Series Details

Chapter 1: Ambush (1)

A spacious and clean crystal porthole, beautiful stars could be seen through the blue energy shield projected, everything was covered in thick motes of light, making it look like a dreamy fairy tale scene.

Looking out through the porthole, the vast expanse of the star sea occupies the entire field of vision, like an unmoving gorgeous painting, the star sea was a magnificent place, mysterious, with profound truths to be shown to every soul.

This is a new kilometer-long deep space probe research vessel, belonging to the ministry of the Imperial Army. Around it, there are sixteen similar probes. Hundreds of large warship vessels were guarding the area surrounding the probes in the center, all types of detection equipment on the ships have been activated, warily scanning the surrounding void for trouble.

This modest fleet was at the moment hidden at the edge of a massive neutron star’s gravitational field, where pieces of wreckage have gathered to form a planet hundreds of thousands of kilometers in diameter within a meteorite cloud belt.

The ship’s onboard detection equipment could glimpse into the distance, there was a neutron star. There were also a number of stars of different sizes, group of old stars in the red giant phase, and the ships onboard optical brain, after a lengthy probe analysis, found that within a modest cluster was a hidden small black hole.

So many “fierce objects” existed together here, all kinds of gravitational fields tangled, interfering with each others influence, coupled with violent bursts of radiation, gravity tides, occasional episodes of high-energy particle storms, etc., so that this dangerous place has existed millions of years without any intelligent life setting foot here.

For two years, the imperial fleet expedition paid an unimaginable price, only by going through numerous disasters were they barely able to detect a relatively secure path, that they could successfully enter the depths of the star’s gravity field.

In a conference room, sitting at the head of the table was a young major general, looked at on both sides by the attending leaders. About half among them were soldiers, and the rest were researchers wearing silver overalls, both men and women, were elite military scientists from the Imperial Academy.

After a gentle cough, he began:

“Gentlemen, we have stayed in this place for almost two years, and now can count the required tasks to have been completed. So I have decided, the fleet will depart in three hours, and return along the same route, do you have any advice?”

Everyone else exposed a look of relief on their faces. After staying in this hell-like place for so long, how many comrades and colleagues have been buried here, the sadness in their hearts, could not be expressed in a few words!

Twenty thousand newly made special warships, plus hundreds of specially modified deep space probe research ships, and a large number of highly skilled soldiers, of which less than a tenth survived.

Of course, although it was a heavy price to pay, but compared to the things they gathered and the adventure the experienced some may say the loss was too great. On the contrary though, everyone here believed that their gains were great, though it was at the expense of their colleagues lives they will be given generous rewards! Before looking to Major General Yu, everyone secretly thought this to themselves.

At this time, a thin, middle-aged scholar looked up and asked: “General, right now our power is limited, and we don’t know if the route we took last time is still safe. Do you have any better way?”

Several officers showed a questioning look in their eyes, as they looked to the man with the highest rank.

In fact, though the route they followed is dangerous, they would only be leaving a single area, yet after they would have to go through thousands of wormholes and stargates. After longer than a three year voyage would they arrive within the scope of imperial power, the smallest of the star sea dominions! Only when they are can they truly be considered safe.

During this long voyage, in addition to a variety of unpredictable traps, there are many many powerful and strange creatures roaming, as well as some unusual horrors, that even someone as strong as the Ares Empire are unwilling to provoke.

Even worse, if the empire fights with hostile alien civilizations, leading to their siege, they may really be in trouble!

Major General Yu nodded: “Professor, you don’t need to worry I have already taken that into account. Please be assured that, as early as ten days ago, I was contacted by use of the secret Imperial Army communication unit, and was informed that the empire’s, Lonely Star and Northwest Theater will jointly send a large number of their elites to come assist us, they are even going to guard us until we get to the northwest border of the empire by changing the cruise route of ‘Frost’ to provide temporary support! So that isn’t something we need to worry about!”

Everyone was relieved after hearing the news, it wasn’t as though they were stupid imperial executives, they were aware of the extraordinary significance this mission’s harvesting strategy had for increasing the empire’s future strength! As long as they reached the safe zone within the empire, everyone would receive unimaginable rewards whatever their rank is, not to mention promotions and the aspects of getting rich!

After Major General Yu saw everyone understood, they began to arrange the final preparations before leaving, as he thought of the mysterious bird box, decided to hand it over to the defense minister himself.

After three hours, the fleet began in accordance with the predetermined plan, an orderly retreat.

Every warship gathered together to for a sphere, with energy shields at maximum, the remaining research ships closely guarded in the center, and then along the predetermined course, carefully moved forward.

……….

“…… His Excellency the Minister, are you aware what the consequences of this command means?”

Northwest Theater command center, located somewhere in the top-secret planetary contact room, a middle-aged man dressed in uniform was staring at a three-dimensional image in front of him with an angry look on his face:

“You damn people don’t know how crazy it is over here, we’ve recently seen more and more fierce offensives, our defenses throughout the Northwest have received harassment in addition to countless enemy fleets, Yue Chi said that even with a strong level of command, the troops available are simply not enough!”

“Yet at this critical juncture, you want ‘Frost’ including a large number of elite defenders to perform a top-secret mission, I just want to ask how are we going to maintain our defenses here? How do we keep the empire’s northwest border secure?”

In the image was a grey-haired old man, who revealed a hint of majestic rage, wore a spotless golden form fitting marshal uniform, on his chest he wore a few huge medals, which were sparkling with a brilliant shining light.

Hearing the implicit anger in the questioning, he intentionally smiled, slowly with authority:

“Admiral Fenglin Bo, regarding the unreasonable command, I have no need to explain to you that this matter involves a top-secret of the empire! So as an imperial soldier, your duty is to fully implement this military command, understand?”

