Chapter 1518: Strike the Zerg First

Delin's expression changed as he looked at the red signal dot on the sensor screen.

Kazili Zerg? How could they appear here? There has never been a record of Zerg activity in this star sector before.

The sensor operator's fingers moved rapidly across the control panel.

The signal is continuously clarifying... confirmed to be Insect Hive Mother Ship class... moving at a moderate speed, but the trajectory is very clear, almost a straight line toward the orbital direction of this planet...

Commander, the appearance of a Kazili Zerg Insect Hive Mother Ship on the battlefield means they will at least dispatch landing forces to attempt to seize ground positions.

Regardless of the state of the war between us and the Xikushi United Nations, as long as the Kazili Zerg intervene, they will treat all living targets within the combat zone as prey.

Delin said, looking at the blue force field barrier forming on the planet's surface.

Connect to the Xikushi United Nations ground command communication channel now, Highest Priority.

The Communications Officer's fingers danced rapidly over the control panel, and soon, Gedeng's voice came through.

This is the Xikushi United Nations Third Colonial Star ground command, Commander-in-Chief Gedeng. Why is someone from the Kaoquanzao Free Territory calling? If you want to persuade us to surrender, you can save it.

Delin said with rapid speech.

Those matters on the ground can be set aside; your sensors should have detected it too, a Kazili Zerg Insect Hive Mother Ship is approaching here.

It will enter orbital range in three standard hours; no matter who was fighting whom before, the Kazili Zerg will not distinguish between us.

There was Silence for two seconds in the Communication Device, then Gedeng spoke.

Kazili Zerg... I did indeed receive a sensor alert, but I was still confirming the signal source. You are telling me you have confirmed it is a Kazili Zerg Mother Ship on your end?

Delin said in a solemn tone.

Confirmed. The signal matches the Kazili Insect Hive Mother Ship data in the database, and the movement trajectory is straight toward the orbital direction of this planet.

The recent behavioral patterns of the Kazili Zerg are completely different from before; they have already destroyed several poorly defended planets. If they land on this planet, both your people and mine will be treated as fodder by them.

Gedeng's voice came through again.

You are seeking to negotiate with me, how much ammunition and fuel reserve does your fleet have left? My ground troops have little ammunition remaining, and once the force field is activated, it cannot provide fire support for the ground troops.

If we are to confront the Insect Hive Mother Ship, I need to know what level of orbital fire you can provide.

Delin gripped the edge of the command console hard with his right hand, his voice carrying

My fleet has ammunition reserves for three to four full rounds of orbital bombardment. If the Insect Hive Mother Ship releases small landing units after entering orbital range, I can prioritize clearing the impact points within the atmosphere.

But your ground defense units must coordinate with me to mark the coordinates of the landing zones, otherwise, I cannot distinguish which are your positions and which are the Zerg landing points from orbit.

Gedeng said.

Agreed, I will open the ground sensor data sharing link on my end. Only conduct fire coverage after you receive the coordinates; do not hit my force field barrier. The energy of the force field is only enough to maintain one barrier; if it is struck by your orbital cannon, the barrier will shatter.

Delin nodded and said.

Three standard hours. We only have three standard hours to adjust our formation. After the Insect Hive Mother Ship enters orbital range, the priority target is to clear its landing units; after the clearing is complete, we will continue our business.

Gedeng said sorrowfully.

How many people will be left to continue our business after the clearing is complete, we shall see when the time comes. The data sharing link has been opened; you can view the coordinate distribution of the ground positions.

If the Insect Hive Mother Ship does not immediately deploy landing units after entering orbit, but instead conducts orbital suppression first, how does your fleet intend to handle it?

Delin looked at the screen and said.

The combat mode of the Kazili Zerg usually does not involve long-range orbital suppression; they prefer to directly release landing units for near-ground combat within the atmosphere.

Therefore, I judge that the Insect Hive Mother Ship will not stay long after entering orbit and will release landing units to the surface as quickly as possible.

By then, your force field barrier will block the landing units outside the Shengfu Chengqu, and my fleet can Intercept them during their descent through the atmosphere.

Gedeng spoke again.

Within three standard hours, I will do my best to shrink the defensive perimeter and concentrate the remaining combat-capable forces into the core area of the Shengfu Chengqu.

Also, if the number of landing units released by the Insect Hive Mother Ship exceeds your fleet's interception capability, my ground troops' ammunition might not last until the second round.

Delin said.

Three standard hours from now, if your ground troops are surrounded by Zerg landing units, I will not send landing forces down to save you. My fleet can only provide fire support from orbit; your ground troops must hold their positions themselves.

Gedeng's voice came out from the speaker.

I have never counted on you to send ground troops down to save me. It is enough if you aim your orbital fire accurately. As for other matters, I will resolve them on the ground.

The communication disconnected, and Gedeng said to the Adjutant.

Move all remaining combat-capable forces to the rear of the force field barrier, abandon the outer positions, and complete the contraction within twenty minutes.

The Adjutant stood at attention, acknowledged the order, and quickly turned to run toward the communication station.

At the same time, inside the flagship of the Kaoquanzao Free Territory in orbit, Delin stood in front of the sensor screen, watching that red signal dot advance a distance further on the star map.

Two and a half standard hours; the time is indeed enough to adjust the formation. But whether it is enough to take down an Insect Hive Mother Ship class landing unit is another matter.

When the Kazili Insect Hive Mother Ship appeared at the outer edge of the Third Colonial Star orbit, its size was more than three times larger than the flagship of the Kaoquanzao Free Territory, its surface covered with undulating shell-like protective layers, and several slender, tentacle-like structures extended along both sides of the hull.

Alarms rang out across the Bridge of the Kaoquanzao flagship.

Delin stood in front of the main display, looking at the dark gray silhouette slowly adjusting its posture, his heart filled with horror.

This is even larger than recorded in the data, and after feeling it at close range, that sense of oppression makes the body fearful.

The Insect Hive Mother Ship is adjusting its posture! Its orientation is turning toward the direction of the planet's surface... detected a large number of small objects released from the Mother Ship's belly! Landing units are being deployed! The quantity... the quantity is increasing rapidly, estimated at least over two thousand biological Drop Pods!

After hearing the report, Delin ordered.

Keep the Capital Ship in formation and do not scatter! The Destroyer squadron moves forward to Intercept the entry path of the biological Drop Pods, try to destroy a portion before they pass through the atmosphere. If all landing units are allowed to fall to the ground, the Xikushi ground troops cannot possibly block them all...