Him and their stars.

Chapter 2058 Xia Li Knows Military Strategy, No One Can Stop Her

Those were not wasps, but countless fist-sized, jet-black creatures resembling gnats!

They possess sharp mouthparts, wings as thin as cicada wings yet vibrating at high speeds, and tails that shimmer with an ominous, eerie green glow. Their bodies, however, are infused with surging, high-explosive energy. Their very bodies are their deadliest weapons; each individual is a brilliantly intelligent hive missile, enhanced with enhanced intelligence and earth-penetrating, armor-piercing capabilities.

This is the improved version of the mosquito universe 2.0 plus.

These tiny flying insects are certainly not capable of hyperspace jumps; they need to travel in their own nests to perform transfers in the universe.

They are disposable items used to carry out self-destruct tactics, as are the egg-shaped mother nests that transport them.

Once the latter disintegrates, all the exploding insects coated with a bio-coating resistant to high temperatures and shockwaves will be activated. They will receive a final energy boost from the collapsing and disintegrating mother nest, and at this moment, they will launch their own attack.

The Imperial Army's artillery bombardment, in a sense, prompted them to take tactical precautions ahead of schedule.

The swarming mosquitoes, like locusts erupting from the bottomless depths of hell, transformed into a silent, fiery cloud that swept towards the Imperial army. Though barely larger than sparrows, their sheer numbers, numbering in the thousands, created a gravitational resonance, inexplicably granting them a maneuverability akin to near-light-speed cruising.

The imperial soldiers stared in disbelief as the fiery clouds began to accelerate, as if they were forming energy projectiles hurtling towards them.

"This, this effect? ​​A gravitational coordination engine?" a quick-witted and scientifically savvy staff officer exclaimed. However, it was precisely because of his scientific knowledge that he screamed.

"Isn't this still an experiment being conducted at the Heavenly Palace Academy?"

In short, although it is unknown whether the principle is the same, the Exploding Mosquito did indeed achieve the cruising effect that the Imperial Army's most advanced research department had been trying to achieve, based on its own gravitational resonance.

At this point, at such close range, it's too late to do anything.

Those fiery clouds, which seemed to be boiling and burning, had already reached the shield barrier formed by the guard ships in the blink of an eye.

Even the force field barrier that could withstand several shots from the main cannons of a fortress, enough to form a "shield wall" for a decisive battle fleet, flickered with a heart-wrenching halo under the impact of the "fire cloud".

Then, it was broken through so easily.

As is well known, a robust force field shield is a professional defense against energy attacks and can also withstand most high-speed physical attacks, including but not limited to shells, missiles and torpedoes, but it is helpless against relatively low-speed targets.

This is why classic old-school fleet battles employed assault ships and fighter jets for "low-speed" penetration.

Now, the mosquitoes have successfully accomplished this feat.

"Fire! All close-in weapon systems!"

"Where are the fighter jets? Where are they? Intercept them! Now!" The officers' shouts drowned out the chaos on the channel.

In fact, before the commanders' screams even reached their earpieces, the Imperial fighter squadrons, already airborne and waiting, had already moved to meet them. Although the pilots all felt their scalps tingle, they knew that they were the last line of defense in front of the warship.

The blaster cannons spewed crimson fire, and missiles, trailing plumes of ionized flames, roared out. They tried to tear a gap in this grotesque mass of debris, attempting to repel it with the force of their explosions.

However, the "fire cloud" quickly dispersed after breaking through the force field barrier of the guard ship, just like a cumulonimbus cloud turning into raindrops after a cold wind blows.

As a result, the Imperial fighters' attacks were like punches sinking into a ball of cotton.

The explosive mosquito, barely larger than a sparrow, makes incredible sharp-angle turns while flying at high speed, skillfully dodging most of the artillery fire, and then suddenly accelerates after randomly locking onto a fighter jet.

Before the flying mosquitoes are hit by artillery fire, they will penetrate the shield, tear wounds in the armor plates with their mouthparts, bury their bodies in them, and then disintegrate.

The highly corrosive acid and scorching biomass fragments splashed out and ravaged the wings and fuselage of the Imperial fighter jets at close range.

A multi-million dollar spaceplane and its pilot, who was even more expensive than the plane itself, died from a tiny, reddish-brown mosquito.

Of course, even a close-range explosion is enough to cause splatter damage to small fighter jets. Considering the production cost of explosive mosquitoes, achieving this is sufficient.

"Warning! Fighter jet damaged!"

"What exactly are those things?"

"The Silver Squadron has suffered 60% casualties! We need reinforcements! We need reinforcements!"

The barrage of fire from the Imperial fighters was like a pebble thrown into the ocean, barely creating ripples before being instantly overwhelmed by the surging swarm of insects.

Then, naturally, are the armory ship and the guard ship next to it.

Mosquitoes can pass through force field barriers at a relatively uniform speed, and they can certainly penetrate conventional energy shields in the same way.

