Only after Liu Bai clambered onto the Hope with a completely out-cold Zhang Heng on his back did Yao Yuan know that they were struck with an ambus.h.!.+

"d.a.m.n! How many enemy aliens were there? Where’s the rest of the unit?" Yao Yuan screamed at Liu Bai with bloodshot eyes.

Liu Bai answered calmly, "I left too early to tell how many enemies were there in total… Plus, I had to leave on my own because Zhang Heng was not looking so well."

Yao Yuan turned to Zhang Heng immediately. The boy had lost consciousness and was fidgeting all over like he was suffering from epilepsy. Yao Yuan collected himself quickly because he knew Liu Bai had made the right choice under the circ.u.mstances. Returning to the Hope allowed him to both rescue an important member of the s.h.i.+p and to bring back updates from the front lines… Information was everything in a situation where creator’s particles had been deployed.

"Liu Bai, you’re off medical duty; leave Zhang Heng to the medical unit. Help me prepare for combat."

Yao Yuan retrieved from his pocket a red communicator. A sharp siren wailed through the Hope’s fifth floor when he pressed a b.u.t.ton on it.

"The Hope is under attack! All Black Star troopers and the Hope Defense Unit, please prepare for combat! I repeat. The Hope is under attack! All Black Star troopers and the Hope Defense Unit please prepare for combat! This is not a drill, I repeat, this is not a drill!"

The announcement followed the siren. According to protocol, all military personnel had to gather at the Hope’s training field to wait for orders within 5 minutes of the announcement. Whether one was resting or eating, it made no difference; an order was an order.

Yao Yuan arrived at the field in less than 5 minutes. All 140 plus Black Star Troopers were already there. This was an elite unit composed of purely h.o.m.o Evolutis. Thanks to the increase in h.o.m.o Evolutis brought upon by the second fever, Yao Yuan decided to limit the Black Star Troopers to a small yet elite unit. Everyone was armed with Gaussian rifles, electromagnetic sawblades, and s.p.a.ce Armor Prototype 1s. Few among them were also pilots for s.p.a.ce Combat Jet Prototype 003.

The Hope Defense Unit, on the other hand, had about 3,600 members. Armed with reinforced s.p.a.ce combat suits, Gaussian rifles, and charged bayonets, this was a unit that was meant to win via overwhelming numbers. Every platoon was fitted with 1 mini Gaussian Gatling cannon, every company 2 mini Gaussian cannons, and every battalion 2 to 3 medium Gaussian cannons. These 2 were the main military units that made up the Hope’s army.

Yao Yuan wasted no time to address the gathered men and women. "Mobilize all 3 main units within the Black Star Troopers now. Use the shuttles to get aboveground and help exterminate all enemies in sight. Secure the perimeter and wait for further orders… Ol’ Wong, you’ll be leading the teams, go now!"

Guang Zhen saluted. "Yes, Sir!" With the rest of the Black Star Troopers, they rushed towards the shuttle hangar.

Yao Yuan then trained his attention at the remaining 3,600 soldiers. "This s.h.i.+p is currently under alien attack. Right above us, our dispatch unit was ambushed. They might be dead by now, so I’ll skip the sentimentalities. With the Black Star Troopers forging the path for us, we’re going to arrive to clean up the rest. I’ll be personally leading your party for this mission!

"Combat Battalion A, Battalions 1, 2, and 3, fall out!" Yao Yuan ordered.

About 1,500 soldiers s.h.i.+fted into position in an orderly fas.h.i.+on.

Yao Yuan continued, "Your battalions will be armed with standard s.p.a.ce combat gear. Follow closely behind the Black Star Troopers. Aid them in securing the perimeter. Go now."

"Sir, yes, Sir!" The 3 battalion commanders and 3 second lieutenants saluted in unison. Then they ran to catch up with the troopers.

"Support Battalion B, Battalion 4, 5, and 6, fall out!" Yao Yuan yelled.

