207: Cleaning

Under the transformation of the Faleim Civilization, the [Eye of the Abyss] star system, which once symbolized the iron-blooded glory of the Iofer Federation, was reduced to a massive bio-engineering laboratory in just a few months.

The engineering fleets of the Faleim Scientific Conglomerate set up gene clinics and neural fine-tuning centers in every corner of this star system.

Hundreds of millions of iofer prisoners of war and civilians were driven into these buildings filled with cold-toned lighting.

When they emerged again, the violence and wildness etched into their bones had vanished, leaving only docility and diligence.

They still possessed strong physiques and clever brains, and even retained weak psionic powers, but the concept known as "resistance" had been precisely excised from their genetic sequences.

Lei Wen watched all this indifferently, like a high-and-mighty deity.

This was the highest realm of civilizational purging—not the annihilation of the flesh, but the reshaping of the soul.

"The transformation progress is 12% faster than expected," Price reported. "The first batch of completely loyal iofer laborers has been deployed to the construction of new mining areas. Their work efficiency is 80% of that of robots of the same level, but their maintenance cost is only 10% of a robot's."

"Very good." Lei Wen nodded. "But the focus now isn't on these tamed sheep, but on those wolves at the front line who are still biting."

Although the core of the Iofer Federation had collapsed, hundreds of star systems along the long border between Orion and the Perseus Arm were still held by the iofer Border Guard Legions.

These armies were unaware of the changes in the capital; they remained a well-equipped and well-trained armed force.

This force could be perfectly utilized by the Faleim Civilization.

"Connect to Talon," Lei Wen ordered... On the Faraim Fleet flagship [Galaxy Weaver], Talon was standing before a massive holographic Star Map.

"the guide has given the order," Talon said to the communications staff officer beside him. "Initiate the Ghost Signal Plan."

"We want those iofer soldiers still holding the front line to believe their capital is still safe, that their Speaker is still watching them, and that reinforcements are arriving soon."

The communications staff officer's fingers flew across the console as a series of carefully forged signals crossed the war-torn sectors, precisely delivered to every command node of the iofer border defense line.

These signals used the highest-level encrypted codes exclusive to Speaker Barlena and even simulated her unique psionic wave characteristics.

[To the brave border defenders:]

[I am Speaker Barlena.]

[The Federation has suffered a despicable sneak attack, but we have not fallen! The capital is undergoing a secret strategic relocation, and the main fleet is gathering, preparing to deal a fatal blow to the invaders!]

[Your mission is to hold the defense line at all costs! Even if you fight to the last man, you must pin down the counterattack of the Angel people on the border!]

[Every hour you hold out is a massive contribution to the Federation! Reinforcements are on the way! Victory will ultimately be ours!]

This was a potent stimulant, enough to make those iofer armies hold out for quite a bit longer.

"Poor fellows, they will bleed their last drop of blood in hope, never knowing that the Federation they protect has long since become the dust of history."

"But this is exactly what we need."

"Let them become the hardest whetstone to grind down the rusted iron within the Angel Empire."

...Edge of Orion, Sector E-99, the [Bonecrusher] fortress planet.

This was a key node planet of the Iofer Federation facing the Perseus Arm. The planet's surface was densely covered with planetary defense cannons and missile silos, and a guard fleet, which, while not the main force, was still not to be underestimated, was stationed in orbit.

"The Speaker's order has arrived!"

The fortress commander, a one-eyed veteran of the Red Demon Clan, excitedly waved the data pad in his hand and roared at the officers in the command room who had originally been wavering.

"See that! The Federation hasn't abandoned us! The main fleet is gathering!"

"Those damned Angel birdmen thought we were finished? In their dreams!"

"Pass my order! All warships take flight! All batteries charge! Open the stimulant reserves and distribute them to every soldier!"

"We're going to make those birdmen bleed!"

The originally low morale was ignited in an instant, and a tragic yet fanatical emotion spread among the iofer soldiers. Since reinforcements were on the way, dying on the battlefield was a warrior's highest honor.

Meanwhile, at the other end of the star system, a fleet so massive it was somewhat bloated had just jumped out of warp and appeared within the sensor range of Bonecrusher.

That was the allied fleet of the Angel Empire.

At the center of the fleet was the [redemption], emitting an aura of divinity and destruction; it was like a proud empress, looking down indifferently at everything around it.

Surrounding the [redemption] was the Royal Elite Fleet directly under Amira Radiance, composed entirely of Faleim-tech upgraded warships, their silver-white hulls glistening in the starlight.

Aside from these elite forces, the rest was a ragtag army ten times larger.

These were the "Loyalist Forces" patched together from various sector governors, great nobles, and vassal civilizations.

A hodgepodge of warship models, chaotic liveries, and many civilian vessels temporarily fitted with weapons.

"Your Highness Amira, the iofer defenders ahead show no signs of retreating."

On the communication channel, a sector governor named Bolt spoke with a trace of impatience, "They... they seem intent on fighting to the bitter end."

"Fighting to the bitter end?"

Amira sat on the command throne of the redemption; her face was more mature than it had been five years ago, and also harder.

The tempering of time and the heavy pressure of power had caused her to shed the delicacy of a princess, replaced by the mask of an iron-blooded queen.

She glanced at Major General Trier beside her.

"It seems your intelligence was very accurate, or rather... forget it, it's nothing," Amira said meaningfully.

Trier merely shrugged slightly. "We just ensured that both sides of the battlefield maintain high morale, so the performance would be spectacular."

Amira turned her head, looking at the governors on the communication screen, each with a different expression.

