The Blue Star Commonwealth’s supreme leader, President Nockham’s good mood did not last long.
This was the second day after the fleet review, which was also another highlight of the celebration: the Sky Gala was set to take place today. After finishing his morning press conference, President Nockham left the Presidential Palace in high spirits. To show his closeness to the people, he chose to take the orbital elevator instead of directly taking his exclusive transport shuttle to the blue star princess.
However, when he arrived at the friendship space station, before he could even enter the shuttle, a large group of reporters, who seemed to have been waiting for a long time, swarmed him. Although they were blocked outside the cordon, their sheer numbers were still dizzying.
“Mr. President, it has been two months since the civilian unrest in Big Apple, but the authorities have yet to provide a proper response. Do you have any statement regarding the more than twenty citizens who were injured or killed and the over three hundred people who were detained in that incident?” a reporter asked.
The President’s mouth twitched, but his press secretary quickly interjected loudly, “Uh, today is the 50th anniversary of our great navy’s founding. Please try to focus on that.”
“Mr. President, during yesterday’s fleet review, our Dreadnought formation was still comprised of Independence-class ships built when the nation was first founded! May I ask, where do the large annual budget allocations go? They are the hard-earned money of the Commonwealth people. So, when will the new Dreadnoughts, which belong to the people of Blue Star, finally be built?”
“They will come! Don’t our new battlecruisers reflect the rapid progress in our nation’s shipbuilding technology? The Dreadnoughts that belong to the Commonwealth, to the children of Blue Star, will definitely be built!” the President declared, clenching his fist.
It’s easy for you to say. If you have the guts, go steal technology from the Empire and the Alliance! But no one understands shipbuilding better than I do. After the Glorious Shipyard was whitewashed, we still have at least two hundred technical problems to overcome in Dreadnought manufacturing. Engine-related, energy sensing, mass compression, and even materials science… Even if twenty more Black Moon Counts came, and every one of them became a commercial spy, they still couldn't steal all of it!
As he thought this, he saw a young female military officer in a snow-white naval dress uniform appear ahead, and his eyes lit up.
“Your subordinate is Fina C. Li, an 830th-term cadet from Central Defense University, and one of the hosts of this celebration. I will be your guide, officers!” Feifei smartly saluted everyone, then revealed a graceful smile: “We will board the shuttle from Channel A to the blue star princess.”
The President nodded, feeling much better, and his steps became lighter.
But just as they were about to reach the entrance of the channel, they heard another reporter say, “Mr. President, Mr. Bai Guanying, the officer of New Divine Province, said you are an idiot. What do you think?”
This was neither like a reporter’s question nor something an officer of a heavenly region should say, and President Nockham was momentarily stunned: “...He, did he really say that?”
The President stopped, and everyone else naturally had to stop as well.
The reporter then directly played a video clip, edited to remove the beginning and end, showing a vigorous old man on screen, saying to a news channel: “Yes, many decisions made by the Central Government are made by idiots.”
Actually, Officer Bai Guanying’s original words were: “I really don’t understand many of the current economic policies. Our leaders should consider not only glamorous financial reports and shiny emerging industries, but also more practical issues of national economy and people’s livelihood. What needs to be supported now is precisely not entertainment cities or theme parks, but basic heavy industry and manufacturing! There are so many vacancies in the development of the national homeland, why must people be driven to the New World? I don’t quite understand the recent actions of the Central Government! Yes, many decisions made by the Central Government are made by idiots.”
After saying these words indignantly, he then said in a kind tone: “Forget it, I hope the people in the mainland who have lost their jobs can consider New Divine Province! I can guarantee to the universe spirit and Marshal Li that no regional officer in the entire country understands manufacturing better than I do! Our New Divine Province is also the most suitable place to settle in the All-Galaxy!”
In short, he was just, as always, criticizing the Central Government and advertising his own sphere of influence.
However, when the truncated version reached the President, it naturally had a completely different meaning.
President Nockham gritted his teeth in anger, wishing he could refute it on the spot.
It’s easy for you to say. Not to mention anything else, you know how powerful the local forces in the various star systems are now. Last time, a large company proposed building a super-large food and daily necessities processing plant in the Earth-Moon orbit of Fertile Star, and it was completely sabotaged by the local council.
Building the factory in space could save a lot of logistics costs. But those guys said that it was only safe enough on the ground, only then could enough workers be found, only then could employment be created, and at the same time, it wouldn't affect the ecological environment… Well, they said all sorts of things. But do I not know? Only by building it on the planet’s surface can the dividends from various supporting industries fill your pockets!
These are local gentry! These are powerful local tyrants! To put it bluntly, isn’t your Bai family in New Divine Province the largest local power in the country? You are the gentry of gentry, the tyrants of tyrants!
Infrastructure? Manufacturing? National industrial development? Without nationwide unified allocation of markets, resources, and even labor, how can we revitalize industry?
Our industrial products already can't compete with the Empire and the Alliance. If we don’t vigorously support high-return tertiary industries, if we don’t fully develop the New World, if we don’t have increasingly splendid financial reports, and more and more spices, precious metals, Zero Element, and other New World specialties, how can I continue to be President?
