Chapter 936: Failed Negotiations

"Confirming enemy fleet scale... exceeding 150 ships! Repeat, exceeding 150 ships!"

The entire Command Center was in an uproar.

Over 150 warships; this number was already approaching the current total of warships at Fengrao Starport.

Suo'er suppressed the shock in his heart and ordered in a deep voice.

"To your stations! Activate the 'Final Fortress' protocol! This is not a drill, repeat, this is not a drill!"

Inside the Command Center, the officers who received Suo'er's orders began issuing one instruction after another.

"All Orbital Defense Platforms online! Maximize energy output!"

"Second and Fourth Fleets, deploy according to the contingency plan and form an interception formation!"

"All batteries charge, load the Missile arrays!"

"Activate backup energy cores, prioritize the Huzhun Xitong!"

Suo'er pointed to the airspace in front of the Starport on the star map and said to the officers beside him.

"Our goal is to delay, not to win. The first line of defense consists of the Orbital Defense Platforms and the mobile fleet; use the crossfire network to consume the enemy as much as possible. Once there are signs of the line collapsing, immediately retreat to the Starport's close-defense zone to form the second line of defense."

"General, what if the second line of defense cannot hold either?"

Suo'er was silent for a moment, then said slowly.

"Then, we will make our final desperate stand. Fengrao Starport will not surrender without a fight, I guarantee you that."

While deploying the defenses, Suo'er's peripheral vision glanced at a corner of the Command Center.

Ms. Aolana of the Daikong Star Alliance was already gone.

Suo'er's heart sank, and a feeling of being betrayed welled up.

"Communications Officer, where are Ms. Aolana and Academician Tuowake?"

The Communications Officer checked the terminal, and their expression became strange.

"General, they... they returned to the 'Star Language' five minutes ago. The Daikong diplomatic ship is starting its engines and requesting departure clearance."

At the critical moment when the enemy was at the gates, the ally was preparing to evacuate.

Suo'er closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

"Approve the 'Star Language' departure request, wish them a safe journey."

This decision caused some officers to be puzzled, but Suo'er did not explain.

On the chessboard of interstellar politics, there are no eternal allies, only eternal interests.

Although the choice of the Daikong people was chilling, from their perspective, why should they be buried with a Starport destined to fall?

"General, the 'Star Language' has departed the Starport and is accelerating away from the Starport airspace."

The navigator reported.

Suo'er just nodded and said to the Communications Officer.

"Send a general communication request to the enemy fleet, using all known interstellar communication protocols."

"General? Do you think they will respond?"

"Unlikely, but we need to try. Even if we cannot avoid the battle, we can at least obtain some information about the enemy."

The Communications Officer executed the order.

A few minutes later, a response signal appeared on the communication console.

"General! We received a response! It's a video communication!"

"Put it through."

Suo'er straightened his uniform and stood up straight.

Static appeared on the main screen, and then the image stabilized.

Appearing on the screen was a bald giant sitting on a massive command throne.

"I am the Commander of Fengrao Starport, General Suo'er. You have invaded the territory of the Feng Qi Xing Alliance without warning, destroyed our fleet, and attacked our world. I demand that you immediately cease hostile actions and explain your intentions."

Horus on the screen tilted his head slightly.

"Feng Qi Xing Alliance? No, this star sector belongs to the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance, it belongs to the Emperor. You Aliens are merely temporary occupiers."

"Aliens? We have lived in this star sector for thousands of years and coexisted peacefully with multiple interstellar civilizations. We have never heard of any Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance or Emperor."

A cold sneer curled the corners of Horus's mouth.

"Ignorance is no excuse. The Emperor's fleet will liberate every Human world and purge all Alien contamination. Especially you, you have no choice."

Suo'er's heart sank, and he made a final effort.

"We are willing to negotiate; the Feng Qi Xing Alliance is an open civilization, and we can establish relations with any peaceful visitors."

"Negotiate? The Emperor's will does not require negotiation; Humans will not negotiate with Aliens who despise Human Civilization! I give you one standard hour to consider. Once the time is up, if you do not surrender unconditionally, Fengrao Starport will be completely destroyed."

The communication was unilaterally cut off, and the main screen returned to the star map display.

The Command Center was deathly silent.

Everyone understood that this was not an ordinary war, but a holy war concerning the survival of a civilization.

Suo'er looked at the surrounding officers.

"You all heard it; this is not any kind of war we are familiar with. The other side does not accept negotiations, does not recognize our sovereignty, and does not even recognize our right to exist."

Suo'er's voice became somewhat agitated.

"But we will not yield. The Feng Qi Xing Alliance may not be the most powerful civilization, but we have our own dignity and the determination to protect our home."

"Communications Officer, broadcast to the entire Starport."

"Yes, General!"

Suo'er gathered his thoughts and then began to speak.

"All defenders of Fengrao Starport, I am General Suo'er. I believe you have already seen that the enemy is at the gates. They claim to represent the 'Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance' and demand our unconditional surrender."

I have just communicated with their Commander. They do not recognize our civilization, do not recognize our history, and do not even recognize our right to exist. To them, we are merely 'Aliens' that need to be 'purified'.

But I want to tell you all, some things are more important than life, and that is freedom, dignity, and our identity as Fengqi!

Suo'er's voice gradually rose.

"Our ancestors walked out from the mother planet and established a prosperous civilization in this star sector. We have coexisted peacefully with various powerful races, developed technology, and explored the universe. We may not be perfect, but this is our own path!"

"Now, someone wants to strip all of this away, wants to turn us into their vassals, or even slaves! I ask you, can we accept this?"

Scattered responses rang out across the Starport, then converged into a deafening roar.

"No!"

"Yes, we cannot! Perhaps we will fail, perhaps today will be the last day of Fengrao Starport. But we must let the enemy know that the Fengqi are not lambs to be slaughtered! We will make them pay for every inch of land!"

"For our home! For our civilization! For every Fengqi! Fight to the end!"

"Fight to the end!"

Suo'er cut the broadcast and turned toward the tactical holographic table.

The enemy fleet had already begun to deploy into attack formation.

The tactical officer reported to Suo'er.

"General, the enemy vanguard has entered range."

Suo'er nodded and gave the order.

"Then, let us welcome these uninvited guests. All ships, fire!"