Star Ocean: Starting from the Abandoned Mining Space Station.

Chapter 321 Attack
The call Chen Ming made was quickly answered.

After answering the phone, Bai Quan asked in confusion: "What's wrong?"

As far as he knew, Chen Ming had been wandering around the Psychic Research Institute in the past two days. He didn't understand where he was needed for things related to psionic energy.

And what Chen Ming wanted to tell him was not about the Psychic Research Institute.

"There was an accident. My fleet was attacked by the machine race."

"They made a lot of preparations in advance. They blocked the jump engine and hyperspace. They sacrificed a large number of mechanical race individuals, damaged the outer shell of the spacecraft, and stole a batch of my goods."

Bai Quan was no longer confused when he heard this, but he was surprised: "The machine tribe can actually steal your things."

"If the strength gap between the fleets is too big, even if I have psychic powers, I can't withstand it. For example, a battleship can directly destroy one of my cruisers with one shot. Even if I can repair it, I still need to repair the hammer if the spaceship is gone."

"It's also my problem this time. I didn't consider that there would be machines so far away from the empire. I thought that the support I could provide would arrive in five minutes at most, so I didn't arrange too many escort fleets."

"As a result, I failed to take defensive measures when the mechanical tribe came to raid."

Bai Quan asked: "Is it outside the empire?"

"Correct."

"That's not surprising. Outside the empire, the Machine Tribe can pop up anywhere. It's just that the Machine Tribe likes to form a group to form a star field. It doesn't mean that there are no scattered ones."

"How much are your losses exactly?"

"The main thing is a batch of crystal crabs."

"Crystal Crab!"

Bai Quan's speaking frequency became rapid for a moment.

He thought that Chen Ming was sending the goods he needed out, but they were robbed by the machine clan, and some basic supplies were gone.

It turned out that the energy crystal crabs that Chen Ming sent to the empire were snatched by the mechanical tribe. This situation was not right.

"How could the Machine Tribe snatch these things? It can't be that the information has been leaked, right?"

"I don't know the specific reason."

Chen Ming said: "But I can be sure that the mechanical tribe came to attack my fleet quite purposefully, and they did it very decisively, just to snatch the goods, and they know that this is my goods."

"Because the mechanical tribe was obviously targeting some of the shortcomings of my psychic powers when they attacked, and they retreated directly after taking away the goods."

"Retreating?"

Bai Quan's question was also the point where Chen Ming was confused before.

Because for the mechanical race, it is normal to grab a wave of imperial spaceships when they see them passing by.

But usually, after the robbery, or before the robbery, the mechanical tribe will choose to kill all the spaceships and the people on the spaceships first.

Why didn't they continue to pursue it, why didn't they destroy it, and why did they let the fleet go?

Unless...the machine tribe thinks that doing so will fail.

Bai Quan confirmed with Chen Ming the specific situation just now.

I learned that the mechanical race even ran away when Chen Ming's spaceship was trapped in the clouds of hyperspace, and ran away as soon as they got the goods without any nostalgia.

Obviously they knew that Chen Ming's reinforcements were on the way, and if they delayed even a little bit, they would be left behind.

Because of this, Chen Ming can be sure that the mechanical tribe must know that this fleet belongs to him.

If you really want to talk about it, Chen Ming has also met the mechanical tribe several times in the past, although he has never revealed his true identity once.

But he must have left quite a lot of traces in the Machine Clan's database.

It was normal to find out that this was Chen Ming's spaceship.

So Bai Quan has no further questions, but this matter itself is a problem.

"If the mechanical tribe also has the technology to cultivate energy crystal crabs, then the loss of the crystal crabs may cause the mechanical tribe to also have energy crystallization technology."

The key is the number of energy crystal crabs captured by the mechanical clan and their technology.

It's hard to say for sure how good the mechanical race's technology is, but it can be seen from those mechanized psychic creatures that it is definitely not low.

