Chapter 123 Broken Connections, Sudden Changes

After listening to what Lao Wu said who rushed to his office, the factory director took out the terminal and dialed a communication code. After the communication was connected, he did not say hello and said directly: "Please connect me to the chairman." There was silence on the other end of the communication for a while, and the voice of Xu Lin, chairman of Xinda Company, rang out: "Xiao Lu." "I want to ask what the company means now?" The chairman knew what the factory director was asking, and also knew why Chen Ming asked such a question. He did not hide it and said: "The company needs to get out of Chen Ming's matter now." "Why?" "Because there is no benefit in Chen Ming." The factory director and Lao Wu next to him frowned at once. Before the factory manager could continue to question, the chairman said: "In the beginning, Chen Ming was indeed worth our efforts, and this value has been growing."

"However, since Chen Ming was transferred to a new place, we have lost the ability to rescue him alone."

"And the 14th Corps has it."

"So as long as we want to save Chen Ming, we must not bypass the 14th Corps. They will not give up Chen Ming."

"Even if we rescue him, we can't get the value of Chen Ming himself."

"Therefore."

The chairman slightly lengthened his tone to give the factory manager time to think.

"At the board meeting, we decided to exchange Chen Ming for more stable income."

"Sky Steel, and some other preferential treatment."

"Some time ago, we got the priority bidding right for the patrol fleet of the Star Region Government through our connection with Chen Ming."

"Now, the 14th Corps can help us get the annual priority bidding right of the Star Region Military."

"The combination of these two is a huge benefit to the company."

"At the same time, it will completely squeeze out the value that can be obtained from Chen Ming."

"Without value, there is no need for us to continue to invest resources in Chen Ming."

Dong At this time, the chairman suddenly changed the subject and said, "Of course I don't think so."

"I think it's not a bad thing to continue to invest some resources in Chen Ming and to have a good relationship with him."

"But what I said doesn't count. It's useless for me to vote against it alone. The company's attitude depends on the results of the vote of all directors at the board meeting."

"In short."

"The company's attitude is to minimize contact and prevent Chen Ming's ability from affecting the company's future profits."

The factory director is clear about the operation of the company's senior management, and there is nothing to refute the chairman's statement. It has become an established fact.

But there is one thing he needs to ask clearly: "What is the current situation of the military? Xiao Ming just came to ask and said that he couldn't contact the 14th Corps."

"This."

The chairman recalled and said: The 14th Corps entered a closed management state two days ago and no longer communicated with the outside world in terms of daily communications and material personnel. "

"Even now we have no means to contact them actively."

"The fleet in the past can only be in place there and wait for the notification of the 14th Corps to start action. ”

“The 14th Corps is the commander-in-chief. We can’t compete with them in military quality, so we can only listen to others.”

The factory director asked in confusion: “What should we do then?”

The chairman immediately replied: “Just one thing, help the 14th Corps attract attention, the rest has nothing to do with us.”

“When will we start?”

“It depends on the 14th Corps.”

“Notify me before you start.”

“Notify Chen Ming, right?”

“Yes.”

“It depends on the situation. After all, if a fight breaks out suddenly, the news may not be transmitted back in advance.”

The factory director did not speak, and tacitly agreed with the chairman’s statement.

The factory director fell silent, and the chairman suddenly put away his upright tone and said to the factory director like an ordinary person: “Xiao Lu, when will you come back? Your mother misses you very much. "

"I've said it many times, that's not..."

The factory director suddenly sighed and started to talk about family matters with the chairman.

And Old Wu quietly left the office.

Chen Ming didn't have to wait long for Old Wu's response.

Old Wu first repeated to Chen Ming what the factory director and the chairman had just said.

Then he said according to his own understanding: "I feel that closed management is normal."

"After all, to save you, we have to go deep into Yu Hui's hometown. Any problem in any link is likely to cause huge losses."

"And you also know that in addition to the several forces at the joint meeting, there are many other people who have ideas about you."

"Especially Zuo Jing, and the original star zone army."

There is nothing wrong with what Old Wu said, and it is indeed a reason.

However, although the Fourteenth Legion has closed management of the company or any other forces and does not contact them, there is no problem.

But keeping Chen Ming, the rescue target, under closed management and cutting off contact is strange.

What is the 14th Corps doing? What is Bai Quan doing? Is he going to break his promise?

