Umbrella, The Light of Humanity

Although it looks like two space cockroaches, the holographic image also gives relevant data, including the predicted length...

At least 1.4 km.

The beetle-like flagship, guarded by two "cockroaches" in the center, is top-heavy in appearance and has a seemingly detachable structure. The overall length is about 3.5 kilometers.

These data made the atmosphere of the scene a little dignified.

Because just looking at the appearance, it is very different from human warships and ships. It is obviously a fleet of alien races, or fleets.

If it is a fleet, then the specifications of the opponent's warships are comparable to those of cruisers and aircraft carriers.

As for the Punishment, it was only a light frigate of less than 600 meters.

Comparing the specifications and numbers of warships on both sides, the Retribution was at an absolute disadvantage.

The UNSC captain with an extremely serious expression asked, "Can the other party negotiate?"

Miranda shook her head slightly.

And said: "When we detected that the other party was leaving the fault space, we contacted the other party, but the other party still went its own way and did not give any reply.

Of course, we also uploaded the relevant information as soon as the other party appeared, and at the same time applied for fleet support.

The Umbrella Second Army, which is closest to Harvest Star, and the 045th Fleet responded to our request for support and are expected to arrive in four hours. "

"Four hours?"

Hearing this, the second lieutenant of the paratrooper looked at the three yellow dots on the star map and couldn't help laughing:

"We can afford to wait for four hours. I don't know if those space cockroaches can afford to wait..."

"captain!"

Before the words fell, a crew member sitting on the left side of the bridge and responsible for communication turned his head and shouted in the direction of the center console:

"The other party released some kind of pulse attack! As a result, our shipboard repeater and the relay station on Harvest Star's surface failed, making it impossible to get in touch with the outside world! And the other party also sent a video message!"

"Put the video on the center console." Miranda said.

"yes!"

As the conversation progressed, the three yellow dots turned red above the star map, showing the video information from the other party.

On the screen of the holographic screen, it shows the communication room of the opponent's flagship, or the bridge.

This allowed Miranda, Gabriel and the others to directly observe the internal structure of the opponent's ship.

The bulkheads and decks are full of purple tones, curved and curved, not as flat as human battleships.

The most important thing is that I also saw a "person" suspected of being the commander of the other party...

I saw that the "person" was also a humanoid torso with hands and legs, wearing a very gorgeous brown-gold armor, and a helmet with a huge crown. The details and gaps emitted a faint purple light.

The face and neck not covered by the armor have a dark blue or light gray complexion, and the most distinctive one should be "his" mouth with four-petal lips.

Although his figure is a bit slender and he has a severe hunchback, his height is still far above ordinary people, about 2.3 to 4 meters.

The appearance of the opposing commander completely confirmed that the three "cockroaches" and "beetles" were alien forces belonging to non-human races.

"Aw—~!"

Just listening to the golden-armored commander utter a roar, the expression of his facial muscles and eyes showed that "he" was in a state of extreme anger.

Then "he" opened his four-petal mouth wide, waved his hands, emphasized in a low voice, and said some kind of warning or declaration of war:

"Chaku! Oil is stuck, O'Sangheli..."

However, the people in the bridge couldn't understand what the golden armored commander was saying.

Language barrier.

The entire video was less than half a minute long, and it was less than fourteen minutes before the Retribution contacted the opposing fleet.

The holographic screen dissipates.

Miranda ordered: "Use the shipboard computer (low-intelligence artificial intelligence) to try to translate what the other party wants to convey."

"Yes." A crew member responded.

"Good guy." The second lieutenant spread his hands and laughed at himself:

"I'm really a crow's mouth. I just finished talking. I didn't expect those cockroaches. No, it should be said that they are praying mantises. I really can't wait."

"This is obviously a declaration of war, and they can block the communication methods using fault space, which shows that the other party's technological level is not low." The captain worried.

"What's wrong with the low technology? Just keep doing it, and the drill happened to be interrupted. Wouldn't it be good to use them as targets?" The second lieutenant still said indifferently.

"." The captain was speechless.

After all, from the perspective of the Marine Corps, the captain couldn't understand the Paratrooper Hell with the title of "combat lunatic".

"The second lieutenant is right." Miranda echoed: "No matter what the opponent's technology is, we must take the initiative to let them know that humans are not easy to bully.

