in2ebook Chapter 1476 War or Peace?
Chapter 1476 War or Peace?
"Immediately! Convene a top-level meeting! All department heads and senior staff officers, assemble in Tactical Briefing Room One within five minutes! Anyone late will be court-martialed!"
Strucker's voice carried an undeniable, iron-blooded tone.
Five minutes later, the atmosphere in the tactical briefing room was so heavy it was almost palpable.
The huge circular tactical table was filled with senior commanders and key staff officers of the "Yuanwang" and its escort fleet.
Strucker sat at the head of the table, his face ashen.
On the huge main screen, Xiao Ce's strongly worded communication and the chilling signal interruption warning were scrolling through the screen.
"Gentlemen!"
Strucker's voice broke the silence, his cold gaze sweeping across every face in the room!
"You've all seen the situation. Xiao Ce, this former 'pioneer' of the Federation!"
He has now openly broken his oath of allegiance to the Union and brazenly declared independence!
They also shut down the Starlink Hub, a key asset of the Federation in the system!
He declared war on us, on the great Yangxing Federation, in the most direct and brutal way!
He paused for a moment, letting the impact of the declaration of war resonate in everyone's hearts.
"Now, we face two choices!"
First, ignore his arrogant provocations and continue according to the original plan. Relying on the backup coordinates, head to the XZ-07 system to carry out the takeover mission assigned to us by the council and crush this traitor's delusions with force!
Second, acknowledge the current predicament, temporarily abandon the system, report the situation to the council, await further instructions, or... seek other, more prudent ways to intervene.
His words had barely left his lips when, as if cold water had been poured into boiling oil, the entire briefing room erupted in chaos.
"Give up? Commander! That's absolutely impossible!"
A burly, rugged-looking bald man with shoulder insignia indicating he was a Marine Corps commander suddenly stood up, his voice booming like thunder, filled with offended anger.
"Xiao Ce's actions are blatant rebellion!"
This is the most serious violation of federal law and the authority of Congress!
If we back down because of signal interruption, where is the dignity of the Federation?
Every future pioneer in a peripheral galaxy will dare to follow suit!
This trend must not be allowed to continue! We must use swift and decisive measures to completely eradicate this traitor and his cronies!
Let the entire star system know what the consequences of betraying the Federation are!
He was brandishing his fists, spitting as he spoke; he was none other than the leading figure of the war faction, Marine Corps Commander Model.
"Commander Model, your courage is commendable, but please use your brain to think things through!"
Sitting opposite him, an elderly man with gray hair, wearing gold-rimmed glasses, and a refined demeanor calmly retorted.
He is Dr. Sorensen, the fleet's chief science officer and navigation expert.
"The accuracy of the backup coordinates is only at the E level! What does this mean? It means that during subspace jumps, the exit point may deviate by several light-years each time!"
We need to make countless short jumps in the vast and dangerous star system to gradually correct our course!
How long will this take? Ten years? Fifty years? Or even a hundred years?
Dr. Sorensen's voice carried the rigor of a scientist, tinged with a hint of helplessness.
He pulled up a complex star map projection, on which were densely marked potential danger zones:
"What's even more terrifying is the risk! Without the real-time space environment monitoring and stable anchoring of the Star Network Hub, the probability of us encountering deadly turbulence, falling into unstable gravitational traps, or even encountering unknown cosmic disasters during our subspace travel will increase exponentially!"
The Yuanwang might be able to withstand it, but what about our escort fleet?
What about the supply ships? What will we face when we finally arrive at the XZ-07 system after overcoming countless hardships and suffering heavy losses?
Dr. Sorenson adjusted his glasses, his gaze sharpening as he looked at Strucker and Model:
"Xiao Ce is not an idiot!"
He must have something to rely on to do this!
Moreover, you must know what kind of minerals that planet contains! They are unlike anything ever found on any other planet!
He possesses the core technology of the Abyss Roar!
That's a super starship that even the Federation covets!
He controls the Star Network Hub, which allows him to mobilize the resources of the entire planet!
He also has a 'Night Owl Legion' that has just conquered the Interstellar Hyenas and is riding high on morale!
Decades or even centuries would be enough for him to digest everything and transform that planet into a true war fortress!
After our exhausted fleet, having traversed a long period of time, arrived...?
We will be facing a formidable enemy who is well-rested, fighting on home soil, and whose strength is unknown!
This is tantamount to sending the fleet into the tiger's den!
Is it worth paying such a huge, and potentially disastrous, price for a resource point that is already out of control?
Is this in the federal interest?
His question was forceful and represented the core viewpoint of the pragmatists.
"Dr. Sorenson, that's cowardly talk!"
Model immediately retorted, his face flushed red, and he almost roared:
"The Federation Fleet is invincible!"
What can a rebel army on a mere outlying planet do, even if given a hundred years?
In terms of their technological foundation, industrial capacity, and the quality of their soldiers, which aspect can they compare with ours?
The Abyss Roar?
It's just a piece of scrap metal that we've damaged halfway and that they need to repair themselves!
Star Network Mechanism?
Without the support of the federal core database, how much of its power can they exert?
As for the Night Owl Legion, it's a rabble cobbled together from space pirates and remnants, utterly insignificant in the face of the true Federation's steel torrent!
All we need is one orbital bombardment, one precise decapitation strike…
"Enough! Model!"
Another senior fleet staff officer, Commander Lin Wei, a Chinese-American female officer known for her tactical steadiness, interrupted Model's roar filled with personal heroism.
Her voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable authority:
"Strategic simulation is not about shouting slogans! The risks and costs raised by Dr. Sorenson are objective realities and cannot be ignored!"
While Xiao Ce's actions certainly constituted rebellion, we must assess the cost of suppressing it!
