Otaku Translation: Carrying the Bases of Starcraft C81

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After staring at it for a while, he finally understood. The previous explosion of the rune crystal sphere didn’t just produce a shockwave; it also triggered a high-energy electromagnetic pulse storm. The core circuits of the lift platform had coupled with this, and the destructive currents and surges had burned out some critical components, causing malfunctions in the gravity compensation and power systems, rendering the lift inoperable.

Not to mention that the technological devices of Epsilon were incredibly sophisticated. Even an ordinary elevator from human society would be beyond his ability to repair if it malfunctioned, given his current knowledge.

Arroz, Housen? The latter was nothing but a brute—good at punching and killing, but repairing equipment? Dream on. As for Arroz, he probably lacked the skill as well.

Looking at the broken lift platform, he now understood what it meant to experience joy turning into sorrow. Surrounded by formidable enemies outside, if it were just some armored divisions, they might still have a fighting chance with the forces at hand. However, there was nearly an entire squadron of space battleships hovering above.

How could they possibly fight against that? Even though the units of the Protoss were powerful, facing multiple times their number in large combat units, the only outcome would likely be defeat and death on the battlefield.

Tang Fang returned upstairs with a dark expression. Looking up, he saw Housen pressing his foot, which had trampled countless bat demon droppings, onto Colonel Francis's face.

Seeing Tang Fang’s gloomy face, Arroz suddenly felt a sense of foreboding. He tapped off the ash from his cigarette, stuffed the half-smoked stub into the storage compartment on his shoulder, and looked up to ask, "What happened?"

Tang Fang nodded and briefly explained the situation below. After listening, Arroz furrowed his brows, "So you're saying our retreat has been cut off?"

Housen, who had stopped torturing Francis by now, said with a grim look, "Fleet above, armored divisions ahead, and we can't go down. We’re completely surrounded."

Digging a tunnel would take time, and relying on roaches was out of the question. Tang Fang was momentarily at a loss. It wouldn’t take long—just a few more minutes—and the steel dome above the ruins would open, making them the prime targets under enemy fire.

A tinge of regret welled up in his heart. He never imagined that a small mistake could lead to such a predicament, trapping them here. If he had known, he wouldn’t have come. But then again, thinking about the data in the database, he had no choice but to come.

Quantum torque regulators, advanced Element Zero refining techniques, geothermal energy collection arrays, fission reaction catalyst technologies, Element Zero isotope extraction sciences… Such advancements, even just one of them, would propel the empire's strength forward dramatically. By the time that happens, overthrowing Colcrav Stuart’s rule would be twice as difficult as it is now.

"You incompetent fool, all because of you… If it weren’t for your reckless shot, we wouldn’t be in this mess."

"Bah! Arroz, stop talking nonsense. If I hadn’t done that, you wouldn’t have taken out that sniper, and we three might already be dead."

"You… sophistry." Arroz was momentarily at a loss for words.

Francis coughed up some blood, wiped it off with his military uniform, and with an extremely pale face due to blood loss, he managed a cold smile: "Hehehe, tremble, you bunch of scum. The imperial execution grounds and its stakes are prepared just for you."

"To oppose the empire will never end well. The divine punishment of ‘Celtic’ will sever your heads and burn your bodies. While you can still walk, talk, and hear, savor the taste of fear."

"Bah! Traitors deserve no good end."

The vicious curses reached Housen's ears. This hot-tempered guy frowned and punched Francis’s right cheek, leaving four clear red marks: "Old man, do you believe I’ll kill you first?"

Francis ignored him, turned his head to Tang Fang: "Surrender, hand over that mysterious force, swear allegiance to His Majesty, and perhaps you’ll find a way to live. Otherwise, your fate will be to become corpses left in the wilderness."

To command aliens and manipulate Epsilon ruins—how valuable could such a person be? He couldn’t help but think about it. Losing those data points was nothing. If he could reclaim them and utilize his abilities, the mysteries of the Epsilon ruins would unravel before the empire, becoming a docile lamb waiting for the emperor’s favor. And he would rise to become a general, a governor, or even a feudal lord, achieving the pinnacle of his career and life.

No response, no reply. At this moment, Tang Fang was lost in deep thought. Complaining wouldn’t help at this point. Even if Housen’s misstep hadn’t occurred, successfully hiding underground, what then?

Once the refined factory underground was discovered, would the Sulru Empire give up? Would the Monya Empire give up? Presumably, at that time, these former lovers turned new enemies would once again collude to eliminate him, the thorn in their sides.

Underground, there were indeed 300,000 crystals and 400,000 gas resources, but he was currently unable to produce air forces from the three races. Facing the vast number of space battleships above Planet Namie, he could only sigh in despair.

Retreating underground to passively defend, engaging in a protracted battle with infantry—they had ample resource reserves, stalkers, and sentries. He had enough confidence to make the marines of the two fleets cry for their mothers and complain bitterly. But so what? Unable to withstand both fleets outside, staying hidden indefinitely wasn’t freedom—it was imprisonment. Without supplies, they would eventually starve or die of thirst.

