Star Alliance

"Then, Captain Macha, if you need anything from our ground forces, please notify us immediately."

The Marine lieutenant also said this to Macha before following Gabriel off the bridge.

"Helljumpers are always ready to step into hell." The second lieutenant likewise left the bridge after saying this in a flat voice.

"Ugh..."

Seeing the three commanders aboard her ship leave, Macha could only shake her head and sigh helplessly.

"Captain!"

At that moment, the communications officer seated on the left side of the bridge, who had been trying to restore communications, turned toward Macha and reported loudly:

"While I was just testing every available means of communication, I suddenly received a video transmission. Its source appears to be those three warships heading toward us."

Upon hearing this,

Macha composed her expression, took a moment to steady herself, and said to the communications officer:

"Project that video transmission onto the Central Control Console."

"Yes, Captain."

After replying, the communications officer projected the other party's video transmission onto the Central Control Console and played it on the holographic screen.

The background shown in the video appeared to be the other party's communications room—or perhaps their bridge.

The interior structures of their vessels were also rounded, nothing like the square, flat designs of human warships.

More importantly...

The "person" shown in the center of the video convinced Macha completely that the other party was an alien species, not some hidden human faction.

The "person" had four lips, somewhat gray skin, and, most notably, an extremely hunched posture.

The helmet they wore and the armor covering their upper body were brown-gold, with a dim blue light radiating from the details, giving it an exceedingly luxurious appearance.

"Argh! Chakula! Yukul!..."

The other party opened its four-part mouth, its expression seemingly showing some anger, and spoke