in2ebook Chapter 1466 Fictional Setting
Chapter 1466 Fictional Setting
He took the initiative to summon Xiao Dingshan.
"Xiao Dingshan..."
The captain's voice was still a little hoarse, but it no longer contained the previous violence and despair. Instead, it conveyed a sense of calm that came from seeing through the ways of the world!
"You've worked hard these past few days. You've done a much better job than I expected. Very good."
This is extremely high praise.
Xiao Dingshan maintained his humble demeanor: "It's all thanks to the Captain's good fortune; I was merely doing my duty..."
"No need to be humble."
The captain interrupted him, and the metal hand slammed down on his shoulder again!
This time, the force was much gentler!
"As I have said, past failures do not define you. You have proven your worth through your actions."
From this day forward, you will be fully responsible for all matters concerning the legion, including defensive deployments, resource allocation, personnel appointments and dismissals, and enemy strategies.
I will only provide support when you need it. There's no need to consult me on everything.
This is complete decentralization!
"Captain! This..."
Xiao Dingshan said in great alarm.
Of course, his reaction of being utterly shocked would be rather stereotypical...
But the captain didn't suspect anything at this point...
"This is an order!"
The captain's tone carried an unquestionable decisiveness, yet also a hint of the weight of entrusting the nation to someone else!
"I need more time... to think about the future. Go ahead and do it your way, protect this foundation, and lead these brothers well."
His crimson electronic eyes stared intently at Xiao Dingshan, as if trying to etch his image into the core processor!
"I...trust you."
"...Your subordinate obeys! I will certainly not fail the Captain's trust!"
Xiao Dingshan bowed deeply, concealing the turmoil churning in his eyes.
Power, the absolute power he had always dreamed of, the power to control the fate of this remnant army, had finally fallen completely into his hands! And all of this was paved by Prince Xiao Ce.
That evening, Xiao Dingshan urgently contacted the Star Network Hub again to report this significant progress.
"Your Highness! The Commander-in-Chief has completely relinquished authority; the entire legion is under his control! The time has come!"
Xiao Dingshan's mind trembled slightly with excitement.
Xiao Ce's thoughts arrived, carrying a hint of approval!
But more than anything, it was a cold, decisive statement: "Very well. Siu Ding Shan, you've taken center stage."
Now, it's time to carry out the final mission!
Turn them against their will to resist, and make them willingly serve me!
"Turning them to defect?" Xiao Dingshan was highly focused.
"good."
Xiao Ce said sternly, "Tell those interstellar hyenas that if they resist to the bitter end, they will only face death."
They are no match for me now.
"Once my Yangxing support fleet arrives, they'll be utterly doomed... But by submitting to me and pledging allegiance to the Xiao Kingdom, I can offer them far more than that desperate captain could ever promise!"
Xiao Ce's thoughts carried both supreme authority and allure:
"What he can't provide, I will! The entire Western Continent, and even the future Star Sea, my territory will be their home!"
The dignity and glory he couldn't give, I will! No longer exiled interstellar hyenas, but the glorious interstellar legion of the Xiao Kingdom Empire! Those who achieve outstanding feats will be granted land and titles, and their names will be etched in history!
The technology and power he couldn't provide, I will! The technology of the Abyss Roar, the mysteries of the Star Network Hub, and even the vast legacy of future cosmic civilizations will all be open to the loyal!
He cannot guarantee their survival and future, but I guarantee them! As long as they remain loyal, past transgressions will be forgiven! I will ensure their safety and a bright future!
Xiao Ce's thoughts, like a resounding bell, impacted Xiao Dingshan's consciousness!
"Use these to undermine the loyalty of those soldiers and shake the will of those officers! Tell them that my heart can hold the stars and the sea!"
Following the captain is a dead end, a dead end! Following me is a path to life, a road to heaven!
What that commander-in-chief can give them, I can give tenfold, a hundredfold! What that commander-in-chief can't give them, I can give them nonetheless!
"...Understood! I understand!"
Xiao Dingshan was filled with excitement, as if he could already see his glorious future as the governor of the Xiao Kingdom's interstellar legion.
"Your subordinate knows what to do! I will do everything in my power to persuade them to abandon their evil ways and serve Your Highness to the death!"
"Ah."
Xiao Ce's thoughts arrived last, carrying a hint of warning: "Act cautiously, and use both kindness and severity."
Start with the key figures, especially those...
