146: Chapter 146 Breaking Through the Defenses! Entering the Core Territory of the Federation!

Stardate 3728, Year 1 of the Dawn Empire, Federal core airspace.

With Team Zero completely cracking the Federal central master defense system, that ultimate defense perimeter, which stretched for thirty light-years and was touted as "never falling," finally crumbled completely under both physical and electronic strikes.

The dark golden shield energy dissipated entirely into deep space, ten thousand star-annihilating turrets ceased fire and lost control, one hundred interstellar fortresses fell into paralysis, and the remaining Federal troops slaughtered each other under tampered commands; there was no longer any force in the entire core airspace capable of blocking the iron hooves of the Dawn Empire.

At this moment, the territory of the Dawn Empire had swept across ninety percent of the Human Star Domain, with only the last ten percent of the core territory, centered on Odin Planet, remaining as the final isolated island where the Federation gasped its last breath.

The flagship Dawn hovered at the core of the battlefield, its hull flowing with the pale silver luster of antimatter energy. Emperor Chen Fan stood with his hands behind his back on the highest observation deck of the command hall. Dressed in a black robe with gold trim, his posture was as upright as an eternal green peak. His indifferent eyes overlooked the chaotic Federal airspace below. Though no killing intent leaked from his body, he possessed an innate, supreme majesty that could decide the life and death of the starry sky with a single word.

The threat of the Canglan Empire still lurked in the depths of the universe, and the hatred of Crown Prince Canglan Yao was like a bone-deep gangrene, but Emperor Chen Fan had never been distracted for even a moment—he would not rest until the Federation was destroyed. Any extraterrestrial force that dared to intervene at this moment would become ashes under the antimatter main cannon.

The holographic figure of Xing Xi, having awakened an independent personality, floated beside Emperor Chen Fan. Data streams surged within her pale blue eyes like a galaxy. The global monitoring network captured every inch of land, every warship, and every military node in the Federal core territory, transmitting them in real-time to the giant holographic star map in the center of the command hall.

"Report to the Emperor!" Xing Xi's voice was crisp and solemn, carrying the fervor of the coming decisive battle. "The Federal ultimate defense perimeter has completely disintegrated, with no effective defense remaining! The Federal military system is completely paralyzed, the command hub has lost contact, the remaining troops are fighting among themselves, and the orbit of Odin Planet is now fully exposed to our firepower range!"

"Team Zero has completed all tasks; authority over the political prison, the Federal Research Institute, and the top-secret database has been fully taken over, awaiting further instructions!"

As the words fell, the six great commanders in the command hall could no longer suppress the iron-blooded fighting spirit in their hearts. They stepped forward in unison, their armor clanking, the sound shaking the walls.

Commander Lei Meng, clad in gilded heavy armor, stepped out first. His voice was like a booming bell, making the alloy floor of the hall tremble slightly: "Emperor! The Federal defense has been broken. I will lead the Main Fleet to launch an all-out attack, frontally block all shipping lanes, space stations, and strongholds in the Dead Zone, cut off the enemy's retreat, and implement a comprehensive crushing blow! Today, we will completely lock down the orbit of Odin Planet and ensure Marshal Arthuron has nowhere to fly!"

As the commander of the Empire's First Fleet, the eight hundred capital ships under Commander Lei Meng's command were already poised for action, their antimatter main cannons glowing with destructive light. At a single command, they could form a torrent of firepower covering the entire area, completely crushing the Federation's final resistance.

Shadows surged around Commander Ling Ye, blending into the darkness of deep space. Her cold voice carried bone-chilling killing intent: "The Shadow Fleet will immediately infiltrate stealthily to decapitate the remaining Federal command hubs, anti-aircraft positions, and the outer defenses of the underground command center, opening the way and breaking the points! Ensure the Emperor's army enters the core territory smoothly!"

Her Shadow Fleet was the sharpest dark blade of the Dawn Empire. One hundred and twenty stealth assault ships had already lurked to the near-Earth orbit of Odin Planet, with micro-antimatter missiles locking onto all lethal targets, ready to deliver a fatal blow to the Federation at any time.

Old Hu's burly body stomped heavily, his iron fists clenching and emitting a clanging metallic explosion, his iron-blooded aura shooting straight into the clouds: "The Ground Legion is ready to land at any time! We are responsible for planetary landing, ground clearing, mining star recovery, and permanent occupation. Every inch of land, every inch of Dawn! As long as the fleet opens the passage, our legion will immediately level the surface of Odin Planet and control the Federal core urban area!"

The rough roar resounded through the hall. The millions of ground soldiers behind Old Hu were filled with monstrous fighting spirit. Their antimatter assault cannons were already preheated, and the landing pods were hung and ready. As soon as the shield shattered, they would plant the Dawn flag all over the Federal capital.

Commander Ling Shuang pressed her jade hands on the mecha command console. Her silver-white combat suit echoed with the Dawn Mecha behind her. Her cold voice was firm and decisive: "The Mecha Legion is fully arrayed. As the vanguard, we will clear the remaining enemies in the orbit of Odin Planet, crush all breakout attempts, and open an absolutely safe path for the entire army! Twenty thousand Dawn Mecha are ready for battle!"