Moreover, we are not at an absolute disadvantage. "

Speaking of which, Miranda moved her gaze upwards, looked at Gabriel who had opened his helmet and remained silent all this time, and suggested:

"Platoon Leader Angelos, the Retribution will rely on maneuverability to deal with the enemy fleet, creating an opportunity for you Thutmose to jump to the enemy's flagship and execute the decapitation operation, how about it?"

"That's exactly what I mean." Gabriel responded briefly without showing any emotion.

And as soon as he finished speaking, Gabriel closed his helmet, turned around and walked away from the bridge with heavy "boom, boom" footsteps.

Glancing at Gabriel's back, Miranda continued to the two lieutenants: "Captain, second lieutenant, please get your troops ready."

heard the words.

"I can't wait for a long time!" The second lieutenant grinned, feeling a little crazy.

"Die or die, the marines are always ready." The captain nodded in response.

Then the two also left the bridge one after another.

See here.

Miranda quickly returned to the captain's seat, looked at the dark sky outside the porthole, and ordered in a loud voice:

"The alarm is sounded, the whole ship is in a state of readiness, and the main guns, secondary guns and all weapon systems are checked!"

"Yes, Captain!"

"The electromagnetic main gun and the two plasma secondary guns are functioning normally!"

"The ground crew is carrying out the loading and final inspection of all carrier-based aircraft, which is expected to be completed in four minutes."

On the next bridge, mobilize all the personnel of the Retribution to prepare for battle.

———————

...

In the hangar.

The ground crew, wearing dark yellow exoskeletons, stood on standby at the edge of the hangar, and beside them were equipment boxes or weapon racks containing various types of aerial bombs.

On the bottom floor, and on the protruding decks on both sides of the hangar, there are various types of carrier-based aircraft with their engines started, just waiting for the sortie order.

15 Falcon fighters that have been updated for decades, and 3 Viking fighters with deformed structures.

In the engine room of 4 Pelicans and 1 large transport boat, there are two companies led by the UNSC captain himself, and there is still a marine company in the Retribution.

The Hell paratrooper company led by the second lieutenant is located in the airborne preparation cabins on both sides of the Retribution ship, waiting for the best time.

The last one is the most important thing, the Thunderclap III equipped with a total of thirty Thutmose including Gabriel.

at this time.

A piercing alarm and the flashing red light above the hangar broke the tranquility before the war.

Immediately afterwards, Miranda's voice came from the broadcasts of the various departments of the ship, as well as the communication channel of all personnel:

"All combat squadrons are ready to attack, cooperate with the ship to conduct a quick raid, provide Angelos platoon leader and the others with a chance to jump, and the marines and paratroopers are temporarily on standby.

and also! " Miranda's originally indifferent tone changed, and she said sonorously and passionately:

"Let those space mantises see what a hymn to human beings is!"

"Huha!" the Marines and ODST yelled in unison on the comms.

"For humanity!" A group of Thutmose was among them.

"Then." Miranda's words paused, and then Ling Sheng said: "Attack!"

The voice fell.

Saker and Viking, who were already ready, slowly left the deck, and sailed out of the ship in turn through the air valves installed on both sides of the bulkhead like a luminous film.

Thunder III, which carried Gabriel and other Thutmose, followed closely behind.

outside the ship.

A total of 18 Sakers and Vikings were divided into three squadrons, and sailed to the left, right and above of the Retribution.

The Thunder III that had just rolled out of the hangar was flying close to the belly of the Retribution.

The Retribution and the carrier-based aircraft sailed alone in the vast starry sky, and approached the three enemy ships fearlessly at an extremely fast speed.

Ri~———!

Phew~——!

Suddenly, a 3-ton tungsten-iron projectile escaped with a shining blue light, cut through the starry sky instantly, and directly hit the 3.5-kilometer "Beetle" flagship.

But buzz~--! click.

A purple energy barrier helped the flagship successfully block the tungsten-iron projectile that was originally invincible.

The cannon of the Retribution seemed to have stabbed wasps, densely packed, like a swarm of blue and purple carrier-based aircraft, quickly poured out of the hangars of "cockroaches" and "beetles".

Afterwards, thousands of enemy planes with round heads and deflated feet, also like space insects, gradually separated from their fleet, formed a huge net that covered the sky and covered the sky, and rushed towards the solitary Retribution.

The bridge at this time.

"Captain! The main gun can't penetrate the shield of the enemy's flagship!" A crew member shouted in shock.

Even the atmosphere of the entire bridge is much heavier, because in the perception of the crew, nothing can resist a projectile from an electromagnetic gun.

