Hainan province's Sanya, a renowned tourist city, forrly also hosted an important aircraft carrier base and submarine base for Country C, but with the dawn of the Space Age, the significance of the Navy had greatly diminished. Although several old-era warships were still docked here, they essentially no longer set sail.
The completely modernized convention center was currently hosting hundreds of significant representatives of the Star Alliance. Originally, the Star Alliance Council was established as the governing body of the Star Alliance, but after Bai Zhongqi's global integration, what was now called the Star Alliance Council more closely resembled a stage for mber nations to express their opinions, while the real power of the Star Alliance had shifted to the Star Alliance governnt.
Bai Zhongqi rarely attended official Star Alliance events in person and held no official titles within the Star Alliance, but no one dared ignore his presence. At this mont, he was seated at the very center of the venue, before him were hundreds of Earth representatives, each with expressions ranging from panic to unease.
Bai Zhongqi's expressions had been rare lately. He was originally a very passionate person, but in this war, his smiles had beco scarce, and he had beco sowhat aloof. He was only certain of his decisions when he was sure he was calm.
"… Delegates," he said, "I do not wish nor can I deceive any of you. The Star Alliance is now facing the greatest crisis since its formation, and Earth is facing the biggest crisis since the birth of our civilization. The Teizene will arrive at the Danlu Interstellar Cloud in less than three days' ti. Our First Strategic Fleet will engage them in the Sirius Galaxy, but I am not certain of the outco. Undoubtedly, the enemy's direct target is our Solar System, our holand, Earth. Therefore, before the real grand battle erupts, I invite you all here to hold this briefing, to unify our thoughts and organize our preparations for battle."
Before arriving at the venue, nearly every representative was aware of the purpose of this eting, but when Bai Zhongqi revealed the details, a tumultuous noise suddenly rose, and the complexion of everyone in the venue worsened.
As a mber of the Star Alliance governnt and Country C's delegate, Xiang Fei took the opportunity to ask, "Chancellor, I heard the Teizene resorted to deceit, tricking away our second and third Strategic Fleets' main forces, and are now approaching us at three thousand tis the speed of light. Although the number of these swiftly approaching vessels is just over two hundred, nearly one hundred of them are main battle ships and they possess shield-sharing capabilities. Is that true?"
Bai Zhongqi nodded: "That is essentially correct."
The noise in the venue rose again, with so attendees even losing composure and standing up to shout.
Bai Zhongqi did not order his guards to remove those disrupting the venue's order at this mont; he understood how people could crumble in such situations.
Tobias, the representative from Lighthouse Country, got a chance to speak. He was visibly sweating at this ti, and his usually neat hair was sowhat disheveled.
"Chancellor, at this ti, should we not be discussing how to fight? The enemy has nearly a hundred main battle ships and an unbeatable shield-sharing technology. We can't win, can we? Now should be the ti to discuss how we can evacuate. Wise n do not choose to clash directly with an unbeatable enemy. Our Star Alliance still controls a substantial fleet, and we have star energy engine technology, enabling many ships to travel at three thousand three hundred tis the speed of light. As long as we're fast enough, we can evacuate the cream of Earth's crop and overco this crisis."
As soon as Tobias finished speaking, the noise in the venue sharply increased once more. So were loudly agreeing with Tobias's suggestion, while others vehently condemned it, and many more were swaying, sitting there unsure how to choose at the mont.
Another European delegate also said, "Exactly, Mr. Tobias has the most suitable plan. Our planet's ecology has been severely damaged, and it is full of many irredeemable individuals. It's very difficult for billions of people worldwide to change their way of life, and many do not agree with our Star Alliance model. We shouldn't bother about these people; let's choose the elite from this planet—scholars, artists, intellectuals, successful businessn, and politicians and select so genetically superior individuals, put them on Noah's Ark, and then leave this cursed place."
Many nodded their heads frequently, seemingly convinced this was the best approach.
"Absolutely, let's relocate and start anew. We can create a better and superior Earth civilization!"
"Maybe it would be good to establish a unified nation, and we should ask the Chancellor to be our monarch."
Bai Zhongqi sat there, watching this ridiculous spectacle unfold, his hands crossed and elbows on the table, remaining silent.
Once everyone realized that the man who indeed had the decision-making power in the room had yet to speak, the noise gradually died down.
