Capítulo 969: Chapter 969: The First Proactive Strike
Lin Xue was quite right in saying this; it’s not the Imperial Territory that’s having issues, but rather on the side of the Fallen Apostles. Of course, it’s not our problem, but if you explain her prediction this way, she’s pretty good at making excuses for herself.
But the issue is—whether the Fallen Apostles or the Empire have a problem, there’s no way I can be idle!
So, in summary, this person is indeed a problem aggregation, and it’s a problem aggregation that exclusively targets me.
“The Third Intelligence Core, this newly established department is indeed highly efficient.”
Sandora also received the news and hurried over, with this as her first remark.
Instead of returning to Shadow City immediately, we contacted the Command Center on the spot. Fortunately, Big Sister had the habit of carrying a lot of strange things with her. When she arrived, she had a planetary colonization habitation pod in her personal space. The military habitation pod was equipped with complete information modules and command terminals, which allowed us to work on-site from the beach.
Since the establishment of the Third Intelligence Core, it has been less than a month. Its primary tasks are analyzing the behavior patterns of the Fallen Apostles, interpreting their technology, formulating targeted combat strategies, and gradually infiltrating and grasping the movements of the Fallen Apostles. This is an extremely challenging department, but they have the most powerful guarantee, which is a commander who defected from the Fallen Apostles’ army, Carter Carlow. As the chief consultant of the Third Intelligence Core, Carter provided us with a wealth of valuable first-hand information about the Fallen Apostles’ army. With his help, the Imperial Army finally began to target and systematically conduct antagonistic simulation training against the Fallen Apostles. Although there’s been no actual combat test yet, various data indicate that the new combat guidance received by the Imperial Soldiers has a specific improvement against the Fallen Apostles. Perhaps in the next face-to-face confrontation, the Imperial Army’s strength will surpass that of the similarly equipped Fallen Apostles by a large margin—of course, that’s theoretically, as Taville would say.
However, it now seems that the first noticeable contribution of the Third Intelligence Core to the Imperial Army is not on the front battlefield, but a piece of precious intelligence.
“This was not easy, but we finally intercepted their information.” On the communicator, Carter Carlow’s slender figure trembles slightly with excitement, “I know the communication encoding rules of the Fallen Apostles and some Void information transmission codes. It seems that Emperor Harlan made a mistake: he didn’t expect that his communication originating from deep within the Void would also be intercepted… The Leaving World Garden is truly the most wondrous radar system I’ve ever seen; it’s as agile as an eye within the Void, of course, that’s after my optimization…”
“Ahem, focus on the main point,” I couldn’t help but cough to interrupt his excited exclamation. Carter seemed extremely excited about finally intercepting the Fallen Apostles’ communication, but I had no interest in how they managed that—I didn’t understand it at all.
“Yes, my Emperor,” Carter promptly composed himself, pulling up a report, reading out the information highlights while sharing it on the communicator’s window, “There is evidence to suggest a significant breach in a secret plan on the side of the Fallen Apostles. A test sample went missing, a research base was destroyed, and there were some ‘military disasters.’ For Emperor Harlan to use such phrasing, they must have encountered significant trouble.”
“An experimental accident, if it were just an experimental accident, wouldn’t warrant such a grand reaction, with even the Emperor writing a report,” Sandora remarked, looking at the decrypted communication from the Fallen Apostles, “Hmm, it’s Harlan again. I really didn’t know this guy back in the day, but he seems quite the high-profile person now.”
“The Fallen Apostles encountering trouble is my greatest relief,” I nodded particularly unscrupulously, “but it would be best to confirm exactly which project went wrong. If it’s severe enough to disrupt the Fallen Apostles’ military deployment, then taking this chance to send small units to harass those already battered Research Worlds might gradually expand the growing advantage of the New Empire, while creating conditions to narrow the technological gap between the Imperial Army and the Fallen Apostles…”
Sandora gave me a surprised look: “Wow, Ah Jun is thinking strategically now!”
I smiled slightly: “I know a bit, I know a bit—if we can’t handle them face-to-face, then wait till they have a stomach issue, and put laxatives in their water cup. I know this tactic.”
Everyone: “…”
In the last battle, the Fallen Apostles suffered severe losses, and the elite troops of the New Empire were significantly damaged. I know well that the current Imperial military power is not enough for a decisive battle on the front against the Fallen Apostles. However, if possible, taking advantage of this opportunity to strike hard at the enemy’s weak point is a good option as well. Experimental accidents can vary in significance. With those research fanatics having no bottom line, every Xyrin Apostle is accustomed to dealing with various experimental accidents. But this time, the trouble the Fallen Apostles encountered is clearly no ordinary accident. Even the legendary Emperor “Harlan” personally signed the accident report, so this matter is significant enough to make them suffer.
“There are only two possible projects,” Carter Carlow said, “One project is related to ‘Da Ye,’ but I don’t have the clearance to know much about it, other than that Emperor Harlan is conducting research related to the Abyss Gate. The other project you have heard of: the Clone Void Lord Plan.”
