Two months later, Xiao Yu finally discovered the first spy satellite from the Molian Civilization. Because of their small size and mass, spy satellites could achieve far greater speeds than warships, so it was no surprise that such devices were the first to arrive in Star System Number 1.
“Hmm… looks like the Molian Civilization is quite clever. Only equipped with optical detection instruments?”
After capturing this spy satellite, Xiao Yu controlled robots to inspect it and sighed in admiration. “A small device that does not actively emit any detection signals, hiding in the dark, relying solely on capturing optical signals to carry out espionage… these have the strongest survivability and are also the most effective. Inside a stellar system, I can block all kinds of radiation and tachyon detection, but optical signals cannot be blocked. I imagine there must be many more of these spy satellites hiding in the dark.”
This particular spy satellite was captured at a distance of more than forty billion kilometers from the star. Discovering something with a volume of less than one cubic meter, made of special materials with excellent light-absorption properties, at such a distance was extremely difficult. In fact, Xiao Yu employed the same tactic against the Molian Civilization. The only difference was that Xiao Yu went further, in addition to such methods, he also sent in Special Operations Troops equipped with individual combat systems to directly infiltrate enemy star systems.
A total of ten million detection satellites had already been launched. Their distances from the star varied, with the farthest one reaching as much as two hundred billion kilometers. Their orbits also differed, some above the ecliptic plane, others below it. These detection satellites had only one mission, to search with all effort for spy satellites hidden in the dark and destroy them.
Even before the war officially began, the intelligence battle had already started in full.
In these two months, Star System Number 1 had been completely transformed by Xiao Yu. The detachable forging system, built during the previous rest period in another star system, was moved out from the Home One and assembled on a planet here. It immediately began operating normally, continuously processing large quantities of raw materials into the essential resources needed to ensure the smooth completion of Xiao Yu’s various construction tasks.
For now, star system defense relied temporarily on starships, but a more comprehensive defensive network was rapidly taking shape. Xiao Yu planned to build at least five Galaxy-Class Negative Matter Cannons, the same type he had once encountered, which had obliterated the Henan ship with a single shot, in fact, even more powerful versions of that weapon would serve as the primary strength of the system’s defenses. Together with various interstellar fortresses, space mines, and other weapons, Star System Number 1 would be perfectly protected.
While strengthening Star System Number 1, Xiao Yu’s reach continued to extend outward. The three fleets he had dispatched, along with the army of intelligent beings, were merely an extension of his military power. In secret, Xiao Yu was working urgently to produce spy devices similar to the Molian Civilization spy satellite he had captured, and these were being deployed throughout the starry expanse. The first batch was already en route and was expected to reach the Molian Civilization’s capital star system in a year, where they would begin reconnaissance.
“In another month, the Nation-Class Russian ship formation will arrive at Star System Number 3. That’s a mining system, valuable, though its defensive forces are unlikely to be formidable. Yes, I’ll take it first, then pursue the mineral transport ships that flee, forcing the military base in Star System Number 2 to dispatch forces for rescue.”Xiao Yu thought to himself.
A month passed quickly, and the Nation-Class Russian ship formation emerged from curvature flight, revealing itself within the visible universe. No fewer than five hundred thousand starships hovered imposingly in the void, staring intently at the massive star ahead.
This was a subgiant star emitting white light, with a mass roughly three times that of the Sun. Such a star had more than enough capacity to produce Grade 1 Metal, and indeed, as Xiao Yu had expected, the mining base here specialized in collecting Grade 1 Metal.
Grade 1 Metal was a valuable resource for Xiao Yu. It was not only essential for building space weapons but also useful in the construction of other items such as starship hulls and high-precision machining equipment. In the past, however, Xiao Yu had never been so extravagant as to use Grade 1 Metal for such purposes.
“I hope there’s something to gain here. Building four space weapons has already exhausted my entire reserve of Grade 1 Metal.” Xiao Yu thought with anticipation.