They crashed into the pale blue shields hastily erected by the guardian ships and arsenal ships. After a brief pause, they seemed to break through a paper wall, directly piercing the energy coating of the warships and then rushing into the ship's hull!
"Shield malfunction?! Impossible! This is not scientific!"

"They've made it through! They've made it through the armor!"

"Warning! Warning! They're gnawing at the hull! Warning! We need backup!"

"Security team? Where is the security team? Security team, prepare for battle!"

"All crew members, put on your protective suits immediately! This is a boarding maneuver. Hurry up, get moving!"

Frantic cries echoed inside every arsenal ship and guard vessel shrouded in swarms of insects. The black flies, like maggots clinging to bones, swarmed densely onto the cold metal hulls.

Their sharp mandibles pounded furiously against the reinforced armor, generating teeth-grinding electric sparks.

The green, corrosive saliva spread rapidly at the point of contact, forming expanding black spots on the smooth armor plate.

The hard alloy armor was like a plank of wood in front of these tiny creatures, as hard as a termite's plank.

Most of the explosive mosquitoes simply follow a predetermined procedure, detonating as soon as they are embedded inside the armor plate. However, a considerable number of individuals, perhaps receiving some mysterious command or perhaps having evolved some kind of intelligence, manage to squeeze through the gaps created by their "compatriots."

Thus, after completing the first contact and first battle with the Imperial Army, the Zerg Swarm also accomplished its first historic feat of boarding.

The victim was the arsenal ship Bronze Crystal. A year ago, she was a warship belonging to the Imperial Guard system, and her home port was Wanwang Pass. Her paint scheme, her physique, and her demeanor were completely different from the ragtag rabble of the guard force.

But now, she was still attacked by a storm, and someone even completely logged into her account.

"Ah—! They've gotten in! There are bugs in the engine room!"

"Turret B is covered with corrosive material, and the gun barrel is ineffective!"

"The port side armor belt has been gnawed through! Pressure is leaking! Plug it immediately!"

Accompanied by the piercing alarm of a structural rupture, panic spread like wildfire inside the warship. The soldiers watched in horror as tiny black insects crawled into the ventilation ducts and hatch cracks, firing futilely with their weapons.

They could certainly destroy the bugs, but the splashed acid would damage themselves and the ship's equipment.

The Bronze Crystal was the first Imperial warship to be landed on, and certainly not the last.

Chaos, screams, explosions, and corrosion brewed within the steel behemoths that the Imperial Fleet was so proud of, creating a chaotic and simmering atmosphere. Commander Zaki's face turned green as he watched the green dots representing his own ships on the tactical screen being swallowed up one by one by the red dots representing the Zerg swarm's encroachment.

"Our garrison fleet, the garrison fleet we built at great expense, couldn't even capture a single enemy ship, and now it's going to be destroyed by a bunch of space Leviathans?" He still didn't know where the enemy came from, but that didn't stop him from cursing loudly: "Whose fault is this! Whose fault is it! The Empire has become like this because of them! When the country is in trouble, all sorts of demons and monsters will show themselves!"

So, whose fault is it really? Do you dare to say?
The adjutant asked cautiously, "Sir, what do we do?"

"Of course we have to retreat." His meticulously arranged artillery array became a bunch of clumsy targets in the face of this unreasonable biological weapon. What could he do in this situation?

Of course, Director Zaki couldn't figure out how to retreat, where to retreat, or what to do about the bugs that were rampaging on the arsenal and guard ships. He just wanted to get out of there as soon as possible.

However, this is also impossible.

He received another order from the Imperial Guard fleet. Rear Admiral Herotin ordered him to send all the light cruisers and destroyers to seal off the gravity well.

"Aren't these the auxiliary warships for escorting ships meant for this situation? Unleash all their firepower! I want to see a fire net woven in front of those bugs! Also, get the Marines ready to land and provide support! Yes, all the warships can still be salvaged!"

Are you sending us to our deaths? Are local troops just cannon fodder for the central army? Director Zaki couldn't help but let out a sorrowful sigh, but he dared not say such words aloud.

He knew very well that if he said such things, the other side would definitely shoot him first.

He was the master of the Imperial Guards; he had that authority.

"Waaah... I, we'll carry it out immediately! Yes, yes, I'll have the soldiers push forward."

"Please lead by example."

"..."

"At the very least, your flagship should be in a place where the soldiers can see it. I don't want to repeat myself."

"...Yes, I understand what you mean."

"My main fleet will also be deployed immediately. Director Zaki, remember, as long as we hold our ground, there will always be a way! I believe in this, and I hope you can believe it too!"

To be fair, Major General Black Rodin was also in a state of utter despair. Three squadrons of over two hundred fighter jets and pilots had accomplished almost nothing against that fiery cloud, and were instantly wiped out.

