Yu Lian felt very lucky. As a person in two lives, he could finally comfortably enjoy a rose-colored youth. Even if it was only for one day, he felt quite happy.
When he entered society, such days would become fewer and fewer. For example, just like Uncle Wang next door.
Major General Wang Jingyang had always felt that his position as the Internal Guard commander, and the person in charge of the spiritual energy user unit he was forming, was genuinely due to his fighting prowess. He believed that his Major General rank was truly just a reward from the Commonwealth Government for being the “top expert” within the official establishment. He felt that if he could safely establish and operate this spiritual energy unit, he would be worthy of the salary the Commonwealth Government paid him.
However, he truly didn't understand. How did a mascot like him, who had never been involved in military work before, become the security chief for this celebration?
“Frank, why do you think this is happening?”
Wang Jingyang helplessly asked his subordinate, Brigadier General Francis Morey.
“Because you are a Six Rings Master. Besides the President and the Chairman, there will also be dignitaries from the Empire and the Alliance on board for the celebration. Only with you on the ship can everyone feel secure,” the other party replied.
Unlike Wang Jingyang, a master who had cultivated for most of his life, Brigadier General Morey had spent most of his life in the military. He had managed military police, been responsible for protection work, suppressed terrorist activities, and carried out special secret missions. Although he had no experience commanding large fleets or armies, he was definitely an excellent soldier.
Not only was he an excellent soldier, but he was also a formidable spiritual energy user, currently at the Four-Ring level.
Of course, based on the practical consideration of “how can a subordinate be more powerful than their superior?”, Brigadier General Morey became the second-in-command of the newly formed Blue Guards.
This was not a problem unique to the Commonwealth; it was a problem faced by both the Empire and the Alliance.
Unlike his superior, who did not resemble a soldier at all, he was tall and upright, with a heroic face and a stern demeanor. Dressed in a black Internal Guard uniform, he stood like a sturdy pine, making anyone who saw him exclaim, “What a great man!”
Of course, at least so far, he was indeed a pure soldier and had no dissatisfaction whatsoever about having a superior with no military experience parachuted above him. He had always diligently performed his duties.
Anyone with a discerning eye knew that Morey was the greatest contributor to the rapid establishment of the “Blue Guards” framework. And the security work for this celebration was actually personally overseen by him. Wang Jingyang was just a nominal mascot.
However, Brigadier General Morey had never expressed any dissatisfaction and had even frankly responded to those with ulterior motives who tried to instigate trouble: “Many spiritual energy users are indeed willing to enlist because of Major General Wang Jingyang’s prestige. In the realm of spiritual energy users, strength is prestige, prestige is cohesion, and cohesion is combat power! We are all for the Commonwealth, why distinguish between us?”
Wang Jingyang felt truly comforted. This time, if not for his capable subordinate, he would have been overwhelmed by the myriad security tasks.
However, there had been too many things lately, and even an iron man like Morey couldn't hide his exhaustion. His cheeks were sunken, his eyes were dark, and his demeanor became even more somber. Only his two bloodshot eyes still gleamed, making him look at first glance like an owl that had just crawled out of a grave.
The others dared not even breathe when they saw Brigadier General Morey in his current state, but Wang Jingyang felt very distressed. He felt that it was because of his own “incompetence” that his partner had been worn out like this.
“Once this celebration is over, you should get some good rest. Hmm, I’ll give you three months of long leave!”
The other party was noncommittal, nodding expressionlessly.
Wang Jingyang thought for a moment and then said, “I heard that the Wanling Sect and the Luminar terrorists have all been cleared out?”
“All terrorists and key members of the Wanling Sect have been arrested. Their headquarters in the New Asia star sector, as well as those surrounded by the Second Suspension Arm Fleet, should have good news coming soon. You can rest assured.”
Wang Jingyang nodded again. He knew that he was not good at arrests and tracking, and work related to supernatural crimes could only be pushed to his subordinate, so he was currently focused on training.
“I heard that the Wanling Sect still has some spiritual energy treasures?”
As a high-level spiritual energy user Master, Wang Jingyang would naturally not use unprofessional terms like “demon god sacrificial artifacts” or “evil artifacts.” In this Universe, all mysterious artifacts that are difficult to explain scientifically are, in essence, a type of spiritual energy treasure. Even if they cannot be analyzed scientifically, they can certainly be dealt with through mysticism.
“Yes, a total of three treasures were seized, but their origin and purpose are currently unknown.” Morey paused, then added, “However, what’s a bit puzzling is that there’s also a mechanical core.”
“A mechanical core?” Master Wang Jingyang, a spiritual energy user who had cultivated his entire life, took almost half a minute to digest the term: “Used to control robots?”