These fellows had hoarded troops during the empire's crisis and been indecisive during the Holy See's rebellion, and only now, seeing an advantage to be gained, had they gathered like flies smelling blood.

They held the majority of the empire's military power; if she didn't wear them down, Amira would never truly be able to control this country.

"Since the enemy wants to fight to the death, we shall grant them their wish."

Amira's voice was cold as frost, spreading through the entire army via psionic amplification.

"Governor Bolt, your Third Fleet will serve as the vanguard, responsible for storming the fortress's frontal defense network."

"Duke Castilla, your private fleet will handle the left-flank envelopment, cutting off the enemy's supply lines."

"And you, the Kairu people legion from Centaurus, you are responsible for the landing operations. I want to see your flag planted at the top of that planet's administrative center."

As soon as the orders were issued, the communication channel erupted into chaos.

"Your Highness! This is unfair! The enemy's firepower is too intense. Sending my fleet to the front—isn't that just sending them to their deaths?" Governor Bolt shrieked.

"My fleet is only suited for escorting, not for assaults!" another noble wailed.

"How? Do you intend to disobey?"

Amira spoke sternly.

"Do not forget the contents of the [Sacred Vengeance Decree]; those who are cowardly in battle are enemies of the Empire."

"Furthermore," Amira's voice softened slightly, "the Iof People's fortress is piled high with wealth plundered over thousands of years. Whoever breaks in first keeps the spoils; the Imperial Family will not take a single cent."

The governors and warlords had no choice; they knew they had no way out.

If they didn't charge, they would be blasted to bits by the redemption right now; if they did, they might still have a chance at fortune.

"For the Empire! For the Emperor!"

Governor Bolt roared the slogan through gritted teeth; though his heart was bleeding, he still ordered his fleet to launch the charge.

The battle erupted instantly.

It was a meat-grinder battle of extreme brutality.

Inspired by the "Speaker's order," the iofer defenders displayed astonishing fighting will.

The warlord fleets charging at the front soon suffered devastating blows.

One by one, old warships had their shields shattered and armor torn under the fierce fire of the Iof People, turning into brilliant fireballs in space.

"Help! My flagship's shield is only at 30%! Requesting support! Requesting support from the Royal Fleet!" Governor Bolt cried out in the communication.

However, Amira and her direct fleet at the rear remained motionless.

"Hold your ground and continue the attack," Amira replied coldly. "The enemy's firepower is weakening; victory is in sight."

This was a lie.

The enemy's firepower had not weakened at all; on the contrary, it became even more intense because they were seeing red.

But under Amira's strict orders and the threat of that massive black ship's cannons, these warlord fleets had no choice but to stubbornly continue pouring into this bottomless pit.

Wave after wave of ragtag troops surged toward the Iof People's positions like a tide, using wreckage and corpses to deplete the enemy's ammunition and energy.

Watching those governor fleets, which usually gave her only lip service, be annihilated in the crossfire, Amira felt a sense of relief, though it was a pity for those innocent soldiers.

"The consumption ratio has reached expectations," Trier commented indifferently, looking at the data pad. "Governor Bolt's fleet has lost 60%, Duke Castilla has lost 45%, and the casualty rate for the vassal legion's landing troops exceeds 70%."

"These unstable factors are being purged."

Amira nodded.

"That's enough."

When she saw that the warlord fleets were on the verge of collapse and some were preparing to flee regardless of the consequences, Amira finally stood up.

"Central Direct Fleet, move out."

The direct fleet, which had been conserving its strength, finally moved.

The redemption's engines roared as it led a thousand well-equipped elite warships to cut into the exhausted iofer defense line.

"Focused Arc, fire!"

Deep blue arcs of electricity sliced through the void, precisely hitting Bonecrusher's planetary shield; the shield, already overloaded from the previous battle, collapsed instantly.

Immediately after, the Royal Fleet's phase lances fired in unison, picking off the iofer warships protecting the planet one by one.

"How is it possible... Where are the reinforcements? Where are the reinforcements the Speaker talked about?"

The iofer commander looked in despair at the invincible massive black ship; until the moment of his death, he was still waiting for support that would never arrive.

The battle ended.

The Bonecrusher guard fleet was completely annihilated, and the ground forces were also wiped out under the brutal orbital bombardment.

And the allied fleet of the Angel Empire had also paid a heavy Price—more than three thousand warships destroyed and millions of soldiers killed.

But the losses of Amira's direct fleet were negligible.

At the victory banquet after the war, the surviving governors and warlords were all pale, their eyes filled with deep fear and resentment as they looked at Amira.

This once-fragile princess had now become an iron-blooded monarch even colder than the Iof People.

Their power had been weakened to the extreme; they no longer had the qualifications to challenge the Imperial Family.

"You have all worked hard," Amira raised her wine glass, a perfect smile on her face. "This is a victory for the Empire, and it is your glory."

"To commend your bravery, I have decided to temporarily hand over the post-war management rights of this star sector to... the Royal Guard."

No one dared to object.

Because in that pitch-black space, the cannons of the redemption were coldly watching.

This was what Lei Wen had taught her—killing with a borrowed knife, and killing two birds with one stone.

Amira turned around and looked at the starry sky outside the window.

"Where is the next target?" she asked Trier.

"System E-102," Trier replied. "Another powerful iofer Border Legion is entrenched there, and there is also an Angel Grand Duke who is not very respectful to the Imperial Family and needs to prove his loyalty."

Amira nodded.

"Then let us set out."

The war continues, and the purging continues.

This path to unification and centralization is destined to be paved with bones, whether they belong to the enemy or "one's own."