46: Chapter 46 The Starship's First Mission

In the year 280 of the Xingyang Calendar, under the unreserved guidance of Xiliu, the interstellar warship captured from the Absolute Core finally completed its refitting, repairs, and painting.

It was named "divine might."

However, the technology on the starship was far too advanced and complex for the humans of Blue Star at that time. Countless scientists were left in tears after studying it; no one could truly understand the operating principles of the Warp Engine on "divine might" or the various weapons mounted on it.

All the personnel on board had only learned how to use it under Xiliu's tutelage.

Furthermore, because all the carrier-based aircraft originally equipped on the starship had been destroyed by Xingyang God.

The humans of Blue Star, who were still in the industrial age, simply placed their own manufactured humanoid mechs, aircraft, submarines, and other types of armor onto it.

Thus, "divine might" became an unconventional warship that blended interstellar civilization with industrial civilization.

Chu Xingyang did not care about these things, but he was very concerned about the starship's paint job.

He called over Xiliu and several relevant personnel: "The exterior of this hull isn't even flat to begin with. You insisted on painting my entire face on it; do you think that looks good?"

Someone knelt on the ground and replied cautiously: "Reporting to the Great Deity Xingyang, the starship is nearly two hundred meters tall. During space travel, your great divine visage can be seen from afar. It allows believers to pay their respects and strikes fear into the hearts of heretics!"

"Nonsense! A giant head floating in the vastness of space—who wouldn't be terrified?" Chu Xingyang looked furious: "I'm asking you, can you please have some taste?"

Hearing the deity's rebuke, everyone was too scared to even breathe, trembling as they prostrated themselves on the ground.

At this moment, Xiliu spoke up: "We offer our gratitude for the deity's correction; we will go and change it immediately."

Seeing Chu Xingyang nod, he hurriedly led everyone away.

Afterward, they began soliciting design submissions globally, and ultimately, the starship's livery was changed from the deity's portrait to a radiant, golden sun.

Before the sea trials, over a thousand crew members were selected from various nations and all races.

Among them, Yu Lan served as the first mate and vice captain, and Wei Wei served as the chief medical officer of the starship.

And because only Xiliu understood the operation and maintenance of the various instruments inside, the position of chief engineer could only belong to him.

Finally, these thousand-plus people knelt before the deity, and the bold Yu Lan spoke first: "great deity, this is the first spaceship of our Blue Star humanity, and we all deeply feel that only you are fit to hold the position of captain."

Chu Xingyang was a bit surprised; since he was already a deity, why would he need to be a captain?

However, after thinking about it, he did not completely refuse: "Very well, but I will not be on the ship at all times. You can handle matters large and small as you see fit."

In the end, "divine might" embarked on its maiden voyage with the captain, Xingyang God, being absent.

When the massive starship slowly ascended, dragging a trail of brilliant flames as it pierced the sky and soared into the clouds.

All the humans watching from the ground let out earth-shaking cheers.

"Spread the divine light, slay the heretic!"

"This is a gift to humanity from the Great Deity Xingyang."

"The deity has brought civilization; the deity has brought radiance!"

The planned one-month test voyage did not go very far; without engaging the Warp Engine, the cruising speed of "divine might" was not fast.

Therefore, it merely swept over several planets within the star system.

Yet this was enough to make everyone on the ship feel unprecedented shock.

The scientific team gathered at the portholes looking out was even more tearful and incredibly excited. They saw the desolation of the first planet, and saw that the second planet was about the same size as Blue Star, yet it was enveloped by a dense carbon dioxide atmosphere.

Finally, they saw that the Fifth Planet was clearly an icy hell, yet there were actually three species surviving on it.

"That must be life created by Xingyang God," someone said with immense excitement.

"It must be. The deity truly loves us. Only on our Blue Star did the deity create intelligent beings. We must always remember the deity's grace!"

vice captain Yu Lan drained the black tea in her cup, revealed a mischievous smile, and reached out to turn off the artificial gravity. She wanted to test whether the Winged People could still fly in the absence of gravity.

