The command center of TerraNova3 was a scene of tension and activity. The main screen, which should have displayed the ship's trajectory and other real-time information, now only showed a close-up image of the vast expanse of space. The ship's computational capabilities and propulsion engines had been hit by an unknown force, causing them to come to a complete halt. Currently, only the internal anti-interference devices were stabilizing the chips and communication systems.
"Captain! We've been hit by high-energy pulse particles. Multiple electronic components have overheated and failed, and the chip operation pathways are blocked. We need to inspect, repair, and replace the components immediately," a crew member reported nervously, wiping sweat from his forehead.
"How long will it take?" Captain Vicente Rojo Lluch's face was stern, but he remained calm, as this was not his first encounter with such a situation.
"Conservatively, three hours," the crew member replied.
"Organize a team to inspect for hazards and repair the overheated components damaged by the pulse particles immediately! Also, have all fire control combat personnel take their battle stations and prepare to face interstellar pirates. Notify the security team to deploy drones to scout the external situation, gather intelligence, and prepare for enemy engagement. The rest of the crew, prepare to activate the ship's defense mechanisms using bioenergy!" Vicente Rojo Lluch methodically arranged the tasks, his calm and decisive demeanor prompting swift action from everyone on the ship.
On the security team's side, the main screen suddenly went black. The Bluebird fighter jets were also hit by the intense pulse particles, causing their chips to crash. Immediately, a piercing red alarm sounded outside the cabin—the transport ship was under attack!
Ryan stopped his workout immediately and quickly donned his combat uniform.
"Astra! Take control of Bluebird and activate the kinetic engines," Ryan said, already biting into a nutrition bar. Who would have thought that his first escort mission would encounter so many problems, including interstellar pirates?
Astra quickly responded, "Bluebird's energy storage system is unusable. I suggest using the master's bioenergy to activate Bluebird. The remaining bioenergy detected is 158 units, which can support three hours of flight under normal conditions, but only fifteen minutes under high-load operations. It is not recommended for combat. However, considering the current danger to the transport ship, the combat application has been approved! Please use bioenergy cautiously."
In the interstellar battlefield, every combat aircraft is equipped with a conversion system that can manipulate massive mechanical forces with minimal bioenergy. This is the miraculous bioenergy conversion system. With this system, even ordinary people, with the aid of implanted electronic chips, can take control of and pilot aircraft or ships. The more abundant a person's bioenergy, the larger the aircraft they can control.
Captain Vicente Rojo Lluch of TerraNova3 was urgently gathering a team of crew members. They needed to work together to activate part of the transport ship's defense mechanisms. Meanwhile, team members like Ryan and Carlos, with lower chip levels and insufficient bioenergy, could only pilot H-series aircraft like the Bluebird.
Bang, bang, bang!
Just as the Bluebird's engines started, someone knocked on the outer door. A crew member's voice came through the door, "Captain's orders: the security team is responsible for deploying drones to scout for enemy activity and gather intelligence." In the current emergency, communication was mostly done by shouting. Ryan was not surprised by this.
The main screen lit up again, but various computational data showed a standstill. This was because activating the bioenergy conversion system consumed the pilot's energy. To ensure the most critical functions, most systems were temporarily shut down. Only the propulsion, communication, and fire control systems remained operational, while auxiliary functions like refrigeration, ventilation, and temperature control were restricted.
As the other thirteen Bluebird jets started up one after another, Carlos's voice came through the communication channel, "Security team, report your bioenergy levels."
"Maughan, 160."
"Gabriel, 172."
"David, 177."
"Kazemi, 133." Kazemi's voice sounded weak. He had lost a kidney, which severely affected his physical condition. In such critical times, personal experience and physical fitness were extremely important.
Ryan reported next, "Me, 154."
Jane's data was the most dismal, "Jane, 100." Her physical condition was only equivalent to that of an average adult, with just H1-level strength. In such a state, piloting the Bluebird in combat, she could only last a few minutes.
Carlos did not report his bioenergy level, but it was unnecessary. Everyone knew that as an H9-level expert, his bioenergy was at least 200 points.
"Kazemi, you have experience with drones. You will lead Jane in a formation to carry out this reconnaissance mission. You are responsible for scouting the enemy, and Jane will deploy the drones. Quick in and out, understood?" Carlos's voice was clear and firm through the communicator.
"Understood!" Kazemi responded quickly. Jane understood that she was assigned to the reconnaissance mission partly because her bioenergy was the lowest and partly to take care of her—after all, the others had to be ready for direct combat, which was the real danger.
The cabin door slowly opened, and two Bluebird jets flew out one after the other, like ghosts in the night.
"Gabriel, David, provide escort!" Carlos ordered.
Ryan also wanted to join the fight, but he restrained his impulse. He had already chewed and swallowed the nutrition bar, and now his mouth was filled with the raw taste of Lacertoclaweus pancreas. The bioenergy value on the screen soared from 154 to 160 and continued to rise. This pancreas, worth tens or even hundreds of thousands, had a significant effect on restoring bioenergy. At this critical moment, every additional point of bioenergy could mean an extra ten seconds of support outside. Sometimes, those ten seconds could save a life. Ryan understood this deeply.
As the second batch of Bluebird jets rushed out of the transport ship and into space, the drones released by Kazemi and Jane quickly got to work. These drones rapidly transmitted images to the main screens of the team members. Although Kazemi's physical condition was not as good as before, he was still the most experienced member of the security team. Under his precise control, dozens of drones occupied eight positions on the upper and lower layers of the transport ship, achieving comprehensive monitoring coverage without leaving any blind spots.
However, the remaining drones continued to fly further away, preparing for broader reconnaissance tasks.
Suddenly, a streak of fire shot from the depths of space, accurately hitting a small drone. One of the images on the screen disappeared. Immediately, more streaks of fire rained down like a storm. The enemy clearly intended to destroy all the drones in one go. And they succeeded; all the drones were destroyed.
There was no other choice. The drones' movement speed was not fast; if Kazemi had the Bluebird's chip and energy storage system, he could easily issue commands for the drones to change course and evade… but under the current circumstances… such precise control would quickly deplete his bioenergy. The enemy's bullets would not be exhausted, but Kazemi might lose his combat capability due to bioenergy depletion. Therefore, preserving the drones was unnecessary.
But the enemy did not stop there. After destroying all the drones, they directly attacked Kazemi and Jane. At this critical moment, Gabriel and David arrived just in time. As the enemy fired, they had already locked onto their targets.
Rat-a-tat-tat…
Their jets unleashed a barrage of fire, fiercely targeting the enemy, providing cover for Kazemi and Jane, and ensuring their safe retreat.