For two consecutive months, Liu Hai had been dismantling and modifying the factory equipment in the underground base on Garbage Star. By the time the three medium-sized armed transport ships from Thunder God Company were delivered, the task was largely complete.
The so-called armed transport ships were not much different from regular transport ships. They were simply reinforced with thicker armor, stronger shields, and equipped with some close-defense weapons. The propulsion engines were also enhanced, making them essentially upgraded versions of standard transport ships.
Of the three medium-sized transport ships, one was used to carry the existing Clone Legion and the remaining factory equipment. The other two were designated by Liu Hai for transporting Mecha and Fighter Jets. Unable to afford a proper Mothership, he had to make do with transport ships.
Each transport ship measured 560 meters in length, 120 meters in height, and 180 meters in width, resembling a flattened block. The internal cargo hold had a volume of 6.4 million cubic meters. After simple modifications, it could carry 200,000 Fighter Jets or 150,000 Mecha.
Since they were not proper Motherships, they lacked repair and assembly capabilities, and their recovery speed was severely limited—only one-tenth that of a standard Mothership.
March 12, 5024, Star River Federation Calendar.
The relocation officially began.
The three transport ships remained in Garbage Star's far orbit as hundreds of thousands of Fighter Jets and Mecha from the underground base took off in batches, entering the transport ships under the control of the Intelligent Nexus.
The entire process took nearly ten hours. Next were the remaining factories, including the Biological Manufacturing Factory, Engineering Robot Manufacturing Factory, and smelting plants.
Equipped with additional thrusters, these factories were towed into space by six Landing Crafts using force fields. Due to their size, the loading process was slow, taking over four hours to complete.
Finally, it was time for Liu Hai's Pyramid Core. The Pyramid Core was the largest structure, but thanks to its built-in Anti-Gravity Field, its ascent was the simplest.
Standing by the transport ship's porthole, Liu Hai finally breathed a sigh of relief as his prized possession was safely loaded aboard. Everything else could be abandoned, but the Pyramid Core had to be taken.
"Chairman, all relevant factories have been loaded. Shall we depart now?" The captain of Transport Ship One checked the cargo and contacted Liu Hai via comms.
"Let's go," Liu Hai replied, glancing at the thousands of Orbital Turrets in Garbage Star's orbit, their indicator lights still flickering.
After learning of Liu Hai's departure, these Orbital Turrets had been purchased by Broli and the Smuggling Port merchants, who established a command center to defend against external threats.
The three ships activated their engines. After a brief warm-up, they spewed ion wakes hundreds of meters long and began moving beyond the Gravity Well.
As he watched Garbage Star recede into the distance, Liu Hai couldn't tell whether he felt joy or something more complicated. His biological instinct for stability made him reluctant to leave, but for the sake of his future, he had to venture into more dangerous, unfamiliar star systems.
Within minutes, the three transport ships exited Garbage Star's Gravity Well. The Warp Drives engaged, and the planet vanished from Liu Hai's sight, replaced by distorted streaks of light.
The outer armor descended, covering the portholes as Liu Hai returned to his quarters to rest. The journey would still take over two months to reach its destination.
Meanwhile, at the Thunder God Shipyard in the third star system, Li Yali and Igor were preparing with their crews to receive their assigned warships.
Inside a small shuttle, Zhang Tingyu and Igor stood by the window, observing the nearby shipyard where dozens of robotic arms of varying sizes secured over a dozen vessels.
"These are your warships, already outfitted and ready. Once control permissions are transferred, you can take them," Zhang Tingyu said with a smile to Igor.
"Four third-generation Sharp Spear Cruisers—three Light Cruisers and one Heavy Cruiser.
The Light Cruisers measure 1.5 kilometers in length, 300 meters in width, and 100 meters in height. Equipped with third-generation Jump Engines capable of 30-light-year jumps and fifth-generation Warp Drives reaching up to 120 times light speed.
Armor defense rating: 300 degrees. Defensive systems include 3,000-degree Deflection Fields and 3,000-degree Energy Shields.
Primary armament consists of six Thor's Light cannons, each with 600-degree firepower.
Secondary armament includes eight 400-degree Ion Cannons, eight 400-degree Particle Cannons, eight 300-degree Electromagnetic Cannons, and eight 400-degree Laser Cannons.
Additionally, there are 128 Close-in Weapon Systems with 30-degree firepower.
The Heavy Cruiser boasts 20% greater firepower than the Light Cruiser, with all other specifications identical, so no further details are necessary.
Five second-generation Lightning Destroyers, with Jump Engines limited to 20-light-year range and Warp Drives also maxing at 120 times light speed.
These Destroyers measure 1 kilometer in length, 300 meters in width, and 80 meters in height.
Armor defense rating: 200 degrees, supported by 1,500-degree Deflection Fields and 1,500-degree Energy Shields.
Primary armament consists of four 400-degree Laser Cannons, sixteen 200-degree secondary cannons of various types, and eighty 20-degree Close-in Weapon Systems.
Ten fifth-generation Aegis Frigates, with Jump Engines limited to 15-light-year range and Warp Drives reaching 100 times light speed.
These Frigates measure 260 meters in length, 80 meters in height, and 60 meters in width.
Armor defense rating: 100 degrees, supported by 1,000-degree Deflection Fields and 1,000-degree Energy Shields.
Primary armament consists of two 200-degree Laser Cannons, six 100-degree Particle Cannons, and sixty 20-degree Close-in Weapon Systems."
"Additionally, all warships are powered by Antimatter Reactors. Cruisers have two reactors with instantaneous output of 100 degrees, while Destroyers and Frigates each have one reactor with outputs of 80 and 60 degrees, respectively."
Igor and Li Yali nodded repeatedly. These specifications were already considered excellent for a fourth-tier civilization, with only a few surpassing them—those approaching fifth-tier technological levels.
"Do either of you have any questions about the warships?" Zhang Tingyu asked with evident pride. Their ships ranked among the finest in the entire Federation, surpassed by only a handful.
"Everything looks good. Let's proceed with the handover," Li Yali said after exchanging a glance with Igor.
With Li Yali's approval, Zhang Tingyu promptly relayed the command via comms.
Inside the shipyard, the waiting captains and crew members, under the guidance of Thunder God personnel, began heading to their respective warships' Control Rooms to initiate the transfer procedures.
As control of the battleships was gradually transferred to the Star Sea Group, the Intelligent Nexus of the Pyramid Core assumed supreme authority. The crew members, trained for months, swiftly took their positions. After brief verification, they donned their Neural Interface Devices, their consciousnesses entering the virtual Control Room.
"Commencing power output diagnostics."
"Reaction Furnace intact. Power output at 100%."
"Proceeding with propulsion engine checks."
"Jump Engine operational. Warp Drive operational. Conventional thrusters nominal."
"Initiating shield diagnostics."
"Deflection Field at 100%. Energy Shield at 100%."
"Beginning—"