Compared with the perfect defense system in the new federation, the Sherman Empire cannot be said to be slightly inferior in this area, but can only be said to be a mess.

This made Yang Luo's team, who were used to stealing things from the New Federation, somewhat uncomfortable at the moment.

"Aren't they afraid of the enemy coming suddenly?"

Ritsu muttered quietly:

There is no gravitational detection device in the gravitational stable zone of the outer star, and in the airspace close to the administrative star, more than half of the networked probes have aged to the point of being unusable.

"The patrol boats we just met didn't even turn on the radar to the maximum power, and we could see a few male crew members drinking and dancing there through the portholes."

"Simply so!"

Yang Luo just asked rhetorically: "Do you think anyone dares to start a war with Sherman head-on?" ”

The law is directly spoken.

At this moment, two 'serious' chairs have been added to the bridge of the Feinan.

Yang Luo was in charge of the driving area, 026 was in charge of the fire control area, and Hera temporarily sat behind the operation panel of the shipborne probe, smiling and watching Yang Luo and Lu Zai complain to each other.

That's how it came all the way.

The chattering virtual assistant, the optimistic and cheerful but cautious maintenance man in front of Yang Luo, made Hera not feel any sense of estrangement.

After three galactic days of sailing and more than a dozen roundabout jumps, Feinan has successfully entered the star system where Zubin is located.

"Start planning the route of the probe."

Yang Luo greeted, and Lu immediately stretched out the three-dimensional star map, adjusted the ratio between the stars and the star distance, and condensed the details of the current star system into a two-meter diameter projection as much as possible.

Yang Luo circled two planets.

"The nearest planet is the No. 1 target, which is greatly affected by the star, and the detection instrument is prone to deviation."

The farthest planet seven is the second target, which is more secluded.

"Planet 6 is a gas giant, the environment inside is very harsh, we have prepared two special drones, which have been put down when they passed by before, but it will take at least ten days for the monitoring to be completed, and there is a high probability that there will be no eggs there, and first-order and second-order insects will not be able to survive under the storm of gas giants."

"In addition to Zubin, the other three planets are listed as the third target, and they will be explored in order of priority."

026 raised his right hand from the side.

"Speak."

026 wondered, "Boss, why don't we explore Zubinxing?" ”

Yang Luo said with a smile: "There is a tight defense network on the periphery of the administrative star, and although Zubin Star is lonely, the defense system of the near planet is still very comprehensive. ”

"We're going to have to think about what the new Federation would do when they do this," Ritsu added, "and it's unlikely they're going to take such a big risk, and if they are found here, the whole plan will be exposed." ”

Hera raised her hand in a decent manner, "I think that the more this is the case, the more we need to probe Zubin." ”

Yang Luo asked, "Reason?" ”

"The steps to place the eggs were carried out by a small group of elite CIA operatives."

Hera said softly:

/ What the CIA does best is omnidirectional penetration, and if they only transport the mother worm and not the eggs, a container is not too conspicuous.

Illogical and unexpected, this is also the style of the CIA.

"They may create the characteristics of darkness under the lights, and although this Zubin Star retains the foundation of the defense system, it has lost much activity itself, and there are large areas of uninhabited urban areas."

"If you want to detect Zubin, you have to get too close to their defenses," Ritsu thought carefully, "so we're taking a big risk, and I'd suggest testing the other planets carefully." ”

Yang Luo clapped his hands and motioned for the three eldest sisters to look at him.

He said:

I should be able to sense the Zerg when I'm closer, so let's take a multi-pronged approach.

"Ritsu is responsible for driving and guarding, 026 is responsible for assisting Hera, Hera is responsible for controlling all kinds of detection instruments, and I will drive a stealth dinghy and make a quick maneuver on the planet's surface to see if the blind cat can meet the dead mouse."

"This information was obtained by us deciphering a document that the new CIA did not completely delete, and the results are not necessarily correct."

"This time I should go out on vacation, a total of twenty galactic days, and leave immediately if there is no harvest."

"Yes!"

Ritsu and 026 agreed in unison.

Hera bowed slightly to Yang Luo, put on her glasses, and began to adjust the parameters of various detection instruments.

Fei Nan left the back of the asteroid and looked across the star from Zubin Star, heading straight for the first target.

In the bridge, the figures of three women are busy with the division of labor.

026 runs around in the maintenance worker's wide overalls, and in addition to work assistance, he will constantly bring tea, snacks, and warmth to Hera.

Ritsu sat in the captain's seat decently, and steered the Fei Nan to complete various difficult flights, avoiding areas where airspace probes might be present.

Half a day later, Yang Luo drove a small ship and galloped back and forth on the surface of the No. 1 target planet.

Hera constantly adjusted the nine various types of biological detectors installed on the Feinan, carefully staring at the various data feedback, and occasionally trying to empty her mind and use her body to sense.

After working continuously for more than ten hours, Yang Luo returned to Feinan.

Target 1 confirmed to be unremarkable.

There was no feedback from the instrument, and neither Yang Luo nor Hera felt anything abnormal.

