Chapter 296: Planetary Core

In Conference Room One aboard the Honor Spaceship, the entire high command of the Harville Civilization erupted in cheers.

Even Red Dog seemed to be showing emotion, a human-like smile on its face as it clapped gently and continuously.

Aboard residential spaceship after residential spaceship, countless Harvillers erupted into wild celebration.

Everyone, from the youngest children to the oldest elders, knew exactly what the capture of Planet One meant for them.

This was practically the turning point of the entire war! From this moment forward, the conflict would follow a completely different course!

Recalling the suffering Human Civilization had inflicted upon them centuries ago, and then seeing this momentous victory before their eyes—how could they not be ecstatic?

Amid the cheers, however, Haimo Lan felt a faint sense of unease.

‘The humans can’t possibly be unaware of the significance of losing Planet One. But even so, they didn’t use that weapon of mass destruction, the one based on some kind of force-field technology?’

‘Why? What are they waiting for?’

Watching his jubilant colleagues, Haimo Lan didn’t voice his concerns, choosing instead to ponder them in silence.

‘Perhaps it’s because the humans already know that even if they used that weapon, it would only turn the tide of a single battle, not change the overall course of the war?’

‘After all, the star’s volatility is a certainty, and so is the fact that the humans will be weakened near Planet One. And according to our intelligence, they can only use that weapon of mass destruction once in a short period.’

‘If they can’t change that, what’s the point of merely altering the outcome of a single battle?’

‘Yes, that must be it. It has to be…’

Pushing down that lingering doubt, Haimo Lan joined in the celebration.

…

Through large space telescopes and numerous spy satellites, Li Qingsong clearly saw everything that happened on Planet One.

In the glare of the nuclear explosions, all the industrial facilities that had once belonged to him were destroyed. Over a billion Clones left behind on Planet One, unable to evacuate in time, were all killed.

The main fleet of the Intelligent Mechanical Calamity Alliance had descended around Planet One. Throngs of ships were already flying between the surface and space, transporting batch after batch of supplies and machinery. Before the planet’s surface had even settled, massive construction projects were already underway.

Li Qingsong understood perfectly well the significance of losing Planet One.

It was as if a noose had been slipped around his neck, one with almost no hope of escape.

‘My only advantage was fighting on home turf while my opponent had limited supplies. Now, I’ve lost even that one advantage. How can I possibly fight this?’

‘In terms of industrial strength, the combined Intelligent Mechanical Calamity and Harville Civilization is by no means weaker than me.’

‘In terms of logistics and supply, they now have Planet One.’

‘In terms of technology, they’re more advanced than me.’

‘As for the Unmanned Combat System, Red Dog is superior to Wukong.’

‘It’s an impossible fight. There’s not a shred of hope for victory.’

‘Unless I can retake Planet One in a short amount of time.’

‘But I couldn’t even hold it when I had the home-turf advantage. And now I’m supposed to take it back?’

‘It’s completely impossible.’

‘Run? If I run, I’ll lose my supply lines, and it will be even more impossible to escape their pursuit.’

‘Can’t fight, can’t win. Can’t flee, can’t escape.’

The situation had reached its most critical juncture.

But still, he waited.

At Planet Two and Planet Three, the vast number of warships that had retreated in defeat were undergoing repairs and maintenance. Industrial facilities were churning out warships and unmanned combat units at maximum speed to replenish his severely depleted forces.

A vanguard fleet had already been dispatched to harass Planet One. Even if they couldn’t retake it, they could at least slow the enemy’s construction efforts.

On Planet One, massive industrial construction was already underway.

Li Qingsong watched as factories rose from the lava-covered surface of Planet One, a world constantly scorched by its raging star. He watched countless pipelines crisscross the land, watched ships fly to and fro, and watched space elevators connect the ground to the stars.

By now, the number of warships Li Qingsong had sent to harass Planet One already numbered over one hundred thousand. But the obstruction they posed to the enemy was minuscule.

Their industrial system continued to grow at a seemingly unstoppable rate.

‘But… it’s not enough. Not yet.’ Li Qingsong continued to wait.

He watched as more industrial facilities were moved from the Intelligent Mechanical Calamity Alliance’s main fleet to the planet’s surface. He watched more general-purpose robots and even Harville engineers arrive on the ground. He watched the main fleet of the Intelligent Mechanical Calamity Alliance begin to restructure.

Previously, their fleet had been structured around the residential ships as its core.

The residential ships were at the center of the fleet, under the heaviest protection. Next came the supply and industrial vessels, with the warship fleet forming the outermost layer.

Now, the Intelligent Mechanical Calamity Alliance fleet was beginning to rebuild its entire formation with Planet One as its new core.

Vast numbers of residential ships were moved into low orbit around the planet, followed by an outer layer of industrial and supply vessels, and then the warships.

Down on the surface of Planet One, numerous cities began to rise, and a significant portion of the Harvillers, Black Mountain People, and others relocated to the planet.

Planet One had now become the heart of the Intelligent Mechanical Calamity Alliance’s fleet.

Planet One held the most supplies, the most industrial facilities, the most power plants, and the largest population.

Li Qingsong let out a slow breath.

He knew this change was only natural. Any civilization, upon occupying a planet, would inevitably restructure its entire fleet with the planet at its core.

He himself was no exception.

‘After all, what a waste it would be to have such a large planet and not make use of it?’

But… this was the very situation Li Qingsong had been waiting for.

‘Almost time. Very soon now. Just a little longer… just a little…’

「More than twenty years passed in the blink of an eye.」

For over two decades, the situation in the Lyra G16 Star System had remained a stalemate: the Intelligent Mechanical Calamity Alliance focused all its efforts on construction, while Li Qingsong focused all his on attack and harassment.

But now, the construction on Planet One, the establishment of the industrial system, was complete.

Li Qingsong watched as, fueled by the massive supply of resources from the planet, warship after warship began to emerge from the enormous space dock.

Soon, the Intelligent Mechanical Calamity Alliance’s counterattack came.

Out of their total of roughly 700,000 warships, the Intelligent Mechanical Calamity Alliance dispatched a full 500,000, which set course for Planet Two.

Li Qingsong felt the noose around his neck tighten.

Yet, at this moment, there wasn’t the slightest hint of panic in Li Qingsong’s heart.

Because he knew that with the launch of the Intelligent Mechanical Calamity Alliance’s counterattack, the moment he had been waiting for all this time had finally, truly, arrived.