While deleting data using psionic flame earlier, he had checked the building structure and discovered a hangar on the second floor containing an Epsilon shuttle used by the control center researchers.

Taking the shuttle to leave was a good option. But would the two fleets in outer space around Planet Namie let them go peacefully?

Thunder Fleet and Saint Violet Fleet’s interception ships equipped with inverse warp scramblers formed a massive spacetime bubble filtration net spanning tens of thousands of kilometers of empty space. Any attempt to enter or exit Planet Namie’s airspace via warp speed would be intercepted.

Like warp engines, inverse warp scramblers were developed by deciphering Epsilon technology. They disrupted the spacetime bubbles created by warp engines by scattering special particles into the surrounding void, forcing spaceships out of hyperspace.

The cost of inverse warp scramblers was relatively low, but the consumables required—"inverse warp particles"—were precious. Made by refining Element Zero mixed with various highly radioactive rare elements, the manufacturing process was complicated and dangerous.

Since this technology was derived from Epsilon ruins, it also had some effect on Epsilon warships, which is why Tang Fang felt cornered.

Their retreat was cut off. Exiting the ruins would mean facing the gunfire of Tiger Shark Squadron. Taking the shuttle would result in interception by both fleets. Staying put was akin to waiting to die.

What should he do? Despite his calm exterior, his mind was in turmoil.

"Have you decided yet? Surrender, and you may live. Resist, and you will surely die." Francis struggled to sit up. Though disheveled and battered, his eyes gleamed brighter than ever. The arrival of Tiger Shark Squadron was like a strong adrenaline boost, restoring his former glory and the arrogance of an imperial noble.

Even though his face was deathly pale, the faint sneer on his lips betrayed his inner satisfaction. Just moments ago, he was at their mercy, but now, the tables had turned, and they were like ants on a hot pan, begging for their lives. The scene was nothing short of dramatic and ironic.

"What are you hesitating for? Wait any longer, and when Tiger Shark Squadron opens the dome, under endless artillery fire, you’ll all become space debris." Francis’s eyes sparkled with the brilliance of a victor: "Thinking of opposing the empire? You’re too naive. Seven princes, eighteen dukes, forces like the Thunder Fleet—there are no less than twenty. Not to mention the twelve royal armies under His Majesty’s command."

"With your meager forces, you’re like a mantis trying to stop a chariot—an overestimation of your own strength. The wheels of the empire roll on, and insignificant beings like you will be flattened and paved into stones beneath His Majesty’s feet."

"One last time, I ask you: choose surrender and live, or resist and be crushed like a bug?"

His words were arrogant and filled with superiority, reminding Tang Fang of certain people from his past life—equally haughty, indifferent to the suffering of the world and the plight of common people. Power and fame were their sole pursuits, along with women…

Housen’s forehead veins bulged, his right hand grabbing Francis by the collar: "Nobles? Bullshit. In my eyes, you’re nothing but filth." With that, he swung a punch.

Unbeknownst to them, Tang Fang stood up, blocking Housen’s punch with his right arm.

Housen frowned and grunted, "Hmm?"

Ignoring him, Tang Fang stepped toward Francis: "Can surrender save your life?"

Francis’s crow’s feet blossomed like wild pear flowers: "Yes."

"And dignity?"

"…"

"Can it pull Colcrav off the throne and make him face the accusations of hell’s lost souls?"

"Insolence…"

"Can it make nobles like you bow down, lower your proud heads, and listen to the suffering of commoners and soldiers' laments?"

"…"

"This nation will one day be reborn through fire. That lofty figure will one day grovel like a dog at ‘Holy Sword Square.’ And you nobles will tremble, quake, and live in constant fear."

"You… audacious rebel…"

"Francis, what you rely on is nothing but the Thunder Fleet. Today, I’ll show you how I turn it into scrap. Remember, this is just a small interest payment."

"What… what are you going to do?" A sense of foreboding washed over Francis.

No response came, only Tang Fang slowly raising his gun.

"Tang Fang, what… what are you planning?" Housen asked. Arroz also turned his head, looking at him with confusion.

"Blow it up…"

The calm reply echoed like thunder in the ears of the three nearby men, lingering endlessly.

"Blow it up… blow it up…" Francis repeated dazedly twice: "Blow up who? Who does he want to blow up?"

"The ghosts will tell you soon enough."

A gunshot rang out, and fresh blood sprayed from the back of Francis’s head, splattering on the ground.

Turning to climb the stairs, light threads floated and gently attached to his hand. Tang Fang took a deep breath, suppressing his reluctance, and issued a command to the psionic flame.

A flash of red light, and a string of large Epsilon characters appeared on the screen, translating to YES OR NO in human language.

Suppressing his reluctance, Tang Fang selected YES.

