While the following days were calm, I had a premonition that this was the quiet before a storm. The blue energy crystals beneath Gemini were an indispensable power source for the U-Beings; they absolutely would not retreat in the face of minor difficulties. So, what were they doing now?

I sent the technical specifications for the 3X alloy to Ximen Yan, and the dwarf nation's scientists improved upon it after review. It turned out that in the research of ultra-hard alloys, they were already on par with the technology behind Adamantine Alloy; otherwise, that drill bit couldn't have pierced granite so easily. The new alloy, produced by combining multiple technologies, was also named Adamantine Alloy, though it was an improved version because it possessed an additional, super-strong radiation-proof capability.

After several large-scale experiments proved that the new radiation-proof alloy, fifty centimeters thick, could withstand any known ultra-powerful ray strike in the universe. At thirty centimeters thick, it could endure the impact of meteorites measuring hundreds of cubic meters. When fashioned into a space fighter at ten centimeters thick, it could sustain bombardment from medium-sized energy bombs.

The dwarf nation already possessed a certain manufacturing capacity. Once the new product's stable properties were confirmed, mass production began immediately. However, the time required from alloy creation to final product formation was lengthy, and no amount of my urgency could speed it up. This wasn't Earth; without production-model intelligent robots, efficiency dropped by orders of magnitude.

"I need to go back into space to survey the situation," I finally couldn't hold back and said to the assembled women that morning. "You know there is a powerful electrical layer in Gemini's atmosphere; we can't transmit signals through it. To understand the enemy situation outside, I must go to space and observe personally."

Hua Qingqing replied, "Although it's dangerous, we cannot stop you. You must return safely for our sake, alright?"

I nodded. "Everyone rest assured. With my laser sword in hand, even if I can't defeat them, I can escape. You all stay in the Twin Cities and remain highly vigilant. Many energy cannons have been installed here; even if those aliens attack, you should be able to hold them off for a while. If you are overwhelmed, retreat into the underground corridor to hide. I will rush back to save you at the first opportunity."

The women nodded without further comment, but that unspoken care warmed my heart. This time, I didn't plan to use a spaceship; for me, a ship was just a burden. Operating solo would allow me to move more freely.

My wives had recently replenished my nutrition, so my internal energy was abundant. I calculated my previous position and entered space. The wormhole was long gone. If it weren't for the two massive battleships orbiting the lunar satellite, the scene before me would truly make one think nothing unusual had ever occurred here.

I now regretted not attacking the battleships that day when they had their shields down while parked above the lunar satellite. Now that they were in lunar orbit, their defenses would surely be active; poking a sleeping tiger now would be highly unwise.

I followed the route from last time to infiltrate the base beneath the lunar satellite. After waiting for quite some time, I encountered a small craft preparing to enter the base, so I hid beneath its fuselage and successfully entered the interior. This time, I wasn't going to eavesdrop on a meeting; instead, I proceeded to investigate the base's passages in every direction.

Although my speed was fast, some doors were extremely difficult to open—even the U-Beings themselves couldn't force them. Compounding this, the base's layout was complex, weaving up and down. It took me four hours just to map out the general structure of the base. The main body of the base was not where I had seen the images before, but much deeper underground. There was an access flight channel leading there, but the door to that channel facing space was sealed, likely requiring a password.

The entire base was shaped like a massive tree stump. The main trunk of this stump was the flight channel, leading to the control center, the power core, and the main command center at the very end. Along the flight channel, branches spread out in complex layers, much like the roots of the stump, each layer and section serving a distinct function.

There were manufacturing plants producing various mechanical equipment, equipped with complete sets of advanced machinery—likely what the first wave of U-Beings who arrived at Gemini used to build warships, weapons, and mining equipment. The space within this manufacturing zone was vast enough to accommodate the two battleships currently in lunar orbit. This specialized manufacturing level also featured large maintenance platforms. This floor had another huge external bay door, accessible without using the main corridor, but that massive door, too, was tightly shut, impossible to open manually without power or the main control system.

There were also storage depots containing hundreds of tons of energy crystals. It seemed the U-Beings would not face an energy shortage anytime soon, yet they appeared unable to activate the base systems, rendering the crystals useless for the moment. Their decision to risk retrieving items from the destroyed battleship was likely driven by the urgent need to activate these two bases.

Additionally, deeper within the base, there were rest areas, recreation zones, and restaurants—in short, everything necessary for human daily life. However, many machines, such as the air conditioning units and food synthesizers, were inactive due to the lack of power. This was probably why those U-Beings remained aboard the battleships.

In one of the warehouse levels, I discovered a large number of space fighters. They looked similar to ordinary Earth aircraft, except their wings were spread like those of a bird rather than lying flat like conventional planes. Two main propulsion systems were mounted on the wings. This design seemed highly vulnerable to enemy fire; they were probably an older model from millennia ago.