Three more questions popped up in Chen Ming's mind.

However, just like before, the questions will never be answered before getting enough intelligence.

Chen Ming couldn't blame Lao Wu and the factory director, they could only do so much.

But the intelligence will make him more and more dangerous here.

So Chen Ming must consider retreating.

However, he still doesn't want to leave now.

Because if he wants to leave directly now, he must pass through the Alpha-level afterglow controlled by him.

This means that the afterglow controlled by Chen Ming will be exposed 100%.

But if Chen Ming doesn't leave, as long as he delays for one day, the number of afterglows he controls outside will increase by one day.

As long as he is not discovered, he may even be able to take the afterglow of the entire star field into his own hands directly from the inside.

With such huge benefits in front of him, it is really difficult for him to give up.

But Chen Ming suddenly shuddered.

He remembered the deadline he had set for himself before.

After he had made the previous plan, he had planned to find a way to leave the day before Yu Hui delivered the equipment, regardless of whether the 14th Legion had taken action or not.

Although there were some minor accidents now, Yu Hui got the psychic equipment in advance.

Fortunately, it took time to start, which continued to delay Yu Hui's action.

However, Chen Ming felt that it was necessary to abide by the time set by the previous deadline.

Greed is definitely not a good thing.

Four days later, no matter what happened on that day, he had to leave.

The psychic power strength of the psychic equipment that Yu Hui had just delivered was increasing every moment, and the sense of danger it brought to him was increasing every moment.

What this foreshadowed was self-evident.

Even if he continued to keep more Yu Hui that he could control, it would be meaningless if he lost his life.

After thinking it over, Chen Ming refocused his attention on his work.

While completing the work at hand, he was also paying attention to the situation of the newly delivered psychic equipment.

Looking for possible opportunities to leave sabotage means on the equipment.

However, G3's monitoring of the equipment is so strict that there is no gap at all.

Several cameras were installed in the room where the equipment was installed to ensure that there were no blind spots.

At the same time, at least three robots were guarding the room 24 hours a day.

Every time Chen Ming passed by, a robot would follow him, and there was no way to start.

Two days passed in the blink of an eye.

Chen Ming didn't find any opportunities at all.

At this time, there were still two days before the deadline.

Chen Ming's mind was full of thoughts about this aspect, and after breakfast, he continued to work today.

However, just halfway through the work, G3 suddenly stopped moving, as if he had left.

"G3?"

G3 didn't reply, and after a while he came back online and said: "Mr. Chen Ming, today's work task is temporarily suspended. Please come to the experimental area to assist me in checking your mental state."

G3's words sounded normal, but Chen Ming felt that what he said this time was different from before.

The experimental area that Chen Ming looked at gave him a tingling sense of danger.

So Chen Ming hesitated and asked it: "What are you going to do today?"

G3 responded: "As usual, strengthen your mental power."

Chen Ming didn't believe G3's words at all.

Today, it is likely that the psychic device will be activated.

But this device has not reached the limit of the psychic strength that Chen Ming feels, so why is it activated early?

One after another, Chen Ming's heart is full of uncontrollable anxiety in addition to the tension about what may happen next.

Problems piled up in his mind, but none of them could be solved. This anxiety made it difficult for Chen Ming to calm down.

Suddenly, Chen Ming subconsciously glanced at the camera of the Iron Ore for some reason.

Then he found that in the space above his head, there were countless flames and energy agitations.

Chen Ming was stunned for a moment and thought about what caused this.

This is a battle in space.

Chen Ming's attention was about to be drawn away by this scene, but he suddenly heard some movement behind him and turned around to look.

A mechanical arm stretched out from a robot that usually assists in work, and a tranquilizer gun was connected to it.

Chen Ming's nervousness, anxiety and panic were instantly suppressed by his experience of many things he had experienced.

And he also thought clearly in an instant what was the right approach in the current situation.

A large amount of white metallic liquid overflowed from Chen Ming's palm, covering his entire body.

In the blink of an eye, a set of white cloud steel exoskeleton frame covered the outer layer of the protective suit and connected to the protective suit.

The armor plate followed closely and covered the exoskeleton frame, completely protecting Chen Ming inside.

The internal energy source was the self-storage material that Chen Ming had learned from Yu Hui before.