Another 1,500 soldiers s.h.i.+fted into position. Yao Yuan added, "Your mission will be to help the troopers and combat battalion A secure the perimeter. In about 10 minutes, your battalion will arrive at the battlefield with long-ranged weapons to provide cover."

"Sir, yes, Sir!" the 3 battalion commanders replied.

Yao Yuan turned to the last 600 plus soldiers. "Sc.r.a.pper Battalion C, your task will start after the combat has reached its mid-point. Head out after 30 minutes and start building battlefield modifications around the temporary base. I’ll allow the usage of heavy duty transport vehicles and large creator’s particles isolators as well as large high-energy electromagnetic batteries."

The battalion commanders replied, "Sir, yes, Sir!"

While all of this were going on, the Guang Zhen-led troopers had already arrived at the battlefield. They were stunned by the scene that unfolded before their eyes the moment the shuttle window opened to the surface.

The field was littered with so many alien bodies that their blood had pooled into a green-colored stream. Chipped exoskeletons and meat hunks dotted the landscape. There were heaps after heaps of alien carca.s.ses!

Ebon’s almost 3 meters tall s.p.a.ce armor stood out like a sore thumb amidst the grotesque scene. He was still cras.h.i.+ng through the battlefield. Every enemy that stood in his path was shredded down. A gang of aliens tried stopping him by forming a flesh wall, but he rammed through it with ease like he was a human tank!

"Tank? You’re underestimating the power of s.p.a.ce Armor Prototype 1."

The word "tank" triggered a memory in Guang Zhen’s mind. He remembered arguing with Bo Li. This was during a discussion on possible vehicular addition to the Hope’s military. Since the Hope no longer needed to worry about overload during warp, the Barracks could afford to consider engineering armored vehicles, like tanks.

Bo Li said, in her condescending tone, "Just in terms of technology, the s.p.a.ce armor is more advanced than the combat jet. So why would we want a tank? A tank will be useless with the presence of the creator’s particle. It will be nothing more than an empty tin can! We should focus our efforts on high-mobility, high-compatibility, high-speed, and high-defense body armor!

"Furthermore, a normal vehicle, like a tank, wouldn’t showcase the power of the h.o.m.o Evolutis. Yes, a tank might be able to rival 2 enemies, but the s.p.a.ce armor’s better than that. According to its wearer’s ability, it’ll be able to adapt and improve its wearer’s combat capability. It is the perfect technology to showcase the value of the h.o.m.o Evolutis."

Guang Zhen was a veteran soldier, so even though he might not want to admit it, he knew the importance of the s.p.a.ce armor. However, his mind was set in the times of World War 1, where tanks were the undisputed kings of the battlefield. After being shut down by Bo Li, he even went into a slight depression.

At that moment he finally accepted the strength of the s.p.a.ce armor, especially when it was worn by the h.o.m.o Evolutis. Armed with so many pieces of 4th revolution technology, if pitted against a tank, Guang Zhen believed the armored h.o.m.o Evolutis could easily flip the tank over like it was made of paper.

Guang Zhen spotted a safe spot among the sea of bodies. 5 Survivors were camped around the spot, firing around them while Ying, Ebon, and Ren Tao were slas.h.i.+ng through enemy ranks with their sawblades. Naturally, he also spotted the bigger aliens who had electromagnetic s.h.i.+elds that protected them from bullets.

Noticing this, Guang Zhen narrowed his eyes. There was a lethal glint in them.

Guang Zhen had many differences with Yao Yuan in terms of policies. He was, by all accounts, a by-the-rules soldier. The thought that flashed through his mind then was to execute the 5 shameless Survivors where they stood.

Before he could do anything and before the shuttles could properly land, about 1,000 2-meters-tall alien creatures burst out from underneath the ground. They were different from the giant electromagnetic s.h.i.+elded creatures and the small alien foot soldiers because they had a 1-meter-long shafts that protruded from their chests. And they were all trained at the 2 shuttles.

Then electricity started swirling around the shafts. Numerous metallic pieces shot out of the shafts with unexpected speed, and before anyone could react, two transport shuttles blew up in mid-air…