Those who are desperate about the status quo but possess certain technical skills or military power.
A fortress is often easiest to breach from within.
I'm waiting for your good news.
The connection was lost.
Xiao Dingshan sat alone on the command seat, the cold metal chair seemingly containing scorching power.
He looked out into the dimly lit passageway outside the command room, where the remaining Hyena Legion soldiers were.
His gaze began to re-examine these former enemies, and now these pawns.
"The time has come."
He said to himself calmly.
Prince Xiao Ce's plans are meticulously crafted. Now that he has taken command of the army, it is time to wipe out the last remnants of the hyena army on this planet!
Completely incorporated into the crucible of the Xiao Kingdom.
The first step is to dismantle its last will to resist from within.
To win over the enemy, as the prince has ordered, we must start from key points.
Xiao Dingshan acted quickly; he got things moving in a very fast fashion...
He was no longer the cautious strategist, but the de facto ruler who held the power of life and death.
His goal was clear: to control the energy core, weapon systems, communication networks, life support systems, and most importantly, the head of the consciousness uploading and body reconstruction center (Resurrection Center).
These people are the true lifeline of this remnant army.
His first target was the chief engineer in charge of maintaining the main energy core!
A short, stocky cyborg named Jonk.
Jonk is highly skilled but has an upright character. He is blindly loyal to the commander-in-chief but cares more about the lives of his technical soldiers.
"Jonker"
Under Xiao Dingshan's deliberate arrangement...
Xiao Dingshan ran into him by chance in the maintenance passage late at night!
Then he said to Jonk:
"The fluctuations in the main core are becoming increasingly unstable, while the repair progress is lagging behind due to insufficient supply of spiritual essence."
Have you considered that if the core collapses, everyone inside the fortress, including your apprentices who are desperately repairing the pipelines, will instantly turn to plasma ash?
Jonk's oil-stained face froze...
He was aware of the risks, but he dared not think about them too deeply.
Xiao Dingshan took a step closer and said slowly, his voice seductive:
"The captain only cares about his glory and revenge. Has he ever cared about you, the backbone that supports the operation of the fortress?"
He led his elite troops out to their deaths, leaving you all to guard an iron coffin that could explode at any moment!
But the prince of Xiao Kingdom is different. Prince Xiao Ce has a stable rear, endless resources, and the technology of the Abyss Roar far surpasses that of this ship.
By submitting, you will not only survive, but also gain unprecedented technological advancements, allowing you to truly unleash your talents.
Think about it, wouldn't researching and mastering the energy technology of the 'Starbreaker' main cannon be a hundred times better than waiting to die here?
He paused and continued, "Besides, isn't your wife's consciousness backup still in the 'Resurrection Center's' storage array?"
If the fortress is destroyed, she will vanish completely.
The prince promised that those who surrendered would have their vital relatives' consciousness backups prioritized for safe storage and resurrection sequences.
Jonker's body trembled violently; he was initially surprised by Xiao Dingshan's identity.
I was surprised again by Xiao Dingshan's straightforwardness...
Xiao Dingshan accurately hit his deepest weakness: technology and family.
In fact, they have been under great mental pressure these days.
They all have their own judgments.
They were no match for Xiao Ce at all...
Ultimately, the instinct for survival and the yearning for higher technological heights overcame nihilistic loyalty.
He nodded with difficulty and said in a hoarse voice, "Okay! Commander... I... what do I need to do?"
"very good."
Xiao Dingshan's lips curled into a barely perceptible smile: "Maintain core stability and await instructions. Meanwhile, keep an eye on your people."
Jonker's surrender opened a crucial door for Siu Ding Shan.
By Jonk!
Xiao Dingshan came into contact with the director of the Rejuvenation Center.
She is known as Dr. Sophia, the Weaver of Fate.
This calm, almost ruthless female scientist had long been disgusted by the captain's recklessness!
Her lifelong pursuit was to perfect the technology of consciousness uploading and body reconstruction, rather than exhausting precious experimental samples and resources in a meaningless war of attrition.
Xiao Dingshan's conditions for her were even simpler and more direct: "Submit to the Prince!"
Your laboratory will gain access to more advanced neural link technology from the Abyss Roar, support from the bioengineering database of the Starlink Insulator, and... a vast empire with virtually unlimited experimental subjects and resources.
You can pursue the ultimate in technology, instead of patching up a losing game here.
