Chen Fei's parents got up early, and someone rang the doorbell to deliver a package.
But it was the first time they saw an empty-handed delivery guy, because they had to pick it up themselves due to special reasons.
It was the weekend, the eldest son Chen Shi and his wife Sima Xin brought their baby to visit the in-laws (scrounging for food). Hearing that Second Brother sent a large item home, they curiously joined the parents, drove their private car, and followed the delivery truck to the public spaceport in the suburbs to pick up the package.
Entering the public spaceport through a special channel, the entire Chen Family saw a 42-meter long, 7.5-meter wide small Sky Patrol Ship on a tarmac. Its menacing design looked odd, not like a regular cargo airship.
Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu didn't follow Little Sister Chen back to school but stayed at home, which was Chen Fei's original arrangement.
The school had its own security forces, so Chen Meng's safety was assured. Contrarily, the parents at home needed this combat-ready, nurturing, and sturdy little bird to ensure everything was safe.
The local population of Pure Light Sparrows had exceeded 5,000, enough to handle emergencies like a "Wormhole Cloud."
At this moment, Xiao Jiu was hopping in Mother Chen's hand. It had become the apple of the Chen Family's eye, ranking second only to the eldest's baby, surpassing Chen Xiao'er.
As the delivery guy led the family to the tarmac, several uniformed crew members emerged from the small Sky Patrol Ship, sizing up Chen Haishang. One crew member handed over a receipt document.
"We are the flying crew from Dassault Aerospace Company, responsible for delivering Mr. Chen Fei's package. Please check and sign for it!"
The receipt document carried Dassault Aerospace's logo, indicating it was directly sent from the manufacturer without any middlemen or chances of interception.
This crew was responsible solely for piloting the Sky Patrol Ship to the destination. After signing, their job was done.
After all, the order was only for the Sky Patrol Ship, not the flight crew, limited to delivery (to the city's spaceport).
"Package? Where is it? Have you taken it out?"
Father Chen Haishang glanced at the document and looked around the crew but couldn't see anything resembling a package.
Where's the promised package?
The crew member who handed over the document turned around and signaled to the small Sky Patrol Ship.
"This T-42E Assault Ship is your package, the whole ship, yep!"
Then, the entire Chen family, including the baby, collectively went into a stunned silence.
Chen Xiao'er's "special local product" sent home broke through the sky - in every possible meaning.
This just produced military assault ship was still fresh and hot. Though devoid of offensive weaponry, the military-to-civil conversion was not complete, retaining comprehensive military system functions and some hidden combat and defense modules.
"Has Second Brother lost his mind?"
Elder Brother Chen Shi immediately thought Xiao'er had gone mad, sending such a thing home, an assault ship at that, does he want the whole family to go to war?
Probably, probably not allowed, in any case, it wouldn't be permitted.
Holding the baby, Elder Sister-in-law was dumbfounded. This younger brother-in-law had some ghostly abilities, sending home anything and everything.
The baby opened his mouth to give his opinion.
"Ah, ah, ship! Ship! Ship!"
Thinking it was a new big toy!
Indeed, it's a bit big!
"What is Xiao'er thinking!"
Mother Chen, Yu Xiaoyi, wished she could drag Second Brother back and get a clear answer.
Is this something ordinary people can play with?
"Uh... everyone, is this assault ship really okay? No issues?"
Chen Haishang's hand trembled, hesitant to sign the document. As an ordinary citizen, receiving a military Sky Patrol Ship seemed abnormal.
He guessed maybe the delivery was wrong?
Perhaps Chen Xiao'er intended to send something else.
"Rest assured, this is a civilianized assault ship. Technically, it's not an assault ship, but a civilian passenger ship without weapon systems, retaining the armor, reconnaissance, and military communication modules. It's fully certified for use."
The crew member who handed over the document was also the temporary captain for this delivery.
Since Dassault Aerospace could deliver this converted-to-civilian ship to the First Sovereignty mainland and park it in the public spaceport, all procedures and documentation were complete. Once professional crew members are found and a logistics contract with the public spaceport is signed, normal use is possible.
Compared to pure civilian passenger ships, this one still had some military features. Aside from higher energy consumption, there were no other drawbacks. The downgraded military functions posed no issues.
Chen Haishang struggled to believe his ears, today wasn't April Fool's Day.
A military aircraft could really be owned by ordinary citizens.
"Can't get hold of Chen Fei!"
Elder Brother Chen Shi tried dialing Second Brother's number, but no one answered, unclear about what he was busy with.
(Signal shielding, intelligence lockdown, unauthorized number - outgoing only.)
"Of course, it's fine. From now, as long as you sign, it's yours."
Dassault Aerospace crew members brought out champagne, confetti, ping-pong poppers to liven the atmosphere.
Chen Family jubilantly received a small assault ship, or rather, a civilian Sky Patrol Ship. Joyous occasion indeed!
Ultimately, as the family head, Chen Haishang reluctantly signed his name.
Because without his signature, these people wouldn't leave!
Before signing, he meticulously reviewed the documents. Not a commercial contract with financial terms, just a receipt confirmation, plus a large stack of after-sales service terms. Even the airworthiness registration and flight authorization were processed, allowing temporary flight path applications two hours prior to departure.
After sharing celebratory champagne and congratulating Chen's Family, the temporary crew from Dassault Aerospace departed swiftly, leaving behind the delivery guy who had brought the Chen family to the tarmac.
Specifically, he was not just a delivery guy, but staff from the spaceport logistics department. In his many years of service, this was his first time handling a transfer for a small Sky Patrol Ship.
After the temporary crew left, the turn came to this "delivery guy" who took out another document and said to Chen Haishang, "This is the ground service package from the public spaceport, including berth rental fees. We can also introduce you to crew and ground staff if needed."
Seeing the entire Chen family still bewildered, barely recovering from the shock, the logistics staff knew his service had only just begun.
The small Sky Patrol Ship had entered the spaceport with all paperwork complete, not likely for the owner to drag it home, especially considering the 40-meter long ship body wasn't easy to find a spot for.
Since it arrived, it could only dock here, like other private aircraft, availing services for berth, repairs, and supply from the public spaceport.
Private aircraft were playthings for wealthy families. Seeing the public spaceport's fee schedule, the Chen family collectively gasped. It wasn't something average people could afford, unlike residential parking spots for cars.
This seemingly impressive small Sky Patrol Ship was out of reach for common folks. They couldn't afford to buy or maintain it, even if it just sat idle in the public spaceport. The daily cost exceeded Chen Shi's monthly salary, not accounting flight expenses and landing repairs.
"How can it be so expensive? Too pricey!"
Yu Xiaoyi went dizzy seeing the fee amounts.
The little bird flapped its wings, flew onto the Sky Patrol Ship, hopped here and there curiously, pecking around with its petite beak which couldn't damage anything, just playful.
Seeing the family's little black bird on the ship, the baby in Elder Sister-in-law's arms opened his arms, yelling for ship, probably wanting to climb it too.
"If it doesn't work, try selling it!"
Elder Brother Chen Shi speculated Chen Fei might have received debt payment in kind, plausible indeed.
"That's the only option. We can't afford to play with this thing."
As soon as Chen Haishang finished speaking, the ship on the tarmac vanished into thin air.
The little bird flew back to Mother Chen's hand, calmly adjusting its feathers.
Public spaceport logistics staff: "..."