Chapter Ninety: The March on the Gekur Base

At this moment, inside the command chamber of the Coastal Base on Earth, Kaba Dur entered Yuri Gottner’s office and said:

“My Führer, I suggest we act at once and launch a surprise attack on the Gekur Base.”

Yuri Gottner was momentarily stunned and asked:

“Has the solar flare not yet ended? Are you certain this will work?”

Kaba Dur answered with firm conviction:

“Yes. I recommend immediate action.”

Yuri Gottner said:

“State your reasons.”

Kaba Dur explained:

“Here is the situation, my Führer. Although the solar flare has not ended, it has weakened considerably. According to the observatory, it will not intensify again before it is over. While its present strength still makes space travel dangerous, it is already safe to navigate within the atmosphere...”

After hearing this, Yuri Gottner said thoughtfully:

“I see...”

Kaba Dur continued:

“Yes. Acting now has several advantages. First, the Atlanteans who can hide beneath the sea have already done so, and those in space remain unable to move because of the flare and can only wait for rescue. This will draw their attention even more, so they will not be able to take advantage of our suppression of the internal unrest to strike us. Second, Goba Xiaofu will never imagine that we would attack now, which increases our chance of success. And there is also the matter of Dadu Kuer; he has come to his senses and has decided...”

Yuri Gottner asked, a little excited:

“What? You mean...”

Kaba Dur replied:

“Yes.”

Yuri Gottner said:

“Good. Have him come at once!”

“Yes!”

Kaba Dur then went to summon Dadu Kuer.

When Yuri Gottner saw Dadu Kuer, he greeted him warmly:

“Ah, my friend, I have awaited you as a parched land awaits sweet rain!”

After saluting, Dadu Kuer said:

“Long live the Führer. It was I who was muddled before; I failed to see the danger of internal strife.”

Yuri Gottner said:

“Enough, enough. All of that is past. From now on, let us look only to the future.”

Dadu Kuer said:

“Thank you, my Führer. I ask to contribute all I can to this campaign against the Gekur Base.”

Yuri Gottner said:

“Good. Then go prepare yourself. Once the expeditionary force is ready, I shall personally take command, and you will come with me!”

Dadu Kuer said:

“Yes, my Führer!!!”

Then Yuri Gottner turned to Kaba Dur and said:

“Dur, in a moment go organize the expeditionary force. After I and Chief of Staff Kuer set out, use that time to transfer everything from the Coastal Base that should be moved, in its entirety, to the Grassland Base. When the campaign is over, I will return directly to the Grassland Base. Understand?”

Kaba Dur replied:

“Yes, my Führer!!!”

Then Yuri Gottner addressed them both:

“Now go at once and carry out your respective tasks, and cooperate with one another. Understood?”

“Yes!!!”

After that, Kaba Dur and Dadu Kuer went off to do their work.

Once they had gone, the former Chief of Staff, Damor Jin, entered Yuri Gottner’s office. When the door closed, Damor Jin saluted and said:

“Long live the Führer!!!”

Hearing this, Yuri Gottner immediately said:

“Ah, my friend, please, sit down!”

After Damor Jin was seated, he said to Yuri Gottner:

“My Führer, the work of the General Staff has been fully prepared for handover.”

Yuri Gottner replied:

“Very good. You have done well. Next comes the campaign.”

Damor Jin said:

“To be frank, I fully understand the Führer’s intentions. I am now serving as Minister of Defense and concurrently as Deputy Chief of Staff, so I can keep a perfect watch over Dadu Kuer. The Führer may rest assured.”

Yuri Gottner said:

“Excellent. Do your present work well. Take this opportunity, while I lead Dadu Kuer on the campaign, to arrange everything for the future.”

Damor Jin immediately said:

“Yes, my Führer!”

After that, Damor Jin also went off to attend to his duties.

...

Some time later, Yuri Gottner and the others set out. At this moment, aboard the space warship departing from the Coastal Base, Yuri Gottner was delivering a campaign speech to the entire Olmei Empire through the Terrorian media. The main substance of what he said was roughly this:

Fellow citizens, it is with deep sorrow that I announce this campaign to you. For the purpose of this expedition is one that pains the heart: to attack our own countrymen.

I know that hearing this news will shock you all, but please allow me to explain. Commander Goba Xiaofu has betrayed our great Olmei Empire. For the sake of his own selfish ambition, he established a terrorist rebel base, the Gekur Base. Yes, many of you may never have heard of this base before, and of course, I learned of it only recently myself.

That base was built entirely by Goba Xiaofu behind the nation’s back. When I discovered it, I was deeply shocked. The base is manufacturing a doomsday weapon, and once it is completed, if Goba Xiaofu should ever find himself in a disadvantageous position in any situation, or whenever he chooses to activate it, he will unleash it and plunge this world into nuclear winter. You would all perish in that nuclear winter.

In the end, all life on the surface would likely be exterminated, and the Atlanteans beneath the sea would reap the benefits and ultimately rule this world. That is why we are forced to strike with a heavy hand.

Finally, I hope all fellow citizens will actively cooperate with our operation. If any of your family members are working for Goba Xiaofu at the Gekur Base, please tell them that all accomplices will be spared; we punish only the chief culprits.

