Alice in the Land of Steam

Chapter 987 is out again?

Yieta was so focused that she didn't even bother to wipe the sweat off her forehead. She knew that the success of the next plan depended entirely on her own actions. The opportunity was fleeting. If she reacted a little slower or hesitated a little, it would give the enemy time to react, leading to the collapse of the entire situation.

Such a heavy responsibility was unimaginable for the weak-minded Miss Angel, but she did not back down. On the one hand, she was the only one who could operate the Arus binary starship, and this was her responsibility, and there was no room for backing down; on the other hand, she occasionally wanted to do something to respond to the trust of her companions, instead of staying in the windmill tower room and enjoying the fruits of others' labor as she did before, when her companions were out adventuring.

Perhaps I was too afraid of taking responsibility in the past, which led to the tragedy of Avignon Village.

Could it be that after going through so many things, I haven't grown at all?
Never let the past repeat itself!

Miss Angel made up her mind, her eyes fixed on the operating screen in front of her, watching the data displayed on it change every minute and every second. She suddenly felt her heartbeat become louder, thumping in her chest, clear and piercing; and suddenly she lost the feeling of it, she could not hear anything in her ears, just nervously waiting for the signal.

"It's now, Yieta!"

From the high platform in the center of the cab came the voice she had been waiting for. It was so clear that it didn't seem like an illusion, and it instantly plucked a string in the girl's mind. She didn't hear a word of the following words clearly, and almost at the moment the voice fell, she made a move synchronously, and her trembling fingers gently pressed down, [Meteor Propulsion Device], start!

At the tail of the Arus binary starship, a thousand-foot-long flame suddenly erupted from the cold and hollow three-layer thruster, as if countless planets were ignited as fuel. The super-high temperature, comparable to the explosion of a solar prominence, melted all the dust and matter at the rear in an instant, and even engulfed several Lancers that did not have time to escape. The dark green body just flashed in the rising flame tail and melted into ashes in an instant.

The flames illuminated half of the universe. The giant whale accelerated forward under the impact. The magic hooks wrapped around the whale's body were torn apart by the terrifying traction before they even changed shape. The Lancers who tried their best to maintain their formation flew backwards under the action of inertia and were blown away for hundreds of kilometers. They could only watch the huge whale turn into a phantom and pass by the edge of their vision. There were densely packed giant lances on its back. The red star flames spewed out of the cracks due to the loss of control of the magic furnace like blood. This reminded people of the scene of whalers in the Middle Ages watching their prey break free from their restraints, carrying scars and spears, and fleeing to the distant sea under the sunset. It was heroic and sad.

In a tenth of a second, before they could even take a full breath, they had already lost sight of the whale. After activating the Meteor Propulsion Device, the speed of the Arus binary starship was frighteningly fast. Although it could not last too long, it was enough for it to cross a long distance and descend upon the enemy fleet cluster, slowly opening its huge mouth, exposing a huge, cold gun muzzle with a caliber of half the width of the ship.

"【Stellar Impact Device】," Gloria leaned forward slightly, and a hint of excitement flashed in her calm eyes. Such a close-range bombardment seemed to be more enjoyable to her than watching fireworks. In a sense, once this bombardment hits, the visual effect created can indeed be called the most grand fireworks in the universe: "Start!"

This is the biggest weapon of destruction that Lorena has prepared for the Sky Titan, the Arus binary starship. As the name suggests, a single shot from it operating at full power is enough to unleash an energy shock comparable to a stellar explosion.

Inside the command ship, the alarm sounded.

"The flow of magic power is disordered and cannot be analyzed! The energy intensity is breaking through the threshold!" The operator in the driving seat swallowed hard, feeling a huge pressure from the muzzle that was brewing a breath of destruction: "The bombardment will arrive in 1.5 seconds! Repeat, the bombardment will arrive in 1.5 seconds!"

What a fast speed, was the clumsiness just a disguise? Super high-speed charge plus artillery coverage, is this your killer move?

Fisher stared at the violently fluctuating energy curve on the screen, but he felt relieved. Once he knew the other party's intention, he naturally had a strategy to deal with it in his mind. He said calmly: "All fleets, activate the magic defense field and form a linked formation."

As soon as the words fell, the artillery fire had arrived.

