Deportation

"Marshal, in this battle, we successfully annihilated every fleet belonging to the Shoigu-Gerasimov rebel military faction and retook control of the Starport. All eighty of the enemy's small sub-light warships were destroyed. Our fleet lost twenty small sub-light warships, the FTL Corvette Left and Right Protector Ship suffered severe damage, and the Galactic Throne sustained minor scratches to its hull."

Ning Zhiyuan finished his brief report on the battle.

"In other words, you now control all of the Empire's armed forces. Your hold on power is secure."

"Excellent." Xi Yan's insubstantial body, projected in real time, stood in the Starport. He nodded repeatedly, beaming.

"General Ning, you did an excellent job. But you're already at the very top, so there's nowhere left to promote you. I'll give your family on the Ring World the best possible treatment instead. Keep up the good work."

Xi Yan spoke with complete honesty.

Your career had already reached its peak, with no room for further advancement, but better treatment for your family made up for some of that.

"Thank you, Marshal." Ning Zhiyuan grinned like a fifty-something child.

After this battle, his position as supreme naval commander was firmly secured. Xi Yan clearly trusted him completely, so naturally, he would devote himself wholeheartedly to supporting Xi Yan.

Xi Yan's sincerity really left no room for worry.

Everyone appreciated a sincere attitude.

"And General Veronica, your fleet made an enormous contribution by covering the corvettes. I've decided to put you in charge of the entire Military Headquarters' logistics department. Would that be acceptable compensation?"

Although sacrificing Veronica's entire fleet had been unavoidable, Xi Yan still owed her compensation.

"I have no objections. Thank you for your appreciation, Marshal," the poised, formidable female general replied solemnly.

"Ah, and of course, General Prigozhin. Thank you for providing the artillery." Xi Yan's projection turned toward Prigozhin, and he joked, "The rebellion has been crushed. Now the Army will never have to go short of ammunition again."

Finally! Prigozhin was deeply moved.

No more chasing them down for ammunition!

Shoigu! Gerasimov! Can your spirits up there see this?

Xi Yan continued assigning duties. "Your Army really does have too many personnel. Once you return, begin an emergency training program and turn some of them into naval crew. Developing the navy is our priority now."

"Understood." Prigozhin nodded, looking somewhat glum.

After this battle, almost the entire Imperial Navy had been crippled. More than half its crew were gone, leaving it desperately short of personnel. Prigozhin's Army could be trained to fill those positions seamlessly.

"Don't worry. From now on, you'll oversee not just the Army, but personnel development and training for the entire Military Headquarters. Will that be enough?"

"Enough, more than enough!" Only then did Prigozhin break into a delighted smile.

"All noted." Beta was temporarily acting as secretary.

The old rascal Prigozhin had his own little schemes, but they were harmless enough. Beta saw them all.

Xi Yan was coming to appreciate just how useful Beta was. He had only just learned that Beta also set aside some of its time to assist research at the Ring World's Academy of Sciences.

According to Beta, its database contained no technical documentation, but its immense computing power could help Xi Yan's Academy of Sciences research new technologies.

Research speed increased by 20% on the spot.

So it was an AI with a Science Nexus sitting on its head!

Xi Yan nodded, and their projections drifted into the Starport.

After passing through the Airlock Chamber, they found the surviving rebel officers kneeling in a row, each holding a USB drive high in their hands.

The drives contained their confessions and financial records, all surrendered to Xi Yan in hopes of buying their lives.

"These are the ones?" Xi Yan asked flatly.

"Yes. After we destroyed all the enemy ships, these people in the Starport surrendered voluntarily. They hope you'll spare them," Ning Zhiyuan said.

"And what do you think?" Xi Yan asked him with a smile.

"I think General Prigozhin can begin training naval personnel now." Ning Zhiyuan expressed his opinion obliquely.

None of those present were particularly kindhearted, except for Xi Yan, the great philanthropist of the Sea of Stars.

The benevolent Marshal Xi Yan heaved a long sigh. "I've decided to spare them and deport them."

"Thank you, Marshal! Thank you for your mercy!" Overcome with gratitude, the kneeling rebel officers began banging their heads against the floor before Xi Yan. "We'll turn over a new leaf! We'll never defy you again!"

"Ah, Heaven cherishes all life. Deportation is the harshest punishment I can bring myself to give you." At the thought of his own good deed, Xi Yan's eyes grew moist.

"Marshal, you mustn't-huh?"

Ning Zhiyuan had been about to dissuade him when he realized something was wrong.

Deportation?

The Interstellar Human Military Junta had only this one colony in its entire empire. Where could they be deported to?

"I don't know. Just throw them out first. Let them choose where they're deported to," Xi Yan answered honestly.

He waved a hand lightly. Several soldiers in full spacesuits stepped out from behind his insubstantial projection, grabbed the rebel officers, who wore no spacesuits, and dragged them toward the Airlock Chamber.

This... this was what the Marshal meant by deportation?

The others gaped, while Xi Yan, the man responsible, shook his head and sighed, marveling at his own compassion.

Rather than executing them, he was merely expelling them from the Empire. That was the greatest mercy he could offer.

What a waste of such excellent bio-trophy material.

Xi Yan's projection continued farther inside. In a temporary command room deep within the Starport, he saw Alexei's corpse.

"He killed himself. Perhaps he couldn't bear a defeat like this, or perhaps he foresaw how things would end for him. Whatever the reason, he took out a pistol and aimed it at himself."

Beta's voice came from a distance, sounding like a voice-over narration.

"I was planning to hold a public trial to boost national unity." Xi Yan sighed again, then asked, "Anything else?"

"That's all for now. You can announce to the entire Empire that your era has arrived," Ning Zhiyuan said with a smile.

"Yes."

Feeling a little wistful, Xi Yan raised his head and gazed into the distance beyond the window.

"My era... Humanity will step onto the grand stage of the universe and vie for supremacy with alien civilizations like our own."

"We won't waste our lives in this tiny star system. The Interstellar Human Military Junta's expansion begins now."

"We will follow you, Marshal-forever," Veronica said firmly.

Just then, a bloated corpse floated past outside and struck the window with a dull thud. Xi Yan recognized it as one of the men who had just been "deported."

Its timing was impeccable, instantly ruining the atmosphere he had so carefully built.

"I'll head back first. Generals, do as you please. If you want to take advantage of the chaos to pocket a little something, I don't mind. Help yourselves." He waved a hand, looking somewhat impatient.

Everyone turned to look at Prigozhin. He cleared his throat. "Ahem. No need. I'm actually not interested in money."

Do you think I believe that?

In any case, Xi Yan had lost interest in the Starport, mainly because the wreckage drifting everywhere really was an eyesore. He ended his projection, removed his VR headset, and left the hastily assembled projection area.

For now, his armed forces needed time to recover. The three corvettes needed repairs, and the debris in the Starport's orbit needed a thorough cleanup.

Then he would have to spend a large amount of alloys to build large faster-than-light science ships and construction ships, preparing to begin interstellar expansion.

Busy. Busy was good.

Xi Yan suddenly noticed that it was January 1, 2200-the day a game of Stellaris began.

It was also the day he had reclaimed his power and become a true Marshal.

Was this destiny?

Xi Yan did not believe in destiny. His will was the Empire's destiny.