Even if Chen Ming's modification could not transform the energy together, the self-storage material alone was enough for the exoskeleton armor to move.

The tightly protected pure white exoskeleton armor directly bounced off the tranquilizer dart shot at Chen Ming.

To be on the safe side, Chen Ming immediately modified a filter mask for the exoskeleton armor on his body to prevent Yu Hui from doing things directly in the air.

"G3! What do you mean!"

"Mr. Chen Ming, please cooperate with my work."

"Your mother!"

Chen Ming calmly spit out a swear word.

Before the robots surrounded him, he turned around and aimed the portable micro-mining laser he had just modified on his left arm at the closed research area gate.

Two high-intensity laser beams passed over the gate and quickly broke it open.

Chen Ming has not only been studying the spacecraft shield during this period.

He knows very well where his weakest point is now, and it is not a bad thing to enhance his combat power in his spare time.

Chen Ming rushed out of the research area and immediately activated the jetpack on his back that had just been modified, aiming it at the direction of the entire institute's gate.

However, Chen Ming had just jumped up to empty.

An electromagnetic pulse swept across his body.

The exoskeleton system was instantly paralyzed, and Chen Ming fell directly from mid-air.

Fortunately, Chen Ming modified the buffer system well during the modification, so he was not injured in this fall.

Instead, he took the opportunity to roll on the ground to repair the exoskeleton again.

He did not hesitate at all and continued to rush outside the institute.

At this time, in addition to getting out, Chen Ming was still thinking about a question in his mind.

Why did the afterglow suddenly burst out? And there was no sign at all.

No.

There was actually a sign.

Chen Ming looked at the space again through the Iron Ore.

There was still a large-scale battle going on there.

It was the Fourteenth Legion that arrived in advance that stimulated Yuhui, forcing them to activate the psychic equipment before it reached its limit.

Chen Ming no longer needed to think about this. Anyone who knew that Chen Ming had previously asked Baiquan to notify him before the action and the recent performance of the Fourteenth Legion could see the problem.

He immediately contacted Gamma Z and instantly sent his current situation through consciousness.

At the same time, he said to Gamma Z, who currently had the ability to rescue him: "Activate the emergency plan, give up hiding when necessary, and give me the highest priority."

Chen Ming didn't need to worry about Gamma Z, it would naturally do what it should do.

After contacting Gamma Z, Chen Ming contacted the Fourteenth Legion.

However, he didn't have so much time to use now, so he directly set up a recording that would be automatically sent after the connection.

"Baiquan, if you can't rescue in the first time, let the refraction-class Yuhui cruiser that jumped in from behind go. There is a special mark on the cruiser's body."

After doing all this,

Chen Ming suddenly froze, and repaired his exoskeleton armor again, repairing the damage caused by the electromagnetic pulse equipment that was still in operation.

At this moment, there was a sudden explosion outside the institute and the sound of glass breaking.

This was the Iron Ore controlled by Chen Ming that directly smashed the dome.

The next moment, the Iron Ore directly blasted open the door of the institute.

Landed not far from the door.

After the Iron Ore stabilized, Chen Ming immediately activated the positioning signal agreed with Bai Quan on it.

At the same time, a string of Morse code was added to the positioning signal, the content of which was the same as what Chen Ming had just communicated.

Then he turned around and raised his right arm, blocking it in front of him.

The metal liquid flowed down from the Iron Ore outside and wrapped around his arm.

These metal liquids gradually formed a thick layer of arm armor.

The armor on the arm armor gradually began to expand to form a small shield.

And the small shield continued to expand, forming a large shield that completely protected Chen Ming.

This is not over yet. The metal liquid flowing down from the Iron Ore is still expanding until it completely covers the channel and condenses into a solid white cloud steel wall.

Completely separate Chen Ming from the robot on the other side.

"This should be able to delay for a while."

Chen Ming quickly dismantled the arm armor on his arm that had been transformed into a wall.

In the struggle against the electromagnetic pulse that constantly destroyed the exoskeleton armor power system, he walked towards the spacecraft outside.

In this process, Chen Ming noticed that no one had connected the communication from the 14th Legion.

It is unknown whether the positioning signal of the Iron Ore has been received by the 14th Legion in space.

Chen Ming now felt that something was wrong.

Bai Quan didn't look like a liar, but Chen Ming had clearly agreed with him to remind him before they took action.

