The Enterprise's Grand Move!

The airspace east of Qingquan City. Twelve heavy transport planes flew in a V-formation like giant birds, emerging at the edge of the clouds. Inside a semicircular cabin. Two bionics draped in silver cloaks stood by the front window, gazing intently at the dead city not far ahead. Just like Ideal City, tall skyscrapers stood in dense clusters here—if anything, even more towering and numerous—stretching past the horizon with no end in sight. Yet the entire metropolis was derelict. Whether it was the city center swallowed by clouds of yellow-green spores or the hollow shells of concrete ruins, everything was unquestionably dead. Only in a corner of the northern suburbs did faint traces of human life still linger. Survivors had built a new home there, erecting three- to five-story buildings, hauling supplies on an ancient train, running electric-powered machinery across the fields, while tall smokestacks slowly puffed wisps of black smoke. The spark of civilization had been preserved, showing signs of revival, but its breath remained threadbare and weak, flickering like a candle in a tempest... "That is Qingquan City." Colorless pupils fixed on Dawn City as the taller bionic spoke slowly. Its name was Frost, model A-130. Redesigned from the pre-war civilian P-100 series, its operational scenarios included assault, security, rescue, guardianship, and sanitization, with its AI algorithms compatible with some of the P-100 series' functions. As a proud creation of the Kangmao Group's Bionics Design Department, its power system consisted of a nuclear battery storing 200 grams of helium-3 and a chemical battery holding six kilograms of metallic hydrogen. As a hybrid bionic, it normally drew power primarily from the latter, switching to the former whenever the chemical battery was depleted. Standing beside it at this moment was a bionic named Eclipse, model A-110, primarily configured for integrated information processing. Unlike Frost, which could mount various weapon systems, Eclipse's capabilities lay largely outside the battlefield—such as coordinating mass tactical maneuvers of regular bionic units or guiding multiple drones into strike swarms. "The Alliance has responded to our landing request. They will lend us their airport in the northern suburbs... We will touch down in five minutes and twelve seconds," Eclipse said softly, its pupils flickering slightly. Frost nodded. Though its pupils had no color, it somehow looked wiser than its colleague equipped with a more complex processor. Gazing down at the small settlement, it lifted its chin slightly, an almost imperceptible depth tinging its flat electronic voice. "Eclipse, this is an opportunity for us." Eclipse tilted its head slightly. "How so?" Frost continued, "We will use exquisite technique and consummate professionalism to dispel the client's misgivings. We will prove to our client that we are the optimal solution calculated through all precision matrices—" "We will lead humanity to the revival of their civilization!" Eclipse paused for two seconds, uncertain whether it was confused or calculating. Then it nodded. "Affirmative." ... The funeral had just drawn to a close. Leaving the cemetery, Chu Guang walked over to Zhao Yongxu, commander of the Boulder City Militia. Before Chu Guang could speak, the burly, imposing man seemed unable to wait and spoke first. "Greetings, Administrator. I have come on behalf of the Castellan of Boulder City, hoping to discuss our shared future with you." Chu Guang gave a faint smile and nodded. "That is indeed an issue worth discussing. We value our relationship with you very much, but I must say you chose an inconvenient time... Perhaps before your next visit, you should notify our embassy or call in advance." Zhao Yongxu's eyes narrowed slightly. "What do you mean?" Chu Guang was blunt. "It means you'll probably have to wait a little longer." *Wait again?!* Provoked to exasperated laughter, Zhao Yongxu let out a dry chuckle. "Just how many funerals do you plan on holding? Are you getting every future one out of the way all at once?" "This has nothing to do with funerals." Chu Guang was not provoked by his words, remaining calm with a faint smile. "I simply need to receive friends from afar." "Friends from afar?" Zhao Yongxu's eyes narrowed a bit more. Chu Guang nodded, speaking casually. "Yes. They came all the way from the East Coast. I can't just leave them waiting." Hearing Chu Guang's words, the emissaries from Boulder City, Zhao Yongxu included, wore expressions of utter astonishment. *People from the Enterprise?* *Coming here?!