Chapter 336: Reunion and Ruin

Earth time: September 17, 2112.

Pacific point: 04:12.

Within the gravity zone directly irradiated by the star on the prehistoric planet, at least four thousand vortex exits of varying sizes, emitting a pale blue glow, have emerged, allowing the Extreme Legion and UNSC Fleet 3, 5, 8 and the other thirty‑six fleets to end their jump‑travel state.

Among them, the Olympus Class flagship, nearly 20 km long and one of humanity's peak warships, the DawnGuardian flagship of the Extreme Legion, is especially conspicuous.

But this pinnacle can only be the current pinnacle; when ten legions and Sui Bian's exclusive homeworld finish construction and are officially commissioned, the flagship's top position will easily change hands.

However, even with billions of sentinel‑type engineering machines assisting construction, each homeworld's building period is 20 to 25 years, so the Olympus Class must continue to serve as a "battleship hegemon" for a time.

In addition to the DawnGuardian, there are twelve Olympus Class ships about 12 km long and over two hundred 5‑km Zeus Class ships, forming an extraordinarily massive expedition fleet.

This is still only half of the forces Robert has mobilized in the Extreme Star Zone.

The Dark Angel Legion, which arrived on the prehistoric planet long ago, has also merged into the expedition fleet and is now docked in low‑Earth orbit on standby.

Simultaneously, the fleet releases a large number of transport vessels and aircraft to shuttle between the surface and the Space Gate base for supplies, after all the fleet has been jump‑traveling for six days.

The surface at this moment.

At the Space Gate base's main airfield, second level, exit of corridor 01, only Rog and Lai'ang, clad in OriginalBody‑powered armor, are present; no accompanying officers, officials, or Honor Guard are in sight.

"I'm telling you, Lai'ang, Father always said your face is just too stinky, told you to change it, you didn't, this was supposed to be an emotional moment of brothers reuniting, and seeing you…"

"Enough, shut your mouth."

Brow furrowed, Lai'ang cut off Rog's endless rambling, then raised his left hand, pinching his temples with his index and thumb to ease a headache, glanced sideways at his brother, and weakly retorted:

"I'm smiling, can't I smile?"

As he spoke, Lai'ang impatiently lowered his hand, his brows forming a river‑shaped wrinkle, his mouth corner mechanically lifted in an awkward half‑smile, half‑frown.

At that moment, the gate suddenly opened, and Robert, clad in blue‑gold‑colored powered armor with a red cape trailing behind, stepped out of the corridor and ran straight into Lai'ang's bizarre expression.

Lai'ang: "…"

Rog: "…"

Robert: "…"

In an instant, the scene fell into death‑like silence as the three brothers stared at each other, the atmosphere indescribable.

"Hahaha! Holy crap!"

Rog, reacting first with excess enthusiasm, burst into loud laughter, raised his hand to slap Lai'ang's shoulder plate, and, unable to control his force, caused the whole area to tremble slightly.

"…" Lai'ang instantly reverted to a blank stare, saying nothing about what had just occurred.

"Lai'ang…" As the eldest brother, Robert forced back his laughter, stepped forward, and lightly patted the other shoulder plate of Lai'ang, speaking earnestly:

"I understand, you can't stand Rog's mouth, but you really need to practice your smile more, don't… *cough* don't always wear that deadpan look."

"Right! That's right, hahaha!" Rog reached out, embraced Lai'ang and Robert, pulling the three brothers together, then shifted tone: "We're finally reunited, huh."

Hearing that, Lai'ang and Robert also went along with Rog.

After a few seconds of silence, the three finally let go, and Rog turned away from the corridor exit, calling to his brothers: "Come with me, I've brought a batch of fine wine, let's drink and talk."

"Alright, I'll follow your lead." Robert replied with a smile.

"…" Lai'ang also nodded in agreement.

Taking advantage of the fact that all personnel have assembled on the prehistoric planet, the three of them used the lull before the fleet completed its supply run to have a good talk, covering not only the forthcoming expedition but also the amusing and vexing events of the past years.

Lai'ang and Rog are fine; because the Dark Angel Legion is temporarily stationed in the Solar System, the two see each other often, but Robert hasn't seen either of them—or any of the brothers—for forty years.

