PFC Chapter 47: Deploying Troops
Chapter 47: Deploying Troops
Soon after, Delsu accompanied Filch and his guards to a deep underground place.
More than 150 Earthlings were imprisoned in a large cell. These Earthlings suffered a lot and their bodies were covered with wounds.
"Delsu, how can you treat your guests like this?" Filch demanded loudly.
Delsu, being cunning and experienced, immediately understood. "Marshal, it was my fault. Guards, remove their handcuffs and shackles."
"Yes."
The Earthlings couldn't help but whisper among themselves as they saw Delsu leading a man in uniform over.
"Attention everyone, this is Marshal Felch, a highly decorated and renowned general of the Osmetic Empire. You wanted to meet with the Imperial representatives, right? The Marshal has come to receive you personally." It was clear that Felch was very pleased.
“Who’s in charge here?” Filch asked the group.
A man with a red armband on his shoulder stepped forward. "Marshal, I am Captain Jack Sparrow."
“Captain Jack, hello.” Filch tried his best to be enthusiastic. “We heard you wanted to meet with our Empire’s representative, so we came right away.”
“We were just passing through this star system and did not know that it was your country’s territory, so we hope you will forgive us.”
"That's fine, as long as you answer a few questions for me."
If I answer, will you let us go?
"Yes."
"Okay, please ask."
"Where did you get these hydrogen ore?"
"It's about 35 light-years away. We've been collecting samples from a planetary belt for years, preparing to sell them."
"Alright. Delsu said you know about the gods of Thor?"
Zheng Pei had anticipated this question and calmly replied, "Yes, Marshal."
"How did you know?"
"One of my buyers mentioned it casually."
"How did he say?"
"He said the hydrogen ore was for powering the warships, and they were going to deal with an enemy, something like 'the traitor Thor.'"
Filch lowered his head, seemingly in thought. "Do you know? The gods of Thor are our allies."
"Ah? Please forgive us, we really didn't know that. If we had known that the Gods of Thor were allies of the Empire, we wouldn't have done this deal."
"Hmm, very good, this can't be blamed on you."
"We all have elderly parents and young children. We have been wandering outside for more than ten years and want to go home as soon as possible. Please, Marshal, have pity on us and let us go."
"I keep my word. However, everyone else can go back, but you have to stay."
The 150-plus Earthlings immediately shouted, "No, we want to go home with the captain!"
"Captain Jack, I didn't expect you to be so popular. But no matter what, you have to stay. I need you to take us to that planetary belt."
“I understand.” Zheng Pei turned around and used her hand to stop the crowd from protesting loudly.
"Everyone, I am very grateful for your trust in me over the past ten years. I hope that after you return home, you will rest and recuperate well, spend time with your parents, wives, children and families, and not wander outside anymore, for the future is fraught with danger. Please also pass on a message to my family, telling them that I have failed their expectations. Take care." Some people burst into tears upon hearing this.
"Dersu, give these crew members some Alliance gold coins, unload the hydrogen ore from the five cargo ships, let them go home, and send warships to escort them for a distance."
"Yes." Delsu understood.
Guards escorted over 150 people out of the prison, led by Delsu's deputy to the treasury. Filch and Delsu, meanwhile, led Zheng Pei out of the cave and, under the escort of warships, flew towards the main camp.
A moment later, the thirty Earth Empire warships, which had been concealed near the cave, saw five cargo ships, escorted by dozens of Tabus warships, fly out of the cave and head into space. The ten Earth Empire warships still hidden instantly activated and followed behind them.
Half an hour later, the five cargo ships and the Tabb Star warships departed Tabb Star, reaching a distance of approximately 13 billion kilometers. Suddenly, ten Earth Empire warships detected energy fluctuations in the dozens of warships. Oh no, they were about to ambush the cargo ships. At this critical moment, the fleet base finally received the order to open fire. Thus, the ten Earth Empire warships launched a surprise attack from behind, simultaneously firing ultra-high-powered laser beams, destroying the dozens of Tabb Star warships.
“呼叫呼叫，这里是地球帝国第7舰队22-34-12分队（第22大队第34支队第12分队），我们刚刚干掉你们身后的塔布星舰队。我们还在隐身，你们赶快做好光传送准备。”
The people on the five cargo ships cheered, and soon they were all transferred from the cargo spaceship to the warship.
"Run! The Osmerians have discovered that the Tab Star warship has been destroyed, and a large number of Osmerian warships are on their way." The ten warships suddenly turned left and accelerated, instantly flying towards the sun at near the speed of light.
When more than a million Osme warships arrived, only the wreckage of dozens of Tab Star warships remained, drifting in space. Five cargo ships ahead were in autopilot mode, and everyone on board had vanished.
