Chapter 261: Victory: The Star Alliance and the

Soon after.

Various debris drift aimlessly through the cold, black void, and the enemy ship split in two by the Punishment's collision is especially obvious.

The carrier‑based aircraft shattered into fragments and slag, and the lifeless, rigid "pilots" are scattered around.

The Alliance side holds an overwhelming number.

But there are also a few Raptors and a Viking that has lost its left wing and has a damaged tail.

However, the Viking's cockpit is empty, indicating the pilot managed to eject before the craft lost power.

And two small rescue drones belonging to the Punishment, which responded to the distress signal and weaved among the wreckage, further prove that the pilots of the Viking and the Raptor strike craft still have a chance of survival.

Facing the star of the Epsilon VIII system.

One can see the heavily battered Punishment gradually approaching an enemy vessel three times the size of the massive "she", finally docking at the enemy ship's starboard side.

The assault team led jointly by the Captain and the Second Lieutenant successfully seized the enemy ship's bridge, completing the mission "snatch a new ship for the lady captain".

The flagship, about 3.5 kilometers in length, has now completely ceased its attack and is slowing its course.

Upon closer inspection, numerous escape pods emitting faint glows burst out sequentially from both sides of the flagship.

It must be the utterly broken Gulu and Jackal Werewolf, who would rather ride escape pods to Harvest Star and then be captured by ground forces than face the god‑like Astate again.

On the bridge.

"Captain!"

The communications crew member sprang to his feet, unable to hide his excitement, and shouted confidently to Mi Lan Da and all his comrades:

"Based on the latest reports from the Captain, the Second Lieutenant, and Platoon Leader An Ji Luo Si, we can confirm that the enemy fleet and combat units have completely ceased to threaten us and Harvest Star!"

As soon as the words fell;

"We won! We won!"

"Hahaha! We created a miracle! We created history!"

"Finally… we survived…"

The crew shouted jubilantly, disregarding that their throats might be hoarse tomorrow, releasing the gloom that had weighed on their hearts and easing their emotions.

Some people wept with joy, tears streaming uncontrollably outward, moved by the hard‑won victory.

Even the ever‑stoic Mi Lan Da lifted the corners of her mouth in a faint smile, relaxed her tense muscles, and sat back in a slightly lazy posture.

Just as that crew member said, they unquestionably created a miracle and history.

If nothing unexpected occurs, the Punishment and Harvest Star are the first humans to make contact and exchange fire with the Alliance.

Even though the strengths of both sides were unclear and we were at an absolute disadvantage in numbers and specifications, we still secured humanity's first victory.

It also provided UNSC and Umbrella with detailed combat data, captured two enemy vessels, and taken prisoners of various species…

All of that, and more, is enough to be recorded in the annals, even in compulsory‑education history textbooks.

Most importantly, with only a single escort ship they managed to outmaneuver and defeat a small enemy fleet, which gave everyone great confidence.

Of course, at this moment no one is thinking that far ahead; they are simply enjoying the joy of surviving the aftermath.

They slowed down.

"Alright, everyone be quiet." Mi Lan Da, now seated again, said.

When the bridge fell silent again, the crew returned to their stations, and Mi Lan Da continued:

"That's right, we won, even though we were outnumbered, but don't forget this victory came from the whole crew's joint effort.

Without Platoon Leader An Ji Luo Si, without the Second Lieutenant and Captain's daring breach, without the pilots' suicidal escort, and without ground crew and technicians racing against time, how could we be cheering here?"

"So to continue this victory, keep the battle‑ready status until Umbrella's Second Legion and the 045 Fleet reach Harvest Star."

"Yes, Captain!" the crew answered in unison.

"Very well." Mi Lan Da nodded lightly, looked to her right and ordered, "Compile the casualty figures, preserve all combat data, and continue attempting to translate the enemy's video information."

Speaking, her gaze shifted to the left:

"Send an engineer to board that cockroach‑type enemy ship, have them go to the bridge and attempt to pilot it, then also send the ground‑combat unit left on our ship to accompany them, ensuring the prisoners don't incite a riot."

"Also, have the Second Lieutenant lead his paratroopers to return with the wounded to our ship, then escort another engineer to the enemy flagship to assist Platoon Leader An Ji Luo Si in achieving full control."

"Yes!"

The crew members who received the orders answered in unison again and began to carry them out.

