Super Mothership
On an observation platform, hundreds of invited members of the media and political figures from various countries were gazing at the stars through a transparent crystal dome.
In stark contrast to the varied attire of these international dignitaries stood a small group of about ten people.
Dressed in crisp black military uniforms and standing with impeccable posture, their identity was unmistakable.
Each wore a striking insignia on their chest: a blue planet as the background representing Earth, overlaid with the black silhouettes of the five continents. Surrounding the planet was a golden ring, symbolizing Earth's guardians.
This insignia was now well known on Earth—it was the emblem of the Earth Defense Force!
Judging from the military ranks displayed on their uniforms, the lowest among them was a Level 4 officer, marked by four stripes. Yes, you heard that right—the Earth Defense Force had fully adopted a ranking system based on virtual world levels. Titles like “Level-N Private” or “Level-N Officer” had become commonplace.
The influence of Captain Phantom on the Earth Defense Force ran deep. The combat model based on virtual reality technology was vastly different from traditional warfare. After much deliberation, the EDF leadership decided to fully integrate the rank system into the digitized and virtualized "Phantom System" to better align with the virtual combat platform.
Although Captain Phantom's attitude toward the EDF could be described as a model of “non-interference,” even showing disinterest in key personnel appointments and never placing his own people into the ranks...
Nie Yun’s influence over the Earth Defense Force could be described as “governing without interference.”
While the EDF was nominally under the UN and its appointments largely controlled by the five major powers, the reality was clear: unless those five nations fully united against him, Nie Yun’s influence over the Earth Defense Force was second to none.
Back in the Republic era, divisions were named after the origin of their equipment: “American-equipped divisions,” “German-equipped divisions,” and “Soviet-equipped divisions.”
Under this logic, calling the Earth Defense Force a “Phantom-equipped division” would be entirely fitting.
Beyond personnel, all of the EDF’s weapons, communication systems, and combat platforms relied heavily on Captain Phantom’s technical support.
Even their military currency—Infinite Credits—was a form of promissory note printed by one of Captain Phantom’s private companies.
In many ways, the Earth Defense Force was essentially an armed force nurtured entirely by Captain Phantom, branded with Phantom tech down to the very last inch—including their armpits.
At present, the only opponent Nie Yun recognizes is the Gemini faction. Therefore, with just the mission dispatch system and the incentive of Infinite Credits, the Earth Defense Force will strike wherever pointed—and with an enthusiastic sense of honor, no less!
However, as a force labeled the “Guardians of Earth,” the Earth Defense Force holds a rather delicate position.
Judging by the stance of this group of a dozen or so officers, they clearly stood apart from the surrounding international dignitaries—almost as if they formed a separate entity altogether.
At the front of this group of senior officers, three middle-aged men of different ethnic backgrounds were conversing. They were the "Three Pillars" of the Earth Defense Force—currently the only three Level 5 commanders in the entire force.
Don’t be fooled—while Level 5 might sound like a newbie rank in a typical game, for the Earth Defense Force, which was only recently established and had fought just three major battles in total, military merit was an extremely rare commodity.
These officers ranked Level 4 and above represented nearly all of the EDF’s senior leadership.
“Sigh… I feel like I shouldn’t have come here in this uniform,” Schneider muttered, glancing at the way people around them were reacting to their presence.
Most members of the Earth Defense Force came from military backgrounds steeped in patriotic education. Deep down, Schneider still identified as a loyal soldier of the U.S.—his loyalty was beyond doubt.
But officially, the Earth Defense Force was under UN command, not the private army of any one country, so it was crucial to avoid any hint of favoritism.
As high-ranking commanders of the Earth Defense Force, the three of them especially had to remain politically neutral and above all affiliations.
“Good! I hate these scheming politicians anyway. If you ask me, Earth should just come under military rule already,” Yuri said, glancing around with clear disdain.
Whether for personal interest or for the greater good of protecting all humanity, the officers of the Earth Defense Force were, at least on the surface, distancing themselves from national identities and uniting as a singular, rapidly rising military power on Earth.
The global response to this trend was mixed—some hopeful, some wary. But attitudes toward this armed force were increasingly ambiguous.
On the one hand, countries hoped the EDF would grow stronger, enhancing Earth’s overall military capability.
After all, whether facing the Gemini faction or Captain Phantom, the military gap was huge. If you're weak, you get crushed. No one wanted to end up like “Doudou,” right?
A stronger EDF meant greater global security and the chance to absorb cutting-edge weapons and strategic thinking from Phantom’s side—making it a testbed for the “space military” of the new era. The potential benefits were vast.
On the other hand, there was a very real fear of this force growing too powerful. The reason was simple: “wielding troops to assert power.”
The Chenqiao Mutiny, the donning of the yellow robe—countless historical cases have shown us that when one holds military power for their own gain, the result is often uncontrollable, with the tail wagging the dog.
If the Earth Defense Force truly grows into a formidable force, then the question becomes: Whose army is it, really?
“Certainly not ours…”—this was the quiet thought shared by every nation.
After all, with over two hundred countries and countless political factions, “complex” doesn’t even begin to describe the organization. Expecting a single person to fully consolidate it? That would take nothing short of a mythical god of war reborn.
“Ahem… Careful what you say! Harmony, harmony and development—that’s the real deal!” General Hu patted his forehead, muttering in mild exasperation.
He knew full well that governments around the world were wary of the EDF. Letting those kinds of words slip out wouldn’t exactly help with unity.
The three leaders of the Defense Force each had their own stance—and their own way of handling things. Schneider couldn’t let go of national interests. Yuri had a more hardline approach. General Hu, on the other hand, played the role of mediator, walking the middle path. His motto was: “If no one offends me, I won’t offend them.”
Just a few lines of dialogue made it clear: compared to the early days of the EDF, the dynamic between these three had become much more in sync.
We are the guardians of Earth—we must unite to face the threat of alien invaders!
This was the slogan repeated daily by Earth Defense Force officers to boost morale. Say it once, and it’s just a formality. Say it a thousand, ten thousand times—and it becomes indoctrination.
It’s often said that “sharing the battlefield” is the strongest of bonds. War is the ultimate crucible—it makes people forget their origin, their skin color, and thanks to the real-time translation system, even their language.
Though their political views still differed, the three leaders now clearly shared overlapping interests. Naturally, they had grown more cooperative.
“Look! It’s here!” someone suddenly shouted from the crowd.
No announcement was necessary—everyone had already noticed the dazzling pillar of light descending from the void, stretching across a vast distance and casting a brilliant, mirrored glow on the transparent crystal dome overhead.
“Atlantis Spaceport Energy Transmission Lines 1 and 2 established. Systems operating normally. Energy reception stable… Transmission loss: 9%. Energy acquired per unit time: 8,366,474,627.54 kilowatts… Spaceport energy reserves steadily increasing…” The mechanical voice of the spaceport’s AI echoed.
At the heart of the spaceport, the massive energy-receiving tower was now bathed in a high-energy beam, and the entire crowd stood stunned, speechless.
Projected onto Schneider’s retina was the image of that brilliant light stretching into the endless void. His expression was dazed, and he murmured softly to himself:
“The Prometheus Project… Humanity’s energy revolution… It really does look like… a divine light of God…”
TL Note- Prometheus project.....
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