Chapter 2251 Planning

"We are located in this vast star field, right in the heart of the Xuan Niao Clan's territory. However, although the Xuan Niao star system is relatively small, it is extremely close to that chaotic and lawless region ruled by the evil lion. It can be easily reached in just ten minutes of warp speed travel."

"Unfortunately, we are currently lacking strong support from radar equipment, which undoubtedly causes us great trouble and severely limits our field of vision. Based solely on visual observation, the following can be clearly discerned: the Kark fleet is led by three extremely large giant strategic cruisers, followed by four exceptionally sturdy and indestructible heavy armored frigates; in addition, there are more than ten small but agile frigates, supply ships specifically tasked with logistical support, and reconnaissance vessels, forming such a powerful and impressive formation. However, based on my years of accumulated experience and judgment, the enemy must also be hiding at least twenty smaller interstellar warships, scattered around the surrounding border areas, always on high alert, and closely monitoring their surroundings in all directions and around the clock."

"Simply put, if we choose to launch an attack and engage in fierce combat, it means we will face unprecedented and unimaginable pressure! It is foreseeable that the enemy will ruthlessly deploy at least forty incredibly powerful starships to encircle and intercept us—a formidable, insurmountable natural barrier! Even if we fight with all our might, sparing no effort and paying any price, we can at best rely on our main gun turrets and all our weapon systems at full power to painstakingly destroy just two of the massive, strategically important heavy cruisers. And yet, at this very moment, our own starships are already mired in the quagmire, sinking deeper and deeper until they are completely unable to extricate themselves, seemingly inevitably embarking on the path to destruction..."

In the spacious, bright, and well-lit cockpit, an incredibly heavy and suffocating atmosphere hovered everywhere like a ghost, as if even time had frozen.

Every face wore an expression of extreme solemnity and deep anxiety. They knew all too well that this imminent, fierce battle would directly determine the fate of the entire massive fleet—a matter of life and death. Therefore, every important decision had to be made with utmost care. At that moment, Lu Yue slowly stood up, cleared his throat slightly, and then calmly and methodically began to carefully peruse the thick, classified intelligence document in his hands, page by page. One could see that he would occasionally furrow his brow, seemingly deep in thought about a crucial problem; at other times, his eyes would light up, as if he had suddenly discovered some previously overlooked clue. After a period of focused and meticulous examination, Lu Yue raised his head again and addressed everyone present in a deep but exceptionally resolute and decisive voice.

"After in-depth research and analysis, I've finally come to a conclusion—to successfully complete this mission and emerge unscathed from the war-torn land, activating the warp core is absolutely crucial! However, during this process, everyone must remain extremely vigilant and guard against any unexpected enemy attacks. Because if we are even slightly careless and the enemy takes advantage of our vulnerability at this critical moment, the consequences we will face will be unimaginable..."

"It could even lead to a staggering 3:0 casualty rate in combat! In other words, when faced with such a formidable opponent, even if we fight with all our might, we still cannot inflict any meaningful damage or losses on them."

At this point, Lu Yue's face instantly darkened, revealing a deep sense of helplessness.

Yes, who could have predicted this? They were once full of ambition and confidence, but now they are in such a predicament! With the warp core shutting down, their three starships, which appear to be invincible and imposing on the surface but are actually just a bunch of useless scrap metal, will be worthless!

It's crucial to understand that interstellar warfare is often fraught with unpredictability and peril. The situation can change in an instant, and any oversight or mistake can lead to catastrophic consequences, even the annihilation of an entire army. Despite possessing a vast array of advanced and powerful weaponry, when truly facing a life-or-death test, they were astonished to discover that these supposedly formidable weapons were not as invincible as they had imagined! In fact, with their current level of power, they could at best only briefly destroy two of the enemy's large strategic cruisers. The more pressing issue was that if the enemy had even a moment to regroup and launch a counterattack, their remaining time would be pitifully short—definitely no more than a second! Once in such a desperate situation, only a tragic end awaited them—their bodies shattered into countless fragments, enduring endless torment...

The disparity in strength between the two sides was so vast that it evoked a profound sense of despair and powerlessness! Although they possessed the Dreadnought, an invincible giant warship capable of withstanding the fierce attacks launched simultaneously by three large strategic cruisers, it was still an almost delusional dream to completely change the current precarious and life-or-death situation.

"Given the current situation, we have no choice but to immediately concentrate all available forces for any chance of a turnaround! Don't forget, we just sent an urgent distress signal to the outside world. If Li Qifeng's group really does come to our aid in full force, then without a doubt, we will suddenly have ten more interstellar warships with extremely strong combat capabilities! Once these fresh troops join the battlefield, it's hard to say who will emerge victorious in this thrilling battle!"

At this moment, Ning Dan also expressed her opinion, and Ye Ye nodded silently, constantly thinking about tactics in his mind.

However, even with such pronouncements, the most pressing and difficult issue remains how to achieve mutual exchange and sharing of information and ensure uninterrupted communication!

