Chapter 162

A massive, disc-shaped mothership hovered above the dull city.

The flagship and command tower of the Fourth Interstellar Navigation Fleet was surrounded by alien vessels gathering nearby.

“Hubbl, Yltera is assigned to the Third Cruiser Division.”

“Has the Sixth Destroyer Division not arrived yet? Send out a communication!”

Active communications were exchanged.

One of the busy communication soldiers turned their head to look at the captain of the mothership.

“Captain, the consolidation of troops and ships is about fifty percent complete.”

“Hurry them up. This is our last chance!”

“Yes! I will send out a communication to the ships that have not yet arrived.”

The sole remaining Fourth Interstellar Navigation Fleet, after the First and Third fleets had been annihilated, had been forced into humiliating negotiations, and the atmosphere within the fleet had become overwhelmingly bleak.

‘Didn’t they say it would be an easy mission to subjugate the uncivilized tribes on the frontier?’

‘Where did everything go wrong?’

Questions streamed in from every direction.

‘This is why you need to meet the right superior, isn’t it?’

‘Sigh, my life…’

Soldiers cursed their officers and petty officers.

“Act honorably as soldiers of the empire!”

“Do you have no pride or sense of dignity?”

The officers and petty officers preached unseen ideals and theories of spirit to the soldiers.

The naturally building distance between the groups was tearing them apart.

In this way, the unexpected defeat and the humiliating reality easily dismantled the unity of the once tightly-knit Fourth Interstellar Navigation Fleet.

Though the senior officers, including the captain of the mothership, tried to mediate the situation, the trust between them had already been broken.

Through persuasion and the authority of military discipline, they managed to control the situation but knew that this temporary solution wouldn’t last forever.

The fleet was nearing a worst-case scenario of internal collapse.

However, unexpected news arrived, transforming the situation.

“Captain, the natives have contacted us.”

“What do they say?”

“They need reinforcements.”

“Hm? Reinforcements?”

Upon hearing this, the captain of the mothership sensed that something significant must be happening with the natives and immediately dispatched a reconnaissance team to assess the situation.

The acquired information exceeded all expectations – it was a tremendous advantage.

The captain of the mothership immediately headed to the captain’s quarters.

There, secluded in the quarters after the humiliating negotiations, was the Admiral of the Fourth Interstellar Navigation Fleet, Gelang.

“The natives are preparing for a large battle?”

“Yes, the mechanical natives we’ve been fighting seem to be mobilizing a massive army.”

“Massive army?”

“Yes, their numbers alone far exceed any enemy we have faced so far.”

“Really?!”

Gelang’s eyes lit up with intelligence upon hearing this.

“…An opportunity.”

“What will you do?”

“Prepare the fleet immediately! If we attack when they are weakened, it might work!”

“Understood, Admiral!”

Thereafter, the Fourth Interstellar Navigation Fleet moved swiftly to prepare for the large battle.

The distance between soldiers, petty officers, and officers, which had widened, was now bridged by the desire for the sweet fruit of victory.

“The best scenario is if both sides suffer heavy damage and the battle drags on, but even if it doesn’t go that way, there will still be chances!”

The mechanical native army marching towards the others was overpowering.

Even when the Fourth Interstellar Navigation Fleet was at full strength, it was difficult to guarantee victory against such an overwhelming force.

Moreover, among the approaching enemy troops was the massive ground fortress that had inflicted significant damage on us—a monstrous thing that no ship or cannon could damage.

Even the natives, who had thus far succeeded with cowardly tactics—when faced with this force—

“Huh, Captain!”

An urgent voice broke Gelang’s train of thought.

“What is it?”

“Many ships are approaching us! They’re from the First Interstellar Navigation Fleet and the Third Interstellar Navigation Fleet!”

“What?!’

The approaching vessels belonged to the First Interstellar Navigation Fleet and the Third Interstellar Navigation Fleet—a clear sign that the natives were coming.

“Are you sure!”

“Absolutely!”

A quick reply, followed by the radar screen appearing on the command bridge.

As the radar soldier had stated, a group of heat sources was quickly approaching us.

In that moment, a troubling thought crossed the captain’s mind.

“Impossible, has that battle already ended? Without any significant losses?”

Cold sweat trickled down his forehead.

Shaking off the creeping anxiety, the captain raised his voice.

“Use external monitoring equipment to confirm their appearance!”

“Understood!”

The radar screen shrank to the corner, and the planet’s surface appeared.

The blue atmosphere layer and beneath it, the barren land spread out.

There, the enemy fleet advancing towards us was visible—ships and fleets showing no signs of damage, as if no battle had ever occurred.

“Ah…”

A sigh of despair escaped the captain, and the atmosphere aboard the command bridge grew heavy.

“Could they truly have defeated such an overwhelming force without significant losses?”

Endless questions arose.

However, the image on the screen was undeniable reality.

Frustration and weakness overwhelmed the captain as he staggered.

“Captain, are you alright?”

