The establishment of the Qingyang Free Peoples Alliance was like a shot in the arm, injecting vitality into this land that had suffered so much. Plans were quickly formulated and put into action.
Franky and Nami, along with several leaders skilled in mechanics and intelligence (mainly Underground Tribe and some former low-level imperial technicians who had surrendered), worked day and night to analyze all the data they could gather about the orbital monitoring station " Eye of Qingyang "—its structural diagram (though incomplete), the locations of defensive turrets, the distribution of energy nodes, and the shift change patterns of the patrol fleet.
Ultimately, they found a breakthrough—every standard cycle, the " Eye of Qingyang " undergoes a large-scale data synchronization, during which some defense systems briefly switch to internal energy, creating a vulnerability of about three minutes in external vigilance. At the same time, a small transport fleet arrives to resupply, making it the perfect opportunity to infiltrate.
The operation will commence during the next data synchronization window!
The Ark Maxim underwent final inspections and preparations, with the Star Reactor's output power adjusted to optimal levels. The Straw Hat Pirates's main force— Luffy, Zoro, Sanji, Allen, Franky (responsible for control and firepower), Usopp (long-range sniping and special ammunition support)—boarded the ship, ready to carry out a surprise attack. Chopper, Brook, and Robin remained at the " Root of the Azure Sun," assisting in defense and utilizing Robin's wisdom to coordinate the ground feint attack.
On the ground, three armies, led by Molten Hammer Goron, Tidewhisper Lan, and Wind Chaser Kai respectively, launched a fierce feint attack on three important ground facilities of the Crystal Husk Empire at the agreed time: an energy refinery, a robot assembly workshop, and a communications relay station!
Battle erupted instantly at multiple locations on the planet's surface! With unwavering resolve, the Resistance fighters, armed with rudimentary weapons and their bare hands, relentlessly assaulted the Empire's steel defenses. Explosions, shouts, and the roar of energy weapons echoed through the sky, successfully drawing the attention of Imperial ground forces and some orbital units.
"Now! Take action!"
Hidden in the shadows of Qingyang II, Ark Maxim, like a lurking cheetah, suddenly sprang into action! With its engines at maximum power, it sped towards the " Eye of Qingyang " orbital station like a ghost, following a meticulously calculated route that avoided the main probes as much as possible!
Using the transport fleet that was docking as cover, Ark Maxim successfully approached the outer defense perimeter of the orbital station.
"Unknown high-speed approaching object detected! Warning issued!" The orbital station's AI issued an alert, but it was too late!
" Franky! Maximize the shield! Charge in!" Luffy shouted from the bow of the ship.
"Understood! Ark Maxim, Assault Mode!" Franky slammed the control stick, and the starlight shield on the spaceship's surface shone brightly, like a silver meteor, smashing through the isolation gate of the orbital station's port area and forcibly breaking into the station!
"Enemy attack! Enemy attack! High alert! All defensive turrets activated! Internal security robots deployed!" The piercing alarm blared throughout the entire orbital station.
Chaos reigned in the port area, with newly docked transport ships being knocked over and thrown about. Countless combat robots poured out of the passageways, raining down dense beams of energy upon Ark Maxim.
" Gum-Gum -Gum- God of Thunder Elephant Gun!" Luffy's massive fist, covered in Armament Haki and crackling with Conqueror's Haki Inazuma, unleashed a devastating shockwave that destroyed a large number of robots and facilities in front of him!
" Three-Sword Style: Black Rope Dragon Twister!" Zoro transforms into a storm of swords, sweeping forward along a main passage, shredding everything in his path to pieces.
Sanji used Geppo to nimbly navigate through the complex pipes and supports, and with " Diable Jambe: Continuous Dragon's Eye - Shot!" he precisely kicked the energy cores of each defensive turret.
Usopp, occupying a high vantage point, used his "Special Move: Nebula Star" to create a wide-ranging smoke and illusions, disrupting the robot's lock-on, and used the thorny vines of his "Special Move: Green Star: Demon" to entangle and hinder the enemy.
Franky controlled the main and secondary cannons of the Ark Maxim, targeting and eliminating key structural supports and large defensive platforms.
Allen, however, had a clear objective. His senses had already locked onto the core of the orbital station—the main control center and the energy reactor.
"Leave this to us! Allen, you take care of the core!" Luffy shouted as he knocked a heavy robot away.
Allen nodded, and with a flash, he used his spatial teleportation ability to ignore all obstacles along the way. In a few blinks, he appeared outside the main control room, the deepest part of the orbital station and the most heavily guarded.
The heavy alloy door was like paper in front of him, easily twisted and torn open by the power of space.
Inside the main control room, dozens of elite guard robots and a cyborg commander (who appears to be a high-ranking official of the Crystal Husk Empire ) floating in mid-air and connected by countless fiber optic cables are on high alert.
"Intruders! Halt! This place belongs to the Crystal Husk Empire..." the cyborg commander announced in a cold, electronic voice.
Allen didn't give him time to waste.
" Time Imprisonment."
An invisible force field enveloped the entire control room, freezing the movements of all the robots and the commander instantly, as if a pause button had been pressed.
Allen walked to the main control panel and placed his palm on it. The Power of the Stars and his strong mental energy forcefully broke through the firewall and surged into the system.
"Command overwrite: Obtain highest privileges."
Command input: Energy reactor overload program initiated, countdown 60 seconds.
"Command input: Transmit all data, especially information about ' Observers ' and ' Purge Protocol,' to Ark Maxim."
Command input: Self-destruct program initiated, countdown 180 seconds.
A cold, electronic voice sounded:
[WARNING! Reactor overload procedure activated! 59, 58...]
[Highest-level data transfer begins...]
[Self-destruct program initiated! 179, 178...]
Having done all this, Allen didn't even glance at the imprisoned enemies before disappearing again.
When he returned to the port area to reunite with his companions, Ark Maxim had already cleared out the surrounding enemies.
"All done! Let's get out of here!" Allen said curtly.
The group quickly boarded the ship, Ark Maxim changed direction, smashed open the other side's gate, and sped away from the orbital station, which was already shaking violently and exploding inside!
Behind them, the " Eye of Qingyang " orbital station unleashed its final and most dazzling burst of destructive light, like a fleeting star illuminating the edge of the Jade Nebula, before shattering into countless fragments that scattered across the orbit of Qingyang II.
The Resistance fighters on the ground witnessed the magnificent explosion and erupted in deafening cheers! The Crystal Husk Empire's eyes on Qingyang II had been completely blinded!
The Straw Hat Pirates's first space-based joint operation was a resounding success!