After the call ended, Warrant Officer Yu Lian on the Azure Princess felt a bit conflicted.
He realized that due to his butterfly effect, the famous generals of the 830 Party, those heroes, and even some people who were not well-known in later generations, would all enter the stage of history prematurely.
However, he immediately realized that they might also die young due to his reckless actions today.
This heavy, intertwined feeling left him speechless for a full three seconds.
“Be careful, and don’t you dare die!” he said to Wien.
“You haven’t said many sensible things today,” Wien said. “But, seeing as the few sensible things you did say were important, I won’t bother with you.”
Yu Lian picked up his device and once again began to call Earth.
This time, the other side’s attitude was very proper; the communication was connected almost instantly, as if someone was specifically waiting there.
Then, a calm old man’s voice came through their earpieces.
“This is Eternal City, Earth. I am Marshal Alvin, Commander of the Commonwealth Defense Force. Please state your identities.”
“Marshal, this is Warrant Officer Yu Lian and Warrant Officer Horatio Wien, speaking with you from the information hub directly above the information control room on the Azure Princess.”
There was a very brief pause in the earpiece, and then the Marshal’s voice rang out again: “Please report the current situation!”
This old man used the word “please.” Although he would only leave an inconspicuous name in history books in the future, he must be a person of principle, Yu Lian thought. He then recounted the entire situation at the fastest possible speed.
Marshal Alvin nodded; this was basically consistent with the information he had received so far.
To date, Earth had confirmed that fifty-six members of the Military Police Special Operations Unit were indeed missing, and all of them were loyal subordinates personally trained by Brigadier General Morey. Additionally, they seemed to have received favors from General Schwartz, naturally making them suspects.
Furthermore, the status of Feixue 48 was also clarified: her captain and first mate were once General Schwartz’s subordinates.
Although General Schwartz’s methods for eliminating dissent were ruthless, making him particularly hated, these office politics tactics were aimed at political rivals of his own rank. However, he was genuinely good to his subordinates.
A considerable number of mid-level officers believed that the Chief of Staff was an excellent, iron-blooded soldier, as if a military hero from Marshal Li’s era had been reborn.
In short, when the information from both sides was cross-referenced, the Marshal immediately believed eighty percent of it.
However, this was truly not good news. Just thinking about the fifty-plus elite military police special operations members on board, and the more than two hundred robots whose models still couldn’t be identified, gave him a headache.
Coupled with Feixue 48 lurking nearby, it was almost an impregnable situation.
“To leave so many security risks! Tsk, putting everything else aside, the celebration organizers are going to be in big trouble this time. Every member of the National Defense Security Committee, starting from the Chairman, will face consequences…” The Old Marshal, trying to find some dark humor, was about to gloat, but then realized that he was also a member of the National Defense Security Committee.
“You have worked hard. Thank you for the intelligence you risked your lives to deliver!” Marshal Alvin said, “You… find a hidden place and wait for reinforcements. Maintain constant contact.”
He hadn’t even considered having Yu Lian and Wien rescue the hostages. Even though he surely knew that Yu Lian, who he was speaking with, was a spiritual energy user capable of fighting a hundred men alone.
This old man truly was a person of principle! As expected, the only reliable high-ranking officials in the Blue Star Commonwealth were the old-timers from Marshal Li’s era.
“Marshal, I have a somewhat unrefined small plan, but…” Yu Lian paused.
There was another brief silence on the other end of the earpiece, then the Marshal said, “Wait a moment!”
Then came a flurry of sounds and exclamations from others, followed by the opening and closing of a door.
Yu Lian could guess what had happened: Marshal Alvin had probably suddenly picked up the terminal in the center of the conference room and walked directly out of it, leaving the Vice President, Prime Minister, and a large group of high-ranking officials and generals stunned.
A few minutes later, the Marshal’s voice rang out again: “Now, I’m the only one here. Whatever bizarre, outlandish ideas you have, tell me.”
