Lantian Star System
At this moment, because the Lantian Star System was the nearest neighboring star system in terms of travel distance to the Water Lily Star System, its Stargate had been requisitioned by the Imperial Army, with over eighty percent of its transport capacity dedicated to moving Imperial Fleet units!
Simultaneously, at the junction between the Lantian Star System and the Water Lily Star System, large batches of Imperial Fleet ships were entering the interstellar border space one after another, heading toward the Water Lily Star System.
The Lantian Star System had also activated a First-Level Combat Readiness Status. The lord fleet was fully cooperating with the Imperial Fleet, mobilizing all possible resources to assist the Imperial Army's operations.
After all, if the Interstellar Zerg in the Water Lily Star System were not contained, and the 'Zerg Plague' spread, the Lantian Star System would be the first to suffer.
Amidst this procession of Imperial Fleet vessels, a starship with elegant blue-and-white curves appeared. Its entirely different paint scheme made it stand out conspicuously.
"Commander, we have successfully arrived at the interstellar frontier space connecting the Lantian and Water Lily Star Systems!" Secretary Officer Lilith reported to Zhao Chen.
Gazing at the pitch-black interstellar frontier space devoid of any light points ahead, Zhao Chen looked at Chu Xuan beside him. "You still have the right to back out now."
From the North Star System in the North Wind Star Domain all the way to the Lantian Star System in the Azure Star Domain, it was largely thanks to Chu Xuan's status as the eldest daughter of the Chu Family that Zhao Chen's T3 Blizzard-class Light Interstellar Battlecruiser could arrive so quickly.
This was especially true for the final leg of the journey, applying to use the Lantian Star System's Stargate.
Due to the Imperial Army's requisition of the Lantian Star System Stargate, almost all applications from civilian starships had been rejected.
It was only after Chu Xuan stepped in that they obtained the highest priority and smoothly reached the Lantian Star System.
"This young lady has never known how to write the word 'regret' since the day she was born!" Chu Xuan declared with a fearless smile.
"Charlotte, conduct another full check of all ship modules," Zhao Chen ordered seriously.
This was the T3 Blizzard-class Light Interstellar Battlecruiser's first official combat voyage. It was important to remember that the trial voyage training prior to this had not been fully completed.
Although he had great confidence in his Technical Blueprint and the quality control of the T2 Hammer-class Heavy Interstellar Industrial Ship, necessary caution and care were still required.
"Yes, sir," Deputy Captain Charlotte immediately carried out the task. She soon reported back, "All departments report no issues. All starship modules are operating normally without any problems."
Zhao Chen took a deep breath. "Activate the Level Six Warp Drive. Prepare to traverse the interstellar border space!"
"Warp Drive course pre-programming complete. We will now enter the acceleration phase. In ten minutes, we will enter the warp navigation phase. All crew members must enter deep-sea mode within ten minutes! I repeat, all crew members must enter deep-sea mode within ten minutes! Remember, we are about to enter a combat zone. Upon exiting deep-sea mode, all personnel at battle stations must return to their posts within one minute! Is that understood?" Charlotte's stern voice echoed throughout every department and section of the starship.
Almost simultaneously, female crew members from all departments shouted back the same two words: "Understood!"
Although this voice could not be heard by Zhao Chen and the others on the bridge.
Zhao Chen lay down in the hibernation pod. The hibernation pods on the T3 Blizzard-class Light Interstellar Battlecruiser were quite comfortable, significantly reducing the 'hangover sensation' upon waking.
"This warp navigation will take us 35 hours to traverse the interstellar border space and directly reach the edge of the region controlled by the Interstellar Zerg," Secretary Officer Lilith informed Zhao Chen.
Zhao Chen nodded and closed his eyes.
The advantage of a Level Six Warp Drive was that it could greatly shorten the journey.
If Zhao Chen's T3 Blizzard-class Light Interstellar Battlecruiser were to depart from the Arctic Fox System for the Fierce Dragon Star System now, it would take less than two days.
For example, traveling from one point to another: a Level One Warp Drive would take one hundred days; a Level Two Warp Drive would take only fifty days; a Level Three Warp Drive would take just twenty-five days; a Level Four Warp Drive would take only twelve days; and so on.
Typically, T1 Starships were equipped with Level One or Level Two Warp Drives, while T2 Starships were equipped with Level Three or Level Four Warp Drives.
Zhao Chen's T3 Blizzard-class Light Interstellar Battlecruiser was equipped with a Level Six Warp Drive!
The invention of the Warp Drive, alongside Star Gate technology, had significantly shortened the distances between star systems.
Returning to the present.
Zhao Chen recalled the time: thirty-five hours!
"Little sister, wait for your big brother a little longer."
Under the hypnotic effect of the hibernation pod, Zhao Chen fell into a sleep state.
After an unknown amount of time, a voice sounded in Zhao Chen's ear, instantly waking him.
"The Blizzard-class Light Star Battlecruiser's intelligent system reminds you: The ship hull has exited warp navigation state and has arrived at the predetermined location; currently in autopilot mode."
After a total journey of three days from the North Star System, Zhao Chen's T3 Blizzard-class Light Interstellar Battlecruiser finally arrived at the Water Lily Star System.
The moment Zhao Chen opened his eyes, he was back in his captain's chair.
In just a few dozen seconds, the entire bridge returned to its pre-hibernation combat readiness state.
"Activate the starship radar and immediately scan the surroundings! Open communication channels and receive all communication signals in the vicinity!" Secretary Officer Lilith issued commands one after another.
"Report, starship radar scan complete. No suspicious targets detected within radar range."
"Report, we have captured some weak communication signals. However, they are all distress signals from surrounding planets. The lord fleet and the Imperial Fleet of the Water Lily Star System have abandoned this area, choosing to hold the remaining one-third of the region and await the arrival of reinforcements," the starship crew reported.
Zhao Chen opened the star map, where two points were flashing.
One point marked the location of Zhao Chen's T3 Blizzard-class Light Interstellar Battlecruiser, and the other marked the location of the last communication from the Two-Academy Fleet.
"Next comes the greatest challenge we will face. Ahead of us, there may be a large number of Interstellar Zerg. We need to figure out how to traverse this Zerg swarm!" Chu Xuan said gravely beside him.
They had only one starship. If the T3 Blizzard-class Light Interstellar Battlecruiser became entangled with the Interstellar Zerg during its journey, there would be only one outcome!
Ship destroyed, crew lost!
"What other options do we have? We charge through," Zhao Chen said solemnly.
Chu Xuan stared at Zhao Chen in disbelief. Was he really being this straightforward?
"We don't know the exact distribution of the Interstellar Zerg. All we can do now is bet on our luck.
The shortest distance between two points is a straight line—we'll gamble on this route!" Zhao Chen turned to Deputy Captain Charlotte. "Prepare to activate Blizzard Extreme Cruise Mode."
Deputy Captain Charlotte nodded and relayed the order: "By the Captain's command, prepare to activate Blizzard Extreme Cruise Mode!"
Blizzard Extreme Cruise Mode?
Chu Xuan was stunned. What kind of technology was this?
Could this technology really allow them to directly traverse the Zerg Swarm?