Skyfire Avenue - Chapter 676

Chapter 676

Chapter 676: Magnified

The shaking came to an abrupt stop and Zeus-1 burst from the asteroid field like a swallow from the clouds . The vast expanse of space stretched out before them .

Ling Ya and Wu Qiu looked out onto the scene . Where the Shattered Starfields primary planets had been, there remained only a single purple world .

“An alien planet…?” Ling Ya gapes at what she saw .

Lan Jue nodded his head, staring at it with serious countenance . He looked toward Su Xiaosu . “Measure it . I feel like it’s larger than last time . ”

After a moment Xiaosu’s stringent voice replied . “It is . Forty-six percent bigger than when we saw it first . That’s a serious increase . Unless this is another planet, it’s evolved . ”

Lan Jue sighed, trying to suppress the anxiety welling up in his chest . He continued in a sour voice . “Pull into a distant orbit, keep taking video . Secretary Wu, suspend communications with Tyrannosaurus – we aren’t safe here . We can deliver the information when we’ve finished, and are safely back in the asteroid field .

“Alright!” Wu Qiu’s reply was quick and compliant . He was witnessing the alien planet with his own eyes, and this meant several things . At the very least everything Lan Jue had told them before was true . He wasn’t going to start causing trouble now .

Ling Ya was also filled with a disquiet she couldn’t shake . This thing was five times bigger than the mighty ship she’d come from . Ferocious looking creatures came and went from it in a constant stream . This was the power her army had come to face!

The Driver muttered darkly . “The other two are still nowhere to be seen, but I’m not gunna complain there’s only one of ‘em . Divide and conquer . If we can put this thing down you can call the expedition a success . ”

Lan Jue nodded . “Indeed . ”

Maintaining distance and taking pictures did not put them in any immediate danger . Between the Blinding Stone and Lin Guoguo’s constant masking they avoided detection . After an hour of silent observation, Lan Jue gave the order for them to retreat . Lin Guoguo couldn’t keep the ruse up forever and needed to rest soon . Once they were safely hidden in the asteroid field, with Lan Jue’s permission, Wu Qiu sent Tyrannosaurus all that they’d learned .

Their target was confirmed . It was time to commence the operation .

“Commander Lan . Admiral Kang would like a word with you,” Wu Qiu said .

Lan Jue walked to his side and took the communication device from the secretary . “Hello, Admiral . ”

Kang Hui’s glum voice answered . “Hello commander . The intelligence you gathered was tremendously important . We’re preparing to move out as we speak, headed your way . We need you to continue to watch and report back what you see . We need to be kept abreast of the planet’s condition and location to facilitate our operation . ”

“Leave to us,” Lan Jue affirmed .

Reconnaissance was of course more involved than taking a peak . They were the North’s eyes out here, and only through constant observation could they set the stage for a successful attack .

He could hear the Admiral’s appreciation for their work in his voice . Not only had they been quiet, but they had installed themselves as an invaluable source of information . It made what they had to do much easier .

“If possible, commander, we’d like you and your time to extend the scope of your reconnaissance . Specifically, we’re looking for the presence of the other two planets . These creatures obviously possess higher intelligence – we need to be sure they haven’t set a trap . ”

Kang Hui’s suggestion struck Lan Jue . The old fox was a clever one, he silently praised .

“Breathe easy, Admiral . We’ll take a more careful look around and let you know what we find,” Lan Jue confirmed .

“Very well . ”

ζ

On the outskirts of the Shattered Starfields, a white light had risen up around Tyrannosaurus . Its main propulsion systems were coming online, and its large array of boosters were pulsing with pale light . The five fleets that had gathered around it parted to make way .

Kang Hui, seated in the captain’s charge, gave the order . “Tyrannosaurus-class Bastion ship, on the move – into the Starfields . Fleet commanders, order your ships to follow . No one stays behind . Alpha formation . ”

Tyrannosaurus began to pick up speed, and from the bridge they could see the rocky expanse that marked the Starfields’ border creeping toward them . Large as the ship was, they certainly weren’t going to find any gaps to slip through .

