Chapter 147: Star Sea Galaxy

Jacob Kaise.

Thirty-six years old, former U. S. Navy lieutenant commander, who participated in the Gulf War and other battles.

However, this prime‑aged and promising lieutenant commander cited a mental illness of post‑war psychological syndrome (PTSD) and voluntarily submitted a retirement request in April 1999.

At the end of 1999, an Umbrella intelligence officer proactively contacted Kaise and succeeded in persuading the lieutenant commander, who, under the White Queen's arrangement, joined Umbrella's armed division.

Later, after several screenings by the Red Queen and the White Queen, Kaise was finally confirmed as the captain of DawnGuardian.

"At ease, Captain."

"Yes, sir."

After exchanging salutations, Sui Bian walked toward the front of the bridge.

Robert, John, Kelakesi and the other brothers, while keeping up with their father, also surveyed the entire bridge.

On either side of the bridge are the crew stations; the center houses the captain's seat, and the foremost part of the bridge is fitted with a large port window that allows those on the bridge to view the outside.

The spot where Sui Bian led the OriginalBodies is right behind this exceptionally clear port window.

"Sir," Kaise, who also arrived here, reported to Sui Bian: "We expect to complete full crew boarding in ten minutes."

"Understood."

The ten minutes passed in an instant.

"All crew have boarded."

"All hatches are sealed, the compartment sealing procedure is underway… sealing complete."

"All indicators show green."

"DawnGuardian has reached optimal condition."

At this moment, reports from the crew rang out consecutively on the bridge.

Kaise first glanced back at the bridge, then, with a tone of seeking permission, asked Sui Bian standing at his side:

"Sir, may we…?"

"Take us toward Dawn, Captain Kaise," Sui Bian said with a nod.

"Yes."

Having received permission, Kaise turned away, returned to the center of the bridge, sat in the captain's exclusive seat, and looked toward the command console on the left side of the bridge:

"Engage engines."

"Engage engines!"

"Boom—."

As the dialogue continued, the entire hull suddenly shivered with a violent tremor.

But it was only that burst.

For a little over ten seconds, the tremor's amplitude rapidly diminished until it was almost imperceptible.

"First, second… all engines operating normal, Captain," the crew reported.

"Very good." Kaise looked to his right: "Contact the manufacturing plant and have them open the top gate."

"Yes, Captain."

"Boom—Rumble—!"

Shortly after the order was given, a loud noise echoed from outside the ship.

Out of curiosity, Robert and his brothers looked upward through the port window and realized what Kaise referred to as the "gate."

It turned out that the summit of the mountain had also been modified by Umbrella's engineering division, now forming an enormous gate that was slowly unfolding to let sunlight pour into the mountain's interior.

The mountain‑shaking movement lasted nearly two minutes.

The gigantic gate at the mountain's peak fully opened, its width and length sufficient for DawnGuardian to pass through smoothly.

"Release the docking restraints," Kaise continued commanding.

"All restraints have been released."

At that moment the hull jolted, giving everyone a strong sensation of descending.

"Activate Optical Camouflage."

"Activating… DawnGuardian has entered concealment mode."

"Notify the Red Queen and have her clear the area."

"The Red Queen reports the clearance was completed long ago."

"Good!" Kaise turned his gaze toward the forward port window, raised his voice and shouted: "Raise the sails and set sail, crew!"

"Aye!"

Immediately thereafter, accompanied by a brief jolt, DawnGuardian slowly left the dock, its speed becoming even slower as it passed through the mountain's top gate.

After passing the gate into open space, the ship's speed began to gradually increase.

Looking down through the port window.

The mountainous area of the airport and manufacturing plant gradually "shrunk," replaced by clouds that, bathed in sunlight, resembled a white ocean.

From their prime viewing spot, Robert and his brothers felt as if they were truly sailing across a sea of clouds, their spirits immensely excited and exhilarated.

This is tens of thousands of times better than any amusement‑park roller coaster, pirate ship, or drop tower!

As for Sui Bian…

"." He remained as silently as ever.

"The scenery is indeed nice," he thought, actually feeling a sense of novelty.

But Sui Bian, who has wielded power for years and has seen every storm, shows little emotion over mere novelty.

Soon, DawnGuardian carried everyone to an altitude of tens of thousands of meters.

The so‑called sea of clouds vanished, giving way to a stratosphere with almost no weather phenomena.

Underfoot was Earth reflecting a blue‑light arc, while above his head lay pitch‑black space.

Kaise, who had been in front of the holographic screen, spoke up again to order: "Activate artificial gravity."

"Artificial gravity has been activated."

Kaise activated artificial gravity before everyone could feel the weightlessness.

Upon hearing that, a flicker of loss crossed the eyes of all the OriginalBodies, after all, the most interesting thing about going into space should have been weightlessness.

However, the ensuing view swept away the OriginalBodies' gloom of loss entirely.

Nothing—not weightlessness, not outer space, nothing—compares to seeing her true form with one's own eyes.

Only outside the porthole, that azure "little ball" lay somewhat alone amidst a sea of darkness.

Earth.

Gazing at the mother star outside the porthole, Robert and his brothers couldn't help but become intoxicated by it.

Compared to the whole universe, she turned out to be so lonely, tiny, and… fragile.

The OriginalBodies couldn't help but stride forward a few steps, almost leaning against the porthole to look down at Earth, and a sense of duty and protectiveness surged instantly.

At this moment, the DawnGuardian was already in a low Earth orbit at an altitude of four hundred kilometers, circling from west to east along that orbit.

Including Kaise, the entire crew could not resist rising to gaze, becoming intoxicated by this exclusive view of Earth.

Everyone present, without exception, was experiencing space for the first time, and their excitement and exhilaration were beyond words.

However, as employees of Umbrella, they possessed exceptional cultivation; after merely a moment's reflection, they returned to their respective posts to continue working.

"How do you feel?" Sui Bian asked, likewise approaching the porthole.

"Besides excitement… still excitement."

"It turns out our Earth is only this big."

"Compared to the whole universe, humanity and Earth are truly minuscule."

The OriginalBodies all voiced their thoughts in turn.

Yet Sui Bian maintained a faint smile, as if he had not received a satisfactory answer.

"Father." Robert then straightened his back and spoke in a low voice:

"Because the universe is vast, our goal should be to control, destroy, and crush the Star Sea Galaxy, grinding to dust anyone who dares to infringe upon humanity and Earth."

"Exactly." Sui Bian's face showed relief.

Afterwards he turned his body to face the porthole, gazing at the blue Earth and sighing: "Everything is for humanity."

"With me and my brothers, humanity's banner will spread across the galaxy, Father!" Robert echoed.

"For humanity!" the OriginalBodies chorused.

(End of chapter)