44: Chapter 44 Refusal to Serve

Hearing that it was business, Advisor Cole immediately opened his laptop, his fingers hovering over the keyboard: "Go ahead."

"Chen Mu told me tonight that due to the breakdown in negotiations, the hardliners within their fleet have gained the upper hand."

"He doesn't really have much say within the fleet anymore, so many decisions, including today's Twitter post, were made directly by the Commander. He is just responsible for relaying them."

Advisor Cole's fingers began to tap on the keyboard at a rapid pace.

Maya continued: "He also said that he might be recalled to the home planet by the Emperor later to face trial, possibly on charges like 'diplomatic failure'."

"Also, regarding the 'Deterrence Plan' he mentioned on Twitter, he said he doesn't know the specific details either. The Commander's plan is currently just 'showing strength' and hasn't revealed any more detailed steps."

Advisor Cole typed this in as well, adding a question mark and an 'Uncertain Source' tag after 'Deterrence Plan'.

Maya paused for a moment, seemingly recalling some details.

"There is one more thing, I don't know if it counts as intelligence, but while we were chatting casually during his meal, he mentioned that their fleet and soldiers also need energy and material supplies."

"However, their logistics are currently very abundant, so there is no issue of supply shortages."

Advisor Cole sent this information over, then looked up at Maya.

"This information is extremely useful. In the current situation, any information about the true state of the Guga Planet fleet, even a casual remark he made, is worth more than gold. You've done well."

After hearing this, Maya stood up, ready to leave.

Advisor Cole called out to her: "By the way, Maya, one more thing."

"What is it?"

"Starting tomorrow, you may need to moonlight as a cook and cleaner."

Maya's expression froze: "What do you mean?"

Advisor Cole spread his hands: "The United Nations' resident chef team all took leave this afternoon. The catering contractor sent an email at noon saying their employees 'for personal reasons' cannot continue to provide services to the area where Chen Mu is located."

"The cleaning team used the same excuse. I had HR negotiate a raise, tripling the hourly rate, but still no one took the job. There was a dishwasher named Juan who replied privately, and his phrasing was very blunt."

"What did he say?"

"He said he didn't want his own house to be burned down as well."

Advisor Cole continued: "So now, no one in the entire building is willing to go near Chen Mu's room."

"Including delivering food, cleaning, changing bed sheets... everyone has refused."

"Even the lady who delivers towels said she would rather use her pension to fight a lawsuit than take this job. You are the only exception because your apartment has already been burned."

This logic sounded completely absurd, but coming from Advisor Cole, it carried a certain cold rationality.

Maya stared at him for three seconds, seemingly checking if he was making an inappropriate joke.

"You mean, because I lost my house, I can continue to serve him food?"

Advisor Cole said: "It sounds inhumane, but it is the truth. Moreover, Chen Mu's attitude toward you is clearly different from how he treats others; you are the only one who can chat with him casually."

Maya was silent for a few seconds. Then she took a deep breath: "I understand."

She pushed the food cart toward the door. The wheels rolled over the carpet with a sound like some kind of low-pitched protest.

Advisor Cole added one more thing as she opened the door: "The Treasury Department will add a job allowance for you, counting this as a hazardous position, calculated according to war zone standards."

Maya did not look back. She pushed the food cart out, and the door closed gently behind her. The only sound left in the hallway was the wheels rolling over the carpet, fading into the distance.

Advisor Cole waited until the footsteps had completely disappeared before opening an encrypted communication software on his desktop.

Ten seconds later, an encrypted link was successfully established.

The screen lit up, and on the other side was President Trump. He was leaning back in his signature golden armchair, his tie hanging loosely around his neck, holding a cola in his hand.

"Cole, what intelligence do you have?"

Subsequently, Cole reported Maya's three pieces of intelligence to President Trump truthfully, and after hearing them, President Trump immediately summoned his think tank.

Inside the conference room, President Trump sat at the head of the conference table, with a glass of iced cola and a printed intelligence summary spread out in front of him.

"Everyone has seen the intelligence, now let's start the discussion!"

President Trump turned to the left side of the conference table: "Professor Bloom, what is your take?"

Professor Bloom took off his reading glasses and pointed at the intelligence summary on the table with the temple of his glasses: "If this intelligence is true, then I believe the internal political structure of the Guga Planet fleet is undergoing a clear power transition."

"Judging from Chen Mu's past words and actions, it can be inferred that he at least once belonged to a faction that advocated 'Observation First'."

"The core philosophy of this faction is to establish control through diplomatic means and exchange minimal military cost for Blue Star's obedience, which is completely consistent with the three proposals put forward by Chen Mu."

"And now, with the United Nations voting unanimously against it, global protests erupting, and human resistance escalating, the observation route has gone politically bankrupt."

Professor Bloom spread his hands on the table: "In any power structure, once a faction's diplomatic line fails, the opposing faction will take the opportunity to seize power."

"The hardliners represented by the Commander must have been waiting for this opportunity for a long time. Chen Mu's failure is their opportunity."

"So, is this a coup?" President Trump asked.

"Not a coup in the traditional sense, but in terms of power structure, it is. Chen Mu has now been sidelined; the words he is using now are 'my influence is rapidly waning,' and this phrasing itself is very telling."

"In a closed power system, losing influence means losing everything."

President Trump picked up his cola and took a sip: "And then? What does this mean for us? If he can't get decision-making power, then the one coming to negotiate with us in seven days won't be him?"

"This is exactly the value of the second and third pieces of intelligence I want to analyze."

Professor Bloom said: "Before giving specific recommendations, I need to confirm a premise first. Do those present agree with the following judgment: Chen Mu is the only Guga Planet representative we have contacted so far who is willing to talk, and the only individual who has shown a 'negotiable' stance."

Everyone nodded.

"Then, if he is completely replaced, if the one standing in front of us in seven days is a purely hardline representative, such as that Commander, then we will be facing a completely different opponent."

"This opponent does not need our consent, does not care about our attitude; the only thing he needs is our obedience."

"Therefore, we must ensure that in seven days, no matter what kind of deterrence action the other party takes, we cannot surrender."

President Trump's eyebrows furrowed: "Not surrender? If we don't surrender and the other party really takes action, what should we do?"

"Regarding that folk saying about 'attacking halfway across,' I believe everyone here is a reasonable person; if a real fight breaks out, Blue Star absolutely has no chance of winning."