Chapter 3

The Royce man-made object is a 40-kilometer-diameter planet-like object located 860 light-years away from the Muse galaxy. It is an important energy supply base and military stronghold of Seth, the seventh planet of the Muse galaxy.

Space distortion and magnetic field anomalies caused by meteorite groups, cosmic black holes and stellar explosions have long plagued the human beings in the Muse Galaxy. Three hundred years ago, the tragic disaster caused by the unknown meteorite group is still remembered by the people of the Muse Galaxy. Still fresh, more than 200 Mars frontier cruisers were instantly destroyed in that magnetic storm, and together with the 531 officers and soldiers on them fell into the abyss of the universe. When the rescue ship arrived, all that was found was debris floating in the darkness along with the meteorite swarm.

In order to find a safe route, the government of the fourth planet and the government of the seventh planet worked together, and finally found two relatively safe routes among the dense groups of stars and meteorites. Considering the maximum mass point and other factors that the spacecraft jumped in the cosmic subspace, one of them had to be discarded, and a relatively narrow seat belt was selected. The Royce man-made celestial body is located in the center of this belt, 356 million kilometers away, and is the military fortress of Canon on the fourth planet Mars. From the names of the two, its main function and the original purpose of the builder can be distinguished.

Fortunately, the relationship between the fourth planet and the seventh planet is not too bad. The soldiers stationed on Royce and Canon have occasional friction, but it is not harmful.

Captain Elfy walked into the command cabin of the cruise ship and looked around. In the spacious room, the front of the command platform was a huge semi-arc screen, and the radar monitors, intelligent computers, communication devices, etc. were regularly distributed under it. The correspondent was making final confirmations, and the commander of the cruise ship, Commodore George, stood in front of the screen, staring thoughtfully at the space projected on the screen.

“Report to the commander, it has been confirmed with the ground control tower, the supply is complete, and it can take off at any time.”

Colonel George turned his head and looked at Elfy for a while, “Elfy, relax, young people don’t always be so tense, be careful that no young girl will like you.”

Elfy winked helplessly at the blonde girl beside the communication device. After boarding this cruise ship for nearly half a year, Elfy has learned how to deal with the commander’s inappropriate remarks, that is, turning a blind eye and hearing without hearing. There are times when the bearded colonel with the hair is having fun.

“What an unlovable boy, it’s hard to have a handsome face.”

The bearded colonel whispered to himself as he walked to the podium and sat down. The correspondent reconfirmed the situation of the cruise ship’s organ room and the front and rear forts.

At 1:20 in the afternoon, Commander George gave the order to sail.

With the roar of the engine, the 4th Fleet of the Republic of Seth, the seventh planet of the Muse galaxy, a total of 1,238 cruise ships left Royce and headed for the colony planet of the Republic of Seth Alpha system. The mission this time is to suppress the territorial riots that occurred on the second planet of the alpha system. Ironically, the Republic of Seth holds high the banner of democracy and freedom, and does not miss any opportunity to criticize Mars’s militaristic tyranny, but uses violent means to suppress its own colonial planet.

Passing through the Cannon military fortress, Colonel George left the command cabin, waved at the stunned El Fei, and temporarily handed over the command of the entire fleet to this handsome young man.

“Lord Commander, you are joking!”

“It doesn’t matter, it will take two days to reach Planet Alpha, as long as you don’t deviate from the course, I just want to go have a drink.”

“Lord Commander!” El Fei’s voice rose, and his forehead became blue veins. He didn’t understand how the government of the Republic would hand over the command of the Fourth Fleet to this reckless and irresponsible guy in front of him!

Suddenly, the radar operator exclaimed, “Commander, an unknown object was found at three o’clock, and it is rapidly approaching us, it is likely to be a meteorite group!”

George took a few steps to the front of the console. On the huge arc-shaped screen, countless light spots clustered together, and the density and running speed were amazing.

Is this really just a swarm of meteorites? This kind of speed and scale is too unreasonable.

If it wasn’t a swarm of meteorites, what would it be?

Is it…

This is impossible! This number, if it is a fleet, is at least tens of thousands. Even if the power of the entire Muse galaxy is gathered, it is impossible to gather such a huge fleet.

George was silent for a long time, and the people in front of the console turned to look at him. Perhaps they sensed that something was wrong, and everyone’s expressions were very solemn. The atmosphere in the command cabin instantly became impetuous, and the long silence stimulated everyone’s nerves.

Captain Elfy told himself that he had to put some kind of terrible guess behind him, reminding His Excellency Commander to make the best judgment as soon as possible.

Go forward or turn back? Regardless of whether it is a meteorite group or a fleet group of other unknown galaxies, it is impossible to temporarily change the channel, and with the current strength of the Fourth Fleet, it is completely unable to compete with it.

“Commander, please give your order.”

“Order everyone to return immediately, return at full speed, maintain formation, and do not allow any cruise ship to fall behind!”

“Yes!”

“All return, return at full speed!”

One thousand two hundred and thirty-eight cruise ships, led by their flagships, maintained a wedge-shaped formation and turned back at the fastest speed.

On the screen, the dense group of light spots suddenly disappeared, but Colonel George did not feel relieved. Some kind of terrible premonition left him dry and uncharacteristically anxious, and he kept repeating the same order: “Return at full speed!”

“commander!”

The radar operator’s voice sounded again, with inexplicable panic.

The group of light spots on the screen reappeared, shortening the distance from the fleet at an incredible speed. George has been absolutely sure that this is definitely not a meteorite group! The next moment, his hunch came true.

The light wave formed by the particle weapon tore through the black space, and the cruise ship that was hit suddenly shook violently. The strong light emitted by the main screen illuminated the faces of everyone in the command cabin, and the terrible particle pulse eroded the cruise ship. The main control computer of the ship was full of sparks, and the console lost control. Another wave of attacks hit, the thick wall of the cruise ship was torn apart, and the two closest correspondents were pulled out by pressure, and the screams of horror were drowned in the loud explosion…

The same scenario was happening among the different cruisers of the Fourth Fleet. The sporadic counterattacks were innocuous to the enemy’s attack, and despair and fear began to hang over.

“…Call the command module! Call the command module!”

Elfei woke up amidst the roar of his brain, his retina was burned by the strong light, his vision was a little blurred, the back of his hand rubbed his cheek, a dull pain, spread out his fingers, and a thick liquid slowly flowed in the palm of his hand.

In the command cabin, the smell of scorched circuits was flying together with the choking smoke and dust. El Fei leaned on the command platform and raised his head to see the radar operator’s half intestines flowing out of his abdominal cavity. He retched, but couldn’t vomit anything.

Commander Colonel George’s body was lying not far away, his body was crushed in two from his waist, his eyes were wide open, and he didn’t seem to believe what had happened to him.

Elfy looked at everything in front of him, and suddenly had an illusion that it was just a dream. As long as he closed his eyes and woke up from the dream, everything would return to its original state.

Including the bearded commander who always likes to joke, the blond correspondent with two dimples when he smiles, the radar guy who just graduated from school… by the way, and the sweet girl waiting for him in Seth…

The pain and despair seemed to be gone, Elfy closed his eyes, and a happy smile appeared on his face.

Five seconds later, white light surrounded the entire fleet, like the most greedy diners, swallowing up 1,238 cruise ships.

On August 19, 1127, the Galactic Calendar, the Fourth Fleet of the Republic of Seth, the seventh planet of the Muse system, disappeared on its way to the colonized planet for unknown reasons.

Only twenty-eight hours, ten thirty-six seconds had passed since the Fourth Fleet departed from Royce and disappeared.