They barreled ahead at top speed, brazenly headed for the asteroid belt .

The white light around the ship buzzed . As they met the asteroids, the larger ones were harmlessly vast to the side . Smaller space rocks were smashed to dust . The North’s Tyrannosaurus-class Bastion ship drove through the belt like it was no more than a nuisance .

It was dramatic proof that the three alliances could have dealt with the pirate menace . They just didn’t want to .

The fleets fell in behind Tyrannosaurus in a line as the massive ship cleared a path . All they had to do was follow, like hiding beneath the shade of a great tree . However the going was slow, and it cost Tyrannosaurus dearly in energy . Although it was equipped with devices that could replenish energy through space radiation, it was spending far more than it could recover in a short period .

In distant parts of space the North’s Arachnid- and Heron-class Bastions were also on the move . They pushed through the cosmic debris just like Tyrannosaurus . The operation was now fully under way .

ζ

Moments after Lan Jue got news of Tyrannosaurus’ entry, he was struck by a surge of pressure . Now, more than ever, their role was crucial to the success of the mission . Spread out, observe, report . No rest for the wicked .

Lan Jue had replaced Su Xiaosu at the controls . They found a relatively space spot for Lin Guoguo to recover . The five Paragons were on the bridge, leaving only the Pharmacist alone in the resting area . She would be called if combat broke out .

“At full speed it’ll take Tyrannosaurus about five days to reach our location . The interim is important,” Wu Qiu reminded Lan Jue .

He nodded .

The alien planet was as enigmatic as it ever was . It hung in the darkness of space, and besides the aliens coming and going in droves they could learn nothing else from it .

The days passed . The atmosphere about Zeus-1 grew more tense by the hour . All they had to do was persist until fighting broke out . They were anxious for the Bastion ship to arrive and engage the enemy, a single alien planet against three bastion ships and five fleets . The North had mobilized a third of its total military power – equally a fifth of humanity’s strength .

If they could bring punishment upon one of the alien homeworlds, it would prove that humanity has what it takes to fight back . Victory would mean tremendous gain for the North as well, but Lan Jue was unconcerned . So long as humanity’s future was assured, that was all that mattered to him .

ζ

“Tyrannosaurus will be here in four hours . They’re resting and prepping for the last leg . When they get here they’ll move right in for the attack . Combat will be initiated right away, before the aliens have a chance to react . ” Wu Qiu gave the latest information to Lan Jue . His voice betrayed his excitement .

It had been a long time since these terrifying weapons had seen full combat . The secretary had total faith in the Bastion ship . He knew what it was capable of .

Lan Jue also permitted himself some measure of relief . With Tyrannosaurus’ arrival their work would be done .

“Let’s perform final checks – make sure the planet is still there and the situation hasn’t changed,” Lan Jue ordered . He didn’t assume anything . The closer it came to all-out combat, the more careful he’d been .

Zeus-1 slipped out from the asteroid fields and continued to watch the planet, invisible as a ghost . Nothing was different, the planet was just the same as before . It seemed to have no idea what was coming .

“No good . ” Lan Jue scowled, suspicious .

“Hm? What is it?” Ling Ya swiftly hurried to his side .

“The aliens have scouts and gathers out constantly, tracking down and bringing back energy all across the galaxy . Your military made quite an impressive entrance, but they seem totally unaware . It’s too quiet . ”

Wu Qiu joined them, curious . “I thought the same, but it’s too late to go back now . Our only option is to go ahead with the mission . We have a lot of firepower on the way, not to mention we’ve been watching for days . If this is an ambush it’s too late for them, too . But I’ll share your concerns with Admiral Kang . ”

“Good,” Lan Jue replied . No matter what, they had to continue watching, continue with their reconnaissance .

Three more hours… two more .

One more hour!