The Feinan began to move towards the target planet No. 2, and the three carbon-based lifeforms on board seized the time to rest, while the law worked non-stop around the clock.

Twelve days in a row.

The Feinan went around in the star system, and Yang Luo flew for an unknown number of thousands of miles in a small ship.

There are no traces of bugs.

Not only the planet itself, but also those moons Yang Luo did not let go, and searched carefully.

The detection drone in the gaseous planet sent back relatively comprehensive data, and there was also no trace of the Zerg.

Lu felt that it was probably the wrong analysis of the coordinate points, or that the information itself was misleading.

The tired Hera couldn't care to maintain her ladylike appearance, half-lying in a chair, wearing a blanket sent by 026, and the dark circles under her eyes were already very obvious.

She said softly:

"There is also a possibility that none of our current detection methods are effective."

The Zerg are a very magical collective lifeform, and their civilization level is actually higher than that of the galactic human technological civilization, and they themselves are the most sophisticated instruments.

"According to past data, when the insect colony is relatively vulnerable in the early stage, they will evolve various means to save their lives."

"/ There is a connection between the biters, and this has been proven. In the last two years, dozens of low-level swarms have been wiped out, and the remaining swarms are likely to have evolved accordingly. ”

"Well," Yang Luo said with a smile, "these insects are very smart, maybe they are all petulated by now." ”

026 whispered: Then do we still want to explore Zubinxing?"

Yang Luo crossed his arms and thought for a while.

"Let's go investigate," Yang Luo said, "It's all here." ”

"I know that the boss will make such a decision, and the route map has been planned, we can hack some of the defense satellites first, and then send a small stealth ship into the planet's atmosphere. Since it is not possible to circumnavigate the planet with impunity, we must rely on small stealth ships to approach the surface and find it differently. ”

Yang Luo shrugged: "I'll continue to do coolies, and if I am discovered, I will directly turn on the particle conveyor and pull me back." ”

"You can't go," Hera said suddenly.

Yang Luo blinked.

Hera doesn't let personal feelings get in the way of her work, and she must have her own reasons for saying that.

Hera sat up and stared at Yang Luo: "Didn't you say that?" When you get up close and personal with the Zerg, it will provoke the Zerg to riot. ”

"Yes, they're probably afraid of me."

"There are tens of millions of people on this administrative star."

Hera Dao:

If there is a swarm here, and the number of 014 represents the batch of swarm that was sown in the early stage, and after two years of stimulation, maybe there will already be a high-level queen.

"If you provoke them to riot, it will be a disaster. Zerg slaughter lifeforms of non-own species, which is their trait. ”

"There are no powerful Imperial ship groups in this vicinity, and it is impossible to stop losses in time after a disaster."

"I suggest abandoning this operation, in this case, even if we find out that there are Zerg under Zubin Star, the boss will not be able to directly log in to kill the insects, and our purpose of coming here will not be achieved." ”

Hera frowned and looked at Ritsu: "Why give up?" If there are indeed bugs here, we can also notify the Empire and save these tens of millions of human lives. ”

"My personal emotional tendencies are naturally based on saving lives, but this is not related to the core interests of the boss. We also have to take a lot of risks. We can find a way to get the empire to dig up the surface of this planet and search and verify it little by little. ”

026 tries to interject: "That"

Hera said slowly: "We have the most sophisticated instruments to detect, if we don't try this, then the cost of the first half a month will be completely sunk." ”

Lu said: "Risk estimation is the content of my job, after all, Zubin Star is the administrative star of the Sherman Empire, and the risks that cannot be predicted are too great. ”

"Maybe we can try it on the periphery," Hera said, "and we can't just go home empty-handed. ”

Ritsu: "What's the point of trying it out on the periphery?" If you want to detect the hidden Zerg, you must detect near the surface, and the boss can't rush close to the atmosphere. ”

"Two," Yang Luo said with a smile, "Can you take a look at the No. 3 crew member who raised her hand next to her, she has been raising her hand for a long time." ”

Ritsu and Hera turned their heads to look at 026 at the same time.

The eyes of both the mechanical mind and the biologist were a little sharp, as if asking who 026 chose to support.

"I can go to the surface to probe in place of the boss," 026 said in a weak voice, "I've been on the ship for two years, and after I meet the conditions, I will bind this particle conveyor back, and I will not cause a reaction from the zerg, and the ship operation is also very familiar." ”

Ritsu and Hera nodded at the same time, both thinking it was a good idea.

Yang Luo looked at 026 with a little hesitation.

Is this little girl really reliable?

What makes Yang Luo quite pleased is that 026, which has been training for more than two years, can now be regarded as being able to take charge on his own.

On the back of Zubin Star, over an uninhabited city, the Feinan was suspended stealthily. The small stealth ship piloted by 026 has been slowly scanned on the surface with the help of the cover of the uninhabited city.

The two detectors on board the stealth ship are at full power, constantly transmitting data back to the underground.

In the projection screen, you can still see 026's somewhat nervous little round face.

Dressed in a blue baggy maintenance gown and a pair of white gloves, she resembles a young master who controls machinery on a construction site.

