Chapter 823: Canaan Star Alliance Occupies Silent Valley (1)

Silent Valley, on the outskirts of the "Prism" asteroid belt.

Two Fengqi "Vigilant"-class patrol boats are cruising along a fixed route.

The duty personnel inside the boats glance from time to time at the edge of their tactical screens—that is the direction of FQ-95; although it is far away, the continuously arriving battle reports make everyone's heart heavy.

Suddenly!

Hum—!

The void not far in front of the patrol boats distorts.

Three "Sentinel"-class destroyers, painted in deep-space radar-absorbent camouflage with sleek lines, tear through space and jump out!

Following closely behind them is a massive, heavily armored "Fortress"-class landing ship!

"Al... Alarm! High-energy jump signal detected! It's... it's the Canaan Star Alliance's 'Sentinel'-class! Quantity three! And a landing ship!"

The voice of the radar officer on "Vigilant One" changes pitch as they look at the emerald-green icons that instantly appear on the screen.

"What... what are they trying to do?!"

The captain's expression is grave, and they begin to raise shields and activate weapons.

"The... the other side is sending a communication request! And... and a broadcast on the general frequency!"

A calm voice cuts simultaneously into the patrol boats' communication channel and the public network of the Silent Valley region.

"This is Major Kael Valen, Commander of the Canaan Star Alliance 'Emerald Blade' Task Force.

We have received an emergency safety request from the 'Silent Valley' Management Committee and the Canaanite miner community.

Given that the intense conflict between the Fengqi Star Alliance and the Ash Star Alliance at FQ-95 has caused a sharp deterioration in the regional security situation, and that there is a serious vacuum of official Fengqi power in this area, in order to protect the life and property safety of all residents of 'Silent Valley' and prevent chaos, looting, and potential war from spreading, the Canaan Star Alliance has decided to implement temporary humanitarian intervention and order-maintenance operations in this region, effective immediately.

Please remain calm, cooperate with our work, and do not offer futile resistance to avoid causing accidental injury..."

"Bullshit!"

The captain of "Vigilant One" is trembling with rage.

"This is aggression! Naked aggression! Issue a warning to them! Leave Fengqi Star Alliance sovereign space immediately! Otherwise..."

Before they can finish speaking, the communication is rudely cut off.

"To Fengqi patrol boats: Your resistance is meaningless and will endanger the safety of civilians in the mining area.

Please shut down your weapon systems immediately and stop your ships to accept guidance.

Repeat, please shut down your weapon systems immediately and stop your ships to accept guidance."

Kael Valen's voice is calm, with no tone of negotiation.

At the same time, the main guns and missile launch ports of the three "Sentinel"-class destroyers slowly rotate, their muzzles steadily locking onto the two small "Vigilant" boats.

Looking at the glaring lock-on warning on the tactical screen and the opponent's overwhelming energy readings.

Cold sweat seeps from the forehead of the "Vigilant" captain.

Resist? They would be torn to pieces in an instant. Don't resist? Watch as their territory is occupied?

"Captain... we..."

The Adjutant's voice carries anger.

"... Shut down weapon systems... engines... maintain minimum power..."

The captain slumps into the chair, their voice hoarse and filled with a sense of powerlessness.

Any resistance would just be a futile sacrifice; the damned Canaanites had long been eyeing the gap in the defense here.

Almost at the same time, the hatch on the belly of the "Steadfast" landing ship opens, and dozens of "Thorn" assault boats painted in emerald camouflage fly out, their engine exhausts leaving ghostly green trails as they precisely pounce toward the "Prism Main Station" mining platform, the refinery, and the transportation hub!

The automatic defense turrets of the platform and refinery are destroyed instantly by precise point-fire from the "Sentinel"-class destroyers just as they activate!

The "Thorn" assault boats force a docking, and the hatches explode open.

Canaan Security Bureau soldiers, wearing light but sophisticated "Vine" combat suits and holding non-lethal high-frequency pulse shock weapons and capture nets, quickly flood into key nodes.