Haven't the lessons learned from the 'Pioneer Rebellion' in the Andromeda Arm been profound enough for the Federation?
To suppress a rebellion in a small colony, we paid a heavy price: nearly all three of our main fleets were lost, and the effort took thirty years! The situation in the XZ-07 system is even more complex; we don't fully understand Xiao Ce's trump cards!
She turned to Strucker, her tone serious:
“Commander, I think Dr. Sorenson’s concerns are very reasonable.”
Without accurate navigation, the risks of a forced expedition are extremely high, the probability of success is slim, and the cost is unbearable.
Acting rashly could not only destroy our fleet, but also drag the Federation into a long and costly interstellar war.
I suggest that the details be immediately reported to the Supreme Council and a request be made for supreme instructions.
At the same time, we can try to establish low-bandwidth encrypted communication through the remaining, extremely weak passive signals, issue an ultimatum to Xiao Ce, exert political and psychological pressure, and force him to reopen the Star Network Hub communication or make concessions.
Force should be the last resort, the most desperate measure.
"An ultimatum? An ultimatum to a traitor? That's a sign of weakness!"
Model immediately retorted, looking at Strucker with an urgent tone!
"Commander! We can't hesitate! We must act immediately! Pounce on them as fast as we can! Catch them off guard!"
The longer this drags on, the more secure the traitor's position will become! Those old men in the council are just good at bickering! By the time their orders come through, it'll be too late!
"A general in the field may disobey orders! For the honor and interests of the Federation, we must take the initiative!"
"Take the initiative? With what means?"
Dr. Sorenson coldly questioned: "Use this E-level precision, which requires decades of time to prepare a backup coordinate system?"
"Commander Model, are your Marines prepared to drift in warp space for decades, only to attack a planet that has been developed and prepared for war for decades? What's the difference between that and suicide?"
"We can try to force a location! Using a deep space scanning array..."
A young communications manager interjected, attempting to propose a technical solution.
"The success rate is less than 5%, and it would expose our presence and intentions, posing a greater risk."
Dr. Sorenson interrupted without hesitation.
"Then request reinforcements! Have the council send a more powerful fleet with ultra-long-range, precise positioning capabilities..."
Another staff officer made a suggestion.
"A distant solution won't quench our immediate thirst, and it'll be even more costly. Will Parliament even approve it? By the time they reach a decision, we might still be stuck in the same place!"
Commander Lin Wei shook her head.
The debate quickly escalated to a fever pitch.
The pro-war faction, led by Model, insisted that Xiao Ce's rebellion must be suppressed by force immediately, otherwise there would be endless troubles!
The Federation's prestige has been shattered; they now believe that the Federation fleet's absolute strength can crush everything.
They tend to take the risk of using backup coordinates to get there as quickly as possible, or to find a way to force their way to their location at any cost.
The pragmatists, led by Dr. Sorenson and Commander Lin Wei, repeatedly emphasized the enormous time cost, extremely high risks, and unpredictable and devastating consequences of forcing an expedition without precise navigation!
They argued that it was not worth sacrificing so much for a resource point that might already be out of control, and strongly advocated reporting the matter to Parliament to seek diplomatic pressure or a more prudent long-term strategy.
Both sides quoted classical texts and argued heatedly until their faces turned red.
The pro-war faction accused the other side of being cowardly, lacking courage, and short-sighted;
Pragmatists, on the other hand, criticized the other side for being reckless, lacking strategic understanding, and ignoring the lives of soldiers and the overall interests of the Union.
The bridge was filled with the smell of gunpowder; staff officers waved data boards, and commanders pounded their fists on the table in excitement.
Officers with differing opinions joined the fray, turning the briefing room into a noisy battlefield.
Commander-in-Chief Strucker sat upright in the eye of the storm!
His face remained gloomy, but his eyes were as unfathomable as a deep pool.
He listened quietly to the heated, almost out-of-control argument between the two sides, while his mind raced with calculations.
Model's fervor and courage, Sorensen's calmness and anxiety, Lin Wei's steadiness and strategic vision...
All the sounds and information collided, were analyzed, and weighed at high speed in his mind.
Time passed amidst the heated debate.
Finally, Strucker stopped hammering.
As soon as the faint sound disappeared, the entire briefing room seemed to be muted. All the arguing instantly subsided, and everyone's eyes were focused on the supreme commander, holding their breath and waiting for his decision.
Strucker slowly stood up, his tall figure casting a long shadow under the cold blue light of the tactical screen.
He surveyed the entire room with a sharp, piercing gaze that made everyone he looked at unconsciously straighten their backs.
"Everyone..."
His voice regained its usual coldness and authority, but carried an unprecedented heaviness as he spoke:
“I heard all of your arguments.”
Commander Model's courage and loyalty deserve recognition.
Dr. Sorenson and Commander Lin Wei's prudence and consideration for the overall interests of the Federation are also reasonable.
He abruptly changed the subject, his tone becoming extremely serious:
"However, Xiao Ce's actions were no longer a simple pioneer uprising or local rebellion."
He seized control of the Star Network Core, declared independence, and openly defied the highest orders of the Federation. His actions were tantamount to splitting the Federation's territory!
If this precedent is set, the consequences will be unimaginable! This is not just a problem of the XZ-07 system; it concerns the fundamental order of the Federation's rule!
He paused for a moment, letting this heavy weight press down on everyone's hearts.
"but..."
Strucker's voice deepened as he said, "Dr. Sorenson's warning was equally resounding."
Without the guidance of the Star Network Hub, relying on low-precision backup coordinates for an expedition carries risks and costs far exceeding those of a conventional counterinsurgency mission.
We bear the weight of thousands of outstanding Federation soldiers' lives and several priceless capital ships on our shoulders. We cannot act rashly and easily let them perish in the unknown depths of space.