* Standing beside Zhao Yongxu, an officer couldn't help but protest, "Did those people make an appointment?" Chu Guang looked at him. "Of course. They said five days ago that they were coming." Even Chu Guang hadn't expected them to arrive so quickly. Hadn't they claimed their maximum operational range was only five hundred kilometers? How had they suddenly crossed three thousand kilometers? Zhao Yongxu's expression shifted slightly as thoughts raced through his mind. Though he had heard long ago that Shelter 404 was a permanent partner of the Enterprise, he had never heard of them collaborating outside trade. Moreover, these people hadn't just arrived out of nowhere; they had scheduled this five days prior. That meant these bumpkins from the northern suburbs actually possessed a way to maintain stable communication with the Enterprise! This was nearly three thousand kilometers from the East Coast! It was common knowledge across the wasteland that long-distance communication was extraordinarily difficult. How on earth had they pulled it off?! At this thought, Zhao Yongxu grew inwardly vigilant, and the way he looked at the azure-blue power armor underwent a subtle shift. If the New Alliance truly allied with the Enterprise, they would have to reconsider their relationship with this neighbor... Taking in the man's expression, Chu Guang gave a faint smile. "Will you come with me, or would you prefer to rest at City Hall first?" A buzz of whispers ran through the envoys. Staring expressionlessly at Chu Guang, Zhao Yongxu suddenly forced a stiff smile. "Then we would trouble you to introduce us to these guests from the East Coast..." The negotiations over the Heart of Steel were no longer the priority. By comparison, he was far more eager to verify one thing. Whether those people truly came from the East Coast... ... Dawn City North Airport. The ground was a clamor of chatter. Watching the planes flying in from the distance, every player near the airfield stared with wide, stunned eyes. "Holy crap! What the hell is that?!" "Planes!" "I know they're planes, but why do they look so weird?!" Fuselage lengths approaching thirty meters, wingspans over thirty meters, and cylindrical engines spurting deep blue electric arcs. Just then, someone shouted in disbelief, "Look at the wings!" "They're moving!" The rearward arcs rotated downward, pointing diagonally toward the ground to cushion the massive fuselages as they slowed and descended. The entire sequence was seamless. One after another, the transport planes smoothly switched flight modes, landing in tidy succession on the runway of Dawn City North Airport. Swirling gusts swept outward, kicking up billowing clouds of dust. Staring wide-eyed at the sci-fi-esque aircraft, Mosquito's face was flushed with boundless excitement and envy, his mouth rattling on non-stop. "Holy mama, finally something that feels like real sci-fi!" Gui Gui nodded solemnly. "I get it now! VTOL is the way of the future!" Beside them, Pig Brother coughed lightly. "It's just a game. Maybe the developers just thought this design looked cool... Don't let them lead you astray." Mosquito gave a chuckle. "Right! Who needs VTOL anyway? What can electric propulsion even do? Massive nozzles, massive thrust, and forward-swept wings are the true future!" Luo Yu: "..." Unprofessional Anti-Bun: "..." While they were talking, the planes' cabin doors opened. A column of bionic soldiers marched out in lockstep, forming five neat square formations on the runway. Iconic G9 "Black Swan" assault rifles were held horizontally across their chests. The streamlined weapons blended seamlessly with the desert-camo armor, while crimson pinpricks of light flickered faintly within their curved visors. They were machines built for war. Though called bionics, other than their humanoid shapes, there was not the slightest shred of humanity about them. Standing beside Mosquito, his apprentices marvelled in surprise. "Damn." "The dev dogs really put their blood and sweat into this!" "Badass!" The players whispered excitedly. Watching the bionic soldiers, Chu Guang—standing by the edge of the airfield—was just as shocked as the players. Though the Enterprise had said they would send reinforcements, they hadn't specified who was coming, let alone whether the reinforcements were even human. Watching from a short distance away, Zhao Yongxu swallowed hard, his eyes filled with disbelief and deep apprehension. Five full companies of bionics! And this was merely the first wave of support! God only knew if there were more to come... Without paying much attention to Zhao Yongxu's expression, Chu Guang kept his gaze on the airport runway, looking at the twelve uniquely designed planes and the neat ranks of bionic soldiers. Luo Hua, leaning on his crutch beside him, also wore an expression of astonishment. "A-30 general-purpose bionic soldiers, unit price two hundred and seventy thousand Cr, manufactured by the Kangmao Group... Before leaving Ideal City, I saw their promotional commercials, but their tech wasn't mature back then and performed terribly in field tests. Just two or three years have passed, and