dognovel Chapter 399 Shadows of the Stars
Chapter 399 Shadows of the Stars
"track?"
“A day ago, we discovered 14 targets entering the edge of the galaxy. These targets are undoubtedly not stars, and information obtained through multi-channel observation indicates that these 14 targets are all some kind of large spacecraft.”
On the spaceport, the Human Defense Initiative Agreement Command Committee meeting is being held. Apart from Alice, the defense ministries of the contracting parties usually attend, including almost all the international and regional powers on Aix.
"Let's get straight to the point, Lieutenant."
Several long-range space stations deployed around Aix-en-Provence constitute the first line of defense in future space warfare. These space stations, equipped with high-power phased array radars and optical trackers, have only recently begun to be on combat duty.
"Thanks to our colleagues at Imellane NASA, we have obtained the data recently transmitted back by Voyager 1."
"Wait, what does Voyager 1 have to do with this?"
The speaker was Lucy, the Imperial Minister of Defense. This elderly woman, now in her twilight years, was in charge of the entire empire's armed forces. She adjusted her gold-rimmed glasses.
"The trajectory of Voyager 1 is highly consistent with the direction of these 14 warships. Four hours ago, Voyager 1 lost contact, along with the radar waves projected into that area."
Electromagnetic interference.
The development of advanced technology is more advanced than the ideas of any general on this planet. In particular, the United Nations’ series of actions in the southern continent have sparked a new round of weapons technology revolution in the past three years. Electronic jamming tactics, beyond-visual-range air combat, and drone tactics have been widely adopted.
Even the Minister of Defense of the Lucy Snow Empire was forced to study those newly published military theories every day. In order to advance the military technology of the Lucy Snow Empire, the Imperial Guard even dispatched elite Imperial Legions to participate in UN peacekeeping operations.
"That's right, we believe that the other side used some kind of technology to directly carry out electronic interference on a star field."
"What are their goals? Do they want to go to war with us? Or is the crisis that the UN Central Propaganda Department is facing really coming?"
A host of vice-global leaders chimed in, each acknowledging the conflicts between their respective countries, but ultimately no one could remain unaffected by the UN Human Defense Initiative Agreement.
"Please calm down, everyone."
Although there were only Alice, Alicia, and a few clerks in the huge conference room, the noise of arguing was constant, and Alice had to wave her hand to signal everyone to quiet down.
“We will investigate what the other party has done. The UN Human Defense Initiative Agreement will not stand idly by and allow another crisis to occur. But now, as members of the United Nations, our member states must be prepared, and all countries should now cease all differences.”
"Simply put, prepare your dark, secret weapons and armies hidden in your own country, and hope we never have to use them."
"Then take stock of your spaceships available for combat, standing shoulder to shoulder with the United Nations Space Fleet. The crises we face together may far exceed everything we have fought on this land, but we firmly believe that humanity will stand tall."
Alice walked out of the conference room and stood opposite Alicia, who was stroking the metal walkway and looking at the fleet at the edge of the galaxy.
"There are more powerful detection systems at the stargate. The faster-than-light technology and navigation characteristics of these ships are recorded in the ancient United Nations service."
Alicia handed a tablet to Alice.
These ships use faster-than-light engines similar to hyperspace channels. Simply put, a hyperspace channel is a very ancient space that allows ships to travel between two star systems.
However, it can only travel between two star systems, and within a star system, it relies entirely on the speed of the thrusters to travel. This hyperspace method is quite retro, but it is also very energy-efficient.
Today, they are using a technology called a warp drive, which achieves faster-than-light speeds by folding spacetime. Theoretically, it can be used at orbital altitudes. Furthermore, after the stargate is restored, it can be used to orient oneself to distant galaxies.
"Different technological approaches may be our winning formula, but they could also become our Achilles' heel."
Alice was lost in thought.
Today, the United Nations Space Fleet possesses 21 Asteroid-class interplanetary corvettes and 7 Satellite-class interplanetary cruisers. These interplanetary warships extensively utilize advanced technologies, including active phased array radar arrays, dual-pulse hypersonic missiles, point defense arrays, electromagnetic propulsion cannons, stealth hull design, nuclear fusion reactors, and warp drive engines.
In addition, although the USS United Space Dreadnought has been restored to operation, its ancient advanced strike weapons, intelligent control systems, and star-level multi-channel scanning arrays have not yet reached one-third of the serviceability rate when the ship was first launched. Moreover, the reconstructed compartments have made complete technical compromises.
Moreover, no one has experience serving on such a massive ship. Although Raffarin Low, who is still asleep, has provided a detailed tutorial through Little Alice, it will still take time before he can regain his combat effectiveness.
This massive interstellar dreadnought requires more supplies for a single sortie than an entire newly built fleet, but Alice believes that this interstellar dreadnought can fulfill its role in this encounter.
For example, a strategic intimidation.
As Alicia was thinking, she patted Alice on the shoulder. A new message came in: a warship had sailed out of the interference zone and was rapidly heading towards them.
"how much longer?"
"At this speed, with the deceleration, we can reach this place in 47 hours."
Alice looked at the starry sky. Of the 14 warships, only this one had come. It was either a provocation or a contact. Both sides were probably being very cautious.
If the enemy is determined to fight, then sending out the main fleet in full force is the best option.
General Saint-Ger thought so—analyzing Voyager 1 presented almost no technical difficulties, nor any cultural challenges, and didn't even require experts in alien culture analysis—this probe, or rather the space travelers, was a direct descendant of the relics built by their ancestors tens of thousands of years ago, and the gilded record was even remarkably similar to the one in the Imperial Heritage Palace.
The Empire's situation was not as ideal as it had been presented to its subjects. The war against threats and aliens was ongoing, and acquiring a new star sector, a new fiefdom, would undoubtedly be the perfect thing for the Empire, or for him.
"Earth United Nations... Earth United Nations..."
In the culture and education of the Empire, Earth is a sacred term, the promised land of mankind and the origin of everything. A civilization proclaims itself the United Nations of Earth, a term also recorded within the Empire. The birth of the Empire was inextricably linked to a human regime—a federal regime born from the depravity and corruption of the United Nations of Earth.
It was only because the first emperor led his people to survive the catastrophe on North Blue Star near the United System that the empire we have today came to be. The United Nations of Earth has long since become an ancient term.
And everything they see today will be reinterpreted in the history books of the empire.