Rebirth of the Super Battleship-Chapter 488: Reconnaissance Fleet

Xiao Yu had always been interacting with this Level 4 Civilization with a gamer’s mindset. After a long journey of several hundred years, he had finally found an existence he could communicate with, and this existence had even drawn in a Level 5 Predator Civilization like a grand gift package. With such good fortune, relaxing a little was not excessive, was it?

Beyond this reason, Xiao Yu was also driven by another motive, a bit of curiosity. After wallowing for too long in schemes and blood-soaked slaughter, Xiao Yu had not sunk into depravity, but yearned even more for the light. The conduct of this Purple Civilization up to now already showed a hint of a ‘benevolent civilization.’ so Xiao Yu wanted to verify this more deeply. He wanted to see whether the Purple Civilization’s kindness toward his ‘Level 3 Civilization’ was the result of a unique civilizational culture or some kind of scheme.

After receiving the requisition list that Xiao Yu had sent, the logistics ship quickly returned a message, “Alright, please wait a moment. The supplies you requested will be delivered shortly.”

“Thank you, thank you so very much.” Xiao Yu promptly and repeatedly expressed his gratitude. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

After departing, the logistics ship soon returned. It brought something very large, like a container, and set it in the void. “Everything you need is inside. You may begin replenishing resources and repairing your ships. If you require assistance, you can call us at any time.”

“Alright.” Xiao Yu agreed. From the more than one hundred reconnaissance ships, he dispatched some robots whose exteriors looked tattered to capture the container and open it. Inside he found all kinds of supplies corresponding to the list he had submitted, nuclear fuels highly suitable for fusion engines such as deuterium, tritium, and helium-3; various ship parts that had undergone primary processing; water; various organics; and various compounds that could serve as medicines, and so on.

In this area, Xiao Yu began to put on a show of repairing the ships. At the same time, he was closely monitoring the Level 5 Predator Civilization that was constantly drawing nearer.

At this point, that Predator Civilization’s fleet was only 0.3 light-years from the primary star of this system. Their speed was roughly fifteen times the speed of light. At that pace, traversing the remaining distance would take about seven days. A Level 4 Civilization already possessed interstellar navigation capabilities, yet strangely, Xiao Yu did not find any blocking forces in interstellar space. It seemed the Purple Civilization had concentrated all its strength around this star system, preparing to fight a decisive battle here.

“This is clearly the action of a side at a disadvantage.” Xiao Yu thought to himself. “Could it be that the Purple Civilization already knows it is not a match for the Predator Civilization, and thus has arranged something akin to a fight with one’s back to the river, to succeed or perish? But unfortunately, the power gap between civilizations is far too great. The Purple Civilization cannot possibly be a match for this Predator Civilization.”

All of this was under Xiao Yu’s close surveillance. Monitoring from both inside and outside allowed Xiao Yu to obtain detailed intelligence related to this Level 4 Civilization. He quietly watched as this Level 4 Civilization carried out a busy and thorough series of defensive arrangements which, in Xiao Yu’s view, were entirely futile, including oversized Energy Cannons, large numbers of interstellar mines, clusters of gravitational bombs, material disintegration beam launchers, clusters of elemental decay bombs, and so forth.

Seeing these arrangements, Xiao Yu became even more certain of one idea, namely that even a Level 4 Civilization might possess certain technologies he himself had not mastered. For example, the Purple Civilization’s oversized Energy Cannon built upon a moon as its base exceeded Xiao Yu’s expectations.

Before Xiao Yu’s research into Energy Cannon technology had reached the pinnacle, he had already stepped into the category of a Level 5 Civilization and obtained negative matter cannons, which were more destructive and more practical. Thus, his Energy Cannon research had been set aside midway. This was the inevitable price to pay when a civilization advances too quickly.

“I wonder what role this oversized Energy Cannon can play in this war. Can it threaten the ships of a Level 5 Civilization?” Xiao Yu pondered inwardly as he continued to observe. While observing, his vast fleet was also slowly and carefully approaching this star system. The purpose of this was to be able, if the situation after the war began required it, to rush to the Purple Civilization’s aid as quickly as possible.

