PFC Chapter 50: The Second Battle
Chapter 50: The Second Battle
When Delsu pleaded with Marshal Felch of the Osme Empire for help regarding Tabus, Iron Curtain and Zhou Yuan, who had already rapidly evacuated the gravitational field region, naturally received this information. Although the gravitational field created by the black hole bomb had weakened, Tabus had already deviated from its orbit and was rapidly heading towards its sun, its speed increasing daily. In less than three days, it would be swallowed by the sun.
To save them or not to save them? The commanders of the Earth fleet debated fiercely, with no consensus. Those in favor argued that the majority of the inhabitants of Tab were innocent, while those against believed that the inherent flaws of the Tab people were difficult to eradicate under the authoritarian rule of Delsu.
Iron Curtain and the other commanders turned their attention to Zhou Yuan.
"I am inclined to save them, but only their lives. What I mean is, we notify the interstellar exploration fleet to find a star, and we use a portal to teleport Tab to them, saving them from being destroyed by this sun. After that, it's up to the Tab people's fate."
Everyone nodded in agreement. Iron Curtain immediately reported to the Earth Empire's fleet headquarters, which quickly replied that the 93rd Fleet was located near a star and could be teleported there.
While the people of Tab were panicked and sweating profusely, they received a message in Tab's language. The message essentially said: "All inhabitants of Tab, the Osme Empire has abandoned you. Although we were once enemies, you are not to blame. We cannot bear to let you be swallowed by the sun, so please calm down, do not panic, and prepare yourselves. We are going to move Tab to another star system."
Regardless, the Tabus people were still extremely excited, and their emotions gradually returned to normal. The out-of-control situation was also gradually brought back to order under the strong control of the government.
Three hours after receiving the "enemy's" message, the Tabians suddenly felt the sun flash across the sky, plunging them into darkness. Then, numerous tiny stars streaked across the sky like shooting stars. A moment later, dawn reappeared, and they were astonished to discover that the sun they saw was no longer the original one, but another star. At the same time, they saw many bright spots moving near this new sun. Using their telescopes, the Tabians saw that these were large warships! These warships accelerated instantly and disappeared from sight within seconds.
"Commander, the teleportation to Tab has been completed," the adjutant reported to Iron Curtain.
"Okay." Iron Curtain responded casually, seemingly lost in thought. "Lieutenant, relay my order: convene a holographic meeting."
"Yes."
Fifteen minutes later, everyone's virtual shadows sat in the conference room, with the large conference table in the center surrounded by iron curtains.
"We didn't expect our black hole bomb to have such a significant effect on its first battlefield deployment. Now, we need to decide whether to stay here and continue fighting, or leave and avoid further engagement with them?"
“I think we should leave. It seems we’ve achieved our goal of sowing discord between them and the gods of Thor.”
"We should stay here. If we leave and return to the new Earth, they might discover our tracks and find out where our home planet is, which would be very dangerous."
"Then what if we don't go to the New Earth, but go somewhere else?"
"That's fine, but I don't think they'll give up easily; they'll definitely keep following us and harassing us."
"If that's the case, it's quite troublesome."
"Let's try it out first. What if the main solar fleet of Tabus pretends to leave? If they follow closely, we'll show no mercy."
"We can try it. The other fleets will maintain their original relative positions, and the formation will remain the same three-dimensional multi-group iron triangle relationship. Our main solar fleet from Tabus will turn around and leave this place, moving its formation parallel to Agate Star at near-light speed. Reclaim the teleportation portals that need to be retrieved, and rearrange those that need to be set up. Be prepared to teleport to stars at any time." Iron Curtain issued the final order.
Iron Curtain's main fleet, using the sun of Tabu Star as its base, moved towards Agate Star while maintaining its original formation. Iron Curtain's fleet gradually moved away from the sun of Tabu Star.
"Reporting to Marshal, the enemy's main fleet is moving away from the Sun of Tab." His subordinate reported the observation to Filch.
"Hmph, trying to escape? I only showed you mercy before because we're allies, which let you get away with it. This time, I won't be so lenient. Notify all fleets, we're in pursuit!"
"Yes."
More than 130 million warships set sail, chasing the main force of Earth's human warships at the speed of light.
Three days later, when the two fleets were about two billion kilometers apart, Felch ordered, "Launch the Deep Space Dark Flood Bombs!"
Over a hundred million warships were launched, and a surge of faster-than-light matter, carrying the force of thunder, was injected into the space surrounding the Earth's human warships. Like ink being poured into a water tank, space exploded violently, the entire spatial dimensional membrane was distorted, and numerous spatial cracks were created. A torrent of dark energy erupted, unleashing ultra-short-wavelength pulses—pulses stronger than gamma rays—that instantly reached the human warships' locations. The intelligent energy shields were activated, and the interaction between the two generated massive amounts of X-rays and visible light particles that sprayed outwards, causing the halo around the human warships to grow increasingly bright. Furthermore, the powerful gravity caused by the lack of dark matter abruptly pulled the warships into a gravitational abyss.
Filch's surprise attack resulted in the loss of over 600,000 small warships, including town-class frigates and village-class assault ships, in the main human fleet. Other warships escaped the extremely dangerous area only by relying on powerful shields and rapid reaction speeds, accelerating to the speed of light. The Earth's human fleet suffered significant losses, losing nearly two million personnel.
