Chapter 430: The Enemy's Mysterious Move_1

Two Earth days later, the three civilian vessels led by Hao Ying rendezvoused with the command ship.

At that time, Cao Yang was using two already damaged escape pods to construct a shelter near the command ship that could hide biological electrical signals.

Currently, it was not known whether the enemy's search relied on metal detectors or life detectors.

In the expectations of Jiang Yu and Cao Yang, the enemy would at least search the planet several times over several Earth years. When their warships received effective replenishments, perhaps the intensity of their searches would increase.

For the sake of safety, setting up a refuge was still the prudent choice.

This would not only counteract the enemy's life detectors but also prevent enemy soldiers from getting bored during future searches and taking potshots at the disguised command ship for practice.

In the following days, the enemy's search proceeded methodically, and the officers and soldiers on the command ship finally had a chance to catch their breath.

Jiang Yu and the others could at last get some good sleep, although they would occasionally be awakened by the cold. But both mentally and physically, they got some much-needed rest.

Subsequently, Jiang Yu called for a "commanders' meeting" to discuss the current situation and planning for the future.

Everyone drank hot tea, shivering together in the dimly lit meeting room.

The temperature inside the warship had dropped to negative double digits, and modern humans, living in constantly temperature-controlled Space City, were finding it hard to cope with such low temperatures.

Fortunately, everyone's clothing had heating systems, so although it felt cold, there was no danger of frostbite.

Jiang Yu was the first to speak, "We are only temporarily safe now, the crisis has not been lifted. We must not let our guard down."

"If we find that the enemy is approaching, we must immediately sound the alarm. The three civilian vessels will leave the refuge again, and we must quickly hide in the shelter we've built."

Jiang Yu took out a cigarette, lit one for himself, and then passed the cigarette box to Cao Yang and Xing Yuanbin, "Have one to warm up."

Both Cao Yang and Xing Yuanbin waved their hands with a smile.

Jiang Yu continued, "Cao Yang, could you please update everyone on our current status and the information we have gathered from various sources."

Cao Yang nodded, wiped his runny nose, and addressed everyone, "Firstly, it's possible that the enemy's main force has indeed suffered heavy losses in the previous battle, or their main force is searching somewhere else.

"In any case, we can now be sure that there are only ten enemy ships on this White Planet.

"Of course, we can't rule out the possibility that this is the enemy's underestimation of us. But anyway, ten warships are indeed negligible for a planet.

"This is our glimmer of hope.

"Secondly, according to the photos sent back by the detectors, the enemy's search has also yielded some results.

"They have not only found our command ship but also at least twenty civilian ships and killed all the compatriots aboard.

"The enemy's atrocities do not stop there; they have piled up the bodies, seemingly to display their brutality."

At this point, Cao Yang's tone became somewhat somber; everyone sitting there had seen that photo, and each one of them felt a teeth-grinding hatred.

Cao Yang took a deep breath, "However, it's fortunate that so far, no military vessels have fallen into the enemy's hands.

"The enemy has not immediately destroyed the found civilian vessels, like they did before, but disassembled them instead, suggesting they hope to obtain some intelligence about us.

"Lastly, the detectors have captured photos of the enemy's individuals. Everyone has seen that photo, too, but it doesn't show their faces, just a few relatively clear top-down views.

"The enemy's appearance is like a standard rectangle without any distinct limbs, no difference between head and torso.

"But this is definitely some kind of spacesuit or equipment they are wearing; we still don't know what they really look like.

"According to the analysis from Galaxy III, the enemy's individuals must be much larger than humans, since their spacesuits are over five meters tall. Clearly, there wouldn't be just a one-meter-tall dwarf inside them.

"That's all the information we have at the moment."

Then Jiang Yu summarized, "Moving forward, we must try our best to repair the nuclear engine. Then, we need to break through the ice and snow, striving to find mineral metal resources under the cover of ice and snow.

"If possible, we must also establish a rudimentary industrial system under the cover of ice and snow to further repair the command ship.

"Of course, all of this is predicated on the condition that we fix the nuclear engine and have sufficient energy supply."

His gaze circled around the faces of those present, "Next, we will enter a period of hibernation."

...

Jiang Yu could never have imagined that twelve Earth days later, the situation would undergo an unexpected change.

Around 15:00, after receiving the news, Jiang Yu rushed to the command center, "What did you just say?"

Cao Yang and the remaining dozen or so staffers were there, Cao Yang repeated the recent report, "Ten enemy warships simultaneously entered outer space and formed a formation.

"Heading towards a direction 16.15 degrees left of the White Planet's equatorial ecliptic and 18.98 degrees above."

Jiang Yu was skeptical, "Confirm it again."

Cao Yang said, "It has already been confirmed three times, according to the photos sent back by the probes, the enemy ships are truly moving away from the White Planet."

Everyone was somewhat anxious, as the enemy's actions were completely beyond their expectations.

Those present knew that unexpected situations in interstellar wars are usually not a good sign.

One of the operational staffers said, "Could this be another trick of the enemy? They are not Trisolarans! They are the kind of enemy who sets traps!

"This could simply be a 'lure out the snake' tactic!"

Xing Yuanbin, however, disagreed, "We have probes and are aware of the enemy ships' movements, while civilian ships lack probes, which means they do not know the enemy has left.

"Tossing the most attractive bait to a blind man serves no purpose!"

Cao Yang speculated, "Could it be they have more important matters to attend to?"

Jiang Yu asked, "Such as?"

Cao Yang spread his hands, indicating that was as far as his thoughts went.

Jiang Yu said, "Is it possible, is it at all possible for our probes to follow and see what those ten enemy ships are up to?"

"Can't do it," Xing Yuanbin said with a wry smile, "The command ship's probes can't fly that far."

Betrand, another operational staffer, guessed, "Could they be going back for a regrouping and then return to search?"

"Pointless as stripping before farting!" another staffer said, "It would be so much easier to regroup in the near-Earth orbit of the White Planet!"

Betrand was unconvinced, "What if this is their military custom?"

"What kind of military custom is so unreasonable?"

"Enough!" Jiang Yu stopped the senseless dispute, "First, let's observe the changes without making any guesses!"

He said seriously, "Now is not the time to panic or fall into disorder!"

At this point, Jiang Yu suddenly remembered, "Didn't we previously launch ten probes with curvature engines towards the New Continent Star System?

"Is there any way to get in touch with them?"

Xing Yuanbin was taken aback for a moment before replying, "Our real-time cosmic communication system has self-destructed, so we can't actively contact them, only wait for them to contact us."

Cao Yang added, "Those probes are very likely to be discovered by the enemy, or forced to hide and enter hibernation. They might only become active again when the reinforcements arrive."

Jiang Yu crossed his arms and said, "If the Solar System State has not given up on us, they will look for the right moment to use those probes to find us."