Xue Jie, Wen Nanfeng, and Chi Yongxin respectively represented the Federal Academy of Sciences, the Tianshu Star Isolation and Control Center, and the Federal Medical College. They were the first batch of personnel to pass the Chief Executive’s inspection and be confirmed free of issues.
But none of these three could muster any joy, because the number of humans and creatures found to be parasitized by the insect race far exceeded their imagination...
Many of their capable subordinates had also been parasitized, which meant that the Federation’s core secrets had already been leaked.
Not to mention that losing most of their backbone forces would cause many operations to slow to a crawl, yet even so, they had no choice but to steel themselves and keep pushing forward.
Otherwise, if the insect race were allowed to develop and expand unchecked, humanity would truly be finished.
The Federation imposed a full-scale lockdown starting from Tianshu Star.
Public panic needed to be calmed, screening work could not afford any negligence, and logistics, supplies, and civilian safety protections all had to be addressed.
For the first time, every department of this administration faced such immense pressure.
The military-police, medical, energy, and several other critical sectors were directly placed under closed-loop management, and parasitized civilians had to be transferred in batches.
Factories producing protective suits, scanners, and disinfectants operated around the clock, and all major military districts sounded first-level alerts, with every soldier entering emergency combat readiness.
Reserve personnel were rapidly mobilized and, after passing scanning inspections, were distributed and integrated into various departments.
Many students who had not yet graduated and had never even set foot on a battlefield now faced the full-scale invasion of the insect race. The psychological counseling department also went all out, setting up multiple counseling programs to help people calm their emotions and adapt as quickly as possible.
Feng Yi had stepped into the Ninth Military District countless times, but this time, he finally wore the same combat uniform as his cousin.
Elizabeth arrived at Tianshu Star with her father, and after completing the strict scan, she entered a private room inside the Isolation and Control Center.
The two of them, dressed in protective suits, stood still after taking their positions. They did not move carelessly, nor did they speak.
A moment later, Meng Chongyun walked in through another door. Elizabeth’s father raised his hand in a precise military salute.
“Chief Executive.”
“General Paige.”
Elizabeth also straightened her back, ramrod straight.
“Greetings, Chief Executive!”
“Hello, Elizabeth.”
The Chief Executive actually remembered her name! Elizabeth could not help but feel a small flutter of excitement inside.
She had met the Chief Executive before, more than once.
The address at the start of the military academy tournament, the time on Kashler Star when a star-beast tide struck and the Chief Executive and Commander Mu Ning came over together, and the day before the contest on Eshuinuo Star when the Chief Executive awarded Wang Tianwei a Second-Class Meritorious Service Medal. Today, it was finally her turn.
“General Paige, are you certain you want to send Elizabeth in here? This is arguably the most dangerous place in the entire Federation.”
Meng Chongyun had limited time, so he went straight to the point.
The order to suspend the military academy tournament had already been issued, and Huang Yan and Elizabeth had always been key cultivation and observation targets of the Academy of Sciences.
His original intention was to have the two young people continue their training, without rushing them too early into matters of national security.
But General Paige insisted that Elizabeth enter the most dangerous Isolation and Control Center to help, because a super-S-grade mental power was already capable of detecting and inflicting damage on ordinary insect race entities.
The man before him had very pale skin, a hereditary trait of the Paggi family, but his eyes carried extraordinary resolve.
His right hand rested gently on his daughter’s back and pushed her slightly forward, and Elizabeth immediately stepped up.
“Chief Executive, this is her mission.”
Meng Chongyun was silent for a long moment. General Paige’s tone did not waver.
“Elizabeth is the pride of our family.
This girl originally had only S-grade mental power, but through her unremitting efforts, she upgraded to super-S-grade during this military academy tournament.
The Federation now needs warriors above super-S-grade to help screen and control the insect race. With proper guidance, I am confident that she will do exceptionally well.”
Father said she was the pride of the family!
Elizabeth’s nose tingled, hot tears gathering in her eyes. She lifted her chin even higher.
“Santorini Academy, sophomore, Elizabeth Page reporting to you. Please give your orders, Chief Executive!”
Meng Chongyun looked at the two figures before him, the tall and the young somehow overlapping in his sight.
“Elizabeth is only...”
“Chief Executive, as of now, no one is more suited to be here than my daughter.”
General Paige’s tone was unyielding.
“If those with weaker mental power than hers can do it, then she certainly can.
Elizabeth is a military cadet. If the Federation needs her, she should give her all. ‘Loyalty to the people’ is the first article of every military school code.”
“Chief Executive, I am ready!”
Elizabeth’s voice, though slender, carried an unshakable determination.
The Paggi family had always charged to the very front, no matter what. Even as a command lineage, they were famous for their aggressive attack-type mental power, which proved that not a single coward existed in their family!
And she had grown up in that very atmosphere since childhood. While other children were still playing in the mud, she already knew what “the people’s interests above all” meant.
Having enjoyed so many years of protection, now was the perfect time for her to serve the Federation.
Hearing the father and daughter’s words, Meng Chongyun could not help but press his thumb hard against the side of his index finger, inhaling deeply to suppress the surging emotions within him. He had seen such conviction in so many people before...
It was precisely because the people held such steadfast faith that the Federation had been able to weather one crisis after another.
They would not surrender. How could they lose?
Meng Chongyun walked to a position directly in front of Elizabeth, stood at attention, raised his hand, and returned her a military salute.
“Welcome aboard, Cadet Elizabeth Page. On behalf of the Military Department, I thank you for your devoted assistance.”
“It is my duty, Chief Executive!”
General Paige looked proudly at his daughter’s back. Elizabeth had grown to the point where she could now contribute to the Federation.
He had a feeling that his daughter would surpass him, or everyone in the Paggi family before him, and write a new chapter of her own in the military!
After reporting on the Fifth Military District’s situation to the Chief Executive, General Paige boarded the return star ship.
This time, he was alone, but he had faith in the Federation. Against the mere insect race, humanity would surely emerge victorious in the end!
The Fifth Military District had recently received countless emails applying to join the reserve forces.
There were soldiers who had just retired or been retired for a long time, students of eligible age, some who were not of age, and even students who had not yet graduated high school.
Even in the sealed-off areas, what people cared about most was simply having shelter, safety, and enough nutrient solution.
Everyone understood that with a great enemy at the gates, unity was the only way to overcome this trial.
With such soldiers, such people, such children, the Federation had no reason to lose.
As for the insect race, it was merely a small chapter in the vast history of humanity, and one day, it would become nothing more than the past.
