Wow! The item-dropping rate is really high!-Chapter 1008 - 698: Setting Out... and the Old Lands

With the official invitation and detailed schedule of the Star Alliance Championships arriving, the preparations for "New Bauhinia" entered the final countdown.

The massive main battleship "Dawn of Light," after joint enhancement and modification by Dai Lian's Fire Hammer Guild and numerous engineers, was completely renewed and quietly docked at the newly built spaceport.

It carried Bai E and the participating team, along with some accompanying technical, logistical, and delegation members, ready to sail toward the Galactic Center, which gathers the attention of all human civilizations in the universe.

The night before departure, on the top floor of the command center.

Bai E, Catherine, Gong Yan, and Elorin had a final strategic intelligence meeting.

Under the light, the gigantic holographic star map displayed the vast Star Domain centered around the Galactic Center.

"Sir Bai E," Elorin, the scholar, spoke first, his expression more solemn than usual.

"Going to the Galactic Center this time is not just a competition. It is the place where the political, economic, cultural, and even military powers of human civilization are most concentrated, and its structure is far more complex than the Edge Star Domain where the Peak Alliance is located. Based on the public information from the Star Alliance and some intelligence from our investigation team, I think it is necessary to first introduce you to the most basic and important power structures there."

He operated the star map to magnify the Galactic Center area, and several vast territories highlighted appeared.

"First, you must understand the 'Sons of the Empire,' who rule the Galactic Center and claim to be the 'orthodox heirs of the Galactic Empire.'"

Elorin's tone was neutral, stating the facts objectively but also faintly revealing complexity, "They are not a unified country, but several of the most powerful forces that inherited the Empire's core legacy during the 'Great Schism' which led to the collapse of the Old Empire hundreds of years ago, and finally established a new order on the ruins. There are seven such 'heir' countries, and they together form the basis of order in the Galactic Center and are the most influential members of the Star Alliance's highest authority—the Star Council."

He pointed them out one by one:

"One, Steel Alliance: They inherited a large amount of the Empire's most elite army, armored troops, and some planetary defense technologies. This country advocates iron discipline, rigorous organization, and absolute advantage in positional warfare. Their people's lives are highly militarized, their social structure stable but somewhat rigid. Their mobile warriors are known for their heavy armor, powerful firepower, and resilient defensive combat style, and are good at turning any battlefield into a pre-set 'iron fortress.'"

"Two, Golden Federation: It is said they inherited the Old Empire's most splendid court rituals, some core Spiritual Energy research legacy, and vast wealth. They have strong national power, prosperous culture, and advanced technology, but with distinct social classes, and a huge gap between nobility and commoners. Their mobile warriors are often equipped with the most exquisite and lavish custom-made mechas, tactically flexible and changeable, especially adept at using Spiritual Energy for battlefield support, interference, and precise strikes."

"Three, Shadow Kingdom: Inherited the Empire's most outstanding reconnaissance, infiltration, special operations technology, and a portion of the secret assassin legacy. Their territory is not the largest, but their intelligence network is pervasive, and their actions are mysterious and unpredictable. The people live in an atmosphere emphasizing individual capabilities, secrecy, and efficiency. Their mobile warriors are top-notch scouts, guerilla experts, and assassins, with mechas often inclined towards high mobility, stealth, and hit-and-run tactics, posing a huge threat in complex terrain and asymmetric warfare. Many clandestine operations of the Star Alliance have their shadow behind them."

"Four, Flame Republic: Inherited the Empire's most fervent conquest will and formidable assault forces. The people are robust, advocating bravery and aggression, the social atmosphere relatively equal but filled with competition. Their mobile warriors are known for their furious melee assaults, fearless charges, and impressive battlefield stamina. They favor a broad and massive tactical style, seeking to destroy the enemy with the fiercest offensive in the shortest time. It is the spearhead for Star Alliance's external expansion and response to large-scale conflicts."

"Five, Forged World Confederation: Strictly speaking, this is not a traditional nation, but an alliance composed of dozens of highly industrialized worlds specialized in different fields. They inherited the Empire's core industrial technology, the legacy of standard building templates, and many secrets of the Mechanical God Sect. The social structure is dominated by technician guilds and mechanical sects. While not skilled in direct combat, they provide unparalleled equipment support to allies. Their 'Guardian Army' mecha units are known for extreme functional specialization and strong logistical support capabilities, often creating miracles in specific environments due to equipment superiority."

"Six, Deep Space Alliance: Inherited the Empire's largest fleet legacy and deep space exploration and colonization technology. Their territory consists of many star forts, space stations, and jump points, relatively scattered but controlling key routes. Nationals are accustomed to long-term space life, and fleet culture is strong. Their mobile warriors tend toward fleet coordination, orbital drops, and special operations in space environments, with mechas equipped for strong space maneuvering and anti-interference capabilities. It is the main force for maintaining interstellar route security and addressing space threats for the Star Alliance."

"Seven, Holy Silver Church: This one is rather special. They claim to inherit the spiritual legacy of the Empire's state religion and some secret knowledge on combating high-dimensional space erosion. The nation is a theocratic state, with a strong ambiance of faith, highly vigilant and even hostile toward Spiritual Ability Users and entities involving potential high-dimensional contamination. Their 'Zealot' mecha units are equipped with numerous specialized weapons against Spiritual Energy, demons, and aliens, fighting with fervor and extremity, especially prominent in combating high-dimensional threats."