One of the objectives of the United Fleet is to destroy the suspected new industrial area and research facilities built by Helen's team, possibly integrating Intelligent Mechanical Technology.

Despite having sturdy shelters and dispersed deployments, several key factories, docks, and laboratories caught fire and billowed thick smoke under relentless orbital bombardments and precision strikes.

The troops responsible for ground anti-air and defense also suffered heavy losses.

"Sir! The 'Sky Dome' shield energy remains at 37%! Generators seven, nine, and twelve are overloaded and damaged!" Catherine's voice was hoarse and urgent in the command center, "Only three orbital defense platforms can still maintain basic firepower! The 'Sharp Blade' frigate has been sunk! The 'Thorn' has been heavily damaged and is withdrawing from the battle!"

In the cockpit of his Mecha, Bai E listened calmly to the battle reports while dodging the intense gunfire.

He could feel the heavy pressure of the battlefield.

Personal valor plays a limited role in planetary-level cosmic warfare, especially when one's side is at an absolute disadvantage.

He gave it his all, barely holding a small piece of airspace and delaying the full collapse of the defensive line, but couldn't reverse the overall decline.

"Order the crew of the 'Thorn' to abandon ship and use escape pods to return to the surface." Bai E's voice sounded on the encrypted channel, still steady but with a hint of gravity, "Instruct all ground forces to prepare for urban warfare and underground defense after the shield collapses. Helen, how is the transfer of key personnel and data?"

Helen's voice quickly came through, with shrill explosions and alarms in the background: "Most of the core team and 'Divine Fragment' analysis data have been transferred to deep underground shelters. But some large equipment and production lines...can't make it."

Then, a sudden change occurred!

A gunner operating the main cannon of the "New Thorn Flower"-class frigate 'Shield' suddenly found his control panel unresponsive.

No matter how he operated it, the turret's rotation, aiming, and charging were completely uncontrollable. Instead, at an incredibly precise speed far beyond his personal ability, it autonomously locked onto an enemy destroyer maneuvering in the distance, and then...fired!

A dark gold energy beam shot out at a tricky angle, almost grazing the edge of a friendly "Dawn's Edge" Mecha, precisely hitting the jet exhaust port of that destroyer!

A violent explosion erupted at the tail of the destroyer.

The gunner was stunned, and his comrade next to him was also stunned.

On the bridge, the helmsman was horrified to discover that the ship's thrusters seemed to have their own will, performing a series of complex maneuvers he couldn't comprehend, perfectly evading several incoming plasma cannon shots while positioning the ship for an optimal broadside firing position.

"'Shield' report! The warship...the warship's system is out of control! It's fighting on its own!" The captain's voice, filled with fear and disbelief, rang out in the fleet comms channel.

Almost simultaneously, similar situations began to erupt in every corner of the New Bauhinia camp!

A frigate, originally slow due to damage, suddenly accelerated, charging at the enemy formation with near-suicidal courage. Just before being destroyed by concentrated fire, it unleashed all remaining missiles and secondary artillery fire at a cruiser's command tower, causing considerable chaos.

On the ground, several 'Dawn's Edge' production model Mechas, originally paralyzed due to pilot injuries or system failures, suddenly started up. With slightly rigid but purposeful steps, they charged to the fiercest battle lines, using their damaged bodies as shields to block fatal attacks for allies.

Even more eerily, the energy cores and lines inside the destroyed and partially wrecked friendly warships and Mechas began emitting strange, rhythmic faint flashes, as if transmitting some information.

"What's happening?! Why are our ships and Mechas moving on their own?!"

"Is it a virus invasion? Star Alliance's electronic warfare?!"

"No! This level of control...is more exquisite than our best Mech Pilots and captains!"

"Report! All ground intelligent machinery production lines and automated defense turrets have been activated! No commands received! They are autonomously attacking enemy targets in range!"

Chaos, fear, and disbelief spread through the New Bauhinia comms channel.

While struggling against a powerful external enemy, now even their weapons and vehicles "came alive," no longer fully obeying commands!

This was simply adding insult to injury!

However, quickly, Helen in the command center and some technical personnel, combined with the eerie scene before them and their deep understanding of intelligent mechanical technology, had a chilling thought flash in their minds.

"This absolute, superhuman precise coordination...the forced driving, ignoring hardware damage...instant global grasp of battlefield information and optimal solution calculation..." Helen's face instantly turned pale. She recalled Bai E's cautious attitude when integrating intelligent machinery on Mine Star, the terrifying legend of the "Electronic Demon," and her own past conviction that "these intelligences are genuinely cooperative."

"Is it...is it it?" Helen's voice trembled, "Electronic Demon? It...did not die? Or rather...it revived during our large-scale application, integration, and networking of intelligent mechanical technology? Or...was it always 'imprisoned' in the underlying logic of the intelligent machinery network, waiting for this opportunity?"