A beam of brilliant silver light roared out from the giant whale's mouth, sweeping towards the fleet cluster that was within reach. The unrivaled momentum seemed to penetrate the sea of ​​stars and reach the depths of the universe. In an instant, everyone's vision was covered by endless white light, and the sound of the void twisting and breaking was faintly heard in the ears. The close-range energy impact can cause a strong sense of oppression to the human senses even through the armor layer made of magic-conducting metal. After about half a second, this oppression gradually dissipated and returned to normal. The driver on the Star Knight saw from the first-person perspective a huge silver spear, confronting the translucent giant shield that spanned the line of sight.

Fisher's order was issued very timely. Almost at the moment before the bombardment arrived, the magic defense field was generated at the same time. In front of each Star Knight, a hexagonal network like wings was unfolded, and the networks were connected together to form a honeycomb crystal curtain wall, which protected the fleet cluster firmly behind it like a giant shield.

The silver light gun and the crystal giant shield confronted each other, the gun blade and the shield rubbed against each other, bursting out extremely dazzling and brilliant light bursts, and the energy released during each impact would cause the void to distort and vibrate. But from the energy intensity, it was obvious that the [Stellar Impact Device] of the Arus binary starship had the upper hand. After the confrontation lasted for about three seconds, the magic defense field seemed to be overwhelmed. A huge crack suddenly tore open on one of the hexagonal grids, and then quickly spread to the entire shield surface. It was trembling and wailing, as if it would be completely shattered in the next moment.

"The impact energy has exceeded the upper limit of the magic defense field." The operator hurriedly reported the situation: "It is estimated that the magic defense field will be broken in three seconds, but the enemy's artillery fire is also at its last gasp. The Star Knight's own armor strength can resist it."

Fisher calmly gave the order: "Prepare to activate the repulsion engine device, and have all the Lancers on standby prepare for launch."

The repulsion engine device generates repulsion to push away the enemy at close range, thus maintaining a safe distance for the tactical formation of the Star Cruise Force. Although the enemy's ship is extremely large, hundreds of Star Knights activate the repulsion engine device at the same time, and the huge repulsion generated can even push a planet, let alone a warship? As long as they maintain a safe distance, continuously deploy Lancer troops for guerrilla warfare, harassment, and even landing, and guard against the enemy's sudden acceleration of mobility at any time, this battle can almost be said to be invincible.

As for the opponent's artillery fire, Fisher was not worried. Such a terrifying energy intensity would never erupt a second time in a short period of time, unless the opponent wanted to scrap his warship.

He had guessed correctly that the [Stellar Impact Device] could not be fired twice within a certain period of time. If everyone's tactics were still at the level of annihilating the enemy fleet, they would undoubtedly fall into the trap carefully set by Fisher. However, after Saint Shalia's reminder, they had a better choice.

"Yieta, prepare to activate the [Meteor Propulsion Device] again. The goal is to break through the enemy fleet cluster and rush directly into the initial star field." Almost at the same time as Fisher gave the order, Gloria also gave a similar order. Both captains stared at the scene projected on the big screen, waiting for the moment when the bombardment ended and put an end to this sudden encounter.

1.5 seconds…2 seconds…2.5 seconds…

3 seconds pass!

The last wave of energy from the star impact device tore the largest and most hideous crack in the magic shield, almost splitting the entire giant shield in two. The cracks on the shield were densely packed, like a cluster of split ice crystals, which made people dizzy at a glance. With the landing point of the bombardment as the center, the crystal curtain wall shattered after a violent tremor, and countless hexagonal grids fluttered in the sky like snowflakes, ushering in the moment of withering in this dark and silent universe.

It's now!

In the cockpit, Fisher and Gloria uttered short commands at the same time, and the operator in the driving seat and Miss Angel pressed the buttons in front of them almost at the same time. Huge flows of magic power surged in the power room of the Star Knight and the [Planetary Power Device] of the Arus binary starship. The next moment, accompanied by the deep roar of the magic engine, the [Repulsion Engine Device] and the [Meteor Propulsion Device] started at the same time!
However, the Arus binary starship was one step faster after all.

In other words, the speed of light is faster.