“The first one is less likely, which means most likely, their cloning plan encountered issues,” Sandora said, pressing her index finger against her chin in her habitual thoughtful gesture, “According to the intercepted intelligence, a research sample escaped… Could it be they really managed to create a clone of Ah Jun?”
“That doesn’t fit my speculation,” Carter paused for a moment, “The progress of this research couldn’t advance so rapidly. Cloning a Void Creature is as difficult as artificially creating an Abyss Gate. Even for a semi-finished product, it shouldn’t appear so soon. But as you said, it’s the most likely scenario.”
“Alright, let’s assume the Fallen Apostles made a breakthrough in their Clone Void Lord research, and now a semi-finished clone of Ah Jun escaped from their research base, certainly causing significant damage—this is absolutely certain. An uncontrolled Void Creature, no matter how weak, is enough to tear a hole in the world. So what advantages can this bring us,” Sandora said, turning her gaze to me, “Hey, Ah Jun, what do you think?”
“If there were enough troops, using this opportunity to give them a good beating would be great.” I murmured.
Since the first encounter with the Fallen Apostles, we have been gathering enemy information through all means, including studying those fragments of destroyed worlds drifting in the Void, and analyzing the vague memories from Visca and Bellavilla. Therefore, even during the initial two to three years without the Third Intelligence Core’s assistance, the Imperial Army already had some information. With the collaboration between the Intelligence Department and the Macro World System, we have grasped some “sensitive coordinates” deep within the Void. These coordinates often serve as ignition points for suspected Abyss reactions, and some would lose communication as soon as our Void Probe approaches. These “sensitive coordinates” are believed to have a high probability of being the bases of the Fallen Apostles.
In other words, the current Imperial Army isn’t entirely clueless about the enemy’s location.
Presumably, the situation is the same with the Fallen Apostles. Since the establishment of Shadow Space, Pandora has set up an absurd number of hidden facilities here. Then, every time the New Empire gains a New World, its coordinates would be reset, erasing its original position in the Void. Now, all directly controlled territories of the New Empire are hidden deep within a network woven by thousands of worlds in the Macro World system. In the eyes of the Fallen Apostles, the territory of the New Empire is merely a few “suspected” coordinates.
Both sides cautiously hide themselves beneath layers of mist, only confirming each other’s presence with a few flickering lights in the fog. After occasional skirmishes, they retreat simultaneously into the darkness. This has been the standoff situation between the Imperial Army and the Fallen Apostles for some time.
“Attacking the enemy’s territory directly is a very risky action. If the fleet gets discovered before reaching the target, it might expose the Imperial Mainland,” Sandora rubbed her forehead, “But this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I’m eager to know what’s happening on their turf. Our current intelligence basis is still too weak. Carter, how much preparation time do we have?”
Carter replied, “We have plenty of time. The harm caused by a Void Creature on a rampage is terrifying, and the scars left by Void Power are extremely difficult to repair. At least in the next few days, they won’t be able to restore order to their world. I have a coordinate system from the Fallen Apostles, but we—I’m referring to those who were originally my colleagues—have always been very careful. Eighty percent of this coordinate system has already changed. Based on cross-references, I can only be certain of three clear worlds. These three worlds are confirmed to have research bases. If that runaway test subject intended to retaliate before leaving, these three research worlds would definitely be attacked.”
No one questions how difficult it is to deal with the world-level damage caused by a Void Creature—the Tirisfal Great Rift still shows no signs of receding, it’s nearly become a landmark in Azeroth by now. Had I not controlled it back then, that crack could have expanded into a Void Rift with the size of a galaxy, persistently devouring the entire universe.
Big Sister nodded: “Which means, these three worlds might already be a complete mess.”
Carter gave a firm reply and then temporarily suspended communications to allow his superior some time to make a decision.
“So, Ah Jun, if you were that clone, what would you do now? Smash all the research equipment around and then run away, or rush out first and slowly take revenge later?”
I thought about it and shook my head: “It’s not that simple to compare. We previously concluded that clones mostly just have a portion of the original body’s power, absolutely impossible to have the same behavioral pattern as a clone. So I have no idea what that escaped test subject would do.”
“Anyway, they’ve surely caused big trouble. Just look at the current communication chaos among the Fallen Apostles, intercepting their information link is no easy feat.” Big Sister knocked on the table. “I think besides seizing the opportunity to attack the Fallen Apostle’s world, we should have another path: find that test subject.”
Everyone nodded in agreement, Qianqian and I were utterly confused.
“Anyone would be upset being used as a specimen, even if it’s wood,” Lin Xue glanced at me and succinctly said, “just from the fact that it caused a big stir while escaping, you can tell that the runaway test subject is utterly furious with the Fallen Apostles. If we can find ‘it’, it would be a great achievement.”
Thus, Qianqian and I both said, “Oh.”
“Hey, brother, brother, is it time to fight?” Visca jumped down from the chair and tugged at my arm, “Let’s attack their home! Let’s attack their home!”
I watched this cat-eyed little Loli with sweat all over my head. It’s quite terrifying to watch a little figure of just one meter and twenty centimeters flushing red, yelling to wreck someone’s home. What’s even more terrifying is that this little figure has an accomplice of the same height: Pandora on the other side is already so pent-up that she could have a vein spasm, if she had veins.