“…I’m fine, could you bring Admiral Gelang here?”

“Yes, understood!”

The deputy captain nodded and left the bridge.

A bitter smile played on the captain’s lips as he looked at the enemy fleet approaching from the screen.

“We’re doomed….”

In a vast arsenal within the mothership, two groups faced each other.

On one side were the senior officers and soldiers of the Ustansha Empire led by Gelang.

On the other side stood Edu mounted on a bungbungi, together with Ryuje, Freya, and Simonia.

In contrast to the anxious Ustansha Empire troops, Edu and her group exuded ease.

“Gelang?”

“Aah, yes. Speak, please.”

Unlike before, Gelang, who had once held a trace of pride, now answered the young girl with utmost deference.

There were two practical reasons for his behavior.

First, the previous negotiations, humiliating as they were, amounted to a breach of agreement with the enemy.

Second, the fleet strength Edu had brought, gathered around the mothership, far exceeded that of the Fourth Interstellar Navigation Fleet.

They were literally like a candle in the wind.

“Do you know why I’ve come here?”

Gelang glanced at Edu, who was smiling brightly.

The cute smile that made Simonia’s cheeks slightly flush appeared monstrous to Gelang, like a large predator opening its jaws.

“It is…?”

Gelang, unable to fully articulate his answer, drew a blank.

Watching his predicament, Simonia frowned.

“Hey, answer already!”

“My apologies!”

Bowing deeply at a 90-degree angle, Gelang immediately apologized.

Following his action, the nearby Ustansha Empire soldiers momentarily froze before hastily replicating his bow.

“Oh, Simonia, don’t be so harsh.”

Though Edu spoke softly, her next words cut through Gelang and the senior officers like a sharp blade.

“How do you respond if we were wiped out by the invaders? Isn’t that what you wanted? Isn’t that right, Gelang?”

“…”

Pierced by the insightful question, Gelang froze in place, unable to move.

While frozen, Gelang silently thanked his insect-like origins—expressionless and sweatless—for had he been of a different species, he doubted he could have hidden his true thoughts in such a situation.

“Answer.”

Another heavy word from Simonia sent a shiver through Gelang.

“No, that’s not true! I absolutely didn’t—”

“Then why did you ignore our communication?”

More challenges loomed.

Under the immense pressure, Gelang felt his spirit waver but managed to regain his composure and continued the conversation.

“That, that’s not true. The communication arrived late due to technical issues, and our preparations were delayed. Please believe me.”

“Ah, it was a technical issue, I see.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“And why do you have ground troops loaded onto your ships? I only requested your fleet.”

Just as Gelang began to relax, another sharp word struck him.

Edu was correct—the request they had received only asked for a fleet to be sent.

“That, that’s because…”

“Isn’t it, though?”

Relentless questioning continued as Gelang desperately searched for an answer, eventually responding swiftly.

“Because, it seemed like a major crisis, so we prepared reinforcements. There was no other intention.”

“Hmm, you mean all this is reinforcements?”

“Yes.”

“And all the ships here were also meant to be sent as reinforcements?”

“That’s correct.”

With a clap of her hands, Edu smiled cheerfully again.

“So, since you’re here, we can take all the ships and troops with us, right?”

“Wha…?”

Gelang repeated, dumbfounded.

Edu also tilted her head and blinked.

“Why? They were supposed to be reinforcements, right? Or were they not?”

“Ah, no, that’s true…”

“Strange, isn’t it? Calling them reinforcements but refusing to give them over. That doesn’t make sense. Unless there was some ulterior motive?”

Edu’s pointed comment caused Gelang to snap back to reality.

Gelang realized he had inadvertently given Edu leverage by his own words.

If he didn’t hand over the troops, it would be labeled as a violation of the agreement and ulterior motives. However, handing over the troops would devastate the power of the Fourth Interstellar Navigation Fleet.

Faced with these impossible choices—either to completely destroy by not handing over the troops or by conceding the troops to destruction—Gelang’s mind went blank.

Caught in an impregnable quandary, Gelang eventually spoke slowly.

“…Yes. Take them… please.”

A de facto surrender declaration.

Upon hearing this, Edu nodded.

“You should have said so earlier. We might have misunderstood otherwise, right? Then, we can handle the deployment and usage of the troops however we wish?”

“Yes… please do as you wish…”

“Perfect! Then, see you later!”

Edu waved as she and her companions departed the mothership.

The senior officers cautiously approached the stationary Gelang.

“Admiral, this is too humiliating, isn’t it? Even if we perish entirely, we should at least fight once…”

“Yes, Admiral. Everyone on this fleet is prepared to face death…”

The senior officers spoke louder.

Then, one of them noticed Gelang’s unusual appearance and carefully examined his face.

“Admiral?”

Waving a hand in front of him yielded no response.

The senior officer finally realized the situation and exclaimed loudly.

“Admiral has fainted while standing!”

“Medical personnel! Medical personnel!!”