Chapter 968: Communications from the Rear

Walton's voice became solemn.

"Legion Commander, I suggest you reconsider. Our understanding of the enemy remains limited."

"Do they have follow-up fleets? Do their Super Soldiers have abilities they haven't yet displayed?"

"To rashly engage in a decisive battle—if we fail, we will lose the final capital to defend Ka Lun Star! Perhaps General Suo'er was thinking just like you at the time!"

At the mention of Suo'er, Norn's expression turned slightly gloomy.

"Suo'er is Suo'er, and I am I! The 'Guardian' is not one of those conventional units from the Seventh Star Sector! Colonel Walton, your duty is to coordinate with my actions, not to use defeatist rhetoric to shake the morale of the troops!"

Norn did not give Walton another chance to speak, directly ordering the "Guardian" officer who had followed him in.

"Transmit my order! The 'Fist of the Firmament' capital fleet, and all conventional fleets willing to follow, immediately conduct pre-battle resupply and final checks! In three hours, we set sail, target: Kaipa-777 Region, the main enemy force!"

"Yes! Legion Commander!"

The officer received the order and left.

Norn took one last look at Walton and the other two.

"The three of you, I will leave behind a 'Fist of the Firmament' unit, because there is no need to use full strength. This war needs a change in tactics."

Having said that, he strode out of the command hall, the sound of his Power Armor's footsteps gradually fading away.

The command hall was deathly silent.

Geluke sat down dejectedly, holding his head in his hands.

"It's over... He is going to bury everything..."

Liara's face showed worry.

"His confidence... will get everyone killed."

Colonel Walton stood where he was, motionless, looking at the mass of red on the star map representing destruction, then looking at the blue light dots currently regrouping in the orbit of Ka Lun Star, preparing to follow Norn out to attack; a sense of powerlessness enveloped him.

He had failed to persuade Norn, failed to stop this decisive battle that seemed heroic but could actually lead to hell.

All he could do now was to preserve the last bit of seed for Ka Lun Star and for the Sixth Star Sector as much as possible.

Walton gave the order.

"Order... all ships unwilling to follow Legion Commander Norn, as well as damaged units, to immediately enter the fire coverage range of the Ka Lun Star orbital defense platform. Planetary shield power to maximum. Ground defense forces enter the highest state of combat readiness..."

After a pause, Walton added a sentence, his voice so low that only he could hear it.

"I hope... I am wrong."

Ka Lun Star orbit, "Firm Bastion" flagship bridge.

Legion Commander Norn stood in the center of the bridge, surveying the fleet formation before him.

The dark gray "Fist of the Firmament" capital ships were arranged in an attack formation, their armor shimmering with cold, hard light under the starlight.

Around the "Guardian" fleet, a considerable number of conventional fleets had also gathered—those ships that had withdrawn from the "Swarm" tactics, were unwilling to accept defeat, or had been infected by Norn's confidence.

Although their models were chaotic and their liveries inconsistent, their numbers were quite considerable, accounting for almost more than half of the previous "Swarm" strength.

The corners of Norn's mouth turned up as he said to the Adjutant beside him.

"It seems not everyone is like those three cowards, only knowing how to cower and retreat. Walton, Geluke, Liara... they have been scared out of their wits by the enemy. The so-called 'Swarm' is nothing but an excuse for the incompetent to cover up their cowardice. True victory always belongs to the brave who dare to draw their swords."

The Adjutant responded in a low voice.

"You are right, Legion Commander. Their failure proves exactly how foolish conservative strategies are. Only by attacking can one grasp the initiative."

Norn looked with satisfaction at the torrent of ships outside the porthole.

He would lead the "Guardian" Legion to crush that enemy fleet, prove to the Supreme Council with brilliant battle results who the true savior of the Southern Theater was, and incidentally, let those three obstructive Colonels see clearly what the true art of war was.

Norn's voice spread through the fleet broadcast to every ship, filled with impassioned fighting spirit.

"All forces, listen to my orders! Target, Kaipa-777 Region! Let us go and crush those Alien scum who dare to desecrate the Fengqi Territory! For the glory of the Star Alliance!"

"For the glory of the Star Alliance!"

The massive mixed fleet began to slowly accelerate, heading toward the airspace where the Blood Angels Fleet was located.

Ka Lun Star, Command Fortress.

Walton could imagine Norn's look of disdain for them at this moment.

But Walton was more worried that this blind confidence would lead the Sixth Star Sector into an abyss from which there was no return.

"Hope... everything goes well..."

Geluke and Liara stood beside him, their expressions equally grim.

Just then, a prompt for an urgent communication request rang out!

"Report! Received an emergency communication from the 'Rear Coordination Center'—Helios Star! The signal is unstable; it seems it was interfered with during transmission!"

The Communications Officer reported.

Helios Star was an important hub planet located behind Ka Lun Star, responsible for coordinating and receiving reinforcements from other areas of the Sixth Star Sector!

"Put it through!"

Walton ordered, an ominous premonition rising.

The main screen flickered with static for a few moments, and then an image of a Fengqi officer wearing the uniform of the Helios Star defense forces appeared; his background seemed to be a command center that had suffered a violent impact.

"Ka Lun Star Command Center! This is Helios Coordination Center! Emergency military situation! Emergency military situation! We... we have been ambushed by an unidentified fleet! Repeat, the outer shipping lanes of Helios Star have been ambushed by an unidentified fleet!"

"What?!"

Walton, Geluke, and Liara all spoke at the same time.

"Is... is it the fleet of the Xiuluosheng? Aren't they supposed to be at Kaipa-777..."

Geluke asked in disbelief.

The officer on Helios Star reported incoherently.

"No... not clear! The enemy's ship markings... are different from the enemies in the Kaipa-777 Region! They are white-painted with red lightning stripes! Extremely fast! The attack method is also completely different! They appeared suddenly like ghosts, without any warning! The first wave of attacks destroyed our 'Taurus' transport fleet and escort formation gathered in the outer orbit! Three whole transport fleets, over fifty ships, were almost completely wiped out in... in ten minutes!"

Ten minutes! Fifty ships! Walton felt a wave of dizziness.

What kind of concept is this? Even for the "Guardian" fleet of Norn, to achieve such battle results, I fear it would require a fierce struggle.

"And then? Did they attack Helios Star?" Liara asked urgently.

"No... no! After they destroyed the outer fleet, they didn't pay any attention to our planetary defenses at all, and directly... directly turned and flew in the direction of the 'Ceti-5' star! The entire process was as fast as a storm! We couldn't even organize an effective counterattack!"

White paint, red lightning, extreme speed, hit-and-run tactics...