"Xiaosu, send our report to Tyrannosaurus.
Ask them what they want us to do next. "The Wine Master said to Xiaosu after a moment's thought.
Xiaosu nodded. She turned on the ship's systems and tried to connect to Tyrannosaurus.
Tyrannosaurus' signal system was excellent. It didn't take long to connect.
"Reporting." Xiaosu reported.
The Wine Master asked. "What's the response?"
"Wait a moment," Xiaosu replied.
"It's a bit far, the signal isn't very clear."
After a moment she spoke. "Tyrannosaurus is asking us to return as soon as possible.
We need to rendezvous with them. "
"Got it."
The Wine Master's face darkened. He turned to look at the Clockmaker. "You mean if we go back, we might …"
The Clockmaker smiled. "I'm not sure, but it's possible.
For everyone's safety, it's best if we don't meet up with them. Our mission is complete anyway. "
"Alright!" The Wine Master knew what she meant.
In the Shattered Starfields, Zeus -1 had no way to communicate with Skyfire Avenue.
In a battle like this, losing a patrol ship was a simple matter.
Even if Zeus -1 was destroyed, the Northern Alliance could hide it well enough that no one would find out.
The Wine Master had a good impression of Admiral Kang, but he couldn't gamble with everyone's lives.
Besides, there was no point in returning to Tyrannosaurus. They didn't want to give the enemy a chance to make a mistake.
…
Tyrannosaurus.
"Reports received. Skyfire Division has sent in their reports. The alien planets have regrouped in the area that once belonged to Moonfiend. They don't seem to be pursuing us." Ling Ya's voice came through.
Kang Hui let out a long sigh and sank into his chair. His tense nerves relaxed somewhat.
Sorrow flashed in his eyes. Holmen had died. Arachnid's hundreds of thousands of soldiers had perished. First Fleet had been wiped out. They had died protecting Tyrannosaurus.
Heron was a lost cause.
This was the biggest loss the North had ever suffered in the history of interstellar colonization.
As the commander of this military operation, he was duty-bound.
"Contact the military and send back all the information about this battle," Kang Hui said to Ling Ya as he closed his eyes in exhaustion.
"Yes!" Ling Ya answered.
"Marshal, it's time to make up your mind." Wu Qiu stood beside Kang Hui and whispered to him.
Kang Hui abruptly opened his eyes and said angrily, "Those are our allies. Without them, I would have been dead a long time ago, and the military operation this time would have failed even more thoroughly.
You want me to deal with them? "
Wu Qiu sighed. "Yes, Team Skyfire has been a great help to us.
But, Marshal.
His Majesty the Cosmagus, the Chairman of the Skyfire Avenue Council, and four other Paragons were present in the Star Division.
There was also Captain Blue.
If they couldn't back out on Skyfire Avenue, the blow to Skyfire Avenue would be fatal.
According to the information we received, before the Clairvoyant passed away, he had already decided that Captain Blue would be his successor.
I'm afraid it'll be difficult for us to find such a good opportunity again.
We won't be able to explain this to the military … "
Kang Hui's breathing was ragged, and his hands clenched into fists. After a moment he relaxed them. "No!
We're not on the same side, but when it comes to the aliens we're on the same side!
Without them, Tyrannosaurus wouldn't even exist. I can't be a traitor.
Don't bring this up again! "
Wu Qiu sighed. "Marshal, you're a good man, but you're too loyal." His hand rose and fell as he spoke.
Kang Hui was already very tired, and he was even more unguarded against Wu Qiu, his trusted aide. He immediately groaned and fainted on the desk.
The Adepts guarding Kang Hui were shocked, and instinctively moved to attack Wu Qiu.
Wu Qiu snorted, and a powerful aura erupted from his body.
Compared to the Paragons of Skyfire Avenue, he was nothing.
But in this place, his cultivation was indeed the strongest.
"I'm doing this for your own good.
After this great defeat, the Marshal would definitely be impeached when he returned. He had to accumulate some merits to help the Marshal clear his name.
Xiao Ya, send a message to Skyfire Avenue and urge them to return.
Tell them we can't afford to wait too long. "
Ling Ya looked at Wu Qiu, and saw the murderous intent in his eyes. Her heart trembled, and the image of his handsome face floated up in her mind.
There was a conflicted look in her eyes, but her hands followed Wu Qiu's instructions and sent out the message …
Zeus -1 rose into the air and soared off into the distance.
