Wanderer of the Zerg

Chapter 23: Arrival

H612 was a young dwarf planet discovered by explorers from the Zerg star Expedition twenty years ago. Compared to planets, it was relatively small with gravity only a third of that of the Zerg star. Renowned for its abundant Taier energy, a new type of energy source, it boasted a smaller volume and higher energy output compared to traditional electricity.

Located at the far end of the galaxy, approximately 10 light-years from the Zerg star, military spacecraft lost contact with the Zerg star network during warp space traversal.

As the signal bar connecting to the Zerg star disappeared from the terminal display, Ellis closed the projection screen, folded up the dialogue with Xi Tian, and walked out of the temporary rest area.

In the evening, the spacecraft successfully arrived at H612, and the troops geared up for the next day’s combat mission.

Ellis went downstairs to inspect his subordinates. The new recruits, who joined the military just that autumn, appeared very excited. They moved up and down in their exoskeleton mechs distributed to them. These were mechanical devices wrapped in huge steel frames outside their bodies, powered by Taier energy. Each mech’s right forearm was equipped with a physical control screen, through which officers issued commands via the star network.

Standing aside with arms folded, the Lieutenant watched the movements of his new recruits.

Seeing Ellis, they immediately saluted and shouted loudly, “Good day, Commander!”

Ellis nodded and the Lieutenant turned to the new recruits, blowing loudly on the whistle hanging from his neck.

In a flurry of activity, the recruits quickly formed two lines, facing each other.

The Lieutenant walked between the rows, delivering a loud and motivating speech.

“You are about to shoulder the glorious mission of defending the Zerg star.”

The troops when in the training ground, where every soldier was pushed to their physical limits, forging the spirit of steel military prowess.

The battlefield, on the other hand, was a crucible where all stood equal.

The weak would be consumed by the crucible.

The brave would be forged by it.

“Tell me, will you choose cowardice or bravery?”

“Bravery!” the new recruits shouted in unison, their voices resounding loudly.

The Lieutenant invited Ellis to address them, and Ellis said:

“Tomorrow marks your first trial. Do not hesitate, do not fear. Simply follow the orders as they are given.

On the battlefield, suit up in your mechs, hold your guns steady, and march forward.

The people of the Zerg star await your victorious return.

Understood?”

“Yes!” the recruits replied in unison.

Normally, recruits had to undergo at least three months of collective training before being allowed to operate exoskeleton mechs. However, due to scarce opportunities for real combat, approval was granted to bring the recruits along for experience, to be stationed in the rear during actual combat.

In his three years of service, Ellis had participated in numerous holographic exercises and six large-scale cross-zone drills, but this was his first time personally arriving at a battlefield.

Part of it was due to his unfortunate luck; just before graduating from military school, the Zerg star faced a leadership transition, and diplomatic and military affairs were particularly tumultuous. Many young leaders, though inexperienced, were given significant authority during this period. Following the transition, the new leadership pursued a policy of peaceful coexistence, especially in the military districts located in the Zerg star’s capital, which resulted in a delay of three years.

This opportunity was a rare and valuable one.

Ellis intended to make the most of it.

However, sometimes Ellis wondered about the peculiar standoff between the Zerg star and Tartar.

Almost all young Zerg starians harbored strong animosity towards Tartar. After all, their system supported the royal family, and what infuriated them most was Tartar’s disdain for the Zerg star. With its capital, the ancient city of Siming, spanning ten dynasties, the Zerg star represented the most orthodox heritage of the zerg race.

Yet Tartar, a “nation” that abandoned its home planet like a beggar, gave the Zerg star an entire intact planet. Two hundred years ago, at the peak of the Zerg star’s development, Tartar secretly used biochemical weapons on the battlefield, causing a biocrisis that quickly spread through the Zerg star, drastically reducing its birth rate. Coincidentally, a rare natural disaster occurred at that time, destroying many research facilities and killing scientists, resulting in the Zerg star’s technological capabilities today being far inferior to what they were two hundred years ago.

This was one of the reasons why young Zerg starians harbored such hatred towards Tartar.

While youth expressed indignation, Zerg star adults were surprisingly tolerant towards Tartar. Even Ellis himself could not explain this change.

By the time he noticed the change, he had already undergone it.

Ellis proceeded to visit the remaining three camps, inquiring about the recruits’ conditions with the Lieutenant. Satisfied with the answers, he returned to the rest area, mentally reviewing the battle plans for the next day’s assigned area.

Inside the rest area, Ellis found Angie sitting in his chair, military cap askew and shirt unbuttoned.

Approaching, Ellis teased, “We’re deploying tomorrow, why aren’t you resting up instead of hanging out here with me?”

