Back in the square on the supply planet, the students’ nervous excitement had petered out after waiting so long. They were now sitting in small groups holding hushed conversations.
“There’s nothing for us to do here. It’s so boring…should we play something to pass the time?”
“I’m getting hungry. I was in the middle of eating when they called us over and only took a sip of water.”
“Hey, be careful or you’ll end up on the news. There are a lot of reporters from big news networks over there. The instructors would definitely scold us for acting like this. I’ve seen our instructor give us the side eye several times already. Look at the military academy students, they’re still all standing.”
Someone made a shushing sound and gestured at the soldier headed their way. The young adults huddled together quieted down.
Their instructor stepped forward to meet him. After a hasty exchange of salutes, the soldier got straight to the point, “A large number of warships on the frontlines are undergoing rotation. As we are the nearest supply planet, the port must prioritize their servicing for the time being. I’m afraid your scheduled departure will have to be delayed further.”
“Thank you, I understand. Please let me know if we can help in any way.”
After the soldier left, the instructor sighed and approached a colleague. “Looks like things aren’t looking good on the frontlines.”
“A large-scale rotation this soon means the situation must be dire.”
The words had barely left his lips when the roar of several fleets reached them. Because of their proximity to the port, the thundering of the warships compounded, shaking the square with such force that it made their eardrums ache. Many began to cover their ears.
Everyone present in the square looked over at the port.
“What’s going on? Why are so many warships returning?”
The media personnel were the first to respond.
One reporter rattled off, “The sound you just heard was a massive influx of warships coming into port. Warship density at supply planets rarely reached this level even at the height of conflict. This supply planet is currently operating well beyond capacity, a direct result of its proximity to the frontlines. It’s a clear indicator of the intensity of the fighting, where our troops are weathering the brunt of an early insect tideā”
The world around them suddenly dimmed. The busy reporters all instinctively looked up.
Above, the sky was swallowed by a sprawling swarm of warships. They swept forward on a massive wall of sound, blotting out the sun and casting the entire world below into shadow.
Everyone in the square looked up. Although they were already caught in the shadow of the warships, the crowd instinctively moved back, putting more distance between themselves and the docks.
The audience weren’t in the mood to fault the reporters for not being professional either.
[There are just so many… It’s the first time I’ve truly grasped the physical manifestation of what happens when so many superpowers join forces.]
[I’m immediately reassured. There’s nothing to worry about this time around with them shoring up the defensive line.]
[This isn’t something to celebrate. They should hold the broadcast for now. Like the reporter mentioned, the fact that the supply planet is operating beyond its capacity means the situation on the frontlines must be intense.]
[I’d bet a large number of them are heading out for search and rescue efforts. We have to devote a massive amount of manpower and resources into aiding the locals every time…I honestly wonder if the bulk of our military spending goes toward that. With the insect tide arriving early, the humanitarian efforts are going to be a huge undertaking. It’s not going to be any cheaper.]
[Didn’t some documentary mention the huge amount of aid and donations sent there every year? I just don’t understand it. There are specific resettlement planets for people in danger zones, and they aren’t even at full capacity yet. Even those with a criminal record can usually get in. It’s safe, and you won’t starve if you’re willing to work. So why are these people so stubborn about staying?]
[I have no idea either. In fact, I’m beginning to think they stay just for the subsidies. Why work hard for a living when you can coast off donated resources?]
[Doesn’t that make them leeches? Forget the resources, it’s disgusting how our soldiers have to risk their lives going out there to protect them.]
The crowd, however, wasn’t concerned with such matters. They were too transfixed by the sky above.
The student all stood up and craned their heads back to gawk at the warships. Their previous excitement returned.
“I wonder if we’ll be able to pilot warships in the future.”
“The people studying at military academies over there can for sure. I heard they’re all elites with high psychic power levels.]
“I would’ve applied to one had I known. Are these warships going to dock up ahead?”
ā¦ā¦
Old Grantz.
“Sir, we’ve been…to get in contact with…they’ve cleared it out already.”
Elias jogged over to set the communication equipment he was holding in the cleared space. He got back to work without even wiping the sweat off his brow.
Due to distance and equipment issues, communication was often spotty, meaning they had to move around under threat of artillery fire and insect interference to find better spots.
“They’re almost here. After accounting for the delay, they might already be nearing the port.”
Elias often issued orders in advance, “Have them head to the city center after infiltration. The planet’s control centre is usually around there. Occupy that area posthaste. The warships bringing up the rear should destroy the port at once within 10 seconds. Any longer and they’ll have time to respond.”
The support staff member beside him had a thin layer of sweat on their forehead. “That’ll probably be difficult. The returning warships are all running low on ammo.”
