Age of Cosmic Exploration

Chapter 449: The Light of Hope and Fever?

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

Back in the City of Light Moon…

Yao Yuan, Guang Zhen, Bo Li, Ren Tao, and several scientists as well as strategists were reviewing the long distance surveillance images of the first defense line and the combat video of Wang Hwa's Black Star Trooper unit.

Everyone was silent until the video was repeated the third time, where Yao Yuan called for quits. With a darkened face, he said, "As everyone can see, the second defense line has continued firing for 14 hours already, the first defense line has been taken down, and the pieces of Steel Ball have been collected by the unknown fleet. This confirms that Wang Hwa's unit has sacrificed themselves….

"Based on what we've watched, I want to hear your opinions." Yao Yuan addressed the room.

The room became silent once more. After some time, Guang Zhen said darkly, "This fleet's military prowess is not weaker than us humans'. No, from their energy shields, they seem to be even more powerful than we are. Furthermore, their fleet is unimaginably big. We can see from the videos that even though the size of the cannons at the second defense line are 10 times the size of the cannons at first defense line, based on the observable data, our enemy has lost less than 5,000 spaceships. Without the initial element of surprise, now our enemy is really exhibiting their prowess as a level 3 space civilization."

Yao Yuan nodded and asked, "Yes, that's right, but other than that?"

A strategist said, "The combat prowess of the Steel Ball is better than expected, especially the special weapons attached to it. The Explosive Arrow Bullets have the capability of shattering energy shields at close distance. The fact that one Steel Ball can destroy 4,000 plus spaceships in three hours is very impressive. If we had more than 100 Steel Balls, then we could win this war easily…"

"100 Steel Balls?" Yao Yuan chuckled self-deprecatingly. "I guess that's one way to look at it. Anything else?"

Suddenly, Ren Tao raised his voice to say, "They… they seem to be looking for something."

Yao Yuan's eyes glowed and he added hurriedly, "Why do you say so? Explain."

Ren Tao contemplated for a bit before adding, "There are three weird observations. First, at the first defense line, even though they retaliated with intense cannon fire, it is observable that they still held some kind of reservation. Even though I don't understand why, the reality told us that they seemed to be unnecessarily guarded about something. However, that confusion was answered when the robots landed inside first defense line. Suddenly, a thought came to me… they're looking for something?"

"Looking for what?"

When Ren Tao said that, the room was confused, and they reviewed the videos again. After a while, they came to the same conclusion. The robot fleet didn't need to even land on first defense line. They had the overwhelming advantage, and the first defense line's energy shield had been taken down, so there was no reason for them to risk landing. This was out of place for an AI civilization.

"If this was a normal alien civilization, then perhaps this could be explained by their need to collect lifeforms to farm soul, but there is no need for that for an AI civilization because they have no use for soul, so this action of theirs is very strange."

At this point, Yao Yuan was suddenly reminded of Intel, the sentient AI born within the human civilization… His real identity was a sentient intelligence, the key to the breakthrough of machine singularity... Could it be…

Here, Xiao Niao picked up where Ren Tao left off. "Yes, I too have discovered that anomaly. It was hinted at during the landing of first defense line and was confirmed when they fought Major Wang Hwa. The enemy fleet was indeed looking for something, but they didn't seem to know what kind of thing it was or where it was. It was probably why they were held up by Major Wang Hwa for three hours, because they were trying to detain him alive."

After Yao Yuan heard this, he rearranged his thoughts. "In conclusion, this enemy fleet is looking for something, but no one knows what that thing is, not even the enemy, so they're trying to preserve everything as unharmed as they can to facilitate their search despite them having an absolute advantage. This in turn hinders their action… is that what you all mean?"

Ren Tao and Xiao Niao looked at each other and nodded in unison. Xiao Niao said, "Yes, and there is a key information… that we received from Blue 6 and the space merchant. The biggest weakness of an AI civilization is their static programming. Yes, they can process many things at a speed that is much faster than a normal lifeform can, but their power of logic is weaker than most. Once they settle on a specific sequence of programs, they will need to adhere to it, so that leads us to believe… that this thing our enemy is looking for is very important and that it is their prime objective. Before accomplishing it, all other objectives are secondary. Unless they are physically threatened, this AI civilization will not change its programming sequence… Even after the war settles, searching for this thing will be its priority."