But now, not only was there a reminder, but the rescuers had arrived at his current galaxy, and there was not even a communication.

This situation is not weird, it can only be said to be completely incomprehensible.

And if Chen Ming guessed correctly, there should be some actions in the place where he had been before.

Gamma A...

No, Gamma A has been running around with Huiyao during this period, and can't provide Chen Ming with information about that galaxy.

And Gamma B is also in other places, and has no chance to get relevant information.

Only those afterglows controlled by Chen Ming who wandered from other star fields can give Chen Ming information here.

But if they are not damaged or encounter any accidents, they will not contact Chen Ming on their own initiative.

Only when he looks over now can he see the battle happening in the galaxy through a few afterglows that happened to be in the inner space of the galaxy.

At this time, a battleship with the logo of Sinda Company was destroying the fleet of Yuhui in the galaxy with a completely crushing attitude.

The design of this battleship is not like an ordinary spaceship.

Because it has a huge slot that looks like something can be installed in a long strip from the bow to the middle and rear of the hull.

However, there is no weapon installed in this huge slot now, and it looks empty.

On the contrary, the two main weapons on the port side, which seem to be specially designed, are the main output means of this battleship.

In other words, it only has two main weapons on the port side as the main output means.

Although this battleship has a symmetrical design, the battle method of the ship itself is like the cannon sailing ship in the ancient naval battle, relying on the side guns for output.

And the firepower is completely concentrated on one side.

This unique design allows this battleship with a narrow front to achieve firepower comparable to that of a larger battleship, while ensuring the maneuverability as a light battleship.

The main weapon, which is the main output means of this battleship, does not seem to have any fancy features.

There are only turrets wrapped in solid armor and two thick gun barrels extending from the turrets.

The two gun barrels fire in an alternating manner.

Every time a shot is fired, a deep purple sphere like a hyperspace environment will fly towards the Yuhui fleet with a purple electric cloud.

Every deep purple lightning energy shell fired will destroy a cruiser that attempts to resist the battleship.

The Yuhui fleet has completely lost its ability to resist at this time and fled in all directions.

But this battleship has a large number of tails, and even some engine ducts installed outside the armor, and a large number of auxiliary thrusters on the flanks of the ship provide it with terrifying maneuverability.

Even if a cruiser wants to retreat, it will be caught up and destroyed by this battleship.

Chen Ming, who watched this scene, is more and more eager to have his own fleet and a battleship of his own.

The crushing of high-level spacecraft over low-level spacecraft has already begun to show signs from destroyers to cruisers, and it has been exaggerated to such an extent in the stage from cruisers to main forces.

Without main battleships, no matter how many fleets there are and how powerful they look, they are not worth mentioning in front of this real power.

Now I don’t know if the previous promise to return the glory of this galaxy will go wrong in this battle.

But Chen Ming has no time to worry about others now, and his own situation is not very good.

Although the gate of the research institute in front is only a few dozen meters away, every step he takes towards the spacecraft is difficult.

The electromagnetic pulse equipment that is constantly activated constantly interferes with Chen Ming’s movements and restricts his movement.

The passage he just blocked with the wall has already shown signs of being damaged at this time, and it will be broken through soon.

After thinking for a moment, Chen Ming simply transformed his arm armor again, and formed a wall again with excessive transformation.

Then he immediately dismantled the exoskeleton on his body, leaving only the most basic protective clothing, and ran out in a light posture.

At the same time, he maximized the use of time and contacted the factory director during this time.

At this time, Chen Ming didn't care whether he would be monitored.

He couldn't contact the 14th Corps now, so he could only confirm what the 14th Corps was doing through the company.

Whether Bai Quan had taken his previous instructions and promises to heart could only be answered by others.

The factory director was connected on the line. After listening to Chen Ming's quick explanation of the situation, he said in an extremely unexpected tone: "The rescue has begun?! I will ask for you right away!"

"Oh and, the ship you saw should be the Conqueror-class battlecruiser designed by our company."

Just as Chen Ming was about to respond, his brain suddenly hurt, and he stumbled and half-knelt on the ground.

It wasn't Chen Ming's brain that was out of sorts, but the despair spirit stone that had been installed in the mind pulse amplifier in the experimental area, which played a role for G3 at this time.

"I'm a little busy here, Director, I'll talk to you later."

