Age of Cosmic Exploration, 3

by Zhttty

  "We can make use of its ID signal too, right?" Ren Tao asked excitedly. "The enemy robots won’t view him as a threat because they share a similar ID signal. Since the robots’ CPUs are heavily restricted, they wouldn’t be able to detect that Bo Li has hacked into this robot. It’s brilliant!"

  Bo Li nodded silently.

  With all the issues solved, Guang Zhen said hurriedly, "If that’s the case, we shall move to the H-bombs warehouse now. But damn, I didn’t think we would be invaded so soon… Everyone, let’s move out!" Then he led everyone to their destination.

  On the way, overwhelmed by curiosity, Guang Zhen asked, "Ren Tao, as a thinker, I didn’t believe you would come up with a hapless plan like the one you’ve just described. You couldn’t have predicted Bo Li’s appearance, so you must have a plan B… A trump card so to speak. Tell me, what is it?"

  Ren Tao laughed wryly. Now he understood why Yao Yuan had such deep trust in his second-in-command. Guang Zhen was not one that could be easily fooled. He believed that in such situations, honesty was the best policy, so he answered, "My trump card is the UFO… Don’t be so surprised that I know of its existence. The Thinker is useless without a firm grasp of information, so Yao Yuan realized it was not to his benefit holding information back from me. The UFO’s technology is higher than that of the junkyard, so much so that we couldn’t tell which industrial revolution it would place itself in.

  "Regardless, it is certain that its technology is greater than the AI's. Then, it goes without saying that it would be immune to the null zone’s interference. If all else fails, we’ll have to hope that it’ll step in… After all, it has stayed hidden for all this while and not lifted a finger against us… one has to ask 'why.' Is it for purely observation, or something more? Either way, even though we might be as insignificant as ants, we are still valuable assets for whatever purpose it has in mind. On this point alone, I doubt it’ll allow us be wiped out by an external force…"

  Ren Tao sighed before adding, "The Thinker’s plan isn’t fool-proof. When there’s a lack of variables, one can only gamble and leave it up to God, which in this case is the UFO… I understand it’s a giant gamble, but that’s the only solution… that is until, like you said, Bo Li appeared like a ray of hope in the dark."

  Guang Zhen didn’t pursue the conversation because they were close to their destination. With Guang Zhen’s help, Bo Li’s robot hacked into the electronic lock by intercepting its internal wiring and overriding the lock using the robot’s processor. After that, the door came back online and gradually opened to reveal a large space that housed 3 giant missiles.

  They were mankind’s greatest weapon at this time… 3 high-yield tactical H-bombs!

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  Chapter127 Electromagnetic Shield!

  "…142 fatalities so far, including 1 Homo Evolutis… Such heavy casualties…"

  As the space troopers pushed deeper into the battleship, the death count kept increasing in Yao Yuan’s field report. Based on the reports thus far, the space troopers had suffered more than 50 percent fatality rate, and it showed no sign of decreasing!

  Yet they pressed onwards, riding on both battlefield fervor and the need to protect their families back on the Hope. The closer they got to the AI, the more robot guards they encountered.

  The robot fleet was separated into smaller cavalcades to face the space trooper units of differing sizes, a sound sign that they were managed by an overseer AI. However, with all its intelligence, the AI underestimated one crucial detail… The combative power of the Homo Evolutis!

  Even those newly recruited Homo Evolutis adapted seamlessly into space combat like fish to water. Faced with challenges like a zero-gravity environment, multi-dimensional combat, and multi-layered tactics, they still managed to maintain an upper hand over the robots!

  Based on Yao Yuan’s observation, of all the superhuman powers, the Perceptor’s was the most suitable for combative situations. Compared to other powers, the Perceptors seemed destined to be used in battles, and the Perceptors happened to be the majority among the Homo Evolutis!

  Along the way, Yao Yuan’s unit had demolished more than a thousand robots. Simultaneously, this meant that they had the most robot guards on their tail. However, with Zhang Heng’s help, they managed to evade death by using the broken down battleship to their advantage by scurrying through broken down walls as well as debris that could be used as stairs. Anxious for their capture or death, the AI had sent more than 10,000 robots on their pursuit!

