Chapter 1116: The Plot of the Diplomatic Mission Escort Guard (1)

Behind the flagship of the Fengqi diplomatic mission, the "Amethyst Insight," the Capital Ship of the escort fleet, the "Dark Tooth," is sailing in a standard escort formation.

Captain Colonel Sele'en stands before the tactical holographic table, all three of his eyes wide open. Unlike

the politicians like Kalaier, Sele'en is a pure soldier.

He comes from a Fengqi military family; his grandfather, father, and two older brothers all died in the border wars.

There is a scar on his face running from his forehead to his chin, a memento left behind during the war against the Canaan Star Alliance three years ago.

Surrounding the holographic table are five people, all senior officers on the "Dark Tooth," as well as representatives from several other frigates.

Sele'en speaks up.

"The intelligence has been confirmed. The negotiation policy on the 'Amethyst Insight' is pure defeatism.

That old fox Kalaier, along with his civilian advisors, they are preparing to cede our territory bit by bit at the negotiating table in exchange for so-called 'peace'."

The holographic table displays communication fragments secretly intercepted from the "Amethyst Insight"; it is not the complete content, but enough to infer the mission's negotiation strategy.

This is information Sele'en obtained through internal channels, violating at least seven military confidentiality regulations.

First Officer Major Kaierte says hesitantly.

"Captain, is what we are doing... too radical? After all, Councilor Kalaier is the head of the mission appointed by the Supreme Council; for us to conspire behind his back is equivalent to mutiny."

"Mutiny?"

Sele'en turns around, his three eyes staring fixedly at Kaierte.

"When politicians are preparing to sell out our civilization, who is the one being truly disloyal? Is it disloyal to the cowards preparing to kneel and lick the boots of the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance, or to the Feng Qi Xing Alliance itself?"

Sele'en's voice echoes on the Bridge.

"Look at what has happened in the past! K-77, Commander Tailakesi died in battle, the planet fell. K-78, Commander Woluoke died in battle, the planet fell. K-79, Commander Laku died in battle, the planet fell.

And the worlds in the Southern Theater! The Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance never intended to resolve this problem with us peacefully from the very beginning!

And what are those politicians doing? Calculating loss figures, discussing bargaining chips, considering how to 'decently' admit defeat!"

Sele'en slams a heavy fist onto the edge of the holographic table and says in a grave tone.

"The Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance doesn't want negotiations, they want conquest! Those primarchs of theirs, Sanguinius, Angron, and the others... they view us as Aliens, as obstacles that need to be cleared!

What can be gained at the negotiating table? At most, a delay in the time of death! But what happens after that delay? Wait until they are better prepared, wait until our will to resist is worn away, and then annex the entire Feng Qi Xing Alliance in one fell swoop!"

Kaierte lowers his head.

"I understand, Captain. But detaining the mission directly... this is an unprecedented act. Even if we succeed, we will be labeled as rebels by the Council and wanted by the entire Feng Qi Xing Alliance."

"That is why we need allies."

Sele'en pulls up another set of data.

"Not just allies on this ship. Look at this..."

The hologram switches, displaying a star map.

Behind the escort fleet, twenty-seven new light points are moving.

"This is..."

Kael's eyes widen.

Sele'en speaks up.

"The 'Oathkeeper' fleet. Composed of retired generals, frontline commanders, and... military elites dissatisfied with the status quo."

270 warships.

All joined voluntarily, all prepared to fight to the end."

Low gasps of astonishment sound on the Bridge.

"Who is in command?"

A Commander from a Destroyer asks.

"General Olaf."

When Sele'en says this name, his tone is full of respect.

"Former Commander-in-Chief of the Southern Theater, 'forced into retirement' three years ago for opposing the Council's cuts to military spending. He is now the leader of the 'Oathkeepers'."

Olaf, this name is a legend in the Fengqi military.

In his forty-five-year military career, he participated in seventeen major campaigns and never lost.

The 'retirement' three years ago was seen by many as a political purge, a means for the pro-peace faction in the Council to eliminate dissenters in order to push through a policy of appeasement.

"General Olaf agrees with our plan?"

Kaierte asks, a hint of hope in his voice.

"Not only does he agree, he provided the complete operational plan."

Sele'en pulls up the detailed plan.

"According to intelligence, Guilliman of the Star Alliance is a person who values procedure and etiquette; he will not take drastic measures in the early stages of negotiations. This means we have a window of time."

The plan unfolds on the holographic table, detailed to an infuriating degree:

Phase One: 24 hours after the negotiations begin, when both sides are mired in the first round of substantive discussions, the "Dark Tooth" requests to approach the "Amethyst Insight" for emergency repairs under the guise of "technical failure."

Phase Two: The repair team boards the ship, actually consisting of fifty elite commandos disguised as technicians. They simultaneously seize control of the Bridge, engine room, Communications Center, and living quarters.

Phase Three: After control is established, Sele'en personally explains the situation to the Kalaier mission, demanding they "cooperate," otherwise "consequences will be borne by themselves."

At the same time, cut off all contact between the mission and the Fengqi Core World, keeping only communications with the Star Alliance negotiation party—but subject to strict censorship.

Phase Four: Announce to the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance that the "patriotic officers" within the Fengqi mission have seized control of the situation and demand to speak directly with the highest level of the Star Alliance to discuss "true peace conditions."

Namely, that the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance immediately cease all military operations and withdraw from occupied areas, otherwise they will "not be responsible for the safety of the mission members."

Phase Five: The "Shiyuan Guardian" fleet appears at this time, forming a deterrent. If the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance fleet attempts a forced rescue, threaten them with "mutual destruction."

"This... this is kidnapping."

Kaierte's voice trembles.

"And using our own Diplomat as a hostage."

"This is a necessary sacrifice."

Sele'en did not back down at all.

"Kalaier and his team are already prepared to betray our civilization; they are no longer the glory of Fengqi, but the shame of Fengqi.

Using them as bargaining chips to trade for the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance to cease their attack, and to trade for time for us to rearm, is the most effective method."

An officer questioned.

"But would the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance care about the life or death of these hostages? They might attack directly, not caring whether the diplomatic mission lives or dies."

"That is why the one they sent to negotiate is Guilliman, and not Angron or Sanguinius."

Sele'en analyzed.

"Guilliman values rules, values order, and values the facade of 'civilization.' It is impossible for him to openly disregard the safety of diplomatic personnel during negotiations.

Doing so would make all the forces watching view the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance as an untrustworthy, barbaric civilization."

Sele'en paused, then continued.

"Furthermore, I speculate that there are also divisions within the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance.

Guilliman represents the faction of construction and governance, while Angron and Sanguinius represent the faction of military conquest.

If we can make Guilliman believe that a peaceful resolution is more in line with the long-term interests of the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance than military conquest, he might become our 'ally' within the Star Alliance—even if a forced one."