Commander Su Qingyue's figure appeared simultaneously on the holographic screen. Her silver-white research combat suit was as cold as the moon, her fingertips dancing rapidly on the console: "The Research Center will provide battlefield scanning, energy interference, and mothership support throughout the process. The antimatter frequency suppression will continue to cover the area, ensuring that all Federal electronic equipment is permanently paralyzed, and the Empire will hold absolute information dominance on the battlefield!"

Aila bowed and saluted, her body shimmering with the divine patterns of the Grey Race, steady and respectful: "The Grey Race is responsible for resource inventory, mine sealing, and logistical support. Thirty-one mining stars and seventeen large military factories in the Federal core area have been located and are ready to be taken over and put into production at any time, ensuring that the Empire's army can win when fighting and hold when winning!"

The six great commanders all requested battle. The shouts of millions of Imperial soldiers gathered through the communication link into an iron-blooded torrent that tore through the starry sky. The entire flagship Dawn trembled slightly under this fighting spirit.

Emperor Chen Fan slowly raised his eyes, his black robe fluttering without wind. His gaze penetrated the hull, looking directly at that azure Federal capital planet—Odin Planet. That was the core of the Federation's thousand-year rule, the foundation of Marshal Arthuron's power, and the source of the evil that had framed and exiled him back then.

Today, he had finally returned.

With the posture of an Emperor, leading a million majestic troops, he would crush all the Federation's defenses and return to this land that had caused him such unjust grievances.

"Granted."

Emperor Chen Fan only uttered one word, but it sounded like a thunderclap, becoming the signal for the final offensive!

"Transmit my decree—"

"Dawn Empire army, advance on all lines, enter the Federal core territory!"

"Commander Lei Meng, the Main Fleet will advance from the center, blockade all orbits of Odin Planet, and construct a three-layer firepower blockade net!"

"Commander Ling Ye, the Shadow Fleet will flank from the left and right, clearing orbital defenses and the outskirts of the underground command center!"

"Commander Ling Shuang, the Mecha Legion will lead the way, sweeping away all remaining enemies in the air!"

"Old Hu, the Ground Legion stands by, ready to land on Odin Planet at any time!"

"Commander Su Qingyue, Aila, follow up with logistics and research on all lines, and take over all facilities in the core territory!"

"Xing Xi, provide global navigation, guide the Dawn, and sail into the Federal core airspace!"

"Obey the Emperor's command!"

A deafening roar shook the entire Federal core star region!

The steel torrent of the Dawn Empire was officially launched!

Commander Lei Meng's Main Fleet took the lead. Eight hundred capital ships lined up in a neat steel formation, the antimatter main cannons at the bows pointing straight ahead. The engines spewed pale blue light flames, like a silver long river, breaking through the energy ripples remaining from the defense perimeter, and sailing into the Federal core territory at full speed. Shipping lanes, space stations, and military strongholds were firmly controlled by the fleet one by one. All Federal escape routes were completely cut off, truly achieving a state of immobility and comprehensive crushing.

"Fleet advance speed is eighty percent! Orbital blockade is seventy percent complete! The enemy has no effective resistance!" Commander Lei Meng's roar resounded through the fleet channel, his gilded heavy armor shining in the afterglow of artillery fire, fully displaying the majesty of an Imperial commander.

Commander Ling Ye's Shadow Fleet turned into two black lightning bolts, infiltrating invisibly from the left and right wings. Like the Grim Reaper's scythe, they silently harvested the Federation's final defense nodes. Underground command center signal towers, orbital anti-aircraft guns, and remaining command outposts were precisely destroyed one by one. There was no earth-shattering roar, only silent destruction and infiltration.

"Outer perimeter defenses cleared! The near-Earth orbit of Odin Planet is safe!" Commander Ling Ye's cold drink echoed in the dark starry sky, completely clearing obstacles for the army.

Commander Ling Shuang's Mecha Legion, all twenty thousand Dawn Mecha, had their engines roaring simultaneously. The silver-white bodies cut through the sky, and the antimatter particle blades unfolded, creating waves of cold light. Like a sky full of meteors, they swept across the Federal mecha and warships that were killing each other in the orbit of Odin Planet. The remaining seventeen thousand Federal mecha had long lost control and were like lambs waiting to be slaughtered in front of the Imperial Mecha Legion. Within a short ten minutes, the orbital airspace was completely purged.

"Airspace is safe! The passage is open! The entire army can advance smoothly!" Commander Ling Shuang's cold voice carried the power of inevitable victory.

Commander Su Qingyue's research fleet followed closely behind the main force, launching global scanning and energy support. The antimatter interference field continued to shroud the core territory. All Federal radars, communications, and fire control systems fell into complete silence, becoming a pile of scrap metal. Research drones flew out like a swarm of bees, taking over all facilities of the Federal Research Institute, energy centers, and data centers.

