Chapter 238

Chapter 238

Wandering Star Sector Defense Line.

Lance had accepted the transfer order and was resting in a room with a few companions. His deputy, Babyface Yurika, was also present.

"The equipment is being inventoried. We're expected to depart in an hour."

Lance didn't say anything, and Babyface Yurika didn't press further, simply changing the subject. "The base commander was temporarily replaced. Something seems to have happened."

A short-haired woman nearby spoke up. "One of them was injured—a really skilled fighter. The base medics were unable to help. I was going to introduce them to our team's medic, but they'd already left by then."

Another companion chimed in. "I don't know how good the medical care here is, but the base doctor said the situation wasn't optimistic."

As they were talking, someone burst in from outside. The person had clearly just come off the battlefield, not even bothering to knock. They flung the door open and rushed in. "Red alert! Gear up, and take charge of your people!"

The newcomer was gruff and hurried, hardly finished speaking before turning to leave, but at that moment, no one cared about their rudeness.

After he dropped those words and turned away hurriedly, the people in the room were still stunned. They stared blankly at the door, now wide open. Then, a piercing alarm blared through the entire base.

Someone muttered under his breath in disbelief, "It's for real."

Babyface Yurika whipped his head around. "Don't just stand there! Didn't you hear him? Sound the alarm!"

"Go back, find your subordinates, make them stop what they're doing and gear up!"

...

"Admiral Carter! B29 red alert."

A red alert meant more than just risk or a breach—a breach could still be retreated from. It meant that one of their outposts or bases was surrounded. If follow-up forces couldn't quickly push the defense line forward, the swarm might break through into their rear, triggering a collapse.

Defense line operations were a shared responsibility. If a breach happened anywhere, it could set off a chain reaction.

This was an emergency, a scenario emphasized in every military academy's simulations.

As an admiral, Carter understood the gravity of the situation. He frowned.

"What's going on?"

The messenger projected a holographic screen and highlighted the red area for Carter.

"It's in a very vulnerable position. There's no Grath defense line ahead to share the pressure, and the rear is a void with no other bases nearby. Plus, some of the swarm is starting to take detours because Grath's defenses are too tight."

Carter reached out, zoomed in on that section, and examined it carefully while speaking quickly. "Order them to hold their position at all costs. How many troops can we still mobilize?"

Before he got an answer, Caterpillar suddenly stood up. "Is Lance there? Has he returned yet?"

The adjutant, who had been pulling up data for Carter, looked up with an even grimmer expression. "No, Admiral. We haven't received any word of their departure."

Once an Insect Tide gained momentum, it was hard to reverse. The bases in their path would fall quickly. Few survived a base under red alert. As far as he knew, only one base had held out long enough for reinforcements to push the line forward again, but only about a dozen people survived, most severely wounded. The rest had been devoured by the swarm.

Though almost all commanders would make massive redeployments at such times, appearing very active, most late-stage redeployments were just damage control for the entire defense line.

Caterpillar shook his head. The royal family no longer held real power—more symbolic than practical—but it was still different. Plus, Lance had a positive public image and was popular with the people. For something like this to happen far from home would be a huge headache. But there was no other choice now.

"Same as before. Order the alerted base to hold at all costs."

In truth, there was no alternative but to hold out. If the people inside wanted any hope of survival, they had to hold out as long as possible.

Caterpillar paused a few seconds, then exchanged a look with his adjutant. "There's a Grath garrison nearby."

The adjutant's face turned serious. "I'll contact them immediately and request emergency assistance."

...

Bragi worked diligently. The others quickly realized how useful he was—his computing power far exceeded that of ordinary intelligences. Under Bragi's control, the fleet operated with remarkable efficiency, minimizing damage rates and providing optimal solutions for technicians in various emergencies.

While working, Bragi multitasked, receiving reports from the ship left at Spider Base and maintaining contact with Grath's central command.

"Your Majesty, central has received an aid request."

He unfolded the star map before Norton, marking a small corner and indicating the forces and the swarm's incursion.

Norton looked up briefly.

"By proximity."

"Understood, Your Majesty. His Majesty Bode is nearest. Based on precedent, I will have Prince Ano report to His Majesty Bode's garrison and temporarily assume duties."

On the other side.

Bode was still at the front. He seemed to have discovered the appeal of the drone following him. While slaying bugs, he entertained himself. Thanks to his sudden interest in the camera drone, his drone lasted the longest.

The other Grath drones were quickly overwhelmed by the swarm, but Bode would casually rescue his drone.

"You all might be bored. I'm bored too."

As he spoke, Bode kicked the drone aside, and the next moment, a king insect emerged in that spot. Bode followed, landing lightly on its head, stomping hard enough to tilt the massive creature sideways. The drone, like a boomerang, returned to his side.

Without sparing it a glance, Bode swung his sword and shattered the king insect's mouthparts. The next second, the king insect let out a piercing screech.

