A few more days passed in the blink of an eye.
These days, it is unknown what has become of the dark, deep, damp and decaying abandoned deck of FC-N-01. Anyway, as the leader of the resistance, Ali is not only overloaded to participate in the battle but also
In addition to trying to protect their base, all they can do is to relocate the personnel in their base as much as possible, so that as many non-combatants as possible can leave the place that is becoming increasingly strange and terrifying.
Because both she and the dwindling number of resistance soldiers under her knew that their base might not be able to be defended.
Therefore, before the final moment arrives, personnel must be transferred as soon as possible!
But it is a pity that most of the people in their resistance, including the old, weak, women and children, have no identity. Some are the new generation born directly on the abandoned deck of FC-N-01. They have no status at all on the Vengeful Spirit.
There is no record. Even with the help of some officers in the imperial army who had infiltrated and instigated rebellion, how could such a large number of people be withdrawn in a short time?
So, after struggling for a few days, only less than 500 people were evacuated, and the rest could not be arranged. As a last resort, after some twists and turns, Ali, wearing the uniform of an imperial female officer, finally came to the Land of Revenge again.
The command deck of the Soul and met Loken.
If it were anyone else, Loken would definitely not waste time. After all, he is a member of the 'Council of Four Kings' and has a lot of official duties on weekdays. How can he have time to waste time with an unknown person?
However, he seemed to have extraordinary patience and tolerance for Ali, the leader of the resistance, so that while he smiled and gestured for Ali to take a seat, he did not forget to look at her in surprise and greet her with greetings.
“What a surprise!”
"but……"
"You don't seem to be in good condition, your spirit is very low, and you still have a lot of injuries on your body, but your strength seems to have become stronger..."
"What happened?"
Yes, it’s just asking for help!
Because Loken was really curious about the changes in Ali. After all, as far as he knew, the legion and the flagship had not taken any action on the lower deck recently, not even patrolling. Therefore, the scars on the woman in front of him and the
He couldn't figure out the smell of gunpowder smoke and blood that only lingered after a fierce battle.
"you……"
"You really don't know about the abandoned deck on the ground floor?"
Seeing that Loken in front of her asked her in turn, Ali stared at the other person in surprise and suspicion for a while, and after confirming that the other person seemed to be really unaware, she thought about it and had to tell them about their recent encounters and
What she learned about the situation was told on the lower deck.
That’s right!
This is Ali’s conspiracy!
She was already certain that she and her own resistance army would never be a match for those Chaos monsters and demons. Now she planned to destroy and disband the team and lurk, and then leave the problem to the Astartes in front of them.
She came here today just to ask Loken in front of her to send men to the abandoned deck on the bottom floor and take action against the demons and chaos monsters that were almost raging and occupying the place, so as to buy them more time to evacuate and retreat.
At that time, they can break up into pieces and hibernate on other FC-N bottom decks, and then wait until the problems of demons and chaos are solved by the Astartes, and wait until the bottom deck is abandoned and becomes safe again.
'After that, they can just go back and make a comeback. It's not difficult, it just takes a little time at most.
Unfortunately, it seems that what Ali lacks most at the moment is time?
"!!"
"demon!"
"Are you sure?"
Almost instantly, after listening to Ali's description, Loken was so shocked that he slapped the table and stood up with a look of shock. He was obviously shocked by the news.
"Don't tell me..."
"Don't you know?"
"There's so much commotion down there, fighting every day, the deck has been blown through, and many people have been arrested. Haven't you received the report?"
While Ali was sarcastic, her tired eyes couldn't help but be a little surprised.
Before coming here, she thought that the other party was deliberately indulging those demons to destroy and consume them. But the reason why she came here today was not only to test the other party, but also to persuade the other party and explain the powerful mission.
Because those demons and chaos monsters are indeed extraordinary. If the other party continues to turn a blind eye, they may end up playing with fire and burning themselves.
But no idea...
Now judging from the other party's expression and reaction, the truth of the matter seems to be somewhat different from what she imagined, and even more complicated?
"You don't have to guess!"
"I certainly didn't get any reports!"
Shaking his head, Loken said that he had recently been busy interpreting some of the strange behaviors of the original body and secretly observing them. At other times, he was busy with official duties. Where could he have time to care about the life and death of an abandoned deck and the bottom floor?
