Chapter 2: Escape (2/2)

”We have been played by the Zergs. We should have corrected the lack of defense on Norton a long time ago.”

”Councilor Sarl, I'd like to remind you that, not long ago, you vetoed the bill to reinforce Norton due to its astronomical cost.”

”This is not the time for arguing about what has already been done.”

”We should have known better, the Zergs do not stand a chance in the solar system, so the Centaurus Galaxy was the obvious target.”

”Councilor Chiera, it was you who ratified the reinforcements to the Andromeda Galaxy instead of the Centaurus Galaxy.”

Compared to the wild and empty Norton, the three densely populated and highly developed planets in the Andromeda Galaxy naturally deserved more attention and protection. Fighting against the Zergs was not an easy task as their hives were not only able to thrive in space, but they could also travel at hyper-speed. They had effectively made the dead, cold space their cozy home. It was almost impossible for humans to wipe them out entirely.

To be fair, the defenses on Norton should were sufficient; however, it couldn’t survive from the swarm of Zergs.

Councilors fell into a chaotic argument. Arguing was human politicians' favorite method of showing off their power. However, the Kaedeian representatives sat quietly among the sizzling Earthlings, calm and somber as they always were.

Ever since their defeat four hundred years ago, Kaedeians had made a pact with Earthlings which made them obey any human's orders, as long as it did not impede with their own survival. Kaedeians and Earthlings had been reliable allies ever since the time of General Li Feng.

Kaedeians had been the first human race at large to wear METAL suits in battle with the Zergs, thanks to their natural ability to utilize EMF. Many Kaedeians had died in the thirty-year great war against the Zergs, and they had paid in blood and tears to gain the trust and friendship of the Earthlings.

Over the next hundreds of years, Kaedeians had settled on Mars and the three inhabitable planets in the Andromeda Galaxy and developed a formidable military force. When humans were caught in a conflict with another space race, they were always the first to come to Earth's aid, in honor of their pact made with the great General Li Feng. In contrast, they almost always remained neutral and silent when the conflict came from within the Earthlings themselves.

”Order, Order! I'd like to remind everyone that our agenda today is to decide on reinforcements for the Centaurus Galaxy and to rescue our brothers and sisters as soon as possible. Now it is the time to vote.” Arlington, Leader of the Council, announced after he struck the gavel on the desk.

”I vote yes,” all of the Earth representatives raised their hands.

”I vote yes,” the same came from the Ivantians from the Moon.

”I vote yes,” Kaedeians’ votes were always the same as the Earthlings’.

The final decision of the council was to send the eighth company of the human space marines, and the third corps of the Kaedeians’ force to Norton to eliminate the invading bugs.

Inhabitants of all planets hailed the decision of the high council. The war with the bugs was becoming a hot topic.

Meanwhile, survivors on Norton still needed to wait patiently for the arrival of reinforcements - implementing military orders always took a while. The Confederation cranked up the number of patrol fleets to ensure the security of other planets. Invasion on the desolated Norton was one thing, but the Zergs on any other inhabited planet was completely different.

Over the years of conflict with humans, the Zergs had evolved not only their bodies but also their brains. They had learned to be smart and to be sneaky; to deploy a ruse before attacking and to attack with the element of surprise.

What happened on Norton was a costly lesson, and it should never happen again. The Confederation would have to ensure the safety of the mass populated planets regardless of its cost.

Back on Norton, time was not in Wang Tong's favor. Trapped in a small room with few supplies, he would die if he chose to wait for the reinforcements. There was nothing that he could use to defend himself and only had some food rations and everyday items at his disposal. Even then, Wang Tong knew very well that even if he had a weapon, he would barely be a piece of cake for a Zerg.

His only choice was to escape on his own.

He decided to press further into the mine despite knowing that he had to endure a 5g gravity - a gravity that was five times stronger than Earth’s. He would rather be crushed to death by his own weight than becoming a morsel of meat that got stuck in a Zerg's teeth.

”Time to go Charcoal, forget about the baggage.”

Charcoal was still meticulously packing Wang Tong's belongings. Moved by his mother-like care and attention to detail, Wang Tong thought that Charcoal would have been an amazing butler on earth...after a little bit of plastic surgery.