Then in an instant, a surging tail flame spurted out, and the scorching heat even distorted people's vision, making them lose their perception of space and control of distance. In a trance, they only thought they saw a beam of clear and bright silver light passing through their eyes. The speed was so fast that it didn't seem to be moving, but rather like shuttling between space and space. It was still in front of their eyes the previous moment, and the next moment it jumped to the back of the fleet cluster, and was still accelerating, rushing towards the quiet and deep original star field!
It was not until half of the universe, which was illuminated by the tail flames of the giant ship, became dim again that the repulsion engine device on the Star Knight finally arrived. One steel warship after another released a circle of ring-shaped ripples visible to the naked eye, which gathered together to form a tide similar to an interstellar storm, pushing all matter within the range to move outward, but it was just some dust residue. The whale they really wanted to push was so huge and heavy, but it was incredibly light and had already escaped from the battlefield and swam away in a show of force.

In the empty planetary belt, only the Lancers are struggling to chase back. They will never give up the fight before receiving orders from their commander. However, compared with the stage that has already ended, this persistence still seems so small and thin.

Fisher stared at the empty screen for a few seconds before he seemed to come to his senses. He shook his head and said, "Tell the Lancers to give up the pursuit and prepare to recover the damaged aircraft. The logistics department should calculate the damage to the fleet and submit a report to me. Also, the information room should send a communication request to the Alien Philosopher. I want to report the battle situation to Lord Carabosse in person."

Under Fisher's arrangement, the fleet that had just experienced a fierce battle became busy again. Everyone carried out their respective tasks in an orderly manner, without being hit by the previous defeat. Fisher came to the information room and reported the specific situation of the battle in detail to his direct superior, the commander of the Alien Philosopher, the dark witch Carabosse, who was opposite the communication device.

"The enemy commander is very good at concealing his tactical intentions and achieving his goals through deception." He concluded: "As for the strength of the warship, which has never been seen before, the combat department estimates that it should be 50% higher than the Star Knight and 30% higher than the Sky Falcon, but it is still far from the level of the Alien Philosopher. In addition, there is a lack of assistance from auxiliary machines, so at the tactical level, there are not many effective strategies that can be implemented. In addition to harassment and guerrilla tactics, the opponent's combat space can also be suppressed through the coordination of multiple tactics. This aspect will be mentioned in detail in the report submitted later."

"Well done, Fisher." Carabosse replied calmly from the other side of the communication device, along with a slight rustling sound, which was the sound of the pen tip scratching across the paper: "You have worked hard to collect so much intelligence. Please also tell my colleagues in the Space Cruise Force that I am satisfied and grateful for their contribution in this battle."

"I'm so ashamed to have betrayed your trust."

When Fisher received the order for a symbolic interception, he had considered how to make it "symbolic". As a result, he tried his best but failed to prevent the other party from breaking into the initial star field. This made him ashamed and realized that he had made the big mistake of neglecting and underestimating the enemy. This was unimaginable on the alien Philosopher with Lord Carabosse as a role model.

"Nothing, you have already accomplished the planned strategic goal." Carabosse said, "Next, I will have to trouble you to station the troops in place and set up the defense line. After the target leaves the initial star field, intercept it according to the situation. Of course, this is not a symbolic interception. I want you to be serious. Do you understand?"

"Please rest assured, Lord Carabosse." Fisher said quickly, "I will go all out this time and not let the other party take advantage of me!"

"hehe."

A chuckle came from the other side of the communication device. As the second ship officer of the Alien Philosopher, Fisher knew that Lady Carabosse seldom smiled, and every time she laughed, it was never because of her mood, but because she found it... very interesting?

"I may disappoint you, Fisher." After laughing, she said, "The main force of the next battle will no longer be your Space Cruise Force. Of course, it will not be the Sky Falcon Force and the Mobile Combat Force either."

It’s not the Space Cruise Force, nor the Sky Falcon Force and the Mobile Combat Force... then isn’t it this?
Fisher slowly opened his eyes wide, and was so shocked that he even forgot to reply.

Carabos didn't care. He said goodbye and hung up the communication device. Then he looked at the third ship officer, Shelly, who was waiting for instructions, and was also the person in charge of the power room of the Alien Philosopher. He said softly, "The time is ripe, get ready to go."

The target is the starting point of the universe, the initial star field.

The Genesis Series: The Star Apostle - The Alien Philosopher, after a long period of silence, has finally arrived at the moment of setting sail again.

　Give me some meow
　　(End of this chapter)