Angie lowered his head to manipulate the terminal. Hearing Ellis’s voice, he looked up, lips slightly red, eyes bright.

“Nothing much, just came to see you,” Angie’s voice was hoarse, smiling.

“If you’re fine, don’t occupy my seat,” Ellis moved behind the desk and kicked Angie’s military boot.

“Speaking of which, I do have something to ask you,” Angie grinned, “Did you try out the gift I gave you? The patch, have you seen its effects?”

“…How do you expect me to answer that? We’re heading to battle tomorrow, and you’re asking me this now,” Ellis stuttered.

“Isn’t that too exciting?” Angie widened his smile.

“Oh, come on, you saying ‘exciting’ sounds so insincere,” Ellis rolled his eyes, “I feel like you’re here just to laugh at me and check on the results of your gift.”

“Hey, Ellis, you caught on quick this time?”

Ellis pulled Angie up and pushed him towards the door. “You’re as bad as a trickster with that smile. Get out, get out, I need to rest.”

“Truly heartless. Fine, I’ll go find Owen; he never turns me down.”

The response was the sound of the door slamming shut.

Xi Tian woke up once again in bed, his calf muscles sore from cramping.

Sweat dripped from his forehead, leaving a damp mark on the bedding.

The growth spurt during adolescence had given him a taste of growing pains.

Although the growth in height wasn’t very noticeable, the pain was real.

Except for New Year’s Eve parties, Xi Tian rarely experienced nights like this.

In the pitch-dark night, moonlight filtered through the coarse curtains, casting a few strands of light.

People who stayed up all night had some experience. In such an environment, they involuntarily fell into an emotional torrent, drifting with the current.

Xi Tian was in such a state.

Having long been accustomed to falling asleep alone, he found it unbearable after embracing someone else for just a month.

Small issues during the day floated in his mind, growing into huge question marks.

Was he still the same Xi Tian, pure and eager for knowledge?

Had he fallen into the trap of love, now even feeling nostalgic?

Love, created for reproduction, like a splendid robe covered in lice.

He scoffed at love.

Zerg star people were social animals; they needed each other and depended on each other. Highly specialized division of labor and cooperation had brought unprecedented prosperity to the Zerg star.

For example, the terminal on his wrist, supported by technology programming from two hundred years ago, the all-Zerg star network coverage from the intellect, the chip materials from colonial stars, the energy support from H612, and the assembly by immigrants from fifty years ago due to the open immigration policy.

It coalesced countless efforts, ultimately becoming a common terminal on his wrist.

Without a group, there could be no civilization; without dependence, there could be no group.

Love, this thing, simply arose to meet the reproductive needs of females and males, achieving a relatively excellent “reproductive combination.”

Affection and love, fundamentally, existed only to propagate offspring and maintain the survival of a race.

Stripped of its romantic veneer, inside lay only the selfish desires. To satisfy these desires, people twisted their purposes, beautifying and praising selfish desires.

Sub-females were the best example of this.

Those unfamiliar with Zerg star history might think the zerg race had always had a division into three sexes.

Initially, the zergs only had two sexes: females and males. As the zerg people developed tribal cultures and learned to use fire to cook food, sub-females remained in a state of consuming raw meat and drinking blood.

Ancient sub-females were the analogue species of ancient zergs. Today’s sub-females were equivalent to the females of ancient sub-females. In ancient times, sub-females males were more robust than females, but they often ended up beaten by the ancient zergs.

As ancient zergs grew and expanded, they invaded the territory of ancient sub-females, killing useless sub-females males and physically deformed females, leaving only a small number capable of reproducing for the zerg females. The ancient sub-females, similar in appearance to the zergs, became the ancestors of today’s third category of sub-females.

Ultimately, it was all about fulfilling the selfish desires to expand their living space and propagate more offspring.

Love was a disguise for desire, and desire destroyed a race.

The moment a person was born, their future of death was predetermined.

Since his birth, every minute and every second, he had been dying.

Entangled by desire, obsessing over fame and fortune, and running around seeking fulfillment—how ugly it all was.

For the sake of desire, he entered into marriage.

For the sake of passion, he plunged into ugliness.

Just like now, while despising love on one hand, on the other, he continued to yearn incessantly.

He didn’t seem to be any better off.

With these thoughts, unaware of when, he fell into a dream again.

(T/N: basically sub-females were a species like zergs. In ancient times they had both male and female but males were killed and female reproduced with and any deformed ones were removed leading to today’s sub-females.

This has been a tough chapter to translate and it could still use some polishing. Positive criticism is appreciated. Thankyou…)