226: I will save it from your failure.

"Buzz— Buzz— Buzz—"

At this moment, within the fleet floating in planetary orbit, the piercing alarm had long since been silenced, replaced by a long, continuous "buzzing" sound—

That was the indicator tone for orbital landing.

The fleet's orbital strike system had already eliminated all ground-based defense facilities on the planet that could reach them,

and the first wave of landing personnel had already been launched to the planet in drop pods under the cover of orbital strikes.

"General! News from the ground forces! The area around the Tower of Mourners is completely under our control!"

"The ground combat units protecting the Traitors are retreating toward the Hall of Valor and the Holy Grand Hall; our forces have begun pursuit!"

On the Bridge of the "Unyielding Will," a staff officer ran up to Lagrange and reported loudly,

Lagrange looked at him, nodded slightly, and asked:

"What about our operational objectives? Have we secured control?"

The staff officer took out a report, handed it to Lagrange, and replied:

"Currently, ninety percent of the Military Alliance's high-ranking officials have fallen under our control, including Commander-in-Chief Cassius!"

"Among the core leadership, only Secretary-General Randall is still missing; all others have been captured!"

"Good—" Lagrange raised his hand and pushed the report aside,

"In that case, we can land as well."

After saying that, he adjusted the peaked cap on his head and walked out of the Bridge.

The staff officer beside him frowned, stepped forward, looked at Lagrange, and asked:

"General, is this perhaps inappropriate?"

"Is our action a bit too hasty?"

"Then what do you think we should do?" Lagrange glanced sideways at him,

"Bring those people up here?"

The staff officer nodded,

"Yes, General. I believe that would be safer."

"For the sake of your safety—"

"What dogshit safety?" Lagrange interrupted him directly. "Below us is the Tower of Mourners,"

"Could it be that I don't even dare go down to face the souls of those martyrs?"

"Rest assured, our troops have already landed there. I also know what you want to say,"

"But this is not just my personal decision; it is also a political signal to the outside world—that I, Lagrange Koradilon, dare to question those loathsome Traitors in front of the souls in the Tower of Mourners."

"After all, when ignorance becomes the mainstream, we must use ignorant methods to make those ignorant people more obedient."

Listening to Lagrange's words, the staff officer finally lowered his head,

"My apologies, I was being shallow."

"Then... please, you must wear a suit of heavy powered armor."

"Don't worry, that's common sense."

...The fleet of The 16th Expeditionary Legion was left on standby in near-planet orbit, with a significant portion partitioned off to construct a simple defensive line—

According to the intelligence they had received, the 4th Defense Legion was rushing to the scene with reinforcements.

"Whoosh whoosh whoosh—"

"Boom!!!"

Precisely at this time, a black drop pod descended from the sky and slammed heavily onto the open ground in front of the Tower of Mourners.

Two squads of Marines who had been waiting here immediately rushed forward, standing in two rows before the slowly opening door.

Under the sunlight, the matte shells of the black-painted Military Alliance standard-issue powered armor cast clear and soft shadows, adding a touch of sacredness to the solemn scene.

"Thud, thud, thud..."

Soon, heavy footsteps rang out, and a suit of heavy powered armor, its shell adorned with gold threads and hung with countless pendants, slowly walked out of the drop pod, followed by six well-equipped Marines—

That's right, that flashy thing was a piece of powered armor Lagrange "collected."

Just as the great nobles of the Middle Ages would collect a large number of luxurious armors in their manors even if they didn't go to the battlefield,

Lagrange also had this hobby.

The suit he was wearing now was a relic from the Second Empire period of the fourth era—

A "Hate-Burner R-9000" type defensive heavy powered armor, a rare item that even during the Empire period would only be equipped by those at the rank of Centurion or above.

He turned on the powered armor's communication system and ordered:

"Take me to see... that old Commander."

"Yes! General!"

..."Hum—Thud! Thud!"

In the first-floor hall of the Tower of Mourners, the doors were slowly pushed open, and Lagrange walked in, surrounded by a squad of guards.

And the first thing that caught his eye was that Commander-in-Chief who had lived for over a thousand years,

Cassius Solarian.

Lagrange glanced at him; indeed, just as he had said before, this fellow no longer looked like a living person—

Extremely emaciated, even starting to rot, grayish-white skin, sunken eye sockets, and countless tubes with a metallic luster were plugged into almost his entire body.

Only those firm and steady eyes still stared back at Lagrange through the visor of the powered armor, radiating an invisible pressure.

"Commander Solarian—we meet again."

Lagrange walked over silently, stopping only a step away from his enemy.

"I remember when I was a child, you could still walk,"

"Back then, your iron-blooded style and thunderous methods deeply fascinated me—"

"I remember everything from the past clearly."

"So much so that you have always been my idol."

Cassius's lips moved imperceptibly, but he did not speak.

Lagrange continued, just like two old friends reminiscing.

"In the blink of an eye, several centuries have passed, and I have grown into a general capable of standing on my own, yet you have become like this."

"Has aging dulled your edge? Has time taken away your faith?"

"To the point where you have gradually stopped caring about the front lines of the war against the xenos and instead turned your attention to a human civil war?"

As he spoke, he let out a heavy sigh, took off his helmet, and held it in his arms.

Their gazes collided in mid-air, like an old eagle and a young falcon.

"Regardless—you have taken the wrong path."

"You must admit, although you are still alive, your heart has already lost to time, lost to a false peace, and lost to those... interests that normally wouldn't move us at all."

"Humanity is now in dire straits, to the point where we don't even know if we still have a chance for a renaissance,"

"But you aren't even willing to fight for it anymore..."

"No..."

Cassius finally spoke, his voice dry and raspy, like the sound of dead trees rubbing their branches together in an ancient forest.

But Lagrange interrupted him, his voice becoming impassioned—

"No—there's no need to argue with me! No need to deny me!"

"The duty of the Military Alliance has only ever been to fight for survival time and space for humanity!"

"If you don't want to fight for that sliver of ethereal chance, then let me do it!!!"

"The Military Alliance is the last wall between humanity and extinction!"

"And I—will save it from your failing hands!"

...