  Currently, they were on their way to meet up with Ying’s unit because Ying’s report said that they were extremely close to the AI’s hiding spot but were being held back by a large group of robot guards. With such valuable information, Yao Yuan had no choice but to rush to liaise with Ying’s unit even if it meant bringing the 10,000 robots with him. The lethal cat-and-mouse game would only be stopped after the AI has been disposed of, after all.

  When Yao Yuan arrived at the pavilion, he found Ying’s unit finishing off the last few robots. As the robots crumbled to the ground, Yao Yuan found himself stunned beyond words… There were around 2,000 robot carcasses around the area, but Ying’s unit had suffered no casualties… When had Ying’s unit become so unstoppable?

  "It’s not us… It’s her, she’s unbelievable… You should have seen it… It was like what happened with you on the exploration mission. She basically danced between hails of bullets darting around the pavilion. There were no nooks or crannies that she didn’t use. I wouldn’t have believed it if I didn’t see it with my own eyes. Thanks to her help distracting most of the robots, we were able to clear out the area with hand grenades, but it seems like she’s at her limit already," Ying said, while pointing at the repose Ji Jie.

  Yao Yuan followed Ying’s finger and found a smiling Ji Jie sleeping on the floor. Her face was incredibly flushed, not unlike the final radiance that appeared on Jay before he collapsed. Then again, her expression was different. She didn’t look like she was in pain but rather… like a woman satisfied.

  Yao Yuan shook his head to clear his mind and said, "Bring her along, it looks like her Perceptor power is stronger than we anticipated, we can’t leave her here… Ying, lead the way! We have only 10 minutes left, quick!"

  Ying instantly activated his seeker power and pointed down a corridor. "This way, it looks the least damaged!"

  So everyone rushed down the path. With more than a handful of Homo Evolutis, and not to mention, Yao Yuan, the All-Rounder, they basically ran over everything that stood in their way.

  After they turned round several corridors, they arrived at an almost perfectly preserved central field. Other than a few broken apparatuses, the well-lit space was free from any perceptible damage. As they stepped into the area, some floating metallic plates surged towards them.

  Everyone immediately lifted their guns, but the plates stayed still even after several seconds. They waited patiently about 10 centimeters in front of their feet.

  "…This must be a means of transportation that can be used to replace walking," an awed Xiao Niao said. "It’s amazing how much can change with just one additional industrial revolution…"

  Yao Yuan stopped to study the plates. They had a shiny surface and each was about 5 centimeters thick. In other words, there were probably tons of machinery parts inside. Yao Yuan believed they contained something that was similar to the stuff inside the round plates that held up the robots. They made up a horizontal escalator that relied on the static charge that worked between the plate and the battleship’s metallic floor.

  "The AI is most likely in this area. Everyone, be careful; there has to be an ambush!" Yao Yuan said, before rushing headfirst into the field.

  Since there was the benefit of good lighting, they almost instantly managed to locate the spot where the robots gathered. It was a helical structure that seemed to be screwed into the battleship. It was tethe
red by pipes that were attached to the ceiling and walls of the battleship. At the building’s conspicuous entrance, the entourage came upon a pair of robots that was obviously different from the ones they had faced so far!

  This robot had a humanoid appearance except for the fact that instead of legs, it had 6 spider-like appendages and 4 multi-jointed arms instead of 2. They were the best preserved of all the robots they’d seen so far.

  However, Yao Yuan’s team could still theoretically make mincemeat out of them with their Gaussian guns… if not for the fact that they were immune to this threat!

  When the group arrived at the cluster of robots shielding the entrance, they made quick work of them. Several hundred robots perished under the combined fire of both Gaussian guns and space rifles. Unfortunately, 4 of their unit mates fell during the crossfire too… Finally, only these 2 special robots remained. No matter whether they were hit with the Gaussian guns or space rifles, a shimmering layer would appear, neutralizing the bullets. In retaliation, their 4 arms changed into gun muzzles to return the bullet hell back at Yao Yuan’s group. Furthermore, like actual spider legs, the 6 lower body appendages allowed them to stick onto and move around all surfaces with an incredible speed. The 4 fatalities were by their hands!

