Chapter 979: There is Simply No Time to Deploy

Gangnanpan Xing, underground mining city council hall.

The situation on Gangnanpan Xing is even more chaotic.

This planet is jointly controlled by several powerful mining families, who value practical interests more.

"Unified dispatch? Hmph, sounds nice!"

Bakelu, of the mining tycoon Graen clan, roared in his gravelly voice.

"Isn't it just wanting to take away our ships and ore? Who knows if these things can be retrieved once sent out? In this day and age, having ore and ships in hand is the only hard truth!"

Another mining family head, Huona, pushed up his glasses and said unhurriedly.

"Bakelu's words are rough but true. We understand General Metake's situation, but Gangnanpan Xing has its own difficulties. Our armed forces were originally meant to protect mining areas and transport lines; if they are all transferred away, how can internal stability and basic production be guaranteed?

Furthermore, the 'Blood Bath' defensive line... the name itself is ominous; it's clearly meant to use us as cannon fodder to exhaust the enemy's strength so that his August Star can catch a few more breaths."

"Then what should we do? Refuse the order?"

Huona said with a smile.

"Refuse? That's not necessary; after all, nominally we still have to obey the star sector command. We can 'actively cooperate,' but we need time to 'coordinate and plan.' Our fleet needs maintenance, supplies need to be inventoried, personnel need to be mobilized... in short, the procedures must be followed, but it cannot be too fast."

Fenghaohui Star, Agricultural Zongdufu.

The agricultural Governor of Fenghaohui Star, an Erasin female named Lila.

"General Metake demands that we concentrate all transport ships, requisition civilian vessels, and open all grain storage reserves..."

Lila looked at the order, her pointed ears drooping.

"This... this will leave Fenghaohui Star completely defenseless! If the enemy really attacks, we won't even be able to evacuate the civilians! Moreover, grain is our foundation; if it is all taken away, what will our people eat?"

A Fengqi official said in a low voice.

"Your Excellency Governor, other planets, especially Gaomi Star and Gangnanpan Xing, seem to have complaints about the order and are acting slowly. If we follow it completely, will it be... too much of a loss? If the defensive line cannot hold, and we have exhausted everything, only to end up..."

Lila felt a wave of powerlessness.

August Star, Command Center.

Metake looked at the replies coming back through the communication channel, filled with various "difficulties," "needs time," and "conditions," his expression gloomy.

He directly connected to the forced communication with the Archons of the three planets.

Metake did not waste words and began to speak.

"Grand Duke Aierfengsi, Mr. Huona, Leader Baroque, Governor Lila. I have received your 'feedback.'

I think you may not yet fully understand the situation we are facing. This is not a business negotiation for bargaining, nor is it a political game!

This is a war concerning the survival of the Sixth Star Sector!"

Metake pulled up the latest reconnaissance report, which showed the trajectory of the White Scars Fleet sweeping through one planet after another.

"Look at these! How far away is the enemy's spearhead from us? A few days? Or a few weeks?

They will not give us time to bicker, and they will not care about your family businesses or personal gains and losses!"

Metake's voice rose.

"'Blood Bath' defensive line is not meant to make anyone cannon fodder! It is our last chance!

If August Star falls, do you think the factories on Gaomi Star, the mining ships on Gangnanpan Xing, and the grain on Fenghaohui Star will still be safe?"

Metake paused and continued.

"I now, as the supreme military Commander of the Sixth Star Sector, officially issue an order! The 'Blood Bath' defensive line plan is initiated immediately, and it is not to be questioned! All resource allocation and fleet command authority are to be unified under the August Star Command Center!"

After dealing with those nobles who were openly obstructing, Metake had been staying in the Command Center, starting to coordinate.

He stared at the massive star map and technical panels, which displayed the communication relays established between the four planets, the fleets being redeployed, and the progress bars for material transport.

"Why hasn't the Third Shipyard on Gaomi Star completed the armed refitting of civilian ships? Where is the Engineering Team they promised?"

"Why hasn't the mining Frigate fleet of Gangnanpan Xing arrived at the designated assembly point? What are they still hesitating about?!"

"The grain reserve transport progress of Fenghaohui Star is thirty percent behind schedule! Governor Lila, I need an explanation!"

Message after message urging progress was sent out, but the effect was minimal.

Just then, an alarm sounded in the Command Center!

"Report! The long-range monitoring array has detected abnormal gravitational fluctuations! Coordinates... outer Aierte Yun, edge of Kaibo Dai! Quantity... many! Speed is extremely fast!"

In the star map area representing the outskirts of the August Star system, light dots representing unidentified ship signals lit up!

"Feature match! White paint, red lightning stripes! It's that white fleet! They are here!"

Metake watched those light dots on the screen beginning to form up, and a chill swept through his entire body.

Too fast! Their speed is too fast! From receiving the news of the hinterland planets falling to them arriving at the August Star system, how much time has passed?!

"Confirm the scale of the enemy's vanguard fleet! Calculate the time to reach the first round of engagement distance!"

Metake steadied his voice and ordered.

"Preliminary judgment is that the vanguard fleet consists of Frigates and Destroyers, numbering over fifty! Expected... expected the first wave of contact will occur in six to eight standard hours! Capital Ship signals are still emerging!"

Eight hours! Only eight hours!

Even completing the emergency assembly and formation adjustment of the existing fleet seemed rushed, let alone those reinforcements still on the way and the unfinished defensive fortifications!

"General! Urgent cables from Gaomi Star, Gangnanpan Xing, and Fenghaohui Star! They have also detected enemy signals! Asking... asking what to do?"

What to do?

Metake felt a bitterness in his heart.

What else can be done now? The plan has been smashed to pieces, and all the delays and bickering have become a joke in the face of absolute speed.

Metake gritted his teeth and ordered.

"Reply to them! 'Blood Bath' defensive line enters the highest combat state immediately! All order priorities are raised to the highest! I don't care what method they use, within eight hours, no, within six hours!

All available ships must arrive at the preset defensive positions! All Orbital Defense Platforms and planetary batteries, charge energy to the maximum! Overload the Shield Generators! Those who disobey will be dealt with by military law!"

Metake leaned over the main control console, issuing a series of orders at a rapid pace, wanting to construct a defensive line within the limited time.

"Order the first and third Orbital Defense Platforms of August Star to advance to the L4 and L5 points and construct forward fire support nodes! All remaining Guardian fleets are to merge with the local defense fleet to form a core strike group, deployed in high planetary orbit to fight relying on the defense platforms!"

"Notify Gaomi Star that their rapid response fleet does not need to come to August Star to rendezvous; they must disperse immediately and use the asteroid belt to conduct guerrilla harassment, delaying the enemy vanguard to buy time for the main force's defensive deployment!"

"The mining Frigates and Armed Transport Ships of Gangnanpan Xing are to be fully inserted into the gap between August Star and Gaomi Star to establish a mobile picket line and sniper positions! Even if they have to use their hulls to block, they must slow down the enemy's assault!"

"Fenghaohui Star... concentrate all anti-air forces and ground troops to protect the planetary Shield Generator and the water and energy facilities! Prepare for... ground combat!"

On the star map, the blue light dots representing friendly forces began to move toward the preset defensive nodes.

Metake watched the signal clusters on the star map that were still continuously closing in, his expression grave.