In all his years as a soldier, Long Zhan had never felt his instincts for war fail him until now.
There was something strange about this order, something that could not be explained by any existing logic.
So he dialed the red top-secret line directly.
The phone rang only once before it was answered.
"This is Long Zhan."
"I know." From the other end came Second Chief's voice, slightly weary yet filled with immense power.
"Sir, I've received the order." Long Zhan's voice was steady as a mountain.
"It's just the designation 'Expeditionary Force'... I need a direction so I can prepare my soldiers as fully as possible."
The other end fell silent for a moment.
"Long Zhan, do you think the land beneath our feet is still secure?" Second Chief suddenly asked an unrelated question.
"Sir, dangers surround us, but everything is under control!"
"Under control?" Second Chief chuckled softly, his laughter carrying a trace of self-mockery and endless world-weariness.
"We're merely aboard a sinking ship, doing our best to slow the leaks."
Long Zhan's heart sank.
It was the first time he had heard such pessimism from this iron-willed leader.
"Now," Second Chief's voice suddenly rose, crashing into Long Zhan's ears like thunder,
"we've found... a new ship."
"A new ship that can carry our civilization out of this ocean of Doomsday!"
"And you, the First Expeditionary Army, are the vanguard that will secure our passage aboard!"
"I cannot tell you who the enemy is, nor can I tell you where the battlefield is."
"All I can tell you is that this battle is a once-in-a-thousand-years chance for our Great Xia... to survive!"
"Comrade Long Zhan, I'm placing our nation's hopes in your hands."
"Success is the only option. Failure is forbidden!"
"Yes, sir!"
Long Zhan hung up,