Unexpectedly, the starship was immediately filled with sounds of panic.

The humans of Blue Star, experiencing weightlessness for the first time, were all wailing: "Ah! Why are we all floating?"

Only then did Yu Lan broadcast to all personnel through the starship's internal system: "You are the crew of "divine might," how can you be screaming over such a small matter? What kind of behavior is this! Now, grab onto whatever fixed objects are near you; I am going to restart the artificial gravity."

Soon, the sounds of bodies hitting the floor came from all over the starship.

Wei Wei ran angrily to the bridge command center and knocked the vice captain on the head: "Can you at least give a warning before running such experiments? Do you know how many people were injured just now? I'm swamped over there!"

Yu Lan looked aggrieved: "If I had said something beforehand, how could it serve as a drill? We will definitely encounter many emergencies during future space travel, so it is only right to prepare them mentally in advance."

Xiliu stood to the side, watched the two of them, and then nodded: "I think this drill was quite good."

Wei Wei rolled her eyes at them and immediately rushed back to the medical bay to get back to work.

A month passed quickly.

Upon returning to the land of Blue Star, the interstellar warship immediately began intensive landing combat drills.

Because there were no carrier-based aircraft capable of space combat, "divine might" could only land on the planet's surface and deploy humanoid mechs, aircraft, submarines, and other armor according to the terrain to fight.

Seeing this armament with such a stark generational gap.

Chu Xingyang frowned and quickly summoned all the officers on "divine might."

He glanced at Xiliu below and confirmed once more: "You said the reinforcements from the Absolute Core will arrive in ten years."

"Yes, with the Warp Engine fully engaged, it will only take ten years to reach Blue Star. Moreover, the Absolute Core is currently at a disadvantage in its war against a hostile civilization, so the fleet they send definitely won't be large."

Upon hearing this, the humans of Blue Star widened their eyes.

They had heard from Xiliu that the Absolute Core was a Mecha Civilization whose territory spanned dozens of star systems. It was unthinkable that such a powerful civilization could be suppressed by another.

It seemed the universe was far more vast and dangerous than they had imagined.

However, with Xingyang God present, they felt no fear in their hearts.

Chu Xingyang voiced the doubts in his mind: "What are the odds of "divine might" winning in a battle against a warship of the Absolute Core?"

Xiliu thought seriously for a moment and replied: "With you there, it is certainly foolproof. But if you do not intervene, we will surely fail. Because although the main weapons on "divine might" are present, starship-to-starship combat often relies on carrier-based aircraft for reconnaissance and containment."

Yu Lan interjected from the side: "The great deity will surely protect us always."

But Chu Xingyang had his own plans. First of all, he did not know if his divine power would be diminished if he left his own star system.

Moreover, he also hoped that the humans of Blue Star would have the ability to stand on their own.

After pondering for a moment, he voiced his concerns: "Carrier-based aircraft are not the problem; the main issue is the massive technological gap. The people of Blue Star cannot fully master starship technology at the moment. I really wish there were a civilization that could help bridge this transition."

Xiliu's eyes lit up: "Then we can bring the fugitives here. Not long after they created their AI main brain, they have been constantly fleeing from the hunting of the Mecha Civilization, and their technology has been stagnant for many years!"

This remark reminded everyone. The purpose of the Absolute Core sending a starship this time was to intercept and kill the fugitive spaceship heading toward Blue Star.

Moreover, their spaceship had been traveling at one-thousandth of the speed of light, and it would take over two thousand more years to arrive here.

And two light-years was precisely the minimum distance required for the Warp Engine on "divine might" to activate!

Chu Xingyang nodded, then addressed everyone: "I am now issuing the first mission for "divine might": go outside the Solar System and bring back the fugitives!"

Everyone knelt on the ground and shouted loudly: "We obey the divine decree!"