Wow! The item-dropping rate is really high! Chapter 1082 735: Bombardment... and Ancient Technology

After the last transport ships, packed with civilians, managed to escape Jade Stone Star's atmosphere under the protection of the "Dawn Light" and the Dark Elf Fleet, Bai E and his weary team finally concluded more than thirty standard hours of intense combat and rescue operations on the planet's surface.

The "Thorny Bird" transport vessel, battling the planet's gravitational pull, eventually broke free and rendezvoused with the "Dawn Light" research ship waiting in orbit.

Once the two ships docked, Bai E and his crew, extricating themselves from their damaged mechas, finally set foot on the comparatively secure deck of the "Dawn Light."

Helen, leading the medical and logistics teams, personally greeted them, promptly arranging emergency treatment, energy replenishment, and mecha repairs for the exhausted crew.

Concurrently, the fleet swiftly re-established contact with the Star Alliance United Fleet Command, which was still holding its ground on the fringes of the Aisera Star System.

The situation update relayed through the communication channel from the allied command was grim and oppressive:

"...Attention all deployed teams, due to the Bug Race's unexpected surge in activity and strategic realignments within the Aisera Star System, the current mission status for each participating team is as follows:

Steel Alliance 'Anvil' Team: Secured the core sector of the capital, 'New Athens,' aided in the evacuation of approximately three million individuals, and has now withdrawn from Jade Stone Star as ordered, en route back to the designated assembly starport.

Holy Silver Church Country 'Purification' Team: Successfully rescued personnel from the Water Purification Satellite research station, retrieved critical data, and mitigated some of the ice layer contamination. Their tasks are considered substantially complete, and they are returning home.

Flame Republic...

Deep Space Alliance...

Forged World Union 'Echo' Team: Reached the ancient ruins located on the 'Ancient Bell' satellite. They are currently engaged in technical analysis and attempting activation procedures, reporting 'some progress, but requiring additional time.' They have declined immediate evacuation.

New Bauhinia Republic 'Edge' Team: Completed the initial rescue and data retrieval from the 'Traveler' platform. They executed large-scale civilian evacuation guidance and provided cover operations on Jade Stone Star (the exact number of rescued individuals is still being calculated). However, the secondary objective to destroy or mark the 'Main Nest Prototype'... remains unfinished."

A brief halt in transmissions followed this report.

It was clear to everyone that while other teams had largely fulfilled their primary objectives or achieved significant milestones, the New Bauhinia Republic's 'Edge' Team had an unresolved core task—dealing with the subterranean main nest.

Despite their commendable efforts in civilian evacuation, within the Star Alliance's scoring system where mission completion is paramount, this represented a substantial deficiency.

Shortly after, an encrypted transmission from the allied command directly connected to the "Dawn Light," specifically requesting a communication link with Bai E.

The face of the allied commander, a seasoned and weary general from the Steel Alliance, appeared on the communication screen, his expression stern.

He bypassed all formalities, addressing the situation directly: "Commander Bai E, we have received partial accounts of your engagement on Jade Stone Star's surface via observations and recorded data. Your efforts to save lives are acknowledged and commendable. However, the current battlefield situation is developing unfavorably."

He then displayed a real-time battle map: "The primary Bug Race fleet remains in a stalemate with our forces at the perimeter. Yet, their resource commitment and rate of evolution on Jade Stone Star have surpassed our projections. Based on the data you transmitted and our latest reconnaissance, the energy signature emanating from the deep-sea main nest has intensified by 17% over the past six hours. Its maturation is accelerating, and its energy conduit network is penetrating deeper into the planet's crust. Should it achieve its final form, Jade Stone Star will be irrevocably lost, and the resulting Spiritual Spore Cloud, along with potential new Bug Race species, will pose a grave threat to the entire Aisera Star System and surrounding star sectors. We must neutralize it, or at least inflict critical damage, before its full development!"

The old general's gaze fixed intently on Bai E: "Your team is the only one that has engaged directly with this main nest. The recorded reports indicate that prior to your withdrawal, you successfully executed precise energy marking and gathered crucial data from the main nest's core region. Now, I require you to immediately provide the most accurate marking coordinates and structural vulnerability data. This information will be used to direct our orbital strike fleet in a concentrated bombardment of the main nest's core! This represents our most direct, and possibly our final, chance!"

For a couple of seconds, Bai E stayed quiet.

His mind went back to the terrifying structure situated deep within the trench, fused with the planet's very core. He remembered the unsettling premonition that orbital bombardment might prove futile, or worse, disastrous.

Yet, he also grasped that the allied command's decision, born out of intense pressure, was unavoidable.

Action was demanded; a visible effect from an attack was necessary, even if it was merely a faint spark of hope.

"The coordinates and data can be furnished immediately," Bai E responded with composure. "However, I must re-emphasize the prior caution: the main nest's architecture is unique, deeply interwoven with the planetary crust. Standard orbital strikes might not yield the anticipated outcomes, and could even..."

"Commander Bai E!" the veteran general cut him off, his voice resonating with unwavering resolve. "Your concerns are understood. War rarely offers perfect solutions. We possess the most advanced 'Star Splitter' kinetic piercing rounds and the 'Purification Fire' plasma bombing systems. This represents the Star Alliance's most potent ground assault capability at present. We must try! Carry out the order, upload the data!"

"...Understood." Bai E offered no further resistance.

He then gestured to 'Ashes' beside him, indicating the transmission of the meticulously gathered and arranged precise coordinates of the main nest's core, a map detailing its energy node distribution, and a predictive model of its structural vulnerabilities to the allied command, all secured via the highest level of encryption.