Age of Cosmic Exploration

Chapter 444: Beginning!

While the simulation was going on, the second and last batch of civilians was getting on the spaceships at the first defense line.

This was a transport shuttle that hurried over from the second defense line. It was originally used to transport cargo, so it wasn't that comfortable for the passengers. However, comfort wasn't really a concern during war time. It carried on it about ten thousand people in one go. As the shuttle drifted towards the second defense line, the atmosphere at the space port was drawn…

Lee Yuan Fang looked his comrades' drawn faces and he felt the bad mood reflected within himself. This time almost all the civilians had been moved, including many of their families and children. This feeling of separation was truly grating.

"Captain Lee Yuan Fang, please report to the first defense line's central command immediately. Captain Lee Yuan Fang, please report to the first defense line's central command immediately."

Just as Lee Yuan Fang was lamenting the sadness, this voice suddenly appeared in his mini earmic. He didn't dare to dawdle and hopped onto a hovercraft to head towards central command. When he arrived, he realized that most of the majors and captains at the defense line were already there.

The Defense Unit still used the military ranking system utilized on old Earth. In increasing ranks: normal soldier, private, corporal, sergeant, sergeant first class, captain, major, general, and above general was commander. Currently, there was only one commander within the Defense Unit, and that was the leader, Guang Zhen.

The rank of captain was considered middle among the Defense Unit, while at the first defense line, the rank of captain was considered high because the leading commander at the base was merely a major. Therefore, Lee Yuan Fang as captain had to be there whenever there was an important meeting.

"Lee Yuan Fang reporting for duty."

When Lee Yuan Fang saw the group of captains and majors sitting inside, he stood to attention immediately.

The one standing on stage was the first defense line's commanding officer, Major Warner. He was a soldier originally from old Earth. He was in his seventies but looked like a healthy middle-aged man. He nodded at Lee Yuan Fang before continuing, "We've just received the order from the City of Light Moon five minutes ago. The first defense line will enter the highest alert state after this batch of civilians depart from the base. No one will be allowed to leave the base alone unless it is on the order from the highest military body. The first defense line will initiate energy conservation systems to focus all our energy on operable weapons… This line of coordinates is our final war line. The moment our enemy crosses this line, we will start attacking!"

There was a small commotion in the room after that order was given. One of the captains raised his hand to ask, "Major, the number of the enemy's fleet has already surpassed the maximum number of enemies the first defense line can fighter when it was designed. In fact, it is several thousand times over it. This kind of strategy…"

Warner shook his head. "The maximum number of enemies the first defense line can deal with is 400 spaceships the size of the Hope, guardian spaceships in the five digits, and battleships in the 15 digits. The moment, these number are surpassed, the first defense line will be completely wiped out. Yes, these numbers are close to my heart. The numbers are as such because these are normally the number of a space civilization's main fleet, but!

"We're facing an AI civilization. This kind of number is merely the tip of an iceberg for them. I know this is difficult, and this order might represent the highest honor available to a soldier… sacrifice!

"Let me remind everyone what is beyond this base! There is the transport shuttle that is carrying our families and friends! Then think about the second defense line! There are more than 200,000 civilians there, and half of them are children! Children below the age of 10! If we lose them, humanity would have lost everything! So there can be no buts or ifs!"

Warner said sternly, "This is an order! We are not allowed to take one step back! This is an order! I repeat, this is an order! Anyone who attempts to run, hide, or surrender will be personally shot down by me and I will report the name back to the City of Light Moon and have the Barracks announce to the whole civilization that these are the human traitors!"

"Of course…"

Warner's expression softened. "The Barracks hasn't abandoned us. The first spaceship fleet is heading our way as we speak. The order from the superiors is to hold the base for at least 15 days. After 15 days are over, we are allowed to retreat to the second defense line with the first fleet."

