On the night of December 25th, 829, Galaxy Common Era, many countries and regions had already begun their New Year holidays.
The Katai Fleet's joint exercise, which had lasted for nearly a week, was also about to conclude successfully, seemingly just in time for a celebration.
Marshal Reid Redeye, the Katai Kingdom's Second Minister of the Navy and Commander of the United Fleet, was hosting a banquet for all the sub-fleet Commanders and capital ship Captains.
On the bridge of his flagship, the Salbat Ironclaw, he raised a crystal goblet high and declared to the senior officers Present, “A happy New Year to you all in advance! And may your martial endeavors be prosperous! To victory!”
“To victory!” the officers responded loudly, their voices excited and even trembling slightly.
Before the banquet began, Redeye had already distributed his battle plan to everyone Present, and only then did they realize the true purpose of this “exercise.”
The chests of these senior officers immediately swelled with burning passion, so full it felt like it would overflow!
They were almost all born into traditional noble families of the Katai Kingdom, all from the martial and vigorous Claw Class, emphasizing warrior traditions and seeking the honor of achieving great deeds and dying on the battlefield.
Almost every one of them had been indoctrinated in their youth with ideas like “Earthlings are our mortal enemies,” “The Star Gate opposite us is our territory,” and “Revenge! Revenge! Reclaim the lost lands.”
Now, the moment they had dreamed of their entire lives had finally arrived; how could they not be uncontrollably excited?
A few rational doubts were buried within the fervor of the masses, naturally unable to make any sound.
“Alright, you have all seen my battle plan.
Before the banquet begins, you still have time to speak your minds freely!”
The officers exchanged glances and whispered among themselves for a moment, then one general stood up and said, “Sir, I wish to know why the patrolling fleet responsible for vigilance will be withdrawn six hours before the raid, which is after 10 PM tonight?
As is well known, ever since the Ironfang 3 Star System was taken by the Earthlings, our current location in the Western Tail Star System has become a so-called ‘open sea,’ with no detection arrays or gravity well interference devices installed.
The outer patrolling fleet is our only warning net.”
Redeye nodded, deeming the question constructive, and explained, “Our country has conducted large-scale military exercises here 12 times.
Each time our fleet gathers, the enemy also gathers their Outer Rim Fleet to confront us.
However, once the exercise ends, we are always the first to withdraw our vigilant fleet and incorporate it into the main fleet for the final withdrawal formation training.
The Earthlings on the other side will also withdraw their outposts, preparing to disband… This back-and-forth has gone on for nearly twenty years, practically becoming a customary ritual.
So, what would happen if, after the Earthlings’ outpost fleet withdraws, we suddenly turn our entire army and launch a surprise attack?”
The officers suddenly understood, expressing in unison that His Excellency the Marshal was far-sighted, and that the Earthling wretches on the other side were as stupid as pigs, and that the Kingdom's Fleet would soon achieve a resounding victory!
“If there are no other questions, I will announce the start of the banquet.
Let’s eat and drink to our hearts’ content as a pre-war mobilization!
Then, you must execute every step perfectly, without a single mistake!”
“Your plan is flawless, and your subordinates will resolutely carry it out!” someone cheered loudly, instantly drawing a chorus of agreement.
“Resolutely carry it out!”
“To victory! Wow! Long live the Great Protector!”
“Tear the Earthlings’ necks! They are all despicable invaders!”
“Yes, shameless and despicable invaders! And, they actually, actually called us cats!”
“Yes, that’s the most hateful part! We are a warrior race that traverses the stars, how are we like those, those furry beasts that only know how to roll around and beg for affection? Unbearable!”
“Yes, absolutely unbearable! What an insult!”
Seeing that everyone was high-spirited and united against the common enemy, and had no more constructive suggestions, Redeye waved his hand for the dishes to be served.
All kinds of main courses mimicked imperial court cuisine, mixed with many dishes from the Alliance and even the Commonwealth, but overall, they were still dazzlingly abundant and extremely rich.
Although the Kataians are a hirsute alien race, they are all bipedal carbon-based mammalian omnivores, so what humans can eat, they can certainly eat too.
In fact, they quite like human delicacies, and their tastes are particularly strong; the greasier, higher in sugar, salt, and cholesterol, the more they like it, yet it's a strange thing that they don't shed fur!