Xiao Yu’s technological strength was without a doubt higher than that of this Level 5 Predator Civilization, and since he had deliberately chosen another direction, he was not worried that his fleet would be exposed ahead of time.

“Hmm… the Predator Civilization’s fleet has emerged from curvature space. They are now thirteen billion kilometers from the primary star. Their conventional cruising speed is one hundred thirty thousand kilometers per second. War… is expected to break out in one day.”

After the Predator Civilization’s fleet exited curvature flight, it was obvious that within this star system the Purple Civilization’s fleet movements became more frequent. The entire system was like a clock wound to the limit, ticking tensely. Ship after ship rushed to the front line, and various interstellar defensive works were brought to a state where they could be put into use at any time.

Just then, the logistics ship that had appeared before once again arrived beside Xiao Yu’s reconnaissance team and sent a message.

“Divine Ark Civilization, you must leave. Our powerful enemy has appeared. In this war, we are destined to lose. If you do not wish to be dragged down with us, you should leave immediately. We have already scouted, and there is no Predator Civilization fleet in that direction, and the Predator Civilization surely has no interest in chasing after tattered ships like yours. So, leave at once.”

From the message sent by this logistics ship, Xiao Yu keenly sensed a hint of urgency.

“Calling my ships tattered?” Xiao Yu thought with a touch of indignation. “From my point of view, your ships are not even as good as tatters.”

Though he thought this inwardly, Xiao Yu put on a panicked expression. “How could this be? Our ships are undergoing a complete overhaul. The engines have been removed for repair. We have no maneuvering capability right now. We need at least ten days to finish repairs.”

“There is no time.” The information from the logistics ship was full of helplessness and sighs. “We are very sorry. Our civilization is one that loves peace. We originally wished to give you some help, but we did not expect to drag you into the abyss of destruction as well. All the strength of our civilization has been devoted to preparations for war, so we have no ability to provide you with further assistance. Here is how it will be. From this moment on, as long as it does not affect our war effort, your ships may operate freely within this star system. Find… your own place to escape.”

After saying this, the logistics ship hurried away.

“Keep watching the show.” Xiao Yu was not anxious in the slightest. He remained here, monitoring all movements within this star system.

After one day, the Predator Civilization’s fleet finally drew close enough. War thus began. From Xiao Yu’s current perspective, this war was utterly uninteresting, with very low technical content. Of the two sides, one was relatively weak, and the other was extremely weak.

The relatively weak Predator Civilization was crushing the extremely weak Purple Civilization. That was right, crushing. Xiao Yu saw very clearly that the Purple Civilization’s huge formation of several hundred thousand ships was scattered in less than an hour under the charge of the Predator Civilization’s ships. The oversized Energy Cannon fired continuously and fiercely, yet could not destroy even a single City-Class ship of the enemy. Waves of interstellar mine clusters and bomb clusters took the field in turn, yet could only destroy some small Village-Class ships and could do nothing to County-Class ships.

Xiao Yu saw very clearly that the first line of defense collapsed. This first battle lasted less than three hours before there was a decision. Xiao Yu saw countless damaged ships rapidly retreating to regroup at the second defensive line, while the Predator Civilization’s ships continued to press forward unhurriedly.

“Defend our homeland! Better to die than yield!”

“In the Purple Civilization there are no cowardly deserters! The Purple Civilization swears to stand with the Star of Light!”

“Even if the Purple Civilization is to perish, before we die we must teach these vile Predator Civilization a lesson!”

Perhaps to boost morale, the star system was filled with openly broadcast, slogan-like messages like these. Xiao Yu sighed slightly.

“In the face of absolute strength, what use is high morale? I cannot keep watching. It is time for me to act, or these poor little beings will all die.”

More than one hundred small ships slowly left the base and bravely headed toward the massive fleet of several million ships pushing into the interior of the system.

“Divine Ark Civilization! What are you doing? Come back at once! This is not an opponent you can face!”

“At such a moment, they have not forgotten to warn me… Perhaps this Purple Civilization truly is a benevolent civilization.” Xiao Yu thought. He sent a message to the massive Predator Civilization fleet before him.

“Predator Civilization, surrender all of your technology at once, capitulate immediately, and integrate your entire population into the Divine Ark Civilization. I can spare your lives.”