  "God damn it! Energy shield? We should have anticipated that they would have the technology…" An anxious Yao Yuan lamented. Even though the two robots traversed the area with great agility, they made sure they were 1 jump away from the entrance. Therefore, the plan to use bait was impossible. They had been stalled at a stalemate for about 5 minutes. As time stretched closer to the 30 minutes deadline, Yao Yuan started to sweat.

  Another person who was breaking out in cold sweat was Xiao Niao. He was almost shot down by the robot but was saved at the last minute by a soldier who courageously jumped in front of him. The mixture of shock and appreciation rendered him speechless.

  However, his brain kept turning, picking up on their surroundings, details that they had seen or missed, until a scene flashed in his mind. It was about the metallic plates that worked as transportation. He shouted, "No, it’s not an energy shield! That’s impossible with their technology. This is electromagnetic shield! They can only neutralize metallic objects! That’s why all our bullets are useless. The way it works is… is like how Magneto can stop bullets from hurting him in X-Men!"

  Yao Yuan stopped to process the information before reprimanding him. "Are you suggesting plastic bullets? Where are we to find plastic bullets now? Stop kidding! Damn, we didn’t expect the AI to keep such a powerful technology in reserve. He purposely did not put it in the normal robots so that we couldn’t possibly prepare for it!" As he finished, he threw his gun away and looked up at the red dot blinking at the top of his space helmet.

  Xiao Niao saw Yao Yuan’s pupils moved upwards, so he yelled, "Yao Yuan! What you are trying to do?"

  Yao Yuan replied, with surprising calm, "Xiao Niao, thank you. You’ve managed to figure out another important piece of valuable information at such a crucial time… Your mission is officially at an end now, so leave the rest to us soldiers. Ying! I will get in close to the 2 robots. The spacesuit is made up of ceramic weave, so it should be safe from harm. Since their mechanical arms are jointed, that has to be their weak points. And if I can’t incapacitate them, I’ll use my body to entangle them in my grasp. Hopefully that’ll be able to buy you fellas some time…

  "I’ll leave the AI to you. Give it a good thrashing for me!"

  Before the rest of them could respond, Yao Yuan flew into the fray pushed by the propellers on his back.

  As they recovered from shock, both Ying and Liu Bai shouted, "As Black Stars, for glory!"

  "Or for death!"

  Yao Yuan’s last words came back in an echo…

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  Chapter128 The Nameless One

  Back on the Hope, Guang Zhen was leading a whole gang of people to the central mainframe. As they passed through the staircase, Guang Zhen sent a section of his soldiers down to the residential areas to help maintain order.

  However, all of their effort would be wasted if Bo Li’s robot was unable to activate the central mainframe and retrieve from within it the codes necessary to access the H-bombs.

  Suddenly, Chou Yue shivered. She hesitated before whispering into Ren Tao’s ears, "I’m not sure whether it was me overthinking it, but I just sensed danger spreading through the Hope lowest 3 levels."

  Ren Tao asked hastily, "Danger? What kind of danger? Is it manmade or natural?"

  Chou Yue shook her head. "I can’t tell for sure, but THEY are still some distance away, some of them moving at an unbelievable speed…"

  "Has to be the robots!"

  Ren Tao grabbed hold of Guang Zhen. "This is bad. The AI has sent robots to infiltrate the Hope. They’re moving to strategic locations as we speak, we must hurry!"

  Guang Zhen was shocked by the sudden news. He had personally seen what the robots were capable of, their power of flight, and that Gaussian rifle that could tear through the barrier of sound and shred the Hope like soft cheese!

  Ren Tao noted the change in Guang Zhen’s expression and said hurriedly, "Don’t worry, since the robots are on the Hope, this means that the AI has no intention of destroying this ship. It’s not too late… as long as we still have a breath in us!"

  Guang Zhen alternated between worry and relief. Finally he issued an order between gritted teeth, "Move faster!" and the group increased in speed.

