In the face of this universe-wide disastrous event, the Star Alliance’s response was unprecedentedly swift.

The quick reaction fleet carrying eight Star Alliance youth task forces — the "Dawn Edge" task force, had already set off at maximum speed towards the crisis-ridden "Silent Frontier" stellar district.

In the briefing room of the fleet flagship "Starfall," the atmosphere was tense.

The gigantic holographic star map projected the outline of the target stellar district, along with red-marked areas of Bug Race fleet activity.

A liaison officer from the frontline command of the Star Alliance United Fleet, a solemn-faced middle-aged officer with the rank of Major General, was briefing the gathered representatives of the eight participating teams on their mission.

From New Bauhinia, Bai E personally attended, accompanied by Catherine, Rose, and others.

"Ladies and gentlemen," the Major General’s voice echoed through the speaker in the briefing room.

"Thank you for responding to the call at this critical moment. The ’Silent Frontier’ stellar district is one of the key directions of this Bug Race invasion. Within it lies the ’Aisera’ star system, which includes five planets and dozens of satellites of varying sizes. Four of the planets and several satellites host human colonies, research stations, or resource extraction points. The Bug Race fleet’s main force is currently temporarily blocked by our United Fleet’s front defense line in the outer ’Kuiper Belt’ region, but its vanguard units and numerous spore drop units have infiltrated the system’s interior, causing serious destruction and threats to several planetary surfaces."

He brought up a detailed star map of the Aisera star system, with different colors indicating the status of each planet.

"According to the highest command of the Star Alliance, the Aisera star system must be held. Not only because it is home to over two billion civilians and important industrial and research facilities, but also because its location guards the jump routes leading to several key agricultural and industrial stellar systems inland. If it falls, the Bug Race’s forces will strike straight into the heartland of the stellar district, with unimaginable consequences."

The Major General’s gaze swept over the young mech pilots present, his tone turning grave: "The main force of the United Fleet will confront the Bug Race’s main fleet in the outer perimeter and seek opportunities for decisive engagement. Meanwhile, the operations within the system, especially the defense of critical points and facilities on planetary surfaces, civilian evacuation guidance, and the clearing and counterattack against Bug Race ground units, will primarily be undertaken by ground troops and elite mechanical forces like yours."

He paused, deliberately glancing in the direction of Bai E, and said with a hint of implication: "According to the Star Alliance’s rules, rights and obligations are equal. Teams that reach the top eight have been recognized by the Star Alliance and hold the potential to take on greater responsibilities in the future. Contributing on a battlefield that concerns the survival of humanity is both an obligation and the best stage to prove your value."

"Next, is your task allocation." The Major General operated the star map, projecting the eight highlighted mission areas onto the data boards before the representatives of the eight teams.

"Mission One: Operation ’Anvil.’

Target Planet: Aisera III

Task Nature: Hold and Evacuate

Task Details: Jade Stone Star is the most populous planet in the Aisera star system (approximately 1.5 billion), with developed industries and several large spaceports. The Bug Race has air-dropped several spore pod clusters, hatching and establishing ground nests on the outskirts of major city groups across several continents, threatening city safety. The United Fleet has dispatched large numbers of marines and local defense forces to establish a defensive line, but the pressure is enormous. Your mission is to head to the capital region of Jade Stone Star, ’New Athens,’ assist local defense forces in securing the core urban area and spaceport, ensure evacuation channels are clear, and launch precise strikes against large-scale ground nests established by the Bug Race, delaying their expansion.

"Mission Two: Operation ’Purification.’"

Target Planet: Aisera IV

Task Nature: Defense and Elimination

Task Details: The Water Purification Satellite hosts a crucial deep ice sub-ecological research station and a medium-sized fusion power station of the Star Alliance, providing energy to multiple nearby facilities. Bug Race spores have contaminated the satellite’s ice layer and parts of the research station’s surrounding facilities, hatching adapted units for extreme cold environments. Hundreds of researchers and their families are trapped inside the research station. Your mission is to break through the Bug Race’s blockade on the satellite’s surface, enter the research station, assist the internal personnel in defense, and clear the source of contamination, while escorting key personnel and data for evacuation if necessary.

"Mission Three: Operation ’Harvest.’"

"Mission Four:..."

"Mission Eight: Operation ’Edge.’"

"All of these tasks are temporarily set according to local conditions, and during the execution of the tasks, you may adapt flexibly based on the actual situation. Now, each team sends a representative to randomly draw the operations belonging to each team."

Representing New Bauhinia to draw was Gong Yan.

[Mission Eight: Edge

Target Planet: Within the Aisera star system, at a strategic location intersecting the gravity wells of multiple planets — the mobile deep space repair and supply platform ’Traveler.’

Task Nature: Rescue and Counteroffensive Base.

Task Details: The ’Traveler’ platform is weakly armed but critically positioned, capable of providing emergency repairs, supplies, and intelligence integration for the fleets and mobile units operating within the star system.

A Bug Race detachment fleet is approaching, intending to seize or destroy the platform.

Your task is to reach the ’Traveler’ first, assist the platform in self-defense, and use it as a temporary base to execute a special mission: according to intelligence, the Bug Race is suspected of establishing a large ’primary nest prototype’ under the continental shelf of Aisera III, intended for incubating advanced species or command nodes.