Chapter 1151: Internal Differentiation

"Commander..."

The Deputy Commander's voice came through.

"We... let's surrender."

"What?!"

Tuosile turned his head, looking at the Deputy Commander with fury.

"Continuing to fight will only lead to everyone's death."

The Deputy Commander pointed out the porthole, where another Fengqi warship was turning into a speck of light amidst an explosion.

"Look around! We cannot win! At least... surrendering can let some people live."

Tuosile wanted to roar, wanted to rebuke this cowardice, but the words stuck in his throat.

The Deputy Commander was right. Continuing to fight was meaningless; there was only death.

Olaf, that old general, chose to die rather than submit, and what was the result? The Oathkeeper fleet was completely annihilated, with no survivors.

Haroon, that Planetary Governor, chose to surrender; at least he and his people were still alive.

Which choice was more dignified? Which choice was more responsible?

"Commander!"

The Communications Officer reported suddenly.

"Received communication from the enemy flagship... it is the Primarch Vulkan himself!"

Tuosile took a deep breath.

"Connect it."

Vulkan's face appeared on the holographic screen.

The Primarch stood on the Bridge of the *Dragon's Breath*, his tall figure too large for the holographic projection to contain.

Vulkan's deep voice rang out.

"Alien Tuosile. Your courage is worthy of respect, but your sacrifice is meaningless. Surrender, and I guarantee you and your subordinates will receive the treatment you deserve."

"The treatment we deserve..."

Tuosile repeated the words, smiling bitterly.

"To be imprisoned like livestock, interrogated, and used against our own civilization?"

Vulkan offered Tuosile another choice.

"Or die here like a warrior, letting twenty-two warships and tens of thousands of officers and men turn into dust in the void. The choice is yours, Tuosile. But choice requires wisdom, not just courage."

Tuosile looked around the Bridge.

The officers were watching him, their young faces filled with fear and expectation.

They wanted to live; he could tell.

They still had families, lovers, futures...

Tuosile spoke with difficulty.

"If we surrender... how will you treat my subordinates?"

"Those who surrender will not be killed; this is the principle of the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance. But those who resist... there is only death."

Another choice.

Tuosile closed his eyes.

He felt a sharp, intense pain from his Third Eye.

"I need... time to consider."

"You have one minute. After one minute, if you do not surrender, I will order the total annihilation of the remaining fleet. This is my final mercy."

The communication cut off.

The countdown began.

The Bridge was deathly silent, save for the sound of alarms and the ticking of the countdown.

Fifty-nine seconds... fifty-eight seconds... fifty-seven seconds...

Tuosile looked at his officers. Some bowed their heads in prayer, some gripped their weapons tightly, and some had already slumped into their chairs.

Forty-three seconds... forty-two seconds... forty-one seconds...

Tuosile remembered his wife; during their last communication, she had told him, "You must come back."

Twenty-five seconds... twenty-four seconds... twenty-three seconds...

Tuosile remembered his son. That young man had just entered the naval academy, dreaming of becoming a Fleet Commander like his father.

Ten seconds... nine seconds... eight seconds...

"Commander!"

The Deputy Commander grabbed his arm.

"Please..."

Three seconds... two seconds... one second...

Tuosile connected to the all-frequency broadcast.

"This is Admiral Tuosile, Commander of the Third Fleet of the Seventh Star Sector... all units... lay down your weapons, cease resistance... repeat... lay down your weapons... cease resistance..."

Tuosile turned off the microphone and slumped into his command chair, all three of his eyes closed, unwilling to see the warships outside the porthole laying down their weapons, unwilling to face his own choice.

Surrender.

He had chosen to surrender.

Not a hero who would rather die than submit, not a warrior who fought to the end, just a... living being who wanted to survive.

Shame eroded his soul like poison.

But Tuosile comforted himself: at least he had saved thousands of lives. At least those young officers and soldiers would still be able to see their families.

At least... they were alive.

