Arsenal

Base No. 45 completely lost contact with Li Qingsong.

Losing one Base No. 45 was still within acceptable limits. Even if he lost more bases, Li Qingsong would not care in the short term.

But the key issue was that those major mineral veins could not be lost!

For example, Iron Mine No. 1, No. 1 Copper Mine, No. 1 Oxygen Mine, No. 1 Tholin Mine, and the other ten mineral veins in total.

These mineral veins were Li Qingsong's lifeline. Their output supported the development of the Main Base.

The key issue now is figuring out how many of these strange birds there are, and where they all are.

Thoughts raced through Li Qingsong's mind as he tried to operate the telescope aboard the Deep Space spacecraft, aiming it at Luoshen Star and searching the planet from hundreds of kilometers away.

But compared to an entire planet, these strange birds were still too small. After searching for a while, the Deep Space spacecraft found no sign of them.

It could not even see Base No. 45, where the strange birds had already been confirmed.

With no other choice, Li Qingsong thought it over and could only take the risk of launching his sole Landing Spaceship, carefully searching Luoshen Star.

After flying less than a hundred kilometers, Li Qingsong saw a shocking sight.

Across Luoshen Star's dark red ground, an unknown number of strange birds were scattered in dense swarms. Some were large, some small. The largest stood over three meters tall, while even the smallest were more than a meter tall!

A rough estimate put the number of strange birds here at over two thousand!

They were currently on Luoshen Star's surface, using their sharp mouthparts and wings to collect organic compounds such as tholin, formaldehyde, and methane, seemingly through a combination of heating and cutting, before gulping them down.

Around a thousand had appeared at Base No. 45, and there were another two thousand here...

When did these monsters get here...?

Li Qingsong thought to himself.

There was nothing he could do. He currently had no space observation or early-warning capabilities. Otherwise, he could have discovered them before they descended from space and would not be in such a passive position now.

Operating the Landing Spaceship, Li Qingsong continued onward.

After traveling farther, Li Qingsong spotted another flock of strange birds. This time, the strange birds seemed to have noticed him.

Several strange birds blasted fierce streams of air from their tails, propelling themselves into the sky at high speed as they charged toward the Landing Spaceship.

Li Qingsong immediately took evasive action.

But the strange birds did not fly very high. After rising only a few dozen meters, the streams of air from their tails vanished, and their bodies slowly fell back down.

At the same time, Li Qingsong saw some strange birds falling from the endless darkness of deep space ahead at incredible speed. Just before hitting the ground, streams of air also erupted from their tails, slowing them down and ultimately allowing them to land on Luoshen Star's surface at a relatively low speed.

But even after slowing down, some strange birds were still moving too fast. They slammed heavily into the ground. Some fell still immediately, while others struggled for a long time without being able to get back up.

A realization dawned on Li Qingsong.

These strange birds had indeed migrated here from the stars.

Perhaps because of the long interstellar voyage, they had almost exhausted their energy and had essentially lost their ability to fly for the time being.

This was good news for him.

But... Luoshen Star had abundant material supplies.

Li Qingsong did not know how long it would take for the materials they replenished on Luoshen Star to be converted into the power needed for flight. However, it should not take too long.

Based on the data obtained from dissecting that strange bird earlier, Li Qingsong arrived at an estimate.

At most, it would not exceed a month and a half. More likely, it would be between thirty and forty days.

As far as the eye could see, strange birds blanketed the land and sky. There were over ten thousand within his field of vision alone.

Including those he had not yet discovered, as well as those still descending from space, what would their total number be?

Grimness filled Li Qingsong's heart, and he immediately made a decision.

Store fifty clones aboard the Deep Space spacecraft along with the necessary supplies. First, withdraw from Luoshen Star and hide in space!

The remaining clones, industrial facilities, and supplies that cannot be taken away will stay on Luoshen Star and fight these things!

If we can beat them, I'll continue developing on Luoshen Star. If we can't, I'll flee to another planet and continue developing there!

Fortunately, the Deep Space spacecraft has not been active lately, and there are only a few clones aboard. These strange birds are low on energy too, so they did not take an interest in it. Otherwise, if I lost the Deep Space spacecraft, I wouldn't even have a final escape route left.

Li Qingsong decisively operated the Landing Spaceship back to the Main Base, then immediately began transporting the relevant clones and supplies. He started the Deep Space spacecraft's engines at once and guided it into deep space.

Over the years, Li Qingsong had carefully maintained the Deep Space spacecraft. His current technological level had also barely reached the point where he could manufacture chemical fuel, allowing it to start up again.

While withdrawing the Deep Space spacecraft, Li Qingsong made a second decision.

War between me and these strange birds is inevitable.

In that case, contract the front! Abandon all secondary bases. Concentrate all clones at the ten major Mining Bases. Defend the Main Base, the ten Mining Bases, and the Railway Line to the death, buying time for development.

Then... develop weapons technology with everything we have!

For a time, nearly ten thousand clones from more than ninety of the over one hundred scattered bases rushed out. All kinds of mechanical vehicles, including Mining Cars, bulldozers, trucks, and Prospecting Vehicles, began roaring as they charged across Luoshen Star's dead, silent ground as if their lives depended on it.

On the railways, every train was mobilized, pulling countless clones away from their existing bases and transporting them to the Main Base or the core Mining Bases.

Within the core Mining Bases, countless clones also sprang into action, gathering every component that could be used as a weapon and doing everything they could to arm themselves.

Several thousand clones at the Main Base also put on Spacesuits and rushed to the edge of the base.

A large number of searchlights were erected around the base's perimeter. Countless Prospecting Vehicles scattered outward as the clones risked death to charge into the darkness.

Sending out the sole Landing Spaceship again was too risky. For now, they could only rely on the clones to conduct reconnaissance in person.

They would patrol and stand guard around the edge of the base. The moment they discovered an attack by the strange birds, they could immediately send the information back.

Besides these preparations, Li Qingsong was also carrying out the most crucial and urgent task of all.

The several dozen existing factories capable of metal processing all halted their current production. Li Qingsong converted every one of them into the most important type of factory at this stage.

Arsenals!

Arsenals producing cold weapons!