All sorts of information was being analyzed, the main source of which was the battle between the Northern Alliance's Seventh Fleet and the alien planets.
From what they could gather, humanity wasn't at a disadvantage. After all, Bastion ships were a force to be reckoned with, much more so than fleets.
Although the alien home worlds fought in a strange fashion, the law of conservation of energy applied to them. They were only three planets, after all.
Even if they came at the same time, humanity's Bastion ships would be able to hold them off for long enough to defeat them.
"Parliament has approved your request. You can leave at any time." The Wine Master looked at Lan Jue, who sat in front of him.
Lan Jue nodded. "Very well. We'll be ready to go in three days."
"We need to minimize casualties," the Wine Master said.
Lan Jue nodded. "I know. Star Division is an asset to the Division.
But real combat is the only way to make an army grow.
My goal isn't to train them, but to build their confidence. It's also a chance to test out our plan. "
The Wine Master nodded. "You need to be quick.
Once they hear the news, they'll respond.
Besides, no matter what happens, the Eastern Alliance won't acknowledge your existence.
From beginning to end, you've been a secret Division.
With all three Major Leagues working together, we can't afford to break that harmony. "
Lan Jue smirked. "Don't worry.
I brought Star Division out in one piece, and I'll bring it back in one piece.
This time I'll be taking Majesty and Zeus -1 with me.
Zeus -2 and -3 will need to be refurbished as well. "
The Wine Master rubbed his forehead. "You know, ever since you started Star Division, how much did you spend?
How much money did you spend? "
Lan Jue chuckled. "What does that have to do with me?
I'm only responsible for turning it into a strong Division. Who knows, maybe we'll bring back some resources. "
The Wine Master smiled wryly. "Alright, go get ready.
We'll cover for you in every way.
Finish the battle quickly and come back quickly. "
"Alright." Lan Jue nodded, then rose to his feet.
Four months. Four months had passed since Star Division's training began.
The first three months of training had been focused on DreamNet, but after receiving the mecha, their training had been a combination of DreamNet and actual combat.
Now that the training had begun to bear fruit.
They needed to use actual combat to test the true combat power of this luxurious army. At the same time, as Lan Jue had said, this army did not lack training.
It was confidence and cohesiveness.
Confidence required victory, while unity required benefits.
Two days later, two airships noiselessly took off from Skyfire City's civilian airship base. They entered the atmosphere and disappeared in the blink of an eye.
Lan Jue stood in Majesty's cockpit, facing the Star Division soldiers.
Majesty was now capable of carrying a thousand soldiers into battle.
Majesty was about the size of a battleship.
However, its appearance was far more dazzling.
Of course, its strength wasn't just in appearance. If the military leaders knew what Majesty was equipped with.
They'd be grinning from ear to ear.
Lan Jue had offered Zeus -1 and Majesty for Star Division to use, but not without conditions.
Majesty was a battleship built by Jueti himself. But while Jueti had no problems with technology, resources were a different story.
All of the power gems in Majesty's control core had been replaced with new ones.
Even as a Jewelry Master, Lan Jue couldn't help but gulp when she saw the gems.
"Four months of training.
I'm sure you've all had enough.
Now it's time to test the results of our training.
So.
I'm going to lead you into a real battle.
Remember, this isn't a drill.
It's a real battle. "Lan Jue turned to face the Star Division soldiers.
Star Division's soldiers weren't afraid at all. On the contrary, their eyes lit up, and their spirits lifted.
They'd had their suspicions when they'd first boarded Majesty.
When they heard Lan Jue say she was going to lead them into battle, they were certain.
For the sake of secrecy, only a handful of people knew about the mission.
Lan Jue was pleased with their attitude. In truth, it wasn't likely that Star Division's mecha pilots would cower in fear.
They were all Adepts, strong cultivators, and confident in their abilities.
Add to that the months of training they'd done and they'd improved their mecha piloting skills by leaps and bounds.
They had powerful equipment, powerful strength, and so many strong people to lead them.
They weren't afraid of war. In fact, they were looking forward to it.
Lan Jue wasn't the only one who wanted to see how strong Star Division was. The soldiers were just as eager.
