Skyfire Avenue - Chapter 673

Chapter 673

Chapter 673: The Investigation Begins

A typical interstellar fleet typical consisted of a capital ship, four to eight dreadnaughts, three to six expedition ships, a couple hundred battleships and countless patrol boats . Five fleets spread out across space in an impressive array like a deadly spearhead .

Three of them – the Sixth, Eleventh and Thirteenth fleets – hugged close to Tyrannosaurus . They were the Bastion’s protection escort .

The border of the Shattered Starfields loomed in the distance . It was marked by a veritable wall of asteroids so thick you couldn’t see between them . Tyrannosaurus’ main thrusters were cut, and a series of stabilizers hummed gently as it brought the massive ship to a halt .

“Admiral . We’ve reached the target location . The First and Third fleets are coming into formation . ” One of the ship’s staff made the report to Kang Hui .

The admiral’s voice was steady . “Tell the Skyfire team it’s time to start the mission . ”

A few moments later a wall separated on the ship’s exterior . A humble blue ship separated itself from the lumbering behemoth and quietly slipped into space .

Zeus-1 was roughly the size of a patrol ship . Next to Tyrannosaurus it was almost invisible, but it gave the countersign and lithely slipped through the forest of warships into the Starfields .

Seated on the bridge, Ling Ya tried to look at everything at once . The interior was smaller than a typical patrol ship . There were installations that were clearly added in afterward to accommodate an unusually large crew .

As she continued to examine the bridge she noted that the equipment was also entirely different than she might expect . Initially Ling Ya had looked down on the little blue boat, and in fact all of the East . She felt they were inferior in technology and capability . However upon entering Zeus-1 her preconceptions changed . Everything was state-of-the-art – in fact, there were a few pieces of equipment even Tyrannosaurus didn’t have .

She was also surprised to discover there was someone aboard she hadn’t noticed before . How, when they’d scanned the ship so thoroughly before! Despite her prejudices, Zeus-1 had impressed her greatly .

Lan Jue stood beside Su Xiaosu, who was guiding the ship . He was quietly watching the asteroids slip by . The Paragons were in the resting area . Currently the only ones on the bridge were Lan Jue, Xiaosu, Guoguo, Wu Qiu and Ling Ya herself . The Driver was cultivating in the resting area with the others . Part of his reason for coming was to continue training with Lan Jue, with the ultimate aim of completing his Discipline’s transformation . Once the process was complete he was on good footing to breakthrough to the Realm of Protogenia and could attempt it at his leisure .

But the Driver heeded Lan Jue’s advice . He worked to suppress his abilities and delay his breakthrough . Now that his ascension was almost assured his goal had changed – simply becoming a Paragon wasn’t enough . He wanted to become even stronger, be a Reflection of Heaven and Earth . Maybe even achieve Nirvana .

Ling Ya’s attention returned to Lan Jue . In his meticulously kept uniform, the young commander looked particularly elegant and dignified . He left quite the impression . There was a teasing light in his eyes when he smiled .

Hmph! I’ll definitely show him when the fighting starts . We just need to find some aliens . We’ll see just how capable this guy really is, if he can even complete this mission .

Zeus-1 sped up as it vanished into the tumbling rocks .

Ling Ya continued to study Star Division’s commander . Wu Qiu’s attention, meanwhile, was on Su Xiaosu, primarily because he noticed she was the only one responsible for flying the ship . Obviously this was in part because of the ship’s advanced systems, however it spoke volumes to her skills as a pilot . She had to keep an eye on the overall situation, know the ship intimately, and possess a great deal of experience – a lack in one and she wouldn’t be able to do what she was doing . But she was so young, with a Discipline more suitable for fighting than flying .

This made him very curious to know more about Su Xiaosu .

The further they got into the dangerous Starfields, the more his respect for her increased . They swung between the asteroids like a swallow, never slowing down . It was a masterful dance from one potential disaster to another .

As far as Wu Qiu was concerned, not a single pilot in Tyrannosaurus’ entourage could match her . Her reaction speed was too fast! Like the master butcher who never strikes bone . What skill! If she had joined the Northern army she would certainly have been one of their most preeminent pilots . And a ninth level Adept – what a woman!