Thus the three brothers went to a large lounge on the second level of the airfield, stood before a hastily erected makeshift bar, where Rog, acting as bartender, poured drinks for Lai'ang and Robert.

They chatted for a while.

Robert drained the large goblet of tequila in one gulp and said gravely, "Father ordered me to be the battle commander of this expedition; if the battle turns unfavorable, Shengjilesi and Kelakesi will come to our aid. It seems Father truly regards those green‑skinned beasts as a threat."

"…" Lai'ang gave a nod without replying.

"NuoWa once said…" Rog filled Robert's glass on the bar, glanced at the two brothers and said, "Their numbers could exceed a trillion, maybe even more; therefore Father also sent four stellar bombs through the Space Gate to this side."

"Four…" Robert mused.

He didn't know how many the company had in stock, but sending four stellar bombs derived from artificial star technology was enough to demonstrate Sui Bian's regard for the green‑skinned.

And Rog, without waiting for Robert's reply, continued, "I'll arrange a transport team to deliver the four stellar bombs to the DawnGuardian; by the way, the company also sent a batch of Newstar‑class nuclear bombs—are you two interested?"

"…" Lai'ang shook his head.

"The way you say that, it's like selling nuclear bombs as vegetables." Robert also shook his head.

Rog chuckled, about to say "Isn't that so?" but Robert drained the tequila in his glass again and said, "Let's stop the drinking for now; it's time to discuss the expedition."

Saying that, Robert pushed the glass aside, used his powered armor to project a holographic star map before the three brothers, steadied his mind, and with a solemn face said:

"Lai'ang, Rog, since Father ordered me to be the battle commander of this expedition, I hope we brothers can work together to win this war."

"Don't worry." Rog replied immediately.

"Mm." Lai'ang nodded.

Though decades had passed since they last met, all the brothers still trusted Robert completely, especially with Father's command, so there was no objection.

"Alright!" Seeing the two brothers voice their assent, Robert fixed his gaze on the holographic star map and began assigning tasks:

"Regardless of the war type, logistics must always come first, so Rog, you and your Iron Fist will guard the prehistoric planet, and I will assign UNSC Fleet 36 and 37 to handle orbital defense, ensuring the expedition's supply lines have no errors."

"Leave it to me." Rog replied gladly.

Though he'll still be "squatting" in the rear, which isn't much different from defending the Solar System, and it's a pity he can't join the main expeditionary force on the front lines, Rog knows clearly what's more important.

"Please." Robert continued adjusting the holographic map, splitting two sub‑screens to enlarge the Tiapu people's home system and the Vlin tribe's settlement that borders the Tiapu Empire, and continued his analysis:

"Lai'ang and I will be responsible for crushing the Tiapu Empire, seizing its remaining roughly 150 colonies—that's one of our goals. As for the Tiapu… capturing them for labor isn't worthwhile; their efficiency would be far below that of the sentinel engineering units, so we'll kill them all, no prisoners. Only by eliminating the Tiapu Empire first can we free all our resources to deal with the green‑skinned beasts."

Saying that, Robert extended his left hand toward the sub‑screen showing the Tiapu home system, turned to Lai'ang and ordered, "Lai'ang, you'll personally destroy their homeworld, announcing to the galaxy what happens when you provoke humanity."

"No problem." Lai'ang replied briefly.

"What about you?" Rog asked, puzzled.

Robert didn't rush to answer, but pointed to the second sub‑screen showing the Vlin settlement and said, "I'll go there myself; if you want more information on the green‑skinned beasts, asking the Vlin should be the best option."

After all, "they" are at odds with the Ti Pu Empire and have recently been fighting the beastmen, so I need to verify "their" attitude personally; if they can dissolve the alliance like the Mar people, that would be best, but if not, I will force "them" to make a choice.

"I hope this group of good‑looking, well‑built elves behave sensibly," Rog echoed.

The Weilin tribe branch they humans interact with most is the Mar people, who, under Ai Linmil's leadership, pledged their clan to human society.

And most of the Weilin tribe around the Orion hanging arm also showed varying degrees of goodwill and were willing to communicate and trade with humans.

After all, they share many similarities with humans— aesthetics, culture, and bodily structure, among others.

