Starting from the Planetary Governor - Chapter 809

Chapter 803: Silver Needle Piercing the Darkness

. From the scarlet scar emerges a Chaos daemon army, a fleet of corrupted flesh, marked with a blood-red skull, bearing the symbol of a blood-red skull, bearing

the weight of war. The dark clouds of war suddenly descend upon the Alliance’s homeland.

This blood-red fleet was discovered by a reconnaissance fleet of a dozen or so patrol vessels, bound north to investigate the border situation. Their greatest strength is their small size, allowing them to withstand minimal stress while traversing the astral plane. Coupled with anti-warp measures far exceeding the standard, their safety margin is relatively high.

Of course, this safety margin is relative.

If something were to go wrong… well, it would. A patrol vessel only carries a few hundred men, and the vessels themselves are inexpensive.

This affordability is one of their advantages.

Furthermore, they are equipped with powerful communications equipment. Essentially, they were used to relay information to the Alliance’s homeland. However, as they traversed the three star regions of the Devouring Universe to the north, they established liaisons with various planets, naturally conveying the Alliance’s intentions and persuading them to submit to the Control Council.

In this sense, the mission of these ten or so patrol ships was similar to that of a Dark Side expedition—well, not quite.

Because they lacked powerful military means and deterrent power, those planets rarely submitted to the Alliance upon seeing them.

Instead,

they often negotiated terms. The three star regions of the Devouring Universe, being closer to the Scarlet Scar, faced inherent challenges, exacerbated by Chaos corruption.

They desperately needed Alliance military force or substantial aid to address their own problems.

These resources were beyond the capabilities of a few patrol ships, and naturally, there was no way these planets could be reclaimed by the Control Council.

Some planets, however, faced particularly urgent challenges and viewed the Alliance’s patrol ships as a lifeline. They declared their willingness to accept the Control Committee’s control, declaring they would do whatever the Alliance wanted to them, but only demanding the immediate dispatch of troops and supplies.

What could they do?

They were powerless, offering only to report the situation to their superiors.

Their superiors, however, were the Alliance’s Liaoguang Sector Defense Command.

This was part of the Alliance’s local defense ,

and they were not considered part of the expeditionary force.

However, while it was a local defense effort, the Alliance had long been wary of potential risks in the northern region near the Scarlet Scar. The defenses of the northernmost regions, Liaoguang and Gucheng, had been strengthened. Their mission was to strictly guard the Alliance’s northern border and prevent external threats.

Against this backdrop, the patrol ships’ superior, the Liaoguang Sector Command, refused to approve the deployment.

Leaving the Alliance homeland and engaging in external combat was beyond their authority.

They simply sent patrol ships to inform the planets that the Control Council had accepted their return, but so far, there was no clear plan for reinforcements. They urged these worlds to defend their home territories and, ideally, resolve their problems on their own, but at least not allow them to escalate further.

Each of these planets was deeply disappointed.

What the Alliance had brought back was nonsense.

Even some so-called “practical manuals” were of little use. The problems they faced couldn’t be solved simply by offering advice or finding solutions; they required a strong military force and abundant supplies.

As for asking them to resolve the problem or curb its deterioration… didn’t they know that this was necessary?

That wouldn’t be possible!

The disappointed planetary dignitaries, if more polite, replied that they would persevere and hoped the Alliance would act more quickly. The less polite ones

simply responded with sarcasm and even curses. “

What a bullshit Control Council! It’s all about power and profit! Even if you were to come, you wouldn’t be able to!”

The Alliance felt helpless.

They wanted to intervene, but they were truly powerless.

Dark Side expeditions must be carried out according to plan; they can’t simply attack wherever there’s a problem. Blindly attacking is not only extremely risky and prone to being bogged down, but the Alliance itself can’t sustain a full-scale effort on so many fronts simultaneously.   It

‘s unrealistic.

