When the horn announcing the final battle resounded through the nine star cities, everything moved forward like a rushing flood, carrying immense power.
The danger coefficient near the Crystal Nest universe domain was no small matter. If one only knew to blindly stack numbers, it wouldn’t be sending troops – it would be sending them to their deaths.
Old Marshal Chen Hanke, being a veteran of many battles, certainly wouldn’t make such a mistake. Under his deployment, the army first landed at three Far Star fortresses, taking over the defense of the alien stars from Silver Big Dipper. The relieved Silver Big Dipper elites then advanced toward the Crystal Nest together with special units like the non-crystal soldiers.
This way, soldiers with more Far Star combat experience could be sent to fight at the Crystal Nest first, while the relatively less experienced star city troops had time to acclimate at the fortresses, making it more secure.
However, these maneuvers inevitably consumed time. The military department staff were all so anxious they were getting ulcers, especially Major General Tang – after all, his precious son was with the expeditionary force, how could he not be anxious?
Only the Old Marshal was cheerful every day. When asked, he would put on a mysterious face and say “no problem, no problem.”
He even pulled Major General Tang aside to ask, “Your old man – is he still in good health?”
Tang Bohai was completely bewildered, nodding blankly. “Ah… father has always been healthy…”
Chen Hanke nodded thoughtfully. “Oh, good, good… Say, since your Xiao Tang and His Highness were roommates for five years, did he ever bring His Highness to meet your old man?”
Tang: “Huh??”
Chen: “No? Well, that’s right, Xiao Tang wasn’t on good terms with family in recent years. But at least your old man must know about His Highness’ situation, right? Hehe…”
Major General Tang said in confusion, “To be honest, as the Old Marshal knows, my father came from that era after all. He was never very…..cough, accepting of non-crystal people. It wasn’t until last year, after the battle at Alpha Alien Star, that his view of His Highness completely changed.”
Old Marshal Chen burst out laughing, patting Tang Bohai’s shoulder vigorously, saying with a smile. “Remember to tell your old man to take care of his health, especially his heart, understand? Hahaha…”
Ever since Lin Ge confirmed that Jiang Jianming was Aslan’s consciousness projection, the Old Marshal truly stopped worrying. After all, with the founding emperor and marshal on that side, plus Xie Yuduo, having reinforcements to hold on a bit longer, they could definitely last another month or two.
Rather than those concerns, what Chen Hanke couldn’t help pondering was: when all this gets revealed, how big of an uproar would the imperial citizens cause, and how much would those founding meritorious officials stir things up?
Especially someone like Old Master Tang Ren – during the uprising he was a rough and ready man, thoroughly indoctrinated with “Greater New Human Ideology”. But he was also a fanatic supporter of Marshal Aslan, and even argued with His Majesty when the Marshal and Emperor had their fallout…
Chen couldn’t help narrowing his eyes, bubbling with mischief. He thought gleefully—
Ah, when Old Man Tang learns that Commander Aslan was actually a non-crystal person who underwent consciousness projection, and that his base body became good friends with his precious grandson, whom he once looked down upon…
That scene would surely be quite spectacular!
……
At the transition from summer to autumn in the 65th year of the New Imperial Calendar, the imperial army entered the Crystal Nest universe domain.
Endless artillery fire split open the whiteness of the Crystal Nest, and the battle-scarred expedition fleet was finally able to return.
By then, the expeditionary force led by Xie Yuduo had been trapped in the Crystal Nest for nearly two months, and it had been about a month since reinforcements broke through to provide support.
During this period, these two Silver Big Dipper army units supported each other, cycling through four or five tactical variations, probing and fighting at the edges of the Crystal Nest domain while keeping casualties to a minimum.
Xie Yuduo’s abilities needed no explanation, but more and more people grew curious about which commander was leading the reinforcement troops.
Actually, according to Jiang Jianming’s intention, they had planned to keep it secret until the imperial army arrived and everyone safely withdrew from the Crystal Nest.
But news always finds a way to spread.
“Is it true?”
“How could that be possible.”
“But yesterday when fighting alongside the guys from the Third Fortress, when asked who the commander was, they just gave me this weird smile and said ‘it’s exactly who you think it is’…”
“Also, my buddy on the Tianshuhao told me that since the reinforcements arrived, His Highness Ryann’s mood seems to have improved a lot.”
“So, could it be true?”
Gradually, everyone began harboring an anxious anticipation in their hearts.
They hoped it was true, but dared not ask further, afraid it might not be.
When the imperial army finally rescued them from the Crystal Nest, it was time for this answer to be revealed.
Unfortunately, when Lieutenant General Xie announced that joyous news that brought tears to all of Silver Big Dipper, Jiang Jianming, the person in question, was no longer aboard the Tianshuhao starship.
…….
The same day, on Omega Alien Star.
“Report to Chief, all personnel are in position.”
“Base has completed final inspection, all preparations are complete.”
The colorful evening clouds hung like embroidered silk, reluctantly draping over the newly repaired outer walls of Black Shark Base.
A harmless alien bird perched on the base’s watchtower tip, letting out clear calls. It shook off a few feathers, spread its wings to the wind, and quickly disappeared into the distant horizon.
“Very good. Now please everyone stop your work, lift your heads, and look at Omega’s sky.”
The Chief laughed softly, “Bid farewell to this alien star. Let our base head to the battlefield where it belongs.”
Everyone complied. These base members, usually buried in scientific research, looked out the windows, gazing with deep attachment at the beautiful sunset clouds.
“It’s so beautiful,” Changze murmured with gentle light in his eyes, “our Omega Alien Star.”