  In Guang Zhen’s mind, the Hope’s residential levels was already a soulless town… But did that mean that they should just give up? He knew in his heart that the answer was no, but could they possibly take on the robot fleet on their own? Realistically, he realized it was unlikely!

  The fact that the Hope was left with only upwards of 100 combat suit prototype 2 and Gaussian gun prototype 2s aside, other than the few selected Homo Evolutis, none of the soldiers could conduct battle in space. Plus, they were inside the Hope. They had to be wary of harming the ship itself, so they couldn’t be insouciant with the usage of their Gaussian guns. On the other hand, the robots could freely employ their Gaussian rifles… One couldn’t help but wonder how many human lives would be left after this ruthless massacre.

  Was their only possible future to rebuild with a small collection of human survivors? Was that even feasible in space? Wouldn’t they be consumed wholly by the impenetrable darkness of the cosmos?

  With all these thoughts swirling in their minds, the group arrived at the central mainframe room, where they were joined by the soldiers that patrolled the area. The spherical robot guards that secured the area lay about in inactive heaps, not one showing signs of life.

  After a perfunctory report, Guang Zhen led everyone to the mainframe servers. Using an external keyboard, Bo Li controlled her robot to fuse its own wiring to that of the computer’s. As the link was formed, the mainframe showed small signs of reviving, but regretfully, the alien robot alone was still too weak to power the Hope’s mainframe!

  "Wait a minute. The information flow is too large. I’ll need about 5 minutes to retrieve the details that we need!" Bo Li mumbled as she read the data that appeared on the screen hooked onto robot’s chest.

  "5 minutes?!"

  Guang Zhen echoed as he snuck a peek as his watch. 20 minutes had passed since the lights went out, so they had another 10 minutes before they reached the critical stage. In other words, they needed to load the H-bomb onto the shuttle in 5 minutes and move it to the warship in the other remaining 5… It was going to be a desperate race against time!

  At the same time, the UFO under the mainframe was radiating a pearly-white glow. The glow revealed semi-transparent dust particles that were dancing on its shell.

  A stream of information passed through the mainframe from the UFO into the robot, an exchange that was indiscernible by human eyes.

  The rob
ot kept on processing silently as the seconds ticked by. Some of the soldiers started pacing around the area, working off their nerves.

  It took 4 minutes for several sets of codes to appear on the robot’s chest. A scientist that stood beside Bo Li rushed forward with a notepad to scribble them down. With the codes in their grasp, Gaung Zhen said, "Quick, we need to get to the bridge. I’ve sent some people to carry the H-bomb there beforehand. They should be ready by now! We only need to key in these codes to launch the missile!"

  They ran into no roadblocks on the way there, but they were weighted down by a heavy silence.

  The H-bomb itself was controlled via electronic signals, so the shuttle had to be within 10 meters off the warship before it could be launched… The shuttle would definitely be consumed by the nuclear blast… In other words, launching the H-bomb was a sacrifice mission!

  Humans are selfish by nature, so there was no volunteer to take on this mission. Everyone was waiting for someone braver to step forth. As Guang Zhen scanned the crowd, every pair of eyes instinctually shifted away… Guang Zhen couldn’t fault their nature because he knew every single soldier present would still complete the mission if he was to order them… Much deliberation went into that choice because a single soldier was going to be responsible for saving tens of thousands of lives, and by extension, ensuring the continuity of human civilization.

  Human history hadn’t seen 1 individual being labored with such important responsibility before… Guang Zhen knew they only had 1 chance of getting it right. A candidate forced into the mission by the weight of his order might not have the focus to parse the timing, angles, and calibration perfectly to pull off a successful mission.

  If the missile missed its target, Guang Zhen would have to shoulder the blame of failing humanity. How desperate he wished for there to be a volunteer!

  "I’ll do it!"

  Guang Zhen sighed, and added, in a calm voice, "I know how to pilot the shuttle, and I am part of the Black Star Unit and a Special Ops agent… I’m the perfect candidate for this job. Since Ol’ Yao has placed the Hope in my care, it’s only fair that I take on this responsibility. Everyone else, return to your stations. Be on the lookout for the robots…"