Two years passed in a flash. After a week-long vacation ended, all members of the Promis Legion entered a state of intense preparation. At the same time, they dispatched a large number of personnel to bolster the combat strength of the new government's military.
Beyond Yang Hui secretly joining the armament enhancement plan to assist the new government in developing various emerging military technologies, Graham, Flit, Jehart, Kira, Athrun, and others joined various units under hidden identities to improve the pilots' piloting levels and combat capabilities.
Because the difficulty had increased and they knew in advance that the number of ELS would be higher, it was impossible for the new government to downsize the existing military, even with the implementation of de-escalation policies.
Not only that, the military was expanded to a certain extent, especially the Space Fleet. New-model space warships were launched into space one after another, and batches of motivated young people were sent into the cosmos to join the Federal Fleet.
The number of T.N.T. Cannons on the Celestial Being increased from one to four, which was naturally a welcome development, but it was not enough. Yang Hui also secretly reached an agreement with the Earth Federation to build two Genesis units and deploy them in Earth's orbit.
The reason the new government was willing to build a weapon like Genesis, which was capable of destroying Earth and all of humanity, was partly because of the upcoming terrifying extraterrestrial civilization, the ELS, and partly to keep the Promis Legion—which possessed the Celestial Being and a massive fleet—in check.
After all, in their eyes, the power held by the Celestial Being organization, which operated independently of the government system, was simply too formidable. Those in high positions often suffered from persecution complexes; regardless of how Celestial Being behaved or what its philosophy was, as long as it remained beyond their control and they lacked the means to restrain it, they would do everything in their power to guard against it.
Yang Hui expressed his understanding and even took the initiative to hand over the detailed blueprints of Genesis to them to set their minds at ease.
However... Yang Hui was no fool. He hadn't given such powerful weapons to the new government solely out of the kindness of his heart. During construction, Yang Hui left a hidden backdoor. If the new government ever intended to use Genesis to attack Celestial Being or the Promis Legion, VEDA could use the backdoor to seize control of Genesis and activate its self-destruct system.
Yang Hui's work with the Federal Army had concluded six months ago. He had helped as much as he could; the rest was up to manufacturing, which he couldn't help with anyway. Thus, he took his leave and returned to space to stay permanently on the Celestial Being. The Celestial Being was now the grand flagship of the Promis Legion as well as its general headquarters.
At the same time, the Federal Army held a portion of the access rights to the Celestial Being, and they would send a delegation and a research team to be permanently stationed on the ship.
Except... the highest-ranking officer of the delegation was Kati, the Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Space Force.
"I say, Kati... You've made yourself quite at home here. Doesn't the high command have an opinion on that?" Yang Hui asked Kati with a strange expression. This wasn't the first time he had asked her this. Ever since Kati arrived on the Celestial Being with the delegation, she had truly treated it like home. Even now, she was wearing pajamas, drinking coffee while processing documents.
"What? Do you have an opinion?" Kati asked, glancing sideways at Yang Hui.
"No, no, no, how could I..." Yang Hui waved his hands quickly, indicating she could do as she pleased.
"I wonder who it was that requested I stay in the Federal Army when I was planning to retire back then," Kati rolled her eyes at Yang Hui and complained.
After the new government was established, Kati had intended to retire from the Federal Army and join the Promis Legion directly with Yang Hui, but Yang Hui had requested her to stay within the Federation.
In the battles to overthrow A-Laws and the puppet regime, Kati was the only one who had led a fleet to participate. Although she was basically a spectator, she had participated nonetheless. Consequently, Kati became a hero once again, and the new government promised various conditions to request that she remain in the Federal Army.
Yang Hui's reasoning was that the Federal Army would definitely have to participate in the upcoming war. Instead of handing command over to someone he didn't know, it was better to have Kati leading the Federation.
What about Sergei?
Please, the new government was specifically on guard against Celestial Being and Yang Hui. As Yang Hui's older brother, how could they possibly let Sergei take command of the Federal Army? Given his seniority and ability, letting him come out of retirement to serve as the Commander-in-Chief of the Army—which existed in name only—was already the greatest concession they were willing to make.
"It couldn't be helped. For this battle, we must eliminate as many unstable factors as possible. Even for a 0.1% increase in the chance of victory, we can't let it go."
"...We will definitely get through this." Kati held Yang Hui's head, stroking it gently. She knew very well how tired he was, and how weary his heart had become.
"Yeah!" Enjoying Kati's embrace and comfort, Yang Hui suddenly stood up. He didn't actively enter Innovator Mode, but his eyes were filled with a shifting, seven-colored radiance. "They're here!"
"What's here? The ELS?" Kati noticed Yang Hui's abnormality and asked seriously.
"Yes." Yang Hui nodded. Under normal circumstances, Innovator Mode could be entered or exited at will, but this time, he had entered it automatically in a very peculiar way. There were no GN Particles, no GN Drive, and searching outward yielded no feedback... but it was just a strange feeling. Something was coming.