A Defense Unit Major suddenly asked, "So what about that? Will they still continue to attack us? Will they stop attacking us if we help them search for that thing?"

Yao Yuan cut him off. "No, the focus is not on that thing. I believe I understand what they mean. They're talking about something else… The key is not the thing but how this AI civilization will be inhibited by this thing. Since they couldn't confirm whether the Steel Ball was the thing or not, Major Wang Hwa managed to stall them for three hours. Similarly, because they don't know whether the thing is in the second defense line, they won't destroy it with a collective cannon shot even though they have broken down most of the base's energy shields. This is where our advantage lies…

"Other than that, the thing we're most afraid of about this fleet is their size, 1,700,000 spaceships. Even now there are still 1,600,000 spacehips remaining. If the whole fleet moves towards us at once, we will be steamrolled, but in reality… if we're fighting them in sections, using the collaboration between our human spaceships and the Black Star troopers, we might survive or even win this war. That is what they mean…"

Using the data from Wang Hwa's final stand, Yao Yuan wasn't exaggerating. With enough Steel Balls in combat, it was entirely possible to use one person to fight more than 1,000 spaceships. However, the lack of Steel Balls was the biggest issue. However, with the cooperation between the Black Star Troopers and the Defense Unit, the war was still winnable.

On the battlefield, the difference in weapons could decide the fate of the war. The Space Combat Jet was designed by Whisperer Bo Li, and the plasma ammo, Explosive Arrow Bullet, was specially designed to shatter plasma energy shields. However, if it was fired more than 10 kilometers away, it would lose its power. In fact, the damage would be so weak that it could barely harm a human being. In contrast, when it was fired at close range, it could easily drill through any plasma shied to harm the entity within it. If attached with this ammo, the Space Combat Jets were truly spaceship assassins… provided they could get close.

That combined with the tactical focus fire of the Gravity Cannon…

"In other words…"

Yao Yuan raised his head to look at the room, and everyone saw the fire burning in his eyes. There was hatred, fury, hope, iron, and blood…

"In other words, we still have hope for victory…"

At the same time, in the civilian quarters at the second defense line…

After the wild expansion, this place was practically a small city already. Even though the size was smaller than the City of Light Moon, it had all the necessary amenities to make life on the base a relaxing one.

However, everyone's faces were drawn. Tremors would shake the city occasionally. This was the sign that Energy Storm cannon was firing. The large counter force caused the whole meteorite the city was based on to shake, and the constant tremors reminded the citizens that they were in the middle of a war…

Susan was chatting with Marrion while her sons Lee Xia Ya and Lee Sai Na were playing with Marrion's son, Rei. The contrast was obvious between the adults and children. The children were playing happily, while the adults were filled with concern.

After the civilians from first defense line arrived at the second defense line, they were immediately assigned by the government to share the household of the family currently residing at the second defense line. Susan, the wife of a lieutenant, was assigned to share the house of second defense line's commander, Jacko's home. The two ladies saw their predicament reflected in the other, so they became fast friends.

"I wonder… when we will win this war." Susan sighed as she took a sip of the tea.

Marrion smiled and said, "Don't worry. My husband told me that the main Black Star Trooper forces are heading our way. There are at least 200 troopers; we will definitely win this."

Susan forced a smile and used the silver spoon to stir her cup of tea. "But… how many troopers will we sacrifice? And the Defense Unit soldiers? How many families will…end up like mine?"

Both women were then silent, each nursing their own thoughts…

Suddenly, the smallest of the children, Lee Sai Na, collapsed on top of the blocks, causing a huge commotion. The two adults turned towards her instantly. Initially, they thought the kids were fighting, but they realized something was wrong instantly because the remaining two boys, even though they didn't fall down, their faces were curiously red. The two women ran to them immediately. The moment they touched their faces, they realized the kids were burning up like… they were falling into a fever!

"Fever?"

The two women exclaimed in unison, and the eyes that looked at each other were filled with indescribable shock…