they've already mass-produced this many." 270,000 Cr each, for five hundred units. Didn't that mean a total value well over a hundred million?! Surprised by this enormous expenditure, Chu Guang looked at Luo Hua. "Kangmao Group?" Luo Hua slowly nodded. "Yeah... Didn't I mention before that the Enterprise is made up of multiple subsidiaries?" Chu Guang understood. "Is this Kangmao Group one of the larger ones?" Luo Hua nodded. "Not just large—massive. Their primary business is medical devices and bionic equipment. Most of those bionic organs branded by Ideal City are produced by them. Besides that, they also supply bionic laborers, which are quite common in Yunjian Province. Most survivor settlements there signed conventions abolishing slavery, so they occasionally use bionics to farm, mine, or even salvage trash." He paused for a moment before continuing, "There are four other companies on par with Kangmao Group: Silverwing, which specializes in exploration gear and heavy engineering equipment; Changge, which sells military hardware; Endpoint, which provides intelligent services and cloud technology; and Ideal Group, Ideal City's largest contractor and property manager. "While there are tens of thousands of enterprises in Ideal City, the seats on the High Council are basically held by these five companies. If an aid resolution passes the Council's vote, the funds and resources are essentially provided by these five as well." Chu Guang asked out of curiosity, "What determines the seats on your Council?" Luo Hua hesitated. "Shares, of course... Why do you ask?" Chu Guang smiled. "Just curious... By the way, can those shares be traded? Can they be bought directly with Cr?" "Technically yes, but virtually no one sells them freely." Luo Hua furrowed his brows in thought before adding, "I heard that a century ago, Enterprise share trading was quite active, but now they're almost entirely concentrated in the hands of the Big Five. Plus, the trading rules are extremely strict; you can't just buy them simply because you want to." Chu Guang gave a slight nod of comprehension. So it was essentially a modified form of representative governance? Except the subject of power was not people, but "equity," functioning somewhat like a megacorp in *Stellaris*. As Ideal City's foremost sycophant, Boulder City had borrowed Ideal City's technology and rules to a certain degree. However, because this trend started among the nobility, they had only borrowed the parts advantageous to their own class. In the end, it produced a hybrid monstrosity—half feudal lord, half capitalist enterprise. Even so, despite their divergences across many fields, the appearance of Ideal City's official forces still dealt a tremendous shock to the Boulder City nobles. Commander Zhao Yongxu included. Apprehension was practically written across his face. Even a hawk obsessed with flaunting military might had to admit that posturing before those people from the East Coast was not a wise choice. Just as Zhao Yongxu was frantically calculating how to handle this, two bionics with distinct appearances stepped out of the formation and walked toward Chu Guang. They wore silver cloaks. Markedly different from the mass-produced models, they had humanoid facial features and an appearance conforming to human aesthetics. "Welcome, friends from afar. I am the Administrator of the Alliance, Chu Guang." Seeing the two bionics approaching, Chu Guang guessed they might be the Enterprise's representatives, so he extended his right hand. Gripping the armored hand, the leading bionic shook it, the corners of its mouth curving up as it spoke in an uninflected voice. "Thank you for the welcome. We hope we have not arrived too late. My name is Frost, model A-130." Frost was fine. Chu Guang looked at the other bionic with an odd expression, on the verge of asking if it was named Unreal. Perhaps reading the inquiry on his face, that bionic introduced itself before he could ask. "Eclipse, model A-110." Hearing those two names, Luo Hua looked surprised. Neither bionic model was something he had heard of. At this, he couldn't help muttering softly under his breath, "...Looks like I've really been away from home for too long." Just as Chu Guang was pondering how to communicate with these two bionic friends, a figure came jogging over from near the planes. "Wait, wait! I—I am the expeditionary force's representative... Yi Chuan! Silverwing Group's Overseas Business Development Department! It's a pleasure to meet you!" Halting, the man propped his hands on his knees and panted a few times, finally catching his breath. He forced a smile as he looked at Chu Guang. "Looks like we made it just in time!" Chu Guang looked at the breathless man with an odd expression, then glanced at Frost, who was watching him with a faint smile. Hadn't these people coordinated with each other? They had almost