It was truly effortless to cooperate with an old man who had brains and good judgment! As long as they could communicate, that was excellent, Yu Lian thought.
Indeed, a few minutes later, when Yu Lian laid out his entire plan, the Marshal on the other end did not fly into a rage or scoff. Instead, he said with a helpless voice, “These young people… they’re really lively!”
“Uh, actually, your subordinate also wants to be more composed, but my companions are indeed too lively.”
“…I’ve heard many rumors about you from that old geezer Paris, Warrant Officer Yu Lian. It’s good for young people to have vitality, but shouldn’t you occasionally reflect on yourself?”
Is he praising me or mocking me?
“If anyone else had said those bizarre things just now, I would have just laughed it off.”
“Oh, you flatter me, your subordinate is truly ashamed and unworthy of such praise!”
This should be praise, right? As a qualified social person, one should still be humble, Yu Lian thought.
“…In any case, it’s such a messy, outlandish plan! You want to rely on your own strength…”
“And my classmates!”
“Yes, relying on your own strength, and a group of rookies who haven’t even seen blood, to deal with Morey, that famous transcendent, fifty-plus elite soldiers from the Military Police Special Operations Unit, over two hundred combat robots, and Feixue 48, commanded by an elite captain and her crew!”
I have seen blood! I have combat experience! Wien, who had been quietly listening, really wanted to interject, but he held back. He felt that after today’s experience, at the very least, his self-control would improve significantly.
“Everyone is excellent; at least we proved that half an hour ago!”
“However, exercises are not real combat!”
“Yes, Marshal!” Yu Lian said.
There was a few seconds’ pause from Marshal Alvin behind the earpiece before he said, “Then, do it, Warrant Officer Yu Lian. However, you must remember, this plan was formulated by me! You are merely executing it according to my orders. Do you understand?”
Yu Lian was slightly startled, and a warmth immediately flashed through his heart.
“Hurry and prepare! Stay in contact! Action time is five minutes from now, alright?”
“Understood, Marshal!”
Marshal Alvin temporarily ended the communication, pressed his temples, and re-entered the office.
Madam Morrison and Prime Minister Jinwei once again looked at the Marshal, their expressions grave, carrying questions, anticipation, and even longing. It seemed they showed no dissatisfaction whatsoever with his sudden departure, at least not on their faces.
“I just got from… I now have an operational plan!”
The Vice President and Prime Minister’s expressions became even more animated, their brows and eyes seeming to relax. They looked at the Marshal as if he were a Bodhisattva saving them from suffering.
Too polite. Precisely because you’re too polite, I know exactly what you’re thinking! The Marshal sighed heavily, lamenting that even two students wouldn’t trust them.
However, I’m not like you guys; I’m a glorious old soldier. At this age, the worst that can happen is an undignified retirement. But I can’t let that old geezer Paris mock me, nor can I let young people look down on me!
Marshal Alvin seemed to have made up his mind; his entire demeanor instantly changed. With a slight smile, he nodded to Madam Vice President and Prime Minister Jinwei, and after the two instinctively flinched, he turned directly to a Grey Vice Admiral with Grey-blue skin next to him, and said in a matter-of-fact tone, “Can we disable the limiting devices on those two patrol cruisers?”
This Grey Vice Admiral, named McLay, was the current Director of the Spacecraft Management Bureau, and the highest-ranking non-Earth-born officer in the Commonwealth military.
Vice Admiral McLay was stunned for a few seconds, then immediately realized that the Marshal was referring to the two ships conducting the solo exercise.
For the exercise, all missiles on the Red Tiger and Blue Monarch were duds without warheads, and even kinetic energy shells used lightweight coated materials.
However, no matter how wealthy or wasteful the military was, they couldn’t dismantle the energy weapons on a ship just for an exercise, so they merely added limiting devices to their energy conduction.
