Chapter 1 The Calm Before the Storm

Two days passed in a flash.

As a front-line colony star, Golden Gate Star had a large garrison. Since the Long Arc Nebula tragedy, the planet's alert level had been raised to wartime. The garrison fleet patrolled around Golden Gate Star.

According to the security regulations, there were four layers of reconnaissance. The outermost layer was energy fluctuation detection buoys, and the second layer was patrol ships patrolling in the distance. These two outer warning lines were far from Golden Gate Star, which could give the main force time to react if there was an enemy attack.

Patrol ship D-3018 slowly patrolled the outer perimeter. The members of the gravitational radar monitoring team stared at the screen, analyzing and processing the buoy data in this area. Occasionally, normal spaceships passed by the buoys, adding to the workload of the monitoring team. The slightest disturbance would touch the sensitive nerves of the monitors.

The monitoring work was very monotonous, so a shift system was adopted. Even so, the constant repetition of mechanical work made the entire monitoring team lose their spirits. Moreover, the manual stipulated that during high alert levels, duty personnel were not allowed to chat with each other.

At this time, the room was silent, with only the sound of tapping on the operation panel and the system processing data echoing.

A monitor numbly processed the buoy reports. Just then, a set of data marked as high-risk crimson suddenly magnified on his screen, and a piercing alarm sounded. The monitor was startled and almost fell off his chair.

"Alarm! Abnormal data! Buoy CR-20849 detected large-scale spatial fluctuations!"

"Alarm! Buoy CR-20849 lost connection!"

The entire monitoring team's attention was instantly drawn to the situation. The monitor panicked and hurriedly opened the gravitational radar interface to view the last few detection images automatically sent before the buoy lost contact.

On the edge of the radar interface, dense spots of light appeared. Each spot represented the energy reaction of a spaceship, so dense that they formed a halo. At a glance, it was impossible to tell how many warships were present.

The direction of this huge fleet was exactly toward them!

The expressions of the entire monitoring team changed drastically.

The monitor's mind went blank, his hands and feet were cold, his lips trembled, and he was almost frightened silly.

"En-Enemy attack!!"

"Report it quickly!"

"Get out of this area now!"

At that moment, from beyond the line of sight, a thick beam of light traversed the vast distance and accurately hit patrol ship D-3018. This was the main cannon of a DarkStar mothership, with extremely long range and power, using a single high-energy reactor as ammunition.

The shield was directly penetrated, and the beam struck the patrol ship. Light illuminated from the inside, expanding outward. The patrol ship's hull disintegrated, turning into floating debris in the universe.

Soon, a huge fleet appeared,浩浩荡荡 (hào hào dàng dàng, magnificent and powerful) passing over the wreckage of the patrol ship. The enormous DarkStar mothership was surrounded by the fleet, slowly advancing. Around it were thousands of DarkStar warships of various models, like ants protecting their queen. The DarkStar mothership itself was a mobile base.

The same scene played out in four other directions.

DarkStar had deployed five motherships to attack Golden Gate Star!

"The Godora's reconnaissance range is not bad. By the time we arrive at Golden Gate Star, the garrison will have already reacted and assembled a good defensive array. It's a pity that we didn't succeed in the surprise attack." In the command room of one of the DarkStar motherships, De Gu Li Shi looked at the radar interface and said slowly.

However, this time, he hadn't expected to succeed in a surprise attack. Godora was prepared and wouldn't be so easily caught off guard. Besides, with half of the organization's forces mobilized, whether it was a surprise attack or not made no difference.

Before long, Golden Gate Star was vaguely visible. The other four DarkStar motherships also appeared in other directions of Golden Gate Star at the same time. The Godora Golden Gate garrison had completely contracted its lines and opened dozens of golden 維希魔能 (Wei Xi Mo Neng) shields, protecting Golden Gate Star. The number of garrison troops was only a quarter or a fifth of the DarkStar fleet, as if they were surrounded by wolves.

Five motherships, five directions, DarkStar surrounded Golden Gate Star.

Each mothership had a commander, and the overall commander of the operation was De Gu Li Shi.

"Fire!" De Gu Li Shi slammed his palm down and directly gave the order, not wasting time talking to the Godora.

The battle erupted!

In the vacuum of space, there was no sound. Only countless particle beams, linked missiles, and high-energy rays bloomed with dazzling light, converging from all directions, attacking continuously, one wave after another. They implemented complete fire coverage, and endless explosions erupted in the Godora fleet in the outer space of Golden Gate Star.

Dozens of 魔能 (Mo Neng) shields trembled constantly, rippling as if they were about to shatter at any moment.

The Godora fleet adopted a completely defensive posture, maintaining the shields and struggling to hold on.

De Gu Li Shi sneered, "Dreaming of stalling for time and waiting for reinforcements."

DarkStar had come prepared. Before the operation, the intelligence network focused on the garrison situation. Although Golden Gate Star was a front-line colony star with many regular garrison troops, they were simply not enough in the face of the forces DarkStar had dispatched. The sheer number alone could overwhelm them, and the performance of Godora's warships wasn't much different from theirs.

