The Federal First Exploration Fleet, tasked with the heavy responsibility of exploring the Salaxis V system, finally looked forward to its return journey after an expedition full of dangers and challenges.
The fleet members were filled with anticipation, imagining the accolades they would receive upon returning to the Terra System, and the immense progress their discoveries would bring to the Federation.
However, the trajectory of fate subtly shifted, and a sudden nightmare awaited them.
During the exploration of the Ancient One ruins, the fleet encountered numerous difficulties and obstacles.
Scientific research vessels, like fragile eggshells, shattered and sank under the sudden impact of mysterious anti-gravity and psionic forces, and the frigid cosmos instantly swallowed those brave researchers.
Some Space Marines and ground forces were also left behind forever in that strange land, victims of the ruins' traps and attacks from unknown creatures.
But overall, their exploration yielded rich results, and the most important discoveries had been successfully transported back to the Terra System via wormhole, which kept hope alive in the fleet members after their tribulations.
As they prepared to activate their Warp Engines, about to form a formation and enter the temporal bubble to embark on their journey home, the peaceful cosmos was suddenly shattered.
A dark crack ripped open in the void, like a giant maw opened by a demon, and the Tomb-class Crypt Ship "Hand of Death" slowly emerged from it.
Its massive and hideous body emitted a cold metallic sheen, and the relativistic energy generated by its Inertialess Engine, like a furious giant beast, wantonly distorted the surrounding starlight, seemingly making the entire cosmic space tremble.
Almost at the same moment, three Scythe-class Harvester ships, like specters, appeared in a crescent formation on the Federal Fleet's right flank.
Their hulls were long and sharp, like the scythes of death, shimmering with an eerie glow in the darkness of the cosmos.
Gauss Flayers instantly spewed out beams of light as dense as a green downpour; even with the Federal Battleship's high maneuverability, it could not evade this concentrated attack.
The frigate "Indomitable" bore the brunt of the assault; its void shield and energy shield flickered and overloaded under the fierce attack of the Gauss beams, like candles in the wind.
Those green beams contained destructive power, mercilessly impacting the shields, each collision triggering a strong flash of light and energy fluctuation.
Immediately after, living metal warheads, like deadly arrows, penetrated the already fragile armor.
The hull of the "Indomitable" seemed to be corroded by strong acid, rapidly peeling and disintegrating, metal fragments scattering into space like a brilliant yet tragic fireworks display.
On the Moon-class Cruiser flagship "Endeavor," the atmosphere was extremely tense.
Captain Zhou Yang stared intently at the crisis before him, his eyes revealing determination and resolve.
He quickly gave the order: "Rotate the lances, volleys!" With a dull roar, the "Endeavor's" lances all turned, and a dazzling flash of light instantly erupted, like a scorching blade, fiercely stabbing towards the bow of the "Hand of Death."
Upon impact, the "Hand of Death's" phase shield rippled, like a giant stone thrown into a calm lake.
However, this powerful attack seemed to cause no fatal damage to it; the living metal on the hull's surface rapidly surged, as if alive, quickly repairing the cracks.
At the same time, the Tomb Technician activated a Star Pulse Shockwave.
A ghostly blue pulse, like surging waves, swept across the entire battlefield.
Wherever the ghostly blue light reached, everything seemed to be frozen; the engines of two Federal frigates instantly died, leaving them drifting helplessly in space, like lambs to the slaughter, becoming easy targets for the enemy.
The Scythe-class Harvester "Tooth of Annihilation" seized the opportunity, once again employing phase shift technology, ghost-like appearing at the rear of the remaining frigate.
It opened the hatches on its hull, releasing swarms of Scarabs.
Countless Scarabs, like nanoclouds, poured out in a tide towards the Federal frigate.
Wherever they went, the sharp, grating sound of metal being chewed was piercing, like the whispers of demons, mercilessly penetrating the communication channels and reaching the ears of every Federal crew member.
Inside the frigate, the crew watched in horror as the cloud-like swarm of Scarabs approached, their faces filled with despair.
They tried to activate the defense systems, but it was too late.
The Scarabs instantly covered the hull, frantically gnawing at the metal, and the frigate's turrets were riddled with holes in a short time.
The captain looked at the desperate situation before him, a sense of resolve rising in his heart.
He gripped the control console's handrail tightly, his knuckles white from the effort, and roared, "All or nothing, ram the enemy ship!"
The "Endeavor," like an enraged bull, charged recklessly towards the "Tooth of Annihilation."
However, the "Tooth of Annihilation" once again shimmered and disappeared, leaving only the self-destructing Federal Battleship to turn into wreckage in a nuclear explosion, a huge mushroom cloud rising in space, emitting a dazzling light, and then rapidly dissipating into the darkness.
Facing this sudden attack, Zhou Yang's fleet was caught off guard.
Although they reacted quickly, due to losing the initiative and being outnumbered, they ultimately fell into a disadvantage in this fierce naval battle.
The Space Undead Battleship's weapon systems were extremely advanced; their Gauss beams, like rays of death, instantly overloaded the Federal Battleship's shields, triggering a series of explosions.
Although the Federal Battleship's firepower was fierce, it seemed somewhat powerless against the Space Undead Battleship's sturdy armor.
In the intense exchange of fire, one frigate after another was destroyed under the enemy's fierce assault, turning into wreckage in space.
Each explosion was accompanied by dazzling light and powerful energy impacts, illuminating the surrounding cosmic space as if it were day.
The flagship, the Moon-class Cruiser "Endeavor," also suffered heavy damage, its hull covered with bullet holes and flames.
Alarm bells rang incessantly inside the ship, thick smoke filled the air, and crew members nervously moved through the smoke, carrying out emergency repairs and counterattacks.
Zhou Yang stood on the bridge, looking at the constantly flashing warning lights and damaged instruments, his heart filled with anxiety and helplessness.
At this critical moment, Zhou Yang finally made a decisive decision; he gritted his teeth and shouted, "Initiate wormhole jump, disengage from the battlefield immediately!"
With a strong flash of light, the "Endeavor" disappeared into the energy vortex of the wormhole, leaving behind a devastated battlefield.
And those Space Undead Battleships, after completing their attack, disappeared like ghosts into the vast cosmos, leaving behind countless mysteries.
The members of the Federal Fleet, with heavy hearts and full of doubts, embarked on their return journey.
This tragic naval battle made them deeply aware of the dangers and unknowns of the cosmos, and cast a shadow over the future of the Federation.