Hera was intently analyzing the various data transmitted back from the stealth ship;

Law is closely monitoring the planet's defenses, as well as changes in gravity in the outer airspace.

They were ready to abandon the small stealth ship at any time and pull 026 back to escape together.

026's humming voice can be heard from the communication channel, and she seems to be emboldening herself in this way.

Yang Luo was rarely leisurely, standing by the porthole, staring at this 'old' administrative star that was full of dark clouds.

The Sherman Empire has existed for tens of thousands of galactic years, and these administrative stars have also experienced more than one glory and loneliness, leaving behind a deep historical accumulation.

In the surface footage sent back by the stealth boat, Yang saw a city that had long since died.

All that remains of the towering building is the wreckage, which has been standing for an unknown amount of time, and all but the main structure has been weathered like a lone flagpole.

The low-rise buildings are crawling with all kinds of plants, making this place look like a strange jungle.

The floor was littered with shards of glass, fabrics of synthetic fibers fluttered throughout, and the occasional animal corpse could be seen.

Why do people abandon this place?

Is it because of the dark clouds in the sky and the acidic rain that falls from time to time, and the harmful substances floating in the air remain high all year round?

No, these are not the main reasons, technology can help people adapt to the environment here.

There may be only one reason for the gradual abandonment of this place: the continued decline of the economy, and the fact that young people are being sucked away by a planet with more opportunities.

Yang turned his head and glanced at Hera, and found that Hera's brows were furrowed tightly and her lips were slightly pursed.

"What's wrong?" Yang walked over slowly, his hands behind his back, "Is there anything abnormal?" Not feeling well? ”

"It's me who suddenly feels a little irritable," Hera whispered, "the data is normal, there are no signs of life in the mantle, do you feel anything?" ”

Yang Luo shrugged.

Hera took off her glasses, rubbed her sleepy eyelids, and continued to stare at the monitor.

Suddenly.

"Boss," 026's voice suddenly rang out, "do you want to see this?" ”

Yang Luo followed the sound, and Lu immediately turned on the video communication.

"Which one?"

"This!"

SCP-026 pointed the camera out the window, and a fairly intact wall was filled with figures wearing silver-gray exoskeleton armor and black tactical helmets.

White Ghost.

This should have been painted in the last two years, and the degree of weathering is not high.

Yang Luo shook his head and smiled: "There may be human activities here, be careful." ”

"Hmm!" 026 quickly pointed the camera at himself, "I continue to concentrate on my work!"

"It's not quite right," Ritsu's projection appeared beside Yang Luo.

"What's not quite right?"

"Energy," Ritsu whispered, "the city is obviously uninhabited, but some of the circuits buried in its ground are still functioning, and there is still energy transmission in a small area. ”

Yang Luo called up an aerial view of the city below.

Ritsu quickly marked several coordinate points and circled the area of the energy feedback anomaly.

Yang Luo's brain seemed to be hit by an electric current, and he immediately thought of something.

"Lil, bugs feed on radiation."

"Yes, boss."

"It's not just natural stars that can provide stable radiation, but the energy of stars also comes from hydrogen fusion," Yang Luo frowned, "Invade the database of this administrative star and check if they have a large-scale nuclear industry here." ”

Ritsu was silent for more than ten seconds.

Yang Luo gradually developed an uneasiness in his heart.

Soon, Ritsu spoke again: "This planet used to have many production bases for fusion nuclear fuel cells for ships, but they were abandoned hundreds of years ago due to technological innovation, and it stands to reason that there will be no fuel left for so long, unless the new federation artificially activates some deactivated reactors and boss, our detection instruments are mainly aimed at the depths of the earth's crust." ”

"Hera changed the target to the outer layer of the earth's crust! Ract marks the location of these abandoned factories, finds these sources of energy, and guides 026 to investigate!"

"Okay boss."

"Understood."

The bridge of the Feinan fell silent.

The small ship piloted by 026 began to move towards the location marked by Ritsu.

Ten minutes later.

Hera's calm voice was the first to sound:

"There is a bioenergetic reaction in the area from 3,000 to 12,000 meters underground, which is very weak, and I am adjusting the parameters, if it is a conventional detection instrument, it will not be able to catch these anomalies at all."

"Boss!"

026 said quickly: "There are some irregular cracks in the ground buildings here, which seem to have collapsed downward, but the feedback given by the terrain mapper, there are no gaps in the ground, it seems to be a bit of a problem Boss, I found the transportation hub logo of an underground mine, but the map responds ...... There are no cavities underneath. ”

No cavities?

Yang Luo decisively ordered: "Get out of there and return to the Feinan." ”

"Yes, boss."

Hera's expression on the side changed slightly.

She looked up at Yang Luo, her lips trembled slightly, and she turned the screen in front of her half a circle, facing Yang Luo.

Dense green dots appeared on the screen.

If the earth is 'skin', then these green dots are paved with capillaries under the skin.

The numbers in the upper left corner of the screen are constantly jumping, and at the moment they have reached seven figures, and they are still soaring.

"Obviously, they retreated from near the mantle layer to the surface to avoid detection, disguised as rocky material," Hera whispered, "and the planet is finished." ”