“Then crash the ships into the port,” Elias answered almost without hesitation.
The staff member didn’t even blink. “Alright, I’ll pass on the message.”
“After destroying the port, go to the city immediately.”
“Understood!”
ā¦ā¦
The supply planet.
The warships dispersed as soon as they left port and moved forward in a more spacious formation.
However, at some point, a number of ships departed from the fleet, causing the neat formation to fall apart.
Before anyone else could react, said ships swiftly u-turned and headed right for the port at high speeds, crashing into its inner structures without hesitation.
The heatwave of the explosion could be felt even below the port.
Everything happened so quickly that most people had no idea what just happened. Even those with a clear view were at a loss over why their own ships had just kamikaze’d the port.
“Are they crazy??”
“What’s going on? Was there an accident?”
“The port’s destroyed. Was it the insects?”
The warship Ye Muo was on had just left port. His head jerked back at the commotion. He couldn’t tear his eyes away from the still burning wreckage.
Curled around his neck, Theodore whispered, “That should be the work of our people. It’s the fastest way to open the port.”
Theodore stuck close to Ye Muo, morphing into a suit of skin-like armour. He slipped into Ye Muo’s collar and spread to his shoulders, arms and back. When he reached the waist, he circled around to cover the thigh before going still.
Theodore didn’t like to take the forms of inanimate objects, for he felt they made him too different than Ye Muo. However, sometimes he had no choice.
Besides, the technology of this time was so lacking. He could do much better without hindering Xavier’s movement either, Theodore thought with a bit of pride.
Ye Muo too adjusted his posture. He scanned the area below and quickly committed any landmarks to memory.
The war had already begun, with the explosion just now serving as a signal.
Many more warships left the fleet and headed for ship channels near the docking area and into the city proper. People began jumping off as they lowered their altitude.
Allen, who was still piloting his warship, finally reacted. [It’s an enemy attack, Sader!]
Sader wasted no time issuing orders in the channel: [Pull up!]
With that, he and Allen ascended in altitude.
Below the warship, Ye Muo sensed the shift in trajectory almost immediately. Taking out the ship’s engines, he kicked off with both feet and began his descent.
Allen felt a weightless sensation before he could even react. Cold sweat rolled down his face as he activated the emergency mode and prepared to eject himself from the ship.
During his descent, he saw Sader’s warship heading this way on screen.
Allen was very touched. [Don’t mind me, good friendā]
Before he even finished that sentence, Sader’s warship blew past him and headed down.
Allen wasn’t so touched anymore. He turned the squad channel: [Quickly take my warship to an unoccupied area, I’m about to eject myself from it. Be quick. Thing will get complicated if the warship lands here.]
Ye Muo was shooting down at breakneck speeds, but Sader still caught up to him.
Sader was taken aback for a moment when he spotted Ye Muo on screen. How did that child end up here?
That moment was enough time for Ye Muo to adjust his posture and kick off of Sader’s warship for even more acceleration.
Sader knew he had missed his moment to catch up as Ye Muo shot past him. Continuing at this speed at this altitude was too dangerous. There were still people below. In the end, for all these reasons and more, Sader made a sharp turn and stopped his pursuit.
ā¦ā¦
The crowd below were still staring up at the warships.
A military academy instructor shouted, “It’s an enemy attack! Find a nearby building to take cover in!”
While shouting, he herded the students away like sheep. Those who came to their senses sooner also started helping with the evacuation.
The crowd began to grow agitated. “Enemies..as in insects?”
“Where did they even come from? Don’t tell me it’s the galactic pirates.”
The reporters reacted quickly, summing up as they followed the crowd, “We seem to be under attack by unknown assailants. No alarms have been raised on the supply planet…”
The media outlets involved garnered even more attention online.
[Hurry up and turn the camera over there. Someone is coming down from above. Are they an enemy?]
[I watched a warship chase them for a while. It’s got to be an enemy. Why would one of our own forces not use a warship on our turf? To go for a jump? Even if that were the case, this certainly isn’t the place for it
[Is it a galactic pirate? They’re so evil for attacking right now. Should’ve wiped them out a long time ago.]
The crowd in the square had barely begun to disperse when Ye Muo touched down.
He hit the concrete with a heavy crash, triggering a collective gasp from the crowd as they scrambled to get away from him, leaving him standing in an impromptu clearing.
Ye Muo’s landing was hard even with psychic power. He hit the ground hard enough to fracture the stone paving slabs, plus he was forced to roll off him his remaining momentum.
He happened to land near the students and the reporters, meaning the whole thing had been caught on camera.
The instructors reacted first and took up positions in front of their students.Ā