“Your Excellency, I have an objection!” a Captain suddenly shouted.
Redeye glanced at him with his blood-tinged vertical pupils and said, “Oh, then speak.”
“Why is there Earthling food here!” He pointed to a large plate of foie gras, swallowed, but still said righteously, “We don’t eat our enemies’ food?”
The Captain’s words drew a chorus of responses; it seemed that this view was not uncommon.
“You don’t want to eat it?” Redeye said coldly.
“Uh, this, no, I don’t…”
“Does it not taste good? As proud warriors, you must speak the truth!”
“No, not good… No, it tastes good! Uh, your subordinate wants to eat it too!”
The Captain nodded dejectedly, but then said, “But, Your Excellency, I…”
“Then eat it frankly!
Remember this deliciousness, and remember your humiliation!
Yes, the reason you are unwilling to touch the enemy’s food is because we are the defeated side!
We are the side that has had flesh carved from us!
It has been this way for thirty years!
However, gentlemen, do you want to escape, or remember all of this?
Do you know how this food came to be?
Earthlings force-feed geese large amounts of food every day, causing their livers to grow abnormally and swell, and when they are plump enough, it is time for them to be disemboweled and their livers taken.
Doesn't this resemble our enemies!
Yes, humans are such cruel creatures!”
What Redeye said left the officers dry-mouthed, each feeling a little unnerved.
“But, so what?
No matter what, humanity’s research into food is still the best in the Milky Way.
What’s wrong with acknowledging the deliciousness before you?
Once we reclaim the lost lands, restore the sacred territory of the Kingdom, and thoroughly defeat the old enemy who has oppressed us for many years, you can then openly enjoy all of this!
So, now…” Redeye grabbed a piece of foie gras and shouted, “Eat it!
Just as you will eat your enemies!
To victory!”
Commander Redeye swallowed the foie gras in one bite, and the other officers, with tears in their eyes, followed suit, and the large plate of foie gras was instantly emptied.
“Hmm, a bit fishy… It doesn’t seem as delicious as it was hyped up to be,” Redeye thought.
It must be clarified that these foie gras were raw, with only a little seasoning sprinkled on them.
However, precisely because of this small interlude, the atmosphere of the banquet remained quite lively.
The senior officers were all satisfied and high-spirited after eating, so they bid farewell to Redeye and left one after another.
The Second Minister of the Navy felt quite exhausted, lamenting that all his subordinates were impulsive fools in their chuunibyou phase, and that playing dumb with them was quite mentally and physically draining.
But even so, it was far from his time to rest, because the biggest chuunibyou in the entire army, and even the entire country, still needed him to deal with.
Redeye opened his communication in his office, and the screen immediately displayed the image of Prince Charlen Lionmane, the Kingdom’s most powerful “chuunibyou.”
The Prince’s appearance was quite in line with Katai aesthetics: a strong and burly physique, and a body covered in crimson fur, a symbol of royal inheritance, exuding a menacing aura and an imposing presence, truly the bearing of a ruler.
“Too bad he’s a hyperactive child with a hot head!” Redeye thought.
“Oh, what’s wrong, you look so tired, that’s not like you, my teacher.”
“This old minister is getting on in years, I really can’t hold my liquor!” Redeye began to feign helplessness.
If the other party could end the communication early and let him go to sleep, then the performance would be a success.
“No, teacher, you absolutely cannot be unable to hold your liquor!
When we reach Earth, I will personally serve you wine to celebrate the victory!”
Redeye paused slightly, as if he had caught some very ominous information from the Prince’s words.
All his fatigue and irritation vanished, his eyes wide open, his bloodshot eyes seemingly ready to devour someone.
“What? What did you say?”
“This, Earth… Earth…” Even the Prince Crimson Mane, who was in the late stage of his hyperactive cancer, trembled from that glare of blood-red pupils and quickly explained, “I think, to make the Earthlings completely submit, we should directly invade their capital and make them sign the treaty with their heads bowed.
What is a Star Gate?
Their colonies in the New World, the three star sectors bordering us, should all be ceded, and also, I heard that Earth has beautiful women…”
“Your Highness, I thought we were only going to reclaim the Gibraltar Star System, no, actually, just gaining half control of the Star Gate would be a great success!”
“What Gibraltar Star System, it’s our Ironfang 3 Star System!” the Prince roared.