After all, those things really are not his business!
Moreover, he would definitely not tell Ali face to face: Anyway, you, the woman in front of me, can't fly out of the flagship of the Spirit of Vengeance, or out of the palm of his hand, so of course he is not in a hurry, he knows what the priorities are.
, and you were even prepared to wait for three to five years before talking about it?
But to think that something like this happened again now, which really caught him by surprise.
"As far as I know, the report of anomalies at the bottom level has been posted for almost a month!"
"And then it was rejected."
After staring at Loken for a while and confirming that he really didn't know anything, Ali thought about it and finally added what she knew.
Because their rebels had relatively more penetration into the lower-level Imperial Army, she naturally knew about the rejection of the report, but there was nothing the higher-ups could do.
For example, here on the command deck, the only person she has some interaction with and can talk to is Loken, who has an unclear attitude in front of her. He is neither an enemy nor a friend, nor a companion.
"!?"
"The submitted report can still be dismissed?"
"How could that happen?"
Loken was startled again, and then began to operate on a copywriting system on the table, seeming to be reviewing some documents and reports.
"!!"
"There's really no report..."
"It seems like it was deleted."
Soon, Loken found some clues and began to ponder.
At the same time, he was also a little surprised and frightened by the fact that the woman in front of him and her resistance forces had infiltrated into the Imperial Army.
Of course, it's just a little bit. There's not much to be afraid of.
After all, even if the opponent can infiltrate the entire imperial army on the ship into a sieve, so what?
Could she still be able to infiltrate the Astartes Space Marines of the XVI Legion?
Therefore, compared to the woman in front of him, he is now more concerned about the situation that the other party just reported.
He had seen those subspace demons, and even fought against them, and knew how terrifying those existences were. Therefore, after knowing that there were those things at the bottom of the Vengeful Spirit, and that some people deliberately concealed them, he was as sensitive as
He immediately realized the seriousness of the situation.
"Okay!"
"I know the situation you just mentioned. It is indeed of great help. We will investigate and deal with it as soon as possible."
"If you have nothing to do, just go back first!"
Thinking about it, Loken, who was confused for the time being, nodded, and then said that after accepting the favor, he signaled to Ali to go back. He naturally knew what to do next.
"Right!"
"Have you asked your people to be more honest lately?"
"Don't make it too difficult for me!"
"otherwise……"
"When our people go to investigate, I can't guarantee that they will sweep you away too?"
After saying this, after giving such a warning, Loken, who felt that he had done his best, slowly sat down and raised his hand to indicate that Ali could go back.
After all, the other party is the leader of the rebel army, and he uses a false identity every time he comes to look for him. If someone with intentions finds out and makes it public, Loken will more or less get into some unnecessary trouble.
"..."
However, Ali did not leave, but her expression was tangled, as if she had something to say, but she was hesitant in her heart?
"Huh?"
"What else do you want?"
"Say it!"
Upon seeing this, Loken raised his hand to indicate that if there was anything he wanted to say, he might as well finish it while he was still free.
"I……"
Finally, Ali, who slowly lowered her head in thought, pursed her lips. For the first time, she was a little confused and asked in front of Loken, who was definitely not a friend, but didn't seem to be an enemy.
Questions that have never been answered were asked:
"Tell me, was what I did wrong?"
"Am I useless?"
She had no other intentions, she just wanted to find someone to talk to.
Unfortunately, her status did not allow her to find those companions or subordinates, so the Loken in front of her, who was neither an enemy nor a friend, had a relatively high status, and definitely had more experience than herself, became the best choice.
"how?"
"So what's the problem?"
Frowning slightly, Loken was a little confused and seemed not to understand completely. At the same time, he was slightly interested and hurriedly motioned for Ali to continue.
Because, for so many years, this was the first time he saw the confused and hesitant expression on the face of the woman in front of him, which was very different from the high-spirited and religious female rebel leader he had seen in the past.
Therefore, thinking that it might be a breakthrough point, he naturally felt that he should listen carefully.
"I……"
"I just want to lead them to seek a happy life, just like the one I saw on Huagai Star..."
"But……"
"During this period of time, I have found that my ability seems unable to help them. All I bring to them is pain and death..."
"Many people have died, and some have never lived a day of the good life I promised them. I feel like I am a liar..."
"Isn't this ironic?"
