Interstellar Survival: Invasion

We boarded the round flying vehicle in the same order we had boarded it before.
Then, we flew slowly toward our base.
Looking down at Gero City from above, I saw black plumes of smoke coming from various parts of the city.
War had brought great destruction to Gero City. 

Fortunately, the Wargods had managed to protect the great city.
Countless captive clone soldiers could be seen being herded by the Wargods to the prisoner-of-war camp.
In the sky, the divine bird was still radiating a bright golden light, flying round and round above the city.
It looked especially dazzling during the moments when daybreak was at hand.
The round flying vehicle was extremely slow.
However, we were all fully focused on our coming military operation.

”Canyue, do you think we ’ll be able to break through the empire ’s defensive perimeter? If Skyhawk is struck down, that will almost be a total elimination for us, ” said Baron Sisse.

”At this point, we have no alternative.
The two princes insisted on attacking the Horsehead Nebula.
With the plan made and the operation imminent, we ’re like an arrow let loose.
There is no returning, ” I said, unable to give the baron a proper answer.

”Everything is looking suspicious.
I keep feeling like there is some conspiracy somewhere.
Are the man in black on Lightning and the man in black that had attacked the Horsehead Nebula the same person? Is there a trap waiting for us at the beast base? All this still feels inconceivable.
I feel like someone is in control of everything we ’re doing.
Everything we did was pre-arranged for us to do, ” said Baron Sisse.

”That ’s understandable.
In fact, ever since I walked out of Nommo ’s ship on Sirius B, I have been having this feeling that someone is monitoring everything we ’re doing, ” said Zhang Bao ’er.

”Don ’t waste your energy being too suspicious.
Just stay positive.
We need to adjust our mentality and be ready for a new battle, ” I said to the two.

The round flying vehicle continued moving ahead.
We all sank into silence, trying to recover our strength and stamina before the next battle.
After three hours of seemingly endless flight, the flying vehicle was finally back at the base.
Master Crystal and Anxashe had been waiting for us at the aviation zone for quite a while.

”Old Du, I heard you guys just experienced a massive battle.
Too bad Zhang Bao ’er did not allow me to return and join the fight, ” said Anxashe regretfully.

Zhang Bao ’er started bluffing again, ”Yes, it ’s quite a pity that you weren ’t able to join.
It was such an enjoyable experience, slaughtering all those enemies.
In fact, I alone annihilated three heavy tanks and one transport ship. ”

However, Anxashe believed every word he said and felt extremely envious of the experience.

”Alright, enough bluffing. ” I asked Master Crystal, ”What ’s the latest update? ”

”All ships have been repaired, and all preparations are complete.
The soldiers have all been assembled as well.
We ’re now only waiting for the operation to begin, ” said Master Crystal.

”Where is the commander? ” I asked.

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”Zhang Xingxing is already heading toward Skyhawk to get into position.
She has also ordered everyone to head to their posts, ” said Master Crystal.

”Looks like she ’s not very happy with our participation in the battle earlier, ” muttered Zhang Bao ’er.

I agreed with Zhang Bao ’er.
After all, resurrecting Li Yizhi wasn ’t the top priority at the moment.
But we had left the base just to look for a way to resurrect her instead of staying and helping perfect the plan to attack the Horsehead Nebula.
It was understandable that Zhang Xingxing would be annoyed.

We acted according to the plan.
Zhang Bao ’er, Wuzhou, and I led 20 soldiers to man Fearless while Kelly, Old Du, Dodo, and Jack led 30 soldiers to man Spacetime.
Baron Sisse and Anxashe boarded Fearless to join the mission to perform the feint.
Surprising me, Master Crystal had joined Spacetime on the feint mission.

Inside Fearless, I repeated the entire plan, ”According to the plan, our ships will be launching a feint at the waist of the Midstar Army, trying to tear open a path during the chaos and allow Skyhawk to pass through while invisible.
After Skyhawk reaches the predetermined location, Fearless and Spacetime will link up.
When the moment comes, Fearless will launch another feint to allow the stealthed Spacetime to sneak through.
A new gathering spot will then be decided.

”Dodo will be waiting outside for us on Fearless.
If we do not return, Dodo will return to the Interstellar League and give them a full report of our operation. ”

”Perfect plan.
Looks like this is a mission where once again, all of us will escape unscathed, ” said Zhang Bao ’er rather ominously.

We all glared at him, expressing our unhappiness at his words.
Seeing our reaction, Zhang Bao ’er decided to shut his mouth.
After I gave some orders regarding the details of the mission, everyone dispersed back to their respective posts.

A brand-new Fearless stood before me.
After numerous modifications by Wuzhou, the Fearless before me had even stronger firepower.
Its stealth technology had also been improved, making it easier for us to sneak behind enemy lines.
Additionally, the ship ’s thrusters had also been greatly improved, increasing the ship ’s movement speed.
The current Fearless was already at a level capable of contending against an Achilles-class destroyer from the league.