Lan Jue and the Driver continued to cultivate. The Wine Master used his interdimensional protogenia to conceal the changes in the ship's protogenia.
The Pharmacist's breakthrough meant that Skyfire Avenue would have another Paragon. A Paragon with incredible combat prowess at that.
The Pharmacist had shown extraordinary strength even as an Adept. She would only grow stronger in the future.
A piece of explosive news quickly spread throughout the human world.
The Northern Alliance had launched an all-out attack on the alien planets. Three bastions and five fleets had suffered a crushing defeat.
Arachnid had been wiped out, Heron had suffered heavy losses.
Tyrannosaurus had returned in one piece, but only four of the five fleets it had brought with it had returned.
The Northern Alliance's First Fleet had sacrificed themselves to protect Tyrannosaurus.
For a time, the word 'alien' became a demon in the hearts of the human world.
The Northern Alliance's military conferred upon Ying Tianlong the title of Admiral. Arachnid's Admiral Holmen was no longer an official title.
His family, however, was compensated generously.
General Kang Hui's failure to lead the battle had resulted in his defeat. He was stripped of his military authority, pending further punishment.
For a time, everyone in the three alliances of the human world was in danger.
Almost everyone was discussing when the aliens would come to the human world.
On An Lun, Lan Qing stood silently in front of a large monitor. He watched the battle unfold over and over again.
It was Team Skyfire that had brought all this information back.
It was more detailed than the reports from the Northern Alliance.
Lan Qing's face was solemn. His hands clenched and relaxed, a sign of his turbulent emotions.
The Northern Alliance had been defeated!
The Northern Alliance, humanity's strongest force, had been defeated.
After all, the North's forces were almost as large as the Eastern Alliance's entire army.
According to Skyfire Avenue's analysis, it was likely the alien planets hadn't even used their full strength yet.
Then, what would happen when they went all out?
Lan Qing had to ponder the same question as the populace. When would the aliens show up, and where would they appear?
Their ability to teleport was the most troublesome of all.
Humanity wouldn't be able to muster enough forces to deal with them in such a short time. A single teleport would destroy at least one of humanity's planets.
"Admiral, we have a transmission from Skyfire Avenue." One of the staff officers whispered as he approached.
"Connect it," Lan Qing said.
The image on the screen changed to reveal a familiar face.
"Admiral Lan Qing." It was a formal greeting.
"What is it?" Lan Qing asked.
It was Lan Jue on the screen. Lan Jue's voice was low. "The Eastern Alliance has passed a resolution. All citizens are gathering on the largest planets.
I'd like to ask what the An Lun army plans to do next.
I have no intention of prying into military secrets.
I just want to know how the Eastern Alliance plans to deal with this crisis. "
Lan Qing replied. "We'll deal with whatever comes our way!"
Lan Jue rolled her eyes. "Don't be so vague.
There were only about ten bastions in all of humanity.
Although the Northern Alliance lost the war, it proved that only Bastions have what it takes to defend against the alien planets. "
Lan Qing's voice was low. "What I need to know now is how far and how often the planets can jump.
Don't you understand that if we don't have a proper formation to surround them, no matter how many Bastions we have, it's useless?
We're in a very passive position. "
"I know," Lan Jue said. "That's why I'm asking you about An Lun.
I heard you've finished organizing the fleets you acquired from the auction.
Your army has two fleets of their own, and the Eastern Alliance is weak. I think you should suggest to the military that we concentrate our forces. "
Lan Qing's brows furrowed. "I don't need you to tell me what to do.
If there's nothing else, we'll hang up. "
Lan Jue paused. He could sense his brother wasn't in a good mood, even impatient.
This was the first time he'd felt such emotion from Lan Qing.
"Brother …" Lan Jue called out to Lan Qing.
Lan Qing paused. His expression softened. "What is it?"
Lan Jue said. "If one day I don't come back.
Take good care of father. "
Lan Qing's eyes narrowed. "What do you want?"
Lan Jue smiled. "Nothing.
I'm just making an analogy, don't get too worked up. "
Lan Qing's eyes narrowed. He knew Lan Jue too well, he wouldn't speak without thinking. There had to be a reason.
"What do you want?" Lan Qing asked.
Lan Jue shook his head again. "Nothing. Alright, that's it for now.
I'm off to cultivate. "
The call ended. Lan Qing's irritation grew.
He could see the calm in Lan Jue's eyes.
But from what he knew of his little brother, whenever Lan Jue looked at him like that, it meant he had something up his sleeve.
Three o 'clock tomorrow.