Bridge of the "Dragon Breath".

Vulkan watched on the tactical map as the purple light dots representing the Fengqi Fleet extinguished their resistance signals one by one, turning into yellow dots representing surrender.

"All 14 remaining enemy ships within the encirclement have surrendered."

Huokan reported.

A perfect victory.

Salamanders Legion losses: zero warships destroyed, three sustained significant damage, seventeen officers and soldiers killed in action.

More importantly, the strategic objectives were fully achieved.

The reinforcement fleet of the Fengqi Seventh Star Sector had been completely annihilated, ensuring the safety of the "Grey Ring" and clearing the flank threat for the main battlefield.

Vulkan looked at those surrendering Fengqi warships and gave an order.

"Prepare to receive the Alien prisoners of war. Follow standard procedure: disarm, biological scan, implant trackers.

Segregate officers and technical Aliens, and manage common soldiers in groups."

"Understood, Father."

Vulkan turned and walked toward the bridge exit.

"I am going to see that Alien."

"Do you need an escort?"

"No need. An Alien who has chosen to surrender has already lost the will to fight."

Detention Area of the "Dragon Breath"

Tuosile was escorted by two Salamanders Space Marines to a simple reception room.

A Gravity Restrainer restricted his movements, but at least he could sit down.

Tuosile sat on a metal chair, his three eyes lowered, not daring to look up at the Primarch who had walked in.

Vulkan sat down opposite him.

Vulkan was now wearing only a simple military uniform, but that sense of oppression remained.

"Tuosile."

Vulkan spoke.

"Your choice saved the lives of many officers and soldiers. They should thank you."

Tuosile gave a bitter smile.

"Thank me for leading them to surrender? Thank me for letting them become prisoners of war?"

"Living is always better than dying. Moreover, your surrender has a significance that transcends this battle."

Tuosile looked up.

"What significance?"

"You have demonstrated the internal divisions within the Fengqi Star Alliance."

Vulkan said.

"Olaf chose to fight to the death, while you chose to surrender. Other commanders will see the results of these two choices: those who fight to the death are wiped out, those who surrender survive. How will this affect their decision-making?"

Psychological warfare.

Tuosile understood.

His own surrender was not just a military failure, but a political weapon; the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance would use it to disintegrate the resistance will of Fengqi.

"You... are truly cruel."

"War itself is cruel. But the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance offers another path: surrender, cooperate, and integrate into the new order. This is far more merciful than total destruction."

"Integrate..."

Tuosile repeated the word.

"As a Second-class Citizen? As a conquered race?"

"As a civilization that has survived. History is written by the victors, but survival itself has value.

Ten thousand years from now, when the Fengqi Civilization still exists in some form, future generations will thank those who chose to surrender today, rather than those who chose destruction."

Tuosile could not refute this.

Because deep down, he knew Vulkan was right.

The first priority of a civilization is survival, and only then come dignity, freedom, independence...

But can it really be ordered this way?

If one gives up everything for survival, then what is the meaning of survival?

"How will you dispose of me?"

"You will be sent to the rear of the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance to undergo interrogation and assessment.

If you are cooperative and provide valuable information, you will receive relatively better treatment. If you resist... then it will be quite difficult."

"And then? Life imprisonment?"

"After the war, depending on your performance, there may be an opportunity to obtain limited freedom. But that is a matter for the future.

Now, what you need to consider is whether to cooperate or resist."

Vulkan walked toward the door and paused.

"By the way, your family is safe. After we occupied 'Cinder Prime', we protected the families of all surrendered officials. Your wife and son are on the protection list."

Tuosile's body stiffened.

This information was like a double-edged sword: on one hand, he was grateful his family was safe; on the other hand, it implied that the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance had complete control over his background and could even use his family as a bargaining chip.

"This is war, Tuosile. There are no pure choices, only the weighing of costs. You chose the lives of your subordinates; this is a form of courage. Remember this, it may bring you comfort in the future."