Chapter 202: Surround Three, Leave One! Humanity's Extinction Plan by the Precursors!
From the photos and video footage displayed on the holographic screen, the survivor stronghold on the "Pacific Rim" Earth was built with incredible density.
There were no scenic spots, recreational facilities, or even luxurious residential areas for the wealthy. Every square inch of land in the city was dedicated to survival and industry.
Clearly, even in the face of the existential crisis of civilization's extinction, humanity was doing its utmost to defend its home.
At this point, Li Ang was certain: the Earth Defense Force's surprise attack had failed.
Faced with the countless kaiju armies of the Precursor civilization, humanity had been forced to resort to nuclear weapons in its resistance.
But the severe consequences of this move further exacerbated Earth's environmental degradation.
North America had become a hellish landscape of molten rock and unbearable heat, while major cities across Eurasia had been destroyed and occupied by kaiju.
Australia's remnants and parts of Antarctica were humanity's final refuges.
This raised an important question: Why hadn't the Precursors launched an all-out offensive to completely annihilate humanity and claim this colony planet once and for all?
When Li Ang posed this question to his core team, everyone gave it some thought and came up with different answers.
Some believed the Precursors feared humanity would retaliate with a mutually assured destruction strategy, using nuclear or hydrogen bombs to destroy the Precursors' wormhole devices.
Others speculated that the Precursors wanted to keep humans alive as slaves or food, so they refrained from exterminating them entirely.
Li Ang , however, shook his head, dismissing these theories one by one.
Humanity's hydrogen and nuclear bombs couldn't harm the Precursors' wormhole devices.
The Precursors' wormholes were equipped with formidable energy shields capable of absorbing nuclear blasts. Destroying these devices could only be done from the inside, but that posed an insurmountable problem: humans couldn't enter the wormholes with nuclear devices for a mutual destruction scenario.
The wormhole portals analyzed genetic information to validate what passed through them. If the genetic data didn't match, the portal wouldn't open, rendering any nuclear device brought by humans useless.
As for using humans as slaves or food? The Precursors would have no reason to keep a dangerous potential adversary alive. A civilization's highest respect for another would be total eradication.
"This is a textbook case of 'surround three, leave one.'"
Li Ang 's tone was calm as he analyzed the Precursors' actions. From their perspective, he explained, if he were in their position, he would do the same when dealing with a nearly extinct species like humanity.
"'Surround three, leave one'? What does that mean?"
Morgan and Lucy, unfamiliar with Chinese stratagems, were puzzled by Li Ang 's use of the term.
Li Ang patiently explained the Precursors' motives and behavior.
On the "Pacific Rim" Earth, humans were at an absolute disadvantage, teetering on the brink of extinction. If cornered too aggressively, these survivors might suddenly achieve a breakthrough in technology or make a desperate final stand.
Based on years of conflict, Li Ang believed the Precursors had already discerned humanity's terrifying potential.
The Precursors had spent billions of years evolving from primitive life forms to a near-Type 3 civilization. Humanity, on the other hand, had advanced from agrarian societies to modern civilization in less than 300 years—a testament to humanity's extraordinary potential for rapid development.
This phenomenon, which Li Ang referred to as the "technological explosion," was beyond the Precursors' comprehension.
It was as if two martial artists were training in the same school. The senior disciple, through years of arduous practice, mastered profound techniques and unparalleled strength. Meanwhile, the frail junior disciple, who seemed doomed to a short life, lacked the physical resilience to adapt to harsh conditions. Yet, in a mere hundred days of seclusion, the once-weak junior had transformed into a martial arts grandmaster, equal to the senior.
This kind of explosive growth would terrify any civilization.
Li Ang speculated that the Precursors were wary of pressuring humanity into a corner, which might trigger another round of rapid technological advancements.
By leaving humanity some breathing room, they could exploit internal traitors to sow discord among the survivors, intensify internal conflicts, or encourage them to elect a pacifist leader who would negotiate a false peace with the Precursors.
In this way, the Precursors could ensure humanity's destruction and seize control of the planet without taking unnecessary risks.
