Global Crossing: Empire of Stars

"Repeat: Unknown fleet detected 10 light-years ahead!"

A warning suddenly blared through the previously silent communications system. The relaxed atmosphere turned tense, and piercing alarms rang through the Expeditionary Fleet as combat personnel rushed to their stations.

Wu Tianyi quickly walked over and sat in the captain's chair. Looking at the data sent through the Holographic Communication system, he asked, "Have you finished comparing the data?"

"Duke, the data comparison is complete. Our preliminary assessment is that the target is a Tyranid swarm, with a similarity of over 91.2%," the adjutant reported at once.

That figure essentially confirmed the target's identity. Wu Tianyi nodded. "Follow the contingency plan. Prepare for engagement!"

"Understood!"

The order went out, and every ship immediately prepared for battle. Warships moved to the front, civilian vessels fell back, and the Warp Bubble began to decelerate, preparing to return to normal space.

The two sides were 10 light-years apart. It might seem that they could simply turn aside and avoid each other, but in fact, accelerating or decelerating a Warp Bubble took time. Ten light-years was barely enough distance to "brake." According to the FTL radar readings, the Imperial Fleet had no time to evade the swarm.

As for charging straight through, that might work against smaller Tyranid warships, but it would be dangerous against larger ones. A Warp Bubble was nowhere near as sturdy as an Energy Shield. If it ruptured, the entire fleet would fall into disarray and face grave danger.

A month later, the Imperial Fleet finally exited FTL Travel. The fleet's radar arrays opened to full power, immediately detecting the vast swarm several light-minutes away.

"Too many..." Wu Tianyi frowned as he watched the number on the Holographic Projection keep climbing.

Initial estimates put the swarm at over thirty billion. It stretched endlessly