However, the Galactic Civilization Council’s official naming of that star system has already been formally designated as “Gibraltar.”
“Alright, Ironfang 3 Star System… But, we have already devised a perfect plan, and our current combat power is only at its limit to temporarily defeat the enemy’s Outer Rim Fleet and regain control of the Star Gate.”
“Heh, plans can be changed at any time.
Once we occupy the enemy’s space cities and inhabited colony planets, we will be able to get supplies and fight all the way to Earth!
Now, it’s time to overthrow humanity’s tyranny, the future of the universe belongs to the Kataians!” The Prince shouted and roared with passionate excitement, seeing Redeye’s consistently indifferent expression, he quickly added, “Anyway, please wait a moment, once I arrive, we will discuss it again.”
With that, he cut off the communication without waiting for the old general’s reaction.
Marshal Redeye stood dazed for nearly a minute, suddenly feeling a bit breathless, and slumped into his chair, his vision beginning to blacken.
Fortunately, before he fainted, he managed to press the call bell with difficulty.
The Guardians and medical officers rushed in, shouting and bustling around His Excellency the Marshal for a long time, feeding him medicine and massaging him, finally managing to save his old life.
Marshal Redeye wore a respirator for a while, finally feeling a bit more comfortable, then wearily rubbed his loose and withered fur-covered face, letting out a weary sigh.
He then asked the doctor for some sleeping pills and quietly went to sleep.
There was no other way; tomorrow, that simpleton with late-stage hyperactive cancer would arrive, and he still had to deal with him.
When the war started, although that simpleton was the nominal supreme Commander, wouldn't he still be the one in charge of command?
So, he had to rest now, and try to recover some strength.
Although he was old and sick (mostly from being angered by that simpleton), he couldn't collapse now, he had to persevere!
But the more he thought about it, the less he could sleep.
Even with the effect of the sleeping pills, Marshal Redeye tossed and turned for several hours before finally closing his eyes deeply.
He didn't know how long he had slept; he only felt that as soon as his eyelids closed and his mind stopped thinking, he was completely awakened by the adjutant and Guardians who burst in.
He gritted his teeth, wanting to grab his gun, feeling that if he didn’t kill a few people in his dream, he would be unworthy of his military rank.
However, the adjutant shouted first, “Your Excellency, Your Excellency, they’re attacking!”
“What’s attacking? Flying balls? Celestial spheres? Shut up! I have a headache!” The Marshal subconsciously cursed, then slowly regained a bit of consciousness and thinking ability, yawned, and angrily said, “Hmph… Go, go get my catnip smoke!”
“There’s no time for that! It’s missiles! Missiles and torpedoes! Your Excellency the Marshal!”
The Marshal seemed not to hear, woodenly took the catnip smoke handed to him by the Guardian, sniffed it, and turned his head: “What did you just say? Missiles and torpedoes?”
“The enemy! The Commonwealth Outer Rim Fleet has already attacked!”
Oh, a moment ago, the friend ID debug or something, I apologize, I didn’t see it clearly… I was going to highlight your review, but it seems I accidentally deleted it.
I am truly sorry, but I really don’t delete reviews randomly.
Friends of my old book know my temper; except for those who deliberately cause trouble, those who use pirated versions (no rights), and those who use foul language, I will not delete any other reviews, and reasonable questions will definitely be highlighted.
Hmm, first, let’s talk about the question you just raised.
This, subconscious complaining is indeed an old habit of mine, and many old seniors, including Frog, have brought it up.
I can only say I will try my best to overcome it, and overall, it’s much better than my old book.
Of course, I hope to ensure the current relaxed reading experience while not affecting the fluidity of reading and preventing readers from being taken out of the story; however, writing skill is truly the hardest thing to break through.
And, I’m really not a naturally gifted author, everything has been honed step by step.
Then, regarding the issue of forced sublimation… I am actually very conflicted, and now looking at that section, it seems quite unsuccessful, yet not writing it also seems illogical.
I can only say that my writing ability is limited, and I did my best; in the future, I will try to be more restrained or write it more subtly.
Since you think the story is still good, then just skip the parts you find a bit awkward…
In short, thank you for your support, and I hope you will continue to support me in the future!
Also, to all the observer lords outside the Great Universe, don't miss out as you pass by, if you have money, please support with money, if you don't have money, please support with votes!