Age of Cosmic Exploration Chapter 240

The Prototype 003 Space Combat Jet, from its initial design, was made to be paired with the Homo Evolutis.

In other words, while the combat jets were early 4th revolution products, they were not suitable for civilian use. The speed of the combat jets alone would make it look like the world was a blur if piloted by normal civilians. The possibility of accidents, like crashing into one another or just getting lost in space, was more than 90 percent if used by normal civilian.

Therefore, even with mass production, thus lowering the quality of the combat jets, the Prototype 003 was still meant to be piloted by Homo Evolutis. The only exception was the Red Lightning, which was three times faster than normal combat jets. The full capacity of that jet could only be brought out when it was piloted by Yao Yuan!

However, every lifeform underwent unique evolution according to its environment. For example, in the space merchants’ troops, there were the physically impressive four-armed alien gorillas and the physically weak but mentally strong leader-type big-brained aliens. There was diversity. It was worth noting that the Black Dragons were a unique exception, where their bodies alone were enough to rival 3rd or 4th revolution products.

Therefore, it was entirely possible that while normal human beings couldn’t handle the Prototype 003 Combat Jet, the children of the space merchants could pilot it just fine.

However, based on current observations, within the space merchants’ many species, there was none that had an evolutionary path that focused on physical prowess. The alien gorilla aside, the rest of the space merchants were not unlike normal human beings, physical-condition-wise at least. Under this circumstance, the Prototype 003 Space Combat Jets piloted by the Black Star Troopers were much better and much more efficient than the space merchants’ troops.

Of course, the space merchants’ combat jets were certainly better than Prototype 003s in terms of technology. This was observable from design, metallurgy, weapon technology, and the likes.

But!

This difference wasn’t drastic!

Basically, both parties were in the 4th revolution era. The biggest difference was probably in propulsion system, like one had a jet propulsion system while the other had an invisible jet propulsion system. The key ingredient that broke the tie was the quality of the pilots!

If that was the comparison, how big was the difference between a Homo Evolutis and the space merchants?

Bigger than one could possibly imagine…

First thing’s first, the Homo Evolutis had the power to sense projections of malice and thus could commit to evasion. Therefore, unless the space merchants had the technology to fire the moment the thought was formed, then it was practically impossible for the bullets to hit the Homo Evolutis. The other possibility was having the numbers advantage, like how it was when mankind combated the mother nest alien. There were so many enemies that evasion was pretty much a moot point.

When the Red Lightning piloted by Yao Yuan launched its first attack, the combat jets behind him followed. The Gaussian rail guns fired at an incredible speed using the same 3 jets per unit formation from before.

Just like that, a semi-transparent electromagnetic shield layer appeared around the circular combat jets that were attacked. Multiple Gaussian bullets slammed into the shields, creating ripples of electrical currents, but the shield held firm. It was indestructible, at least by Gaussian bullet standards.

This observation created a pall of disappointment over the Black Star Troopers. Even Yao Yuan started to frown. Thankfully, after a few more bursts of focus fire, one of the circular combat jets lost its electromagnetic shield and was riddled by bullet holes before exploding in space. That was a relief because even though the space merchants’ technology was more advanced than

mankind's, it wasn’t so far advanced that mankind couldn’t do anything about it.

Steeled by this small victory, the attack began in earnest. Even though mankind’s Prototype 003 Space Combat Jets were negligible in terms of numbers when compared to the space merchants’ combat jets, Yao Yuan was surprised to realize that the merchants' combat capability was unbelievably bad.

Simply put, after Yao Yuan led the Black Star Troopers to start attacking, other than the first wave of defense that intended to catch them, the rest basically stood still where they were. They didn’t move to surround the troopers or help their allies that were under attack.

Speaking of the combat jets that were under attack, their response was even weirder. They started to panic. In fact, 30 percent of them abandoned the battle and fled!

Yes, they didn’t move into a more defensive position, nor did they counter-attack. They fled...?

They either fled back towards the larger cargo spaceship or their mother ship that was further away. Even their retreat was a mess, so much so that there were collisions with the units that were entering and returning to the battlefield. This sent the space merchant troops into absolute chaos.

This was a prime opportunity that could not be lost. Even without Yao Yuan’s orders, the trained Black Star Troopers entered their offensive formation and took advantage of the chaos. They took down upwards of 400 circular combat jets!

The situation that unfolded before him surprised Yao Yuan greatly. Compared to the alien space army that he had in mind, the space merchant troops were like amateurs or normal civilians out pillaging. The way they boarded the ship, their combat capability, formation, discipline, everything was a mess. He could never imagine an army fleeing in the middle of the war while they had the numbers advantage. How was that possible?

Yao Yuan thought back to the situation on the new planet when the Defense Unit soldiers and Black Star Troopers showed signs of deserting. They were all cut down by Guang Zhen. Even valuable assets like the troopers were cut down without a second thought, much less the Defense Unit soldiers.

After the war was over, Guang Zhen reported this situation to Yao Yuan. Yao Yuan knew about the importance of military discipline, so in the next few years, they did all they could to whip mankind’s military into shape. No matter whether it was veterans or new recruits, they knew that the first rule in the military was that desertion during any warfare, be it with aliens or some unknown threats, would result in immediate execution, and the deserter’s name would forever be recorded in history as human traitor, bringing long-lasting shame to his or her progeny and name!

Military discipline was something even a civilization new to the space game like humanity knew about. Then how come the space merchants, who had survived in space for god knows how long, had such a lousy military unit?

Could this all be a hoax?

The thought came into Yao Yuan’s mind when he was piloting the Red Lightning, but he quickly dismissed it. Based on the current situation, the space merchants had complete advantage over humanity. If they managed to take down the hundred plus Prototype 003 Space Combat Jets, victory was easily theirs. Mankind would have no way of coming back.

Then who were they cheating? Or what were they cheating about?

Regardless of their motives, there were things that needed to be done.

After Yao Yuan’s first glorious, 0-death victory, the space merchants seemed to have returned to their senses. The large amount of circular combat jets surrounding the Hope finally turned their target to the Prototype 003s. Minus those that had fled the battlefield, there were still about 900 circular combat jets and numerous large spaceships. They were all closing in on the group of Prototype 003 Space Combat Jets.

This was a rude wake-up call to humanity that they were still at a disadvantage.

Back in the Hope, Guang Zhen led 10 Survivors, the only combat force Yao Yuan could spare him, during the central mainframe’s repair downtime towards the Hope’s fifth and sixth floors, the location where the Black Dragons were supposed to be.

Very quickly, the group in space armors arrived at their destination. The sight that entered their eyes was a hell-scape. Bits and pieces of the space merchants covered the area, and there was no sign of life anywhere!

In the middle of the blood puddle, the 20 grown Black Dragons were crazily tearing the bodies of the space merchants apart, flinging guts and body parts all over the place. The Black Dragons’ bodies were covered with gunk of tendons and blood, making them exactly like messengers from hell. When Guang Zhen’s group arrived, they were frozen on the spot by shock and fear… They were alarmed; even a tough guy like Guang Zhen was shocked.

However, what happened next made them completely relieved…

The group of Black Dragons straightened their bodies in alarm, but when they saw it was Guang Zhen and his crew, they did something amazing…

They stood up slightly, wagging their tails and nodding their heads, a sign of friendliness the Black Dragons normally displayed towards human beings.

Chapter end