The Central Galaxy and the Shattered Star Ring are separated by several star regions, interspersed with a large number of Desolate Universe Belt. The distance is very far. Even when the subordinates of the Sorokin were traveling in advanced spaceships with ultra-high warp speeds, it took them several years to jump across this distance. If they had used conventional flight without jumps, the journey time would probably have been in the hundreds of millions of years.
The first stop of the long-range fleet was the inter-stellar portal station built by the Crimson Dynasty in the Shattered Star Ring.
Interstellar portals can significantly shorten travel time and are the only stable and fast method for crossing star systems; naturally generated wormholes are not included in this category.
The longer the distance a stargate spans, the more difficult it is to pinpoint its location, and the more prone it is to errors. Inter-stellar portals are a technological hurdle that even star cluster-level civilizations cannot achieve. Super-star cluster-level civilizations, on the other hand, possess this technology. However, the Three Universal Civilizations have stipulated that civilizations other than themselves are not allowed to build inter-stellar portals. Therefore, all inter-stellar portals are products of the Three Universal Civilizations, controlled by them, and are divided into civilian and military uses.
Han Xiao and his group planned to use the military passage, which was more convenient and faster. As high-ranking allies of the Empire belonged to the privileged class, they naturally had the necessary permissions.
"I've already notified the guards at the stargate station. Just state your identity, and they'll let you through and activate the military stargate passage for you. Once you reach the Constellation Corridor, Imperial troops will be there to receive you."
"That's what Suy said over the communicator."
The Central Galaxy is a collective term for the Three Universal Civilizations star regions of civilizations, which are mutually supportive and form the central region of the universe. These three star regions are the Star Cluster Abyss under the jurisdiction of the Federation of Light, the Shining Silver Arm controlled by the Arcane Church, and the territory of the Crimson Dynasty — the Constellation Corridor.
The Crimson Dynasty's military stargate station in the Shattered Star Ring is located in a peripheral star cluster. Starting from the Black Star Army headquarters, using various star cluster-level stargates and employing full-speed warp, it would take more than half a month to reach it.
Han Xiao stayed in the long-distance fleet, interacting with the Empire's elites such as Tenny along the way. Given his status and position, coupled with the fact that they saw each other every day on the same ship, most of them formed initial friendships with Han Xiao.
Only Tenny's attitude remained lukewarm, neither too close nor too distant. He was naturally suspicious, and maintaining vigilance was his habit.
However, Han Xiao understood his personality quite well. If he tried to please him, it would backfire and arouse greater suspicion. Moreover, it was unlikely that a Beyond Grade A officer would lower himself to curry favor with an Imperial colonel. Therefore, Han Xiao treated everyone equally and never spoke to Tenny alone.
Based on Tenny's interests, Han Xiao decided to wait and see. As a fellow mechanic, there was a high chance that Tenny would take the initiative to ask for his advice. After all, he was one of the Empire's own people, and spending so much time together was the best opportunity to learn from him. Although he didn't know where Tenny's wariness came from, there seemed to be no need to give up this opportunity.
About ten days after they set off, Han Xiao finally heard Tenny knock on his door.
"You want to learn my mechanical skills?"
In the room, Han Xiao had Phillip operate the floating household robot to deliver two glasses of calming, light green herbal drinks to the table, while his gaze was fixed on Tenny and his adjutant Kebos across the table.
Tenny nodded slowly, without touching the drink on the table, and said, "It's not really about studying, I just wanted to have a chat with you."
Since he needed someone's help this time, he naturally wouldn't put on a cold face. He lowered some of his guard, adopted a sincere attitude, and humbled himself somewhat.
In his view, there was nothing shameful about it. No matter what achievements he made in the future, for now, he was just a colonel in the Imperial Army, a position and status vastly different from Han Xiao's.
Han Xiao was secretly delighted, but his face remained impassive. He tapped the table with his finger and asked knowingly, "I only know you're Mechanic Class superhuman, but I've never heard you say which branch of mechanic you're inclined towards."