This way, the energy weapons could still emit very dazzling red and blue rays, with full sound and light effects, but they would not pose a threat to real warship armor.
However, as long as those limiting devices were removed and the energy conduction returned to normal, they could still continue to fight. The main guns on the patrol cruisers, in addition to kinetic cannons, also had ion cannons and positron cannons, which could still easily burn through a destroyer’s shields and armor.
Vice Admiral McLay was indeed a smart man. After a few seconds of being stunned, he immediately understood the other party’s intention.
“Marshal, do you mean… those two warships used for the exercise?”
The Marshal affirmed his guess with his eyes, and the Vice Admiral’s mouth twitched: “So, that’s your plan?”
“Just part of the plan! Isn’t this normal? Two cruisers against one destroyer, the advantage is mine!”
Can it be calculated that way? The Vice Admiral’s mouth began to twitch. He was a Grey, and his mouth was relatively small, so the twitching was particularly noticeable.
The others were in a daze, but they all realized that something particularly counter-intuitive was about to happen.
“I know the ones on board are students! But, they are indeed on the closest warship to the scene. Expecting them, these young people who have already performed well enough, to handle bombardment from the Blazing Sun Fortress millions of kilometers away, isn’t that more worth looking forward to?” the Old Marshal said.
Then, before the people in the office could react, before their shock solidified into a roaring clamor, Marshal Alvin had already looked at Vice President Morrison.
“However, it’s still the same old saying, I still don’t have this authority. Madam Vice President, in the event that the President is unable to exercise his rights, you are our supreme commander! So, whether we can act depends on your decision!”
“I, I…”
Prime Minister Jinwei glanced at the stammering woman and slightly moved his chair away. He was immensely grateful that he was merely an administrator, essentially a housekeeper, and did not have to bear this responsibility; it was truly wonderful.
“Madam Vice President, I only hope you understand that as the dignified Commonwealth Government, we absolutely cannot compromise with terrorists and traitors. But similarly, we cannot sit by and watch over twenty thousand people, especially important foreign guests including Duke Fisu and Krel Belmont, be harmed… Even for the sake of public affairs, this matter must be resolved quickly! So far, this is also the plan with the highest success rate!”
So what exactly is the plan? How am I supposed to say anything without knowing anything?
Vice President Morrison felt a pang of sorrow in her heart. Just as she was about to ask more, she saw the Marshal suddenly darken his face and say in a serious, even somewhat menacing tone, “Then, please decide quickly!”
The middle-aged Vice President was so stunned by the Old Marshal’s oppressive aura, like that of a seasoned warrior, that her mind went blank: “I, I, but, but…”
“Maria…” Marshal suddenly changed to a gentle tone, revealing a warm smile: “The Commonwealth, the people, and I, all need your decision. I’m sorry, it’s my incompetence that forced you into this situation. But, I truly need you.”
Marshal Alvin, nearing eighty, wore a bitter and weathered smile, yet it was full of the charm of a top-tier old man.
Though he was already at this age, time had etched countless wrinkles onto his once handsome youthful face, yet it was as if it had fermented into the fragrance of fine wine.
Like most old soldiers remaining from Marshal Li’s era, he still maintained ample exercise, his physique remaining well-proportioned and upright, and his every gesture was filled with a gentleman’s elegance and a warrior’s firmness.
To be fair, Marshal Alvin’s quality as a seasoned handsome man was far superior to Madam Morrison’s as a seasoned beauty.
Silently watched by those Grey eyes, filled with stories and anticipation, Madam Maria Morrison felt a warmth in her chest and instinctively blurted out, “Oh, alright then, I’ll agree.”
“Thank you for your decision!” The Marshal quickly stood up, picked up his communicator, “This is Eternal City, operation approved!”
Although this scene always felt a bit like an overaged social uncle PUAing an overaged naive sweet girl, regardless, all the subsequent chaotic actions now had official, legal authorization.
Truly, congratulations are in order!