Chapter 1322: Seeking Aid from the Ash Star Alliance

In orbit, the Canaan Fleet is retreating.

Valerius stands on the bridge of the flagship, watching the points of light disappearing on the holographic screen.

Every point of light represents a ship, a base, a city, and millions of lives.

"General, the last wave of transport ships is taking off. But the Zerg have already caught up to them."

Valerius watches the screen.

Behind the points of light representing the transport ships, dense swarms of Zerg points of light are following.

"Send the assault ships to provide cover. Save as many as you can."

The Adjutant nods.

The assault ship group charges toward the Zerg swarm.

Energy beams intertwine in the starry sky, and Zerg corpses float in the vacuum.

But the number of Zerg is too great, so great that the assault ships cannot block them at all.

A transport ship is hit by a Zerg bio-cannon ship, and the fire of the explosion blooms in the starry sky.

Another transport ship has its hull breached by a flying Zerg creature; the air leaks, and the passengers are sucked out of the cabin, suffocating in the vacuum.

Not a single transport ship successfully reaches the fleet.

Valerius closes his eyes.

"Retreat. Retreat at full speed."

"General, there are still civilians on Dures..."

Valerius opens his eyes and looks at the young Communications Officer.

"We can't save them. We can't save them anymore."

The Communications Officer lowers his head.

The fleet starts its engines and heads toward the outer rim of the sector.

Behind them, Dures is burning.

The Zerg are spreading across the planet's surface, devouring everything like a plague.

Viridian Sector, First Planet, the Capital Star Viridian.

This is the political and economic center of the entire sector, with a total population of over three billion.

It is the furthest from the experimental planet, but it was also the first to sense the arrival of the crisis.

In the planet's orbit, the Canaan Star Alliance fleet is assembling.

After retreating from Dures, Valerius's fleet came directly to Viridian Star.

He stands on the bridge of the flagship, looking at the blue planet outside the window.

"General, the Zerg are approaching this location."

The Adjutant says.

"According to reconnaissance, they have already occupied Kalidusi Star, the Fourth Planet, the Fifth Planet, the Sixth Planet, and the Seventh Planet. The Second Planet has also fallen. In the entire sector, only Viridian Star is still holding out."

Valerius is silent for a long time.

"How many ships do we have?"

The Adjutant says.

"Eighty capital ships, one hundred and fifty auxiliary ships, and three hundred assault ships. The total force is about ten million."

Valerius asks.

"How many do the Zerg have?"

The Adjutant shakes his head.

"Impossible to estimate. At least... at least a thousand times our number."

Valerius leans back in his chair.

"Notify the ground forces to organize the evacuation of civilians. Evacuate as many as you can."

The Adjutant nods.

"Yes."

Valerius looks at the blue planet outside the window.

"Viridian Star. Three billion people."

He says in a low voice.

"How many can we save?"

Canaan Star Alliance Capital Star, Supreme Council Chamber.

Viridius sits before the conference table, with the battle report sent by Valerius in front of him.

Six planets have lost contact, over eight billion people have been devoured, and fleet losses exceed sixty percent.

There is dead silence in the Meeting Room.

Morax speaks up.

"Speaker, we need reinforcements."

Viridius looks at him.

"Reinforcements? From where?"

Morax says.

"Transfer troops from other sectors. Concentrate all fleets in the Viridian Sector. Block the Zerg; we cannot let them spread."

Tailesi shakes his head.

"It's too late. The Zerg's speed is too fast. By the time our fleet arrives, the Viridian Sector might already be..."

He did not continue.

Military Commander Morax spoke up.

"Speaker, we need support."

Viridius looked at him.

"Support? From where?"

Morax said.

"From the Ash Star Alliance. Although we have had disagreements with them, we are now facing a common threat. Those Zerg will not only eat our planets."

Chief Scientist Tailesi shook his head.

"The Ash Star Alliance? Why would they help us? We have dealt with them for how many years; don't you know what kind of people they are? They will only take advantage of our misfortune."

Morax said.

"That is still better than being eaten clean by the Zerg."

Viridius raised a hand to stop the argument.

"Enough."

He was in Silence for a few seconds, then said.

"Draft a request for aid. Send it to Xanos of the Ash Star Alliance."

He paused.

"Tell them the Canaan Star Alliance is willing to pay the price. As long as they can come."

Ash Star Alliance Capital Star, Fenmie Star, Supreme Council Chamber.

Xanos sat in the main seat, with the request for aid sent by the Canaan Star Alliance before him.

His four eyes were full of mockery, and his dark red skin gleamed with a greasy luster under the lights.

"Viridius has asked for aid."

He threw the Data Pad onto the table, his voice triumphant.

Salmox took the Data Pad and browsed it quickly.

His four eyes narrowed slightly, and a meaningful smile played on the corners of his mouth.

"Western border, Viridian Sector. Zerg infestation, six planets lost contact, over eight billion population Devoured. The Canaan Fleet has suffered heavy losses and requests that we send troops to support."

Xanos laughed arrogantly.

"Zerg? The Canaanites can't even beat bugs?"

Salmox said.

"Archon, those bugs might not be simple."

Xanos waved his hand.

"Not simple? What is not simple about bugs? The Canaanites have become stupid from doing research; they are even afraid of bugs."

He stood up and walked to the window.

Outside the window, the sky of Fenmie Star was forever burning with orange-red flames.

"Tell them the Ash Star Alliance will send several fleets to support the southeastern border. But the condition is that after the war, we want half of the resource extraction rights in the Viridian Sector."

Salmox was stunned for a moment.

"Archon, would that be too excessive?"

Xanos turned to look at him.

"Excessive? They beg us, we send ships and men, and we don't ask for a reward? Salmox, you are a Diplomat, not a philanthropist."

Salmox lowered his head.

"Yes, Archon."

Three hours later, Ash Star Alliance southeastern border.

Three fleets assembled in the starry sky, with 120 Capital Ships, 200 Auxiliary Ships, and 400 assault ships, totaling about 40 million troops.

The Commander was a veteran of the Ash Star Alliance, General Meis.

"General, the fleet has finished assembling."

The Adjutant reported.

Meis nodded.

"Depart. Target: Canaan Star Alliance western border, Viridian Sector."

The fleet started its engines and entered the jump channel.

Meis stood on the Bridge of the flagship, watching the distorted jump light outside the window.

"Canaanites," he said in a low voice, his four eyes full of contempt, "can't even beat bugs."

The Adjutant asked.

"General, what kind of species are those bugs exactly?"

Meis shrugged.

"Don't know. But no matter what they are, our artillery fire can blast them into ashes."

He leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes.

"Call me in three hours."

The Adjutant nodded.

"Yes, General."