"Was what I did a mistake in itself?"
This is Ali's question, and it is also a question she asks herself.
Thinking about the experience of the last uprising when almost the entire army was wiped out, and then thinking about the result of being defeated by the demons this time with heavy casualties and having to prepare to evacuate the bottom deck in a panic, Ali couldn't help but feel more and more confused.
Because she knew that their current strength would definitely not be able to defeat the empire, nor could they defeat those subspace demons. Therefore, during this period of time, she couldn't help but think about what the point of resisting like that was.
Sometimes she even thought that maybe, let those people, like her parents, live in ignorance like everyone else, live twenty or thirty years and then die free from pain, it seemed that
Pretty good too.
At least, they were originally ignorant, and they didn't even feel the oppression of the empire. It was she who forced her worldview onto them. Perhaps that was the cruelest thing to them?
"oh……"
"So that's it..."
Loken was startled for a moment, then quickly nodded to show that he probably understood what Ali meant.
"..."
However, he did not speak in a hurry, but sighed, then stood up and walked to the porthole to look at the stars outside. After a while, he slowly sighed and said:
"This is actually normal!"
"No peace can be bought without sacrifice."
"Indeed!"
"I myself sometimes have to admit that many of the laws and measures of the Empire and the Emperor are almost harsh and cruel to the point of inhumanity. They are indeed a bit too cruel for most of the lower classes. I don't wonder if you can respond to them all at once.
Let so many people support you."
"but……"
"As I just said, no peace or happiness can be obtained without sacrifice."
"In this world, the empire or humanity has to face too many enemies, including terrifying monsters in the subspace, countless alien aliens, the turbulent galaxy, terrifying ancient beings, and the broken and chaotic humanity that needs to be integrated.
The empire itself..."
"The countless colonial worlds controlled by tyrants, dictators and terrorist warlords..."
"So, sometimes I can understand the emperor's thinking. Only with an iron fist and fierce means can the entire empire be integrated in the shortest possible time. Then humanity can slowly adjust and have a chance to return to the glory of the Golden Age."
"At that time, maybe those of you at the bottom will have a chance to live a normal life, similar to that of the Huagai Star people you have seen, right?"
"But that's easier said than done?"
"Without the sacrifices of several generations, without draining the blood and sweat of several generations, how easy is it to integrate the entire galaxy?"
"Look at the Great Crusade, it's been two hundred years, right?"
"It's not over yet!"
"but……"
"Fortunately, the Great Crusade is almost over. Although people on Terra, on the Great Crusade Fleet, and on many planets that still maintain slavery are indeed living extremely hard lives, the Empire is also making other attempts."
"I heard that the Primarch Robert Guilliman and the star field they control manage quite well, even better than Terra?"
"So, if you have a chance, maybe you can go there and have a look?"
"Anyway!"
"From my standpoint, we did the right thing!"
"And from your standpoint, it seems that what you did is right. After all, everyone has the right to strive for their own happiness. No one is destined to be oppressed and suffer."
"But sometimes, judging right from wrong is a mistake in itself, so we might as well leave them to time."
"after all……"
"The truth of the world is like the vast universe outside, vast, complex and changeable."
"Our cognition is like observing the universe through different visions and together. The scene that everyone sees will naturally be different, and the emphasis will be different."
"This is the charm of cognitive differences, which prompts us to communicate, learn, make progress and jointly explore a path closer to the truth."
"Should we value these differences because they are a reflection of the diversity of human wisdom and civilization?"
Having said this, Loken paused for a moment, and then he felt a lot more relaxed. He suddenly turned around, stood by the porthole and looked at Ali with bright eyes and suggested:
"Since it seems like you can't stay at the bottom any longer, then let's do this!"
"I'll think of a way so that your people can evacuate there, let them have a new identity and become a crew member, without having to worry about being discovered, and then..."
"How about you come and be my assistant for a while?"
As he said this, Loken suddenly suggested this and waited for Ali's decision with a smile.
Although this was his impromptu idea, he really meant it sincerely. He also felt that given the current situation, it seemed that the woman in front of him was the safest if he stayed by his side?
Otherwise, if the other party is accidentally hacked to death by the Chaos Demon, then he may not have anywhere to cry!
"..."
But Ali didn't respond, just thinking thoughtfully about what the other party just said.
"Huh?"
