Chapter 997: Two Neighbors Taking Advantage of the Fire

Geertie sneered inwardly; as expected, these vipers would never rise early without a profit.

"It can be discussed! But the prerequisite is that you must truly pin down the Fengqi! If I discover you are just going through the motions, or if you intend to stab us in the back, hmph!"

"Of course, War Commander, please rest assured. The Canaan Star Alliance has always valued... a partnership relationship."

After the communication ended, Gortie's Adjutant couldn't help but ask in a low voice.

"War Commander, are the Canaanites trustworthy? They have always been treacherous."

"Trustworthy? Talk about trust with vipers? I am merely using them! Pass down the order: the attack plan remains unchanged! But keep the fleet at the highest state of alert; not only must we watch the Fengqi, but we must also guard against those Canaanites hiding in the shadows! Once we have secured our footing, we will settle the score with them!"

At the same time, after Xiliya ended the communication, the smile on her face vanished.

"Stupid barbarian."

"Lady Xiliya, the Ash People have taken the bait. They will attract the main brunt of the Fengqi's fury in the FQ-95 Star Region."

"Let them fight, let them expend their strength. That brute Geertie only knows how to charge and fight head-on. Even if he can take that region, he will break a few teeth in the process. And we..."

Xiliya pulled up the star map and locked onto an area where the defenses along the border with the Fengqi were relatively weak.

"We won't actually engage in large-scale 'friction' to draw fire; that is too much of a waste of resources. We only need to create some sufficiently realistic signs of feigned movement to make the Fengqi suspicious. Our main target..."

Xiliya's finger pointed to an important logistics transfer base of the Feng Qi Xing Alliance on the star map.

"Is here. While everyone's eyes are drawn to the Ash Star Alliance, we will quietly take this node and acquire the technology and resources we need."

Ela nodded in understanding.

"The 'Gleaner' units are ready. Additionally, according to your instructions, we have 'leaked' the detailed plan and potential weak points of the Ash People's upcoming attack to the Fengqi garrison through the 'Trade Wind' network... of course, it is a 'polished' version, sufficient to let the Fengqi cause even more trouble for Geertie."

Xiliya smiled with satisfaction.

"Very good. Let the Ashes and the Fengqi fight like dogs; the more brutal the fight, the better. We, Canaan, only need to appear at the right place at the right time and take what we want. This is the art of interstellar maneuvering."

Feng Qi Xing Alliance Western Theater General Headquarters

Carlos, Commander-in-Chief of the Western Theater, was pacing in his office with his hands behind his back.

The news of the Southern Theater's collapse had already spread to the West.

The Council's resolution was to prioritize dealing with the southern threat.

Carlos understood the Council's dilemma, but making him show weakness to his two arch-enemies, the Ashes and the Canaanites, was more unbearable to him than swallowing a live Lark Bug.

"General."

General Lister walked in with a communication record and reported.

"The 'informal contact' channels we sent to the Ashes and the Canaanites have both received replies."

Carlos stopped pacing and turned to ask.

"What do they say?"

Lister shook his head and handed the Data Pad to Carlos.

"The response from the Ashes was conveyed through an Adjutant of their War Commander, Geertie.

The tone... was extremely arrogant. They claim that unless we unconditionally cede all 'disputed areas' and compensate them for the 'losses' recently caused by our 'provocations,' then 'nothing is up for discussion.'

They even 'suggested' that if the South is tight, we might as well just abandon some 'fringe star sectors' in the West and concentrate our forces."

Carlos's expression darkened.

Abandon? That is simply wishful thinking! Compensation? That is even more absurd!

"What about the Canaanites? Don't they always pride themselves on being 'flexible'?"

"The response from the Canaan side... is more 'tactful,' but also more disgusting. It was their Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, that woman named Vinila, who replied personally.

She expressed 'understanding' of our 'temporary difficulties' and claimed that the Canaan Star Alliance has always loved peace..."

"Bullshit!"

Carlos couldn't help but curse.

Lister continued.

"... However, she emphasized that the 'hardliners' within the Star Alliance currently have a loud voice and believe this is a golden opportunity to 'resolve historical issues.'

