Chapter 1592 - Reconnaissance (1/2)

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation  Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

When Hao Ren and Vivian arrived back to the Naqdal base, the minions of the Mad Lord had gone.

A small team of the minions tried to cross the security perimeter of Naqdal but was repelled by the drones. After a brief fight, the drones destroyed all scouts of the Mad Lord within the range of fire while other festered monsters roaming further afield retreated. The drones, which were not equipped with gravitational trap, did not manage to capture the enemy scouts. The festered monsters got away.

But it was not a big deal because the Naqdal security perimeter covered a wide area. Those monsters were not close enough to pose a threat or know the situation of the base. They did not even see the scale of the base cluster. The drones had intercepted the enemy scouts at half a light year away from the base.

But it served as a warning to Hao Ren. Just as he had predicted before, the festered monsters had not only locked on the position of Naqdal Continent but also knew the presence of the ‘outsiders.’ They had not given up this place.

It seemed that the crystals on Naqdal Continent were of great appeal to the monsters.

The modification of the control center of Naqdal was completed. Since the navigation crystal was the core of the underground part of the control center, and Hao Ren had not mastered the way to control it, the subterranean structure was left untouched, and the temple on the surface had become the new control center.

The drone cluster had finished installing all the propulsion units on the continent. The shield generators and weapon platforms were also online. Other than the engine, every system came in two sets. One was the original control system that the guardian giants built, while another was the new system that the drones had built. Both systems were connected to the underground control center and the temple on the surface. At present, Hao Ren was controlling the fortified continent through the temple.

It was as if snapping on a body control device on a dead body. It was an indirect control but was enough to let the space fortress function as it should be.

Hao Ren and Vivian had returned and walked into the temple surrounded by the sprites. This building still looked as magnificent as before. But there was the addition of many Xi Ling-style equipment and a bunch of autonomous robots flying around inside. In the polygonal chamber, where the Temporary Command was, Hao Ren went straight before a dark metal wall. “How is the situation?”

As Hao Ren’s voice trailed off, the metal wall rippled as if liquid, and then an ever-changing face surfaced. “Six hours ago, the patrol drones discovered an abnormal spatial distortion near the security perimeter and detected that the minions of the Mad Lord had appeared nearby. Three minutes later, the drones exchanged fire with the intruders, which then split into two with one group still trying to cross the line while another group began to move in the opposite direction.”

The drone cluster consciousness said as the hologram showed visual footage of what happened during the exchange of fire.

“Fifteen minutes later, the enemy flying in the opposite direction suddenly retreated, and the drones did not manage to intercept them. Twenty-six minutes later, the drones wiped out all intruding enemy units. We have salvaged part of the wreckage, but the initial examination suggests that they are of no value.”

“Were they acting in an organized way?” Hao Ren asked after looking at the footage.

“They showed a high degree of discipline and swift reactions. Our drones outnumbered and defeated them quickly, but they had a considerable degree of battlefield command capability.”

“Just as we expected. The group that attacked Naqdal earlier was disorganized, but this time, some commander was behind this.” Hao Ren glanced at Vivian. “Perhaps, we will not see those F2A cowards anymore; the enemy is taking us seriously this time.”

Vivian seemed to in thought. After a while, she looked up at the peristaltic metal wall in front of her. “Can you roughly analyze the difference in combat style between these intruders and the ones in the previous battle?”

The drone cluster consciousness quickly replied, “The action of the intruders this time was more conservative, and they were operating in smaller groups of mutated monsters as their main force. There is a large deviation from the previously collected enemy tactical data.”

Vivian nodded. “This means the enemy has more than one commander.”

“Apparently, they were testing us,” said Hao Ren. “They are not sure who this third force that has come out of nowhere is. The defeat of their army by our drones in the previous battle has put them under pressure. So, they did not come to attack us recklessly this time. Instead, they sent a small group of scouts.”

“It seems that the decision to build the base and expand our forces is right,” The MDT came up and said. “They did not manage to spy how big the Naqdal base was. But they should have realized it by now that the drone cluster is expanding at a rate much faster than previously. They would be more cautious in formulating an offensive strategy.”

“But it will also give them a sense of urgency,” Hao Ren said. “Their commanders must be assembling their troops and planning to eliminate the third force like us. The drone forces are expanding rapidly; the enemy knows it and will not sit by and watch.”

The next wave of attack was imminent, and it was going to be a major one.