"Captain…" At this moment, the communications crew member turned his head, his expression incredulous, and said:

"Platoon Leader An Ji Luo Si and his team encountered a special situation; they say they discovered a non‑threatening species."

"Non‑threatening?" Mi Lan Da furrowed her brows.

??

The crew as a whole felt the same.

Not long ago.

"Ugh…"

Inside the bridge of the beetle‑shaped flagship, the elite clan's low, plaintive cries reverberated.

"Ah…" and the trembling shudders of the Gulu in sheer terror.

At the sensor gate.

Lying there are more than ten elite clad in pale white armor, hammered down by Gabriel and his men; they are severely wounded but not fatal, only able to emit painful wails.

Accompanying them are Gulu who clutch their heads, lie on the ground, and tremble continuously.

It appears these white‑armored guys are the crew members of this flagship.

Two Tu Te Mo Si are in charge of guarding.

Gabriel and a few other brothers cast their gaze over the bridge that is connected to the internal garden.

Its overall layout resembles that of a human carrier‑class flagship, equipped with similar holographic technology, displaying a large central console with the star map of the Apuson VIII Star System.

Directly behind the central console, at the very center, is the captain's seat; on either side are workstations for the crew, but unlike human fixed seats, they are levitating seats that employ some kind of anti‑gravity technology.

There is also no window structure that humans favor.

Large holographic screens line the walls, showing real‑time external conditions, as well as wedge‑shaped script that Gabriel and his companions cannot read.

Finally comes the forward section of the bridge.

A creature resembling a "jellyfish" but with a head like a "long‑necked dragon" drifts at its workstation, manipulating the holographic screen with its tentacles intently.

It seems to be striving to keep the flagship operating normally.

The fierce battle that just erupted in the garden and bridge did not distract it at all; it remains wholly devoted to its duties.

Look closely.

Its "jellyfish" body is a hard metal shell; the tentacles, head and neck that protrude from the shell are soft parts covered with blue skin that emits a faint glow.

Although it has three pairs of eyes, its overall appearance and its diligent work give it an utterly harmless air, even causing Gabriel and the brothers to find it extremely…

…adorable.

Only Astate does not judge an alien's harmlessness merely by its exterior.

Gabriel and the brothers spread out and quickly encircle the "Longneck Jellyfish".

Gabriel steps forward, raises his right hand, and thrusts the protective casing of his Chain Sword at the Longneck Jellyfish.

"Goo?"

Disturbed by Gabriel's impolite action, the Longneck Jellyfish emits a questioning sound and shifts its attention away from the holographic screen.

!

At that moment, the Longneck Jellyfish realizes it is surrounded by a group of giants over two and a half meters tall.

Yet it shows no aggressive behavior; instead it approaches with curiosity, carefully observing Gabriel and his scar‑riddled steel armor.

It tries to touch the damaged sections of the outer armor with its tentacles, but Gabriel steps back and evades.

Seeing this, the Longneck Jellyfish closes its eyes, lowers its head, as if conveying a feeling of loss.

"…"

Witnessing this scene and using his superhuman Spiritual Energy to sense, Gabriel and the brothers preliminarily conclude that the creature harbors no hostility and does not belong to a combat unit.

Based on its behavior, they speculate it may be a navigator or engineer of the "Alliance".

"Control it," Gabriel says.

"Understood."

A Tute Mos puts away his energy sword, steps forward, and, applying a force that will not tear the soft tentacles, grasps one of the Longneck Jellyfish's limbs, attempting to pull it toward the containment gate where the captives are gathered.

"Goo? Goo?"

The Longneck Jellyfish emits a confused sound, as if asking, and makes no resistance, following the movement very cooperatively.

Thus it is clear that this creature indeed belongs to the non‑threatening category.

At this point Gabriel continues speaking to the brothers:

"The HellParatrooper regiment is about to board. Yingderik, Daiweien, Sadius, Sule, you four stay here to guard the captives; the remaining brothers follow me, prepare to cooperate with the paratroopers to continue clearing the remnants of the enemy ship."

"Affirmative."

———————

…

Within Rift Space.

A vessel about 5.2 km long, its overall appearance still recognizable as a Zeus‑class super‑heavy carrier, is performing a jump‑travel through a glittering tunnel.

This carrier is the Courage Anthem, which, after multiple modifications and upgrades at the Umbrella Zhi Yuan Star shipyard, became the Courage Anthem.

A reconstruction ten years ago was equivalent to returning the entire battleship to the dock for rebuilding.