There was, also unknown to the crew, a god-body piloted by the Primarch.

On the contrary, Miranda's facial expression did not make any waves and he said: "It is expected, what is there to be surprised about, continue to report the current status, how long will it take for the enemy carrier-based aircraft to enter the range of the close-in defense gun?"

With this calm captain, the crew is no longer flustered.

A crew member immediately reported: "It is expected to enter our range in 75 seconds, Captain."

"Okay." Miranda nodded lightly, glanced at the small holographic screen on the right hand side, and ordered according to the current situation:

"Let the two secondary guns continue to bombard the enemy's flagship, without having to consider the overheating of the gun barrels, and when the main gun is fully charged, you don't need to ask for my order to fire directly.

There is no impenetrable barrier in the world.

Then notify the pilots of all the squadrons, let them protect the Thunder transport plane, and let the Thunder get close to the enemy's flagship at all costs.

As long as Thutmose can successfully jump to the gang, even if the entire squadron, including the ship, is destroyed. "

"Yes! Captain!"

"Secondary gun locked...fire!"

"Boom-! Boom-!"

The noise of the 300mm secondary gun firing was transmitted to the bridge through the hull, and at the same time, two huge plasma cannons passed by the sides of the portholes.

boom-! boom-!

The artillery regiment "evaporated" everything along the way, and the enemy carrier-based aircraft without shields finally bombarded the purple shield of the "Beetle" flagship.

Naturally, the enemy fleet would not be beaten in vain, and began to launch a counterattack towards the Retribution.

I saw artillery groups of different sizes, purple, blue or green, similar to plasma technology, fired from the barrels of the three enemy ships.

And the two "cockroaches" are gradually leaving the formation. It seems that they want to cooperate with the flagship to surround the Retribution.

Observe this universe from a distance.

Against the background of deep space, the artillery regiments of various colors, especially the attack from the side of the three enemy ships, seemed to engulf the Retribution.

However, the flexibility and maneuverability of the Punishment was obviously superior to the three enemy ships, and relying on speed and irregular routes, it avoided most of the artillery attacks.

Even if it was hit by a small artillery regiment, it couldn't seriously damage the Retribution, it just melted through the outermost layer of armor.

However, as the distance from the flagship and the enemy aircraft group continues to shrink, the pressure on the Retribution is also increasing.

Until the enemy plane is about to enter the range of the close-in gun.

Ri~———!

Phew~——!

The Retribution fired its main gun again, and the blue light trajectory passed through the enemy fleet in the blink of an eye, and hit the flagship's shield again...

Crack-wow~la-!

This time, the purple shield began to collapse and dissipate quickly at the point of impact of the projectile, causing the beetle flagship to completely "open the door".

After doing the math, the interval between the two attacks of the main gun is only about 60 seconds.

Fast, light, and high assault are the characteristics of the Paris-class frigate, and the "fast" also includes the rate of fire of the main gun.

Boom-~!

Moreover, the projectiles with much weakened strength still pierced through the outer armor and continued to cause damage to the interior of the flagship.

It's just that this kind of damage is extremely insignificant for a 3.5-kilometer-class flagship.

But everyone on the Punishment didn't pin their hopes on this either.

The bridge at the moment.

"Captain! The main gun successfully destroyed the shield of the enemy flagship!"

"very good."

Miranda looked forward, looked at the flagship that occupied the entire view of the porthole, and the densely packed enemy planes, waved his left hand forward and ordered:

"Breakthrough at maximum speed! Inform the squadron to ignore the harassment of flies (enemy planes) for the time being. This ship will solve them for them and focus on escort missions!"

"yes!"

"The air defense system has completed lock... open fire!"

at the same time.

Twelve seven-barreled 35mm close-in defense guns aimed at the enemy aircraft attacking and harassing the Retribution, and then the gun barrels began to rotate rapidly.

Ri ~ da da da! !

Dense pulse shells were fired in all directions, forming a bullet net in reverse, destroying the enemy plane described by Miranda as a fly extremely efficiently.

Take advantage of this gap.

The three combat squadrons guarded the Thunder III regiment in the center and charged forward under the cover of barrage.

When it was about to collide with the flagship at the end, the eighteen Vikings and Sakers made an extremely fast turnaround, changed their flight direction and evacuated.

Thunder III turned on the melta cannon and carried thirty Thutmose to perform gang jumps.