Sophia barely hesitated, a hint of fanaticism flashing across her cold face: "As long as the promise is true, my center will obey your orders. But I need the technical data on the Abyss Roar, immediately."
For her, the allure of scientific exploration far outweighed loyalty to a failed leader.
Claude "The Butcher," the head of the weapons systems, is a pure soldier who only cares about strength and survival.
Xiao Dingshan only asked him one question:
"Do you want to take the last of your elite troops and perish with the doomed ship, or do you want to survive and become a true interstellar legion under the prince's command, one that receives supplies and honor?"
The prince's heart can encompass the stars and the sea, as long as you have value.
Looking at the recent minor victories achieved under Xiao Dingshan's command, and comparing them to the Captain-General's crushing defeat, Claude's answer was self-evident. What he needed was a strong leader who could lead him to survival and continued fighting.
The controller of the communications network, "Ghost" Victor, was the one who had previously made contact with Xiao Dingshan!
In some respects, he was already a trusted confidant.
The person in charge of the life support cycle was persuaded by Jonk and Sophia working together!
Without energy and regeneration guarantees, life support systems are a joke.
One layer after another, one link after another.
Like a skillful spider, Xiao Dingshan silently wove a fine and resilient web of loyalty within the core of the remnants of the hyena legion in just over ten days.
The officers he recruited then used their prestige and methods, through enticement, coercion, or analysis of the pros and cons, to win over the non-commissioned officers and technical backbone under their command.
The lifeline of the entire fortress has quietly changed hands.
Although the soldiers didn't understand what was happening, they could sense that order was being restored in the fortress, small-scale victories were taking place, and their awe and reliance on the new commander, Xiao Dingshan, was deepening. The discontent and will to survive among the lower ranks were being subtly guided.
The situation is now firmly in Xiao Dingshan's grasp.
The time had come. Siu Ding-shan decided to close the net.
He used the pretext of "discussing the next strategic steps against the enemy and formulating a large-scale counter-offensive plan" to justify his actions.
Summon all mid- to high-ranking officers, as well as the commander-in-chief.
A general meeting was held in the fortress's largest operations room.
The news sparked a morbid excitement within the remaining hyena legion.
A counterattack? Is it finally time to fight back?
Even the reclusive chief captain seemed to have a moment of brightness in his dim electronic eyes when he received the news.
He hadn't heard the word "counter-offensive" in so long...
Xiao Dingshan's recent achievements rekindled a faint, unrealistic hope in his heart.
Perhaps… Xiao Dingshan really could create a miracle? He carefully straightened his battered armor, and with a long-lost sense of solemnity befitting a leader, he walked towards the conference room.
However, when he pushed open that heavy alloy door, his expectant enthusiasm was instantly extinguished by a bucket of ice water.
In the center of the conference room, on the command chair that symbolized supreme power, sat Xiao Dingshan!
He stood tall and straight, wearing a brand-new commander's uniform with subtle patterns!
No longer the timid strategist he once was, his eyes were sharp, and he exuded an imposing aura.
The spot that originally belonged to the captain, the roughly welded yet still enormous metal chair, was placed to the lower right of the main seat.
The venue was already filled with officers.
Jonk, Sophia, Claude, Victor…
All the key figures were present.
Their gazes shifted between the captain and Xiao Dingshan, but eventually settled on Xiao Dingshan, with a tacit silence and a sense of waiting.
The atmosphere was as heavy as frozen lead.
The captain paused, his crimson electronic eyes fixed on Xiao Dingshan in the main seat. The metallic muscle lines beneath his mask tensed instantly, a surge of anger rising from his perceived offense!
He suppressed the urge to roar, his voice low and dangerous, like the howl of a wounded beast: "Xiao Dingshan...you're in the wrong seat."
Xiao Dingshan raised his head to meet the captain's angry gaze. His face showed no trace of his usual humility or fear, only a chilling calm.
"Commander-in-Chief, you've arrived."
He didn't even get up, but just nodded slightly, his tone as calm as if he were stating a fact!
"The location is correct."
For the sake of meeting efficiency and to make it easier for me to chair the meeting, this seat is more suitable for me.
Your seat is over there.
He raised his hand and pointed unequivocally to the second seat next to him.
Humiliation! Utter humiliation!
The captain felt like all the hydraulic lines in his body were about to burst!
He wanted to roar, to rush up and tear Xiao Dingshan off that damned chair and shred him!