“Have the newly completed Sixth Fleet prepare to set sail, the First Fleet to follow closely behind,” Sandora placed her hand on the communicator, which was already switched to Sivis’s channel on standby, the command was essentially given directly to the Command Center, “Yes, dispatch more experienced commanders to supplement the Sixth Fleet, tell those easily hot-headed new recruits this is a top-intensity training, the opponent is the genuine Fallen Apostle, and it might take place in the enemy’s main base.”
Then she connected with the Military Integration Department: “Organize ground troops, the most brave ones, prioritize the Mysterious system troops—the Magic Prohibition World ones that use symbolic magic techniques are quite suitable, discuss the number with Sivis, supplement the Sixth Fleet with them.”
With a few simple words, Sandora sorted out the troop allocation needed for the operation. I and she glared at each other, Big Sister expressed some concern: “Is it appropriate to send a fleet just recently assembled for a surprise attack on the enemy’s mainland?”
Big Sister didn’t mention the additional British Puritan troops arranged by Sandora. But I think, if we’re to actively attack the Fallen Apostle’s mainland, sending a bunch of Servant Army might not be of much use since such battlefield doesn’t require large-scale decoy troops and services, unless Sandora plans to fight a positional warfare right at the doorstep of Fallen Apostles.
Sandora crossed her hands and put them below her chin, deliberately posing like a commander: “The combat skills of Imperial Soldiers come from the production line. From a data-driven combat strength perspective, there’s no difference between new soldiers and veterans. They possess the same knowledge, but the former lacks one thing: practical experience. The world of Fallen Apostles they are to raid has already been troubled by that out-of-control clone. I believe within such a short period, even if the Emperor personally oversees, it’s impossible to completely redeploy defensive forces across three worlds simultaneously. Therefore, what the Sixth Fleet needs is not superior combat strength, but superior response speed—that point for the starship fleet can be handled as long as there are excellent commanders and onboard mainframes. I want this to be an opportunity to verify the outcomes of recent simulation training. The Sixth Fleet was assembled to replenish forces after the Ruins World encounter, and since its formation, it has been undergoing simulation training directed against the Fallen Apostles. They are a special unit nurtured by the Third Intelligence Core. The combat power of this unit can only be validated and improved through direct confrontation with Fallen Apostles.”
In other words, we have an unprecedented opportunity: the enemy conveniently has three worlds in disarray while exposed to the Imperial Army. It feels like not stabbing them now would be a disgrace to my nine years of compulsory education!!
I grew curious about the role Sandora assigned to those servant troops in the raid force. If it’s a space raid operation, I can’t think of what use a bunch of flesh and blood Cross believers could serve in such situations. Of course, I’m not saying their combat strength is too low—a group of Cross believers stepping out from under Raven Instructor, covered with Imperial Amplification Crystal, definitely each has humanoid nuclear bomb fighting strength. Armed by the Military Integration Department and trained by Raven for over a year, they are far from what they used to be as mixed soldiers. It’s just that I find their battle power operates in really limited in space—their instructor may be able to dash dozens of times the speed of sound in space while throwing spherical lightning, but alas, they can’t.
Sandora explained her thoughts to me: those servant troops aren’t meant for battling.
“I need someone to go into the purged Fallen Apostle’s research base and create havoc, not directly obliterate those bases. A semi-demolished research base is surely more vexing than one blown to bits. By then, the enemy must watch their thoroughly cleared research results while starting to repair their facilities. This kind of job with no technical content suits servant troops best, all they need to do is launch spherical lightning with their eyes closed…”
I shot Sandora a deep look, sincerely: “Girl, you’ve turned wicked…”
Subsequently, Sandora arranged some additional matters, mostly trivial tasks, such as starting to search for abnormal information disturbances across the areas reachable by the Empire. Despite low odds, both she and I hoped to find the runaway clone before the Fallen Apostles. After all, I am quite curious about my clone—despite theoretically, it shouldn’t share much resemblance to its original body.
It was at this moment that Qianqian seemed to wake from a sleepwalking state. Half an hour ago, she was still on the beach busy training Little Baobao to catch flying trays. During my conversation with Sandora, Qianqian hardly paid attention half the time. Now she shook her head, face full of dejection: “Ah Jun, can’t I continue playing?”
The holiday has only lasted for two days. It would be incredible if Qianqian was fully content now.
“No, the holiday continues.” To my surprise, Lin Xue responded, smiling as she stood up. “I think this surprise attack doesn’t require us to personally take action, leave it to those seasoned frontline commanders. I have a vague premonition, the moment when we really need to step up hasn’t arrived—the runaway clone ultimately must fall into our hands.”
The gazes of everyone instantly focused, sweeping across like roasting Miss, helpless in the current situation, what this girl said was too intriguing—it’s like picking up a detective novel with the first page saying “Actually the culprit is—you guess,” both beloved and hated.
“Stop staring, there’s interference.” Lin Xue waved her hand, “The target is half a Void Creature and is actively hiding its whereabouts. I can’t see it.”(To be continued. If you enjoy this work, feel free to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets on , your support is my greatest motivation.)