Everything happened in just a few dozen seconds.
In less than a minute, under Zero's control, the Human Federation fleet completed its transition from partial dormancy to first-level alert status!
Most of the academicians in the laboratory had not even shaken off their joy at the curvature experiment's success.
What was this supposed to be?
I'm here in the laboratory, and you're telling me an alien civilization has invaded?
"Zero, what's going on?!"
Lü Yongchang's expression changed dramatically as he demanded, "Why did you order the fleet into first-level alert status without authorization?!"
"Professor, Observation Starship Thirty has been confirmed unresponsive."
The slightly stiff electronic synthesized voice replied, "Based on the information currently returned by the various probes, we can be reasonably certain that Observation Starship Thirty came under an unknown attack."
Lü Yongchang hurriedly asked, "Where did the attack come from?!"
"Unknown."
"Method of attack?"
"Unknown."
Lü Yongchang clenched his fists tightly.
That string of "unknowns" once again filled him with a deep sense of helplessness.
Was an advanced civilization behind this again?
Humanity's experiences over the past few centuries made that his first suspicion.
He was not alone. Almost every academician present looked grim.
"Zero, show us the footage of Probe Starship Thirty coming under attack," Lü Yongchang ordered heavily.
As soon as he finished speaking, the image in the holographic projection changed.
The moment the countdown ended, [Curvature One] successfully exited its curvature state and appeared right in the center of the camera's view.
Half of Probe Starship Thirty's hull was visible in the far corner of the image.
One second, two seconds...
At the three-second mark, Probe Starship Thirty's surface suddenly emitted a blinding burst of white light, as though it had been struck by something!
The white light quickly faded.
But Probe Starship Thirty had