We shall act with leniency of heart. If anyone distinguishes themselves in the capture of Goba Xiaofu, there will be substantial rewards. May this campaign be crowned with success, and may Heaven protect us all. Thank you.

...

At that very moment, in the main control room of the lunar base beneath the Tycho crater, Zhang Desen had finally completed the full integration of this ancient superhuman base. From this point on, the base would be entirely under his control.

Having completed the comprehensive integration, Zhang Desen let out a breath and said:

“Wonderful. At last it is finished.”

Li Longfang was also overjoyed and said:

“Congratulations, young master. Congratulations. You have acquired a true treasure vault.”

Zhang Desen said in response:

“You go too far again, but you are right. This truly is a vast treasure vault.”

Li Longfang asked:

“So, Desen, how do you plan to handle this base?”

Zhang Desen replied:

“Simple. The size of this base, along with the greenhouse farming systems and other equipment, gives it tremendous self-sufficiency. It may even be enough to support the founding of a kingdom.”

Li Longfang asked:

“Then what about us...”

Zhang Desen said:

“Let us not think too far ahead. What we must do now is make full use of everything here and rapidly rearm humanity. The urgent priority is to stand against the Terrorians and the Atlanteans beneath the sea.”

Li Longfang said:

“Yes. Humanity will never remain silent. The technological advantage of the Terrorians and the Atlanteans is bound to vanish.”

Zhang Desen said:

“Right. Relearning will still take time, so for now we must act as quickly as possible. If we are to rearm, action cannot wait.”

Li Longfang said:

“True. But Desen, this base cannot be moved. What should we do?”

Zhang Desen said:

“There is no need to move it. In the future, when we have the chance, our people will probably be stationed here as well.”

“That would be wonderful.”

Suddenly, the communicator rang; a call had come in. Zhang Desen and Li Longfang immediately turned on the speaker and microphone, and Zhao Chengming’s voice came through:

“Brother Desen, Brother Longfang, our fleet has seen the enormous ancient creatures from the Terrorian mountain-range base appear on the shore. They have all come out.”

Zhang Desen and Li Longfang were startled and hurriedly asked for details.

Soon Zhao Chengming explained everything in full.

It turned out that after Zhao Chengming’s merchant fleet left Dali, the primitive Terrorian forces that had conquered the city pursued them desperately along the shore. Because the retreat had been so hasty, there were many other vessels on the river besides the Liu family’s fleet.

The congestion and confusion slowed the evacuation, and they could not shake off the enemy pursuing them from the shore. Then, suddenly, the ancient creatures from the Terrorian Olmei Empire’s mountain-range base caught up with the primitive Terrorians on land and began fighting them, preventing the pursuit.

However, some amphibious ancient creatures, or ones capable of flight, tried to leap onto the ships and attack the people aboard, making the situation even more chaotic.

After hearing all this, Zhang Desen thought for a moment, then said to Zhao Chengming:

“Brother Chengming, do this: organize everyone properly. If necessary, open fire directly on targets along the shore. And remember, the communicator you are using must never fall into the hands of outsiders. Do you understand?”

Zhao Chengming replied:

“Understood. But Brother Desen, when you return, can you really find us and rendezvous with us directly?”

Zhang Desen said:

“Don’t worry. Have you forgotten that I came by spaceship? My ship does not have to land at the original spot. As long as there is a position fix, I can fly to your location and land directly on the ship, or even fly straight back to West Capital and land there. Do you understand?”

Zhao Chengming said:

“Oh, I understand!”

Zhang Desen said:

“Then carry it out.”

“Yes!”

After that, Zhang Desen and Li Longfang shut off the communicator and fell into thought.

After pondering for a while, Zhang Desen suddenly thought of something and scolded himself inwardly for making too much of a fuss. He said:

“It’s fine. Why overthink it?”

Li Longfang blinked and asked:

“Desen, have you thought of a solution?”

Zhang Desen said:

“Yes. In a moment I can anonymously post a message on the Terrorians’ network saying that there are still Terrorians in the Mountain Base who have not evacuated, and that the ancient creatures inside are now threatening their lives. The prehistoric Terrorians should not be able to ignore that.”

Li Longfang said:

“Exactly. Let the Terrorians deal with their own trouble.”

Zhang Desen then powered up the computer and, to his surprise, discovered that the Terrorian satellite had actually resumed functioning. He could not help saying, with some disbelief:

“Incredible. Although the intensity of the solar flare has decreased, part of that satellite’s electronic equipment has actually started working again.”

Li Longfang said:

“Desen, stop thinking so much. This is convenient for us, after all!”

“You’re right.”

With that, Zhang Desen began entering the prepared message little by little into the Terrorians’ global network. At the same time, he noticed an unexpected piece of news and immediately called out to Li Longfang:

“Longfang, come here!”

Li Longfang asked:

“What is it, Desen?”

As he spoke, Li Longfang, who had been busy at the side, came over at once.

Zhang Desen pointed at the computer screen and said:

“Look, the Terrorians have begun suppressing the rebellion.”

Li Longfang took one look and said:

“Good. The Terrorians’ problems should be left to the Terrorians themselves. I’d really like to go see how they fight over at the Gekur Base.”