Lan Jue's voice was low. "We're going to be a weak target. We're going to need you to get used to each other.
The fight shouldn't be too difficult.
However, I want to emphasize that all spoils will be distributed by the Star Division. Everyone must obey orders.
If anyone breaks the rules, don't blame us for punishing them.
Do you understand? "
"Understood!" The soldiers roared.
Lan Jue nodded in satisfaction. She smiled. "So from now on, we're no longer Star Division. We're the Star Division.
Our goal is the Shattered Starfields.
In a month's time, we'll be the biggest pirate clan in all of Starfields.
And our goal in this battle is to take down the enemy! "
The rest of Star Division looked at each other, speechless.
The Shattered Starfields?
Attacking pirates?
Weren't they supposed to rely on battleships in the Shattered Starfields?
They were a mecha division, were they really suited for this kind of battle?
Many of the soldiers had their doubts, but the four months of training hadn't been a waste. Captains had strong control over their units, and those who couldn't control their own men were replaced.
Therefore, no one raised any questions.
Majesty cruised at a steady pace. Zeus -1 followed close behind.
The Accountant and his electronics team were in charge of piloting Majesty. They were tasked with the task of sending messages to and fro.
Every one of them was an Adept in that field.
Zeus -1 was piloted by Zeus' Four Amazons. Aboard Zeus -1 were Su Xiaosu and her former subordinates from the Moonfiend Pirates. They were also Star Division's drillmasters.
Since they were going to the Shattered Starfields, they had to bring the people they knew best.
It was Su Xiaosu's idea to go to the Shattered Starfields. Lan Jue knew she had her own motives, but she'd convinced him otherwise.
The Shattered Starfields were a complicated place. There were many pirate clans, but they weren't united.
It was the perfect place to train a Star Division that had been trained like a pirate.
The three largest planets in the Shattered Starfields were now under the Pontiff's Citadel's control. The Moonfiend Empress had used Zeus -1's stealth abilities to sneak up on them, but she was alone. She'd been lucky she'd been able to save her own people.
Among the pirate clans in the Shattered Starfields, most of the larger clans represented a faction of their own.
Without a solid foundation, pirates couldn't grow strong. Resources were a problem.
The Pharmacist approached Lan Jue and smiled. "I have some good news for you."
"What is it?" Lan Jue asked with a smile.
He'd hoped the Pharmacist would take on a more important role. At the very least, she'd be First Brigade's vice-captain.
But the Pharmacist had refused. She only wanted to be captain of the First Brigade. She didn't care about anything else.
"They're here," she said.
"They're here?" Lan Jue blinked, but quickly realized who the Pharmacist was talking about.
She lowered her voice. "Where are they?"
The Pharmacist smiled. "Come with me." She walked to the back of the ship.
Majesty was the size of a battleship, so it had its own cabins for the soldiers to rest in.
It wasn't as cramped as Zeus -1.
The Pharmacist led Lan Jue to one of the cabins and closed the door.
She waved her right hand, and three beams of light appeared.
They flickered with white, blue, and red lights respectively.
There were three long swords floating in the air.
Apart from their light, they didn't release any powerful auras. They floated in front of Lan Jue.
Lan Jue had seen the white one before.
It was the Pharmacist's Occisus.
The other two swords were simple and unadorned. Closer inspection revealed a strange energy that seemed to consume a man's gaze and attention. It made him feel like he was about to fall forward.
The blue longsword, on the other hand, flickered with light.
"Come out," the Pharmacist said with a smile.
All of a sudden, the red and blue longswords flashed, and two people emerged from the swords.
It was the White Blademaster, Jun Yongye, and the Ten Thousand Swords of One, Xuanyuan Shishi.
"Ah, it's been a long time." Lan Jue's voice was pleasantly surprised.
Jun Yongye and Xuanyuan Shishi nodded in unison.
"You guys talk, I'm leaving," the Pharmacist said. She opened her mouth, and Occisus dissolved into a beam of white light that disappeared into her mouth.
"Please, have a seat." The cabin wasn't large, and the three of them were cramped.
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August, the weather is hot. Can our monthly votes be as hot? Thank you for your support.
(To be continued)