The characters flashed a few times and disappeared. The entire psionic flame pulsed like a still heart stimulated by electricity, "Thump, thump," radiating waves outward.

Tang Fang sighed and was about to disconnect from the psionic flame when suddenly a red light flowed down the thread, swiftly merging into his forehead.

At the same time, a sigh echoed in his ears.

"When Baruch gently caressed the earth with its tender hand, Tarola bloomed across the azure plains of Misel. Oh, my homeland, Cerephus…"

The voice was melodious, like a nightingale emerging from a valley, or a clear spring trickling.

Tang Fang was startled. Baruch? Wasn’t that the name of the older of the two suns above Epsilon’s home planet, Cerephus? Misel was the largest plain on Cerephus, and Tarola was a small flower, as ordinary as the azaleas on Earth. Every autumn, these crystal flowers spread like a translucent carpet, covering the entire plain like waves.

"Hmm, where is this voice coming from?"

As he wondered, a muffled sound came from outside. Glancing through the surveillance equipment on the surface of the ruins, he saw a crack forming in the kilometer-wide steel dome above, slowly retracting to either side.

A menacing shark-head painting of a Tiger Shark-class destroyer appeared in the center, with 220mm electromagnetic railguns tilting downward on either side, locking onto the entrance of the ruins.

A fierce expression flashed across Tang Fang’s face. The enemy was arriving faster than anticipated.

"Thump, thump."

Meanwhile, another wave pulsed from the psionic flame, emitting a surge of pulse energy. The electromagnetic scan readings on the powered armor skyrocketed.

A slight tremor shook the ground, whether from the opening steel dome or something else entirely.

Glancing at Tang Fang’s ruthless expression, Arroz’s heart skipped a beat. "Blow it up?" It seemed the subject of this phrase wasn’t just the ruins but… the entire Planet Namie?

At the thought of this terrifying possibility, his eyes widened, and cold sweat trickled down uncontrollably. Knowing Tang Fang’s desperation, he realized the young man was capable of such madness.

Looking at Housen, who still seemed utterly confused, he swallowed hard: "Breaking the bridge is easy, but how do we escape afterward?"

No one answered their questions. At this moment, Tang Fang was fully focused on overloading the system to maximum power to execute the seemingly insane but necessary plan in his mind.

The psionic flame burned faster, blue streams of light shooting out from the diamond crystals and disappearing into the crystal light ball below. Whether due to excessively high energy fluctuation frequencies or reverse pulse energy infiltration triggering the atomic level of the Element Zero crystals in front of the mechanical arms, a recoil light wave flashed, and the energy reading on the spectral analysis converter spiked. The core CPU was instantly overclocked to its limit.

With a blinding flash, "Crack!" the display shattered, sparks flying everywhere. An imperceptible overclocked pulse surged up the rubber tube, bursting into brilliant silver light as it passed through the crystal prisms at the ends of five mechanical arms. Five high-frequency lasers, brimming with energy, stabbed into five data-cleared rune crystal spheres.

The previous scene replayed: the rune crystal spheres couldn’t withstand the stimulation of the high-frequency lasers. After a tremor, the light threads connecting to the diamond crystals snapped, and the entire spheres fell downward, exploding into a devastating flash.

Last time it was one sphere; this time it was five.

A hurricane-like shockwave and electromagnetic radiation surged skyward, flooding through the central void with a fiery wave. Tang Fang, standing in the middle of the void, never expected such a change. He was engulfed by flames, then thrown by the shockwave, spinning into the air and falling from a height of ten meters, landing with a loud thud.

"Tang Fang!" Housen shouted, his eyes turning red in an instant.

Arroz had no time for grief and rushed to Tang Fang’s side. Checking his injuries, he found the external powered armor intact. But when he looked up, Tang Fang’s face was pale, devoid of any color, making his heart tighten.

"Rumble, rumble…" Meanwhile, the ground shook violently. Red lights flashed on some instruments around the hall, and prominent warning signs swept across the room like a bloody storm.

Suddenly, a hand grabbed his arm. Tang Fang slowly opened his eyes, his lips moving weakly: "Quick… quick, go. There’s a shuttle on the west side of the second floor… hurry… this place is going to explode."

"But… your injuries…"

"Forget about my injuries for now. Go."

"Ah." Arroz sighed deeply, hoisted Tang Fang onto his shoulder, and ran towards the elevator leading to the second floor, shouting, "Housen, are you waiting to die? Hurry up!"

The shaking ground and Arroz’s shouts woke him up. He glanced at the ground, where scattered objects trembled with the earthquake, emitting strange sounds.

"Arroz, how’s Tang Fang?"

No response came. He glanced at the golden light curtain wavering at the entrance of the ruins: "Damn Thunder Fleet, pushing us to such a dead end. Bah, taste the wrath of hellfire."

Without delay, he followed closely behind, rushing towards the lift platform. Although Arroz didn’t respond, it seemed Tang Fang was still alive.

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