Wu Qiu also found himself stealing furtive glances of the woman seated in the captain’s chair, Lin Guoguo . She held herself with a regal bearing . She was beautiful, mysterious, and there was a deep intelligence in her eyes .

She was snuggled into the chair with a novel in her hands – exceedingly laissez-faire .

What an odd collection of people! One pilot, a hands-off commander, and a girl more interested in her story than the mission . Everyone else was just hanging around . However, Wu Qiu didn’t look down on them . He knew how to look at the big picture . Although they’d only witnessed Xiaosu’s strength, the enigmatic nature of the rest of them was telling and intriguing . They were certainly there for a reason, otherwise they wouldn’t have come along . Yet, he still didn’t even know who everyone was .

Lan Jue wandered over toward Wu Qiu and took a seat behind him . A small smirk tugged at his lips . “We’ve entered into the outskirts of the Shattered Starfields, Secretary . We’ll reached the inner solar system in a couple of days . We may encounter aliens in transit, so it would be prudent for you to keep in contact with Tyrannosaurus . ”

Wu Qiu nodded . “You don’t need to worry, commander . Leave it to us . ”

They had joined the scouting crew with the North’s most advanced communications equipment . Although the Starfields’ magnetic field was strong, the devices and Tyrannosaurus’ own magnetic field would ensure information could be shared reliably .

Ling Ya’s pretty eyes never left Lan Jue . “Commander, your team doesn’t appear to be treating this any differently from a normal scouting trip . If we do encounter aliens how do you expect to handle them?”

“We’re just here to gather intelligence,” Lan Jue replied . “We’ll avoid them to the best of our ability, otherwise combat could draw more to us . Once we accomplish our task, we’ll return home immediately . ”

She continued her questioning . “You told Admiral Hui in your report that they search through psionic pulses, rendering Blinding Stones useless when you get too close . What guarantees do we have that we’ll be able to avoid them?”

Lan Jue’s smile widened . “I’ve got to leave you with a little suspense . Watch closely, you’ll find out soon enough . ”

Ling Ya pursed her lips, but didn’t pursue it any further . But the look in her eyes made her displeasure clear .

Their flight continued, fast but stable . The ship’s internal gravity dampeners made their trek comfortable despite the pitching and rolling . Lan Jue didn’t engage them in any further conversation ad was content to sit quietly, eyes closed, lost in his own thoughts .

Six hours later he opened his eyes . A thoughtful looked crossed his face as he rose and walked over to Su Xiaosu .

“Something feels off . ” He muttered .

Xiaosu nodded . “I sense it, too . We haven’t come across a single alien signature . Do you think they’ve left the Starfields?”

“That was be the worst case scenario,” he replied darkly .

Su Xiaosu also couldn’t help but frown . She knew what Lan Jue meant . The North had amassed enough firepower to destroy – or at least grievously wound – the alien forces . If the aliens were no longer here than the expedition was a monumental waste of time and resources . Uncertainty was the worst part of it, because if they weren’t here then where would they appear next?

Ling Ya appeared at Lan Jue’s shoulder . “What is it? What’s happened?”

Lan Jue’s voice was low . “Something strange . We should have encounter aliens by now . ”

“Could they have already left?” She asked .

“That’s what we’re afraid of,” he answered .

Ling Ya scowled . “So you’re saying they’ve teleported?”

Lan Jue glanced at her . “I’m saying that’s a possibility . We suspect teleporting consumed a lot of energy but it’s been some time since we witnessed it . We can’t rule out the fact they might have already left . What’s more, we have been studying the aliens but I can assure you they’ve been studying us as well . It’s short-sighted to expect they didn’t notice all the commotion from the North . It can’t be dismissed that the fact you put this expedition together could be the reason they aren’t here . ”

Ling Ya seemed unconvinced . “This entire operation was kept secret . According to your last trip weren’t they were raiding for energy? They couldn’t have vanished so quickly . It takes time for their scouts to gather information, too!”

“The fact is we still know frighteningly little about them,” Lan Jue countered . “We have no way of knowing how they share information, maybe even telepathically . ”