170: A gluttonous feast

In the Golden Buddha Federation, the smoke of Golden Buddha City had not yet dissipated when the transport fleets of the four megacorporations landed on the plaza in front of the Presidential Palace. Nadia stepped down the gangplank in military boots, followed by fully armed security forces.

"Clean this place up," she commanded her aide, surveying the ruined Presidential Palace. "I want to see a new government building rise within three days."

The aide quickly recorded the instruction: "The reconstruction plan for the Presidential Palace is ready, designed in the style of Qilu Corporation headquarters."

Nadia nodded in satisfaction and walked towards the makeshift command center. Holographic projections displayed a list of the nation's main assets: gold reserves, rare metal inventory, energy facilities... each item marked with astonishing figures.

"A good haul," said Meredith of Militech, walking in with a data pad in her hand. "Their manufacturing industry is even more complete than we expected. Once integrated, the Freedom Fleet's production capacity can double."

Nadia's lips curled into a cold smile: "Tell the technical department to prioritize analyzing the technology shared with them by the Eastern Federation. With this data, we will quickly narrow the technological gap with the Eastern Federation."

Usmanov rushed in, an undisguised excitement on his face: "You'll never guess what we found in the central bank's underground vault!"

The projection switched, displaying a massive underground warehouse. Mountains of gold bars gleamed under the lights, but even more striking were the hundreds of huge metal boxes neatly stacked in the corner.

"High-concentration tritium, deuterium, and helium-3!" Usmanov exclaimed. "Enough to power our Freedom Fortress space station for a hundred years! The Golden Buddha Federation has secretly stockpiled a lot of good stuff from the Eastern Federation over the years."

Meredith's eyes also lit up: "It seems our 'partners' had a trick up their sleeve long ago."

Nadia's gaze turned dangerous: "Find all the officials responsible for energy affairs. I need to know what else they've hidden."

Meanwhile, amidst the ruins of a desert palace on the Ancient Continent, New Era's Engineer teams were setting up a temporary base. Donna stood in the command tent, reviewing the intelligence she had just received.

"The Golden Buddha Federation is under control," her aide reported. "Resistance from the Black Continent Alliance has also largely subsided. According to statistics, we have received various assets worth approximately one hundred trillion credit points."

Donna nodded impassively: "What about personnel losses?"

"About eighty thousand dead in the Emerald Ocean, thirty thousand on the Ancient Continent, and the Black Continent Alliance... still being tallied." The aide hesitated. "Most of them were civilians."

Donna's fingers trembled slightly, but she quickly regained her composure: "Notify the medical department to prioritize treating technical personnel and scientists. Especially those who participated in Eastern Federation cooperation projects."

After the aide left, Donna walked out of the tent alone. The desert night wind carried the scent of blood across her face. In the distance, New Era's emblem slowly lit up on the newly built communication tower, casting shadows over the ruins.

"Is it worth it...?" she whispered to herself, but quickly shook her head, casting aside the weak thought.

Her communicator suddenly rang; it was Nadia's encrypted channel: "Donna, how's the progress?"

"According to plan," Donna quickly switched back to her professional demeanor. "The Ancient Continent's resources are 20% more than anticipated. I've already arranged for personnel to start screening loyal local officials."

Nadia's holographic image showed a satisfied smile: "Very good. Three days from now, a 'Starsea Community Special Meeting' will be held in Sky Palace City, and we need you to attend in person."

"Me?" Donna frowned. "Why not you?"

"I have some matters to handle," a hint of cunning flashed in Nadia's eyes. "And... your connections with the Eastern Federation are 'cleaner.' Remember, the key to this meeting is to embed our people in Sky Palace City."

After the communication ended, Donna pondered for a long time. She quietly activated the miniature communicator hidden in her ring: "nightingale calling albatross, respond if you receive."

After a brief silence, a familiar voice replied: "This is albatross. nightingale, are you alright?"

"Safe for now," Donna whispered. "They plan to hold a Starsea Community Special Meeting in Sky Palace City in three days, with the goal of embedding personnel in Sky Palace City."

"Understood. Maintain communication silence and stay safe."

Donna turned off the communicator and took a deep breath. She knew she was walking a dangerous tightrope. But to atone, to make amends for her part in this massacre, she had no other choice.

Four days later, in the Central Assembly Hall of Sky Ladder Base, the Starsea Community "Special Meeting" was held as scheduled. Though called a meeting, those present were actually representatives of the puppet governments supported by the four megacorporations.

Donna, as the representative of New Era, sat in the main seat, surveying the venue. The eyes of these so-called "national representatives" were filled with fear and flattery, devoid of any dignity befitting envoys of sovereign nations.

"Ladies and gentlemen," she began directly, "first, congratulations on overthrowing your dictatorial governments and becoming representatives of new democratic governments. To ensure the stability of the Starsea Community, we need to dispatch a group of personnel to Sky Palace City."

She brought up a list: "These positions include energy management, traffic control, life support system maintenance, and so on. Each country can recommend fifty technical personnel."

The new "Foreign Minister" of the Red River Continent immediately stood up: "We fully support this proposal! We have already prepared a list of one hundred people..."

Donna coldly interrupted him: "Fifty people. That is the upper limit."

The hall fell silent. Everyone understood that this was not a request, but an order.

The meeting proceeded with surprising smoothness. In less than two hours, a list of two thousand "technical personnel" was finalized. Donna knew that at least half of these people were loyalists and agents of the four megacorporations.

