Chapter 37: Ninglu

Piszczek, Strategy Room.

Amber and red console lights shone upon Ninglu's gleaming black armor, and the tactical holographic projector occupying the entire wall emitted a bright plasma glow.

He looked at the holographic projection of the Vostonia system and questioned Luoxiji.

"I need intelligence on the Adeptus Mechanicus."

"King Ninglu, I have received the latest battle report: the Xenos fleet raiding the Vostonia system consists of two Battlecruiser-class warships and twelve Destroyer-class Raiders, seven of which have already been destroyed."

As Luoxiji spoke, he operated the Cogitator to interconnect with other friendly ships, marking the Xenos warships in red on the holographic projection.

Ninglu stared at the two large Xenos warships; their hulls were harpoon-shaped structures with protruding pointed bows, and the wings of the hulls spread out like sawteeth, matching the Fulao Battlecruisers in his memory perfectly.

The number of warships also matched Fulao tactics; they appeared alone when protecting planets from orbital strikes, yet appeared in pairs when launching attacks, which was a major reason they were known as space nomads.

"The enemy's large warships possess strange cannons; once they hit a ship, they immediately cause shield overload. Those smaller ships are not equipped with such powerful cannons."

"Furthermore, the Xenos have landed on numerous islands of the Cradle of the Sea, looting wantonly, and the food supply to Vostonia has been completely cut off."

"Our fleet has a total of fifty-one ships, including one Machine Ark, the Fire of Glory, three Cruisers, fifteen Frigates, and thirty-two Destroyers."

Luoxiji said, marking the friendly ships in green on the holographic projection.

"Although we have a numerical advantage, most of the Frigates and Destroyers come from the various great families of Vostonia, making it difficult to achieve coordination."

Luoxiji did not elaborate, but Ninglu understood his meaning; clearly, the captains sent by the Mechanicus were not adept at commanding space battles, and war was not merely calculation—coordination and communication were also the art of command.

Of course, calculation was essential in space warfare; his eyes swept over the parameters of every ship flickering on the surrounding screens.

"Enemy ship A-I, distance 271,503 kilometers, phase 4-9-2, inclination 6..."

"Enemy ship A-II, distance 196,024 kilometers, phase 7-5-8, inclination 3..."

Although it was Ninglu's first time stepping onto a ship, he rapidly absorbed knowledge from his Gene Memory, understanding everything at an astonishing speed.

In orbital mechanics, phase refers to the relative position of two spacecraft in the same orbit or orbital plane; this relative position is usually expressed by the angle formed by the lines connecting the two spacecraft to the center of the planet or the focus of the elliptical orbit.

Ninglu knew the Piszczek could not withstand a round of fire from Ether cannons; to seize the Fulao Battlecruisers, he could not use brute force.

He scanned the holographic projection, incorporating the speed, phase, and other parameters of both enemy and friendly ships into his calculations, discerning the tactics of both sides.

The Sage commanding the friendly fleet wanted to use the numerical advantage of the warships to encircle and annihilate the enemy ships.

The Fulao were performing tactical evasion to avoid being encircled, while using Ether cannons to inflict damage.

Ninglu's brain whirred as he ran simulations, and five minutes later, a confident smile appeared on his face as he issued orders.

"Change course, proceed to 6-9-4, inclination 8."

Szczesny, standing beside him, immediately relayed the order, staring intently at the holographic projection, struggling to understand Ninglu's command.

Luoxiji pondered while sketching a blue flight path on the holographic projection.

"You intend to launch an assault on the enemy ships in the Weisiwa xiaoxingxingdai."

"Correct."

Luoxiji held a Data Slate, searching through the information within it.

"The Weisiwa xiaoxingxingdai is located between Vostonia and the Cradle of the Sea, consisting of 362 asteroids."

He checked the combat plan notification sent by the Machine Ark and found the relevant content within it.

"According to the calculations of Sage Kivior-9, the enemy ship marked A-I is expected to pass through the Weisiwa xiaoxingxingdai in 56 stellar hours, with a probability of 65.13%."

"The enemy ship marked A-II is expected to enter the Weisiwa xiaoxingxingdai in 27 stellar hours, with a probability of 79.26%."

"No, A-II will definitely enter the Weisiwa xiaoxingxingdai in 26 stellar hours."

Ninglu said with certainty, and Luoxiji frowned upon hearing this.

"Why are you so certain?"

"Calculation and deduction."

"Sage Kivior-9 is a Logician of Vostonia; he was famous for his calculation and logic even when he was an Information Executioner, but even he cannot be so certain."

Szczesny looked angry at these words, and Woyiqiehe was also dissatisfied with Luoxiji's tone, yet he did not feel that Ninglu's calculations would be more accurate than those of a Logician.

"You will know shortly. Luoxiji, your current task is to adjust the boarding torpedoes to accommodate my physique."

"Szczesny, you lead the Fourth Regiment to use the Assault Boats to teach the Cogitator to learn."

"Woyiqiehe, you continue to improve the waterproof weapons."

Luoxiji did not speak; he wanted to wait for the result to appear before offering suggestions to the assertive Ninglu.

While the three ships sailed toward the Weisiwa xiaoxingxingdai, at Altar No. 9 of the Songqisangdeqijia Hive City.

Tech-Priest Zelinsiji, wearing red robes, walked out of the Altar and arrived at the I-9 Factory he managed.

After dismissing the obsequious fat foreman, Zelinsiji went to his laboratory.

He took off his robes, revealing dense blue feathers at the roots of his two thighs.

After changing into a blue hooded robe, Zelinsiji came before a complex Mechanical Turntable.

The Mechanical Turntable was divided into nine areas; the eight surrounding areas were bird-shaped structures, starting from the top and going in order: Parrot, Grey Vulture...

In the center of the disc was a Sea Eagle made of silver; it was lifelike, head held high, and the two diamonds in its eyes sparkled with dazzling light under the reflection of the Lumen Lamp.

This Mechanical Turntable was not built by mechanics or servitors, but by himself.

A mechanical tentacle extended from Zelinsiji's right shoulder and inserted into the center of the turntable—the beak of the Raven.

The Mechanical Turntable began to rotate, and the nine "birds" seemed to come alive, rising and falling in disorder amidst mechanical sounds.

After the turntable rotated nine times, it stopped, and the door in front opened amidst the sound of twisting gears.

After Zelinsiji walked through the door, he raised his mechanical tentacle and inserted it into the mouth of the silver Sea Eagle on the wall, and the door closed behind him.

Zelinsiji stepped forward and walked downward; his biological eyes, which had not undergone mechanical modification, saw their irises gradually turn yellow, like the eyes of a Sea Eagle.

After walking down 9,999 steps, a circular irregular platform appeared in his field of vision; it changed shape every nine seconds: circle, ellipse, rectangle...

Like him, seven others walked out from different passages; they all wore blue robes and walked toward the withered old man in the center of the platform, who held a Crystal Staff in his clawed hand.

The old man looked even less human than the mutants in the shantytown; his body was hunched, looking like an ostrich.

His sharp beak was like a hook, his neck was full of colorful feathers, he wore no shoes on his feet, and his talons, just like his hand-claws, were like the talons of a Sea Eagle.

(End of this chapter)