Therefore, once the number of lost crystal crabs exceeds a certain number, it is really possible for the mechanical tribe to cultivate a new population.

"Approximately how many crystal crabs did you lose?"

"Thousands of them, probably."

"Thousands..."

The number of several thousand is very ambiguous, just on the border between what can be successfully cultivated and what cannot be successfully cultivated.

After all, a population needs to have a guaranteed base. If the number is too small, it is absolutely impossible to breed a new population.

Even cloning technology will not work. If a population has too few genetic samples, it will sooner or later become a lifeless population.

But several thousand... This number gave Bai Quan a headache for a while.

"Actually, the situation is not completely irreversible yet."

"Because as long as the intelligence within the empire is not leaked, the machine clan should not know the specific cargo I transported, at least not for the time being."

"They will need time to investigate the purpose of this batch of goods, and I will still have a chance to snatch the things back."

"And I have also determined that the mechanical tribe must have a temporary stronghold nearby, and they will definitely send the stolen energy crystal crabs there."

"My idea is to destroy the mechanical clan's stronghold and get the things back."

"But I have to ask your opinion first, lest my actions lead to an early war between the Empire and the Machine Tribe."

After explaining the situation clearly, Bai Quan also realized that this was a decision that needed to be made in a short time.

It must not have been long before Chen Ming's goods were snatched away. If the action was fast enough, the mechanical clan might not even have time to investigate the actual function of the crystal crabs.

But as long as they move slowly, the machine race will have a greater chance of understanding the technology of energy crystallization.

Chen Ming's current level is similar to that of a sophomore high school student. Of course, he cannot make such a purely overall consideration, so he came to ask him.

There was no time to think too much or ask other people’s opinions.

Baiquan must respond now.

But he thought for a while and said: "I feel that even if I give objections here, there is a high probability that you will take action directly, or at most use a hidden method."

It really is.

Chen Ming responded in his heart.

He has already dispatched the support fleet that just arrived to find the temporary stronghold of the Machine Tribe.

After all, he didn't know what was going on in the Machine Clan's stronghold, so he had to be prepared to pursue it as soon as possible, and then decide whether to take action based on the final investigation results.

Of course, what his fleet tracked was not the traces of the mechanical fleet's jump.

After all, he knew a tracking method, how could the Machine Tribe not know about it? If he followed the jump traces, he would definitely be ambushed by the Machine Tribe.

Therefore, the specific location of the mechanical tribe's stronghold still has to be determined by Chen Ming's perception of the same hive mind network through his spiritual power.

As long as you follow the feeling in your heart, you can find the hometown of the mechanical tribe.

Bai Quan also knew Chen Ming's thoughts very well, and he would usually make up for any losses he suffered.

Chen Ming knew very well that as long as there was no real hatred, as long as the person who had the conflict compensated and sincerely apologized, many things would go away.

But there is no way for the Machinery Clan to compensate him. Chen Ming must think of giving the Machinery Clan a hard blow.

Bai Quan had no objection to this: "So if you want me to say it, you can go."

"After entering the second phase of investigation, the empire has already started preliminary friction with the Machinery Clan. The Machinery Clan are not blind in so many reconnaissance operations."

"It doesn't matter if there's a conflict with the Machine Tribe. As long as it's not a large-scale war between the Empire and the Machine Tribe's star field, we can fight anywhere like that."

With Bai Quan's words, everything Chen Ming does next will be endorsed by Bai Quan, and of course he will bear all the responsibilities.

While taking responsibility, he can of course also enjoy the rights and benefits that come from the responsibility.

The worst outcome of handling this matter is that Chen Ming leaks the energy crystallization technology to the machine clan.

It is impossible to trigger a war between the empire and the machine race early.

War never starts because of one person. If it seems like this, it's just because that person stands on the cusp of the times.

And if this matter is handled well, the final outcome may be to defeat the mechanical tribe's plan in advance to continue to develop and leave a way out for themselves.

"But can you fight?"

Chen Ming thought about the last time he went to attack the colony of the mechanical tribe.

