The Bizarre Adventure of the Warhammer Guard

As the sky gradually turned white, a bright sun rose from the horizon, its rays shining upon the Deadwater Base, where the battle had just ended.

The swarm of insects had been driven back, leaving behind a trail of corpses. Everyone in the base knew that these insects had only temporarily retreated; they were still secretly gathering strength, ready to break through the defenses at any moment.

The outer bunker cluster of Deadwater Base was torn apart, the broken steel was covered with black slag caused by corrosion, and automatic machine guns and heavy artillery were also destroyed, with thick black smoke billowing from these damaged fortifications.

SCVs constantly moved throughout the base, carrying supplies, patching gaps breached by the Zerg, and repairing damaged fortifications as much as possible. The attacked heavy artillery was also sent to the repair center, where engineers worked diligently to restore these broken weapons.

The ammunition production line at the production center was also in operation, stockpiled resources were being used up, and countless bullets, shells and missiles were being produced and transported to the front lines of the base.

The survivors gathered the bodies of the fallen soldiers; nearly a hundred Marines had lost their lives in this defensive battle. Their power armor was removed, and resources were salvaged as much as possible. A small funeral was also held at the Deadwater base.

In the era of space colonization, almost all immigrants preferred cremation, but the difference lay in what happened to the ashes after cremation.

Some immigrants, who often worked inside planets, preferred to have their ashes buried directly in the ground, or to have them placed in a wooden box and then buried; others, who often worked on ships, preferred to have their ashes thrown into the endless space.

Regardless, all the fallen soldiers at Deadwater Base were cremated, and their ashes were buried on a remote hill inside the base.

They were all there, each small mound representing the passing of a life, beneath which lay the soldier's own dog tag, a metal plate engraved with his name and rank.

Just as people were cleaning up the battlefield, a transport truck arrived at Deadwater Base. Loken and Raynor had completed their mission and returned successfully.

"My lord," Loken said as he entered the command room, "the mission is now complete."

"The specifics," Elpis said.

"All 87 survivors have been transferred to the Deadwater Base," Loken said, removing his helmet. "The experimental equipment has also been brought along."

Ida stepped out from behind Loken and placed the spherical device on the table—the device was about 50 centimeters in diameter, with a rectangular base at the bottom to hold it in place, and its surface was regularly covered with bumps of the same size.

"These aliens also have the ability to infect objects," Loken added. "Before leaving, we also detonated the entire command center fortress in area 0658, completely destroying the infected building."

"Now we only have this experimental device left, and we haven't detected any energy fluctuations. There was nothing unusual during the journey back; could it have been damaged?"

"Let's see what's inside." After listening to Loken's report, Elpis reached out and tore apart the spherical surface, revealing the cables and pipes inside. At the very center, there was a thumb-sized piece of pale gold ore, with countless electronic components connected to it by wires.

"Ghost Gold?" After handing the survivors over to a specialist, Renault went to the command room with Commander Rugal and immediately recognized the ore in the spherical device.

"What is that?" Loken asked.

"It's a rare psionic mineral with extremely active psionic resonance, and it only forms naturally in certain extreme environments," Reno replied. "I saw classified documents about it when I served in the Federation."

"Psionic minerals," Loken said. "Can they be used as an energy source?"

"I don't know," Reno replied. "It's said to activate and enhance human psionic potential. I haven't had any experience with it to see if it's actually feasible."

Elpis's armor-embedded scanning device continued scanning, displaying various parameters before his eyes. Using his extensive knowledge and combining it with the technical parameters, Elpis determined that the spherical device was a signal transmitter used to emit the psionic resonance signal emitted by the ghostly gold.

As far as Elpis knew, this psionic transmitter could not directly amplify the psionic signal. Instead, it amplified the signal by simulating the signal emitted by the ghostly gold inside the device through electronic components, and then broadcast it throughout the entire star system.

If this is the case, then these aliens were attracted by these false psionic signals, and the federal government's goal is to test whether they can use psionic transmitters to turn the aliens into tools for killing enemies and suppressing rebellions.

How foolish and ridiculous! The aliens have already invaded the human world, yet these rulers are still thinking about how to maintain their rule and how to kill humans who do not obey them.

"It's alright," Elpis destroyed the entire psionic transmitter, took out the phantom gold inside, and handed it to Ada for safekeeping. "We need to collect more phantom gold; there are many special resources here."

Just as everyone gathered in the command room to assign post-battle tasks, the mechanical voice of the communication equipment began broadcasting:

"Commander, transmission signal received... Target source: General Edmund Duke of Alpha Squadron."

"Bring them in," Commander Lugal said. "Let's see what they have to say."

"Commander Lucar, it seems Deadwater Base is relatively safe. I hope you continue your efforts; the fleet will be here soon." General Duke changed the subject. "However, I've heard some rumors circulating in many colonies on Mar-Sala. I hope this hasn't affected you."

The commander certainly knew what General Duke was referring to in the rumors, but it was clear that this high-ranking general did not know where these rumors came from.

"General Duke, I expect you to give me an explanation." Before Rugal could speak, Reno walked directly to the communication device and questioned the general.

"It's Sheriff Reynolds. I was just about to look for you." Duke's emotions shifted upon hearing Reynolds' voice; he seemed somewhat angry. "Because you destroyed a critical federal facility, you and your men violated current immigration laws. You are now under arrest."

"Commander Lucar!" Duke shouted, "Arrest the prisoner Reno and all his men! Hand them over to me when my fleet arrives!"

"As for you, Sheriff," Duke paused, "I have a suggestion for you: put down your weapons, raise your hands and surrender. Don't even think about escaping Mar-Sala."

"Are you crazy?!" Renault said. "That place is practically turning into a Zerg nest. You want those Zerg to get stronger? And we even rescued those attacked immigrants."

"Don't you dare refuse a polite offer and then have to suffer the consequences, kid. I'm not negotiating with you. Now, put down your weapons and surrender!"

The call was then cut off by General Duke. Reno, exasperated, punched the communication device and left a comment:

"Looks like we're not family. Birds of a feather flock together."