65: Steel Torrent and Deep Space Vanguard

Sun Zheng's strategic pivot command was like breathing a new soul into Hope Fortress. The entire base's development focus shifted completely from solidifying defenses to offensive technology and the construction of long-range capabilities.

The Combat Laboratory became the brightest star. Based on the inspiration gained from the Guardian ruins and the keystone, a series of breakthrough technologies were rapidly converted and applied:

Order Energy Core: Successfully replicated a small, stable Order Energy reactor, providing powerful propulsion for new warships and advanced weapons that far exceeds traditional fusion energy.

Phase Prism Technology: Combining the stable characteristics of phase crystals with the refractive attacks of prism weaponry, the Phase Prism Cannon was developed. Its range, power, and penetration were significantly enhanced, making it the choice for the main guns of new warships.

Hyperspace Engine: Based on stabilization technology, a short-range hyperspace jump engine for large vessels was developed. Although its range is limited and it requires cooling, it greatly enhances the fleet's tactical mobility.

These technological breakthroughs directly gave birth to a new generation of combat platforms:

Starshuttle-class Reconnaissance Ship - The first completed vessel of the new generation. Boasting a slender hull with armor made of new composite materials, it is equipped with Phase Prism Cannons, a powerful sensor array, and an experimental short-range Hyperspace Engine. Its mission is to venture deep into dangerous star sectors to serve as the fleet's eyes and ears.

Defender-class Destroyer - The capital ship currently under accelerated construction in the shipyards. Featuring thicker armor and stronger firepower, it is equipped with multiple Phase Prism Cannons, missile launchers, and a more refined Order Shield system. It is the future backbone of the fleet.

Meanwhile, Hope Fortress on the surface of Mars was also continuously expanding. New orbital shipyards, larger energy centers, and bases specifically for training Interstellar Marines rose from the ground. The entire planet seemed to have transformed into a massive arsenal.

On this day, Sun Zheng personally saw off the first Starshuttle-class Reconnaissance Ship (hull number: Starshuttle-01, code name: wind chaser) and its captain at the newly built Orbital Command Center.

The wind chaser's mission was crucial: to execute the first phase of the Long Voyage Plan—advancing to the vicinity of Jupiter's orbit to conduct close-range reconnaissance of Scrin activities and attempt to find clues regarding the Oort Cloud beacon.

The captain was an experienced former Rocket Trooper Commander named Renault, known for being bold yet meticulous.

"Captain Renault, your mission is reconnaissance, not combat," Sun Zheng instructed solemnly. "Gathering intelligence is the top priority. Once exposed, use the Hyperspace Engine to jump and retreat immediately. Do not linger for a fight."

"Understood, Commander! I guarantee the mission will be completed!" Renault saluted, his gaze firm.

"Good luck to you all. The base will be waiting for your return."

The wind chaser reconnaissance ship's engines emitted a faint blue glow as it slowly departed the shipyard. After adjusting its heading, the short-range Hyperspace Engine activated. The hull was instantly enveloped by distorted space, and in the next moment, it vanished from Mars' orbit, heading toward distant Jupiter.

After the reconnaissance ship left, Sun Zheng turned his gaze toward the Moon. The restoration of Guanghan Palace base was basically complete, and monitoring and research of the ancient ruins had been strengthened. He decided to personally visit the Lunar Ruin for the next step, attempting to use the fused keystone to establish deeper communication with the ruin's core to see if he could obtain more information about the Guardians and the secrets of the Solar System.

A few days later, Sun Zheng arrived at the Moon aboard an improved Seagull. Standing once again within the massive spherical space, holding the more complete keystone, he felt a resonance far stronger than the last time.

He concentrated his mind and brought the keystone close to the central geometric structure. This time, it was no longer a fragmented flow of information, but a relatively clear, seemingly preset guiding program being activated.

The star map of the Solar System appeared once more on the walls of the spherical space. But this time, the map was more detailed, marking clear blue light points at three locations: Mars, the Moon, and the ancient ship in the Asteroid Belt. Simultaneously, faint dashed lines originated from these three points, pointing together toward a distant region on the outskirts of the Solar System—the Oort Cloud!

"Is this a navigation beacon?" Sun Zheng realized. The Lunar Ruin, the Mars Base, and the ancient ship in the Asteroid Belt formed a triangulation system pointing toward the final goal!

Not only that, the star map also marked several flickering red light points located near the orbits of Jupiter and Saturn—those were the currently known activity areas of the Scrin!

The combination of the keystone and the ruin had actually provided a simple Strategic Map!

This discovery was of great significance! It could not only guide them to find the Oort Cloud beacon but also monitor the general movements of the Scrin in real-time!

Just as Sun Zheng was feeling exhilarated by this discovery, an emergency communication was transmitted back from the wind chaser reconnaissance ship hundreds of millions of kilometers away!

"Commander! This is the wind chaser! We have arrived near Jupiter's orbit!"

"We've discovered a major situation! Beneath the ice of Jupiter's moon, Europa, there are large-scale energy reactions and architectural structures! It's a Scrin base! Its scale far exceeds the Mars nest!"

"Furthermore, we've detected faster-than-light signals being sent from that base, pointing toward a certain direction outside the Solar System! They seem to be summoning something!"

The Scrin had established a large base on Europa! And they were sending signals outward?

Sun Zheng's heart sank. The situation was even more serious than he had imagined! The Scrin were not only entrenched in the outer Solar System, but they were also actively contacting the outside world!

Could they be summoning the main force of the even more powerful Reapers? Or that so-called ultimate chaos?

"wind chaser, maintain stealth and continue monitoring! Report at any time!" Sun Zheng ordered.