Chapter 62: Chapter 62, all very disappointed
Every Starfighter Battle Group is a formidable force. If fully staffed, not only do they have a thousand of the topmost warriors, but they also have a fleet and hundreds of thousands, even millions of well-equipped Mortal Auxiliary Army.
The Empire establishes such battle groups to garrison certain critical worlds and, when necessary, dispatches them to key battlefields within the Star Sea to serve a decisive role.
After having cleared their name, the Phoenix Battle Group should have been supported by the Empire to rebuild. Having one more such battle group might safeguard the stability of one or several Star Sectors.
But the Empire did not do so.
Gu Hang could not concern himself with the higher-level games now, but as Yelisia had warned, the Phoenix Battle Group was definitely in trouble.
What Yelisia meant by saying she could stop them if Gu Hang needed was that intercepting a Starfighter Battle Group—even a remnant one—was not something she was keen to do due to the extensive trouble it could cause.
However, if Gu Hang was willing to “carry the pot” and make the request as the planetary governor, she could take the risk to help him out.
To go to such lengths was already very good. Gu Hang knew she meant well.
Including her help and her warnings.
It seemed that the female starship captain had unconsciously started to treat Gu Hang as an ally.
This was a very good sign.
However, Gu Hang still declined Yelisia’s kind offer.
Why intercept these interstellar warriors? For the time being, Gu Hang had no intention of giving up this active event chain.
He was too tempted by the remnant battle group.
Even if the Phoenix Battle Group was now weakened, it was still a battle group. If he could secure their allegiance, sweeping through Rage Owl Star would become unobstructed.
Starships are awesome, but even the mightiest starships can only bombard from above; Yelisia wouldn’t send ground troops. Even for a real ground war, her few land forces were not up to much.
Orbital bombardment is a strategic deterrent akin to nuclear weapons, not used unless absolutely necessary. And if it’s just for intimidation… hasn’t Gu Hang been doing just that over the past month? Otherwise, the Revival City government would not have been so “obedient,” supplying whatever was asked for, and rushing to explain themselves over the Cult investigation when told, even with Hodgson, the head of the Alliance Council, coming over.
How can the title of Governor alone be enough? Previous governors had titles too, and weren’t they still doomed when the time came?
Insubordination is a low-level tactic. Deceiving superiors, covert non-compliance, receiving orders but not executing them, hiding the actual information… Without his own forces, eventually, he might be duped and might still feel everything was under control.
Feeling all merry as the native leaders seem quite submissive and diligent in their duties. The collection of the Empire’s taxes is also progressing well, and before the tax officer’s arrival, it seems that the quota is met in the warehouse. After a few inspections with no issues, suddenly, on the eve of tax delivery: surprise, the amount is short.
Gu Hang doesn’t want this to happen, and deterrence alone is not enough.
On the ground, he needs actual force, subordinates who will definitely obey him, and reliable military power. This ensures he cannot be fooled, and those who do not follow orders will be forcefully suppressed—and such suppression cannot be the devastating kind like orbital bombardment.
Rage Owl Star is already in bad shape; if he was to bomb Revival City with ship cannons, then taxes really couldn’t be paid.
And the Phoenix represents such conventional force.
With the help of the Starfighters, Gu Hang could ensure that when judgments are made, the culprits would be dealt with without resorting to orbital bombardment that destroys an entire city just to kill a few individuals.
Yet, when he actually saw the Phoenix Battle Group, he was still taken aback.
…
Several hours later, he stood at the landing field, watching as something descended from the sky…
That was the Burn Feather, a ship… well, one couldn’t call it a starship, it was merely a vessel.
It was too small.
When he had just learned that the battle group intended to land their ship directly on the planet’s surface, Gu Hang was shocked, fearing there would be nowhere to put it. In his mind, even an Escort Ship would have a crew in the thousands and would be a massive presence on the ground.
But now, seeing it: that’s it?
It was only slightly bigger than the transport ships used for communication with the ground from the Quintet.
No, are remnants supposed to be so depleted that not even a single starship remains?
The Starfighter Battle Group? Is this it?
Could it be an advance force?
As the hatch opened, Gu Hang first saw a figure far stronger and taller than a normal person, clad in power armor with a bright red body and white edges, holding a bomb gun, walking out from the spaceship’s hatch. His heavy footsteps exuded an extremely authoritative air with each step.
His power armor was not shiny or immaculate, showing fine signs of wear and tear in many places. But this served to symbolize even more that he was a battle-hardened veteran soldier, fighting to the death numerous humans, monsters, aliens, and traitors.
Under that bright red helmet, cold eyes stared at Gu Hang.
Gu Hang felt a bone-chilling coldness.
Was this called killing intent?
He wasn’t afraid; on the contrary, Gu Hang felt somewhat excited.
Seeing a starfighter in person for the first time, Gu Hang thought they truly lived up to their name, indeed the formidable warriors whose fame spread widely throughout the universe.
He watched as one starfighter after another walked out from the hatch, his satisfaction growing.
Then, the satisfaction in his heart came to an abrupt halt.
Only seven people came out, with emptiness behind them.
Only seven?
No, what kind of battle group is seven people? They can’t even form a tactical squad!
He knew it was a dying battle group, but… to be reduced to this state, wasn’t that a bit too close to death?
Gu Hang was somewhat disappointed.
…
Matins was somewhat disappointed.
He walked out last in the line, seeing the governor who had come to welcome him.
He knew that was Gu Hang, the man he was here to meet, the bright light that Priest Rizzo had foreseen could possibly save the battle group.
On his way here, he had imagined Rage Owl Star to be a rich planet, or a developed forging world. That the governor here held considerable power and would be friendly to the battle group, willing to help them rebuild…
But… things didn’t seem to be as he had expected.
The governor in front of him, didn’t he seem too ordinary?
He was neither tall nor strong, and aside from being fairly good-looking, he just looked like an average mortal.
Of course, Matins could sense spiritual energy reactions from this governor, not weak ones at that, but that was only relative to an average mortal. That level of spiritual energy was not threatening to him or any of his battle brothers. Their power armors were equipped with some anti-spiritual energy effects, and their bodies, modified by gene seeds, as well as their robust mental will, were not something an ordinary spiritual energy wielder could shake.
Saying he could kill Gu Hang as if squashing a chick might be an exaggeration, but like a strong man strangling a wild dog should be quite accurate.
Of course, comparing an ordinary mortal to the Death Angel is too harsh. The strength of a planetary governor does not lie in his person.
But…
Look at this planet?
Look at what’s in front of him… Matins didn’t even know whether to describe it as a small town or a camp.
This is the ruling core of the governor?