She hinted that if we are willing to make 'major adjustments' to the border demarcation and open up trade and mining concessions in several key star systems, she might be able to 'do her best to mediate' and persuade the 'rationalists' in the country to maintain the status quo for the time being."

Carlos laughed out of anger.

"'Major adjustments'? 'Concessions'? These greedy vipers! They have calculated that we dare not fight on two fronts now, so they are holding us to ransom!

Once we make concessions, our flanks will be completely exposed to them! Open up concessions? How is that any different from handing the planets directly to them?!"

Carlos walked to the star map and looked at the defensive line in the West that bordered the two neighbors.

He had originally hoped that these two old rivals could temporarily set aside their disputes based on the realistic threat.

Now it seems that this idea has basically fallen through.

"They have no intention of compromising at all! They see our weakness, and what they are thinking about is not a ceasefire, but how to take advantage of the situation to bite off a bigger piece of meat!"

"Yes, Commander. According to the latest report from our 'Shadow' intelligence network, the Seventh and Ninth Assault Fleets of the Ash Star Alliance have lost their conventional signals; it is highly suspected that they have entered stealth mode.

And the Canaanites, although there is not much movement on the surface, their several reconnaissance outposts on the border are extremely active, and signs of infiltration by small elite units have been detected. They are probing, and they are also preparing."

Carlos was silent for a moment, then ordered.

"Notify all frontline commanders: highest level of combat readiness. The Council's order to us is to 'adopt a defensive posture,' but they didn't say we aren't allowed to counterattack! Want to take advantage of the chaos? Then break a few of their teeth!"

He pointed to the FQ-95 Star Region on the star map.

"Tell the FQ-95 Garrison Commander, Halun, I don't want him to take the initiative to attack, but I want him to forge the defensive line into an iron bucket! If the Ash People dare to come, let them crash into it and bleed!"

Carlos pointed to the border area again.

"Here, send additional mobile Patrol Squads and increase the frequency of reconnaissance. For any Canaanite ships that cross the warning line, no warning is needed; drive them away directly, and open fire to warn them if necessary! We must let them know that even if our main force is pinned down, the Western Theater is not a soft persimmon they can squeeze at will!"

"Yes, Commander!"

Lister stood at attention and saluted.

Carlos spoke up to add.

"Also, compile the 'results' of our 'contact' with the Ashes and Canaan, as well as their aggressive attitude, into a detailed report and send it to the Council and to Gelan in the Southern Theater.

Let them see clearly what we in the Western Theater are facing! If they want the West to be stable, they must either give us sufficient support, or... be prepared for the Western front to collapse as well!"

At the same time, at the Ash Star Alliance frontline command headquarters, "Forge Fortress."

War Commander Geertie looked at the report on the screen regarding the strengthening of the Fengqi Western Theater's border defenses and said to the Adjutant beside him.

"As expected! The Fengqi fellows are afraid! They have strengthened their defenses, yet they dare not take the initiative to attack! What does this mean? It means they have something to hide and their forces are insufficient!"

The Adjutant cautiously reminded him.

"Commander, the Fengqi have after all managed the West for many years and their defensive lines are solid; should we..."

Geertie impatiently interrupted the Adjutant.

"Solid? No matter how solid a Fortress is, there will come a day when it is breached! They are currently unable to attend to both ends, and this is the best time for us to launch an all-out attack!

Order the Seventh and Ninth Fleets to launch the assault at the scheduled time according to the original plan! I want to drink a victory toast on the desk of that old man Carlos!"

Geertie paused, then remembered something and asked.

"What movement is there on the Canaan side?"

"According to our observations, the activities of the Canaanites near the border have increased, but they seem to be limited to reconnaissance and harassment, with no signs of large-scale troop movements.

Their Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Vinila has contacted us again, asking for our specific attack schedule and 'reminding' us of our 'promise' regarding the distribution of post-war benefits."

Gortie sneered.

"Tell them that we Ash People keep our word! Just have them 'cooperate' well and keep the Fengqi's attention occupied! Their share of the benefits won't be missing! As for the specific time... hmph, let them wait!"