New Orders

In an office aboard the spacecraft, Bardock stood before a desk, where Dodoria, with his imposing figure, was seated behind. Bardock's expression showed his displeasure at having to be there, while Dodoria observed with an air of superiority.

"Why have you called me here, Dodoria?" Bardock asked disdainfully.

Dodoria, with a smirk, replied, "Bardock, your team has proven efficient in gathering resources. Now I need you for a more important task."

Bardock frowned, distrustful. "And what would that task be?"

"I want you to lead a mission to plunder resources from the planet Meat. We need to secure a considerable amount of materials for our future operations and monopolize the resources for ourselves before the Galactic Patrol arrives," explained Dodoria coldly.

Bardock clenched his fists, feeling indignation rise within him. "And what about the base we're building? Isn't that important enough?"

Dodoria slowly rose from his seat, his penetrating gaze fixed on Bardock. "The base can wait. We need those resources right now, and you're the most suitable to lead this mission. Saiyans are good soldiers. Right?"

Bardock gritted his teeth, feeling rage boiling inside him. He knew he couldn't refuse Dodoria's orders, but he found it difficult to accept the idea of leaving their tasks unfinished, only the one who completes the missions takes the credit.

"Fine," growled Bardock finally. "But this won't be forgotten. Someday, Dodoria, you'll pay for your actions."

Dodoria simply smiled smugly as Bardock left the office, mentally preparing himself for the task that awaited him.

Bardock and his squad set out on a lightning-fast mission to the planet Meat, determined to carry out Dodoria's orders. They took the spaceship that they used as a warehouse for the valuable items on the trip. Soon, the Saiyans deployed in pairs, armed and ready to collect the necessary resources.

As they advanced through the terrain, they showed no hint of consideration for the local underground ecosystems. Centenary trees were ruthlessly felled, rivers and streams polluted by mineral extraction waste, and the native flora and fauna of the planet were trampled without remorse.

Indeed, any machinery is not as useful and safe as their own fists. Pleit and Kap took mining as a small break among so many orders.

Radil, the most sensitive of the group, couldn't help but feel deep sadness witnessing the ruthless destruction his teammates were inflicting on the planet. However, he remained silent, knowing that any objection would fall on deaf ears.

Meanwhile, Bardock led the operation with determination, ignoring any hint of remorse. His mind was focused on fulfilling the assigned task, regardless of the consequences for the world they were plundering.

As the hours passed, the landscape of the planet Meat remained unchanged, but the rich underground caves were emptied of all beauty, transforming into a desolate, barren wasteland. The resources they sought were being extracted at a frenetic pace, leaving behind only devastation in their wake.

Finally, with the spaceship's stores filled with plundered materials, Bardock ordered the retreat. There is approximately a day before the enemy ship lands.

Until then, they will clean enough land to support the war for the next few weeks.

Back on the spacecraft returning to base, Bardock's squad gathered in the meeting room to discuss their experiences during the mission on the planet Meat. As they sat around the table, the topics of conversation ranged from the challenges faced in the field to environmental concerns and the more personal aspects of their lives.

"That was crazy in those mines, wasn't it?" Chopsu remarked, breaking the ice. "Those explosions seemed to have no end."

Naif nodded, "It was definitely exciting. We finally have the resources we needed. Does anyone else feel a little guilty about what we did on the planet?"

Pleit frowned, "It's hard not to feel that way. Our planet Vegeta became an arid planet after so much abuse by our people. If I were nostalgic, I wouldn't mind, but a planet without plant life feels a little bleak. But at the end of the day, we're just following orders. We have no choice."

Radil nodded, "You're right, Pleit. Sometimes, being a soldier means doing things we don't want to do. But that doesn't mean we can't strive to do the right thing in the future."

"Weirdo," Kap teased timely.

Bardock, who had been silent until now, intervened, "Alright, but now we need to focus on our next mission. Does anyone have any ideas about what it could be?"

Kap raised his hand, "How about we explore that solar system we detected last week? We could find valuable resources and maybe even an interesting challenge."

Frok nodded, "Sounds like a solid idea. Plus, we need to be prepared for whatever the galaxy throws at us."

"I understand what you're talking about, but do you really think they'll let us leave the planet?"

Listening as the topic veered, Bardock couldn't help but redirect the conversation to their current situation.

"And what are we going to do about Supūn?"

Naif, wanting to talk about the disobedient one in the group.

If for some reason Supūn screws up, it will involve the whole team.

"We haven't seen him since we landed on the planet."

Pleit frowned, "I have no idea. But after what he did on other planets, I can't say I miss him."

Bardock nodded somberly, "That boy was always troublesome. But now that he has no one around, he seems to have degenerated again."

Radil sighed, "It's a shame. Supūn had talent, but his temper was always his biggest obstacle."

Frok growled, "If I find him, I'll make sure to teach him a lesson. No one endangers our squad and gets away with it."

After an exhausting day of collecting minerals and food, the squad returned to base with the ship loaded to the brim. Bardock and his team carefully unloaded the collected materials and stored them in the designated warehouses, ensuring that everything was in order before reporting to Commander Parabus about the success of their mission.

Once the task was completed, Bardock gathered his team in the ship's meeting room for a brief recap session. As they sat around the table, they shared their observations and experiences of the day.

"It's been a long day, but productive," Bardock commented, leading the conversation. "Thanks to your hard work, we've secured the resources needed for our next construction phase."

Frok nodded with satisfaction, "I'm glad we've fulfilled our orders. There's no time to waste on this mission."

Naif rubbed her tired arms, "I hope this is the last time we have to plunder a planet like this. I don't like the idea of destroying natural ecosystems. It means losing money"

Pleit offered a thoughtful look, "I understand your concerns, Naif, but sometimes there's no other choice. We need these resources to build a solid base and secure our position in the war."

With the conversation concluded, the team dispersed to rest and recharge for the next missions and future wars.