Otherwise, what if Li Qifeng and the others actually arrived on the battlefield? What if that guy named Kak used his usual methods again and forcibly shut down their warp drive engines? Wouldn't we be like fish on a chopping board, easily slaughtered? We would be completely powerless to fight back! The Celestial Dragons, as the race that has used star warfare and starship groups in the most diverse ways, do have many successful examples of bullying the weak with numbers, but there is not a single example of them achieving victory by shutting down their warp drives.

"You've overlooked a crucial issue: Zhao Yiming! He's an absolute destabilizing factor!"

Just as everyone was discussing the matter, Su Ziwu suddenly made this statement without warning, like a bombshell dropped into a calm lake, stirring up huge waves. The originally noisy and lively scene suddenly became deathly silent, as if time itself had frozen at that moment.

Everyone exchanged bewildered glances, speechless with shock at Su Ziwu's words. Zhao Yiming had always been an enigma, his true intentions and thoughts unfathomable. Was his allegiance to Kark feigned, or was he willingly becoming a lackey? These questions lingered like a fog, leaving them utterly perplexed.

If Zhao Yiming truly harbored ill intentions and malicious intent, he could easily engage in underhanded tactics, secretly sabotage and disrupt the organization, and even incite others within the organization to rebel. This would undoubtedly plunge the entire situation into extreme danger and chaos, potentially leading to an abyss from which there would be no recovery.

At that point, let alone resisting the enemy, it would be a miracle if the other trainees could remain calm and rational and not be swayed by Zhao Yiming! Under immense pressure, it's incredibly easy for Zhao Yiming to bewitch those with weak wills. And the most crucial point is that Li Qifeng and the others are completely unaware of all this, completely oblivious to the fact that they've already participated in that betting agreement. If anyone succumbs to temptation and is persuaded by Zhao Yiming to betray everyone, the consequences would be unimaginable! Then, everyone might not only face threats from Kark's side, but also the devastating loss of having their former comrades suddenly turn against them!

"There's no need to be so pessimistic!"

Just then, Ning Dan interrupted again.

"Although I also have doubts about Li Qifeng's character, as a descendant of a prominent family in China, he must have some integrity in his bones, right? We scions of noble families have been influenced and baptized by all kinds of ideas since childhood, and we will never easily betray the beliefs we uphold because of fear of death!"

"The same logic applies to Zhao Yiming. However, given his previous actions, it's difficult to completely rule out the possibility that he's been mentally controlled by the Zerg. In my humble opinion, the most urgent task is to find a suitable window of opportunity and decisively activate the warp core device. The ideal opportunity would be to have Li Qifeng and his group engage in a fierce battle with Kak before they successfully shut down the warp core—in this way, we can take advantage of the chaos and quickly activate the warp core system!"

"As the saying goes, man proposes, God disposes. We have to give it our all! If we just give up and run away in dejection, we'll not only lose the bet, but we'll also put immense pressure on our families!"

"Besides, doesn't Ye Ye still have other methods?"

"I speak with confidence," Ning Dan said. As soon as she finished speaking, Lu Yue and the others all turned their gazes to Ye Ye. Facing their stares, Ye Ye nodded slightly, indicating his agreement with Ning Dan. However, at that moment, Zhao Qiaoqiao suddenly poured a bucket of icy water over his head.

"Don't forget, we've only roughly estimated the size of the Kark fleet. The real headaches and helplessness come from those endless, countless Sky-Eating Worms!"

Zhao Qiaoqiao's tone grew increasingly heavy, as if she were trying to suffocate everyone, and she continued speaking.

"If these Sky-Devouring Worms cooperate and fight in unison with Kark's fleet, we probably won't be able to harm them at all! You know, according to my understanding, back when the Sky-Devouring Worms were still rampant, those Zerg guys once used them to build an indestructible 'wall of worms,' successfully withstanding the fierce bombardment of the mothership's main guns! You know, the Sky-Devouring Worms reproduce at lightning speed, so even if they suffer some casualties in battle, it will be completely insignificant to the Zerg!"

Zhao Qiaoqiao's words struck everyone present like a thunderbolt, as if their hearts had been hit hard. The small conference room, already tense and oppressive with an incredibly heavy atmosphere, instantly fell into a deathly silence. However, faced with such a difficult and embarrassing situation, Ye Ye did not back down an inch, but instead displayed extraordinary composure and decisiveness.

He shook his head slightly, his eyes firm and steady, clearly having made up his mind. At this moment, he knew that only by stepping forward could he lead everyone out of this gloom. As one of the key figures in the team, he had a responsibility to shoulder this burden and instill boundless courage and faith in his companions.

Without hesitation, Ye Ye broke the silence and spoke loudly.

"Regarding the Devouring Worm, there's no need to worry too much. I will naturally find a way to deal with and resolve it. However, we absolutely cannot place all our hopes on Li Qifeng's side! After all, as the saying goes, 'Preparation is the key to success, and lack of preparation leads to failure.' Therefore, we must make full and comprehensive preparations in advance so that we can better cope with any unexpected situations or emergencies that may arise!"

"So for now, all we can do is wait quietly, because the other side will definitely take further action. And logically speaking, =Kark is probably about to lose patience, after all, the Zerg's higher-ups won't give him much time."