Chapter 257

Although they looked like two space cockroaches, the holographic image also provided relevant data, including a predicted length…

At least 1.4 kilometers.

It is guarded in the center by two "Cockroach" vessels, with a flagship resembling a beetle; its appearance is top‑heavy and foot‑light, featuring a seemingly separable structure, and its overall length is about 3.5 kilometers.

These figures make the atmosphere on the scene a bit more solemn.

Just from the appearance alone, they differ greatly from human warships and vessels, clearly belonging to an alien race's fleet.

If it is a fleet, then the opponent's warship specifications are on par with cruiser and aircraft carrier class vessels.

As for the Punishment, it is only a light escort ship under six hundred meters long.

Comparing both sides' warship specs and numbers, the Punishment is at an absolute disadvantage.

The UNSC Captain, his facial expression as severe as possible, asked, "Can the enemy negotiate?"

Miranda gave a slight shake of her head.

She said, "We detected the enemy exiting Rift Space; we attempted contact, but they continued to act on their own and gave no response."

Of course, we also uploaded the relevant intelligence at the first moment the enemy appeared, and simultaneously requested fleet support.

The Umbrella Second Legion, closest to Harvest Star, along with Fleet 045, responded to our support request and are expected to arrive in four hours.

"Four hours?"

Hearing that, the HellParatrooper Lieutenant, expression unchanged, looked at the three yellow dots on the star map and couldn't help laughing:

"We can wait four hours; I wonder if those space cockroaches can wait…"

"Captain!"

Before the words finished, a crew member seated on the left side of the bridge, responsible for communications, turned his head toward the central console and shouted:

"The enemy has released some kind of pulse attack! It disabled our ship‑borne relay and the surface relay station on Harvest Star, cutting off contact with the outside! Moreover, they transmitted a video message!"

"Project the video onto the central console," Miranda said.

"Yes!"

As the conversation continued, the three yellow dots turned red on the star map, displaying the video transmitted by the enemy.

The holographic screen showed the enemy flagship's communications room, or perhaps its bridge.

This allowed Miranda, Gabriel and others to directly observe the interior structure of the enemy vessel.

The cabin walls and decks, awash in purple hues, were curved and arced, unlike the flat, rectangular design of human warships.

Most importantly, they also saw a figure suspected to be the enemy commander…

The "person" had a humanoid torso with two arms and two legs, wearing lavish brown‑gold armor and a massive helmet crowned with a headpiece; its details and seams emitted a faint violet glow.

The exposed face and neck, not covered by armor, had skin tones of dark blue and light gray, and most distinctive was the mouth with four petal‑like lips.

Although the figure was somewhat slender and gave a severe hunchback impression, its estimated height still far exceeded that of ordinary humans, roughly two meters three or four.

The appearance of the enemy commander fully confirmed that those three "cockroaches" and "beetles" belong to an alien force of a non‑human species.

"Aoo—~!"

The golden‑armored commander let out a roar; the tension in his facial muscles and eyes indicated he was extremely angry.

Then his four‑lipped mouth opened wide, he waved his arms, and in a deep voice emphasized a warning or declaration of war, saying:

"Chaku! Youkala, Ousanheli…"

However, everyone on the bridge could not understand what the golden‑crowned commander was saying.

Language barrier.

The entire video was under half a minute, and there were less than fourteen minutes left before the Punishment would contact the enemy fleet.

The holographic screen faded.

Miranda ordered, "Use the ship's computer (low‑intelligence AI) to try to translate the enemy's intended message."

"Yes," a crew member replied.

"What a fellow," the Lieutenant spread his hands and said self‑deprecatingly:

"I'm really a crow‑mouth; I just said it, and I didn't expect those cockroaches—no, I should say mantises—to be unable to wait at all."

"It's clearly a declaration of war, and they can shield communications that use Rift Space, which shows their technological level isn't low," the Captain said worriedly.

"Their tech isn't low, so what? We can still act; the exercise is interrupted, and using them as targets would be fine," the Lieutenant said nonchalantly.

"." The Captain was speechless.

After all, from the Marine Corps perspective, the Captain could not comprehend the HellParatrooper known as "Zhandou Fengzi."

"The Lieutenant is right," Miranda agreed. "Regardless of the enemy's technology, we must take the initiative and let them know humans are not to be bullied.