At that time, his mastery of cruiser technology was not high, and he was far from being able to rub a cruiser with his hands.

They can only rely on a few afterglow cores in hand and the cruisers obtained by various means to fight against the mechanical tribe.

He dared to fight then and was able to fight, and he can do the same now.

Talk about it.

Chen Ming remembered that at the end of the last time he attacked the mechanical tribe's colony, the mechanical tribe originally wanted to surround his spaceship, but a fleet came.

As a result, the fleet was directly killed by a phase beast that suddenly appeared.

It's been a long time since the last time, and I don't know if the giant phase beast has been killed by the mechanical tribe. Will he encounter it again this time?

It's too far away, so it shouldn't be possible.

Chen Ming shook the strange thoughts out of his mind and responded to Bai Quan in slightly more restrained words: "It just seems that the fleet they came to attack can be attacked, but the details will have to wait until I determine the location of their stronghold. ”

"it is good."

"Then can you send back the real-time video later? If there is video, we can also help you analyze some situations here."

Chen Ming thought about it and said, "Okay."

The Queen will not appear in this operation because it is still evolving.
Even if it is not evolving, it is not easy to appear.

After all, this raid on the Machinery Clan's stronghold is an urgent mission. To pursue efficiency, the Machinery Clan's stronghold needs to be captured in a short time.

The insect queen needs time to develop before it can attack.

By the time the insect queen develops, the matter will be over long ago.

So since the Queen of Insects is not here, it is not difficult to share some information about the Machine Tribe.

After receiving Chen Ming's reply, Bai Quan also knew that he should be busy next.

"Then I will notify a few people here first and discuss the follow-up. We will help you and try to get the crystal crab back as much as possible."

Communication ends.

Bai Quan went to contact someone.

Chen Ming also shifted his vision to the fleet that was looking for the mechanical clan's stronghold.

When Chen Ming was preparing to reinforce the fleet, he directly prepared the full team according to the maximum size he could control now.

Except HR is responsible for housekeeping.

Brilliance, brilliance, sparkle, and transcendence all drive the battleship.

In addition to the nine cruisers that Chen Ming can control, the total fleet consists of thirteen cruisers.

As for the ship type composition of these cruisers.

Chen Ming did not bring the defenders he had captured before or the standard cruisers of the mechanical race.

In addition to letting Brilliance reach the Brilliance level, Shining reach the Shining level, and Extraordinary reach the Supreme level.

All those prepared were cruisers created directly by Chen Ming using psychic energy, all of which were Stardust class. Nine ships in total.

One Stardust class can release 1,600 meteor fighters for self-destruction in one round.

If there are nine Stardust ships, that would be 14,400 Meteoric fighter jets, a total of tens of thousands!
This is only one round, but Chen Ming's psychic energy can replenish combat readiness supplies for all ships in real time.

Meteor fighter planes are of course also within the scope of supplies.

Just release a few more rounds of fighters.

That scene should be somewhat grand.

Chen Ming was already looking forward to it.

Although the loss of materials may be a little big, the effect will not be bad after all, and aren’t materials just for use?

Accumulating supplies that cannot be used is just garbage.

And this time he also made a new attempt.

In addition to the thirteen cruisers in the fleet, he also deployed 260 destroyers at a ratio of one to ten.

There are only two types of these two hundred and sixty destroyers, the sixty Fourteenth Legion Enforcer class used to resist the line.

And the remaining two hundred ships are equipped with tachyon lances, energy crystal energy storage devices that can keep up with the terrifying energy consumption of the tachyon lances, as well as anti-matter reactors and anti-matter engine armor breakers.

Tens of thousands of self-destructing small aircraft and two hundred tachyon spears will definitely bring endless surprises to the mechanical tribe.

Chen Ming did not bring the smaller guard. After all, no matter how small the boat was, it was cannon fodder and had no meaning.

As long as he can make a surprise attack in the subsequent battle, he has a high probability of winning.