When this detail was revealed, everyone's expressions brightened. Of course they would follow the orders. They were soldiers, they would rather die than be branded human traitors. Furthermore, Warner was right. Their families and friends were just behind them, so they couldn't give up and allow these people to die. However, if one could survive, who would willingly choose death? After all, one needed to be alive to reunite with their families and friends.

"Now I will arrange the patrol area and the energy distribution system…"

As Warner said that, a shrill alarm sounded through central command. This was the alarm that signaled that they were under siege!

"At Earth time 10:27 AM, the unknown fleet started moving towards the first defense line. The fleet arrangement is as we can see on screen… the leading fleet contains 30,000 plus spaceships and the space between each spaceship is incredibly small, completely ignoring the normal navigational traditions of space travelling. They wandered into the firing range of the super long-distance weapons easily, but their intention is still unknown.

"At the same time, we have detected the travelling speed of this space fleet. Using the normal space travelling speed as constant, they are travelling at 4.2 times the speed of humanity's spaceships. This is the sign of an energy umbrella propeller. Initial detection puts this unknown fleet at level 3 or even higher technological level…"

When these messages appeared in the City of Light Moon, they were sent to the first and second defense lines at first notice. At the same time, all the defense weapons at the first defense line were active and armed.

Warner stood in the control room for one of the Requiem cannons. Beside him was Lee Yuan Fang, who was responsible over that particular cannon. Both of them looked at the mess of silvery dots on the screen and their hearts fell. The message from the City of Light Moon had casted a pall over the atmosphere at the first defense line.

4.2 times the speed of human spaceships? This meant that the enemy would only need one day to catch up to humanity, who had travelled for four days. Using this calculation, the unknown fleet would only need two days to reach the first defense line if they continued this speed… and would only need less than one day to pursue and slaughter the transport shuttle carrying the civilians…

How could they allow this to happen?!

"…Yuan Fang, what is your opinion of the Barracks' latest order?" Warner suddenly asked.

Lee Yuan Fang was startled before answering, "It is their last resort. Either all the previous surveillance data was all wrong or, more likely, we've been swindled. Our enemy's travelling speed is higher than any one of us has expected, the numbers are greater than we expected, and their technological level is greater than ours at least by two stages. This war… is an unwinnable one."

Warner nodded and continued bitterly, "The Barracks didn't mean to abandon us, but they can't save us anymore. The initial strategy wouldn't have worked, using the first defense line as the enemy's death line. That is possible only if we're on the same level as our enemy. In just two days, we'll be swallowed by this large, alien fleet.."

Both of them were silent. Suddenly, Warner pulled a pack of cigarettes out from his coat. He passed one to Lee Yuan Fang before lighting one himself. He took a deep breath and said, "I'm prepared to lay my life down here, but at least before I die, I need to see my family reach the second defense line safely. The size of the base there is at least 10 times this base and they have more than enough weapons to halt this fleet… at least enough to give our families enough time to retreat to the City of Light Moon."

Lee Yuan Fang was silent before adding, "That's not what I'm worried about the most… Perhaps we will die here and our families will safely reach the City of Light Moon, but… what's next? None of us will be able to leave the New Solar System. This… if I'm being frank, we're all sitting ducks waiting to be picked off. We Chinese have a saying: the people surviving but the land dying means that both survive; the people die but the land survives, both die. When there is a ray of hope, the sacrifice of the military is necessary to preserve the land, but when there is no hope in staying, it is better to leave with a smaller hope intact. That is my honest opinion."

Warner laughed. "All of us in the military know about this theory. However, the power is in the people. Many see this place as their home, so it depends on the Chancellor and whether his influence is big enough to sway the public opinion…"

Suddenly, a soldier rushed in to report, "Captain, Major, there is a new message from the City of Light Moon. Halt all progress on Kun Lun and reactivate the sleeping Hope. All the civilians are ordered to file into the Hope and all the other same-size spaceships…

"The moment everyone reaches home base, space warp will be initiated immediately!"