In reality, what had happened in New Chang'an was merely a minor incident that no one cared about. Unless something unexpected happened, it would probably be buried in the shadows of history.
The official history of the Galactic Civilization would surely record it this way: the wartime head of state who had resisted the Galactic Empire's invasion with all his might, the president of the Blue Star Commonwealth, stood firm like an ancient pine before the fires engulfing the city, despite the rebels' guns trained on him, and called on all the people of Earth to resist to the end.
The scene was transmitted across the universe by the filming drones of major media outlets and through psionic waves.
At least a hundred billion people witnessed that moment, one worthy of going down in history, and they became witnesses to history themselves.
Those hundred billion people would also witness Keith Nihita's name being carved into history's Hall of Heroes.
Because the Pilgrim was drawing closer and closer to the Great Freedom City, Yu Lian was fortunate enough to enjoy a period of stable psionic-wave communications. That also made him one of those hundred billion people.
The broadcast from the Nefi Star Network eventually froze on the flames engulfing the Presidential Palace, then switched to the Nefi studio. Everyone aboard the Pilgrim, of course, had no interest in listening to the so-called current-affairs experts spout nonsense, and they all turned their attention elsewhere. The communications petty officer thoughtfully muted the video as well.
And so, the bridge sank once more into a mournful silence.
Commander Yu must be the most heartbroken of all, right? Everyone couldn't help thinking so.
Everyone present knew that President Nihita had more than once publicly proclaimed the "great friendship" between himself and Commander Yu—the sort of