10: New Recruits and the Prelude to the Expedition

Over the next few hours, the Moon Base was like a beehive operating at full throttle. Three prism towers rose from the ground one after another, their massive prisms glinting coldly under the 'sunlight.' Together with the patriot missiles, they guarded the base with airtight security.

Inside the Combat Laboratory, the research progress bar for [Basic Electromagnetic Armor Technology] moved steadily forward. The production lines at the War Factory and Barracks never stopped.

When the first prism tank rolled out of the factory, the entire base seemed to brighten significantly. Its streamlined body paired with a massive prism turret gave it a high-tech feel. Compared to it, the nearby grizzly tank, which had just been repaired and was covered in scars, looked like a total relic. Sun Zheng tested its firepower remotely: a blinding white beam shot out, hitting a distant boulder before refracting onto a nearby rock. Though its power was slightly diminished after the bounce, the spectacle was intimidating enough.

"Now this is what I call warfare," Sun Zheng nodded with satisfaction.

Immediately after, the first Chrono Legionnaire stepped out of the Barracks. Clad in a heavy uniform laden with complex devices and holding a weapon that resembled a launcher, the man exuded a "don't mess with me" aura. Sun Zheng had him test it on a small piece of debris; with a flash of blue light, the debris was erased from the world a few seconds later, without even a speck of dust remaining.

"This is practically cheating..." Sun Zheng clicked his tongue in amazement.

The five Rocket Troopers brought unprecedented mobility. With jetpacks emitting blue light as they circled flexibly above the base, they formed the first line of aerial defense. Sun Zheng paired them up in groups of two to begin a carpet-style reconnaissance of the fifty-kilometer radius surrounding the base.

The Spy, trained at a high cost, was temporarily on standby in the Command Center—Sun Zheng hadn't yet figured out how to make the best use of him.

Looking at the mixed force before him, which included both basic units and advanced troop types, Sun Zheng felt incredibly secure. From having nothing but a single Construction Yard to now possessing tanks, Rocket Troopers, Chrono units, and prism towers, he had finally taken root on the far side of the moon.

But he had no time for complacency. The Scrin threat hung over his head like a sword; that signal point deep within the crater had to be dealt with as soon as possible.

Pulling up the detailed map sent back by the Rocket Troopers, the signal point was located inside a large crater. The terrain was complex, riddled with fissures and caves. The signal was weak and intermittent, as if being blocked by something.

"This place is easy to defend but hard to attack. If there really is a Scrin base or important ruin inside, a frontal assault would be too costly," Sun Zheng pondered. Thinking of the Chrono Legionnaire's erasure ability and the Spy's infiltration skills, he felt this operation should focus more on special operations rather than a head-on collision.

He began to calculate the battle plan:

First, reconnaissance: Have the Rocket Troopers conduct high-altitude scouting to draw a detailed topographical map and find entrances or defensive loopholes.

Next, infiltration: If conditions allowed, send the Spy—if he could disguise himself as a Scrin—or a small elite squad to slip inside.

Surgical strike: Once the core target was found, use the Chrono Legionnaire to erase key defensive points and create chaos.

Frontal support: prism tanks and grizzly tanks would stand by on the periphery; if the infiltration was exposed or a frontal assault was needed, they would open fire immediately.

The plan was bold, relying entirely on the newly unlocked advanced units. The risk was significant, but the potential rewards were even greater.

Just as he was refining the details, a crisp notification sound came from the Combat Laboratory.

[Research Complete: Basic Electromagnetic Armor Technology.]

[Effect: Base armor value of all armored units (tanks, armored vehicles, etc.) is permanently increased by 10%.]

It was done! Sun Zheng quickly checked the unit statuses; a green (+10%) tag had appeared behind the armor values of the prism tanks and grizzly tanks. While the increase wasn't massive, it was a solid buff for the entire roster. These small gains would add up, and the difference would be clear in future major battles.

"Beautiful!" Sun Zheng pumped his fist in excitement. There was nothing more satisfying than using the enemy's technology to strengthen himself.

He glanced at the homeworld space icon in the corner of the screen. This space might prove very useful for this exploration mission. For instance, could he use it to carry Chrono Legionnaires for short-range teleportation? Or to transport vital spoils of war?

Anything was possible.

Sun Zheng stood up and walked to the massive porthole. Outside was his base: brightly lit buildings, patrolling soldiers, towering defensive structures, and the boundless lunar wasteland in the distance.

He had gone from an unlucky guy nearly freezing and starving to death to the master of this Moon Base, with a decent force under his command.

But this was only the beginning.

The Scrin threat, the secrets of the moon, the two worlds connected by the homeworld space... there were still too many unknowns waiting for him to explore.

He took a deep breath and opened a channel to the entire army, his voice calm yet carrying an unquestionable power:

"Attention all units, this is Commander Sun Zheng."

"Phase one of base defensive construction is complete."

"Rest for six hours. Replenish ammunition and check your equipment."

"In six hours, the expeditionary force departs. Objective: The crater to the northwest, the Scrin signal source!"

"Our journey is the sea of stars. And this first step begins by clearing our own doorstep!"

The order was given, and the entire base began to move like a precision machine, making final preparations for its first proactive strike.