After the meeting, Donna remained alone in the empty assembly hall. She looked out the window, where once stood humanity's only home, now a place the four megacorporations desperately wanted to escape.

"Ms. Donna?" a voice came from behind.

She turned and saw the Chairman of the Sky Palace City Management Committee standing at the door. The Eastern Federation official had an inscrutable smile on his face.

"Mr. Chairman," Donna quickly adjusted her expression. "Is there something I can help you with?"

"Just to inform you," the Chairman's tone was unusually calm, "your submitted personnel list has been approved. They can begin preparing for work at any time."

Donna was stunned: "It's that simple? No background checks? Professional skills tests?"

The Chairman shrugged: "Matters of the Starsea Community are decided by the Starsea Community Assembly. The Eastern Federation is one of its members and will naturally respect the common choices of all nations."

He nodded slightly and turned to leave, leaving Donna standing alone in the empty assembly hall, a strange unease rising in her heart.

Reconstruction work in Golden Buddha City was in full swing. Nadia, on the top floor of the newly completed Qilu Corporation building, overlooked the busy engineering machinery in the city.

The glass curtain wall reflected his stern face, a stark contrast to the bustling scene outside the window.

"The first batch of personnel is ready." Meredith walked into the office, handing him a data pad. "They are all elites rigorously screened, with clean backgrounds, and their connection to us will not be easily discovered."

Nadia took the data pad, quickly scanning the list: "Medical teams, Engineers, system maintenance... Very good, very comprehensive." He looked up at Meredith. "Any reaction from the Eastern Federation?"

"Surprisingly calm." Meredith frowned. "The Sky Palace City Management Committee even proactively provided fast-track work visas, and the approval process was unusually smooth."

Nadia's fingers tapped lightly on the desk: "Too smooth... Have the technical department re-examine the background information of these people to ensure there are no flaws."

Meanwhile, deep in the desert of the Ancient Continent, in New Era's underground training base, Donna was addressing the last batch of "technical personnel" about to head to Sky Palace City.

"Remember your identities," her gaze swept over the fifty men and women in white uniforms before her. "You are life support system experts dispatched by the Black Continent Alliance, with no affiliation to any corporation."

A young woman raised her hand: "Supervisor, if the Eastern Federation asks for technical details..."

"Standard answers have been implanted in your memory chips," Donna interrupted her. "If you encounter any questions outside the preset scope, immediately activate emergency protocols."

Three days later, the Sky Palace City Central Medical Center welcomed a new batch of "medical personnel." The leader of the Emerald Ocean Alliance shook hands with the Eastern Federation's medical supervisor with a beaming smile.

"Thank you very much for your cooperation," he said enthusiastically. "We have brought the most advanced tissue repair technology and hope to contribute to Sky Palace City's medical endeavors."

The medical supervisor smiled and nodded: "The efficiency and unity of the Starsea Community are gratifying. Your office area is ready, and you can start working at any time."

In the energy management zone, the Ancient Continent's "Engineers" were familiarizing themselves with the reactor control system. The person in charge, Gul Khan, meticulously examined the operation manuals left by the Eastern Federation's technical personnel, his brow furrowing deeper and deeper.

"This isn't right..." he whispered to his deputy. "The system architecture is more than three times more complex than we expected, but the permissions they've given are surprisingly high."

The deputy nodded: "It's like... they deliberately want us to see these."

Gul Khan immediately made a shushing gesture: "Don't talk nonsense. Continue as planned; let's figure out the system architecture first."

Similar scenes played out across Sky Palace City. The "technical personnel" meticulously selected by the four megacorporations infiltrated various key departments of the orbital city as silently as water seeping into a sponge.

In the top-floor office of the Sky Palace City Management Center, Sun Hu, the Eastern Federation's administrative head, was speaking with Zhang Mingyuan of Guanghan City via an encrypted channel.

"The first batch has been settled," Sun Hu reported. "As planned, they have been given enough room to maneuver."

Zhang Mingyuan's voice came from the communicator: "Hmm, you've worked hard; acting isn't easy. Remember, what we want is for them to come in; don't stop them."

"Understood."

After hanging up, Sun Hu walked to the window, gazing at the magnificent orbital city below. On the surface, everything was normal, but undercurrents had already begun to surge.

Meanwhile, in the new Presidential Palace, Nadia was listening to a report on the situation in Sky Palace City.

"The Eastern Federation offered no resistance," the intelligence officer said in confusion. "They even proactively provided Sky Palace City's operation manuals and system permissions."

Nadia frowned: "What about Interstellar Peace Corporation? Any reaction?"

"Zero reaction. All their facilities are operating normally, but there's no sign of any personnel intervention."

Meredith stroked her chin: "This isn't normal. They can't possibly give up Sky Palace City so easily."

Usmanov suddenly burst out laughing: "I get it! They're trapped by moral blackmail! Think about it, Sky Palace City is nominally 'a gift to all humanity.' If we enter legally through the Starsea Community, what reason do they have to stop us?"

A flash of understanding appeared in Nadia's eyes: "So they can only watch as we take over step by step... Brilliant!"

He immediately ordered: "Accelerate personnel deployment. Focus on controlling Sky Palace City's energy systems and communication hubs. Also, send people to contact the technical personnel still left by the Eastern Federation and other corporations, and see if we can buy some of them over."