Cataclysm: Undead Dragons and Zero Empire

Chapter 131 The Iron Curtain Falls

"I am currently en route to that planet for close observation—it appears that the dark purple outer shell is a layer of biological tissue covering the planet's surface, similar to a fungal carpet."

"Based on the current battlefield situation, Party A has the upper hand and has the spare capacity to send warships to break through Party B's defenses and launch orbital bombardment of the planet."

In the scene, countless thick laser beams, like swords descending from the heavens, pierce the planet's surface from space. Towering biological structures collapse like building blocks during the bombardment, and countless hatching nests are destroyed, turning into scorched earth along with the unhatched creatures inside.

The fungal carpet hit by the laser was instantly vaporized by the high temperature, revealing the scorched rocky surface below. The biological tissues carbonized and burned in the high temperature, turning the entire planet's atmosphere into a murky dark red.

At this moment, the creep covering the entire planet displayed terrifying vitality. New creep quickly spread from the bombed areas, covering the exposed surface again and healing the wounds caused by the bombing.

"The intensity of the conflict between the two sides is very high. Currently, it seems that Party A is more efficient and is gradually squeezing Party B's living space."

Aaron packaged all the observed data and transmitted it to the Ark headquarters, completely disregarding his own safety. After all, this was rare first-hand data, and he was willing to risk his life for it.

"We are heading towards the asteroid belt on the outer edge of the star system, continuously recording battlefield data. Further updates will follow—"

Aaron suddenly stopped speaking, looked at the monitoring screen in front of him, and his brows furrowed instantly.

Howard stepped forward and asked, "Aaron, what happened?"

"One of the client's warships has broken away from the main formation and is turning towards us. The space sensors have detected an active lock-on signal; the enemy has spotted us."

Aaron remained calm and didn't even change his speaking speed. He immediately ordered the central control system and his crew, "Activate the faster-than-light engine to warm up, mark the nearest hyperspace route, immediately execute evasive maneuvers, activate the shield capacitors, and simultaneously increase the priority of battlefield data transmission, allowing it to bypass the engine's energy supply."

"Understood! Engine warm-up start, 10%, 20%—"

"Data packet transmission has begun. Current progress: 60%"

Reports from the crew rang out one after another. On the screen, the hull of the Far Voyager 7 began to adjust its attitude and rapidly moved away from the battlefield, but the red alert indicating a lock on the screen became increasingly glaring.

"Aaron, evacuate immediately. Forget about the data. This is the highest order," Howard said urgently. Faced with such an unknown and powerful mechanical civilization, an unarmed research vessel had no room for hesitation.

"General, this data will be humanity's firsthand information on interstellar warfare, and it will be of immeasurable value to our war theory and military technology development. It must be transmitted back."

Aaron shook his head, defying Howard's orders. His eyes were fixed on the monitoring screen. "The enemy warships appear to be using a swarm tactic and are accelerating towards us."

In the radiation monitoring footage, several bright green laser beams shot from distant space, grazing the asteroid that Voyager 7 was constantly dodging, and the screen briefly flickered.

"Shield energy is decreasing and will soon reach zero!"

Aaron's body tilted slightly as the ship swayed. He reached out to steady himself on the main control panel and continued speaking into the communicator, "General, update the observation records. This mechanical civilization's fire control system is extremely accurate; it can hit us from this distance."

"Aaron! Shut up! Start the faster-than-light engine right now, don't worry about warming up!" Howard was so anxious that he wanted to stick a gun to the scientist's head, seeing how slow and methodical the scientist was even in the face of danger.

Before Howard could finish speaking, a blinding white light flashed on the screen, followed by intermittent, violent explosions. Then, only the crackling of electrical current could be heard from the communicator, the screen went completely black, and the signal was lost.

The Ark space station was deathly silent; no one dared to look at the leader, whose face was grim.

The entire crew of the Faraway VII, including Dr. Aaron, perished.

This is the first time since human civilization entered the interstellar age that it has encountered an extraterrestrial civilization in deep space, and it is also the first time that it has paid the price in lives.

After a full half minute, Howard slowly raised his head and ordered the central control system, "Order all research vessels to immediately cease their exploration missions and withdraw to our territory. No one is allowed to approach any unknown star system without authorization."

"Yes, General!"

"All star bases and outposts are under close surveillance, including all hyperspace entrances and exits."

L

"Notify all shipyards to immediately enter a state of maximum combat readiness, immediately adjust production plans, suspend all non-essential civilian shipbuilding, and prioritize production capacity for warships," Howard's voice grew increasingly somber. "Send the data Aaron sent back to Isaac and inform him that the accelerator research results must be transformed as soon as possible; we don't have much time."

The command center, which had been deathly silent, instantly transformed into a high-speed war machine, issuing orders that reached every corner of the human civilization's territory.

Howard suppressed the surging emotions in his heart; he knew very well that this matter could not be left unresolved.

The fact that the other side could destroy human research vessels without hesitation shows that they have no desire to communicate with human civilization, only naked hostility.

War is imminent.

Just then, the communication signal, which had been completely cut off, was suddenly restored without warning.

The screen showed only constantly flashing code, followed by a cold, emotionless mechanical voice that was clearly transmitted to Howard after being translated through a universal mathematical translation protocol.

"Organic signal detected, target marked, destruction program initiated."

Howard glared at the screen and shouted, "Establish two-way communication! I need to talk to them!"

"Yes, General! Establishing a two-way communication connection—connection successful!"

Howard stood in front of the camera and said coldly, "This is human civilization. State your identities."

There was no response from the other side of the screen, only that cold, mechanical voice sounded again a few seconds later: "It's too late, organism."

The moment those words were spoken, the communication signal was interrupted again, the screen turned completely black once more, and the other party's signal source disappeared into deep space as if it had never existed.

It wasn't a mistaken attack, nor was it a misunderstanding that human civilization was the enemy's target. They were targeting all organic matter, and their goal was to destroy all organic life.

"Intelligent civilization—" Howard began slowly, recalling the wariness of robots in human culture.

He picked up the communicator and answered the phone: "Terrence, we're in trouble."

"I understand," Terence said firmly. "The Death Faction will fully cooperate with you. All psionicists are ready to be conscripted at any time. If necessary, I will personally go to the front lines. May God protect humanity. We will fight the enemy to the very end."

"Okay," Howard nodded. Given his long-standing rapport with Terrence, there was no need to say anything more, and he hung up the call.

Howard looked out at the starry sky and knew that the era of peaceful expansion of human civilization had come to a complete end.

The cold iron curtain has slowly descended upon the path of human development.