The decision regarding the Six-Cry Star System Defense Grid was monumental, valued at a gross domestic product equivalent to a thousand solar masses; this was not something a few individuals could determine. Once greenlit, it would be the largest undertaking in human history—an undertaking worthy of a high civilization!

The defense system offered by the Gexing people was remarkably advanced, even among high civilizations. While Earth bore the title of a high civilization, it was fundamentally two millennia behind in true capability. Absorbing this defense system would require every ounce of strength humanity possessed.

Yet, no matter how arduous the process, it had to be undertaken. Faced with the constant threat from the Kustar people, there was no alternative but to equip the solar system with high-civilization level defenses as quickly as possible.

The proposal to introduce the Star System Defense Grid became the most critical piece of legislation facing the Provisional Government after the Reformation. Ever since Jinsailer led dozens of representatives to table the motion in the Provisional Assembly, the chamber had erupted like a boiling cauldron. Every day, every hour, every minute within the assembly hall was consumed by unprecedentedly intense debate, with representatives seemingly fueled by stimulants, each voicing their views passionately from the podium.

The first plan offered by the Gexing people was immediately rejected. The solar system had just managed to break free from the Ancient Legion, concluding half a century of warfare, and subsequently overthrowing the previous oppressive superstructure. This was a time for recovery, for rebuilding homelands. To rashly involve themselves in the conflicts between high civilizations at this juncture would truly be an act of willful self-destruction.

Some proposed that since achieving high-civilization status meant confronting the Kustar people, perhaps Earth could voluntarily renounce its high-civilization title and remain a low civilization, thus avoiding this crisis.

However, those who spoke these words were quickly savaged by criticism, almost branded as fools and exemplars of anti-humanity. What a joke! Attaining high-civilization status meant lowered technological barriers, advancement in high-level trade, and benefits sufficient to elevate all of humanity several tiers in a short span, resulting in leapfrog development.

How difficult it was for a low civilization to advance! A chance that was previously estimated to take another two thousand years was now available ahead of schedule—a magnificent stroke of fortune that ordinary people could only dream of. It should be cherished doubly and protected at all costs. To reject this opportunity just to save ten years of GDP—what better definition was there for being a criminal against humanity?

After a round of intense debate, a unified consensus was finally reached: to accept the Gexing people’s second proposal and spend a fortune to acquire the Star System Defense Grid.

The Provisional Government dispatched the official communiqué to the Gexing Embassy. The Gexing side responded swiftly, sending a negotiation delegation that finalized all details in just one day. The entire project was divided into three phases, and five days later, a Gexing engineering fleet arrived in the solar system to commence the first phase.

The specific construction plan for the complete Star System Defense Grid soon landed on Yang Ying’s desk.

This defense system would first include a set of hyperspace reconnaissance devices covering the entire solar system, capable of detecting the spatial distortions caused by ships entering or exiting hyperspace. With these, any ship using spatial jumps to enter or leave the solar system would no longer be able to do so undetected.

Furthermore, the two critical planets, Earth and Mars—home to half of humanity’s population and the essence of human ingenuity—required the utmost protection. Hyperspace interdiction field generators would be deployed here, capable of blocking spatial jumps within a radius of three million kilometers.

Coupled with this, each planet would host twelve hundred Level-Seven and one hundred twenty Level-Eight orbital defense cannons, along with comprehensive physical weaponry like missile interception nets and space mines designed to obstruct transit routes. These systems would normally remain dormant; even if a ship accidentally collided with a mine, little would happen. But upon detection of an invasion, they would instantly activate, rendering the planet impregnable.

The first phase of construction would focus solely on the Earth sector; the Mars sector would be addressed in the second phase.

Finally, there were five Battle Fortresses—the weapons exhibiting the highest technological complexity within the defense system, constructs only high civilizations could produce. These mobile fortresses, comparable in size to space cities, were equipped with formidable firepower and robust energy shields, each capable of engaging a thousand Kustar main battlecruisers to a standstill. However, the Battle Fortresses lacked faster-than-light engines, rendering them incapable of hyperspace jumps; they were purely defensive assets usable only within the confines of the star system.

These five Battle Fortresses would first be disassembled into components, transported in batches, and then assembled within the solar system. During the first phase, only one would be assembled.

These were merely the primary components of the Star System Defense Grid; other miscellaneous elements were omitted here for brevity.

When the decision to introduce the Star System Defense Grid became public, it caused a tremendous uproar among the populace. After all, this defense system was astronomically expensive. After half a century of war finally concluding, spending such a vast sum on military hardware—a figure several times greater than the total military expenditure of the preceding half-century fighting the Ancient Legion—was hard for people to swallow.

