Chapter 6

= place: SDF staff on Shanxi =

"All troops are ordered to retreat to the last line of defense." - General Williams ordered.

"If we withdraw now, 2,000 of our soldiers will be circled." - said the staff officer.

"Let them withdraw through the sewers. If they fail, they should surrender or go bunk into the building. Staying alive is paramount. The 2nd fleet will come to the rescue tomorrow, then they will be released. A few days in captivity is better than dying." - Williams said.

"General. What if we don't hold on." - said the adjutant - "The enemy troops have an advantage of at least 3 to 1, even if we include volunteers. There were reports of a guy firing a crossbow at turians. We are so desperate."

"And our vehicles are scrap metal." - the General interrupted him - "I know. We cannot afford any counterattack and our forces won't be sustained. Our air support doesn't exist. The only parts of the city fortified enough to hope to survive the next day are the last line of defense. That's why we have to withdraw there."

"But-" - began the aide as General Williams slammed his fist on the table.

"I know it's leaving our own at the mercy of aliens!" - General Williams will shout - "I know they can be taken to their space. I know the risk. They can even shoot them on the spot! But we have to take a chance, hope that there are at least enough decent aliens in this fleet that our people will be treated decently."

"Well. General. Orders will be sent to all divisions soon." - said the adjutant and left.

= place: Base of the Systems Alliance 2nd Fleet =

"Hello, this is Diana Allers from Alliance News Network. We send 2 fleets from the base. Lieutenant General Olaf Craig, also known as 'Craig the Red' of the 4th Armored Division, is with me." - Diana said.

"Welcome" - Craig replied.

"General, people across the Systems Alliance want to know why a state of emergency has been declared, the army, navy and marines are on alert, a fleet of over 160 ships is gathered over the planet, and there is no contact with Shanxi."

"It is all due to one factor. A fleet of over 100 alien warships has attacked and is besieging Shanxi at this point. A force here is mobilized to regain Shanxi, and the entire Systems Alliance is mobilizing all fleets for total war."

"... w-w-w-WHAT?!"

"I was supposed to keep it a secret so as not to panic. But considering that our antediluvian ships, which were outranged 10-1, outgunned 10-1, outnumbered 3-1, and still managed to damage at least half of the attacker's fleet, I think we took too many ships. We will massacre their fleet in2 minutes, and during the day we will seize their base from which they attacked us."

"It's reassuring. But why then gather such a large fleet when, as you said, you can do it without support."

"The command wants to be 100% sure that we will not only retake Shanxi but also launch an offensive on hostile territory. Additionally, they want to test new toys."

"And what are these toys?"

"The biggest ship the Systems Alliance has ever built - the SSV Einstein with an escort fleet. And the SDF fleets have a new ship from the first category."

"I thought they had abandoned research on ships of the first category?"

"Actually, the Fleet Command did it. But SDF doesn't. After all, this is the only ship category they can build. But after this war, it will change."

"How do you know? Has the government taken any steps in this matter?"

"No. But it is obvious that after something like this they will increase the armaments quotas, allow more construction and allow at least some second category ships to enter service with the SDF."

"General!" - a soldier ran up quickly, saluting, and then giving orders.

After reading, General Craig said to the reporter - "Congratulations to Mrs. Allers. You've just been appointed war correspondent. You'll get a free SSV Einstein tour. Of course, you can refuse."

"Yee ... B-b-but."

"It has already been agreed with your bosses. You will go down in history as the first human-alien correspondent of the first war with aliens. How do you feel about it?"

"I don't know whether to jump for joy or tremble with terror. But I'll do it!"

"Congratulations on your courage. Take this lady to Einstein." - Craig said pointing at the soldier.
"Yes, sir!" - said the soldier.

"Two last questions!" - Diana said quickly.

"Please ask them." - Olaf said.

"What is this new SDF vessel?"

"You'll see in battle. This is supposed to be a surprise."

"Okay. When the retake action of Shanxi begins."

"We were just about to leave. We'll be there in 24 hours plus time to collect the last soldiers."

"Thank you for your honest answer. From this side was Diana Allers-"

"And Lieutenant General Olaf Craig."

= place Fujian layout - former pirate base =

In the interrogation room, Kirrahe and Gaivius Malcus, the captain of one of the destroyed turian frigates, waited for the arrival of the Turian men to interrogate them.

"So instead of summoning an asari, a council, or even any diplomat, you started shooting?" - Kirrahe asked.

"That was the order." - Gaivius said.

"You turians shoot first, then ask. What a foolishness!" - Kirrahe said.

"At least we know what loyalty and enforcement are."

"You have attacked an unknown race and now they think we have declared war on them."

"Like I don't know what we've done, don't talk to me about reality. Besides, I thought STG's specialty was espionage, not getting caught."

Then the door opened and 3 people came out. Base commander and two marines.
"I trust the gentlemen have prepared themselves." - Jonathan said. - "Because I have good news for you. You're moving tomorrow."

"Where?" - Kirrahe asked.

"On our battleship Everest." - Jonathan said.

"And how do we get there. After all, one way is the way to our base and the other way to our fleet." - Gaivius said.

"Tomorrow, this fleet is left with only a few survivors, if anything is left to them." - said Jonathan calmly - "And as you are relatively important people, you will go to a more luxurious prison and get an almost private audience with Admiral Kastanie Drescher."

