Outside, Catherine commands the firepower of the "Thorny Bird" and the first and third groups of Mechas left behind, using the platform's remaining defensive structures and the "Thorny Bird's" own maneuverability to engage the swarm of Bug Race flying units.

The third group led by Kuang Xin acts like a firefighter squad, providing support wherever pressure is greatest.

Inside, the battle is more perilous and complicated. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

The passage is narrow, the environment dark, and lurking Bug Race units appear unpredictably, launching attacks from unexpected angles.

Zero's precise shots are greatly restricted here, relying more on close combat cleaning by Rose, Ares, and Bai E.

Xi Liu uses her keen environmental awareness to warn in advance of potential Bug Race hiding areas.

"Data download completed 85%... 90%... facing interference from internal attacks, transmission speed is slowing!" Ash reports.

"Hold on!" Bai E pins a "Lurker" leaping down from the ceiling to the wall with one strike, unleashing spiritual energy to completely annihilate it.

He can feel the intensity of the Bug Race's external attacks continuing to increase, as those "City-breaking Worms" use their heavy shells and strong acid sprays to slowly destroy the platform's exterior armor, attempting to create a larger breach.

"We can't be passively defending here!" Bai E realizes, "Traveler" itself has already become a massive target.

Its remaining value must be utilized, and actively move towards the target.

"Catherine, once the data download is complete, immediately sync the data to all Mecha tactical computers! Then, execute Backup Plan B!"

"Backup Plan B?" Catherine hesitates, then understands, "You mean... utilizing the "Traveler's" wreckage and propulsion?"

"Exactly!" Bai E calmly analyzes, "'Traveler' is damaged, but its main structure is relatively intact, and some thrusters might still work. We need it as a 'shield' and 'springboard.' Once we clear the main internal threats, I'll attempt to restart some of its propulsion and navigation systems, setting a trajectory roughly towards Jade Stone Star. Then we'll all evacuate 'Traveler,' use it as cover, follow behind, and move towards Jade Stone Star. This way, not only can we use its wreckage to draw some Bug Race fire, but it will also conserve our Mecha's energy for long-distance travel, and we can use its mass to break through obstacles along the way!"

This is a bold and risky plan, but it's the most feasible option given the current circumstances.

"Data download complete! Beginning sync!" Ash's voice finally brings good news.

"Second group, speed up clearing! Clear the main threats in the control center and the passage leading to the core propulsion chamber within five minutes!" Bai E orders.

The battle enters a fever pitch in the next five minutes.

The lurking Bug Race units inside seem to have also realized the intruders' intentions, and their attacks become even more frenzied.

Yet, under the desperate fighting of the White Calamity Squad, the main passages and key areas gradually come under control.

Guided by Xi Liu, Bai E finds the relatively intact core propulsion chamber.

The area shows signs of battle, but the main equipment miraculously remains intact.

With keen perception of energy flow and some basic engineering knowledge he previously mastered, Bai E attempts to restart some systems.

After a series of teeth-grinding metal friction sounds and the humming of energy overload, a few dim lights flicker on, and some screens flash chaotic data.

Several attitude adjustment thrusters and one main thruster remaining on the "Traveler" platform emit a deep, death-defying rumble.

"Setting a course... roughly towards Aisera III... power output... 30%... unable to maintain stability... trajectory expected to severely deviate..." Bai E operates while quickly assessing.

"That's enough! As long as it can move and draw fire, it will do! Everyone, according to plan, evacuate to the 'Thorny Bird! We'll follow behind!"

The "Thorny Bird" disengages from the "Traveler," maintaining a distance.

The massive platform wreckage, under the uneven thrusts of sporadic thrusters, begins to drift slowly and crookedly towards Jade Stone Star.

As Bai E predicted, a portion of the Bug Race units is immediately attracted by this slowly moving giant target, following it.

"Stay hidden, keep close! Beware of debris along the route and Bug Race patrol squads!" Bai E's voice sounds through the channel, calm yet resolute.

As Bai E predicted, a portion of the Bug Race units are attracted by this slowly moving gigantic steel wreckage, pursued it like sharks that smell blood, continuously attacking "Traveler's" already riddled shell with acid and biomass weapons.

This somewhat lightens the pressure on the "Thorny Bird," which remains hidden and proceeds with quiet navigation behind.

During this relatively "safe" voyage interval, inside the "Thorny Bird," the tech team under Catherine's command begins to fully organize and analyze the large database just downloaded from the "Traveler's" platform core server.

Multiple screens light up in the control room, scrolling data streams and analysis reports.

Tech Ash, as the primary operator, has beads of sweat forming on his forehead, but his eyes stay focused.

"The data has been preliminarily classified and decoded."

Ash reports to Catherine and Bai E, who is monitoring through communication, "As we saw in previous snippets, this contains extremely detailed planetary data of the Aisera Star System, tactical records from the early stages of the Bug Race invasion, bioship activity models, and high-precision scan data of our second-stage mission target—the Jade Stone Star continental shelf area. This data is being synced to each Mecha tactical computer, crucial for our upcoming actions."