made him misidentify the representative of the relief force. Before Chu Guang could speak, Luo Hua's eyes widened, recognizing the newcomer. "Yi Chuan?!" The two clearly knew each other. The young man who had just caught his breath froze, looking at Luo Hua leaning on his crutch beside Chu Guang, and recognized him instantly. "Luo Hua?! I heard you were severely injured... *Hiss*, what happened to your arm?" Luo Hua looked at his left hand and smiled bitterly. "Set my matters aside for now... We can catch up later." Clearly aware that this was not the venue for reminiscing, Yi Chuan nodded, turned to Chu Guang, cleared his throat, and spoke seriously. "You must be the Administrator of Shelter 404. It's an honor to meet you!" "Chu Guang. The pleasure is mine." With that, Chu Guang made a joke to ease the tension. "It seems you are the true representative of the reinforcements. A moment ago, I was still wondering how to communicate with our bionic friends." Glancing at the two bionics nearby, Yi Chuan offered a slightly awkward smile. "These two are the representatives from the Kangmao Group... They can be rather enthusiastic." Chu Guang nodded. From the expression on the young man's face, he sensed something unusual. It seemed there were internal disagreements within the Enterprise regarding certain matters. However, that was internal Enterprise business and had nothing to do with the New Alliance. Chu Guang had no desire to get involved. Securing more benefits and compensation for his little players and the Alliance's residents was the proper duty of an Administrator. While they spoke, two men and a woman approached from the distance. The three had disembarked from the last plane. Once they drew near, Yi Chuan made the introductions to Chu Guang. "This is Wu Mu, a senior employee from the Product Sales Department of Changge Group!" The young man named Wu Mu wore a red-painted suit of power armor. Sporting a hearty smile, he proactively reached out his hand. "Greetings, Alliance Administrator! I've seen your videos. Where's that Deathclaw? Why didn't you ride it over?" Shaking his hand, Chu Guang smiled. "Its temper is rather foul, not suited for meeting guests. But if you're interested, I can take you to see it, or even gift you one." "Haha, that's awesome! I'm holding you to that!" Wu Mu's eyes gleamed with intense interest. Compared to the others, Chu Guang could clearly feel that this representative from Changge Group held the greatest goodwill toward him. Perhaps even a hint of... admiration? Unlike the others, however, he looked entirely unsuited for war, carrying himself as though on an excursion, which made it hard not to question his professional competence. Of course, his specialty might simply not lie on the battlefield. After all, according to Yi Chuan's introduction, his profession was in "sales." Compared to Wu Mu, the other two representatives possessed noticeably steadier auras, especially the middle-aged man around forty. His mature face bore an air of rigid formality, making it difficult for Chu Guang to read his thoughts. Before Yi Chuan could introduce him, the middle-aged man spoke in a businesslike tone. "Li Changkong, operational staff of Ideal Group. Our engineering equipment and construction technology will be made available to you to help establish a more reliable logistical supply line, ensuring wartime supplies and personnel can be smoothly transported from the rear to the front line... Of course, all we can do is help you build roads and reinforce defensive works. As for the resources needed for construction and the fighting on the front lines, you will still have to rely on yourselves." Chu Guang smiled and shook his hand. "That is more than enough." Ideal City's largest contractor and property manager. Presumably, they wouldn't disappoint. Having introduced the representatives from Changge and Ideal, Yi Chuan proceeded to introduce the last one, representing Endpoint Group. "This is a senior engineer from Endpoint Group's AI Technology Department... Yun You. During wartime, she will act as your information technology consultant, helping you complete IT-related infrastructure construction. Don't let her young age fool you; she's actually—" Arms crossed over her chest, the woman named Yun You gave a soft cough, cutting him off mid-sentence before continuing expressionlessly. "My personal background should have nothing to do with my job responsibilities." Yi Chuan apologized sheepishly. "My apologies." Chu Guang looked her over. She appeared to be in her early twenties, exuding the distinct air of a researcher. Her dress style was similar to Heya's, though she was somewhat shorter—somewhere between Heya and Tengteng. Perhaps because the glasses perched on the bridge of her nose accentuated her sharp gaze, he felt a strange sense of... wariness from her. Before Chu Guang could speak, Yun