"Sir, the navigation route is set, destination: Crystal Star System. Storm Fleet has entered synchronous warp mode. Level One Gene Warriors, please enter stasis pods."
This time, Feng Mo didn't log into the Star Network; instead, he focused on studying data he had retrieved on the New Human Church from the Federation's archives. Though he had done some research on this organization before, the information now confirmed what he already knew. But as he read the last part, Feng Mo could no longer stay calm. The New Human Church was rumored to have either mobile stargate technology or warp technology.
The concept of a mobile stargate was self-explanatory: a stargate that could be moved. The Federation had developed this technology, though it was still in early stages and not ready for large-scale deployment.
Currently, the technology could only be applied to T3 or lower stargates, not yet reaching the sophistication needed for T4 or T5 stargates, limiting its usefulness. It still required significant refinement.
Warp technology, however, was on a different level. There were two possible forms: one that folded space to increase travel speed, and another that allowed true warp jumps by creating a small wormhole to traverse distances instantaneously.
If they had the first type, it could be integrated with warp drives, creating a new kind of engine that would combine warp and jump capabilities, making fleet movement significantly faster.
But if it were the second type, the implications would be enormous. Imagine: you're enjoying hot pot at home when my fleet suddenly appears above your villa via warp technology, fires off a single shot, and then disappears through another warp.
Now picture this: if Feng Mo could control this technology, the Storm Fleet could vanish mid-battle only to reappear behind enemy lines, unleashing a devastating salvo. The enemy wouldn't stand a chance. The element of surprise would be unparalleled, and the thrill, incomparable.
Such a technology would be the ultimate strategic advantage. And if it were to be fully developed? The universe would be theirs to roam, free from limits.
Of course, Feng Mo knew this was likely wishful thinking. At most, the New Human Church had probably mastered small-scale mobile stargate technology, suitable for transporting star mechs and similar units, albeit with significant limitations on range and quantity.
If it were more advanced, the Church would have already invaded the Federation, subjugating the Insectoids, Machine Races, and the Beastmen.
Even so, the potential to deploy small-scale stargate tech was something Feng Mo coveted. After all, technologies like star-destroying cannons and T5 starship blueprints were off-limits in the Federation, untouchable even to someone like him.
This was why he couldn't help but covet it. And then there was the white hole. The white hole in the Radiant Star System was only three kilometers wide, but it was highly unusual, erupting every one to two weeks—a rare, incredibly valuable resource.
The Crystal Star System's white hole was seven kilometers wide, but it erupted only once every two to three years, making it less valuable than Radiant Star's, though still a prized cosmic phenomenon.
To reach the Crystal Star System, they had to cross a vast star system, the Dark Reef System, devoid of life-supporting planets. A system named "Dark Reef" implied that it was ancient, almost decrepit, with no development potential whatsoever.
Once they passed through the Dark Reef System, they'd arrive in the interstellar space between the Crystal and Beast Roar Systems. True to its scale, the Dark Reef System took nearly a full day for the fleet to cross.
Upon entering interstellar space, Feng Mo noticed an unusual brightness around them. He'd seen many interstellar spaces, but this was the brightest. And when they finally reached the Crystal Star System, he realized it wasn't just bright—it was radiant.
The entire Crystal Star System was suffused with a unique luminosity. Feng Mo didn't know the scientific basis for it, but he was struck by the vast wonders of the universe.
"Storm Fleet has arrived at the designated system. Initiating standard navigation mode," the voice announced.
Behind Feng Mo, Hua Qin continued entering coordinates into the control panel, then reported:
"Coordinates locked, route clear, engines functional, weapons primed. Switching to standard engines. Moving out!"
The Crystal Star System was slightly larger than the Storm Star System but still classified as a small star system. The Crystal Fossil Clan had a nearly 4,000-year history here, making them a relatively ancient species, only a few centuries younger than the Federation itself.
Throughout this time, they'd engaged in interstellar trade with many long-distance adventurers, gaining full proficiency in Federation Standard. However, the Crystal Fossil Clan had a marked distaste for dark places, which limited their desire to explore beyond their home system.
The Crystal Star System housed four life-bearing planets. The Crystal Fossil Clan occupied three of them, while the fourth was inhabited by smaller allied species who existed under the Crystal Fossil's protection.
These other species varied widely—Beastmen, Half-Beastmen, Humans, even Giants—mostly refugees or explorers who had chosen to settle in the Crystal Star System rather than continue their journey.
The Crystal Fossil Clan welcomed these settlers warmly. This ancient clan was unique: in 4,000 years, they had neither invaded another system nor oppressed other species.
Instead, they spent most of their time on their home planet, resting on crystal beds. This practice was said to prolong their lifespans, and Feng Mo could only conclude after listening to Tian Ming's account:
"A species of people who'd rather lie down than stand up. Ultimate couch potatoes."
No wonder they had never tried to push past T4 technology even when they hit the ceiling of their capabilities.
One redeeming quality was that they understood the value of laying low. They knew that, if they wanted to stay idle, they at least had to develop their technology to T4.
Outside the Crystal Fossil's homeworld, Tianjing, an array of crystal cannons lined the starport—an impressive display of planetary defense weaponry unique to the Crystal Fossil Clan. These cannons, classified as T4 planetary defense lasers, were a staple in their arsenal.
The cannons worked on a conversion principle: they drew energy from the various minerals within the crystal, focusing it into a laser-like beam with significant power. But their output was capped at T4, far below the potency of a star-destroying cannon.
Tianjing was the Crystal Fossil Clan's last line of defense. The crystal cannons aimed at the two fleets of the New Human Church, totaling more than 1,300 starships, including over 200 T4 ships, with the remainder being T3 vessels.
The Federation's major factions were all familiar with Feng Mo's combat tactics by now. But the New Human Church was likely unaware, so Feng Mo stuck to his tried-and-true methods: starting with the deployment of four T4 Scorpion-Class Stealth Bombers, followed by Storm Fleet trailing closely behind.
-Support me in Patreon for more chapters 35+ chapters in there
patreon.com/LegendaryTL
Thanks!