424: Outside the battlefield

The stalemate in the Onamon Star System, like a persistent low-grade fever following a high fever, was draining the national strength and patience of both the Caldari and the Gallente Federation.

There were still daily skirmishes on the front lines, with losses on both sides, but the front line remained as if welded shut, immovable.

Amidst this bloody equilibrium, the focus of the war quietly shifted to technology.

In the rear, the war in the laboratories began.

Gallente Federation, Vellore Star System, capital city Caille.

Unlike the smoke-filled front lines, the interior of the Federation's Supreme Institute of Technology was filled with a unique atmosphere mixed with tension and excitement.

"The pulse stability of the Smartbomb has increased by 17%! Energy consumption has decreased by 8%!" a young researcher shouted excitedly. His eye sockets were sunken, but his eyes were burning, clearly having worked for dozens of consecutive hours.

"Very good! Sync the data with the other project teams! We need to raise the survival rate and penetration capability of our drones during the pulse interval to the next Rank!" a white-haired but spirited old professor responded in a booming voice.

The combat data from the Onamon front was like the most precious nutrient, fostering the rapid iteration of technology.

The Gallente technology tree was growing wildly in two directions.

First was strengthening the "shield," which meant optimizing Smartbomb technology, extending the pulse duration, and shortening the recharge interval.

Second was sharpening the "spear," which meant upgrading drone technology, enhancing their intelligent coordination and electronic warfare capabilities, and equipping them with more powerful micro-missiles, enabling them to not only execute harassment missions but also become sharp blades that could tear through enemy lines.

In particular, the invention of sentry drones took the Gallente's positional warfare capabilities to the next level.

In addition, the research and development of hybrid turrets also began to accelerate. The development of more powerful ammunition types with different damage profiles, such as armor-piercing shells, high-explosive shells, and electromagnetic shells, was all put on the agenda.

This "Internal Skill" Cultivation, relying on a solid industrial base and scientific research foundation, was gradually showing results. However, the effects were bidirectional.

Frontline feedback indicated that the threat posed by the Gallente drone swarms on the battlefield was increasing day by day, while the Caldari's missile penetration was becoming increasingly difficult.

The rapid development of Gallente drone and defense technology naturally did not escape the eyes of other factions in New Eden.

Among them, the most envious was the Amarr Empire.

In the sacred Amarr capital, inside the Empress's council chamber, a debate about technology was unfolding.

"Your Majesty, the Gallente's Smartbomb and drone swarm technology have already proven their value on the front lines! Especially when countering Caldari missile tactics, the results are significant!"

"If we can acquire these technologies, the Imperial Navy's defensive capabilities will achieve a qualitative leap!" the Minister of Military Affairs pointed at the battle reports of Onamon on the star map, his tone excited.

"But how are we to acquire them? Are we going to engage in deep technological exchange with the Gallente? That is no different from asking a tiger for its hide!" the Minister of Foreign Affairs expressed opposition. "Besides, what do we have to exchange? Are we to hand over the core data of the 'revelation-class'?"

The Minister of Military Affairs did not answer directly but changed his approach: "In any case, a lot of technical data on Dreadnoughts has already been stolen by those Minmatar rebels. In today's New Eden, only the Gallente lack the ability to manufacture Dreadnoughts."

"Since that is the case, it wouldn't be impossible for us to play the good guy, would it? Trading some secondary data for the technology we need is a very good deal."

"You!"

The young Empress, sitting upright on the throne, had a face calm and devoid of ripples behind the pearl curtain. She listened to her ministers' debate, her fingertips tapping gently on the armrest.

Finally, she spoke slowly: "The Empire needs the Caldari's missile technology. The Gallente's defense technology has even greater value to the Empire."

"Technological exchange, each taking what they need."

Her gaze swept over everyone: "Use some non-core technology of the 'revelation-class' to exchange for the Gallente's basic blueprints for 'Smartbomb' and the underlying algorithms for drone swarm control."

"This is a fair trade."

The Empress's decision settled the matter.

The Emma diplomatic mission brought some of the "revelation-class" technical data and headed to the Gallente. After experiencing a brief and intense internal discussion, the Gallente high command found it difficult to resist the opportunity to significantly improve their own Dreadnought design level.

After all, a powerful "spear" and a sturdy "shield" are equally important.

Thus, the trade was completed.

The Emma obtained the long-coveted defense technology, while the Gallente received a key to open the door to Dreadnoughts.

After receiving the technological infusion from the Emma, the Gallente warship designers were like tigers with added wings.

