"Leah, calculate the evacuation route. After detonation, the planet's internal structure could be extremely unstable, potentially causing global earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, and even massive debris ejecta. We need to retreat to an absolutely safe distance before the shockwave reaches the surface."
"The optimal evacuation route has been calculated. After detonation, accelerate at full power perpendicular to the planet's ecliptic plane to minimize possible surface debris and gravitational disturbances," Leah responded quickly.
All preparations are complete.
Kane's gaze swept between Rex and Leah. Rex's scanning eyes were filled with the excitement of a soon-to-be-satisfied desire for destruction, while Leah remained calm as ever, though the data stream flickering in the depths of her eyes betrayed the immense computational pressure she was under.
"This is our only chance," Kane's voice echoed through the bridge. "For the Alliance, and for ourselves."
He said nothing more, slowly raising his hand.
"Launch sequence initiated. Countdown: 10, 9, 8..."
A cold electronic tone sounded like a death knell for the planet beneath us.
"...7, 6, 5..."
The Nightingale vibrated slightly, and the launch silo opened, revealing the inky blackness of space and the vast, curved outline of the dim, crimson planet below.
"...4, 3, 2, 1... Launch!"
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Three faint, almost vacuum-swallowed jets. Three earth-penetrating warheads, each carrying the Apocalypse core, detached from the Nightingale like three deadly javelins, plummeting relentlessly towards the specific coordinates of the planet below. Their tails emitted subtle, controlled flames to ensure precise impact.
"Bombs released! Initiate evacuation sequence!" Leah reported immediately.
The Nightingale's main engines instantly erupted into a burst of blue flame, and as if propelled by an invisible giant, the ship rapidly retreated from planet G-173c. Kane, Rex, and Leah's gazes were fixed on the main screen behind them, which was tracking the trajectory of the three bombs and the planet's surface in real time.
The warheads passed through the thin, near-vacuum atmosphere, producing a faint glow from friction with the air, like three falling meteors.
A precise hit!
Three distant, almost simultaneous flashes of light were particularly dazzling in the shadows of the planet's dark side! Even from the vast expanse of space, high-precision sensors could see the three fleeting, swiftly fading flowers of death—the immense energy released as the earth-penetrating warheads pierced the Earth's crust.
Then there was a brief, suffocating silence.
A few seconds later—
The first sound was not a sound, but a violent pulse of data from the sensors!
The gravitational field readings of planet G-173c began to fluctuate abnormally! The Global Seismic Monitoring Network (the few remaining working detectors at the outpost) was sending back a deafening signal! The entire planet, like a giant bell being struck, began to vibrate violently from within!
On the main screen, the image of the planet's surface began to distort and shake! Centered on the three explosion points, vast cracks spread rapidly across the surface like a spiderweb! Dust and gas gushed out from the cracks, forming massive dust columns!
An even more terrifying scene was yet to come!
In various regions of the planet, especially in already fragile tectonic zones, volcanoes were forcibly awakened! Scorching magma broke through the rock layers, spewing lava columns tens of kilometers high and volcanic ash that obscured the sky! The entire surface of the planet suddenly felt like the gates of hell had opened, covered in erupting volcanoes and shattering cracks in the earth!
The intensity of the seismic waves far exceeded expectations! Even the Nightingale, evacuating at high speed through space, could feel the subtle tremors emanating from the very space itself!
"Success! Haha! Success!" Rex roared excitedly at the apocalyptic scene on the screen.
But Leah's voice was tinged with unease. "The energy readings are abnormal! The enormous energy released by the geological changes... is being rapidly absorbed by the crystal area!"