The original three 450‑meter guns that launched 20‑ton projectiles were replaced with five 720‑meter guns capable of firing 25‑ton rounds.

There are 44 plasma cannons of 300 mm and 460 mm caliber.

The Paris‑class, using two 3‑ton main guns and a barrage of secondary guns, successfully pierced the energy shield of the Beetle‑type flagship.

If the flagship were the Courage Anthem…

A single 25‑ton projectile would be enough to destroy the shield, heavily damage, and even directly tear the hull of the flagship.

Inside the bridge.

"Chairman."

A woman in a black staff uniform, her long black hair loose, her twin pupils flashing faint red light, the Red Queen, says to Sui Bian, who stands before her behind a massive viewport:

"OriginalBody John's Second Legion, together with UNSC fleet 045, has already arrived at Harvest Star.

According to John's report, the sole defending warship at Harvest Star, the Punishment, successfully destroyed one enemy ship, captured two, and took prisoner a suspected enemy fleet commander.

Currently the enemy has no new activity in the Apuson VIII Star System; John also says that as long as he and the Second Legion are present, Harvest Star will experience no incident.

At the same time, the crew of the Punishment uploaded detailed combat data as soon as communications were restored.

The Tute Mos legion, the reserve combat company's Astates, also discovered fissures among the enemy's various races and suggested attempting to undermine the enemy from within.

"Chairman, please review."

After the Red Queen finishes speaking, several holographic screens materialize in front of Sui Bian, playing the combat footage she has compiled along with helmet camera footage.

"Hmm."

Sui Bian gives a light response while watching.

At this moment he is dressed in a black‑dominated uniform with gold trim, the collar and cuffs fastened with custom red‑white umbrella‑style buttons.

In appearance, one could not tell he is nearly a hundred years old; time leaves no trace on him.

Even in this age of universal longevity, it is truly unique.

Star Alliance (theCovenant).

In fact, four hours ago, Sui Bian, while sending a distress signal to the outside world via the Punishment vessel, captured the appearance of those three enemy ships and at a glance recognized that the invaders of the Epsilon VIII star system were the Star Alliance.

After all, warship silhouettes are highly recognizable.

Moreover, through the helmet cameras of Gabriel and other reservists, Sui Bian is convinced that this Star Alliance in the universe is essentially the same as the Star Alliance he knew in his previous life.

The Star Alliance is a massive religious Empire formed by the gathering of various races.

If Sui Bian remembers correctly, this Empire ruled by a group of "charlatans" concentrates its main territories in Orion's Arm.

It is a close neighbor of humanity.

Contact and clashes between the two sides are inevitable.

The so‑called "charlatans" are priests who chant scriptures in built‑in gardens, looking like decadent ostriches.

They have an exclusive racial name, the Holy Shim, but they are most commonly called "prophets".

Whether in the Star Alliance's political or military spheres, or in its religious faith, the prophet clan is the absolute de facto leadership.

Next are the Sangheli, or what is called the "elite".

The elite are an outlier among the Star Alliance's races; they highly revere martial arts and are a naturally combat‑oriented race.

Even a newly‑grown elite, under equal conditions without armor or weapons, can easily take on more than ten robust human soldiers.

Their devotion to martial arts, combat nature, and strong pride generally make the elite hot‑tempered, stubborn, blunt, and of low emotional intelligence.

When orders clash with reality, or when they happen to be right, they may directly confront their superiors…

In other words, the seemingly decadent, utterly combat‑incapable prophets.

Moreover, the early Star Alliance could only rely on combat races like the elite; weaker races such as the Gulu, the jackal‑werewolf that clings to walls like weeds, and other peoples could not sustain high‑intensity warfare.

This caused the elite's voice within the Star Alliance to grow ever stronger, especially in military matters.

This likewise aroused deep wariness among the charlatan prophets.

Yet, with their naturally savage but easily controllable nature, the ghost‑faced beasts, whose numbers far exceed those of the elite, joined the Star Alliance, giving the prophets a "glimmer of hope".

Gabriel and his group discovered the rift between the elite and the ghost‑faced beasts; a mismatched temperament is one aspect, but the main cause is the prophets' covert guidance, deliberately fostering growing resentment between the two races, leading to hostility and hatred.

Thus, they can wait for an opportunity to "naturally" purge the elite.

As for the deity worshipped by the Star Alliance, it has nothing to do with the alien dimension; it is a high‑level civilization belonging to the same real universe—

the Forerunners.

(End of chapter)