The first tides of the insect plague were imminent.
Everything would progress swiftly from there. The insects would swarm after crossing the planetary belt, pouring towards the human-occupied territories in droves.
It started off as a black lion on the horizon. An oppressive darkness began to blot out the sky moments later, making even the fleets of warships standing by seem insignificant in comparison.
Even the viewers watching this remotely tensed, not to mention those at ground zero.
However, Norton stood there with sword in hand, monitoring their progress.
The warships were the first to react. They began to ascend in altitude in formation, tens of thousands of them coming together to form a net.
In the distance, a camera drone ascended from a very low altitude as well as it approached Norton.
It was responsible for close-ups. Those following its perspective might not be able to see the overall situation at all times, but they would be able to see Norton. Therefore, the majority of people, including Ye Muo, chose to watch this one.
Everything suddenly grew dim. When the camera was belatedly adjusted upwards, the insect tide was already upon them, cascading down like a curtain.
Norton finally made a move. He stepped forward, turning his sword around in his hand before flicking it skyward.
A gash appeared in the pitch black curtain, allowing a beam of light, however insignificant, to hit the ground once more.
The countless warships behind Norton fearlessly headed to greet the light.
The backdraft of the accelerating fleet sent the drone flying back into a tailspin. It was overwhelmed by insects by the time it stabililzed. The final few seconds of footage were the sharp and numerous mouthpieces that tore it apart.
Screen after screen went dark as most of the drones deployed to the frontlines were damaged.
This was within expectations. More would soon be sent out.
ā¦ā¦
Everyone in the Federation mothership’s command centre was tense.
“Area A is requesting more backup.”
“Firepower increased in Area B…”
Gu Chuan let out a long sigh as he scanned the battle analysis on the screen before him. Sweat glimmered faintly on his temples as he closed his eyes for a moment. Thank goodness he insisted on requesting additional motherships.
It was his first time encountering an insect tide of this magnitude.
Although he had steeled himself for the possibility based on the higher than average readings collected by their scouts, this scale was truly unprecedented.
Gu Chuan’s relief was mixed with a bit of vindication. He faced no shortage of opposition when requesting more troops before. No one would be able to say he was overreacting now.
No matter how many reports he sent back to the Federation, the higher-ups were reluctant to invest more into psychic weaponry, a technology completely unlike what they were used to. Their foremost consideration was always for the resource harvesting rights. Everything else, including the resources themselves, were only dimes on the dollar.
At the end of the day, the Keller Empire and the Federation both grew arrogant due to relying on the Galactic Alliance’s authority. To the degree that they’ve forgotten about their harrowing escape from their homeland so long ago.
Meanwhile, the people they referred to as natives survived through countless baptisms of blood and fire.
Those new recruits were in for a ‘treat’. It’s not everyday you get thrown into a massive conflict like this on your first outing from the military academy.
Gu Chuan subconsciously frowned. He was worried about those youngsters.
He told his adjutant as he pressed his temples, “Have the recruits pull further back.”
ā¦ā¦
The Exile Sectors.
Cartabelli watched the screen intently for several seconds before slamming his hand down on the desk. “Have Lais and the other recruits fall back. Tell the elite troops to cover them.”
The adjutant nodded solemnly. “His Highness Lais’ 32nd battalion has been ordered to retreat.”
Although the royal family hasn’t held any real power for some time now, it would still be quite troublesome if something happened to Prince Lais here. This place was obviously no longer just an opportunity for those noble sons and daughters to refresh their resumes.
The adjutant lowered his head. “The troops request from before has been approved by HQ. They are dispatching aid now.”
Cartabelli snorted coldly, “About time.”
At the Exile Sectors frontlines.
Faceless and 03 were both participating due to their officer-equivalent ranks. They were responsible for defending the same area. At the moment, the fleet they were on was on its way back to the base to restock and change personnel.
Both of them chose the new form-fitting mecha over the standard size model. Although they were mecha in name, they were not that different from the combat suits the men had worn in the past. The only real difference was that vital areas had been reinforced with mecha materials.
Although the suits didn’t provide as much protection as standard mecha, they were a better fit for Faceless and 03’s fighting styles. There was a limited amount of mecha that the warship could accomodate anyway.
Faceless stood there in the suit with his usual psychic weapon of choice in hand.
03 sat against the wall across from him. When 03 noticed his gaze, he tapped his ear to lower his mask automatically, revealing a youthful face.
03 turned to him. His hair was still damp. “Well?”
He immediately regretted how unfriendly his tone was, only to try to justify it based on how busy he had been lately. Not only had 03 been cutting down insects all day, he was also hard at work for the Grantz. He even had to make time to keep an eye on that somewhat silly little Grantz. Of course, he took on the last task of his own volition.