Under these circumstances, if the public could simply remain placid and let it pass with a smile, that would truly be…

However, how the populace protested, or how the Provisional Government sought to placate them, mattered little to Yang Ying. He understood that no matter how much the people revolted, even if they overthrew the government and installed another, the reality of this monumental decision could not be reversed.

With this matter settled, Yang Ying once again turned his gaze beyond the solar system. The Protoss already had the planet Aiur, but the Zerg still lacked a foothold in real space, and the Terrans also deserved a planet of their own for optimal development.

While Yang Ying, out of respect for his own origins as an Earthling five centuries prior, was reluctant to compete with the Terrans for the solar system, he carried no psychological burden in searching for habitable worlds outside of it. Humanity was still confined within the solar system; the surrounding territory was unclaimed, belonging to whomever occupied it first.

Yang Ying selected the thirty star systems closest to Earth and dispatched thirty battlecruisers to scout the terrain there.

The General Staff, relying on the combined exploration experience of the three expedition captains, produced an initial projection, suggesting that this mission would yield at least five or six resource planets.

The criteria for a resource planet were significantly lower than for a habitation world. Theoretically, mining could occur in any star system; the only variable was the cost of extraction. For two otherwise uninhabitable worlds, one possessing an atmosphere was preferable to one without, and an average temperature of minus one hundred degrees Celsius was better than minus two hundred. Environments that were too extreme drastically increased the cost of planetary mining, rendering them unsuitable as resource planets.

Shortly after their departure, the battlecruiser tasked with examining Proxima Centauri sent back its scouting report. Proxima Centauri was 4.2 light-years from the solar system, reachable in just under half an hour.

“It seems that none of the planets around Proxima Centauri meet the standard for a resource planet; the environments are all too extreme,” Yang Ying remarked with a smile after reviewing the report. “I recall the story from the movie Avatar, which took place on a planet named Pandora in the Proxima Centauri system. I was even wondering how I would handle the situation if I actually discovered a Planet Pandora. But upon deeper thought, it’s impossible; if such a planet truly existed, the Gexing people would have found it long ago.”

Subsequently, the other battlecruisers began sending back their reconnaissance reports. The third and seventh reports brought good news: within the star systems they were assigned to scout, each contained one planet suitable for mining. No planetary environmental modification would be necessary; they would only need to construct a mining facility capable of protecting the personnel to begin operations immediately.

As for the miners, no beings were better suited than the Zerg. They were essentially mobile engineering vehicles, equipped with various convenient manipulator arms, making them uniquely proficient in excavation. Moreover, the engineering vehicles could shield their internal occupants from external environmental hazards, functioning perfectly even in a vacuum.

However, the thirteenth report brought an unexpected complication.

“Sir, the battlecruiser dispatched to the Thirteenth Star System has run into trouble,” Kalia reported immediately upon receiving the message.

“What trouble?” Yang Ying felt a premonition upon hearing the number thirteen; this trouble was likely significant.

The thirty star systems had been numbered sequentially starting from the nearest; the thirteenth report corresponded to the Thirteenth Star System.

“They discovered a Kustar forward operating base in the Thirteenth Star System. They demanded the detention of our battlecruiser, though the vessel managed to escape, sustaining minor hull damage from a few attacks. They transmitted this report via hyperspace,” Kalia explained the sequence of events.

“What is the scale of that Kustar outpost?” Yang Ying inquired.

“The base appears incomplete. We don't know the final intended scale. However, according to the battlecruiser’s report, about half the structures are still under construction,” Kalia paused. “The base currently hosts approximately one hundred warships.”

“With no other intelligent civilizations near this sector apart from the solar system, establishing a base and stationing warships so close to the solar system clearly indicates ill intent.”

Yang Ying pondered for a moment. “Notify the President and the Gexing Embassy. During negotiations for the Star System Defense Grid, there was a clause written into the agreement: should we come under attack before the defense system is completed, the Gexing people will assist in our defense. Let's see their reaction first.”

“Understood, sir.”

Kalia relayed the information as instructed. Soon, both Jinsailer and Jiayouna responded. Jinsailer immediately ordered Li Yueser to mobilize the New Earth Forces, recalling all soldiers on leave and entering a Level Two alert status. Jiayouna contacted Yang Ying directly, exchanged a few words, and informed him that she had notified the Gexing side, and a support fleet would arrive within three days.