Upon hearing Li Ang 's analysis, the gathered executives from the major corporations broke into cold sweats.
The strategy for wiping out a civilization was so chillingly calculated that it sent shivers down their spines.
For a moment, the executives found Li Ang even more terrifying than the unseen Precursors. He understood all too well how to annihilate humanity.
"Morgan, deploy more reconnaissance teams. I want detailed intel on North America, Australia, and Antarctica."
Before the executives could recover from their shock, Li Ang issued new orders.
His analysis, he explained, was just a hypothesis based on the current situation. It wasn't yet confirmed as fact and couldn't serve as the basis for the corporations' next strategic moves.
He needed more information to formulate precise directives for future operations.
---
Forward Base, Logistics Division
Compared to the Multiverse Base, the facilities here were much smaller in scale and less versatile. However, it still had all the basic operational necessities, including vertically adjustable landing platforms and rail transport for troops and supplies.
At this moment, a train emerged from the underground tunnel and arrived at the logistics platform, where it came to a steady halt.
As the doors opened, 52 soldiers clad in Mark X tactical power armor disembarked in unison.
Unlike the heavily armored troops, these Astartes warriors opted for balanced tactical power armor, designed for versatility in complex combat scenarios.
Remarkably, these elite soldiers, averaging nearly three meters in height, were veritable humanoid giants.
They were the backbone of the elite vanguard, veterans who had undergone more than 16 stages of organ modification.
"Finally, some action. I heard the heretics here control kaiju to ravage this Earth," remarked one soldier, identified as Jack Wells on his helmet display, as he turned to his comrade, V, with a wry smile.
Before arriving, Jack had heard about the "Precursors" and their "genetic kaiju." While he wasn't confident about taking on kaiju head-on, he felt sure he could execute a decapitation strike against the Precursors.
"Jack, stay sharp this time. If I hadn't drawn my weapon quickly last time, who knows what trouble you'd have gotten into," V, the team leader, chided. He wasn't pleased with Jack's relaxed demeanor during such a critical mission.
Though their power armor could withstand most attacks, there was no telling what tricks the Precursors might have up their sleeves.
"Relax, V. I've got it under control," Jack replied nonchalantly. He knew how critical the mission was but believed a little humor could boost morale and help them perform better.
"V, looking at how devastated this Earth is, do you think it's even worth rebuilding?" asked another soldier, Johnny Silverhand.
Compared to the relatively minor nuclear pollution on the "Underworld" Earth, the environmental destruction here was far worse.
With its erupting volcanoes, toxic atmosphere, and drastically increased atmospheric pressure, this Earth would take centuries to restore to its original state, even with immense resources.
Before V could respond, Jack chimed in, "I say we turn this place into a second Ideal City. It's already a mess—why not rebuild it into something even better? If they want to see the ocean, they can visit the 'Underworld' Earth."
Johnny's eyes lit up at Jack's suggestion. "Jack, you're a genius!"
V: "..."
After a brief exchange of banter and chatter, the team began their reconnaissance mission in earnest.
The fifty-two operatives split into two groups. Team A was led by Commander V, while Team B was under the leadership of Reed. Each group boarded one of two prepared Stormhawk gunships.
Nearby, ground crew members completed their checks and signaled readiness before retreating to safety. Shortly after, an elevator platform carried the two Stormhawks to the surface.
Once the platform stabilized, the pilots immediately launched the gunships, which ascended rapidly and disappeared into the skies above the forward base.
Inside one of the gunships, silence reigned. All soldiers maintained complete focus, conserving energy for the mission. No one exchanged even a single unnecessary word—not even Jack Wells, who was typically the most talkative. Now, he too sat in silence, his expression solemn.
"Attention, all personnel!"
Morgan Blackhand's voice suddenly came through the communications channel.
"From high-altitude footage captured by the Infinity -class starship, we've identified large extraterrestrial beasts and alien entities in North America. Team B will serve as a mobile base, providing transport and extraction support."
Reed, the leader of Team B, was slightly taken aback. Did this mean their North American reconnaissance mission was canceled? Instead, they would either act as a support unit for Team A or be reassigned to investigate humanity's so-called "fortress cities."
