Shadows of the Deep Space Chapter 1641 530: Bizarre
Previously on Shadows of the Deep Space...
From the star map, the panicked retreat of the Dark Star Empire's First Legion was evident on both flanks.
Meanwhile, Sky Dome City's fleet flung open every launch bay, firing off missiles without restraint.
Swish, swish!
Innumerable missiles rained down upon the retreating forces of the Dark Star Empire.
Boom, boom!
The crippled vessels and troops pulled back even more sluggishly.
Right away, Sky Dome City's warriors, acting like rabid hounds, pursued in their mechas, blasting away without mercy.
Su Ming furrowed his brow while observing the chaos; the Sky Dome City fighters were hounding too aggressively.
Should the Dark Star Empire be luring them into a trap during this pullback, an ambush could strike.
Besides, if they actually overtook the Dark Star Empire's ranks, the losses would skyrocket once combat erupted.
With that in mind, Su Ming swiftly activated the comms link and bellowed at the Sky Dome City personnel.
"All of you, halt the chase!"
Regrettably, nobody paid Su Ming any heed; the Sky Dome City troops were lost in fury.
Witnessing this, Su Ming hastily switched the comms and reached out to Mo Xiu.
"Mo Xiu, order your team to cease!"
Yet, silence greeted him in the channel, leaving Su Ming taken aback as he eyed Thunder Angel.
Thunder Angel hovered still in the void, enveloped by crackling bolts of electricity.
"Mo Xiu!"
"Mo Xiu!"
...
Su Ming shouted several times, and with no reply, he grasped the issue at once. He maneuvered Ilyas to drift beside Thunder Angel and yelled over the open comms.
"Mo Xiu's passed out, Doctor, hurry here!"
"Mo Xiu!"
Just then, Luo Kui and his comrades caught Su Ming's call, their expressions shifting to alarm, and they sped over in their mechas.
As Luo Kui and the rest drew near, Su Ming passed Mo Xiu to them and then called out to Sigurd.
"Senior Sigurd, who's leading the Third Legion? Get them to call off the pursuit now!"
"Got it!"
Sigurd answered without delay.
Meanwhile, the Third Legion's Fakadis Corps Commander, piloting the V-generation Pure Mechanical Mecha·Death Butcher, spearheaded the hunt, his eyes wild with rage as he bellowed.
"Brothers, finish off these scum!"
"Yes!"
The troops bellowed back in fury.
Suddenly, General Sigurd's voice echoed through the comms channel.
"Fakadis, cease the pursuit, command all to stand down right away!"
"No way, we can't allow these Empire curs to slip away!"
Fakadis shot back in wrath.
"That's an order!"
Sigurd commanded Fakadis firmly.
Fakadis balled his fists, his knuckles popping, his visage twisted in reluctance.
At that instant, Fakadis's underlings questioned hesitantly.
"Legion Commander?"
"Stand down, all of you stop, no more chasing!"
Fakadis responded through clenched teeth.
Sky Dome City's soldiers received Fakadis's directive and, despite their boiling anger, came to a halt sequentially.
Watching the pursuit end, Su Ming let out a quiet breath of relief and surveyed the battlefield.
The whole scene was utterly devastating, littered with debris from ships and mechas, and even Blood Ridge Fortress lay in ruins below.
Su Ming felt astonishment; it was hard to fathom how the Third Legion had held out until they arrived.
Right then, vast ripples surged across the far-off starfield, drawing Su Ming and the others' gazes.
Black Tide Fortress materialized from subspace, with Qian Lin Corps Commander arriving to lend aid alongside his forces.
Luo Kui and his group promptly headed to Black Tide Fortress, carrying Thunder Angel with them.
General Sigurd activated the broad comms and directed the entire force.
"All personnel, start rescue operations and handle the cleanup now!"
"Yes!"
The team dove into battlefield salvage and scouting without hesitation.
In that moment, Su Ming spotted the hatch of Sunshine sliding open.
Onite emerged in a Fourth Generation Mecha·Thunder Guard, followed by a horde of Logistics Iron Guard Mechas.
Su Ming's eye twitched violently, and he linked up with Onite to demand.
"Onite, what's this about?"
"Sir, obviously, to assist with the battlefield tidy-up."
Onite answered with cheer.
"Cut it out, don't stir up problems for me."
Su Ming snapped back in irritation.
"But there's tons of gear they can't manage alone, we're just pitching in to clear it."
Onite responded smiling widely.
"Unnecessary, prioritize rescues first, leave the loot alone. What's not ours stays put."
Su Ming ordered Onite sternly.
These spoils came at the cost of Sky Dome City's brave lives; snatching gear in their time of need would tarnish their honor.
"Understood."
Onite answered with disappointment.
...
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Inside the central command center of the Legendary Level Star Destroyer·Void.
Sakari lounged askew in the command seat, propping his face with a hand, gazing icily at the figures arrayed before him: Deputy Corps Commander Geteri, Novkate Corps Commander, Aus Corps Commander, Moteri Corps Commander, Aurora Corps Commander, and the rest.
The air in the room hung heavy with tension, every face grim and strained.
"So, what's your explanation for the Emperor?"
Sakari shattered the quiet, questioning flatly.
Geteri's pulse raced; this operation had failed miserably, Agolotto was slain, and the Emperor's wrath would surely fall on them. Soon, their necks might find new homes; blame had to fall somewhere.
With that thought, Geteri stole a look at Sakari. Truth be told, Sakari bore much of the fault for the disaster; his summoning the Federation's backup had derailed everything, or else wiping out the Third Legion and seizing Mo Xiu would've been straightforward.
Still, Geteri wouldn't dream of accusing Sakari; Captain Sakari was the Emperor's trusted aide, his rank equal to Roglian Chief, and the Emperor would never fault him.