"Canaan Star Alliance Security Force! Drop your weapons! Squat on the spot! Accept protective isolation!"

The calm command echoes through the corridors.

The small number of remaining Fengqi security personnel and miners are completely stunned, looking at the pitch-black gun barrels and the capture nets flickering with electric sparks.

Under absolute military suppression, most people subconsciously choose to obey and are guided to be concentrated in open areas for custody.

Only sporadic resistance is quickly subdued by precise shock pulses.

Within a few short standard hours, the core mining area of Silent Valley, along with the precious Spirit Element Ore veins it contains, is covered by the emerald flags of the Canaan Star Alliance.

Fengqi Star Alliance Western Theater Supreme Command.

General Sailin has just finished an encrypted communication with Suolun on the FQ-95 front; the situation at FQ-95 remains scorching, and the casualty numbers are still rising.

An emergency report with the highest alert level from Silent Valley suddenly pops up on their main screen.

"... Canaan Star Alliance 'Emerald Blade' Task Force has illegally jumped into and invaded Silent Valley!

Our two patrol boats have been forced by military power to disarm!

All key mining nodes have been occupied by their security forces!

The other side is broadcasting a so-called 'humanitarian intervention' statement..."

Looking at the footage attached to the report of the Canaan security forces "orderly" "protecting" Fengqi miners, and Kael Valen's sanctimonious face repeating the hypocritical declaration on the broadcast, General Sailin's three eyes are instantly bloodshot!

"Bang!"

Their calloused fist slams hard against the control console made of high-strength alloy, emitting a loud noise!

The entire command room falls into instant silence!

"Ca——naan——!"

This endless anger and humiliation of being stabbed in the back make Sailin wish they could immediately tear that hypocritical face of Kael's to shreds!

The change of ownership of the Silent Valley Spirit Element Ore is like a cold slap, fiercely striking the face of the entire Fengqi Star Alliance, which is fighting a Blood Bath at FQ-95.

Canaan's "Gleaner," at the most "appropriate" time and in the most "civilized" way, has completed the most naked plunder.

Fengqi Star Alliance Capital Star, Star Alliance Council Hall.

Beneath the dome, the atmosphere of the meeting was heavy.

A massive Holographic Star Map floated in the center; the deep blue blocks originally symbolizing the Fengqi Star Alliance were being forcibly covered by a patch of emerald green in the Silent Valley region.

The dim blue ribbons of light representing the Spirit Element Ore veins flowed faintly beneath that emerald green, appearing all the more ironic.

Star Alliance Diplomat Saka stood before the podium and said in a low voice.

"... In summary, while our Star Alliance fleet was in a Blood Bath fighting against the invaders of the Ash Star Alliance in the FQ-95 Star Region, the Canaan Star Alliance dispatched the 'Emerald Blade' task force to illegally invade and militarily occupy our sovereign territory—the Silent Valley region.

This operation was a naked act of treachery and opportunism, carried out at a time when our Star Alliance had no capacity to attend to other matters and our defensive strength was at its weakest!"

Saka swept his gaze over the silent council members in the assembly seats, finally fixing it on General Sailin of the Star Alliance Western Theater.

Sailin sat there, his three eyes staring at that patch of emerald green on the star map, his expression gloomy.

"Immediately after the conflict broke out, our side issued the strongest protest and solemn representations to the Canaan Star Alliance through the highest diplomatic channels!"

Saka's voice rose.

"We demand that Canaan immediately and unconditionally withdraw its illegal armed forces, cease all predatory mining activities, and compensate us for all losses! However—"

He took a deep breath and continued.

"The response from the Canaan Star Alliance is utter hypocrisy and arrogance! They disregard the facts and continue to repeat their absurd rhetoric of so-called 'humanitarian intervention,' 'maintaining regional order,' and 'protecting common Asset'!"

They slander our legitimate protests as 'expansionist ambitions' and even turn the tables, accusing us of 'destabilizing the region'!"

The baseness of their diplomatic language and the shamelessness of their actions are even more nauseating than the Lava artillery fire of the Ash Star Alliance!"