Chapter 205: Ambush at Ross 248: The Hidden Hand Revealed

Their energy technology isn’t bad—must be at least eighth-generation controlled fusion or they’d never sustain this kind of firepower.

But the numbers are just too low. Only a thousand warships. Without so many defense platforms holding the line, those three thousand ships might not have broken through, but they’d have left these guys crippled.

“Alright, so who’s up next—us or you?”

Dodovik glanced at the other four representatives before asking.

As agreed earlier, the Venus Empire gets seventy percent of the spoils from the Desolate Star Region.

The remaining thirty percent would be divided among the other four depending on their contributions.

So honestly, Dodovik had little interest in leading the charge. The Empire’s share was set in stone. Unless those four couldn’t handle it, why should he get his own soldiers involved?

After all, Imperial lives are worth saving…

“Lord Dodovik, let us handle this trivial matter. If everyone agrees, the Syndicate Collective can sort it out on our own.”

“Are you kidding? The Quirta Alliance can do the job too!”

“You think you’re the only ones? Is my Selinm Union made up of fools?”

“Hmph. You want all the credit? The Autik Coalition isn’t having it!”

In no time, the four representatives were at each other’s throats, faces flushed with argument.

It made sense—it was the first battle, and with victory seemingly assured, who wouldn’t want a free shot at glory?

After all, that thirty percent would be divided up based on each faction’s contributions.

No one wanted to give up their share.

“Enough! All four of you, stop bickering. Send out 2,500 warships each, mix them together as the vanguard fleet. The rest follow up. The Venus Empire will send our fleet in last, we’re not here to compete.”

That left everyone speechless.

Not here to compete, huh?

This was competition? More like doing nothing and pocketing seventy percent while pretending not to notice. None of them had the guts to call Dodovik out.

Honestly, if they weren’t afraid of things going sideways and needing backup, they wouldn’t have even let the Empire in on the plan.

Still, sarcasm aside, the four agreed in the end.

What choice did they have—refuse, and they’d be left out of the first battle’s credit while the other three took all the glory.

Nobody was willing to let that happen…

——

A few hours later.

The battle at Ross 248 was over.

The Federation lost seventeen warships, with another fifty-eight damaged.

In addition, five hundred fifty-two defense platforms were destroyed.

As for the five-civilization allied fleet, they lost all three thousand warships.

But that didn’t bother them much. Each faction’s loss was just a few hundred ships.

Most importantly, burning those ships gave them a clear picture of the Federation’s true strength—it was a good deal, all things considered.

No sense wasting any more time.

The jointly-formed ten-thousand-strong vanguard fleet from the four civilizations began moving, entering the interstellar current in an orderly line.

Once the vanguard was in, the main fleets followed suit, each entering the current in turn.

Over sixty thousand warships in total, start to finish, it took several days to get everyone moving.

No way around it—there were just too many ships to move quickly.

When all four secondary civilizations had set off, it was time for the Venus Empire to send in its fifty thousand warships.

“It’s our turn. Order the fleet to depart!”

“Yes, Commander!”

The Adjutant nodded, ready to shout out the command.

But just as he opened his mouth, a piercing alarm blared across the bridge.

“What’s going on?”

“Commander, we’ve detected unknown energy sources. Eight thousand three hundred and one of them—forty-seven light-seconds away, right on the logistics fleet’s flank!”

“Put it on screen. I want the visual, now!”

“Yes, Commander!”

A moment later, a surveillance feed was projected before them.

It looked like empty space—nothing out of the ordinary—after all, space tends to look like that.

But this time, the emptiness was subtly distorted.

Was something wrong with their sensors?

Dodovik couldn’t help but wonder. Almost everyone else had the same question in mind.

Then, without warning, that stretch of space abruptly contracted.

In an instant, what was empty was now packed with warships.

And on the hulls of those ships…

The Federation Fleet insignia stood out clear as day—Dodovik recognized them immediately.

That recognition only made his shock worse.

Impossible…

He’d seen fleets arrive like that before.

Every time the Drac Empire’s tribute convoys or Imperial merchant ships appeared, they’d show up the exact same way.

But a second-rate civilization fielding jump technology—and deploying it on a massive scale?

And the thousand warships that guarded the interstellar current before, what were those supposed to be?

Could it be…

Right then, a sudden realization struck Dodovik.

His eyes went wide.

“This is bad—their target’s our logistics fleet!”

“Reverse course! Quickly! Turn the fleet around!”

Dodovik let out a desperate roar.

Meanwhile, over ten million kilometers away, the Houyi and eight thousand three hundred Zhulong-class B warships were already tearing into the helpless logistics flotilla.

It was a slaughter, plain and simple.

Support ships, transporters, even massive emigrant vessels—

They didn’t stand a chance. These ships weren’t built like warships; none of that thirty-foot-thick armor or impact absorption systems.

Every salvo from the attackers obliterated hundreds—sometimes thousands—of defenseless vessels.

At this rate, and given how far the Venus Empire’s fleet still was, all Dodovik could do was watch helplessly as his ships were torn apart.

Ten hours later.

By the time the fleet had managed to cross those tens of millions of kilometers and arrive at the scene,

Only wreckage remained.

Wreckage from hundreds of thousands of destroyed ships.

Inside the flagship’s command bridge,

Dodovik clutched the armrests of his command chair so hard his knuckles turned white, eyes shot red with anger.

As for the human fleet…

They were already speeding away from the Imperial forces in the opposite direction.

Both sides’ speeds were similar—the Empire would need ten days, maybe two weeks, to catch them even with a full chase.

There was hardly any difference in speed.

Besides, Dodovik had bigger problems than pointless pursuit.

“Enter the battlefield, see if we can salvage anything left!”

“Yes, Commander!”

The ships were lost. Survivors would be scarce—but at least they might recover a good haul of remaining materials.

In this situation, anything they could salvage was a win.

Fifty thousand warships eased their way into the debris field.

But none of them noticed the mass of metal spheres lying in wait, camouflaged amid the wreckage…

An hour later.

The fleet had fully pushed into the debris zone and begun a full-scale search when—

Without warning, countless azure bubbles surged up on all sides.

Swallowing warship after warship.