"I'm going back immediately to assemble the troops." Kati stood up to leave, changed her clothes, and headed straight for the command center. Yang Hui also issued a general assembly order to the Promis Legion, declaring the entire fleet to be at Condition Two combat readiness.
"Sumeragi, is there any movement from Jupiter?"
"Information from VEDA. Debris from a probe flying from Jupiter toward the Earth Sphere has been discovered. The Federal Army is currently executing a clearance mission."
"No, that's not debris. It must be completely destroyed; not even a fragment can be allowed near Earth!"
"You mean!" Sumeragi was startled, her expression turning solemn. "I understand. Revil's First Fleet is closest to the flight path. I will notify him to intercept."
Yang Hui didn't leave; he waited in the command center of the Celestial Being for the latest news. Fifteen minutes later, he received a report from Revil.
"Confirmed complete destruction. Not a single fragment remains."
"Is there any information on the probe?"
"Yes. According to VEDA's database comparison, it was the Jupiter Human Project probe, the Europa."
"As I thought."
"The guests have already arrived, Yang Hui." During the report, Revil played the combat records. What they had intercepted wasn't just the wreckage of the Europa, but also... a large number of Small-scale ELS.
"This!" A deviation had occurred. When the ELS first appeared as the wreckage of the Europa in the original timeline, they hadn't released Small-scale ELS, but now they appeared immediately. "Revil, how many Quasi-Innovators and NTs are in your fleet?"
"Are you saying... the attraction of Brain Quantum Waves!"
"It must be."
"No wonder. During the interception, the wreckage changed its flight trajectory and headed straight for our fleet."
"The First Fleet will continue to hold the absolute defense line. I have already issued the assembly order and will head out to rendezvous with you now."
"Understood." Revil adjusted his hat and replied in a heavy voice before ending the transmission.
"Old man, is that machine ready?"
"It has entered the final adjustment phase."
"Start the Celestial Being. Head toward the First Fleet's location. Use VEDA to transmit the First Fleet's combat records to the new government and tell them to bring Genesis over!"
"Understood."
Because it was uncertain if the ELS would appear from other directions, the fleets of the Promis Legion were scattered in various directions around Earth. This also served as a deterrent to those restless opportunists, especially the Colony Management Corporation, telling them not to act out, or they would be annihilated.
Upon receiving the assembly order, everyone immediately dropped their current work and converged toward the location of the First Fleet.
...
The fleets of the Promis Legion gathered together in a grand display of force, and the Federal Army fleets also arrived one by one to rendezvous. Based on VEDA's calculations, the final defense line was set.
"Everyone is here."
In the command center of the Celestial Being, the commanders-in-chief of the various fleets from Prometheus Fortress held a remote video conference.
"You have all received the data. It is now confirmed that the ELS have awakened. The appearance of the probe this time was the ELS's way of greeting us. Furthermore, the Brain Quantum Waves of the Psychic Energy users in the First Fleet have already been detected by the ELS. They don't need to go to Earth to find them; they have already found 'communicable' targets. Therefore, we must remain prepared at all times. The entire fleet is to enter Condition Two combat readiness."
"Understood." (Multiple voices)
"For this operation, Revil will be the overall fleet commander."
"No problem."
No one objected to this decision. Among all the fleet commanders, Char, Flit, Jehart, and Mina would all be sortieing in MS and could not oversee the entire situation. Durandal was just a figurehead whose expertise was not in battlefield command, and Murrue and Natarle Badgiruel were not yet qualified. Thus, Revil was the most suitable candidate.
Beep beep beep...
"The Federal Army fleet has arrived. Kati is requesting to join the communication."
"Patch her in."
"Yes."
An additional screen appeared in the remote video conference, and the heroic Kati appeared on screen.
"Yang Hui, the Federal Army's 1st, 2nd, 3rd... fleets have arrived to rendezvous with you. Another ten fleets are currently escorting Genesis and are expected to arrive in ten days."
"Good. Since you're here, we will begin explaining the battle plan."
"Understood."
"For this campaign, all forces will be under Revil's responsibility. Kati, you will command the Federal Army, but Revil is your superior."
"No problem."
"Once the ELS appear, an Ural-class transport ship carrying Gags will perform the contact. It will be composed entirely of unmanned units for the ELS to devour and assimilate."
The threat of the ELS, aside from their ability to devour, assimilate, and learn, was their sheer numbers. Moreover, the majority were Small-scale ELS, which were small targets and extremely agile. Combined with their habit of charging blindly just to assimilate, they were a huge problem.
Therefore, Yang Hui decided to turn the ELS's characteristics against them. He would offer an Ural-class transport ship and the Federation's worst MA, the Gag, for them to "eat." This would serve as learning material for them, forcing them to transform into MA, MS, and warship forms in advance, thereby turning an unknown enemy into a familiar opponent.
"How do we solve the problem of Brain Quantum Waves? Without Brain Quantum Waves, I'm not sure if the ELS will be attracted," Kati asked.