Adams's Fate

Solar System, Jupiter orbit.

Like Mars orbit, this place also had a vast cluster of starports.

Adams had ordered their construction after the First Asteroid Belt War. At its peak, more than 120,000 warships had been stationed here.

But now, the place was somewhat desolate. Of the 120,000 warships that had set out, only 48,000 had ultimately returned.

At that moment, Adams was in his room. He had already finished writing his report, in which he took all responsibility upon himself and begged the Emperor to execute him alone.

Although Adams knew that, given the Emperor's temperament, this was almost impossible, no matter how slim the chance was, he had to try, didn't he? After all, these subordinates had followed him loyally through decades of war!

After sending out the report, Adams slumped back in his chair as though all strength had left him, his eyes utterly vacant.

Three months later.

Mars orbit, temporary starport cluster of the First Fleet.

This starport cluster consisted of one large integrated starport from the former Mars Base, five medium-sized starports, and twenty small starports, with a total capacity of 8,500 warships.

Since all newly produced warships over the past three months had been used to replenish the Fourth Fleet's losses, Lin Fan's First Fleet still had only a little over 5,000 warships. For the time being, these starports were sufficient.

As for future starport requirements, construction was already being expedited. At the current pace, ten medium-sized and thirty small starports could be completed within three months at most.

It was worth mentioning that the 101st Fleet had now been reorganized by Lin Fan into the Guard Fleet of the First Fleet, with its establishment expanded to 1,000 warships. The remaining 4,000 warships had temporarily been organized into the First through Fourth Squadrons.

Moon, Interstellar Military Academy.

Today was the Academy's big annual day. Another class of cadets graduated today and was about to embark on their military careers.

However, in the dean's office, a certain young lady was throwing a fit!

"Dean, explain this to me! What exactly is going on?!"

Emma slapped her appointment notice onto Li Fulai's desk and shouted!

Li Fulai looked at Emma with an amused gaze and smiled.

"What do you mean, what's going on? Haven't you simply been assigned to the rebuilt First Fleet? And you've been made a staff officer right away. Others would kill for that, yet you're throwing a tantrum?"

"You clearly knew I wanted to go to the Fourth Fleet!"

"Fine, then I'll pull some strings and change your assignment to the Fourth Fleet!"

Sigh, before coming here, Emma had thought she would have to fight tooth and nail, and might very well fail to achieve anything at all!

What was this situation now? One sentence, and it was settled?

Emma was completely dumbfounded!

"Oh, right. Let me tell you something else. Three months ago, Lin Fan was promoted to lieutenant general for his enormous military achievements and appointed acting commander of the rebuilt First Fleet."

What? Emma's eyes instantly widened as she stared at Li Fulai in disbelief!

Are you sure you're not joking with me? Lin Fan was only twenty, and he was already a lieutenant general? And commander of the First Fleet?

Seeing Emma's disbelieving expression, Li Fulai felt his mood improve immensely.

"Mm, that's it, then. I'll go discuss it with the military headquarters and have you transferred to the Fourth Fleet!"

Smack!

As he spoke, Li Fulai reached for Emma's appointment letter, but someone suddenly burst out with superhuman speed and snatched it back.

"Dean, I have something to do, so I'll be leaving now. Nothing happened here today!"

With that, she dashed out of the office without pausing for even a second!

"Hahaha!"

Seeing this, the improper old dean burst into laughter as well!

Three days later, 40,000 Interstellar Military Academy graduates arrived at Mars Base.

They came from more than ten departments, including Fleet Command, Starship Piloting, Logistics Management, and Mech Piloting. Around 30,000 of them had been assigned to the First Fleet, since the Fourth Fleet had already received reinforcements and did not currently have a major manpower shortage.

At the No. 3 large starport in Mars orbit, where the First Fleet's temporary headquarters was located, more than 30,000 newly graduated cadets assigned here had already formed ranks inside the port and were waiting.

Not long afterward, a man and a woman stepped before the formation.

The man was handsome and tall, with the rank insignia of a lieutenant general on his shoulders. He exuded an authority wholly at odds with his youth as he stood at the front.

The woman was breathtakingly beautiful, with a voluptuous figure and a somewhat cold expression. She bore the rank insignia of a colonel on her shoulders, yet radiated an indescribably heroic air as she stood slightly behind the man.

Quite a few people below changed expression dramatically, because they had already recognized that this lieutenant general was none other than Lin Fan, who had graduated early last year.

Only one year after graduation, he had become a lieutenant general at the age of twenty and commanded a fleet. Was this a joke?

"Although most of you know me, let me introduce myself first! My name is Lin Fan. I am currently the acting commander of the First Fleet, as well as your direct highest-ranking superior for your future military careers!"

Fifty-one light-years from the Solar System, the Oakes Star System.

This was also the Capital Sphere of the Oakes Empire. It had one natural Life Planet, twelve terraformed Life Planets, and twenty-seven Resource Stars, making it the most prosperous star system within a hundred light-years.

Planet Oakes, Imperial Palace.

At that moment, Emperor Ramiro Oakes was staring at a report with bloodshot eyes.

Smack!

Ramiro slammed his palm down on the table, radiating terrifying killing intent that frightened the ministers into not daring even to breathe loudly!

"Send the order at once. Sentence every member of the Third Imperial Guard Legion to death!"

"Your Majesty, you must not!"

Seeing that Ramiro intended to execute the entire Third Imperial Guard Legion, Minister of Military Affairs Ross Oakes immediately tried to dissuade him anxiously.

In the entire audience hall, he was the only one who dared to speak up at such a time.

After all, he was Ramiro's uncle and the greatest contributor to Ramiro's ascension to the throne. He was, without question, the person Ramiro trusted most.

Executing an entire legion on a whim would destabilize military morale, especially during a major war with the Kabart Empire. It was an extremely unwise move—how could Ross not be anxious?

"Bastards! Because of their incompetence, Duolun died! And Adams has suffered defeat after defeat in the human home star system. The entire Third Imperial Guard Legion now has fewer than fifty thousand warships left! With such incompetence, what else can they do but die to atone for their crimes?"

"Your Majesty, they are still fifty thousand warships. If you insist on having them accompany the Ninth Prince in death, then let them serve one final purpose!"

"What do you mean, Uncle?"

"Have them attack the humans with all their strength until their last warship is destroyed. Tell Adams that if he takes the humans, only he will be executed. If he fails, then he can die on the battlefield!"

"If Adams takes the humans, we spare everyone else? Uncle, that is letting them off too easily!"

"Your Majesty, you are the Emperor. You must consider the greater situation. We are currently at war with the Kabart Empire, another long-established Level 3 Civilization. If you execute an entire legion at a time like this, it will inevitably destabilize military morale. It will do us no good at all!"

Listening to Ross, Ramiro calmed down slightly. He was merely hot-tempered, not foolish.

"Fine. We'll do as Uncle says. Send Adams the order!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!"