"A pure mechanic, armed branch. Two years ago, I crossed the Grade A threshold and became Calamity Grade," Tenny said.
"Well, although I'm not from the armed forces branch, I can still pass on some experience to you." Han Xiao smiled; as a Beyond Grade A, he was qualified to teach others.
"That is exactly what I requested." Tenny nodded.
Every Beyond Grade A mechanic has their own area of expertise; some have a unique personal style, while others possess unique techniques. At his current level, it's difficult for Tenny to come into contact with Beyond Grade A mechanics, so he didn't want to miss the opportunity to learn from Black Star.
He had this idea when he first learned that he was to come here for reformation. He observed Han Xiao for a while before deciding to take action.
Han Xiao and he exchanged technical insights for several hours, and Tenny felt he had benefited greatly.
"That's enough for today." Han Xiao paused, a smile playing on his lips. He deliberately tapped his temple and said, "I just transferred some theoretical data to your communicator. Some of it is my summary of experience, and some is technical theory I've collected. Take a look."
Upon hearing this, Tenny nodded and said, "Thank you very much."
"You're welcome." Han Xiao waved his hand, suppressing a laugh, and said casually, "Anyway, there's nothing to do on the road. If you have any questions, you can come find me again."
"Okay." Tenny forced a smile, his attitude becoming even better; after all, he was indebted to those who paid for his food.
Han Xiao knew that benefits should be given in moderation, so he didn't continue and indicated that he wanted to see the guest out. Tenny bowed and left the room, his steps much lighter.
Watching Tenny's the Sight of Father's Back disappear behind the door, Han Xiao shook his head and smiled, quite satisfied. With this connection, their friendship could continue to grow, and their favorability rating was about to reach "friendly."
"With my status, it's much easier to make friends with high-ranking people than before," Han Xiao thought to himself.
If it were a player wanting to befriend Tenny, there would be almost no way to do so. But my situation is different. Tenny hasn't achieved the same level of success as he did in his previous life, and my status is higher than Tenny's. Moreover, he's an ally of the Empire, a true friend. Given these factors, even though Tenny seems wary, he still takes the initiative to come to me.
The difference in status provides an advantage; given Han Xiao's current position, it's much easier for him to gain favor with characters than for other players.
Over the next ten days or so, Tenny would come to consult him every other day. Their relationship gradually progressed and slowly transformed into friendship. As the saying goes, "the accomplished are teachers," and this future marshal of the empire treated Han Xiao as a student.
Of course, due to his status, he couldn't really become Han Xiao's student. However, Beyond Grade A students have no obligation to impart their experience. Han Xiao's generosity was a great favor to him. Although Tenny was suspicious, he wasn't someone who couldn't distinguish right from wrong. Remembering this favor, he naturally wouldn't keep his distance from Han Xiao anymore.
However, whenever Tenny came to consult him, he would bring Kebos along. Han Xiao also knew a bit about this man. This adjutant was extremely loyal to Tenny, and Tenny treated his subordinates very well, allowing this guy to gain quite a few extra benefits by following him.
Han Xiao thought he might be able to work on Kebos. Just like when pursuing a girl, bribing her best friend is a shortcut. As for Tenny, although he couldn't bribe his loyal subordinates, given how Tenny took care of Kebos, if he helped Kebos a lot, Tenny might be more likely to develop a good impression of him.
More than half a month later, the long-range fleet finally arrived at the Empire's military stargate station in the Shattered Star Ring.
In the pitch-black universe, a hexagonal stargate floats, its interior swirling with dense spatial energy in a deep blue vortex. Surrounding it are heavy Imperial space fortresses, garrisoned by troops. Unlike civilian stations, no ships enter or leave this stargate; it is reserved solely for Imperial forces.
As the fleet approached, the stargate grew larger and larger in view. As they got closer, the edges of the stargate seemed to extend to the horizon, making it incredibly huge and spectacular.
