The entire Leray Federation was in a state of turmoil.
The standoff between the so-called Desic Empire’s exercise fleet and the 4th Fleet had shocked the entire human society. Every eye was on that barren and extremely dangerous Public Star System. In this powder keg, just a single spark could ignite a disaster.
The Fei Alliance responded swiftly. Within six hours of the incident, a conference call involving the heads of over a dozen medium to large countries had been convened. However, four hours of discussion later, not a single country could come up with a feasible solution!
Advancing was dangerous; retreating was impossible. Since the Narte Empire initiated a new round of the military race, the Western Alliance countries had been aggressive. Border conflicts were intensifying, and there were even reports that some Western Alliance countries planned to create an issue with at least three Fei Alliance member countries in the next six months, bringing long-standing unresolved territorial disputes back to the table.
The Leray Federation was merely an insignificant member among the various countries in the Fei Alliance.
But given the international situation, no one dared allow this small member to suffer in silence! The not-so-tight bonds among the Fei Alliance countries had to be firmly maintained at this moment!
Therefore, the Feiyang Republic, at the first moment of the standoff, had President Francis urgently summon the Desic Empire Ambassador to Feiyang. President Francis expressed serious concern over the standoff and hoped that the Desic Empire would take the bigger picture into consideration and not meddle in the conflict between the Gazalin Empire and the Leray Federation.
However, the Desic Ambassador, who had appeared courteous when presenting his credentials a few months earlier, was uncharacteristically tough and rude this time. He quickly interpreted President Francis’ words as a threat. He firmly stated that Desic had entered the Public Star System before the Leray Federation and produced a prepared, yet meaningless, document to assert that the exercise had been scheduled a year earlier. This was Desic’s business and did not require interference from others.
Thereafter, the Fei Alliance and the Western Alliance, the two major military blocs, argued vehemently at the Human Supreme Joint Council.
The Western Alliance threatened, and the Fei Alliance also threatened, with both sides’ stances becoming increasingly hardened.
At this point, the Feiyang Republic clearly could not let the Leray Federation be strangled. Even if President Hamilton of Leray wanted to retreat, it was not an option. With the tone of the meeting set, there was no way to reach a resolution.
The fleets were still in standoff, and Hamilton was exhausted by the relentless impeachment pressures from the opposition party that had gained significant momentum.
The fighting on the Lucerne front was at a fever pitch, with both sides committing their maximum forces. The Leray Federation Government couldn’t afford to back down at this critical juncture. National dignity and territorial integrity are something any sovereign nation would defend with their lives. The Leray Federation had lost and sacrificed too much for this war, and this debt could only be settled with the Gazalin Empire!
Moreover, the situation on the Lucerne front indicated that even if the Federation Army wanted to retreat, they couldn’t.
The Gazalin Empire, clearly supported by the Western Alliance, utilized its immense transport capabilities to air-drop sixteen divisions, cutting off the Federation Army’s retreat route. At this point, with what bargaining chips could they negotiate?
Protests organized by the opposition were radiating from the Capital Lutedit City to all cities of Leray. The President’s supporters had also organized and were fervently defending their stance, leading to several small-scale clashes between the protesting groups. The source of this content ɪs Novᴇ(l)Fɪre .ɴᴇt
After the President’s office announced temporary martial law based on the "Emergency Regulations for Wartime Handling," the unrest was temporarily suppressed. However, this action provoked further dissatisfaction among opposition party legislators, who increasingly called for the President to immediately end military operations, comply with the Human Parliament’s war mediation, and demanded explanations for the martial law.
Anyone in the position of Federation President would likely feel extremely uneasy. Hamilton faced the greatest crisis of his tenure.
After six hours of closed-door deliberations, Federation President Hamilton summoned Supreme Command Department General Mihailovich. The two partners, who had been closely collaborating since the war began, held a confidential meeting for less than twenty minutes, then appeared together at a press conference.
Hamilton’s decision was four words.
As reporters from various countries stared in shock, President Hamilton issued an urgent wartime presidential order:
All Federation Army units, immediately execute highest level combat readiness.
Issue a reservist mobilization order.
Second national general mobilization.
The newly formed 9th Fleet was dispatched to the Public Star System.
One after another, these bombshell announcements silenced all voices. At this moment, the entire human society fell silent.
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Russell watched Hamilton address the nation on television, knowing that this time, everything was at stake!
Before Hamilton’s address, Russell had already received news of the final decision. For this choice by the Federation President, Russell felt genuine admiration.
Hamilton was not a general; it had been over thirty years since his military service. Yet within him remained an unyielding spirit of the Leray people, a fearless defiance towards pressure and challenges. He did not opt for a safe compromise policy but instead carried the interests of the Leray Federation on his shoulders at the cost of his political career.