At the same time, Chen Ming's fleet was searching for the mechanical clan's stronghold.

Chen Ming's prosthesis at the headquarters was also taken away.

The people from the headquarters took Chen Ming to a military base near the city and sent Chen Ming all the way to the door of a conference room.

When standing at the door, Chen Ming heard people talking about him inside, the same things he had just said to Bai Quan.

Just when Chen Ming was about to open the door and go in, he suddenly heard someone say: "Chen Ming made a mistake in military purposes and should be punished."

This sentence made Chen Ming stand directly at the door without pushing the door open. He also stopped the person who brought him over and told him to be quiet.

The man in the conference room continued: "If the machine race also obtains this technology, the consequences will be disastrous."

"There is no way to make sure that the machine clan did not take advantage of the opportunity to seize the sample to obtain technology."

"This situation is quite serious,"

These two sentences Chen Ming feel will be the consensus of many people who are disgusted with him.

After all, he had dealt with the direct trap, and with the legion commander acting as a guarantee, no one dared to directly touch this bad guy.

But as long as you catch him where he made a mistake and attack him, no one will be able to tell the problem.

Even the commander of the army could not protect Chen Ming when Chen Ming made a mistake.

But Chen Ming immediately heard a familiar voice speak: "The premise of questioning is that you really made a mistake. As long as this matter can be handled well, it is not a mistake, but the right thing."

"Besides, Chen Ming has been a civilian employee from the beginning. Ensuring the transportation of military supplies is what other people should do. We cannot just blame him."

If Chen Ming remembered correctly, the rebuttal voice behind was Qiu Bowen, the general who had targeted him before.

Although it was possible that Qiu Bowen only said this when he found him at the door, at least he gave Chen Ming face in front of others.

Chen Ming opened the door.

The internal layout of the conference room appeared before his eyes.

It can only be said that it is very familiar.

It was just like the conference room of the military meeting that Bai Quan invited him to for the first time.

However, Chen Ming had just begun to learn military command at that time and basically understood nothing.

But now, at least Chen Ming understands it and is qualified to speak here.

Qiu Boyen, Bai Quan, and three other lieutenant generals whom Chen Ming had never met were standing at the front of the conference room, chatting with each other.

"he came."

Bai Quan's words attracted the attention of everyone present to Chen Ming.

The three lieutenant generals didn't know who was speaking ill of Chen Ming just now, so they all chose to remain silent in a tacit understanding.

Chen Ming didn't bother to care about them.

Qiu Bowen didn't seem to have any change in mentality, as if he wasn't the one who was humiliated by Chen Ming some time ago.

After shaking hands with Chen Ming as usual, he made an invitation gesture to Chen Ming and asked Chen Ming to sit directly on the main seat.

After all, the key to this emergency operation lies with Chen Ming.

Chen Ming was not polite and reached out to control the computer next to him.

A picture was projected on the conference table.

A fleet is sailing in the channel and is about to pass through the channel and reach the hyperspace of a galaxy.

In addition to the surrounding environment, you can also see part of the fleet on the screen.

For a moment, all the generals sitting in the conference room, except Bai Quan, were hesitant to speak.

Because usually, a fleet of more than a hundred spaceships carrying out some unknown enemy configuration must be equipped with at least five different types of spacecraft to allow the commander to deal with complex and changeable combat environments.

But Chen Ming only matched two kinds.

But what Chen Ming paired with was the modified law enforcer of the 14th Legion, which ranks among the best in terms of protection among all destroyers, as well as the armor-breaking class designed by Sinda Company, which has now begun to be put into military production.

A year after it was developed, the armor-breaking class already had a nickname among the armies of all parties, gun mount.

After all, the purpose of opening the armor-breaking level is not to break armor at all, but to use the large weapons that can be installed on the armor-piercing armor.

So Chen Ming seemed to have launched two hundred armor-piercing ships, but in fact, it was no different from going out with the barrels of two hundred tachyon spears.

