Chapter 32 The Great Change in Mindset

'Alright General Danny, please follow the Gunship forward and I'll see you at Star Fortress." General Walter said. 'I'll see you at Star Fortress." General Danny said as the other interrupted the communication. 'Report, received a navigational communication request from the Free Federation Gunship Cavalry." The navigational officer on the Dragon Rider said. 'Put it through, just follow the directions." As soon as General Danny's words left his mouth, he saw a small silver-white ship quickly emerge from this end of the star bridge. That streamlined silver hull reflected the majestic sea of stars against the dark background of space, as well as the Dragon Cavalry ship that was about to sail into the star bridge, and in a flash it cut through the sea of stars and disappeared. General Danny exclaimed, 'What a pretty little ship, it's almost like a drop of mercury." Following the guidance of the Gun Cavalier, the Imperial Dragon Cavalier starfighter landed in the middle of Starport 9 at Andre Star Fortress. The force field of the berth held the steel behemoth firmly in place, and then a dinghy flew out of one of the tiny openings in the behemoth and landed in front of the Federation honor guard that had come to greet it. General Danny was the first to step off the gangway, his steps slow and steady. When he stepped on the red carpet, the honor guards on both sides of the red carpet began to play the national anthem of the Empire and the anthem of the Free Federation with a loud 'Salute". General Walter, who had been waiting for a long time, greeted them, shaking hands with each other before they turned to the press with the stereotypical smiles of old friends. Both sides were eager to get this temporary respite, so the peace talks were particularly smooth, so smooth that one would think that those complicated and trivial ceremonial rituals had become the main purpose of this meeting. As the talks came to an end, the press got what they wanted and left in droves, giving both sides a chance to talk off topic. Admiral Danny said, 'Admiral Walter, I would like to get those captured Imperial officers and men back aboard the ship quickly, so we can set sail for home soon." 'Why do you need to do that old General? Since you're here then stay for a few more days before you leave, at least be sure to invite all the officers of the ship to tonight's banquet so we can toast to this hard-won peace," said General Walter. General Danny didn't pay attention to the sarcasm in Walter's words and said: 'I was stationed at the Star Fortress for six years before, so I'm tired of this place. On the contrary, His Majesty the Emperor has said that I can go back sooner rather than later, and I have to return to the Virmir Star Area to continue my cruising mission." 'As you wish then." After Walter finished speaking, he gestured and the adjutant on one side walked out quickly. 'I'll return to the ship then, we'll set sail once all the Imperial officers have returned, and I'll ask General Walter to send someone to navigate for us again." With that said, General Danny extended his hand over. Walter also reached over and the two hands were shaken together, Walter said, 'No need to be polite, navigating is a landlord's favor that we should do." Danny remained oblivious to General Walter's cryptic words and was escorted out of the conference room and back to the ship. In one of the corridors on the Andrei Star Fortress, a hatch opened and the people inside came out in a line, this was an area dedicated to Imperial officers and soldiers captured in the Battle of the Star Fortress. 'It's finally time to go home." Jan said. 'Hmm." Alphonse said indifferently, after fifteen days of submerged thinking, he looked like a different person. All the captured Imperial officers and soldiers walked forward in rows of two, and it wasn't long before they saw the spacious mooring area of Starport 9. A dark starship in the berth with an imperial paint job on it made them finally let go of their hearts, and as the line moved forward, they accepted a series of checks such as identity verification in groups of two and then stepped back onto the imperial warship. ' Jan, if planning to do something dangerous, will you do it with me." Alphonse coldly and quietly asked Jan. 'Dangerous?" Jan was stunned by the question and said. 