“Of course I won’t forget my duty!” Fenglin Bo gritting his teeth said,

“But at the moment if such important combatants are taken, the northwestern border will be fragile enough to make defense against the next attack impossible, you should not forget, that behind the back line of our defenses lies the dominion of the empire, if we let those beasts that treat humans as food rush in, then the consequences …… not even mentioning me, even someone with your identity, would inevitably go to military court! Are you sure this must be done?”

The Minister said with authority: “I know better than anyone the consequences and the things we gain will make this loss seem insignificant, so long as you execute these commands!!!”

“You must be insane, this is related to the fate of tens of billions of imperial citizens safety! You actually say that these are insignificant losses!?” Fenglin Bo finally unable to repress his anger, roared with a livid face:

“This unreasonable command, I will never execute it, even if I have to quit my job, I will not do it!”

“Admiral!” the minister looked coldly, stressing each syllable with authority:

“You can question my orders, and afterwards send an appeal to the highest imperial court. But for now, you have to perform your duties to the letter! Otherwise, I will immediately order someone to replace you!”

“……” Fenglin Bo glared at his former boss, grinding his teeth and said nothing.

The Defense Minister sighed, then relented: “Xiao Feng, how many years has it been, you not changed your stubborn temper a bit nor have you had a good disposition towards me!?”

“This is a secret you are not qualified to know. But I assure you that within three days, the two main forces guarding the empire’s central territories, ‘Thrill of Climbing’ and ‘Fu’ will immediately head to the northwest to reinforce your defenses, along with all the various logistical supplies needed will soon be in the appropriate place! So are you satisfied now?”

“If this is so, then I have nothing more to say!” Fenglin Bo looked at ease, with a standard military salute.

The three-dimensional image gradually faded, the Minister stared at the two documents on his desk, and inadvertently a bitter smile emerged on his old face.

It was his well-prepared, military budget for the next fiscal year for the empire. The other document’s content was about solutions to the increasingly serious security situation on the empire’s periphery, and a set of special military expansion plans created from joint assessments of military advisers.

Undoubtedly, these two programs will cost a huge amount of financial and material resources from the empire, even far more than the highest ruling class could spend, in the next budget council, he really did not hold many expectations for the two programs getting passed.

Although he is the highest governing member of the council, even though he has the highest decision-making authority in the empire,the power of the military isn’t dominant, those who hold power wanting the approval of financially great men, is easier said than done?

Thinking for a long time, he let out a tired sigh, put the files away, and then left his office intending to discuss something with some relatively close colleagues.

……….

In the immense void, a fleet hurried along.

After ten days of sailing, the Empire’s sphere of influence was getting closer, ship officers an various people who had taut nerves could not help feeling let down.

“General, a group is ready to provide assistance, we are being contacted by the Imperial Army!”

In the cockpit of the flagship, the officer in charge of communications liaison excitedly reported to the Major General.

“Where are they?”

“A distance of about seven hundred light years, opening up a wormhole, with up to more than an hour of effort, we can join them!” the officer replied. (Note: It was originally seven hundred years not light years, so I changed it.)

The Major heard the news and nodded, his spirits slightly lifted.

Warship would generally not take the time to go through a wormhole, as the time consumed to open one usually took the time taken to reach the destination. Since the imperial legions were already in close proximity, they really didn’t worry too much.

However, the time closest to success is when accidents tend to occur.

……….

In space, hundreds of giant flying saucers have been quietly tracking the fleet for a while!

UFO nearly 10,000 meters in diameter, had a dark purple body clean and smooth like a mirror with a ten meter thick purple energy shield, from time to time the shield swept away space debris which was easily blocked, so it could not have any impact on its existence in any way. (Note: Switched out ‘ontology’ for existence.)

“Dear revered elders, everything is ready, do we grab them now?” A soft voice echoed inside the ship.

“You are certain the object has fallen into the hands of the human race?” the dignified voice sounded muffled.

“Of course, when the human expedition fleet entered the Yue Long ancient ruins my family’s valiant men found their trail!” the previous voice replied.

“Now that they have finally left the absolute domain of that place, they seem to have lost a great amount of strength, which where my family is concerned, in undoubtedly a great opportunity.”

An obviously much more sedate third voice: “But even so, it can not be determined whether that thing is in the hands of mankind, after all the dangers in the ancient ruins, my family of warriors have never been able gain anything! Nothing at all.”

“If we rush things and they do not have what we need, but anger the humans, leading to renewed fighting between our two societies, would be too uneconomical! Do not forget my family is still in a stage of recuperation, a Human and Han war is by no means a wise move.”

“Dear elders, on this point we can confirm that there is sufficient certainty!” a voice explains,

“We have used repeated screening, on the flagship in the central regions of the human fleet there are some subtle energy fluctuations, very similar to our observations many years ago, so we conclude that they’ve got something from the cache of relics.”

“Now that we have confirmed, it seems we must take a chance!” the elders were silent for a moment.

“Elders, this is what we should do!” Another sharp sounding voice,

“The human family has grown more powerful in the last hundred years, the number of clashes between our peoples are countless, although we are evenly matched with each other, and nothing can be done, but you should understand what the results will be.”

“If this thing fell into the hands of the human civilization, it means they solved the mystery, and given time they can train higher-end strategic forces, which will make my family’s situation more difficult, so no matter what the consequences will lead to, we now have no choice! Our highness the great dragon, has led the army to the northwest frontier of the human empire, we should finish with our side of things as soon as possible and catch up if we want to participate in the battle! Understand?”

The inside of the UFO was silent, with the presence of great thinkers.

“…… Well! Since it is so, lets go grab it!” an elder said slowly, “But the human empire’s reinforcements are very close, so we must deal with this quickly!”