"Warning! Detection! Psionic Energy Annihilation Cannon locked on!"
The main ship where Han Xiao was located issued an alarm, but everyone remained calm. They already knew that once they entered a certain range of the military stargate, they would be locked onto by the guards.
"Halt and identify yourself." The main ship's AI received this message from the defending forces.
"Black Star." Han Xiao verified his identity.
After a while, they received confirmation of the identities, and the garrison lifted the artillery lock, signaling the fleet to advance.
At this moment, the main ship received a communication request from the garrison. After the connection was made, a stern-faced man who appeared to be the commander appeared on the screen and spoke in a deep voice.
"Your Excellency Black Star, Suy has instructed us to prepare a route for you in advance. This stargate teleportation is a direct route, with the teleportation point being the Red Ring Constellation Eighth Star Zone. It will take you directly into Imperial territory, where a guard dispatched by the mother planet will meet you. They will open a special Spirit Form Flight Passage for you, allowing you to make a second jump. Only in this way can you pass through the Psionic Energy Restriction Belt surrounding the mother planet and reach the Imperial mother planet."
Han Xiao nodded.
Cosmic civilizations possess powerful weapons. To prevent each other from going mad one day and using a long-range, Primal Psionic Energy planet-destroying strike to annihilate their homeworld, cosmic civilizations have deployed various advanced restrictions and defenses on their homeworlds, as if they were surrounded by layers of filters. Only specific methods can be used to enter or exit; normal flight simply cannot get in.
The commander then looked at Tenny beside him, a smile creeping onto his usually expressionless face. "Tenny, it's been a long time."
"It's you." Tenny's expression was somewhat strange. "What are you doing here guarding the Stargate?"
"This is an order from above." The commander shook his head, a bitter look flashing in his eyes, which he quickly suppressed.
This commander and Tenny were classmates at the Imperial "Journey" Advanced Military Academy. They knew each other and both had excellent grades. They should have had bright futures, but Tenny never expected that he would be assigned to guard the stargate.
Guarding a stargate is not a good job, especially a military stargate. There are few opportunities to make a name for yourself, and you will be held responsible if something goes wrong. However, for the safety of the stargate, it is necessary to send elite troops to guard it. Therefore, the officers who guard the stargate are either randomly assigned or unlucky guys who have been ostracized in factional struggles. No one would choose this position voluntarily.
Upon hearing this, Tenny knew that his friend had obviously suffered a heavy blow in the factional struggle, and shook his head helplessly, "Then you should just stay and guard your post. Anyway, you'll be transferred away in a few years, so just treat it as training troops in peace."
The rotation period for the Stargate garrison is not long, usually every six to ten years. The Empire will not sit idly by and let its elite troops be stuck at the Stargate station indefinitely.
After a brief exchange, the garrison commander ended the communication, just as the long-range fleet was about to enter the stargate.
An extremely strong pulling force emanated from the other end of the stargate, some unknown distance away, like Black Hole, trying to pull them all in.
As the fleet entered the stargate, the world outside the portholes instantly lit up.
The interior of the stargate passage is filled with Berserk spatial energy, but it is restrained by stargate technology, forming a stable passage, as if it has transformed from a ferocious beast into a tamed pet.
The spaceship's movement seemed to have stopped; no one could feel any speed, as if the fleet had stopped moving inside the stargate.
However, as if only a moment had passed, the ship suddenly shuddered, and the surrounding spatial energy light disappeared as if the tide had receded. The view outside the portholes once again turned into a pitch-black universe adorned with jewel-like starlight.
The stargate, which was originally located at the front, is now at the rear of the fleet.
The distribution of the surrounding fortresses had also changed, and the garrison at this stargate station was more than ten times larger than before.
A special fleet awaited them, its spaceships bearing an unusual appearance, seemingly some kind of rare and obscure type of ship.
beep beep...
At this moment, each quantum network receiving terminal simultaneously received a regional broadcast from this special fleet:
"Welcome to the Central Galaxy, Lord Black Star."