Moreover, we are not at an absolute disadvantage."

At this point, Miranda lifted her gaze to Gabriel, who had opened his helmet and remained silent, and suggested:

"Chief Angelos, the Punishment will rely on its mobility to maneuver against the enemy fleet, creating an opening for your Tuthmos to jump to the enemy flagship and execute a decapitation strike. How does that sound?"

"That's exactly the intention," Gabriel replied briefly without showing any emotion.

And as soon as he finished speaking, Gabriel closed his helmet, turned, and walked away from the bridge with heavy "thud, thud" steps.

Glancing at Gabriel's back, Miranda continued to the two lieutenants, "Captain, Lieutenant, please have your units ready as well."

Hearing that.

"We've been itching to go!" the Lieutenant grinned, his mood slightly manic.

"If we die, we die; the Marines are always ready," the Captain nodded in response.

Then the two of them also left the bridge one after another.

Seeing this.

Miranda hurried back to the captain's seat, looked out at the black void beyond the port window, and raised her voice to issue a loud command:

"Sound the alarm, put the entire ship into combat readiness, and inspect the main guns, secondary guns, and all weapon systems!"

Yes, Captain!

The electromagnetic main gun and two plasma secondary guns are operating normally!

Ground crew are loading and performing final checks on all carrier aircraft, expected to finish in four minutes.

Next, the bridge mobilized all personnel of Punishment to prepare for battle.

———————

……

In the hangar.

Ground crew wearing deep-yellow exoskeletons stood by at the edge of the hangar, with ammunition boxes or weapon racks filled with various air-launched munitions beside them.

Meanwhile, on the lowest deck and the outboard sections of the flight deck, various carrier aircraft with engines running awaited the launch order.

Fifteen Falcon interceptors updated over decades, and three Viking fighters with variable-geometry structures.

Inside the cabins of four Cormorants and one large transport craft are two companies personally led by a UNSC captain, and the Punishment still retains a marine company.

The HellParatrooper company led by a lieutenant is located in the airborne preparation bays on both sides of the Punishment's hull, awaiting the optimal moment.

Finally, the most crucial: the Thunder Transport Plane III carrying thirty Tutemos, including Gabriel.

Just then.

A sharp 'Beep—!' alarm sounded, and the red lights flashing above the hangar shattered the pre-battle calm.

Immediately after, Miranda's voice came over the shipwide broadcast and the personnel comms:

All combat squadrons prepare to launch, coordinate with this ship for a rapid assault to provide a jump‑opportunity for Platoon Leader Angelo and his team; the marines and HellParatroopers will standby.

And!" Miranda's originally cold tone shifted, and she shouted passionately:

Let those space mantises witness humanity's hymn!

'Hah!' The marines and HellParatroopers roared in unison over the comms.

'For humanity!' a group of Tutemos also joined in.

Well." Miranda paused, then shouted: "Launch!"

Her words faded.

The already‑ready Falcons and Vikings slowly left the deck, passing through the air valves installed on both sides of the bulkheads—like luminous membranes—one after another, heading outward.

The Thunder Transport Plane III carrying Gabriel and other Tutemos followed closely behind.

Outside the ship.

Eighteen Falcons and Vikings in total were split into three squadrons, flying alongside, to the left and right, and above Punishment.

The Thunder Transport Plane III that had just taxied out of the hangar flew close to Punishment's belly.

Punishment and its carrier aircraft sailed alone through the vast starry void, approaching the three enemy ships at great speed without fear.

Ree—!

Whoosh—!

Suddenly, a 3‑ton tungsten‑iron slug, flashing blue light, shot from the barrel, instantly tearing through space and striking the 3.5‑kilometer 'Beetle' flagship dead center.

But a hum—!

A purple energy barrier, however, helped the flagship block the formerly unstoppable tungsten‑iron slug.

This shot from Punishment was like stirring a hornet's nest; swarms of dim‑blue and dim‑purple carrier craft surged forth from the hangars of the 'Roaches' and 'Beetles'.

Thereafter, thousands of round‑headed, flat‑footed enemy craft, resembling space insects, gradually broke away from their fleet, forming a vast net that blanketed the sky and lunged at the lone Punishment.

At this moment on the bridge.

'Captain! The main gun can't pierce the enemy flagship's shield!' a crew member shouted, face shocked.