On the other hand, DarkStar also paid attention to the movements of other Godora fleets. There were no abnormal movements. They basically remained in their own garrison areas. Therefore, even if the Godora troops wanted to support Golden Gate Star through the Joberly Hub star gate, it would still take some time to travel. DarkStar had calculated the firepower ratio, and the attacking force was sufficient to break through the Golden Gate Star garrison before reinforcements arrived.

"Keep firing, don't stop," De Gu Li Shi said with a stern expression.

With a numerical advantage, he didn't plan to engage in boarding battles. He only needed to use absolute firepower to crush everything. The goal of this attack on Golden Gate Star was not to slaughter, but to bombard Golden Gate Star with artillery fire, flatten the surface, destroy all facilities, and completely destroy this colony star.

At the same time, turmoil erupted on the surface of Golden Gate Star due to the attack. Countless people flocked to the docks, vying to board spaceships and escape. However, the troops stationed at all the docks received orders from above to seal off the docks and strictly prohibit any civilian spaceships from taking off.

This move immediately ignited the anger and panic of the people. They argued with the troops at the docks and even broke out into bloody conflicts. The scene was chaotic. Everyone wanted to escape the planet, but they were all stopped by the troops.

"Why won't you let us escape!"

"There's a war going on outside. Do you want us to die with you?!"

"I have the freedom to leave this planet!!"

The guards stationed at the docks were unmoved, with serious faces. Frankly speaking, they were also very afraid that the garrison fleet would be defeated by DarkStar, and they would also suffer a catastrophe. But they had been trained to suppress their inner fears in critical moments and strictly carry out orders.

The orders from above were not to allow any Golden Gate Star residents to depart at this time. First, the artillery fire outside was fierce, and civilian spaceships would definitely be destroyed once they left the protection of the shields. Second, civilian spaceships would disrupt the battle. If they collided with the Godora fleet, it could cause a chain reaction, leading to the collapse of the situation in an instant. Moreover, there might be DarkStar spies mixed among the people, preparing to undermine their defense from the inside. Therefore, although prohibiting the people of Golden Gate Star from escaping was excessive, the garrison decided to curb the risks. Only when the defense line was about to collapse would they break through with the people.

Unable to break through the army's blockade, many people collapsed to the ground, their faces pale as paper, and fear climbed onto their faces. They deeply regretted not leaving the colony star early like others and drifting in the universe to avoid the storm.

The Golden Gate Star local interstellar news station used observation equipment to broadcast the battle in outer space live, sending it to the world and even the entire star system. The anchor trembled, enduring the fear in his heart, and stammered the report.

The local news quickly spread throughout the interstellar community. Many interstellar channels simultaneously rebroadcasted the battle situation on Golden Gate Star. After the Long Arc Nebula tragedy, DarkStar had once again extended its clutches to the next planet, and countless forces in the Shattered Star Ring once again paid attention.

Two days ago, Godora had heavily publicized the effectiveness of the異化之災 (Yi Hua Zhi Zai, Mutation Disaster) governance. However, this attack came as a head-on blow, bringing a new round of panic to Godora.

The battle in outer space was in full swing. The Golden Gate Star garrison had already lost nearly two hundred warships and more than a dozen 維希魔能 (Wei Xi Mo Neng) shields, as if they were about to collapse at any moment. Some attacks had already passed through the gaps between the shields, and mushroom clouds erupted on the surface of Golden Gate Star.

Many surface cities had opened sky-dome protection shields, so they had not yet suffered actual damage. But once the outer space fleet collapsed, the city shields would not be able to hold on for long. Rows of ground-to-air orbital defense cannons extended from underground, aiming at the sky. Missile silos also opened, ready to fire, and the atmosphere was tense and chilling.

If DarkStar broke into the atmosphere, Golden Gate Star could only launch this final counterattack. But as you can imagine, even the garrison fleet was defeated, so these defensive measures could only tickle DarkStar.

"Increase the firepower, they can't hold on any longer." De Gu Li Shi observed the battle situation, the corners of his mouth rising in a cold smile, murderous intent sharp.

Just then, the mothership's intelligent system suddenly issued a buzzing alarm.

"Alarm! Large-scale unknown energy reactions are rapidly approaching! Number unknown!"

Before the words were finished, before De Gu Li Shi could react, beams of warp light appeared from the direction of the Joberly Hub on the edge of the Golden Gate Star battlefield. From far to near, they stopped, and warships of various styles arrived at the scene, forming a huge allied fleet. Obviously, they were not here to help DarkStar.

The outer layers of these warships were painted with emblems, more than a dozen different styles, indicating their identities.

"The Heavenly Ring Mercenary Alliance, the Purple Gold Legion, the Blade Edge Legion, the Triumph Battle Group... they are all super-large mercenary groups from several nearby star systems!"

De Gu Li Shi's eyes widened, his face stunned.

Wait, why did this group of mercenaries suddenly appear! Where did they come from?!

Not only him, but many other leaders of forces watching the live broadcast of the battle perked up, sat up straight, and their faces became playful.

Did Godora have an ambush prepared?!

In the flagship of the Heavenly Ring Mercenary Alliance, the leader of the Heavenly Ring Mercenary Alliance, Gu Lei Jia, ended his call with the director of the Godora War Affairs Bureau, turned to look at the Golden Gate Star battlefield with crisscrossing artillery fire, stroked his steel needle-like beard, and smiled.

"Ha, Black Star really introduced us to a big job."