayed what he was capable of.

“Dispose of the bodies. Don’t forget to salvage their implants and cybernetics.” With a flick of his wrist, Ubel ordered his droids to loot the bodies of any upgrades, their mechanical hands deftly stripping the fallen pirates of their technological enhancements. Then Ubel watched impassively as some of his droids rounded up the bodies, their mechanical arms lifting them with ease. And disappeared on another corridor of his ship.

As the last of the bodies disappeared from the cargo bay, Ubel felt a surge of satisfaction wash over him. He had taken control of the situation, eliminated any threats, and also established his authority with ruthless efficiency. And now, with the rest of the pirate crew firmly under his mercy, he was ready to embark on the next phase of his plan.

With the remaining pirates gathered before him, he faced them again. Offering them a deal they could not refuse.

"Join me as my crew." he declared, his voice ringing." And I will grant you wealth and power beyond your wildest dreams."

The pirates exchanged uncertain glances, weighing their options carefully. They had witnessed firsthand the might of Ubel's battleship and droid soldiers.

"What if we refuse?" one of the pirates asked, his voice trembling with uncertainty.

Ubel's gaze hardened as he considered the question.

"If you refuse, I will have you join your former captain," he replied bluntly.

The pirates fell silent, their minds racing with the implications of Ubel's offer. On other ships, it was the same, they looked at each other, uncertainty flickering in their eyes. But as they weighed their options, but as they probably didn’t see, Ubel sensed a spark ignited within them.

Munda Ek're was one of the feared commanders in the system due to his skill in commanding fleets. As such, many would flock under his black flag to ride his wave of plunder and piracy.

The great display of Ubel’s capability to hack their army of droids and drones, disable their entire fleet, and defeat a formidable UGTR navy that they as pirates would always avoid and then imagine him at their helm, with the skill to control an army of droids and the massive ship at their disposal.

They realized that what they couldn’t do under Munda Ek're before... was now possible.

But even if they thought differently about their current situation, there’s one thing that they thought at the same time in their minds.

They have always followed the strongest.

After a tense moment of deliberation, what was left of the pirates soon stood one by one.

"I accept," one of them declared, his voice echoing throughout the cargo bay. This was soon followed by others and even echoed to other ships.

Ubel nodded in satisfaction, his plan falling into place.

"Very well," he said. As Ubel rose from his seat, the pirates watched with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension.

They had accepted his offer to join his crew, but now they wondered what further demands he would make of them. With a mental command, Ubel directed his droids to begin repairs on the ships they had attacked earlier, ensuring that they would be fit for use in his growing fleet. Other droids were dispatched to create a perimeter around the captive pirates, ensuring that they would not escape.

And with a flick of his wrist, Ubel commanded several droids to release small needles from their fingers. The pirates recoiled in surprise but failed to react in time as the droids swarmed around them, their tiny needles injecting them with something unknown to their bodies. As the droids finished their task and withdrew, Ubel turned his attention back to the pirates before him.

"What's going on?" one of the pirates demanded, his voice tinged with fear. “We already-”

Ubel remained unperturbed; his expression unreadable as he watched the scene unfold.

"This will ensure your loyalty," he explained calmly. "If any of you attempt to betray me, then all of you should know that without a daily regular injection, the poison in your system will grant you the most painful and slow death imaginable."

What Ubel did was use the paralytic toxin the pirates used in stealthily boarding ships or capturing prisoners and slaves. The toxin will get mixed into the bloodstream and multiply, it will target the heart and the organs inside the human body.

But it was a slow toxin. It would grant seconds of paralytic effect and then do nothing to the human body for a day. Then the symptoms will appear on the second day, rotting the body from the inside. The only known cure or vaccine for such toxin is the antidote that was also administered by the droids.

And with him, controlling the droids, it granted him full authority over them. Then he smiled at them.

"Welcome to my crew," he said. "You have made the right choice, and I promise you that together, we will achieve greatness."

With a collective nod of agreement, they pledged their allegiance to their newfound captain, ready to embark on a journey that would change the course of their lives forever. Their expressions were a mix of resignation and acceptance.

They knew that they were now bound to Ubel, for better or for worse.

A change in their leadership. And as they prepared to embark on this new chapter of their lives, they could only hope that their decision would lead to prosperity rather than ruin.