Thinking of this, the President couldn’t help but glance at Nishita Chairman behind him, thinking, it’s all because of your shipbuilding plan! Hmph, without money, how can you buy your Dreadnoughts? How can you build your battlecruisers and Aircraft Carriers?
It’s truly difficult to be the head of a so-called “third military power” in name only! I am truly struggling!
The more President Nockham thought about it, the sadder and angrier he became, but he still forced a graceful smile: “Hmm, I understand. It’s just that the perspectives of local and national governments are different, so there are no disagreements between the Central Government and the New Divine Province government; it’s just that the situations they face are different. Elder Bai is an excellent regional officer, my senior, and the Central Government will continue to support his work as always. As for the citizens who have temporarily lost their jobs, our Commonwealth is a free republic, and all citizens have the freedom to pursue a happy life! I wish them good luck!”
As weak as ever! You think this is magnanimous and graceful, but discerning people will only see you as weak! At this moment, even if you just said, “That old man surnamed Bai is a venomous snake!”, it would probably be much better than just trying to smooth things over.
Nishita Chairman, behind the President, sighed softly in his heart. He estimated that most high-ranking officials thought the same way.
There was nothing to be done; the President’s strengths were his affability and negotiation skills, and the biggest reason he could take office was his good relationships with various parties. His political persona dictated that he truly couldn’t be tough.
In short, the President, who believed he had answered flawlessly, wanted to leave again, but then heard a voice float out from among the reporters, from who knows where:
“Mr. President, I’m a GNN political reporter. May I ask, what do you have to say about the rumors regarding you and Miss Serena Mao? I heard that some congressmen are preparing to launch an impeachment case against you due to issues with your personal conduct…”
President Nockham was truly stunned this time, stopping in his tracks, his face alternating between green and red. Then he sharply yelled, “GNN, fake news!” and rushed into the passage at a speed almost like fleeing in panic.
This was the most assertive he had been from beginning to end.
It was fortunate that this scene was not live. At this time, Yu Lian and his companions, who were on standby at the military port in Moon City, only saw Feifei leading a group of important figures into the shuttle passage on the broadcast screen.
However, in Yu Lian’s opinion, even standing there, Feifei’s aura was no less than that of those Commonwealth rulers. Even if she tried her best to shrink herself to the edge of the camera, trying to keep a low profile.
By the bridge, Zhi Xia, as the vice-captain and Yu Lian’s representative, was also being interviewed.
This female reporter, who looked under thirty, was mature, confident, elegant, capable, and quite pretty. Young crew members couldn’t possibly dislike such a person.
She came from Blue Star’s Son TV. This is a media outlet that promotes patriotism, independence, and the spirit of freedom, and it is also one of the most influential media outlets in the Commonwealth. They have been singing praises for the “Xiwei Star System Battle” and have reported several times on Yu Lian, this “pioneer,” this “young hero,” this “rising star.”
Theoretically, they should be on their side.
Of course, if viewed from Yu Lian’s perspective from his previous life, this would be a typical right-wing media outlet.
But no matter what, from their own standpoint, they were “their own people.” Moreover, they didn’t interview Wien’s Blue Faction first, but rather Yu Lian’s Hong Fang (Red Team), which was already very considerate. Given that, he also had to show respect!
So, even Yu Lian, who didn't particularly like dealing with reporters, still earnestly answered a few of their questions, and then had Vice-Captain Zhi Xia take the reporter on a full tour of the ship.
“So, these are our preparations. Perhaps to everyone, this is just a program for the celebration, but for us, it is the most perfect tribute to four years of study! Everyone has put in months of effort, just hoping to do their best!” Zhi Xia said.
The reporter, who introduced herself as Laisa Lula, smiled and said: “No, we definitely don’t see this as just a program! At least, our loyal viewers and channel subscribers certainly don’t. I heard that you are all elites selected from various military academies in the Commonwealth, representing the future of the Commonwealth! Everyone is eagerly waiting to admire your heroic appearance.”
“Not military academies, but all higher education institutions!” Zhi Xia corrected.
Miss Laisa was taken aback.
“Haha, you’ll have to ask our captain about that. His original words were, ‘We are all the future of the Commonwealth! The rising waves of the children of Blue Star! We are qualified to fight for the Commonwealth and the children of Blue Star!’ I sincerely hope that when you all enter society, you won’t need to fight yourselves, because that would mean we soldiers are useless, or all dead. However, I also sincerely look forward to enjoying the passionate burning of youth in this battle, which will not involve casualties!”
The reporter looked at Yu Lian, who was intently studying something in the captain’s seat on the top deck, pondered for a moment, then smiled brightly, with a hint of admiration, and said solemnly: “He sounds like a remarkable captain. Well, he must be very busy now, so I won’t disturb him. Then, I sincerely wish you all can enjoy this passionate burning of youth! And that all viewers in front of their televisions can also experience the children of Blue Star rediscovering their passion and courage, and their inherent childlike innocence!”
Everyone on the ship was very touched, feeling that this reporter was beautiful and spoke well. They were instant fans and vowed to support her program more in the future.
Zhi Xia nodded, stood at attention, and saluted the camera.
“This is also our most important motivation for three months of hard training!”