The atmosphere on the bridge grew much heavier, since in the crew's minds nothing could withstand an electromagnetic shell.

There is, however, something the crew never knew: a Divine Body piloted by an Original Body.

On the contrary, Miranda's expression remained calm as she said: 'This was expected; what's there to be surprised about? Continue reporting the status—when will the enemy aircraft enter our close‑in weapons range?'

With this composed captain, the crew also did not panic.

A crew member immediately reported: 'Expected to enter our range in 75 seconds, Captain.'

'Good.' Miranda nodded slightly, glanced at the small holographic screen on her right, and gave the order:

'Have the two secondary guns keep bombarding the enemy flagship; don't worry about barrel overheating. Once the main gun finishes charging, fire directly without waiting for my order.'

'No barrier in the world is unbreakable.'

'Also notify all squadron pilots to protect the Thunder Transport Plane at all costs, ensuring it gets close to the enemy flagship.'

'As long as the Tutemos can successfully jump‑aboard, even if all squadrons and this ship are destroyed, it is acceptable.'

'Yes, Captain!'

'Secondary guns locked on… fire!'

'Boom—! Boom—!'

The roar of the 300mm secondary guns firing transmitted through the hull to the bridge, while two massive plasma bolts streaked past the side gunports.

'Boom—! Boom—!'

The plasma bolts 'vaporized' everything in their path; enemy craft without shields slammed straight into the purple shield of the 'Beetle' flagship.

Naturally, the enemy fleet did not take the hits lying down and began to counter‑attack Punishment.

One could see plasma bolts of various sizes—purple, blue, or green—shot from the gun barrels of the three enemy ships.

Moreover, the two 'Roach' ships were gradually breaking formation, apparently intending to cooperate with the flagship to encircle Punishment.

Observing this sector from afar,

Against the deep‑space backdrop, streaks of colored plasma fire—especially the assault from the three enemy ships—seemed poised to swallow Punishment whole.

However, Punishment's agility and maneuverability clearly surpassed those of the three enemy ships, and by relying on speed and irregular courses it avoided most of the plasma barrage.

Even if hit by a small artillery group, it cannot heavily damage the Punishment; it only melts through the outermost armor.

But as the distance to the flagship and enemy aircraft swarm continuously shrinks, the pressure on the Punishment grows ever larger.

Until the enemy aircraft are about to enter the range of the close‑in guns.

Ri～-——！

Whoosh～——！

The Punishment fires its main cannon again; the blue‑light projectile flashes through the enemy swarm in an instant and once more strikes the flagship's shield…

Ka—wham～la—!

This time, the purple shield, hit at the projectile's impact point, begins to collapse and dissipate rapidly, causing the Beetle flagship's defenses to be completely "wide open".

Calculating, the interval between the two main‑cannon attacks is only about sixty seconds.

Speed, lightness, and high‑impact are the hallmarks of the Paris‑class escort ship, and the "speed" includes the main cannon's rate of fire.

Boom—!

And the projectile, whose force has been greatly reduced, still pierces the outer hull, continuing to damage the interior of the flagship.

Yet such damage is utterly negligible for a 3.5‑kilometer‑class flagship.

Still, the crew of the Punishment does not place their hope in this.

The bridge at this moment.

"Captain! The main cannon has successfully destroyed the enemy flagship's shield!"

"Very good."

Mi Landa looks ahead, sees the flagship that fills the entire window view and the dense swarm of enemy aircraft, and waves her left hand forward, ordering:

"Maximum speed, break through! Inform the squadron that they need not worry about the flies (enemy aircraft) for now; we will deal with them and focus on the escort mission!"

"Yes!"

"The anti‑air system has locked on… fire!"

At the same time.

Twelve 35 mm triple‑tube close‑in guns all aim at the enemy aircraft attacking and harassing the Punishment, then the barrels begin to spin rapidly.

Ri—tatata!!

Dense pulse rounds shoot outward, forming a reverse net that efficiently destroys the enemy aircraft that Mi Landa described as flies.

Seizing the opening.

Three combat squadrons, with Thunder III Regiment protected in the center, surge forward under the cover of the barrage.

When they are about to collide with the flagship, eighteen Vikings and Hawks execute rapid turnarounds, changing course to withdraw.

Thunder III activates its hot‑melt cannon, carrying thirty members of Tu Te Mo Si for a jump‑mission.

(End of chapter)