Chapter 176: Shifting Tides in the Desolate Star Region

As the Desolate Star Region entered a new era of upheaval…

11.52 light-years from the Solar System, and about 3.9 light-years from Ross 248, lies the star Struve.

This is the place where the Klein colony fleet once passed through before reaching the Solar System, and—it’s also…

The site where the Syndicate Collective’s fleet settled after leaving the Barnard defensive perimeter.

Yes, after the Collective withdrew from the outer edge of Barnard’s defense line—from Ross 248—they didn’t go back to their own civilization. Instead, they stayed here.

On the surface, they established communications with the Human Federation, but in truth, they were probing for information.

Because a discovery in the Desolate Star Region made the Syndicate Collective realize this area was nothing like what they had known—there could be numerous habitable worlds here, and resources weren’t so scarce after all.

Suddenly, they saw a new way forward.

If they could claim this region for themselves and stay clear of the Drac Empire’s attention, imagine the growth they could achieve here.

Wouldn’t that be the perfect outcome…?

As for their original territory, that could remain unchanged—they’d keep paying taxes to the Drac Empire like always.

But here in the Desolate Star Region, they could develop freely, without outside interference, until one day they could ascend to a Level 3 or even Level 4 civilization.

Of course, the Collective’s leaders knew that taking this whole region on their own would be reckless.

After all, the reports clearly stated the other side is also a Level 2 civilization, and they couldn’t risk moving all their forces. Even if the Drac Empire didn’t catch on, other civilizations wouldn’t pass up the chance to swoop in either.

They’d all try to bite off a piece.

So, just like their campaign against the Klein, the Collective needed partners.

Given there might be other civilizations in this star region, their partners ought to include at least one Level 3 civilization to minimize the risk.

And, absolutely, that Level 3 civilization couldn’t be one of the Empires’ lackeys.

“Marshal Zuo Reis, has headquarters sent any word?”

“Yes. The Alliance has been formed. Headquarters wants us to remain here, keep gathering intel on the Human Federation and any other powers in the Desolate Region, while waiting for the joint expedition to arrive.”

“Wait for the joint force? That’ll be at least another hundred years!”

Zuo Reis’s aide couldn’t hide the bitterness in his voice.

Their species wasn’t considered long-lived among the many civilizations, but they still averaged 200 to 300 years.

Even so, they couldn’t casually shrug off the passage of a whole century.

So far, during their long pursuit, they’d relied on rotating through hibernation pods. Each person spent most of their time asleep, so very little of their actual lifespan was consumed.

Originally, with this method, they could have just returned to headquarters.

Sure, by the time they made it back, most people they knew would be dead, but a round trip like this only cost them thirty years of life—an acceptable price.

But now…

They had to stay here, keep their eyes on the Federation, and collect intelligence.

Then, just wait for the joint expedition to show up.

Clearly, they couldn’t use their previous strategy of extreme hibernation anymore. After all…

What if the Federation Fleet suddenly turned up and everyone was asleep—what then?

Previously, it worked because they spent most of the trip surfing stellar currents, with absolute safety.

But after more than a century, by the time the expedition arrives, most of them will probably be old and gray.

“Don’t worry. There are five civilizations involved in this operation, not just us in the Syndicate Collective. There’s also the Quirta Alliance, the Selinm Union, the Autik Coalition, and…”

“The Level 3 civilization—Venus Empire!”

“By the way, the Quirta Alliance wasn’t even in headquarters’ initial plans. They were invited for a reason.”

“Just five years ago, a wormhole suddenly opened in the Quirta Alliance’s territory. Early exploration revealed that it leads to a spot about seventy-eight light-years from our current location.”

“Including time to assemble fleets and pass through the wormhole, they’ll be here in no more than eight years.”

“So, don’t worry about waiting a whole century.”

That unexpected news left Zuo Reis’s aide full of excitement.

Just eight years? Only eight?

That was incredible.

And with a Level 3 civilization on their side, wouldn’t taking down humanity be easy?

Level 3 civilizations were already using energy weapons on a massive scale. Compared to them, Level 2 civilizations were worlds apart.

There’s just no comparison.

——

Earth’s sphere.

Far East First Research Institute.

“Chief Lin, are you leaving the Quantum Bomb project?”

“Yes. We’ve already overcome the major technical hurdles; what’s left is production, which will be fine without me.”

“So… what will you do next?”

“I won’t be leaving just yet. If you hit any roadblocks, come to me anytime. Next, I’ll be taking over the vacuum zero-point energy project.”

“What!!!”

Hearing this, the entire team was stunned.

That project was a notorious sinkhole—even more difficult than the hyperspace engine.

In the institute, everyone called it ‘the Eternal Fifty-Year Project’, which meant…

Success was always fifty years away—no matter when you asked.

The difficulty was beyond imagination.

“Chief Lin, maybe you should reconsider…”

“Exactly, Chief Lin, you’re still young, there’s no need…”

“How about you think it over a little longer?”

Everyone tried to talk her out of it.

But Lin Yun just shook her head.

She knew that in the Federation’s list of breakthrough technologies, most of the roadblocks were at the energy supply stage.

Like the Federation Fleet’s plan to fully convert weapons to energy-based tech.

Is it that they can’t build energy weapons?

No. Humanity figured out how to build them a long time ago. Building is one thing, but actually powering and using them is another.

And after you can use them, can you even get their full potential?

All of that depends on strong power supplies.

That’s why, to this day, the Federation Fleet only has one true Houyi Warstar and nineteen Zhulong-class warships that can truly claim full energy-based weaponry.

Seawolf-class ships might have some ion weapons, but in terms of number, range, firepower, or rate of fire…

They still can’t compare to those two dozen warships.

Plus, Mu Xingchen told Lin Yun just a few days ago about the enormous danger the Federation might soon face.

That made her mind up.

She had to—

Crack the vacuum zero-point energy project as fast as possible!