As if confirming his thoughts, Morgan continued, issuing new orders for both teams.
"Team A, led by Commander V, and Team B will proceed directly to Australia and Antarctica for investigation. Attempt to infiltrate these areas, communicate with any surviving humans, and gather valuable intelligence for headquarters to make strategic decisions. Good luck, and may you return victorious. Base out."
The communication ended abruptly. The B-team's gunship adjusted its flight path and began turning in low orbit.
Boom!
The roar of the nuclear fusion engines intensified, shaking the gunship's structure. Under the pilot's deft control, the craft descended into the atmosphere. Its advanced armor easily withstood the plasma fire created by atmospheric friction, keeping the interior temperature comfortable.
The Astartes warriors aboard remained unaffected by the descent, maintaining composure even as the ship trembled less and stabilized.
"Reporting to the commander: we've entered the stratosphere and are expected to stabilize at 8,000 meters in two minutes. Preparing to enable visual sharing—please confirm receipt."
Reed's tactical helmet displayed a small floating window, showing an external view.
"Understood, visual sharing established," Reed responded, his voice steady.
Through the shared feed, Reed and the warriors observed ominous red glows beneath thick black fog. Particles in the air struck the hull, creating a constant "tap-tap" sound.
When the gunship pierced through the clouds, the landscape below came into view: rivers of molten lava snaked across a scorched, cracked earth, while the ruins of skyscrapers—once symbols of human civilization—stood in desolation, whispering tales of an apocalyptic era.
Roar!
As the gunship passed over the dead city, deafening roars echoed from below. The onboard reconnaissance system captured the sight of several colossal beasts, each towering over 100 meters tall. These creatures, classified as "Category Five Kaiju," were engineered by the Precursor civilization. Among them was the "Widowmaker," a behemoth weighing tens of thousands of tons, armed with corrosive acid and deadly venom.
High above, the gunship tracked and recorded every detail of the Widowmaker, capturing its features and movements. Even the battle-hardened Astartes were stunned by the sheer size of the creature.
"Damn, look at that thing!"
"It's the first time I've seen something this massive. Must weigh over 10,000 tons!"
"Can our gunship's weapons even penetrate its hide?"
Despite their shock, the warriors refocused on their mission. Reed transmitted the footage and images back to the frontline base and the All-Worlds Headquarters, ensuring their leader, Li Ang , could analyze the beast's details.
The gunship hovered briefly, capturing close-up footage of the creature. Meanwhile, David Martinez, sharp-eyed, reported to Reed.
"I see smaller alien figures near the city ruins below—likely Precursor settlers."
Reed nodded, contemplating the growing alien presence on Earth. These Kaiju could well be their patrol beasts.
At that moment, V's voice came through the comms.
"Change of plans: our new mission is to infiltrate and investigate a Precursor city!"
Reed hesitated, wary of the deviation.
"V, has this plan been approved by headquarters?"
"Yes, HQ has assigned other teams to investigate human cities. The toughest task is ours."
Satisfied, Reed rallied his team.
"Alright, you heard the orders! Get ready for action!"
The Astartes roared their assent, their morale undeterred. The gunship adjusted its course, heading north of the alien city.
Moments later, the gunship landed, its ramp lowering amidst scorching winds. Protected by their advanced armor, the warriors disembarked swiftly, securing the perimeter before proceeding.
As the gunship took off to maintain aerial support, V gave the command:
"Let's move!"
The teams advanced cautiously, navigating a terrain riddled with cracks and lava flows. Their journey soon brought them to a massive fissure, nearly 10 meters wide. One by one, they activated their armor's enhanced capabilities and leapt across.
Suddenly, the ground trembled violently. A deafening roar shattered the silence as a hulking beast approached.
"Take cover!" V commanded.
The warriors scattered, finding concealment among the ruins. Peering out, V saw the creature—a massive, axe-headed Kaiju—searching for intruders.
The team held their breath, weapons at the ready, as the beast's footsteps grew louder.
The battle was about to begin.
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