”Well done, Wuzhou.
How did you even accomplish this? ” I said as I looked at the ship before me in astonishment.

Wuzhou remained humble and did not say anything.
He stepped forth and was the first to board the ship.
The rest of us also boarded.
Before long, we were all ready for take-off.

Through the communication system, Zhang Xingxing started giving a speech, ”Brave warriors, where we are going is a dark place, a barbaric and cruel region.
However, we will not allow that nightmare to spread to the rest of the universe.
Every single one of us is obligated to do our very best to transform this dark place into a place of new life and hope, protecting the right of all lives in the universe to exist equally. ”

One ought to admit that Zhang Xingxing ’s interactions with King Carter during our absence had elevated the position from which she viewed the world to a brand-new level.
Her words caused all of us to be fired up.
After the commander finished her speech, the operation began.
Fearless and Spacetime were the first to move, flying out of the planet together.

Shortly after, the two ships arrived in outer space.
Alnitak Aa, light blue in the distance, was still as mesmerizing as ever.
To the lower left of Alnitak Aa was a dark red backdrop.
That was our destination, the Horsehead Nebula of the Orion Constellation, a place 250 lightyears away from our current location.

The Horsehead Nebula was a dark nebula.
From Blue, the nebula appeared as a dark cloud of dust and rotating gas that took a form resembling the head of a horse.
That was the origin of its name.

”Commander Xingxing, Fearless and Spacetime are ready to initiate the wormhole leap.
Skyhawk will leap in two hours.
Before then, the communication between us will be cut off, ” I said through the communicator.

”Permission granted to initiate wormhole leap.
Stay safe and take care of everyone, ” said Zhang Xingxing.

With permission from the commander, the two ships began the wormhole leap.
After the familiar experience of traveling through the wormhole, we arrived 300 million kilometers away from the Horsehead Nebula.
The moment we arrived, we entered invisibility.
Even from so far away, the massive black cloud of dust looked like a terrifying beast, giving all of us a heavy mental pressure.

The dark nebula with the shape of a horse ’s head stood alone in its corner of the universe.
Within, indistinct flashes of light could be seen.
We were aware that the flashes we saw were where stars came into existence, the so-called origin of life.
Even more of the dark nebula was simply shrouded in darkness, hiding dark things within.
Putting an end to the darkness there felt as impossible as a mortal facing a god.

”Canyue, the nebula is 1 lightyear wide.
How are we supposed to look for the beast base in such a wide area? ” asked Kelly through the communicator.

”From the information left by Nommo, I remember that the beast base is located in a system with red, yellow, and blue stars.
Have Dodo perform a scan to look for a triple star system that meets these requirements in the nebula, ” I said.

Kelly passed on the message and told Dodo what to scan for.

”An area a lightyear wide covered by thick darkness will be hard to search with only regular scanning.
We need to think of something else as well, ” reminded Old Du.

”There is no other way.
I reckon even the Midstar Army in charge of guarding this place isn ’t aware of the beast base ’s exact location.
For now, we need to stop overthinking and allow Wuzhou and Zhang Bao ’er to assist Dodo in scanning the protected area.
According to Wind Spirit ’s information, the enemy army is staying about 50 million kilometers away from the nebula.
We need to scan the area where Skyhawk will arrive and look for a weak point there, ” I ordered. 

With the order given, the scan started.
We were 100 minutes away from Zhang Xingxing ’s arrival.

”Canyue, how big of a chance do you think we have at breaking through the defensive perimeter? ” asked Baron Sisse.

”Judging from the other imperial armies we had met before, I estimate we have about a 10 percent chance of success, ” I said.

”A chance of only 10 percent? Why so pessimistic? ” asked Baron Sisse in astonishment.

”I ’m not being pessimistic.
I ’m just being realistic.
But even if we only have a 1 percent chance, I will still do my best, ” I said resolutely.

The baron patted my shoulder.
He was grateful for the support I was showing the two Akkon princes.
After 20 minutes, the result of our initial scan was out.
In the massive universe, the Midstar Army with only hundreds of thousands of soldiers was as insignificant as an ant.
According to our data, the breakthrough point we had picked was over 10,000 kilometers wide and was guarded by only 5,000 soldiers.
It looked like we would be able to break through easily.

”They only have these little soldiers here? They ’re not even enough to scratch my itch, ” said Zhang Bao ’er smugly.

”Don ’t take them too lightly.
I have a feeling the defenses here won ’t be so simple, ” said Baron Sisse.

I was in agreement with the baron ’s words.
”Bao ’er, don ’t forget the lesson from Cloudcast.
They have such powerful defenses for a mere repair planet, so an important beast-breeding base will definitely be protected by a dependable defensive force. ”

Zhang Bao ’er sank into silence.

”Kelly, have Spacetime follow closely behind Fearless.
We will go to a spot 50 kilometers away from the nebula before performing a second scan, ” I said through the communicator.