Even though Geshut had promptly used his Captain's authority to generate several temporary energy barriers in the command center,
they had no decisive effect against the four Mechanical Guardians' sudden charge.
In just a few minutes, Zairha was firmly subdued by the four Mechanical Guardians and brought before Geshut.
"Immediately issue the self-destruct order."
Geshut stared coldly at the disheveled Zairha and repeated his earlier command.
"Impossible!"
Forced to his knees before Geshut, Zairha still refused his order without hesitation.
Either way, he was going to die. Zairha wasn't a coward—why act like a rat in his final moments?
Geshut understood what Zairha was thinking, but for the moment, he truly had no way to deal with him.
He was the commander, yes, but Zairha was the captain of the Zagramalish.
As commander, Geshut could order the four Mechanical Guardians stationed aboard the Zagramalish to act.
That authority came from the hierarchy of permissions within the Mechanical God Cult.
But his position as commander could not let him bypass Zairha and issue a self-destruct order to the Zagramalish.
The hierarchy of permissions within the Mechanical God Cult meant nothing to Kindling Warships!
They belonged to entirely different systems of authority.
"You captains of Kindling Warships really aren't on the same side as the Cult.
When it matters, there isn't a trace of reverence for the 'Mechanical God' to be seen!
As the High Priest said, we should indeed strengthen our supervision of you!"
Geshut glared at Zairha and spoke through gritted teeth.
He had already noticed that while he was ordering the four Mechanical Guardians aboard the Zagramalish to subdue Zairha,
the captains of the other two Death Starships, the Spirit Realm Shepherd and the Starlight Chanter—Jenia and Balis—had both disappeared from the command center, keeping their distance from the