“Yes, but the origin and manufacturer are unknown, and it’s also unknown what kind of robots it controls.”
“It seems the secret hidden behind this matter is quite deep… Just the fact that the Wanling Sect got involved with the Luminar separatists surprised me greatly. By the way, didn’t you capture their Archbishop Chaka?”
“He committed suicide in prison yesterday.” Morey sighed, “I don’t know how he managed to do that in a well-guarded prison for spiritual energy users, but… he did it.”
Wang Jingyang fell silent, feeling a bit eerie. He had met the leader of the Wanling Sect, Wang Sa, and was sure that the other party's strength was on par with his own, so he had never been too wary of this cult. But now, the more he knew, the more he felt an ominous aura spreading!
“Anyway, let’s first deal with the Present matters,” Morey said.
Wang Jingyang nodded.
The latter then began to report: “After the celebration begins, the blue star princess will be overseen by you and me, along with four excellent spiritual energy users. In addition to personnel from the Presidential Palace Security Bureau, there will also be two squads from the Internal Guard personally selected by me.”
“So, what about threats from outside the ship?” Wang Jingyang didn't know if his question would sound amateurish, but he asked it anyway.
“Although the blue star princess is a cruise ship, its power equipment and automatic damage control system are the most advanced designs in the All-Galaxy, and its shield power is also very strong. Of course, to ensure foolproof safety, there will be three destroyers, two work ships, and one large medical ship on standby in the outer perimeter. The crew members are elites personally selected by me, and safety can be guaranteed.”
However, even so, the organizers of the celebration, namely the Presidential Palace Protocol Department, felt that Brigadier General Morey was being a bit overzealous. Work ships and medical ships were fine, but why did they need destroyers?
Even if there was a need for reinforcements, there were already 100,000 elite Internal Guard troops on Earth. The main force of the Native Fleet stationed near Mars orbit could reach the Earth-Moon orbit within half an hour.
However, due to Brigadier General Morey's insistence, the Protocol Department and the Security Bureau still approved his security plan.
“Phew, then I can rest assured.” Wang Jingyang nodded perfunctorily, then somewhat embarrassed, said, “What should I do during the celebration?”
“Stay on the ship and open your spiritual energy domain. Currently, natural dangers are considered foolproof. And as long as you are on the ship, all dangers from hostility will have nowhere to hide.”
Wang Jingyang pondered for a moment and felt that this was indeed the most professional thing he, as a Six Rings Saint, could do.
“Frank, if it weren’t for you, I really wouldn’t know what to do.”
“Everyone does their best,” he replied simply.
Wang Jingyang looked at the other party's tired expression, pondered for a moment, and really wanted to discuss what he had heard about General Schwartz last time, but considering the other party's current mental state, he decided to wait until things here were settled.
He decided to change to a lighter topic and said, “By the way, you’ve read that junior’s thesis, right? What do you think?”
Morey thought for a moment and said objectively, “It can be verified. I personally feel it’s very feasible, and it might even bring revolutionary improvements to existing spiritual energy assault tactics!”
Wang Jingyang smiled: “Then, after we finish with the celebration, we can try to implement it?”
“Yes, after the celebration…”
Tomorrow is the fleet review, and the day after tomorrow is the carnival, which is the climax of the Navy Day celebration. They still had a lot to do, and truly didn't have much time to concern themselves with Yu Lian's thesis.
Then, it was common era July 11th, the day of the fleet review. Since it was Navy Day, this segment was naturally essential.
Of course, the Blue Star Commonwealth was, after all, a republic, and no matter how unreliable it was, it wouldn't truly gather all its main battleships to celebrate the empress dowager's birthday; border defenses and vigilance still needed to be maintained.
Therefore, the so-called fleet review was to gather famous hero ships from various fleets, redecorate their paint, and then have them make an appearance and cruise in front of everyone.
Most citizens were more interested in tomorrow’s space carnival, but anyone with a bit of military enthusiasm would definitely consider today’s fleet review the main event. As a result, Central Defense University even gave a half-day holiday, allowing all students to watch nearby.
Due to doing too many things last night, Yu Lian was a bit listless during the day, so he didn’t go anywhere and found a seat in the auditorium to watch with his classmates.
First to appear were four Independence-class Dreadnoughts, the last of the 5 million-ton Dreadnoughts produced by the Commonwealth itself. These were the greatest and final creations of the Glory Shipyard.
The predecessor of this shipyard was the Royal Tianhe Shipyard established by the Empire in the Solar System, capable of building Dreadnoughts over 4 million tons.