Diana stood beside him, nodding firmly. “Yes, beautiful. But we have to say goodbye.”
Black Shark Base was initially established as a research facility to study crystal particles. Some members were among the first to know the truth about crystal particles, while non-core members also learned over recent years.
Since the base’s establishment, some people broke down and committed suicide under pressure, some died suddenly from exhaustion at their posts, and others sacrificed themselves to alien creatures’ claws.
After struggling through to today, they were finally taking a new step.
Goodbye!
Countless Black Shark Base members shouted toward the windows.
From now on, there would be no more beautiful sunset clouds around them, no more mountains, waters, white clouds, or blue skies to see.
They were heading into the dangerous depths of space, to battle with the white demon-like Crystal Nest…
Someone pressed the start button, someone pulled down the control lever. Accompanied by deafening metal collision sounds, Black Shark Base’s outer shell began rapidly transforming!
Boom! Boom!
Steel mechanisms sprung open, six huge engines fixed outside the outer walls, turbines spinning madly from gas thrust, finally shooting flames from their rear ends simultaneously.
The tremendous heat seemed to distort the air. The ground beneath the base began to shake.
The earth split with “crack” “crack” sounds, soil curled upward with plant roots, and this huge research base slowly rose from the ground!
—This was Black Shark Base’s final secret, and one of the Empire’s highest classified information.
Back then, during the most difficult times, Lin Ge, Sylph, and Chen Hanke privately made a resolution: if one day they had to abandon the three star systems, Black Shark Base and Golden Sun Wheel space station would become humanity’s last two wandering fortresses.
The space station had complete armaments and a systematic energy circulation system. Like Silver Big Dipper fortress, its interior could function as a small star city.
As for Black Shark Base, besides possessing various cutting-edge technologies and research results, its laboratories could carry frozen embryos, while its supercomputers could store almost all important data of human civilization, including genetic maps of various species, electronic copies of human cultural heritage both ancient and modern, and so on.
But now the situation was different – with the Empire’s rapidly advancing technology over decades, they had built more targeted wandering motherships.
As for the space station and Black Shark Base, they had found more suitable missions: flying to more distant star regions, becoming the human empire’s first cosmic stronghold and newest frontline against the Crystal Nest!
“Next…” Diana closed her eyes slightly, speaking softly.
“Jiang said the Crystal Cult remnants might target this large-scale mobilization opportunity – if not Black Shark Base, then the star cities.”
Changze nodded. “Don’t know whether we should pray for enemies to appear… or not.”
Suddenly, the sound of automatic doors opening rang out, and steady footsteps approached behind Diana and Changze.
Along with the approach came a familiar gentle voice. “Personally, I think they’re more likely to come to the base.”
A black-haired youth wearing a military coat casually walked beside the two, smiling slightly, “That’s why I came to guard this side.”
“Jiang!” Diana turned around, quickly running to the newcomer’s side, “Are you alright? Why did you come out…”
Jiang Jianming shook his head. His face was somewhat pale, but his spirits were decent. “I was fine all along, just had a strong reaction from staying in the Crystal Nest too long. A day’s rest was enough to recover.”
He was actually sent back by Ryann.
A disabled human in a place like the Crystal Nest, piloting mechas to fight during the day, planning the next day’s strategy at night. As time went on, familiar symptoms began to return.
Jiang Jianming was used to enduring it and didn’t think much of it, but Ryann was extremely worried.
Finally, when the imperial army arrived and the expedition fleet successfully joined up, His Highness immediately wanted him to return to support Black Shark Base, mainly using it as an excuse to let him rest.
He had argued emphatically. “For the plan you made, of course you should oversee it yourself.”
Jiang Jianming initially didn’t want to go, saying, “The Chief is there, and the Third Fortress will surely send military officers as escort. They don’t need me to do anything.”
Ryann paused, his tone turning somewhat grim. “But next, Xie Yuduo will announce your situation to the entire army. When that time comes…”
Jiang Jianming’s face changed instantly, grabbing Ryann’s arm, “Good Highness, let me go back!”
Ryann gave him a cold look and snorted lightly.
“You’re not afraid of the Crystal Nest, yet you fear this.”
The Crown Prince placed his palm on the disabled human’s black hair, lowering his head to seriously examine his expression. “You’re not the one who did something wrong, what are you hiding from? Can you even hide?”
Yes, yes, yes, can’t hide…
Through the alloy glass, Jiang Jianming gazed absently at the darkening sky. The glittering stars grew increasingly clear as Black Shark Base broke through Omega Alien Star’s atmosphere.
The former Commander Aslan now helplessly buried his chin in the coat’s fur collar, getting a headache over the inevitable “can’t hide” that was coming.
He wasn’t even getting headaches over whether the Crystal Cult would appear or not, because he was confident.
—If Black Shark Base and Golden Sun Wheel space station successfully established a stronghold against the Crystal Nest, the Nest would be under constant human firepower siege, while humans could both attack and defend.
This was the Crystal Cult’s last chance to strike.
Sure enough, less than an hour after Black Shark Base left the Omega star system, just as they were preparing energy to open a jump wormhole, the Crystal Cult remnants emerged from the sea of stars.
The leader was indeed the Bishop of Destruction.
At that time, Jiang Jianming was sitting on the huge console in the base’s central control room, casually chatting with several Black Shark Base members.
He had his face turned toward the window, his posture even somewhat lazy. When the alarm sounded and he saw the starships approaching from afar, he merely lifted his eyelids slightly, giving what might have been a faint smile.
“The enemy is in position, time to meet them in battle.”