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Xiang Fei was also sowhat anxious; before coming, so in the Imperial Capital had approached him, hoping he could persuade Bai Zhongqi, even if not to implent a complete evacuation plan, at least to send so individuals away. This group would naturally include so-called elite groups. Subsequently, no matter whether Earth could fight off the attack, at least these individuals would be safe.
"Chancellor, please say sothing," Xiang Fei said.
Bai Zhongqi unfolded his hands, his gaze sowhat vacant, not looking at the representatives present.
"I have no evacuation plans whatsoever, the Star Alliance will fight to the end against the Teizene invaders in the Solar System."
"What?"
"My God, my God, has this gone mad?"
The atmosphere was noisy and unfriendly, yet Bai Zhongqi remained unchanged, his determination as solid as a rock.
At this ti, Tobias, representing those in favor of evacuation, spoke out. He said to Bai Zhongqi, "Chancellor, I believe you can clearly see the power comparison in this battle. We did indeed have our chances, but beginning from when Commander Xu Lanzhou's fleet was deceived by the enemy and drawn far from Earth, we lost all opportunities. Now the enemy is approaching our doorstep, and we can't even muster ten main battle ships, let alone hundreds. Moreover, most of the excellent crew mbers we have trained over the past year are under Commander Xu's command, and currently seventy percent of the ships in the Fourth Strategic Fleet are understaffed. Do you think we still stand a chance under these circumstances?"
Bai Zhongqi was very frank: "I don't know; maybe we do, maybe we don't."
Tobias sharply rebutted, "So, you're staking the future and hope of our Earth's civilization on the unclear chances of winning you ntioned?"
Bai Zhongqi looked up at Tobias, who was sitting in the third row, and said, "That's right."
Tobias let out a slight sneer and spoke, "I am sorry, my Chancellor, but I don't think anyone will agree with your approach. What we need now is absolute rationality, not blindly gambling. The fate of Earth is sealed—it's dood. Now we must plan for the future of this civilization. Your stubborn approach will lead to no good end. As soone who always preaches that the continuation of civilization is paramount, you are now perversely insisting we fight a guaranteed losing battle and abandon our hope for civilization to continue, a stance that runs counter to your own principles."
Most in the room already supported Tobias's argunt. This young but eloquent spokesperson from the Lighthouse Country had swayed many to stand against Bai Zhongqi.
Even Xiang Fei from Country C remained silent; his own interests were at stake. If Bai Zhongqi truly refused the evacuation plan, many in the Imperial Capital would be disappointed, and even he himself wished to send his family away from Earth for refuge.
As Bai Zhongqi looked at the representatives from various countries, his expression turned exceedingly cold. With a voice not loud but audible to all, he stated, "There is no evacuation plan, only a battle plan."
First, there was a suppressed silence, then, like a volcanic eruption, the angry representatives in the room began shouting. At that mont, they saw not the Lizard People from a thousand light-years away as their enemy, but the incommunicable compatriot before them.
Tobias's face darkened as he said to Bai Zhongqi, "Chancellor, I must remind you, you do not have the authority to make decisions for the Star Alliance. Choosing an unjustified battle will eventually drag our entire civilization into hell. This is an order of chaos, which we cannot accept. Moreover, you do not hold any actual office in the Star Alliance; it is the Star Alliance Council that has the real power to make decisions and legislate. I appeal to all representatives to see the situation clearly, and let us now make a decision to arrange an evacuation plan..."
Before he could finish, Bai Zhongqi had already stood up, causing Tobias a mont of surprise and uncertainty. After all, he wasn't foolish. Bai Zhongqi held the Supre Command—the control over the entire war machinery of the Star Alliance. Even if they wanted to arrange an evacuation, it wouldn't be possible without Bai Zhongqi's approval.
What he was doing was essentially using the crowd's pressure to force Bai Zhongqi into a compromise.
Bai Zhongqi, ignoring everyone, walked toward the exit of the venue, leaving the representatives from various countries at a loss.
Upon reaching the door, Bai Zhongqi looked back, his expression still that indifferent cold deanor, and he added, "No evacuation plan, we fight till the end, that's all."
Saying that, he walked out of the venue.
The door slamd shut heavily, leaving a crowd of stunned and bewildered representatives inside. Soon, they discovered that their communication devices had been forcibly disabled, and they couldn't even open the doors of the venue. Everyone was trapped inside.
Xiang Fei, looking sowhat bewildered yet sowhat relieved, stared at the closed door and silently wondered, "What will he ultimately bring to Earth—hope, or destruction?"
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