Chapter 893 The enemy has arrived
The governor's office is a gorgeous room with green walls, illuminated by a narrow lamp, and the two people sit across the table facing each other.
"How's it going overall?"
Strike asked, shaking the grit out of his cropped hair.
“We have encountered too many problems. The workers know something big is going on, but they just don’t know what it is, and the middle management is about the same.”
"What do you mean by Navy patrol?"
Although Stryker had no illusions, he still asked one more question.
"I sent this out a long time ago."
Adisak said, reaching for a small box.
“Like everyone else, we are having issues with our equipment and now the communications unit at the main site is down.”
Stryker knew what he was holding. It was an information pod, a military liaison that kept copies of messages safe.
"You'd better tell me what you know."
The colonel of Catachan said very seriously, so Adisak picked up the box.
"Sent six days ago by a small naval frigate from outside the system. It was finally deciphered last night. It's the only communication we've gotten from it, and it was clearly not meant for us. ——This is a full-band broadcast aimed at other ships in the squadron. This content was relayed by another spacecraft operating in a very distant place. Because it bears the mark of the Astropath, this command really starts. The starting point must be further away. We estimate that the original version was actually released more than two months ago, but this is just a guess."
Stryker frowned, he probably guessed what it was.
"There won't be any naval visits, Colonel."
Adisak looked dejected as he spoke.
“This is a large-scale assembly order, coming from the navy’s sector command, requiring all fleets to be withdrawn from lower-level sectors. Somewhere outside, there is a huge battle group being mobilized. Take all the local troops of the navy and march to distant places. And talk about it in the past tense, past tense!”
Stryker savored these words carefully.
“So there’s something planned going on.”
"Maybe, but I haven't heard of any big battles recently, and there's no news about the transport ships. They are dead silent."
Suddenly, Stryker's brows jumped, and he thought of a possibility.
“Has the Navy been misled by some force?”
This possibility startled the Governor.
"How much power does it take to mislead the navy of a sector? And what is their purpose?"
Stryker frowned and thought for a while, then said uncertainly:
"Maybe. It's us?"
"Then you should listen to the opinion of the Astropath director."
Adisak then pressed a button, and a small screen appeared on the table.
There was a woman on the screen, a poor ghost with red eyes and an incredibly old age. A psyker certification seal hung around her skinny neck.
"We have seen bright lights in the sky."
The Astropath director's voice trembled due to weakness, and her lips could hardly move, as if she might die at any time.
"That's not what everyone thinks is normal. Something weird happened, and it shouldn't happen."
Every time he thinks about everything related to psychic powers, Stryker feels uncomfortable. Impatient.
“Speak clearly, man.”
"The subspace, Colonel. It's like a crack has appeared, but I can't see the end of it. It's dragging in front of us, like...a storm cloud that may explode at any time."
"What impact would it have?"
"I don't know."
The Astropath looked pained. "But I can't sleep. It's been a week. You must be having the same problem, right?"
Yes, they all are.
This is what makes Stryker restless and unable to concentrate, and he hasn't slept well for a week.
The Governor sat leaning forward and locked his fingers tightly together.
"The situation is very unclear now, the equipment is broken, rumors are spreading, and we need to stay united."
He then swallowed.
"There are a few of us who have a big task. Colonel, what advice can you give me now?"
Strike said nothing at first, blinking frequently.
About ten seconds later, he spoke.
“We have been transmitting standard distress signals on the military channel, but the fact is that no one will come to help us, so we simply declared a curfew in Attica, stopped all operations, and built temporary fortifications. Protecting large equipment and stationing my soldiers at key locations, and arming all staff and workers, including those hundreds of Explorer Fortresses - we have enough equipment, much of it still unopened in containers. ”
In fact, the Governor had this plan, but he was worried that it would cause panic, at least at the beginning.
But he knew that Stryker was right.
"Also, if it really comes to that."
Colonel Stryker said slowly:
"If something really bad happens, There is one more thing, Governor."
Adisak knew what he meant and was shocked.
Stryker stared closely at the Governor. Once the planet entered war, as the supreme commander of the local Astra Militarum, he could do a lot.
“When I accepted the appointment, I was told that if you can protect it, protect it. If you cannot protect it, destroy it all and turn this place into scorched earth. Leave nothing to the enemy.”
< br>Adisak smiled bitterly.
"I hope we won't get to this point yet."
As soon as he finished speaking, he heard a rapid knock on the door, and an officer then broke in.
"Sir, something happened! There are abnormal fluctuations in the subspace nodes! We detected the signal of the galaxy patrol fleet, but there is only one gunship, and it has been issuing danger warnings!"
A sense of despair suddenly filled the room. The atmosphere far exceeds the normal level of vigilance against danger.
The Governor even felt like screaming.
The thing I was most worried about still happened——
“Are you sure?”
Stryker stood up and asked:
"Sure! The signal fed back by the gunboat was only a short sentence."
"What?"
"The enemy Already arrived!”
Strike took a deep breath and forgot to glance at the Governor who was almost slumped in his chair.
"Calling all officers immediately, activating all defense facilities, opening the weapons depot, and distributing guns to all those who can move. I hope the Emperor can take time to bless us."
The emergency began just before the disaster star At the time of mobilization, a gunboat numbered 587 was sailing hard in the void, and its engine was extremely hot.
This is not a ship that can sail in subspace, and its engine core is not equipped with a large number of shields like those big ships. There is no navigator on it, and there are not many weapons. Fifty-two armed guards drawn from the Star Defense Force are on high alert.
It is armed with six small assault cannons and an ancient laser cannon placed under the bulge in the main cockpit.
Captain Valentine never had much confidence in the gun, as it had only been used twice in more than a decade.
(End of this chapter)