Such a mixed fleet can be said to have no ability to cope with various battlefield environments.

It was carried by the law enforcers in the front, and the two hundred tachyon spears in the back were violently outputting.

It's so simple and crude.

Not to mention the cruiser.

Everything they could see at this time was at the Stardust level.

The capabilities of this cruiser designed by Tachyon Technology Company were of course well known to several people present.

They all had a slight understanding of Chen Ming's fighting style and knew what kind of effect this kind of warship would have in Chen Ming's hands.

So after imagining that picture.

Several general-level officers who put tactics and strategies first were at a loss what to say.

Bai Quan was not surprised. Chen Ming's favorite thing was to use more to defeat less, to overwhelm others with force, and to use his psychic powers without stopping at all.

Problems that can be solved with firepower are not problems in front of him.

This kind of firepower is definitely enough to sweep across a galaxy.

As long as there are no accidents in the mechanical race's galaxy, it is only a matter of time before the mechanical race is eliminated.

I just don’t know if the machine clan will take away the cargo hold they snatched.

This depends on Chen Ming's follow-up investigation.

A minute later, Chen Ming's fleet had passed through the end of the channel and was about to enter the hyperspace region of the galaxy in front of it.

Bai Quan suddenly appeared and reminded: "The clouds near the location where the channel connects to the hyperspace area of ​​the galaxy have traces of disrupted evacuation, indicating that spacecraft often appear here."

Bai Quan's reminder was of course because he was afraid that Chen Ming would not notice it and would be attacked by the mechanical race in the galaxy.

However, Chen Ming chased him all the way through his own perception. He knew very well that this galaxy was the temporary stronghold of the mechanical race.

"There may be defense methods for the mechanical race in hyperspace. Pay attention to safety."

"learn."

Chen Ming responded, closed his eyes, and focused all his attention on the fleet where the battle was about to take place.

Upon seeing this, Qiu Boyen stared at Chen Ming for a while.

Even though he had known about Chen Ming's psychic effects before, he still couldn't understand it when he saw that Chen Ming could still use psychic powers to control the spacecraft even though he was almost across the entire empire.

Even the range of psychic influence of a level 6 psyker is only the size of a galaxy, but Chen Ming's psychic effect has obviously surpassed that of a normal psyker.

I don’t know what secrets Chen Ming has.

He shook his head and said, not knowing whether it was with emotion or something else: "This should be the largest battle that is about to break out since the conflict between us and the machine race began."

But surprisingly.

When Chen Ming left the passage and entered the hyperspace area belonging to the galaxy, there was no mechanical force blocking him in the hyperspace.

There wasn't even a warning ship.

Obviously, none of the people present had expected that this would be the case.

"Could it be...that we found the wrong one?"

"Shouldn't it?"

"Let's go and take a look first."

"can."

Just as a few people finished their brief words, there was a sudden knock on the door of the conference room.

"Come in."

After Qiu Boyen finished speaking, someone opened the door and came in to give him a piece of information.

And he glanced at the emptiness displayed on the projection screen on the conference table, and before the war started, he said directly: "Chen Ming, do you need the legion to provide you with some support in terms of ships and combat preparation materials?"

Chen Ming was immediately distracted: "Yes, of course."

The moment he said these words.

He dispatched a team of five destroyers, ended the hyperspace voyage ahead of schedule, activated the hyperspace channel system, and entered the galaxy.

The conference table in front of them also showed the situation inside the galaxy.

This is a galaxy with six planets.

There is a planet in the habitable zone of this galaxy that has obviously undergone extensive industrialization.

That is the destination of Chen Ming's trip.

The target has been found, but Chen Ming did not act rashly.

Because there are a large number of wreckage of ships and a large number of orbital defense facilities around the planet.

Moreover, the planet's surface is constantly erupting with large-scale fires that can be seen outside the planet.

And these flames are still expanding.

Someone... no, something came here faster than Chen Ming and was destroying everything belonging to the mechanical race.

(End of this chapter)