There has to be a sequence, and someone has to hold the line in the darkness. But the Alliance’s   patrol ships weren’t completely idle. While headquarters seemed helpless and somewhat cold, the   patrol fleet’s captain, Major Gu Ziqiang, was quite sympathetic to these isolated island worlds. While ensuring his own reconnaissance missions weren’t affected, he deployed his dozen or so patrol ships as communication channels between these isolated worlds.   While those planets couldn’t communicate directly with each other, their navigation could carry information to the next system the patrol fleet was heading to. Some   even used direct transit on ships to establish communication.   In this way, they successfully helped a world that had submitted to the Control Council connect eight surrounding worlds. This   wasn’t just a communication link, it also included a connection along the shipping routes.   Before the Alliance’s full territorial “power supply,” it also experienced a period of isolation. During that period, many of the Alliance’s worlds, through their own efforts, achieved a grand, star-domain-level union.   While there were some favorable conditions, those worlds in the Devouring Universe lacked them. However, the Alliance’s experience during that pre-power supply period was valuable,   at least worth learning from.   It turned out that things like the church layout, the mechanically blessed protective force fields, and the choir’s coordination… these things were universal.   However, the situation here was more severe, requiring a multiplier of these measures. Safety wasn’t guaranteed, and navigational hazards still required careful handling.   However, regardless of the dangers, they had at least mastered a new method. They could even navigate the now-perilous astral tunnels alongside Alliance patrol vessels, guided by them.   Chaos corruption and erosion on ships would still be present, but at least the risk of becoming lost was greatly reduced.   As for whether it would become a normal ship or a destructive entity after passing through, that was unknown, and it was not something Gu Ziqiang could decide.   It all depended on their own luck.   Their luck was not bad.   Although there were some losses during the voyage, overall, it was still within the acceptable range.

The world known as the “Oath Alliance” successfully transported some of the supplies in short supply from the eight surrounding worlds, and also brought back some of its own, even troops.

This mutual exchange of resources has, to a large extent, resolved some problems.

At least, it can be resolved between these nine worlds.

The situation is improving.

The relevant report, submitted, even attracted the attention of the Alliance Center.

This approach is quite worth learning from.

If this model could be replicated during a Dark Side expedition, it would be immensely helpful.

A few patrol ships could connect an entire region. If several or even dozens of worlds could unite, resolve their own problems, and agree to accede to the Control Council, a significant amount of effort would be saved.

Raising a large army for an expedition is a costly undertaking. But if only a dozen patrol ships were organized as envoy fleets, the Alliance could assemble thousands, or even tens of thousands, of these fleets within a few years!

Granted, the success rate wouldn’t be high. After all, not every region has the conditions for acceding like the Oath of Alliance, nor does it depend on the willingness of the planetary leaders.

But so what?

The cost is low!

Even if the success rate is only one percent, with ten thousand fleets operating, that means a hundred star regions acceding in this way. The resources and energy saved would likely be cheaper than building these patrol ships.

Furthermore, acceding worlds that have united and resolved their own problems can form their own coalition. The Control Committee will grant them authorization to join the Dark Side Crusade.

This could potentially lead to even greater surprises!

As for what would happen if these surrendered worlds truly expanded, the Alliance wasn’t afraid.

First, the more worlds that resolved their own problems, the better. Even if they couldn’t surrender, it would simply be a matter of “internal conflict within humanity,” at least preserving the vitality of humanity.

Furthermore, a larger power group would be easier for the Alliance to manage. A single battle could determine the fate of hundreds of worlds, saving far less effort than traversing hundreds of worlds one by one.

Of course, if a power truly expanded to encompass thousands or even tens of thousands of worlds, rivaling the Alliance in size and potentially challenging Gu Hang in the Dark Side Crusade… Gu Hang would have no choice but to say, “You’re incredible! Let’s save humanity together.”

With such a master, it’s better to have a friend than an enemy.

But Gu Hang had no hope of such a formidable individual ever arriving from the blue.

Even he couldn’t achieve his current level without the aid of the system interface and the Emperor’s support.

Perhaps the only person who could accomplish this, besides Gu Hang, was the Emperor.

With this in mind, Gu Hang issued a directive to the Dark Side Expeditionary Headquarters, requesting they carefully study the “Oath Star Model” developed by Major Gu Ziqiang in the Alliance’s northern border and attempt to reuse it.

