The Sacred Relic That Could Turn the Tide

As soon as Sui Meng's image faded, Earth in Dead Space fell into an almost complete "silence."

Holographic screens, space communications, small floating displays, projection booths on street corners—

It was as if an invisible hand had pressed mute on every information channel at once. People hesitantly raised their heads, as though awaiting a new judgment.

Astronomers briefly abandoned their telescopes, economists stopped analyzing their curves, and both military and civilian assessments descended into chaos. Fear spread like fog, swiftly seeping into the daily lives of every social class.

In Federation command centers across Earth, cold screens reflected the exhausted, tense faces of the generals.

The chiefs of staff of the EDF argued fiercely inside sealed conference rooms.

Should they launch an attack immediately?

Should they claim to accept the other side's terms in exchange for time?

Statistical data showed that the enemy fleet's scale and energy distribution were far beyond anything the Federation's existing forces could match.

If they rashly went to war, the Earth Defense Force would face incalculable casualties, while critical infrastructure also risked destruction.

But if they surrendered, the legitimacy of the Federation government and the very purpose of every military and intelligence agency would be wiped out in an instant.

"We cannot simply show weakness."

An elderly admiral said stiffly, "First stabilize the critical orbital front, cautiously probe their intentions, and prepare for war with everything we have. We must fight for strategic depth in outer space.

"Or rather, use war to open the situation first, then use the gains from war to secure greater benefits. Only after that will we have the best opportunity to consider whether to surrender."

His words were like an effective coolant injected into the room's simmering anxiety.

At the same time, the Church of Unitology's upper-level meeting had sunk