Chapter 981: The Abandoned Sixth Star Sector

Gangnanpan Xing.

Almost at the same moment Gaomi Star was attacked, Gangnanpan Xing also welcomed its doomsday.

The Mining Tycoons' notion of "preserving strength" became a complete joke under the assault of the White Scars Fourth Company.

The White Scars' destroyers did not engage in a frontal artillery battle with the thick-skinned mining frigates and armed transport ships of Gangnanpan Xing.

The White Scars destroyers utilized their speed advantage to continuously cruise on the periphery, firing torpedoes and weakening the defenses of Gangnanpan Xing.

When the fleet of Gangnanpan Xing was provoked into a burning rage and rushed out of orbit for a decisive battle, the Fourth Company's ships immediately retreated, simultaneously dispatching a destroyer group to strike directly into the empty mining areas, refineries, and energy centers of Gangnanpan Xing.

Huge explosions rang out continuously on the surface and orbital facilities of Gangnanpan Xing, with thick smoke rolling.

The sturdy ships in which the mining families had placed high hopes became clumsy, living targets in the awkward situation of being unable to catch up or hit anything, being bled and dismembered bit by bit by the White Scars.

Baroque roared and ordered the fleet to charge, but ran headlong into the minefields and ambush circles pre-set by the White Scars, suffering heavy losses.

Huona attempted to negotiate, but the communication channel contained only the battle cries of the White Scars warriors and the roar of bolters.

Having lost orbital control and external facilities, the will to resist on Gangnanpan Xing collapsed rapidly.

Seeing that the situation was lost, some mining families attempted to pilot private ships to flee, but most were intercepted and destroyed by the White Scars destroyers waiting near the jump points.

Finally, after losing most of its industrial capacity and fleet, the remaining defenders of Gangnanpan Xing chose to surrender.

Baroque died in battle, Huona was captured, and this mining planet fell into the hands of the White Scars in a manner slightly slower than Gaomi Star, but just as rapidly.

Fenghaohui Star.

Governor Lila of Fenghaohui Star knew that disaster was about to descend when she received news that Gaomi Star and Gangnanpan Xing were being fiercely attacked almost simultaneously.

Lila executed Metake's orders, concentrating limited defensive forces to protect key facilities, but facing the blockade fleet dispatched by the White Scars, this bit of strength was as good as nothing.

The white ships blockaded all shipping lanes of Fenghaohui Star, and any ship attempting to take off would be struck.

At the same time, small squads of White Scars assault troops quickly air-dropped onto the planet's surface, rooting out the planetary shield generators, main communication towers, and energy centers.

Having lost contact with the outside world and lost their protective barrier, the fall of Fenghaohui Star was only a matter of time.

August Star.

Metake stood in the Command Center, looking as if he had aged a hundred years in an instant; on the tactical screen before him, the light dots representing Gaomi Star, Gangnanpan Xing, and Fenghaohui Star had fallen one after another at almost the same time!

The "Blood Bath" defensive line that Metake wanted to construct failed to provide even a shred of delay under the enemy's speed strikes.

The rapid fall of the three planets made everything Metake had done futile.

Inside the Command Center, there was dead silence.

Metake slowly closed his eyes and issued an order.

"Transmit the order... all remaining units, abandon peripheral deployments, withdraw to the near-earth orbit and surface of August Star... prepare for... the final defense."

This time, there were no more complaints or delays.

Southern Theater Command of the Fengqi Star Alliance.

General Gelan ended the communication with Metake, slowly sat back in his command chair, and sighed.

Gelan pulled up the real-time star map of the Sixth Star Sector; the entire star map had lost contact, and the Sixth Star Sector was finished.

Too fast... so fast that people couldn't react in time.

A senior staff officer holding an encrypted intelligence report walked hurriedly to Gelan's side and began to report.

"General, an emergency communication from the Governor's Zongdufu of the Eighth Star Sector, Highest Priority."

Eighth Star Sector?

Gelan's heart sank.

The Eighth Star Sector was located on the other side of the Seventh Star Sector; could it be that there too...

Gelan took the data pad and quickly browsed the content on it.

A massive Xiuluosheng Fleet had appeared on the border of the Eighth Star Sector, capturing multiple peripheral planets in a very short time.

Its combat style and ship characteristics were highly consistent with the data on the "Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance" capital fleet that General Suo'er had exchanged his life to bring back!

That fleet which had captured Fengrao Starport.

Furthermore, besides this fleet, there were two other fleets.

The defenders of the Eighth Star Sector were retreating step by step, suffering heavy losses!

General Gelan put down the data pad and looked up at the panoramic star map of the Southern Theater on the main screen of the Command Center.

The Sixth Star Sector and the Eighth Star Sector were beginning to fall; where did this Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance get so many fleets!

He recalled his previous promise to Metake.

"I will do my best to squeeze out a portion of reserve troops and ships from other relatively calm sectors of the Southern Theater to reinforce August Star as quickly as possible."

August Star... the Sixth Star Sector... was already finished.

This was not a battle that could be turned around by local reinforcements.

This was a full-scale conquest launched by an enemy powerful beyond imagination, advancing along multiple paths!

Investing precious fleets into the black hole of the Sixth Star Sector, which was destined to fall, was meaningless beyond increasing losses.

Moreover, the crisis in the Eighth Star Sector was equally imminent; it was facing three enemy capital fleets!

If the Eighth Star Sector fell as well, where would the face of the Fengqi Star Alliance be?

Gelan turned to the staff officer waiting for his instructions and ordered.

"Reply to the Governor of the Eighth Star Sector... the Southern Theater Command has received the request for aid. We will... do our utmost to coordinate available resources."

Gelan paused, his gaze sweeping over the Sixth Star Sector on the star map, which was already a sheet of scarlet.

"As for General Metake and the Sixth Star Sector... the original support plan is cancelled. All reserve fleets are to turn toward the border of the Eighth Star Sector and stand by. At the same time, send the intelligence on the Eighth Star Sector, as well as our re-evaluation of the threat level of this 'Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance', to the Supreme Council with Highest Priority."

He waved his hand, signaling that the staff officer could go execute the order.

The staff officer opened his mouth, seemingly wanting to say something, but seeing the exhausted figure of General Gelan, who looked as if all his energy had been drained in an instant, he finally saluted in silence and turned to leave.

General Gelan sat alone in the empty command seat, gazing at the two fires raging on the star map. He knew that he had just personally signed the death warrant for the Sixth Star Sector, abandoning the last hope of Metake and the hundreds of millions of military and civilians there.

What a heavy burden this was.

He had to remain calm, had to weigh the pros and cons, and had to preserve the final seeds for the potentially even more brutal battles to come.

"Xiuluosheng..." He whispered this name that brought destruction, his gaze as sharp as a blade, "Who... exactly are you all?"