Gu Hang also personally commended Major Gu Ziqiang, urging him to continue his efforts within the Devouring Star Triangle and requesting the Liaoguang Star Domain Defense Command to provide necessary support. Major Gu Ziqiang

—now a Lieutenant Colonel—was ecstatic upon receiving the commendation!

Although his rank was only one level higher, his position remained unchanged, and the additional cash bonus given to his wife and daughter was insignificant, he was praised by the Alliance’s supreme leader and given an

important position. However, with praise from the Alliance’s highest leader and a prominent position, his future was undoubtedly bright.

He hadn’t expected that at the age of forty-seven, he would still have the opportunity to move up the career ladder.

He had originally thought that by the time he retired at fifty-eight, he would be considered a colonel. Now, he might have a chance to earn the title of general. Brigadier general wasn’t enough; a major general would be ideal. That way, perhaps he could even secure a chance for rejuvenation surgery and extend his lifespan.

Just as he was brimming with motivation, ready to sacrifice his life for the Alliance, tragic news struck him.

At the northernmost tip of the Devouring Star Triangle, actively contacting various planets, attempting to replicate his previous success, he suddenly encountered a group of demonic forces that had completed a warp.

His heart was instantly filled with panic.

His pupils reflected the seething crimson vortex outside the observation window as countless warp beacons suddenly exploded on the radar screen. The tactical hologram instantly stained an ominous crimson—a demonic army composed of corrupted battleships, the skull emblems on their bows oozing liquid warp energy. Even the starship alloys screamed and twisted in their wake.

Undoubtedly, with the strength of this demonic army, if Gu Ziqiang’s fleet were spotted, the mere four patrol vessels would be destroyed in an instant.

Fortunately, they hadn’t been discovered yet.

The moment the four patrol ships sensed the anomaly, they instinctively went into hiding.

Gu Ziqiang hesitated, an order on the tip of his tongue, yet he refused to issue it.

He now seemed to have two options: either the four patrol ships dispersed and fled, all in silent mode, with a chance of deceiving the enemy and slipping away quietly.

But they couldn’t enter the astral tunnel and activate their warp drives, or they would be discovered and likely intercepted mid-transit. They could only remain silent, quietly sail the ships to a distant location using conventional means, and then silently pray that the demon army would pass through before their supplies were exhausted.

That way, they could survive.

The other option was to desperately activate communications, trying to contact the other patrol ships outside the system, pass on the information, and alert the Alliance.

But that would surely expose them and leave them utterly destroyed.

I’ve just been commended, the path of light has just opened before me, and now I’m going to die?

His daughter had only just grown up, and he hadn’t even seen her get married yet…

Trembling, he pulled out a talisman of the Emperor’s image, crafted from a fragment of a church window. It burned in his b*east pocket.

The memory of his wife and daughter’s faces suddenly calmed his trembling.

“Fully activate the communications protocol.”

He ripped open his collar, revealing the amulet, which glowed faintly.

The lieutenant took a half step back in fear: “But…”

No one wants to die, especially with their future so bright.

Gu Ziqiang pulled the lieutenant away and began to operate the controls himself.

The lieutenant’s hand reached for his pistol, but even after Gu Ziqiang had completed all the operations, he couldn’t muster the resolve to draw it.

Gu Ziqiang turned and patted the lieutenant’s shoulder, saying nothing.

The fully activated communications equipment shone brightly.

The Chaos warships, having completed their warp, immediately detected their presence.

The main guns of the Flesh Battleships began charging, and the bridge windows seemed to reflect the wails of countless souls.

Gu Ziqiang suddenly laughed. He turned on the communication channel and roared to the entire fleet of more than a thousand soldiers, “We are the silver needles that pierce the darkness! The Alliance will be proud of us, and humanity will be proud of us!”

He staked his life, along with the lives of four patrol ships and over a thousand sailors, in exchange for intelligence transmitted back to the Alliance.

As the demonic ship’s corrupted beam pierced its hull, a stream of blue-silver information escaped along the afterglow of the Thunder Torch—a map of death woven from the four ships’ locating beacons, each coordinate imbued with the crew’s final brainwave memories.

Suddenly, the alarms at the Burning Star Region Defense Command blared.

(End of Chapter)