Chen Ming endured the pain and said to the director, concentrating his attention.

He used his own mental power to resist the despair brought by the despair stone, which seemed to be deep in his heart.

And the needle-like pain caused by the stimulation of despair in the brain.

Chen Ming had been trained by the whispering and lying spirit stones for a long time.

Even if the despair stone played a powerful role in the mind pulse amplifier, for Chen Ming now, it was nothing to survive the first wave.

Chen Ming adjusted his breathing, stood up again, and continued to move forward.

He rushed to the door.

However, before he could walk out, a piece of land outside the institute that was usually full of plants suddenly fell over, revealing the deep underground space below.

Then, a giant mechanical body loaded with a large number of armed equipment suddenly crawled out.

It instantly pounced on the Iron Ore, which was hovering on the surface not far in front of Chen Ming.

Chen Ming reacted quickly and immediately aimed the ion cannon on the Iron Ore at the giant mechanical body, instantly tearing apart a large amount of the mechanical body's external armor.

But this did not stop its movement. It pounced on the Iron Ore with a sharp tearing sound from the metal parts on its body.

The huge force of the over-operating mechanical structure directly overturned the Iron Ore to the ground.

At the same time, a large number of robots that Chen Ming had never seen before suddenly appeared in all directions outside the institute at the same time, completely surrounding him.

Chen Ming realized that the situation was not good, and he modified his protective suit again with a set of exoskeleton armor that was heavier and more powerful than before to protect himself.

At the same time, he was desperately repairing the Iron Ore, and in the process of the giant mechanical body destroying the Iron Ore, he also almost destroyed the mechanical body.

At the moment when the giant mechanical body was completely destroyed, a violent electric light suddenly flashed at its core.

A continuous and extremely strong electromagnetic pulse spread in it.

Not only was the Iron Ore instantly paralyzed, but even Chen Ming could not move.

It would take time to repair the Iron Ore and the exoskeleton armor, and the robots that had just appeared were already in sight.

In addition, the other three areas where plants were usually planted were also turned over, and three brand-new giant mechanical bodies crawled out from the space below, staring at them.

The Iron Ore had a hard time dealing with one when it needed to rescue Chen Ming, and there was absolutely no chance of winning with three.

Chen Ming knew that he was now powerless to resist.

The only remaining possibility of escape, or the possibility of escape that Chen Ming had been counting on, was only on Gamma Z.

Chen Ming had given up struggling in action and was still controlled by the robot.

However, he had contacted Gamma Z through his consciousness, and asked about the rescue that had not arrived for so long: "What's going on?"

In order to pursue efficiency, Gamma Z directly showed Chen Ming a paragraph of text.

Chen Ming quickly browsed through it and summarized the specific situation in his mind.

Just when Gamma Z received Chen Ming's message, Yuhui also posted a public message for help on their communication platform.

So the Alpha Yuhui controlled by Chen Ming could jump there openly for normal reasons.

But the landing point of the jump was deviated due to the high-energy reaction in the galaxy.

It failed to jump directly to Chen Ming's location, but jumped to the edge of the galaxy.

When the Alpha-class Yuhui tried to enter the interior of the galaxy, it was attacked by the 14th Legion and is still being hunted down.

Chen Ming frowned and immediately looked at the refraction-class controlled by the Alpha-class Yuhui.

It is now in the galaxy where Chen Ming is.

But it is already shaky at this time, and two cruisers from the 14th Legion are chasing it.

Forced the Refraction out of the defense line formed by the Yuhui fleet and into the corner of the battlefield.

Not far away, there were fleets of more than 10,000 ships led by seven main battleships.

A fierce conflict broke out next to the planet where Chen Ming was.

Gamma Z interrupted at this time: "In a battle of this scale, there is no possibility for ships below the cruiser level to approach."

"The only one who can play a rescue role is the Refraction, but it is in a bad situation now."

Chen Ming knew the situation was urgent without Gamma Z's reminder, and immediately connected the Refraction directly to the spacecraft controlled by him, instead of relying on the indirect control of the Yuhui individual.

After experiencing a rapid consumption of mental power, Chen Ming successfully controlled the Refraction-class unmanned cruiser himself.

During this period of time, his mental power has increased to the point where he can control the cruiser.