"So what?" - Kirrahe asked.

"The Salarians will be released into the Citadel with our ambassador, and the turians will be exchanged for our captives. Simple and effective." - Jonathan said.

"You won't defeat the Hierarchy anyway. We are the greatest military power in the galaxy!" - Gaivius said proudly.

"A galaxy you know." - Jonathan said. - "I won't mention the universe. Maybe somewhere, far in the stars, there is someone for whom your power is a small group of primitives. Maybe there is someone out there for whom your battleships are small frigates. Maybe we are that someone. We have your Codex and we know a lot about you. How to make your shields useless. How to destroy your worlds with one nuclear missile and then rebuild it in a week. The number of your fleets, your battleships, the location of your worlds, we know all about you. And you know where is one of our colony, founded a year ago, defended by outdated ships from several decades ago. These ships must be older than Mr. Kirrahe."

"I'm 16 years old. It may not seem like enough for you, but for salarians it is already halfway through life." - Kirrahe said.

"You think the Citadel Council won't stand up for us!" - Gaivius shouted, hitting the table with their hands.

"You attacked us without justification, indeed, your leaders didn't even know it. They will sooner accuse your General of treason than the council will support you." - said Jonatha, then stood up and said after opening the door - "If you wanted to defeat us, you'd have to drown us in your own blood. Surely it is a possibility if the whole Council supports you, but your people will rebel sooner than they do." - then he left with before the marines.

"You think he was telling the truth?" - Gaivius asked.

"STGs have been trained to question people and find out when they are telling the truth." - Kirrahe said - "This… man, he really thinks so. And he is right. Thanks to Codex, they know almost everything about us. Ending the war with them must be our priority. I just hope that this war will not destroy the relationship between the Council and the Systems Alliance. Technological exchange can bring tremendous benefits to everyone. Also, given that their ships have minimal amounts of element zero, we must stay ahead of them in this area. It is possible that they will agree to trade even if they don't join the council, or they will negotiate their membership. But they are unlikely to go to a full war."

"I hope so because I've already heard people gossiping about forced labor camps for prisoners of war." - the worried turian captain said.

= place: Macedon =

"Hello, Asernia Jannini from Citadel Network News. I am currently on the Macedonian planet where the 27th Turian fleet is based. I'm here to interview the people of the planet about the absence of this fleet." - Asernia said, then went a bit with the camera to the random turian.

"Excuse me, Asernia Jannini of Citadel Network News. Could you please introduce yourself and tell us where the absent 27th fleet flew?"

"I am Aemicia Ignatius. Apparently, some pirates set up a base behind a relay. General Arterius became furious and launched an attack on this base."

"Isn't it sometimes overkill to send an entire fleet?"

"Possible. But I trust the judgment of the General. He probably wants to show all the pirates that he has no mercy for one of them not to come up with a similar idea in the future."

"There are rumors that there is a garden world behind the relay. How do you comment on that?"

"If so, it will probably end up in the hands of the Hierarchy. For our service to the end of galactic peace, we are rightfully entitled to it. Besides, there is no other race nearby that could take it over."

"What about batarians? Won't be it a diplomatic problem?"

"Maybe, but I don't think that's a problem. We finally have to rid him of pirates."

"Thank you for your comment."

After a while, she asked Volus for an opinion.

"Excuse me, Asernia Jannini of Citadel Network News. Could you please introduce yourself and tell us what you think about the current situation?"

"I'm Irit Gan * gasp *, I run a nearby gun shop. * gasp * If what they say is true * gasp * then * gasp * hope this is an ammonia-based world. * gasp * Then, almost certainly * gasp * will be given to the Volus."

"Is sending the entire fleet a good idea?"

"Depending on the scale of the threat. * gasp * This can be a good move or a bad move. * gasp * Mobilization costs a lot of money. * gasp * This seems like a big exaggeration to me. * gasp * Unless there is something * gasp * that they don't tell us."

"You claim, that General Arterius may have withheld information about this system."

"Don't hide. * gasp * But there may be some valuable resource in this system. * gasp * And the Hierarchy wants to take it for themselves. * gasp * That would explain sending that many troops."

"Thank you for your comment."

Moments later, she met another turian.

"Excuse me, Asernia Jannini of Citadel Network News. Could you please introduce yourself and tell me what you think about sending the entire fleet?"

"I am Maxilus Lupidos. I believe that the General did the right thing by sending the entire fleet. There will be no pirates right under our noses."

"And the rumors about the new world?"

"A new world in exchange for defeating a gang of pirates is a good trade. It's close to us anyway, so it should as well hit us. If it weren't for us, the Hegemony would have got it."

"Thank you for your comment." - Asernia said, then turned to the cameraman. - "As you can see, opinions are divided as to whether sending an entire fleet is an exaggeration, but taking over the new world is very optimistic by the citizens of the Hierarchy and Vol Protectorate. We will monitor the situation on Macedyna until the pirate problem behind the relay is resolved. Asernia Jannini from Citadel Network News was speaking."


euderion/art/SSV-Einstein-Systems-Alliance-Carrier-873342749 – SSV Einstein

wiki/Olaf_Craig – Olaf Craig(He is from Trials of the Cold Steel, but he is so badass character, that I must add him to this story.)