Aila's Grey Race logistics team simultaneously launched the resource takeover program. Mining stars, factories, warehouses, and energy stations were marked and sealed one by one. Massive amounts of resources were incorporated into the Empire's logistics system, laying a solid foundation for subsequent occupation and expansion.

In just half an hour, the Dawn Empire army had fully entered the Federal core territory!

From the outer airspace to the near-Earth orbit of Odin Planet, from interstellar fortresses to space stations, from orbital shipping lanes to surface airspace, all were firmly controlled by the Imperial forces!

The once impregnable Federal core was now wide open, allowing the Imperial army to gallop!

Three thousand meters underground on Odin Planet, the Federal Supreme Command Center.

This place had long since turned into a living hell.

Marshal Arthuron slumped in the supreme command chair, his face as pale as paper, the blood on the corner of his mouth still wet, his eyes hollow and lifeless. Watching the completely collapsed defense line on the screen, watching the Dawn Empire fleet pouring into the core territory like a tide, he felt as if his soul had been drained away.

"They... they came in..." Marshal Arthuron muttered to himself, his voice hoarse and broken. "Emperor Chen Fan's army... really came in... The core territory... is gone..."

The Chief Defense General knelt on the ground, his face ashen, his voice trembling: "Mr. President! The orbit is completely lost! The army is completely routed! The defenses are all destroyed! We... we have no ability to resist anymore! Odin Planet has been completely surrounded!"

The Federal high-level officials around them were either hugging their heads and crying, crazily smashing equipment, pulling out guns to commit suicide, or secretly changing into civilian clothes in preparation to flee. The majesty and order of the thousand-year Federation collapsed at this moment, leaving only despair and chaos.

"Hold the line!" Marshal Arthuron roared suddenly, like a dying beast, the last madness bursting out in his eyes. "Even if the core territory is broken, we still have the surface defenses of Odin Planet! We still have the capital planet shield! We still have a million ground troops! We will hold the line and not retreat! Fight to the death with Emperor Chen Fan!"

"Activate the Odin Planet capital shield! Shrink ground forces comprehensively! Prepare for the capital planet defense battle!"

The crazy order spread to the remaining Federal troops, but at this moment, morale was gone, the defense line was broken, and no matter how much they held on, it was just a dying struggle of gasping for breath.

And at this moment, the Dawn Empire command hall.

Xing Xi's voice carried the fervent report of victory, resounding throughout the hall: "Report to the Emperor! The entire army has successfully entered the Federal core territory! The orbit of Odin Planet is completely blockaded! The airspace is completely purged! All outer facilities have been taken over! Ninety percent of the Federal territory has been officially incorporated into the territory of the Dawn Empire!"

On the giant holographic star map, the azure Dawn territory completely covered ninety percent of the Federation, leaving only that small light spot of Odin Planet, surrounded by the Imperial fleet layer by layer, like a lone boat in a storm.

Commander Lei Meng strode back to the command hall and knelt on one knee: "Emperor! Odin Planet has been completely surrounded! The remaining Federal forces have all retreated to the surface, activated the capital planet shield, and are attempting to put up a desperate resistance! Requesting an order to launch the surface assault battle!"

Commander Ling Ye, Old Hu, Commander Ling Shuang, Commander Su Qingyue, and Aila all bowed in unison, requesting battle: "Please, Emperor, give the order to level Odin Planet and destroy the Federation!"

Emperor Chen Fan's eyes were like torches, overlooking the surrounded Odin Planet, a cold arc curling at the corner of his mouth.

Breaking through the defense perimeter and entering the core territory was only the first step.

Next, he would rescue the oppressed geniuses, recruit top scientific research forces, uncover the unjust grievances of the past, stir up internal chaos in the Federation, and finally, bring his troops to the city walls to demand payment in blood!

He wanted to, step by step, let the thousand-year foundation of the Federation turn completely into historical dust.

"No need to rush the total attack." Emperor Chen Fan spoke slowly, his voice calm but carrying endless majesty. "Transmit my decree—"

"Commander Ling Ye, lead the Shadow Fleet to land on the surface immediately, rescue all political prisoners and geniuses, and recruit them for our own use!"

"Commander Su Qingyue, go personally to the Federal Research Institute, recruit all scientific research personnel, and take over all research results!"

"Xing Xi, seal the complete chain of evidence regarding my exile back then, wait for the best time, and publish it on the entire network!"

"All other units, hold the orbit, besiege Odin Planet, and wait and see."

"I want to let the Federation rot completely from within!"

"Obey the Emperor's command!"

The six great commanders took the order in unison. The iron-blooded fighting spirit and strategic layout intertwined, and the final curtain for the destruction of the Federation had been fully opened!

Above the starry sky, the flagship Dawn hovered high above the orbit of Odin Planet, like a supreme monarch, quietly overlooking its prey.

The last ten percent of the Federation's territory was already in the bag.

The countdown to the destruction of the thousand-year Federation had begun!

(Chapter 146 End)