This massive shipyard was also the most valuable spoils of war Marshal Li and his comrades captured from the Empire.
A total of twelve Independence-class Dreadnoughts were the magnificent answer sheet this shipyard delivered to the Blue Star Commonwealth over ten years.
However, tragically, the various super-large equipment for building Dreadnoughts completely exceeded the technological reserves of the Commonwealth, a newly emerging nation. Therefore, the miracle of the Glory Shipyard was destined to be irreplicable.
Marshal Li and the new government had once spent heavily trying to overcome these technical challenges, but this involved too many aspects of systems engineering, making it overwhelming and difficult to even begin. Later, with the death of Marshal Li and the gradual withdrawal of the first generation of visionary independent heroes from the historical stage, “conquering Dreadnought manufacturing” became a political slogan. It was shouted every year, but seemingly with no progress.
And more than twenty years ago, a mysterious fire at the Glory Shipyard turned the large equipment that had rendered great service to the Commonwealth into ruins.
The Commonwealth Government at the time was furious, believing it must be a conspiracy by hostile forces. The entire nation was mobilized in an emergency, digging three feet deep, but nothing was found.
Subsequently, the Commonwealth lost the ability to build Dreadnoughts.
...Fortunately, only seven or eight countries in the All-Galaxy can build Dreadnoughts. Ranked like that, our newly established country, only thirty or forty years old, isn't that embarrassing. Look at the Minlan Commercial Republic across from us; they spend so much money every year, but the quality of the Dreadnoughts they build isn't even as good as the Independence-class that launched thirty years ago.
Moreover, if we can't build them ourselves, can't we buy them? The Universe is now an era of free trade!
Thinking of this, the officials and citizens cheering for the Independence-class became full of anticipation for the eight new Dreadnoughts currently under construction in the Alliance. They, of course, also felt it was a pity that if the Navy’s 50th Army Day celebration were in two years, with the newest Dreadnoughts joining the fleet, they wouldn’t have to parade out old, decrepit meritorious ships like the Independence-class!
Moreover, no matter what, the Blue Star Commonwealth could still manufacture battlecruisers and Aircraft Carriers, which ranked among the top thirty in the All-Galaxy! We are a newly independent country for only a few decades; we have to take things one step at a time!
It must be stated that although the ability to build Dreadnoughts was lost, the Commonwealth's designers and Engineers were still very capable when it came to secondary warships like Aircraft Carriers and battlecruisers. For example, the Yinglong-class battlecruisers, to which the Hyperion belongs, have been a standardized design for decades and are still far from obsolete; and armored Aircraft Carriers like the lexington have achieved near perfection in terms of performance, versatility, and modifiability.
This time, appearing before everyone, in addition to the four new Yinglong-class ships built last year, were also four new Dragon King-class battlecruisers. These ships are somewhat like an improved version of the Yinglong-class, but they are equipped with the latest Cry 3 particle light spear cannons—which are also touted as the most powerful energy main cannons in the All-Galaxy currently.
The Commonwealth introduced foreign capital into its military-industrial system, which was a diplomatic consideration, but also involved technology sharing and production scale. During this period, some talents were indeed lost, and there was some “pain,” but it was not without results. Is the newly commissioned particle light spear cannon not a very obvious example?
Additionally, there was the “Arc Cannon,” which was reportedly already in the testing phase, a new technology that even the Empire had not yet developed.
Yes! If it’s a tiger’s skin, it needs to be shiny and beautiful to intimidate people. In my previous life, at this time, the Commonwealth, having suffered heavy losses at New Yumen, fell into a political turmoil of mutual attacks and blame-shifting, and even the Navy Day couldn't be held, so these shiny tiger stripes didn't even have a chance to be displayed.
Then, there were eight Victory Li-class Aircraft Carriers, and a formation of over four hundred various warships flying alongside them. Leaving aside the Aircraft Carriers for a moment, just the Ghost carrier-based aircraft on them were actually at the forefront of the All-Galaxy’s advanced level.
In fact, the Commonwealth was not that vulnerable! But, in my previous life, its potential was simply not fully mobilized! Yu Lian, sitting in front of the screen, felt a bit comical at this thought, looking at the magnificent warships on the display.
At the same moment, the supreme leader, President Nockham, on board the Commonwealth Space Fleet's flagship, the Dreadnought Spirit of Freedom, watched the massive fleet pass before him and naturally fell into a state of self-satisfaction.
“These are the Guardians of our Commonwealth! How elite, how magnificent!”
“Yes, they are also our magnificent land!” Keith Nishita, the Defense Committee Chairman, responded with a smile. He, too, was full of pride, perfectly burying his disdain within it.