Chapter 941: The Back Door of Fengrao Starport (1)

Outside Fengrao Starport. The Zhonghun.

"Shield strength is stable at eighty-two percent, Father. Their energy output is tenacious, but our sustained bombardment is steadily depleting it."

Horus nodded slightly, saying nothing.

Just then, a heavily encrypted communication request was patched through.

"Father, we have... unexpected progress on our end."

The projection of Company Commander Jinsen appeared opposite Horus.

"Speak."

"Father, we have made an unexpected gain. The captured Alien leader, the female named Aolana, has expressed a willingness to cooperate.

She claims to know of a secret passage leading into the interior of the Starport, a maintenance conduit they discovered during their evacuation that was never integrated into the Starport's main defense system."

Alien cooperation?

Horus never believed such creatures would truly surrender; it was more likely a ruse to save their own lives.

But... this was indeed an opportunity.

"What conditions did she propose?"

"The safety of her life and the lives of her key subordinates, and... the possibility of returning to the Daikong Star Alliance in the future."

"Hehehe..."

Return?

These Aliens clearly did not understand the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance's policy toward non-human races, especially Aliens who did not even know the positions of both sides.

Horus raised the corners of his mouth and said to Jinsen.

"Tell her that the value of her cooperation will determine her future treatment. The details of the passage?"

"She has already provided preliminary data. It is located in the second docking area of the Starport, near an abandoned Sensor Array.

The entrance is disguised as a heat vent, and the interior space is sufficient for Power Armor units to pass through.

According to her description, this passage can bypass the main defense nodes and lead directly into the interior of the Starport."

After pondering for a few seconds, Horus spoke.

"Your action plan is approved, Company Commander Jinsen. Select a crack squad."

"Yes, Father!"

Luna Wolves Second Company ship. Brig.

Inside the "Star-Speaker" brig, Aolana watched the back of Company Commander Jinsen as he left.

Academician Tuowake stood beside her, communicating silently through encrypted Daikong sign language.

"Did they believe it?"

Tuowake "asked," his fingers trembling.

"They believe what they are willing to believe."

Aolana responded, her fingertips tapping lightly.

"Proud warriors always underestimate their 'weak' opponents.

That passage does indeed exist, but it will inevitably pass through the defense zone of the Starport garrison's most elite troops.

Regardless of who wins or loses, it will buy us time."

"But if the Starport falls too quickly..."

"Then that is not a matter for us to worry about, Academician. We provided the intelligence and fulfilled our obligation of 'cooperation.' As for the result... that is not something a prisoner should consider, is it?"

On the chessboard of interstellar politics, survival is the primary objective, and sometimes, survival means maneuvering between predators and guiding them to attack one another.

Meanwhile, in the deployment zone of the Luna Wolves Second Company, Sergeant Chakede was giving his squad a final briefing.

Eight Luna Wolves Space Marines clad in gray-white Power Armor gathered around him.

"Is the Task clear, brothers?"

Chakede's voice came through his helmet.

"The Alien has sent us a 'gift,' a back door leading into their interior."

He pulled up the structural diagram of the passage provided by Aolana and projected it onto the squad's shared visual interface.

"The entrance is here, at the base of the abandoned Sensor Array in Sector T-7. The interior of the passage is narrow, and some sections may have structural risks due to age. But according to the intelligence, it avoids the coverage of the Alien shields."

"Suspect this is a trap?"

A Luna Wolves Space Marine asked.

"Always, brother. But even if it is a trap, as long as we know it is a trap, it is no longer a trap. We are the Luna Wolves. We tear traps apart, and then we use the blood of their creators to swear our Loyalty."

A burst of low laughter sounded on the communication channel.

"Action formation: I lead the team. Wodun, you take the rear. Kaxiusi, bring the Melta Bomb; if the passage is blocked, we will carve our own path. Everyone else, standard assault configuration. We are going to give that Alien commander a surprise he will never forget."

Eight warriors struck their chest plates in unison.

"For the Emperor! For Horus!" Chakede growled.

"For the Luna Wolves!" the squad responded.

The Thunderhawk Gunship glided through the shadows of the Starport's external structure, successfully approaching the target area by relying on the data Jinsen had obtained from the Daikong people regarding the Starport's defensive weak points.

Sector T-7 was located on the "shoulder" of the Starport, where there was mostly old auxiliary equipment and abandoned early structures that had gradually been marginalized during the Starport's continuous expansion.

Just as Aolana had described, beneath the base of a defunct Sensor Array, Jinsen found the entrance to the passage disguised as a heat vent.

Chakede said on the squad communication channel.

"Entrance confirmed, no signs of recent activity, no monitoring equipment."

"Or they are too reliant on those fancy Energy Shields."

Wodun commented on the channel.

Chakede used his palm to tear open the rusted grille, revealing the passage behind it.

"The passage is narrow, single file. I will go first, Kaxiusi follow closely, Wodun last. Maintain radio silence, use hand signals, unless engaging the enemy."

Chakede crawled in first.

After the Chakede squad had been moving for about twenty minutes, they walked out of the narrow passage.

Suddenly, Chakede raised his fist, making a "stop" gesture.

The entire squad stopped in their tracks, and Chakede listened carefully.

From around the corner of the passage ahead, came a vague sound, and also... muffled conversation?

"Enemy situation ahead, numbers unknown. Prepare for contact."

The Luna Wolves Space Marines raised their Bolters, fingers resting on the triggers.

Chakede leaned out past the corner, using only the edge of his eyepiece to observe.

In a slightly more open intersection ahead in the passage, he saw about ten Feng Qi soldiers.

They seemed to be setting up some kind of temporary fortifications and surveillance equipment.

Chakede pulled his head back and whispered into the communication channel.

"Ten Aliens, occupying the intersection ahead. Wodun, seal the rear. Everyone else, assault formation. Quick battle, quick decision, do not let them sound an alarm."

Chakede gave the signal to attack.

No battle cry, no warning.

Eight Luna Wolves Space Marines charged out from the corner of the passage!

Bang, bang, bang!

The first volley took down four Feng Qi soldiers who had their backs to them; their armor was shattered under the Bolter barrage.

The remaining Feng Qi soldiers immediately sought cover and returned fire.

Energy beams struck the Luna Wolves' Power Armor, splashing sparks, and Chakede at the front felt many new dents on his Power Armor.

"For the Fengqi Star Alliance!"

A Feng Qi soldier shouted, preparing to throw a Plasma Grenade.

Chakede raised his hand and fired a shot, hitting the bomber's helmet visor; the Plasma Grenade exploded before it could be thrown, causing heavy casualties among the remaining Feng Qi soldiers.

The battle ended within thirty seconds.

Among the eight Luna Wolves warriors, only two had their Power Armor scorched with pits by Energy Weapons.

Chakede kicked aside a corpse blocking the way and inspected the equipment set up by the Feng Qi soldiers.

"They are establishing a listening post. It seems the Alien Commander is starting to worry about his backyard."

"Are we exposed?"

Kaxiusi asked, while changing the magazine for his Bolter.

"Not necessarily. They might just be routinely strengthening defenses. But we must speed up. How much further to the exit?"

"According to the map, less than ten minutes away."

"Very well. Clean up the traces, continue forward. There isn't much time left to deliver a 'surprise' to the Alien Commander."

The squad quickly processed the battle scene, dragged the corpses to a hidden corner, and then once again silently submerged into the darkness of the passage.