Chapter 948: The Council's Contempt

Feng Qi Xing Alliance Southern Theater Command.

After the fall of Fengrao Starport, General Gelan, Commander-in-Chief of the Southern Theater, stood before a holographic projection, reporting this sudden catastrophe to the Supreme Council.

Inside the circular conference hall, the virtual images of numerous councilors surrounded the central holographic star map.

"In summary, Fengrao Starport has fallen. General Suo'er and all 400,000 officers and soldiers under his command were killed in action; not a single one survived."

Gelan pulled up the data transmitted by Suo'er before his death and played it for everyone to see.

"The enemy calls themselves the 'Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance,' but their military organization and combat methods are unlike any civilization we have ever known."

Gelan pointed to those Power Armor warriors in the footage and said.

"According to Suo'er's final intelligence, these 'Super Soldiers' have extremely strong individual combat capabilities; ordinary soldiers cannot inflict any damage on them at all."

"Their Power Armor can withstand direct fire from standard Energy Weapons, while their weapons can easily tear through our soldiers' exoskeletons and Bulletproof Armor."

A councilor in charge of internal affairs frowned.

"Are you certain these data are not exaggerated? 400,000 garrison troops, plus the Orbital Defense Platform, collapsed completely in less than forty-eight hours?"

"I am certain, Councilor. I have already sent the data transmitted by Suo'er to the commanders of other sectors in the south, requesting them to raise their alert levels."

Another person, Military Committee Chairman Valken, watched the footage of the Iron Warriors Space Marines destroying the Orbital Defense Platform carefully and commented.

"Their tactics... are very ancient, but extremely effective. Concentrating superior firepower to break through one by one. This is not the fighting style of pirates or border conflicts."

Gelan nodded and replied.

"That is exactly what I am worried about, Mr. Chairman. Judging from their combat style and the brief exchange between Suo'er and the enemy commander, this 'Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance' seems to harbor some kind of... ideology-driven expansionist goal. They call us 'Alien' and claim that the entire sea of stars belongs to their 'Emperor'."

A low murmur of discussion broke out in the conference hall.

The councilor in charge of internal affairs sneered.

"Ideology-driven expansion? Sounds like the religious fanaticism of some primitive civilization. Perhaps they are just an emerging race that accidentally obtained some advanced technology."

General Gelan suppressed the anger in his heart.

"Councilor, regardless of their origins, the military strength they have displayed is real and lethal. I request that the Council approve a state of emergency, mobilize all available forces in the Southern Theater, and simultaneously request support from other theaters for at least three Capital Ships."

At this moment, Speaker Ravenna spoke up:

"General Gelan, your caution is commendable. However, you must understand the Council's current situation."

Ravenna pulled up the overall strategic situation map of the Feng Qi Xing Alliance.

On the map, the Western Theater was locked in a fierce tug-of-war with the Ash Star Alliance and the Canaan Star Alliance, with hundreds of planets engulfed in the flames of war.

"We have invested significant military strength in the west, and the war is at a critical stage. Under these circumstances, withdrawing troops is unrealistic."

Hearing Ravenna say this, Gelan said urgently.

"But Speaker, if Suo'er's intelligence is accurate, this newly emerged threat might be even more dangerous than the Ashes and Canaan combined! Look at their boarding tactics, look at the combat capabilities of those Super Soldiers!"

Chairman Valken interjected: "Regarding those 'Super Soldiers'... General Gelan, I would like to remind you that we are not without equivalent power."

He pulled up another set of data, which showed the progress of the "Guardian Project" secretly conducted by the Feng Qi Xing Alliance.

"As you all know, the 'Guardian Project' entered the mass production stage some years ago. Although our Super Soldiers may be slightly inferior to the opponent in individual capability, relying on numerical superiority and technical support, they can fully contend with them. Furthermore, our Guardian Super Soldiers may not necessarily be inferior to them."

Gelan looked at the data.

He knew of the existence of the "Guardian Project," but he did not expect it to have progressed to such a degree; it seemed that from the start of mass production, the Supreme Council had already blocked all news channels.

"But Chairman, new troop types need time to train and adapt to the battlefield..."

The councilor in charge of internal affairs interrupted Gelan.

"Time is exactly what we lack. If this 'Xiuluo Holy' is truly as dangerous as you say, we must eliminate them before they can gain a firm foothold."

Speaker Ravenna made the decision.

"General Gelan, the Council will provide you with 50 divisions of Guardian Super Soldiers. That is equivalent to 500,000 troops; test the strength of our Guardian Super Soldiers first."

"Is 500,000 too few?"

Hearing Gelan's words, Ravenna shook her head and said.

"It is not few. I believe this faction does not have many Super Soldiers either. Besides, you can mobilize all conventional troops in the Southern Theater. However, there will be no support from other theaters."

Valken added: "Use this opportunity to test the actual combat capability of our Super Soldiers. If they can defeat this so-called 'Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance,' then our war situation on the western front will also be greatly improved."

"Furthermore, the ship-borne shields of this faction are very interesting; if we can obtain this technology, it will be of great help to us."

"General Gelan, regarding the issue of fleet equipment upgrades, the Supreme Council will prioritize the Western Theater and the Southern Theater."

Seeing that the Council did not take the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance seriously, Gelan spoke again.

"Speaker, councilors, I have studied every frame of the combat footage transmitted by Suo'er. The enemy's technological level and tactical proficiency far exceed any opponent we have encountered before. I am worried that even with the support of Super Soldiers..."

Ravenna's tone became serious as she spoke.

"General Gelan. The Feng Qi Xing Alliance faces threats from many sides; we must weigh the overall situation. 500,000 Guardian Super Soldiers plus the conventional troops you have on hand should be enough to deal with any threat from a single direction. Do not let us down."

Gelan knew that arguing further would be of no use.

He straightened his body and gave a standard military salute.

"As you command, Speaker. I will formulate a counterattack plan as soon as possible to retake Fengrao Starport and eliminate this faction."

After leaving the holographic Communication Room, Gelan immediately summoned his staff team.

When he announced the Council's decision, the staff members reacted in various ways.

One staff member spoke hesitantly.

"500,000 Super Soldiers? Might that not be enough?"

The intelligence chief said.

"General, I have analyzed the data transmitted by Suo'er in detail. The combat performance of the enemy's Super Soldier units exceeds any of our predictive models. I am worried that even our Super Soldiers might be at a disadvantage in terms of individual capability."

Gelan walked to the star map and looked at Fengrao Starport, which had already been marked as "fallen."

"The Council's decision has been made. What we need to do now is not to question it, but to think about how to complete the Task with the resources in our hands."