Combining their traditional advantages in energy weapons and drone technology, they poured the strength of the entire nation into it, and in an unbelievably short time, they built the next generation of Dreadnoughts for the Gallente Navy, the Moros-class, in a top-secret shipyard.

When the spies of the Caldari intelligence agency, lurking in the rear Star Domain of the Gallente, gathered intelligence about abnormally large energy signatures and shipyard activities similar to those of a Dreadnought, it was already too late.

On the front lines of the Onamon Star System, behind the Gallente defensive line, space rippled violently like water.

Immediately after, four behemoths, like giant beasts rising from the deep sea, passed through the Star Gate and appeared at the edge of the star system.

They possessed an aesthetic style completely different from the Emma "revelation-class."

The lines were more rounded, the sides of the hull were covered with giant hybrid turret arrays, and there were also many large hybrid turrets on top as supplements.

Located beneath the bow was an unprecedentedly large drone hanger bay.

It was none other than the Moros-class Dreadnought!

"Ultra-high energy signature detected! Model identification, hull standards match Dreadnought characteristics! It's a new type of Gallente Dreadnought!"

Major General Kamran looked at the four light points on the tactical screen that were exuding a dangerous aura, his pupils slightly contracting.

He immediately realized the seriousness of the problem.

The Gallente had not only withstood the pressure but also possessed their own Dreadnoughts!

"All units, highest alert! Adjust formations, prioritize evaluating the threat of the new targets!" Kamran ordered quickly.

The Moros-class Dreadnoughts did not make the Caldari wait long.

As soon as they entered range, the hybrid turret arrays at the bow began to turn, lock on, and fire.

Various types of projectiles flew out of the huge gun muzzles, and in an instant, they slammed into the electromagnetic energy shields of some of the Caldari ships.

Their power far exceeded that of traditional railguns, instantly tearing through the targets' shields, and even the armor was nearly destroyed.

At the same time, swarms of drones, like locusts passing through, swarmed out of their hanger bays, so numerous that they almost covered a small patch of the starry sky, diving straight toward the Caldari's light ships and missile destroyers.

Originally, the five Phoenix-class Dreadnoughts added by the Caldari to the front line had made the Gallente side somewhat desperate, but the addition of the Moros-class instantly turned the tide that had been clearly tilted.

Their powerful hybrid fire provided unprecedented point-killing capability, while the massive drone swarms greatly compressed the Caldari light fleet's operating space and caused tremendous pressure on missile interception.

For the first time, the Gallente fleet had the confidence to confront the Caldari Dreadnought fleet head-on in terms of firepower.

Facing the Gallente's technological leap and the threat of the new Dreadnoughts, the Caldari did not sit idly by; the military-industrial complex in the capital, "New Caldari," was running at full power.

Massive amounts of funds were allocated, and the missile research institute worked day and night, focusing on breaking through the missile penetration capabilities.

The new "Navy" series of missiles began to be deployed to the front lines in small batches; they adopted more advanced stealth coatings and trajectory-changing technology, and were equipped with anti-interference modules targeting the pulse characteristics of the Smartbomb.

Although the cost was high, the penetration success rate had significantly increased.

On the other hand, the Caldari high command knew that fighting to the death with the Gallente on the Onamon front was not the best strategy.

They began to deploy a large number of conventional fleets, mainly cruisers and destroyers, to the more than ten star systems surrounding the Samanuni Star System, which bordered the Gallente and had relatively weak defenses, launching continuous attacks.

The scale of these battles was not as large as the main battlefield in Onamon, but the frequency was very high, and the intensity was immense.

The Caldari intended to use this "bloodletting" tactic to stretch the Gallente's defensive lines, forcing the other side to divide their forces for defense and exhausting their national strength and war potential, thereby creating opportunities for the main battlefield in Onamon or finding new Breakthroughs.

Thus, in the vast border Star Domain, countless high-intensity conventional fleet battles broke out.

The Caldari fleet and the Gallente fleet were locked in fierce, brutal combat in complex environments such as star rings and asteroid belts.

The exchange ratio remained high; today, a Caldari patrol might be wiped out by a Gallente ambush fleet, and tomorrow, a Gallente forward outpost might be leveled by a Caldari missile rain.

The war spread from a single point of intense collision in Onamon to a comprehensive war of attrition along the entire long front line of the Caldari-Gallente border.

Both sides invested huge resources, technology evolved rapidly in the slaughter, and lives and wealth burned silently in the sea of stars.

However, whether it was Kamran or Sterling, or the state machines behind them, everyone understood that until they found the "key" to break the current equilibrium, no one could achieve a decisive victory.

As for the key, it was generally to be found on the other side.