“No, it’s not enough; there are too few Swarm units entering the battlefield now. Not even a single 500-ter-class unit has appeared yet. Activating it now is aningless!” A Riken general objected.
“Exactly! Eliminating a few 100-ter-class Space Octopuses will have no impact on the battle!” Alcer echoed. Despite the loss in the second defense of Planet Raze, he remained the Fleet Commander of the Third Space Fleet, his voice carrying more weight than most peers.
“But if we delay any longer, our arrangent might be discovered.”
“Then don’t activate it at all. This plan is already incredibly risky. If it backfires, we’ll be the ones to suffer,” another general remarked dismissively, clearly against the plan.
“We can’t just do nothing. If we don’t stop them, our chances of victory are too slim.”
“Exactly! If their true goal is the treasure, then our conflict is practically irreconcilable. We’re at a disadvantage now, so we must do everything possible to weaken them.”
“It’s not that serious, is it? While our technological paths differ from the Swarm’s, our actual technological levels are comparable. We’ve already begun harnessing solar energy, and with the treasure’s aid, our technological advancent will undoubtedly accelerate. Ti is on our side. As long as we can hold off and delay the Swarm’s offensive, the scales of victory will gradually tip in our favor,” a general argued skeptically.
“I agree with Major General Porter. Their supply line spans five light-years, while we have the support of half a star system. They cannot compete with us in a war of attrition.”
“Gentlen, perhaps in your haste to convene this eting, you neglected to read the latest intelligence from the General Staff. Allow to summarize,” President Antonio interrupted, slapping the table to silence the room. “Our technicians, through extensive comparisons and analyses, have discovered that the T85 Star System might not be the Swarm’s ho system. Like us, they appear to be outsiders in the T85 Star System.”
“How is that possible?” a Riken exclaid.
“Why wouldn’t it be possible? I’ve harbored doubts about this for so ti. We achieved our current level of technology within a short span due to the treasure’s assistance. But they’re entirely different. Who knows how many years it took them to reach their current level? Can you imagine a civilization sitting quietly for so many years? Think about a century ago, when we were driven by solar sail propulsion—already eager to colonize other star systems!”
“Ha! How do you know they didn’t acquire sothing similar to our treasure? Besides, maybe they’re just a civilization without desires or ambitions.”
“Zik! Oh, you’re stationed on Planet Riven now, aren’t you? Did you forget to wear your protective suit when you went out? Are you suffering from hypoxia and neurological damage? No Riken in their right mind would make such a ridiculous statent,” retorted Ricard.
“Ricard! Are you looking for a fight?”
“Bring it on! I’m on Planet Riwu. If you start now, you might make it in ti for tomorrow’s dinner at the hospital!”
“Silence!” Antonio coughed a few tis, cutting off the escalating quarrel. “Mind your words, gentlen! And Major Zik, please think carefully before you speak.”
The Twin Star System was exceptionally peculiar, centered around two nearly identical stars. These twin stars maintained a delicate gravitational balance, orbiting each other while influencing the planets and other celestial bodies within the system.
It is precisely because of this that there is still an unresolved debate among the Riken people about the classification of the fifth and sixth planets within the larger Twin Star System.
Due to the proximity of the twin stars, the stationed officers in this system benefit from low-latency video conferences. However, the Twin Star System is still so distance from the Riken howorld, resulting in communication delays of 3 to 15 minutes.
Under such conditions, real-ti strategic etings are unfeasible. Hence, President Antonio himself traveled the vast distance to the Twin Star System with key personnel to convene this eting. His objectives included gathering opinions, deliberating strategies, and reinforcing his authority over the military.
The President’s rebuke carried considerable weight, but Major Zik still muttered under his breath, “What words should I be mindful of?” Though quiet, his comnt was clearly audible through the video feed.
President Antonio’s expression shifted imperceptibly—an almost unnoticeable furrow of his brow. Zik had always been a thorn in his side, stationed outside the howorld and thus interacting with Antonio infrequently. This distance bred a certain lack of respect.
Ricard, noticing Antonio’s reaction, imdiately took the hint. “Zik! Let’s put aside whether the Swarm possesses so treasure. Don’t you understand that only interests drive technological progress? If the Swarm were truly devoid of desire, they would never have reached their current level. Saying sothing so brainless—shouldn’t you think before you speak?”
Still unconvinced, Zik retorted, “Couldn’t it be that the Creator favored them, granting them this level of developnt from the outset? Without natural enemies, they would naturally have no desires or ambitions. It’s only our appearance that has angered them.”
This theory had been circulating on Riken networks. The Swarm’s external forms were so far removed from anything resembling intelligent life that so Rikens, ignorant of the facts, concocted this idea. Surprisingly, it had garnered a considerable following.
The Rikens had pursued militaristic policies for decades, pouring nearly all resources into war-related industries. While the common people were not destitute, their quality of life was far from satisfying. Despite the external threat posed by the Swarm, the long-standing accumulation of negative sentint was not easily eradicated. Many were dissatisfied with the Riken leadership, believing the Swarm to be a harmless species whose retaliation was provoked by Riken aggression.
Advocates of negotiation and peace argued for reducing military expenditures to focus on civilian developnt and improving living standards. This dissatisfaction even gave rise to bizarre and mystical ideologies.
Fortunately, the Riken were under military governance, with warti regulations suppressing most dissent. While overt issues were controlled, the seeds of discontent had already been planted, leaving the future uncertain.
Antonio was well aware of these undercurrents, knowing they could never be entirely eradicated. However, he had never expected such ideas to infiltrate the upper echelons of the military.
His frown deepened—it seed Zik would need to be thoroughly investigated. Under no circumstances could he allow any subversion during critical monts of conflict. If Zik sought to disgrace himself, so be it—but Antonio would not tolerate collateral damage to his own reputation.
Clearing his throat, he cut off Major Ricard, who was about to continue his rebuttal, and said, “Gentlen, the claim that the Swarm are outsiders in the T85 Star System is not baseless. The General Staff wouldn’t make such statents without evidence.”
With that, Antonio gestured toward the screen in front of him, sharing a series of docunts with the assembled Riken officials.
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