Tianduo Star's recapture by the Unified Empire Army was a watershed moment, although it took a total of one week, and Bai Zhongqi mobilized over three million from the Unified Empire Army, and only after the third day were they able to deploy an additional bionic human force that numbered in the tens of millions to completely eradicate all Insectoids from the planet.
Ultimately, over twenty thousand survivors were rescued on Tianduo Star, and after this catastrophe, only one in ten thousand of the various forms of animal and plant life remained. In the end, Bai Zhongqi chose to use reserves from the Lien Xi Civilization's biogenetic database to restore the planet's ecosystem.
However, the day after Bai Zhongqi captured Tianduo Star, he also received an intelligence summary from the Unified Empire Army's unmanned reconnaissance ships — it had taken Bai Zhongqi seven days to occupy a planet invaded by the Insectoids, while during these seven days the second Swarm had successively destroyed thirteen other planets.
On Ma'ao Star, headquarters of the Unified Empire Army, Bai Zhongqi, with a troubled expression, said to Zero, "The rate at which we're reclaiming territory can't keep pace with the Insectoids' destruction. If this continues, we will be at an even greater disadvantage."
Zero was not too worried, "We have only deployed a fraction of our power. If we truly mobilize our full force, these Swarms are really nothing to worry about. More importantly, retaking planets occupied by the Insectoids is not the best method to combat the Swarm. Only by eliminating the Swarm Empress can we completely dismantle the Swarm."
Bai Zhongqi smacked his forehead, exclaiming, "That's right, that's what we should be doing. But the key issue is, where exactly is this second Swarm's Empress? Do you have any leads?"
Linyin, who had come to Ma'ao Star to participate in the strategic sharing of technologies among civilizations, suggested, "Our Empire's Scientific Research Institute has been collecting relevant data. By analyzing the distribution of the egg-laying assaults on planets and the observed trajectories of the eggs, we should be able to infer some valuable location information."
Bai Zhongqi's spirits lifted, "Then let's proceed with that. Find the location of the enemy Empress, so we can capture her in one fell swoop and completely destroy this Swarm."
Linyin said, "It will be a considerable amount of work. We need to dispatch more reconnaissance ships to search and scout over a wider expanse of the Galaxy, and we will also need more civilizations to share intelligence with us."
Han Jiaxue added, "Our success in retaking Tianduo Star has already buoyed many civilizations. In reality, many of them understand that wiping out the Swarm in one go isn't feasible, and that it may be a long-term effort. However, with the Star Whales, just deploying over a thousand of them can basically ensure the safety of a planet. Hence, following our victory, we have received numerous applications for membership, as everyone is eager to have a United Empire agency stationed with them, because that means the Star Whales would also be stationed there."
Zero pursed its lips, "My Insect Nest didn't create the Star Whales for the sole purpose of babysitting for them."
Bai Zhongqi laughed, "But now, that has become the primary reason for civilizations wanting to join us."
Han Jiaxue continued, "Among the civilizations that have submitted applications for membership, there is one particularly unexpected one."
"Which civilization?"
"The Borke Civilization that's on the brink of extinction."
Bai Zhongqi let out an 'oh' and smiled, "That's not particularly surprising, I think. It probably has a lot to do with our Divine General, Suo Kexiao."
Indeed, it was so, as after becoming an officer in the Unified Empire Army, Suo Kexiao managed to make contact with the Borke Civilization, which had become a nomadic civilization. At that time, the Borke Civilization's Ark Fleet had just been attacked by another AI-catastrophe Civilization in the Universe, losing up to a third of their fleet and population, leaving them extremely vulnerable.
Upon learning that the original enemy, Iridium Star United Empire, was accepting civilizations and providing shelter against cataclysms, the Borke Civilization finally set aside its pride as a major force and chose to submit to the Iridium Star United Empire.
"At least the Borke's decision to join the Iridium Star United Empire serves as an encouragement to other civilizations. We can attempt to remodel the original ecology of Borke Star, allowing them to return to their homeworld and continue to live there as a member of the United Empire," Bai Zhongqi stated.
Efficient Iridium Star humans swiftly undertook ecological restoration on the almost barren Borke Star, and new, rapidly growing flora and fauna began to wander through the silent land, while over a hundred ships filled with Borke people returning to their homeworld arrived at their mother planet.
The ship's gate opened, and a group of Borke soldiers walked out, smelling the slightly different but familiar air. They knelt and shed tears on the ground, some even bowed to kiss the soil.
Standing there ahead of them on the planet was Suo Kexiao, the Divine General native to Borke.
A Borke general saluted Suo Kexiao, "Divine General, sir."
Suo Kexiao waved his hand somewhat disinterestedly, "No need, I am now just a lieutenant colonel in the Unified Empire Army."
The Borke general still expressed his admiration, "It is thanks to your mediation that we have been able to return to our homeland and gain protection from Swarm attacks."
Suo Kexiao shook his head, "Yet, the once towering Borke Civilization has now become just a member of the United Empire."
The general seemed to take a broad view of the situation, "Compared to utter extinction, such an outcome isn't too bad for the Borke. We Borke were simply ahead of the curve, and in the end, I believe the other major powers will also submit one by one."
He added, "The future of this Galaxy now belongs to the Iridium Star United Empire, to that almost invincible Chancellor."
Suo Kexiao mused and then said, "Such things are uncertain; the Galactic Emperor is up to something, and I doubt he will give in that easily. There will likely be more battles to come."
The general sighed, "We just hope we can live peacefully from now on. The Galaxy has already been too turbulent."
Suo Kexiao understood the sentiments of his compatriots. Having undergone such drastic changes, from a preeminent giant to a nomadic civilization, the pride of these Borke people had been shattered.
The surviving Borke would live on Borke Star, while the rest of the Borke Civilization's planets no longer belonged to them but to the territory of the United Empire. Bai Zhongqi now had control over many such planets that once had owners but were now unclaimed, and he was gradually restoring their ecological features. He had not returned these planets to their original owners but listed them instead under the property of the Chancellor. In theory, these planets had become his personal assets, but Bai Zhongqi might, in the future, possibly manage these planets through Iridium Star or other civilizations. These locations also became reserves for future expansion by the Iridium Star United Empire.