Filch was furious. How dare anyone provoke him?
"Initiate full-day deep-space dark scene detection; we must find them."
"Yes."
The Osmer Empire's advanced deep-space dark space detectors were immediately activated. To the Osmers' surprise, while the dark energy fluctuations throughout this star system were weak, they were significantly higher than the average. The deep-space dark space detectors revealed numerous regions with large dark energy fluctuations, indicating the presence of many large, cloaked objects. If these large, cloaked objects were indeed a fleet, their fleet would likely be at a disadvantage in a conflict, as the enemy was in the shadows while they were in the open.
Filch racked his brains, trying to recall what he had seen throughout his life of combat. He couldn't recall ever encountering a civilization with such powerful stealth capabilities, which made him think very carefully.
Could it be...? Could it be the "Civilization of Light"? Filch was startled. He had heard an interstellar legend since childhood, the revered "Civilization of Light." The war between the Galactic Alliance and the "Civilization of Light" had lasted intermittently for many years, with countless battles large and small. However, overall, the Galactic Alliance was at a disadvantage, and the "Civilization of Light" still held the upper hand. But the "Civilization of Light" didn't seem to have any penchant for hiding; they were incredibly domineering.
Felch remained calm and immediately sent a secret long-distance communication message to Emperor Munger of the Osmetic Empire, asking the emperor to make the decision himself.
Three hours later, Filch received a reply from the Emperor, instructing him to hold back for now. The Emperor was sending more fleets, and he had already reported to the Galactic Alliance headquarters, hoping the Alliance would send reinforcements.
The space of this star system has returned to normal, and this calm seems to be the prelude to a turbulent future.
"It's strange, why is the Osme fleet completely silent, as if nothing happened?"
"I have a bad feeling. I guess they've really found us this time. If I'm not mistaken, they're sending reinforcements."
"Gentlemen," Iron Curtain interrupted, "the long-range 'Sky Eye' has detected abnormal spatial signs in the surrounding area. In the direction where the Osme warships appeared earlier, we have detected even more intense spatial anomalies, indicating that Osme has dispatched more warships. In addition, it has been confirmed that seven more fleets are heading this way."
"Are these all Osme warships?"
"We are still far away and not very clear at the moment, but based on the analysis of the warship's power system, it belongs to three different power systems."
"So, it could very well belong to three different civilizations?"
"It can be said like this."
If we include the Osme Empire, the Earth Empire will have to fight at least four civilization fleets this time.
"Vice Commander, is there any news from Imperial Fleet Headquarters?"
"The entire Empire is outraged by the shameless actions of Osme and Tab. Fleet Headquarters has dispatched 15 fleets, which will arrive here in a day. The moon has initiated the teleportation process. Warships throughout interstellar space are also ready to be teleported to stars at any time."
Everyone was silent for a while, their hearts heavy. After all, this was a large-scale group battle, and humanity on Earth had no experience in such group battles. They could only rely on the experience gained from regular simulation training, mutual cooperation, and adaptability.
A day later, 15 reinforcement fleets from the Earth Empire arrived near the fleet base. This brought the Earth Empire's total fleet strength to 36.
In the 3D holographic animation, the Sun of Tabus is in the center, with several other stars twinkling around it.
"Gentlemen, now that we have been discovered, there is no need for further hesitation. I order the following fleets: Fleets 52, 44, and 67, proceed to the vicinity of the nearby star Pineapple Star above; Fleets 82, 25, and 59, proceed to the vicinity of the nearby star Camel Star below; Fleets 88, 22, and 101, proceed to the vicinity of the nearby star Flower Queen Star ahead; Fleets 11, 19, and 33, proceed to the vicinity of the nearby star Agate Star to the lower left; and Fleets 88, 23, and 102, proceed to the vicinity of the nearby star Visa Star to the lower right. The Alpha Fleet and the other fleets shall hold the position near the sun of Tab Star."
"Understood, sir," the commanders replied in unison.
The fleet commanders were all aware of Vice Commander-in-Chief Iron Curtain's plan: to form a multi-tiered triangular system around the Sun of Tabb, with three fleets stationed around each nearby star. The reason for having three fleets for each neighboring star was that one fleet would guard the star itself, while the other two could quickly reinforce neighboring stars or the Sun of Tabb. Each fleet acted according to orders, rapidly deploying super-large and large teleportation portals upon reaching a nearby star to facilitate faster and more convenient mutual reinforcement.
Filch was taken aback and frowned, because through the Deep Space Darkscape Detector, he discovered that there seemed to be more than a dozen new areas with large dark energy fluctuations in a single day.
In this tranquil space, a great battle seems poised to erupt at any moment.