But the reality is that where there is a friendly side, there must also be neutral, even hostile parties.

Many Weilin pirates who live by raiding, follow their own desires and "kinks", are a bunch of madmen and have countless ties to evil gods and demons in alternate dimensions.

This is why Robert places extreme importance on that group of Weilin.

As the battle commander of this expeditionary army, he does not want to be back‑stabbed by those Weilin when confronting the mysterious, strange green‑skinned orcs.

Immediately after, the three brothers refined some divisions of labor and duties; with nothing left undone, Robert broke into a bright smile, extended his right hand and waved it before the brothers.

Seeing this, Leon and Rog also reached out, clasped hands tightly, exchanged a knowing smile, and in unison said, "For father, for humanity, eradicate the aberrations!"

Next.

The three brothers, who had just reunited, now had to part again.

Rog led the elite of Glorious Iron Fist to stay on the prehistoric planet as planned, ensuring the logistics supply line stayed clear and continuously purging the remaining Ti Pu people.

Meanwhile, NuoWa, Sha La and over five thousand new recruits were assigned to the flagship of the Dark Angel Legion, the Dawn Guard and Courage Anthem, to join the main fleet in the expedition.

When the fleet completed its life‑support supplies and everything was ready…

Pacific Time 08:19.

Within the gravitational sphere of the prehistoric planet, thousands of vortex entrances opened one by one, allowing corresponding warships to enter Rift Space and rush to the Ti Pu Empire's more than 150 colonies.

Leon led a quarter of the Dark Angel fleet, including the Courage Anthem, a total of twenty‑seven warships straight for the core of the Ti Pu Empire.

Robert likewise personally led a quarter of the extreme legion to the star system where tens of millions of Weilin reside.

Soon.

The near‑Earth orbit, which had seemed very "crowded", became much emptier as the main fleet vanished, leaving only about two hundred and sixty warships.

———————

…

Twelve hours later.

Ti Pu home star system.

If one looks at this star system from a top‑down view, at its center is a star whose size and mass far exceed the Sun, radiating heat and energy into the cold void while emitting a pale blue, dazzling light.

The first through fifth orbits are all terrestrial planets, and the four closest to the star are barren, Mercury‑like, stripped of everything.

Although the fifth orbit is similarly barren and its dominant hue is desert yellow, it still hosts water sources and forests that represent life, as well as a thick atmosphere.

This is the Ti Pu Empire's home world.

The gas giants on the sixth and seventh orbits are not worth mentioning.

A close look at Ti Pu's home world.

Its surface resembles an unmodified Mars from a century ago, with comparable volume and mass, low gravity, thin air; yet it is precisely this harsh environment that makes Ti Pu people eager to plunder and seize all kinds of resources.

The near‑Earth orbit hosts a considerable number of space stations and warships used to defend their home world.

And they are most proud of their largest structure, a six‑kilometre‑long and wide cosmic fortress hovering above the capital of the home world.

As various warships gradually gather near the fortress, it shows that battles are raging everywhere, severe enough to require the home world's defensive forces to send reinforcements.

Swish——Swish——!!

Suddenly!

Twenty‑seven vortex exits appeared in succession, allowing Leon's Dark Angel fleet to leave Rift Space, and the Courage Anthem unexpectedly accelerated, shooting straight toward the nearby cosmic fortress.

!!!

The sudden turn left the Ti Pu side unable to react, and the cosmic fortress hurriedly changed its angle to try to dodge.

But…

Boom———Rumble———!

However, the Courage Anthem, one of humanity's pinnacle warships, would not give the fortress a chance to evade; it activated an energy shield and collided violently.

Accompanied by a "silent" explosion and flames, the Courage Anthem pierced the cosmic fortress, while its own hull suffered no damage.

Other Ti Pu warships that reacted tried to concentrate fire, but in a short time they could not break through the Courage Anthem's shield.

At this moment.

Inside the bridge of the Courage Anthem.

Leon, standing behind the massive viewport, hands clasped behind his back, expressionless, looked down at Ti Pu's home world and calmly ordered:

"Notify the bombing squadron, prepare to deploy star‑class nuclear missiles, then open the public channel; I will personally announce the destruction of their home world to the Ti Pu Empire."

(End of chapter)