Chapter 56 – The Queen of the Zerg 虫族女王

On the other side of the Zerg Star, the team of Mission Two was setting up a temporary base on the flat ground, preparing for the resource collection mission. The environment on the Zerg Star was harsh. The strong wind, mixed with gray sand and dust, obscured the view in the distance. Just then, a low-key but imposing spaceship landed not far away.

The hatch slowly opened, and a team of fully armed soldiers filed out. The man at the front was Lin Tiance. Dressed in a black combat uniform, he had no expression on his face. His eyes were as sharp as an eagle's. After glancing around the base, he walked straight to the team's leading officer.

"Mr. Lin." The team officer stepped forward and saluted. His tone was polite yet tinged with a bit of vigilance. "I didn't expect the senior executive of XX Energy Company to come here in person. It seems that this mission is of great significance to the Federation."

Lin Tiance returned the salute indifferently, looking neither humble nor arrogant. "The Federation sent eight teams to the Zerg Star. This shows how important it is. Our XX Energy Company must safeguard the resources. They're crucial for future energy."

The officer's eyes flickered slightly, and then he smiled. "Since Mr. Lin has come in person, I believe the following mission will go more smoothly."

Lin Tiance glanced at him. His tone was calm but carried an unquestionable dignity. "Whether it goes smoothly or not doesn't depend on who is present. It depends on whether your team has real capabilities. I don't believe in that kind of individual heroism."

The officer's expression froze, but he still nodded. "Mr. Lin is right."

Lin Tiance didn't say more and walked straight towards the core area of the temporary base. His eyes fell on the distant horizon, and he was lost in thought. Though the resource collection seemed his main task, he was actually more worried about the Zerg Star signal secret and the Federation hiding the mission's real aims.

...

In the northern part of the Zerg Star, the team of Mission One was exchanging information with the Half-God Race on the makeshift battlefield. The woman in silver-white battle armor projected a three-dimensional map through a portable device, marking the specific location of the Zerg Star signal. She tapped on the map with her finger and explained, "The signal you detected is actually our distress signal."

Lin Yuan frowned. "A distress signal? Why did the Zerg attack you?"

The woman snorted coldly, her eyes sharp. "The Zerg don't just kill. They want to take something from us, specifically, a certain kind of energy from our blood."

"Blood?" Lin Yuan was taken aback.

Li Xingchen supplemented in a low voice beside him. "The power of the Zerg comes from their queen. And the queen of the Zerg in this area hasn't fully awakened yet. It needs a certain specific energy as a guide... The bloodline energy of the Half-God Race is the most suitable guiding medium for them."

The woman in silver-white armor nodded and went on, "We sent the distress signal for other Half-God Race members to help. But the Zerg were sneakier than we thought. Once they detected it, they set an ambush to wipe us out."

The woman in silver-white battle armor had a cold look in her eyes. "If the queen of the Zerg awakens, all the life on this planet will be devoured by them. And they won't stay here. Next, it will be Kepler 4b, and even the core star regions of the Federation further away."

For a moment, the team members looked at each other, and the atmosphere was extremely solemn.

"What should we do next?" Lin Yuan couldn't help asking. "What can we do to stop them?"

Li Xingchen stood aside, deep in thought. After a brief silence, she said slowly, "The signal's a distress one, so our goal matches the Half-God Race's. We must find and destroy the key to the queen's awakening."

The woman in silver-white battle armor nodded. "That's right. The awakening point of the queen of the Zerg is near the source of the signal. It's the core of a hidden insect nest underground. If we can destroy the core, the power of the Zerg will be greatly weakened, and the queen won't be able to awaken."

The officer frowned. "But this is not within the scope of our mission."

Li Xingchen gave him a cold look. "If we don't do this, when the queen awakens, do you think we can still complete any mission?"

The officer was speechless and just nodded. "I need to report to the Chief Commander and other federal advisors before we can carry out the next plan..."

...

At the same time, in the high-level conference room of the Federation, Su Ling and Ye Qingxuan's conversation clashed again. Su Ling said in her usual innocent tone, "The awakening of the queen of the Zerg sounds so terrifying... Do you think we should bomb the Zerg Star and solve the problem directly?"

Ye Qingxuan smiled faintly. "Bomb the Zerg Star? I'm afraid you also know that this will only make things worse."

Su Ling blinked. "Oh? Then tell me, how will it get worse?"

Ye Qingxuan's tone was calm but sharp. "Bombing the Zerg Star is too late. According to the AI simulation, the aftermath and debris after the bombing will affect our planet. Besides, do you really think bombing the Zerg Star is the solution to the problem?"