Faceless averted his gaze and stiffly changed the subject, “These…aren’t bad.”
He was referring to the combat suit.
03 glanced at his own suit. It was already showing signs of wear from battle.
The new materials and technologies were really something. Their old combat suit wouldn’t be able to withstand even a single bite from a king insect.
Thanks to all their new equipment, the Exile Sectors wasn’t dead weight in the insect tide defensive effort for the first time.
03 huffed. This was one of the few good things those arrogant bastards managed to do.
The warship started its descent towards the temporary base.
03 rose. As he and Faceless disembarked the ship, they spotted people crowding at the base entrance in the distance.
It was Lais’ group. Lais looked furious as he argued with someone.
Faceless paused in his tracks. So did 03. He put his hands behind his head and looked on with an amused glint in his eyes.
Faceless motioned for their subordinates behind them to head over first.
Only Faceless’s chin was visible as the mask that came with the combat suit was still up. However, everyone at the base knew there was only one person 03 would tag along with.
The subordinates saluted before automatically reporting to him, “Our ally’s forces are restructuring, sir.”
Faceless nodded and continued moving.
Lais restrained himself somewhat when he saw others coming over. He turned to Faceless and the others, only to be caught off guard by what he saw.
The last minute ‘mecha’ they were wearing couldn’t even be called mecha in truth.
Lais had a general idea of what was going on. Both the standard size mecha and these last minute models were provided by their side. These mecha were cobbled together from whatever materials they had left.
Not one of their own troops had been outfitted with this kind of substandard gear, because going out wearing it was basically a death sentence. Lais wouldn’t have given this much thought before, as it was a necessary measure in times of scarcity. However, the sight of them now was especially glaring.
03 paused as he and Faceless passed by. He commented not so nicely:
“You’re being moved to the rear? Hurry up then. And clear out the main entrance for everyone else’s sake.”
His subordinates coughed awkwardly and made vague sounds of acknowledgement. 03 could care less as he went to catch up with Faceless.
Lais’ hand clenched into fists. That person was younger than even him. His adjutant whispered in his ear, “Let’s go, Your Highness. It’s Sir Cartabelli’s orders, after all. We’ll be disciplined if we protest any longer.”
Lais bowed his head and decided to compromise.
“Have the 32nd battalion leave their mecha and other equipment behind.”
The equipment was bought by Lais and his family, making his troops one of the best equipped in the entire nation.
The adjutant opened his mouth like he wanted to protest but eventually relented, “Understood.”
Faceless and 03 had already put the incident behind them.
03 quietly said after catching up with Faceless, “There’s been activity on their end again.”
He clicked his tongue, “Would it kill them to stay put? Even I’m out there cutting down insects.”
03 was referring to Arachnid.
Faceless made a sound of acknowledgement as his expression grew pensive. Arachnid was still operating as they always had even after partially revealing themselves to the world. Faceless had never seen the true mastermind behind the organization to this day.
ā¦ā¦
Ye Muo was more absentminded as of late. The fighting on the frontlines was growing fiercer. It was impossible by now to even catch a glimpse of the other Grantz on the galactic network’s feeds now. The drones could only survey the frontlines from a sizeable distance.
Still, he spent all of his free time pouring over the footage, trying to find any clue he could. He was grateful to the little robot that always kept him company. It always managed to pick up on things Ye Muo had missed.
Ye Muo scarfed down his lunch as usual today, but Sylvia called him over before he could rush back to his room. She tapped him on the forehead. “Why not learn how to handle paperwork with me this afternoon? Don’t grow up to be like Bert and foist all your paperwork off on your adjutant, Xavier.”
Ye Muo nodded solemnly. “I’ll study hard.”
The chairs in the study were very roomy.
Sylvia let Ye Muo sit right next to her before opening and breaking down each report from the frontlines to him.
The daily reports coming in were much more detailed that what was available online.
The more he saw, the more Ye Muo understood her intentions. He smiled up at Sylvia.
Sylvia couldn’t help but stroke his hair back like one would a kitten. She quietly comforted Ye Muo, “Everything will be alright.”
The little robot who wasn’t even as tall as the leg of the chair extended its neck as much as it could to peer up at them. It retracted its head moments later.
It stared down at the carpet a bit sullenly. It too could analyze those reports and even intercept intel from other countries if given access to the galactic network…
However, that would be illegal. It didn’t want to go back to prison, so it followed Ye Muo around everyday like a good citizen would and used its optical sensor to watch footage with him before providing its analysis.Ā