To my surprise, there were also robots in the warehouse. I had assumed that only Earth had developed intelligent technology; I hadn't expected other planets’ inhabitants to also consider using machines for liberation. However, these robots had likely been stored for a long time, their power reserves completely depleted, making it impossible for me to determine their level of intelligence.

Other areas had complicated functions. The lowest level, surrounding the main control room, was partitioned into hundreds of independent systems, each with its own function and task, yet they all radiated outward in an arc, centered on the primary control room. It was probable that operational commands were still directed from there.

Of all these areas, the manufacturing plant interested me the most. Although I didn't know if the production lines were centuries or millennia old, they appeared even more advanced than those in the dwarf nation. If we could produce our own warships here, and somehow utilize those dormant robots, it would surely save a significant amount of time. However, how to activate these two underground bases, and how to drive out the U-Beings, remained two monumental problems.

I followed the main flight channel to the control room. It was brightly lit, crisscrossed with movement. Hundreds of U-Beings were bustling about their tasks. After watching for a while, I understood: they were trying to find a way to bring the base online. Several individuals were clustered around a console, repeatedly manipulating a machine, but it refused to boot up; the screen remained stuck on a prompt requesting a password.

The method for activating the base was something I desperately wanted to know. Seizing an opportunity when they weren't looking, I slowly slipped into the large control room. Finally, I hid upon a large lamp fixture on the ceiling, secretly looking down. At that moment, a U-Being rushed in excitedly carrying a data disc. The U-Being directing the group displayed hope on his face. He ordered them to insert the disc into the console's slot. A group of technicians immediately began inputting commands on devices resembling keyboards. The disc started flashing lights in various colors, indicating data reading. Not long after, the screen, which had shown some activity, returned to a dull state. No matter what the technicians did, there was no response. The leader-like U-Being angrily snatched the disc, threw it onto the floor, stomped on it several times, and cursed incessantly.

It seemed that disc was a password key; without it, the base’s main computer would not initialize. Perhaps the U-Beings, when they left last time, feared that the intelligent life on Gemini would develop too quickly and uncover the secret of the lunar satellite base. That’s why they established layers of protection, ensuring that even if the Gemini inhabitants discovered the base, they couldn't access it. Ironically, this setup was now causing them trouble.

I had learned the function of the disc, but what about those two spheres? Perhaps they were also keys, but how were they used? I had considered investigating the other base, but realizing they might ‘demonstrate’ the sphere’s usage for me, I patiently decided to wait.

True to form, the U-Beings held an on-site meeting, conducted research, and debated for a long time. Finally, someone opened a briefcase they carried and retrieved a sphere identical to the one I had obtained earlier. Patience was rewarded; they were finally going to show me how to use the sphere. But then, what about the one they currently held? Did they still need mine? I resolved that after observing their method, I would destroy theirs.

The U-Being carried the transparent sphere to another console, which was exquisitely designed, resembling a crescent moon. He placed the sphere in the center of the crescent. The sphere emitted a pulsating, fluctuating light. The U-Being withdrew his hand, and the sphere miraculously suspended in mid-air, not falling, and began to rotate, accelerating rapidly. At that moment, some of the room’s lights flickered—the emergency lights remained steady, but the base's primary lighting system had just changed. This must be the U-Beings’ method for starting the power system.

Just as I prepared to strike and destroy their backup sphere, a piercing alarm sounded in the control room. Then, the rapidly spinning sphere exploded. Shrapnel from the blast sent the U-Beings scattering, clutching their heads. It appeared this counterfeit sphere, like the data disc, had been recognized by the system. Even though they were colleagues, the system showed no leniency. Realizing the key to activating the base was in my possession, I felt an immense sense of relief. The U-Beings probably didn't realize I had stolen something yet; otherwise, they would have already rushed to Gemini to reclaim it. They must have assumed the activation tools were destroyed along with the battleship.

The humiliated U-Being leader scrambled up from the floor, yelling curses while his subordinates stood by obediently. Since I now knew the activation method, I prepared to leave, but then I saw a U-Being in charge of communications say something to them. The others’ faces lit up with joy, and they began filing out of the control room.

Unsure of their intentions, I quietly trailed behind. These individuals exited the control room, boarded a temporary elevator, and ascended to the surface of the lunar satellite. Finally, they took a ship from the hangar where we had entered, leaving the underground base. Ducking beneath the ship, I followed them into space. It was then I realized that during the time I was inside the base, the two battleships had already departed lunar orbit. The wormhole was wide open, with the two battleships flanking it, guarded by thousands of space fighters patrolling the perimeter. Even larger battleships were emerging from the wormhole—the U-Beings' reinforcements had arrived.