Su Ling: "Okay, okay. I can't win this argument. I give up."

====================

虫星另一侧,任务二的小队正在平地上搭建临时基地,为资源采集任务做准备.虫星的环境恶劣,狂风夹杂着灰色的沙尘,遮蔽了远处的视线.就在这时,一艘低调但充满压迫感的飞船降落在不远处.

舱门缓缓打开,一队全副武装的武装人员鱼贯而出,为首的男人是林天策.他一身黑色作战服,脸上没有一丝表情,目光锐利得像鹰眼,扫视了一圈基地后,径直朝小队领头军官走去.

"林先生." 小队军官上前,行了个礼,语气客套又带着几分警惕,"没想到xx能源公司的总高管会亲自到场,看来这项任务对联邦来说非同小可."

林天策淡淡地回礼,神情不卑不亢:"联邦出动八支队伍来虫星,光是这阵仗,就已经说明一切了.我们xx能源公司自然也得确保资源安全,毕竟,这是未来能源的关键."

军官的眼神微微一闪,随即笑了笑:"既然林先生都亲自来了,那接下来的任务想必会更顺利."

林天策瞥了他一眼,语气平静却透着一股不容置疑的威严:"顺利与否,不是看谁到场,而是看你们团队有没有真本事.我可不相信个人英雄主义那套."

军官神色一僵,但还是点了点头:"林先生说得是."

林天策没有多说,径直走向临时基地的核心区域.他的目光落在远处的地平线,心中思索着.尽管表面上看,这场资源采集任务是他此行的主要目标,但实际上,他更在意的是虫星信号的秘密,以及联邦对这场任务背后真正意图的隐瞒.

...

虫星北部,任务一小队正与半神族在简易战场上交换信息.银白战甲女子通过一台便携式设备投影出一张立体地图,标注了虫星信号的具体位置.她手指轻点着地图,解释道:"你们检测到的信号,其实是我们的求救信号."

林远皱眉:"求救信号?虫族为什么会攻击你们?"

女子冷哼一声,目光锐利:"虫族想要的不只是杀戮.他们需要从我们这里夺走一些东西...或者说,是从我们的血液中夺取某种能量."

"血液?" 林远一愣.

黎星辰在一旁低声补充:"虫族的力量来源于它们的女王.而这片区域的虫族女王尚未完全苏醒,需要某种特定的能量作为引导...半神族的血脉能量,对它们来说是最合适的引导媒介."

银白战甲女子点头,接着说道:"我们的求救信号是为了让其他半神族能够及时支援,但显然,虫族比我们想象中更狡猾.它们在发现信号后,直接设下埋伏,妄图将我们一网打尽."

银白战甲女子目光冰冷:"如果虫族女王苏醒,这颗星球上所有的生命都会被它们吞噬.而它们不会停留在这里,接下来就是开普勒4b,甚至是更远的联邦核心星域."

一时间,小队成员面面相觑,气氛凝重无比.

"那接下来呢?" 林远忍不住问道,"我们要怎么做才能阻止它们?"

黎星辰站在一旁,若有所思.她沉默了一会儿,缓缓开口:"既然信号是求救信号,那我们和半神族的目标是一致的.最紧要的是,找到女王苏醒的关键点,并摧毁它."

银白战甲女子点头:"没错.虫族女王的苏醒点就在信号源附近,那是一座隐藏在地下的虫巢核心.如果我们能摧毁核心,虫族的力量会受到极大削弱,女王也无法苏醒."

军官皱眉:"可这并不在我们的任务范围内."

黎星辰冷冷看了他一眼:"如果我们不这么做,等到女王苏醒了,你觉得还能完成什么任务吗?"

军官被噎得无话可说,只能点头:"我必须上报总指挥官以及其他联邦顾问,才能实行下一步计划..."

...

与此同时,在联邦高级会议室,苏灵和叶青璇的对话再次交锋.苏灵用她一贯天真的语气说道:"虫族女王的苏醒听上去好可怕哦... 你说,我们是不是该轰炸虫星,直接解决问题呢?"

叶青璇淡淡一笑:"炸掉虫星?恐怕你也知道,这只会让事情变得更糟."

苏灵眨了眨眼睛:"哦?那你倒是说说,会怎么变糟?"

叶青璇语气平静,却带着锋芒:"轰炸虫星,太迟了,根据AI演练,轰炸后的余波和碎石块都会影响到我们这颗星球.再说,你真以为,轰炸虫星是解决问题的办法?"

苏灵:"好好好,说不过你,我认输."