Following Bode's perspective—since his drone was the longest-surviving one—the viewership had grown the most.

"No, no, no, I'm not bored at all. My heart's working overtime."

"My ears are gone. I can't stand that the sound effects are so realistic. I finally got used to the spinning camera and stopped vomiting, and now I'm getting tinnitus."

"I bet he's doing it on purpose."

"The whole internet bets he's doing it on purpose, except for one who denies it."

Bode landed gracefully on open ground and patted the drone beside him.

"Fun, isn't it?"

"He totally did it on purpose."

"Honestly, it's fun, but a bit too intense."

"How could it not be intense? A fully immersive real experience of charging through the swarm seven times. Even game companies wouldn't dare make that in full-dive games."

Bode moved through the swarm like a fish in water, occasionally rambling nonsense to the drone. He severed the forelimbs of a massive king insect and lopped off its head.

"The big ones are mine, the small ones go to my boys and girls. Fair."

"Actually, the big ones are easier to cut. Growing that big is practically begging me to hack them down."

"No, no, no, we generally don't think that way. A giant king insect can push the swarm's front line forward."

Baide suddenly stopped. He cocked his head, paused a moment, and said, "Alright, we've got a mission. Gotta head out."

"Having strong psychic powers rocks. You don't even need a communicator—saves a ton."

"Jealous? I'll triple your demolition payout."

……

Inside the b29 base, all personnel had gathered in the central open space. They were not inside the buildings, which could not withstand a single impact from the insectoids; staying inside would just get you killed faster.

Huge mechs and humans clad only in combat suits crowded together. The warships could barely lift off anymore. At the center of the encirclement were the wounded, and there was no time for slow healing now.

The top of the base was sealed off, but they could clearly hear the occasional loud impacts and insectoid screeches coming from outside. Everyone's nerves were frayed; no one knew when the sealed base would be breached by force.

Lance, piloting his mech, said over the channel:

"Twenty minutes. If we can hold out for the first twenty, our survival chances skyrocket."

The channel was quiet; no one spoke. Everyone was on edge. Those who could join Lance's Legion were pretty much top-tier cadets. They knew full well that even surviving the first twenty minutes, the survival rate was abysmal.

Suddenly, impacts came from above. Everyone looked up as impact after impact hit. No one spoke; they held their breath without thinking.

Soon, the impacts stopped.

Most people gradually relaxed their nerves. Then, with a deafening crash, a huge forelimb with jagged serrations stabbed through.

The tense crowd immediately attacked the limb, but it paid no attention, focused only on tearing open a larger hole above.

Seeing that they couldn't repel it, the crowd began to scatter.

Lance, while retreating to the open area, tried to find the King Insect's weak spot amid the chaos.

More of the King Insect's body was exposed as the tear widened.

This was his chance. Lance aimed at its eye and fired several rounds.

The injured King Insect screeched, reared up in rage, and slammed heavily toward Lance.

Even inside the cockpit, Lance felt a massive jolt.

It bit down on the mech. The mech, about the size of a small King Insect, was like a toy to it.

This is bad, Lance thought, trying to maneuver the mech to escape.

They couldn't corrode or chew through the mech's armor, but this King Insect was so huge it could crush the mech with sheer strength.

The attacks from others trying to help couldn't budge it at all.

Cracks also began to appear inside the mech's cockpit.

Lance pushed his psychic power to the limit, sweat beading on his forehead. He might die here today.

Just then, a notification cut into the squad channel: "Grath has arrived. All personnel who can move freely, proceed to the designated coordinates immediately."

What the hell? A notification now? Before Lance could react, the King Insect, still gripping the mech in its jaws, collapsed, kicking up a cloud of dust.

Everything happened too fast, but after the impact, Lance quickly maneuvered the mech away from the King Insect. Then he felt a heavy stomp on the mech's chest.

Baide landed on Lance's mech. He flicked his sword in a flourish, shaking off the King Insect's fluids.

"You're still green, kid. Your basics are way too weak, even worse than Cyril's. And he flunked multiple classes."

He shook his head. "You can't even identify a King Insect's vital point."

"Don't say that. He's the only kid in the family, give him a break. Don't tear him down; encourage him. Besides, he only failed one subject."

"The little prince approves. Also, Emperor Norton is on his way. Baide, you'd better watch out."

"Baide will swipe Cyril's toys to blow off steam, then get chased by Norton again, then bully Cyril again."

"Cyril: 'Have some decency.'"

"Cyril should be at home now, right? Is he watching too?"

Baide crouched down like a big cat and knocked on the mech's cockpit.

"You guys need to pull your weight, you know? I'm an old man and I'm exhausted."

"This is why I'm always so grumpy. When you have to worry about the whole defensive line, you'd get ticked off too."

Grath's position meant they faced most of the insectoids, taking the brunt of the pressure and acting as a buffer for other nations.

"Sure, he's tired, but I don't buy the rest. Others might not be, but Baide being so mean must be in his blood."