'No matter what I do, will you act as my adjutant?" Alphonse asked in a different way. Jan released after hearing this, 'I will, this attack on Andrei has reinforced this idea, you are an excellent officer with thought and judgment." Hearing Jan's reply, Alphonse extended his hand over and said, 'Then you are my first ally! Come friend." Although Jan didn't know what Alphonse was planning, he felt that with Alphonse's judgment and decisiveness, it was worth following, and with that, he extended his hand over to hold Alphonse's hand. After completing the complicated and lengthy various checks, the acceptance of these officers and soldiers was finally completed. Alphonse and Jan were separated in the same cabin, Alphonse, seeing that the inspection matters were all completed, closed the hatch after greeting that officer and soldier, he went to Jan's side and said to him in a low voice, 'I intend to wait for an appropriate time to stage a coup." Jan was dumbfounded for a moment, then jumped up nervously and went to the door, opened a crack and looked around, seeing that the corridor was empty he closed the hatch again and sat back down opposite Alphonse. Alphonse said reassuringly, 'You needn't worry, not now." Jan interrupted and asked, 'Why? You weren't like this before, were you brainwashed by the Free Federation, no, were you brainwashed by your brother?" 'No, no, he didn't tell me anything." Alphonse said as he waved his hand. 'Then why? What's with the sudden one hundred and eighty degree turnaround?" Jan asked in disbelief. Alphonse said, 'I've been thinking about it for the past half a month, and the result is that the Star River Empire is no longer able to return to the past, and its system has caused it to be unable to repair its flaws, and it's already on the verge of dying." 'How so? Half a month ago on the Tilapia you were shouting long live the Empire and leading us towards extinction." Jan blankly glanced at Alphonse and continued, 'What exactly did you think of that made your mindset change so drastically." Alphonse took out a star map and opened it up, and the bright Milky Way appeared in front of the two of them. He said, 'This is the Xian Ying constellation spiral arm, the area beyond the star bridge occupies eighty percent of the entire spiral arm, and these areas have been basically under the full control of the Free Federation." He said changing direction. Continuing, he said, 'This is the Sagittarius spiral arm, there are about a dozen rebel forces present on the entire spiral arm, this is the Orion spiral arm, there are also a dozen rebel forces on it, and this is the Momentus arm, this is the most, there are more than twenty rebel forces." 'The empire now has about two thousand starships, distributed in these fifty or so rebellious regions, large and small, the daily consumption of those starships, the consumption of the officers and soldiers is eating into the empire's national strength all the time. Once the empire can't support it, the era of galactic chaos will come soon. Now in front of the empire there are only two paths, either to increase the intensity of repression, continue to consume the national strength, soon the empire will not be able to sustain, when the empire is difficult to sustain, those who resisted the forces will be independent. Either launch a reform, from the internal change itself, the empire will inevitably produce intense internal turmoil, will certainly be the troops back to maintain the stability of their own system, so that the galactic periphery of those resistance forces will also be independent. Therefore, no matter what the empire plans to do, a situation where the group is divided will gradually take shape." 'So your plan is..." asked Jan, narrowing his eyes. 'My plan is to find an opportunity to grab a piece of territory first while everyone is still busy dealing with the Empire." Alphonse slowly stated his intentions. Jan nodded, shook his head again, and asked, 'But where will our fleet come from?" 'That's why I said that to stage a coup at the right time, I must get hold of a fleet as soon as possible in order to do so." Alphonse continued, 'In this way, find a place to develop and grow in order to establish a second empire." Jan thoroughly understood Alphonse's thoughts as he said, 'It's a good idea! Your vision is truly far-sighted, and I truly admire the tactics of you geniuses." 'Will the former Captain of the Tilapia, Alphonse, and Chief of Staff, Jan, please report to the Captain's cabin." An announcement startled Jan into swallowing back the words on his lips as he asked Alphonse, 'It won't be overheard, will it?" Alphonse waved his hand, signaling Jan to relax a bit, and said, 'It's the guard that comes if you hear it, it won't be an announcement." Alphonse and Jan stood in front of the door to the Captain's hatch and saluted, calling out, 'Master Captain, Captain Alphonse of the Tilapia with Chief of Staff Jan reporting for duty." An invitation to come in came from that open hatch, and the pair stepped into the hatch, closing it behind them. 'Warriors of the Empire, have a seat and make yourselves at home." General Danny said, and Halbo, who was seated next to him, nodded his head in greeting at the duo. Once the two were seated, Halbo opened his mouth to Alphonse and said, 'Messages came back through the relay on the Tilapia, before the battle for Andrei Starfort was fought. You had repeatedly reminded the Star Fort command staff to beware of the mutations in the direction of Menil's Star orbit, and even applied for the formation of a roving squad to supplement the detection of dead zones."