The Empire's most elite fighter force was as fragile as a grasshopper in front of an army of army ants.

Even the four aircraft carriers themselves had a small number of mosquitoes diverted to board their cabins.

Of course, since the assault troops and grenadiers on the aircraft carrier are all elite, and with the cooperation of robots, these rampant explosive mosquitoes are not enough to render the mighty aircraft carrier combat ineffective.

So far, the insects that entered the aircraft carrier have been contained in several compartments. The damage is certainly significant, but as long as it is not structural damage, it should be salvageable with some effort.

In short, as a professionally trained and qualified commander, he had managed to overcome his near-collapse and managed to avoid losing his composure on the spot.

Their tactics were indeed flawed; they were caught off guard by these biological weapons, but now is not the time to give up.

The large warships of the garrison fleet were all boarded, but the damage was not fatal and could still be salvaged.

As an outstanding general of the Imperial Guard, he even figured out some simple insights.

So, in the future, the first thing to consider when dealing with this kind of enemy is isolation, right?

As the Imperial Guard general pondered, he watched the Imperial Guard fleet's escort force enter the firing line with hesitant steps. It consisted of ten light cruisers, twenty destroyers, and over thirty assault ships.

In addition, landing craft filled with Marines have also been deployed. Their objective, of course, is not to board enemy ships, but to support friendly forces.

Black Rodin also issued the order to deploy. His own vanguard fleet, along with eight Holy Shield ships specifically responsible for escort, could all be sent.

He also received new reports; the jump signal was still flashing, which meant that more hostile targets were about to arrive on the battlefield, but at this point, he couldn't care less about that.

It's certainly sad that the glorious Imperial Army has to get mixed up with a bunch of bugs and fight a messy war... but what's wrong with fighting a messy war?
As conquerors of the universe, the Imperial Army has never been just a group of glamorous nobles; they also have a side of fighting bloody battles and fierce warfare.

With this determination, when more than twenty cocoon-shaped flying objects of varying sizes flashed out in the sky, Major General Black Rodin was still surprised and felt that this development had overturned his common sense, but he was actually getting used to this feeling.

"No stopping! Keep firing! Fire all the shells!"

"What are you waiting for? Quickly bring the ship closer! Now is the time to test courage and loyalty! Gentlemen, no matter what kind of enemy we face, we will surely be victorious!"

Black Court issued this order.

However, before the Imperial fleet could open fire, the insects opened fire first.

Those insect-like warships were covered in heavy chitinous armor, with ferocious claws and barbs growing out of them. Their bodies shone with a cold, hard luster, making them far more menacing than the "eggs" from before.

However, the actual bombardment was not carried out by these "warships," but by the giant beetles attached to their outer shells. Each one was as large as a building, but standing on the body of the insect hive warships, they looked like mites on the skin.

As soon as they left the warp portal with the mothership, the menacing purple energy glands on their carapaces began to flash wildly. Thick beams of ion energy, radiating destructive power, rained down without warning upon the nearest Imperial warships!

The sudden attack was precise and deadly! It was far more accurate than the Imperial army's attack earlier.

Several light warships burst into dazzling flames from their bows, their propulsion systems went silent, their shield generators overloaded and sparked, and their hulls trembled violently under the onslaught of ion streams, revealing shocking wounds.

At almost the same moment, a large number of dragon worms, covering the camel worms used for transporting troops, emerged from the gap in the mother nest.

The chaotic battle that the Imperial Army desperately wanted to see began.

That's why when the Silent Ship, sporting the Alliance Titan skin, made its leap into battle, all that could be seen was that the Imperial warships had lost their formation and were fighting amongst swarms of swarms of mosquitoes and dragons, creating a chaotic and disorderly battlefield.

The fact that no one came to greet him left Yu Lian somewhat dissatisfied.

The local Imperial Army is so impolite and lacks spirit. Shouldn't they be approaching their nemesis with the same caution?
Yu Lian said listlessly, "Good heavens, Xia Li is indeed using military strategy, and she's using it quite well."

Feifei laughed and said, "Sister Xia Li is a one-woman army! Sister Xia Li is fighting alone! Sister Xia Li is invincible!"

"She was not fighting alone, and her invincibility was only temporary."

Shirley's Zerg swarm did not warp; instead, it crashed into the Beta Gate system in its most ferocious form. Their tactic of using the Swarm of Mosquitoes as a vanguard successfully broke through the Imperial artillery interception, catching the enemy completely off guard.

The Empire wanted to use close-range, concentrated artillery fire to carry out denial tactics, so Shirley simply opted for a chaotic and violent boarding action.

Indeed, no military organization is better at boarding than the Zerg swarm, and a successful tactic is to undermine the enemy's strengths while leveraging one's own.

Shirley succeeded.

Her growth truly brings Yu Lian immense joy!
However, this does not mean that she has achieved a complete victory.

The Empire's capital ships are currently unharmed.