Age of Cosmic Exploration

"This is bad!"

In the Hope’s control room, Yao Yuan and the rest saw for themselves the changes happening to the planet’s surface. Their faces were ashen and withdrawn, especially when the changes reached the entrance Guang Zhen’s unit took to enter the underground. The despair stifled everyone’s words.

"No, we have to save them!" Yao Yuan roared immediately, and it helped to calm his mind. "We cannot use any large scale weapons, because they are trapped underground. We cannot control the penetrating power of Gaussian weapons, so they will be harmed even if they are in space armours."

Yao Yuan’s brain started moving. He had entered the Thinker’s state, similar to Ren Tao beside him. Both understood that, emotional factors aside, losing Guang Zhen and the Black Star Troopers would be a loss the Hope was unable to handle.

The death of 150 Homo Evolutis would deal a heavy blow to the Hope’s strongest military regiment, and this was a loss that most likely would not be recoverable.

Other than that, Guang Zhen himself was invaluable... Yes, he was a normal human being, and yes, his position as the successor to the Hope still received many protest, yes, he might have a conservative thinking, yes, he had many weaknesses...

But it was undeniable that Guang Zhen was the person who had the most right to rule the Hope other than Yao Yuan. This was because from the perspective of law and logic, Guang Zhen was the most suitable candidate to inherit the Hope’s government. If anything bad did happen to Yao Yuan, then his presence would be able to unite the people on the Hope. This was Guang Zhen’s instrumental use, or else... the Hope would be dominated by Yao Yuan alone. If he decided to become a dictator, then there would be no one available to stop him or balance out his power... this was why many learned politicians did not resist Guang Zhen but chose to side with him.

Therefore, Guang Zhen could not die!

Time trickled by, but Yao Yuan and Ren Tao were silent. They could not come up with a solution to solve this conundrum. Sweat was pouring down their faces, and their heads seemed ready to explode. However, something happened that pulled them out of their contemplation.

Suddenly, the screens in the control center blinked into darkness and all the information disappeared. This had happened once before, it was when the space merchants had taken over the Hope’s central mainframe. So why had this happened again? Could it be that... those aliens who swore loyalty to humanity were up to something?!

Yao Yuan was assaulted by surprise and anger. He was going to call Xi Kong to enter the soul web to have the Space Combat Jet Prototype 011s attack the vassal races when a series of words appeared on the screen.

"Nice to meet you, humanity’s leader, the captain of the Hope, and the natural leader of all Homo Evolutis, I am ZERO."

Yao Yuan was first shocked before he calmed down. He looked at the screen and said, "You can hear me, right? Or is communication only possible through typing? I am running out of time. I think you also understand this. Qi Xiao Niao is also on this planet. If you wish to save him, then stop adding distractions at a critical moment like this!"

"I can hear you, translating speech to words is not that difficult... I know you also want to save them, but your method is wrong. When facing a demonized planet, other than using the planet-annihilating cannon, normal weapons are useless against it. They would heal automatically and will demonize all sorts of materials. There is only one unique exception..."

Yao Yuan asked impatiently, "What unique exception? You have a way to save them?"

"I cannot do anything. Overseeing the numerous controlled warps has exhausted my store of energy, so I cannot help... But you can. You are the Immortal, or what you call the All-rounder. You are the demon race’s achilles’ heel. If you take your Space Combat Jet Prototype 011 and fire at the demonized area from within the atmosphere of the planet, then the area will return to its original form and will not be demonized, at least for a short period of time. Only you... can save them!"

At the same time, Liu Bai’s group on the surface was in the midst of despair. They had returned to the underground entrance where Guang Zhen’s unit was earlier. They realized that the entrance had been completely sealed off because it had metallized. God knows how thick this metal layer was. No matter how hard they tried to attack the ground, the metal layer would recover on its own.

"What do we do? Captain Wong and his team are still down there! I am certain that the underground tunnels haven’t caved in and that they are still alive. We have to save them!" Ebon howled loudly. He used his sawblade to swipe at the metal surface, but no matter how many lesions he left on it, it would heal after a moment or two. This metallic layer was indestructible.

Liu Bai grabbed hold of Ebon and said, "Stop! Preserve your energy. There are demon creatures all around us. Te must secure this location until Captain Wong leads his team out of there or until we receive a new order. Remember your identity! You are a member of the Black Star Unit! Not ruffians on the streets! I believe... the old captain is trying his best to save us, I am sure of it!"

Ebon quieted down before he continued in his signature loud voice, "That is for sure! When has old captain ever abandoned us before? He is not Ying... In any case, I will stand my ground here. No one is going to pull me away!"

Liu Bai shrugged. He stopped paying Ebon attention and turned to address the rest. "We will rest. Black Star Unit members, please be on alert. Wa Luo, continue checking the communication device. Are we still unable to communicate with the Hope?"

Wa Luo was the team’s communications member. He laughed bitterly. "Nope, still nothing. This planet’s disturbance is too strong, so our communication devices cannot even function properly. Unless we’re talking face-to-face, or else..."

"Is that so... Continue trying, don’t give up." Liu Bai patted Wa Luo on his shoulder, the collision of their space armors creating a metallic clink. Both stopped talking and maintained their silence.

However, right then, the static from the communication device cleared slightly. Both of them tensed when they noticed this. Wa Luo grabbed the microphone and yelled, "This is the landing unit. Black Star Troopers fourth unit’s unit leader, Yang Wa Luo, requesting to communicate with the Hope’s central command. I repeat, this is the landing unit, Black Star Troopers fourth unit’s unit leader, Yang Wa Luo, request to communicate with the Hope’s central command."

Just like that, both men had their hearts hanging on a thread. They waited patiently as the signal got clearer and clearer. Finally, the static cleared and they could hear the voice of a man.

"This is Yao Yuan! Wa Luo, report on your situation now!"

Wa Luo immediately responded, "We were separated from Captain Wong’s team when we reached the surface. We have 30 Black Star Troopers and all the Black Star Unit members with us, while Captain Wong went down the underground with the rest. From our earlier communication, they have saved part of the Noah One’s passengers, but about 3 minutes ago, the surface here metalized and our weapons can do no damage to it. The entrance used by Captain Wong has been sealed off. Awaiting the Hope’s orders."

Yao Yuan paused before continuing, "Understood... Now, your team will be responsible to clear all the demon monsters around the entrance. At the same time, move a bit further away from the entrance and be on the ready to cover for the civilians who come from the underground. Those are your orders, keep operating it until new orders are given."

"Yes, Sir!"

They congregated a distance away from the entrance when the unit saw several Space Combat Jets fly from the sky. The jets still maintained their three jets per unit formation, and the leading jet was bright red in color. In the entire Black Star Troop, the only red-colored space armor and combat jet belonged to Yao Yuan!

In other words, Yao Yuan had personally led the troop to enter this cursed planet!

"Didn’t I say that old captain would not abandon us!"

Ebon started running, following the combat jets in the sky. He also started laughing, and one could hear the joy in it. Behind him, the rest of the Black Star Troopers also got inspired. Only Liu Bai said calmly, "Be careful! Pay attention to your surroundings. We mustn’t fail this mission... Also, Ebon, stop your cackling! You’re attracting the enemies!"

Ebon, though, appeared to not have heard Liu Bai. He continued laughing, and his laugh permeated far and wide into everyone’s hearts...

Telling them that they... had not been abandoned!