189: Desperate Counterattack

"Report, Commander, enemy fleet has entered effective range!" The weapons officer's voice echoed through the bridge, "All weapon systems locked on target!"

Lin Yue gazed at the constantly approaching red dots on the holographic projection and said in a deep voice, "Fire!"

The weapon arrays of thirty exploration ships simultaneously lit up with dazzling light. Plasma cannons and laser beams poured out like a storm, carving countless death trajectories in the space of the Alpha Centauri System.

However, when the gunfire subsided, everyone on the bridge gasped.

"This is impossible..." The weapons officer's voice trembled, "Our weapons are almost ineffective! How is this possible?"

On the holographic projection, the Trisolaran Fleet still maintained its neat formation. The surfaces of those seemingly primitive ships were covered with a strange metallic luster, leaving only shallow dents where they were hit.

"Scan results are in." The science officer's voice was filled with disbelief, "The atomic arrangement density of the enemy ship's material is close to that of strong interaction material! Our weapons cannot penetrate it at all!"

Lin Yue's fist slammed heavily on the control panel. Strong interaction material, a substance theoretically only found on the surface of neutron stars, was actually mastered by a civilization that didn't even have superluminal technology?

What kind of logic was this?

"Immediately report the situation to the Eastern Federation Command Center!" Lin Yue commanded sharply, "Quick!"

The communications officer quickly operated the control panel: "Quantum communication established, battlefield data being transmitted, Eastern Federation Command Center has confirmed receipt."

Inside the Mars Command Center, Eastern Federation Space Force Commander Sun Lie stared at the battlefield footage on the holographic projection, fine beads of sweat seeping from his forehead. His fingers tapped unconsciously on the control panel, showing his inner anxiety.

"Strong interaction material?" he murmured, his voice filled with disbelief, "How is this possible..."

The Chief of Staff walked over, his face solemn: "Commander, the technical department has confirmed the scan results. The surface material of the Trisolaran civilization's ships indeed has properties similar to neutron star matter; our conventional weapons cannot penetrate it at all."

On the large screen of the Command Center, real-time footage from the exploration fleet was being transmitted. The silver-gray Trisolaran warships were almost unscathed by the laser weapons, approaching the exploration fleet in a neat formation.

"Immediately connect to the Interstellar Peace Corporation's emergency contact channel!" Sun Lie suddenly ordered, "We need their help!"

The communications officer quickly operated the control panel: "Understood, connecting to Interstellar Peace Corporation."

Ten seconds later, Aventurine's face, with its cynical smile, appeared in the holographic projection. He was toying with a chip in his hand, seemingly unconcerned by the crisis at hand.

"Commander Sun," Aventurine nodded slightly, "We are already aware of the situation."

Sun Lie suppressed his anxiety: "Director Shajin, do you have a solution? The exploration fleet is in a dangerous situation; the enemy's ship material..."

"Strong interaction material, I know." Aventurine nodded, as if he had expected it, "With the weapons equipped on your exploration fleet, there is no possibility of directly destroying them, but we have an alternative solution."

The situation was urgent, and Sun Lie did not notice Aventurine's 'prescience'. When he heard there was a solution, his eyes lit up: "What solution?"

Aventurine put away his smile, his expression becoming serious: "The induced coordinate device carried by your fleet."

"Induced coordinates?" Sun Lie frowned, "Are you referring to the device you installed on the exploration fleet's ships?"

"That is the company's latest technology." Aventurine explained, "As long as the induction device is fully charged, we can directly project the Luofu Fleet into the battlefield."

The officers in the Command Center exchanged excited glances. Sun Lie let out a long breath, his tense shoulders finally relaxing: "That's great!"

"But," Aventurine held up a finger, "there's a problem..."

"What problem?"

Aventurine's expression became solemn: "The induction device's anchoring requires time, normally an hour. As for warping away from the battlefield, the warp engine's charging time is also over forty minutes. Clearly, you don't have enough time. However, the anchoring procedure can be accelerated by overloading."

"Overloading the anchoring procedure requires enormous energy, very enormous. According to your fleet's configuration, while retaining basic power supply, you must concentrate all remaining energy to activate the device." He paused, "This means exchanging survival rate for a chance at life."