Without the slightest hesitation, the five hundred thousand starships charged into the star system. As expected, what greeted Xiao Yu was not a massive starship battle group, but rather automated defense systems, including auto-firing Negative Matter Cannons, various trigger-based elemental decay bombs, antimatter bombs, death ray weapons, and more.
Without the coordination of sentient crews and starships, this firepower was incapable of even slowing Xiao Yu’s advance. Before most of them could be activated, large numbers of specialized explosive disposal ships had already reached the area, clearing them out entirely. Any stray or more distant automated defense weapons that managed to fire were immediately pinpointed by Xiao Yu’s targeting systems, then destroyed through long-range strikes.
Star System Number 3 had already become a hollow shell. Only the ruined mining equipment on its two planets, destroyed long ago by the retreating Molian Civilization, bore witness to the bustling activity that once existed here. But that was gone forever. All the mining ships, miners, and their supporting military forces had been withdrawn.
Thus, without any danger or resistance, Xiao Yu successfully occupied Star System Number 3. He quickly issued orders, leaving behind part of his combat fleet and some construction vessels. In total, about one hundred and fifty thousand ships remained here, while the other three hundred and fifty thousand departed swiftly, beginning the pursuit.
The one hundred and fifty thousand ships left behind would turn Star System Number 3 into another of Xiao Yu’s bases.
“Mining ships are not combat vessels; their average cruising speed will not exceed six times the speed of light. That means, in just over three months, they could not have traveled more than two light-years. Good… begin the pursuit.” Xiao Yu commanded.
The three hundred and fifty thousand ships split up again, coordinating with countless detection satellites. Like a massive net cast across the boundless universe, they began an all-out search.
Xiao Yu could not precisely determine the retreat route of the mineral transport ships, so casting a wide net was inevitable. One thing was certain, they were fleeing toward the capital star system, and those mineral transport ships were carrying large quantities of Grade 1 Metal, a resource of immense value to Xiao Yu. This pursuit mission could not be allowed to fail.
This chase was much like an operation in the cold-weapon era, where a large force combed the plains in search of smaller enemy units. In those times, small enemy units could hide, and in the same way, these mineral transport ships could also conceal themselves. But in the cold-weapon era, no matter how well a small force hid, they would always leave traces, a dropped item, tracks in the earth, or even ashes from a fire. Similarly, these fleeing mineral transport ships would also leave behind traces.
Curvature flight did not leave no traces at all. Because space was bent, the matter within that space would inevitably be affected and bent as well. The universe was never truly empty, even in the most barren regions between galaxies, there existed extremely sparse interstellar matter. If a vessel traveling with curvature flight passed through such a region, space would return to normal after being bent, which was imperceptible. However, the matter affected by the warped space would take some time to return to its normal state. By detecting the condition of interstellar matter, Xiao Yu could determine how long ago a ship of a certain speed had passed through.
Xiao Yu believed that, when he had fled after first encountering the Molian Civilization, they had used this very method to track him.
Now, Xiao Yu applied the same method to track the Molian Civilization’s fleeing ships. Depending on the environment of a given region of space, the affected state of matter could last anywhere from one month to a year. Since the retreat of the mining ships had begun no more than three months ago, Xiao Yu knew that as long as the search area was large enough, he would certainly find their traces.
And indeed, the result was as expected. Several hundred million kilometers off the direct line between Star System 2 and the Molian capital star system, Xiao Yu detected such a trace. Immediately, more than one hundred thousand ships converged on the location and began following it.
The reason Xiao Yu did not gather all his ships there was because he could not be sure whether this was a genuine trace or a decoy meant to mislead him. To prevent the main force from being dragged off on the wrong path and wasting precious time, potentially missing the best opportunity for pursuit, Xiao Yu took the precaution of not committing all forces until there was definite confirmation.
The outcome proved Xiao Yu correct. More than fifty billion kilometers farther along this trace, Xiao Yu found another one. Another one hundred thousand ships gathered there and continued the pursuit…
In the dark expanse of space, the two opposing forces began an unusual game of hide-and-seek. The winner of this game would determine the fate of many intelligent beings, and the ownership of vast quantities of Grade 1 Metal.