You looked at him and stated her stance plainly. "To be frank, I do not support the war option. Rather than slaughtering one another like beasts, I believe issues should be resolved through dialogue. Otherwise, we are merely repeating the mistakes of two centuries ago." Chu Guang smiled faintly. "If preaching could drive those beasts away, I'd rather use words too." Yun You raised an eyebrow and was about to speak when Yi Chuan coughed beside them, interrupting her. "Ms. Yun's opinion represents only her personally. The unanimously passed Resolution 1001 is the manifestation of our collective will... All of us have relatives dragged into this war, whether willingly or not, and what we must do now is end it!" Saying this, he looked at Chu Guang. "The Legion must cease its territorial ambitions east of the Great Desert, abandon its military bases in Luoxia Province, return the Pioneer, and release the Pioneer's crew trapped in the Great Desert!" This was not an empty slogan. It was the official statement of the Enterprise's war objectives, declared by the representative of the expeditionary force. Driving the Legion out of Luoxia Province was also one of the Alliance's goals. Only by doing so could they put an end to the threat from the west. Chu Guang extended his right hand. "Our positions are aligned. It is a pleasure to stand on the same front line with you!" "Likewise!" Grasping Chu Guang's hand, Yi Chuan spoke solemnly. "Your valor on the front lines has shaken everyone. Calls for war have never been so loud. Though we are separated by three thousand kilometers, our yearning for civilization is identical. "The first batch of aid includes five hundred A-30 bionic soldiers, who will head to the front lines to fight alongside you! "In addition, military hardware, construction machinery, and production equipment valued at three hundred million Cr will be airlifted here in stages. Not only will we help you establish a complete supply line, but we will also assist you in completing an industrial upgrade, arming your production lines and armies with more advanced technology!" Hearing these words from his ally, even Chu Guang, whose facial control was usually impeccable, couldn't help but beam with delight. Three hundred million Cr worth of munitions was minor, and five hundred bionic soldiers weren't enough to get excited over. The key was that final promise! Wasn't that exactly what he had been waiting for?! Yi Chuan paused, then continued, "...However, we only had time to produce twelve of these large aircraft capable of a three-thousand-kilometer range. Before further reinforcements arrive, we need an aviation base to replenish energy for our planes." Chu Guang asked immediately, "What kind of energy do you need?" "Metallic hydrogen!" Yi Chuan said earnestly. "We plan to build a metallic hydrogen production line in the southern River Valley Province to supply energy and ammunition manufacturing. This will require about one hundred mu of land, with the condition that the location can provide stable, ample electricity and a water source... We aren't familiar with local conditions, so we'll have to trouble you to figure this out." Electricity and water? That was easy! Chu Guang's heart stirred, and a radiant smile instantly spread across his face. "That's very simple. I happen to know a place of picturesque hills and clear waters, not only close to a water source, but also right near our controlled fusion power station!" "You have a controlled fusion power station here?!" Yi Chuan's eyes lit up, an expression of delighted surprise surfacing on his face. "Wonderful!" He had originally been prepared to use thermal power as a temporary measure. He hadn't expected their inland allies to deliver such a pleasant surprise. Chu Guang continued to paint a grand picture with a smile. "North of Xizhou City, on the southern bank of a tributary of the Tianshui River, we intend to build a river port. Nearby Xizhou City houses our fusion reactor, which is expected to restore power by the end of the month. I can lend you the open land near the port, but..." At this point, Chu Guang paused. Seeing his troubled expression, Yi Chuan asked hurriedly, "But what?" Chu Guang said with a touch of difficulty, "Our control over that area is rather weak, and marauders operate along the northern bank of the river... They might pose a threat to the safety of the aviation base." Hearing this, Yi Chuan breathed a sigh of relief and smiled. "Ha, a trivial matter! If any marauders come over, just leave them to us!" Hearing that, Chu Guang's cheerful smile returned. "With your word, I can rest easy!" With the Enterprise helping guard the Alliance's northern gate, the Legion's intelligence network in the Free State of Bugra would find it very difficult to make any moves. That way, he could free up more hands to throw into the new expansion pack!