The human warships that escaped the danger zone immediately launched a fierce counterattack.
The continental supersonic warship Hercules, the national-class Pioneer warship, and more than 30,000 other star-sniping ships of various types, including the Sun, the Celestial, the Sirius, and the Rutan, all launched intelligent energy beams. These intelligent energy beams traveled at faster-than-light speeds, covering a distance of two billion kilometers, and arrived at the massive fleet led by Filch in less than five minutes.
By the time Felch and his men reacted, it was too late. The powerful intelligent energy beams instantly shattered and vaporized the warships in front and behind, reducing two million warships to ashes. The three flagships of the command ship, Babuev, Shipyard, and Bridge Tower, were blasted to smithereens. The remaining fleet accelerated in all directions to escape the intelligent energy beams, and many warships collided with each other during the acceleration phase, causing further damage.
As Felch led his fleet to escape at the speed of light, the second wave of faster-than-light attacks arrived. Each of Earth's human sniper ships simultaneously fired dozens of intelligent energy beams from its hull, totaling an astonishing four hundred thousand beams. These intelligent energy beams seemed to have eyes; after destroying and vaporizing the enemy's rows of warships, they would inexplicably change direction, turning around to directly track the fleeing warships and destroy and vaporize them again. Felch and his crew were stunned—the beams were changing direction!
Filch and the others had no time to ponder the reason for the beam's bend; they only cared about accelerating and scattering in all directions. Those beams were like possessing ghosts, capable of traversing spatial distances at any moment, descending from above to destroy the warship.
The second wave of attacks cost Filch's fleet 60 million warships!
Within a radius of less than one million kilometers, all that could be seen were thin clouds of metal vapors from the warships.
Filch and his forces had only about 90 million ships left, and these ships were still desperately fleeing. Human warships, including over 30,000 sniper ships, had begun pursuing the remnants after the second wave of attacks. The two fleets were locked in a chase, one fleeing for its life, the other in relentless pursuit. The Earth Empire fleet seemed determined to annihilate them all and avenge the massacre of its comrades. The over 30,000 sniper ships unleashed a third wave of faster-than-light intelligent energy beams, sweeping away the lagging fleets of the four-nation alliance and destroying over a million more enemy ships.
The two fleets were traveling at the speed of light, and had been speeding for three days and three nights.
"Commander, we have detected a large fleet converging approximately 50 billion kilometers to the left front of the enemy ships and rapidly approaching us," the adjutant reported the detection results to Iron Curtain.
"That must be their reinforcements. There are too many enemy warships. Pass on my order to retreat at full speed to the vicinity of the star Tab.
"Yes."
The Earth human fleet reverted to its pre-battle formation, with the main force of the Earth Empire fleet, led by Iron Curtain, stationed near the sun on Tab.
The two fleets are 20 billion kilometers apart and neither dares to make any rash moves.
The four-nation alliance fleet, led by the Ottoman Empire, consisted of more than 210 million warships.
"Gentlemen, the Alliance Headquarters has activated the 'Galactic Alliance War Act' against high-level enemies. The eight-nation coalition is on its way, including the fleet commanders of the three elder empires: Divine Martial, Holy Domain, and Netherworld. The Alliance has upgraded its war level from E to C, currently second only to the 'Light-Descent Civilization' at B." At a joint meeting attended by the fleet commanders of the four nations, the recently assembled fleet of the Carapace Civilization Empire announced the good news.
“Excellent. With the participation of the three elder empires of the alliance, we are no longer afraid of being unable to defeat Thor.”
"What a pity, what a pity."
"What's a pity?"
"The Thorian Gods Civilization and the 'Metal Civilization' have been removed from the Alliance. What a pity. If only they had joined forces against the 'Light-Descent Civilization'."
"Don't lament, Thor has gone mad. I even suspect he's betrayed the Alliance and sided with the 'Light-Descent Civilization.' Look at the beams their warships are firing; they're very similar to the 'Light-Descent Civilization's' gamma-ray burst weapons. Although not as powerful as the 'Light-Descent Civilization's, the beams can even curve!" Filch gritted his teeth, wishing he could tear Thor to pieces. This battle had utterly humiliated Filch.
"Brother, don't worry. With the strength of our twelve kingdoms, and with the three elder empire fleet commanders of Divine Martial, Holy Domain, and Netherworld under our command, how can we not sweep it away?"
"I never imagined that Thor would become so powerful in just over two hundred years."
"They all switched sides to the 'Light-Descent Civilization'!"
When will the eight-nation fleet arrive?
"Soon, in about two or three days, the Alliance headquarters approved the activation of 'Deep Space Darkscape Long Distance Space Teleportation'."
"What?!" Everyone was taken aback.
"The time is very short and will not attract the attention of the 'Light-Descent Civilization'."
"That's too dangerous!" "That's utter nonsense!" "What if the 'Light-Descent Civilization' discovers us?" "How could those elders in the Alliance be so muddle-headed?"
Everyone was discussing it, because they all knew that the "Light-Descent Civilization" was incredibly adept at utilizing and detecting dark matter and dark energy.