After controlling the Refraction, Chen Ming risked being exposed in advance and repaired the ship in front of the two cruisers of the Fourteenth Legion.

The entire Refraction was restored in the blink of an eye.

But the two cruisers of the Fourteenth Legion still continued to attack the Refraction, ignoring the situation just now.

The communication request sent by the Refraction to them did not receive any response.

The message of Chen Ming's confirmation of identity and the communication request sent to the two offensive-class ships and one legion-class ships of the Fourteenth Legion farther away were like a drop in the ocean, without any movement.

Maybe they blocked the signal, or maybe they didn't care at all.

Chen Ming controlled the Refraction to pull back with an expressionless face, and after a burst attack caused by the repair ability forced them back, he took the initiative to withdraw from the battle with them.

In addition to repairing the exterior of the spacecraft, Chen Ming had also repaired the jump engine and accelerated the cooling of the jump system.

He wanted to start the jump engine immediately and prepare to jump directly and accurately in front of him.

However, the jump engine of the Refraction had just started.

The two cruisers of the 14th Corps just now immediately pressed forward and blocked the Refraction.

However, the next moment, they suddenly accelerated and pulled away from the flank, with no intention of continuing to fight with the Refraction.

But behind them, a red energy bomb with a length of more than 300 meters, like a shuttle, suddenly flew out from the main battlefield and flew towards the Refraction.

This was the last scene Chen Ming saw from the Refraction.

If Chen Ming remembered correctly, this was an offensive-class heavy battleship that left a strong and colorful chapter in the history of human development. Its main weapon was an energy bomb fired by a thermal pulse laser.

The next moment, the signal of the Refraction was disconnected.

Chen Ming also lost control of the Alpha-class Yuhui.

Not only Chen Ming, but even the Alpha-class Yuhui that controlled the Refraction also did not respond in time, and there was no chance to repair it.

"Heh."

Chen Ming never expected that his hope of escape would be cut off by the 14th Corps and his own people in the end.

He had no anger, no resentment, and no emotional fluctuations at this time.

This was his problem.

He shouldn't have held on to that possibility and let Refraction try to contact the people of the 14th Legion, so that he now lost the chance to escape.

In matters of life and death, other people are never worthy of trust.

But for Chen Ming, there is still a chance to survive.

As long as he is alive, there is still hope for everything.

Chen Ming withdrew his plan to watch the battle scene through the scattered afterglow individuals in the galaxy that he controlled.

Put all his energy on himself.

He was controlled by the robot and taken to the room where the psychic equipment was installed.

The door of the room was closed again, Chen Ming's exoskeleton armor was disassembled, and the protective suit was forcibly taken off.

He was tied to this equipment like an operating table with several restraints.

At this time, various mental power-enhancing equipment in several surrounding rooms was also turned on together.

Although Chen Ming's body could not move, his mental power was extremely active.

And the active mental power brought a rising sense of danger.

The psychic equipment was running.

Chen Ming saw a green and black cylindrical object with a slight curvature, like some kind of medicine bottle, being lifted by a mechanical arm of the operating table-like device and pressed against his eye socket.

The eyes that were pressed saw that in this cylindrical object, there was a white and tender thing with many forks, like a nerve, gradually extending from the deepest part.

It looked like a newly sprouted leaf branch, and also like a white and tender fat worm.

Chen Ming's mind seemed to have an alarm, and the feeling of extreme danger completely enveloped him.

But he couldn't get off the operating table at all.

Only the instinct of strong desire for hope of survival in his heart guided him to do what he should do at this time.

The twisted pattern on the nonsense stone that Chen Ming had been carrying on his body lit up with a brightness it had never had before.

The nonsense of countless crazy people resounded in Chen Ming's ears and in Chen Ming's brain.

Chen Ming immediately suppressed the nonsense he was used to.

But the white and tender fat nerve in front of him had curled up.

It seemed to be affected by the Liar Stone.

The sense of danger in the brain gradually weakened.

But when it dropped to a certain point.

The part of this white and tender nerve connected to the end of the medicine bottle suddenly broke.

The remaining nerve directly drilled into Chen Ming's eye socket.

Chen Ming fell into a coma instantly.

But at the moment before the coma.

He realized that the sense of danger did not continue to grow, but remained at a stable level.

This chapter is about 9K, take a day off tomorrow, and slowly make up for the 3K less later