"Conservatively estimated, about half."

The Command Center instantly fell silent. The smile on Sun Lie's face froze, and he slowly turned to look at the big screen. In the footage, thirty exploration ships were forming a defensive formation in space, each ship carrying hundreds of the Eastern Federation's most elite soldiers.

"Half of the fleet..." Sun Lie's voice trembled slightly, "That's fifteen hundred lives..."

Aventurine was silent for a moment: "This is the only way. You have five minutes to decide. Otherwise, it's a dead end."

After the communication was cut off, the Command Center fell into a deathly silence. Everyone's eyes were focused on Sun Lie.

"Commander..." The Chief of Staff said in a low voice, "This decision is too significant. Should we... report it to the Zijin Pavilion?"

Sun Lie closed his eyes, countless images flashing through his mind. The faces of those young crew members, and the tears of their families when they set off.

"Connect the Premier's private line." He finally spoke, his voice hoarse, "I will report."

A minute later, the solemn face of the Donglian Chief appeared in the holographic projection. Zhao Mingyuan had concisely reported the situation and Aventurine's plan.

"Fifteen hundred people..." The Premier repeated the number softly, his brows tightly furrowed, "Are there any other options?"

"No, Premier." Zhao Mingyuan shook his head, "Either sacrifice half the fleet, or... be completely annihilated."

The air in the Command Center seemed to solidify. The Premier pondered for a long time, finally raising his head, his eyes gleaming with determination.

"Tell the exploration fleet..." His voice was firm and powerful, "The Eastern Federation will not forget their sacrifice."

Sun Lie took a deep breath and turned to the communications officer: "Connect to Commander Lin Yue."

When Lin Yue's face appeared on the screen, Sun Lie said directly: "The Zijin Pavilion has approved the plan; the detailed contents have already been sent."

After reading the entire plan, Lin Yue on the other end of the screen was silent for a moment, then slowly nodded: "Understood."

Looking at Lin Yue's resolute face, Sun Lie finally said: "We will bring you home."

After the communication ended, Lin Yue immediately called an emergency meeting with all the captains. In the holographic projection, the faces of twenty-nine captains appeared one by one.

"Gentlemen, this is the situation." Lin Yue concisely explained Aventurine's plan, "We need at least fifteen ships to sacrifice defense and fully power the induction device."

There was no hesitation, no discussion. Within thirty seconds, all captains agreed.

"Huangshan Three reports, energy system reconfigured, ready for mission execution at any time."

"Qinling Seven ready."

"Kunlun Two all crew salute you, Commander. We are ready."

Lin Yue's eyes grew slightly warm. These voices were so calm, as if they were just reporting a routine exercise.

"We will bring you home." He responded softly, "Definitely."

The shields of fifteen exploration ships simultaneously powered down, transferring all saved energy to the central induction device. The remaining ships immediately adjusted their formation, forming a protective circle around the fifteen ships.

"Enemy fleet accelerating!" The sensor officer shouted, "Their target is the inner layer of ships!"

On the holographic projection, the Trisolaran Fleet suddenly changed course, heading straight for the exploration ships that had abandoned their defenses.

"Ten minutes until impact!" The navigation officer's voice was tense, "Induction device anchoring progress... 89%..."

The first exploration ship was hit. The sound of huge metal tearing came through the communication channel, grating on the ears.

"Huangshan Three... lost contact."

"Qinling Seven is being attacked by two enemy ships; they detonated their energy core!"

The loss of each ship was like a knife piercing Lin Yue's heart. But he could only stare fixedly at the induction device's progress bar.

97%... 98%...

"Commander! Enemy ships have broken through the defense line!" The weapons officer suddenly shouted, "Three enemy ships are coming for us!"

Lin Yue looked up at the viewport. Three Trisolaran warships were approaching at an astonishing speed, their strange hulls gleaming with a cold light under the starlight.

99%...

"All hands! Prepare for impa..." Lin Yue's command was interrupted by a sudden spatial fluctuation.

The entire space of the Alpha Centauri System seemed to be distorted by this fluctuation. A huge energy sphere emitting a red-gold light appeared above the induction device. In that instant, the Trisolaris System had a fourth star.