"Sorry, please wait."
At this time, an instrument similar to an information transmission system on Loken's desk rang. Then he quickly reached out and pressed it to his ear, then walked to a corner and seemed to be talking to someone.
And there seemed to be some kind of soundproof force field there, so Ali couldn't overhear any sounds.
"..."
Upon seeing this, seeing that the other party was guarding against her, and then thinking that the previous conversation was over, and thinking that she had no reason to continue, and not wanting to accept the other party's proposal just now, Ali turned around without saying a word and got ready.
leave.
Because, at this moment, based on the performance and reaction of Loken just now, she had vaguely guessed something, and then, a bold and somewhat dangerous idea began to brew in her mind, so she was ready to go back and take care of herself.
Sort it out and see if there are any opportunities.
As for letting the other party recruit her own resistance army and let the other party control and monitor her and all her people, she would definitely not dare to let the other party completely hand over the initiative and the power of life and death to the other party's hands.
Wouldn't agree either.
So, she was ready to leave.
"Please wait!"
"Stop!"
At this moment, Loken suddenly ended the call in a hurry, then walked out of the soundproof field quickly and shouted to Ali, who had already walked to the door:
"Ally!"
"You don't have to go back!"
"From now on, just stay here!"
"I'll have someone take care of the follow-up procedures and documents for you."
Then, surprisingly, Loken said directly in a command-like and unquestionable tone.
"??"
Of course, Ali was puzzled by this.
Then, thinking that the other party wanted to harm her, she naturally stared at the other party with vigilance and vigilance, and at the same time, her hands subconsciously moved towards the location of the weapon hanging on her waist.
As a female officer, she still has some lightweight sidearms on her body, so if the other party wants to force him, she doesn't mind breaking out directly!
After all, she didn't dare to come here without any preparation. This time was different from the last time.
"That's right!"
Seeing Ali's vigilant look, Loken had no choice but to tell him the report he had just received:
"Just received the notification!"
"Due to the constant reports of battles and explosions on the deck of FC-N-01 and the rapid increase in the number of missing boatmen, Dral of Abaddon's Company was ordered to lead a team of elite raiders to teleport and raid your resistance base.
!”
"They think you did it!"
"Then, all the more than 1,300 people in your base died!"
"Your base no longer exists, and then..."
"They returned and claimed to have suppressed all the unrest and anomalies on the abandoned deck of FC-N-01?"
At this point, despite Ali's sudden shock and widened eyes, Loken himself couldn't help but frown.
Because the report said that Dral's team only destroyed the resistance base and claimed that the resistance base was the source of the unrest on the abandoned deck, but the report did not mention the demon at all?
And if he hadn't just learned the truth about the lower deck from Ali, and knew that the environment below the deck must have been very bad and some traces must be obvious, he might have believed it.
But now it's good. No one cares about the chaos and demons making trouble below. On the contrary, the resistance army, which has existed for decades and poses no threat, is suddenly raided by Abaddon's reapers and killed. Then the other party will also
All the problems and scapegoats were put on the heads of the rebels, so perfunctory and deliberate that even Loken could hardly stand it.
Anyway, he has realized that there seems to be a serious problem in their 16th Legion and their 63rd Great Expedition Fleet?
"!!"
"Ally?"
However, before Loken could figure out the key point, he suddenly saw that woman Ali rushing out with red eyes regardless?
"Hello--"
"Ally!"
"Stop!"
Loken was anxious and wanted to stop the other party.
However, when he rushed to the door, apart from the two Astartes guards who looked at each other in confusion and didn't know whether they should catch up or not, where else did he see the figure of the other party?
"fine!"
"Forget it, let her go!"
"Send her back!"
Then, after a moment's hesitation, Loken signaled to the two Astartes guards to follow him and take the woman back to the boatmen's deck on the bottom floor.
After all, there is a problem with the other party's identity. If someone stops him on the road, something might happen!
"yes!"
"As you command!"
The two Astartes did not hesitate, stood at attention and saluted, then obediently trotted to follow Ali in the direction she had just left.
"demon?"
"There's no way Abaddon's people can't discover it..."
"no!"
"I still have to send someone to check now..."
After pondering for a long time, Loken finally decided to find out the underlying situation first and see if it was the same as what Ali said.
If that were true, the situation would be serious.
——————————
Chapter completed!