Him and their stars.

Chapter 2007 The Best Approach

Although this was the first time everyone had met in real life, it was wartime after all, and everyone would instinctively minimize the cost of social interaction.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, everyone took over their respective tasks.

Then, the girl named Gumeya volunteered to take on the reconnaissance mission.

“I have this Northwind, a reconnaissance ship captured from the Serpent of the Rings. During the exploration campaign in the Lansa system, it stayed hidden and spyed from beginning to end. Even Lord Lan and Duke Saduran didn’t notice it.” Agnes seemed very confident.

Naturally, no one would have any objections.

The Northwind was, after all, a professional reconnaissance ship equipped with advanced technology, and its small size made it easy to maneuver, making it a smaller target than even the most rudimentary pirate ship. Even if it were discovered, it would still be easier to hide and escape than an entire fleet.

Furthermore, the Imperial fleet blockading New Jade Gate was also caught off guard by Eleanor and Wayne. Although the losses were minor, a breach was torn in the blockade of the planet.

That's how Miss Nair and several people from the Engineers' Guild got in touch with Eleanor and her group, and they also brought news of the current situation at New Jade Gate.

“By worldly standards, Xinyumen has naturally been occupied long ago. The Empire has even prepared a whole planetary administrative team.” Miss Niall told everyone, “The administrative team has also prepared 5000 million citizen cards, which will all be distributed before the end of 835.”

Preliminary estimates suggest that the number of sand people in Xinyumen is over 300 million, but no more than 500 million. For the empire, as long as more than one-tenth of the indigenous population becomes law-abiding citizens under its rule, it will be sufficient to maintain the Heavenly Domain's control over this planet.

"However, no matter what the Empire does, Xinyumen will remain the source of its continued financial drain. This is what Summers told me to tell you."

Yu Lian already knew what happened afterward.

Miss Nair became the captain of the Northwind, and together with Agnes, this reconnaissance ship, which was seized from the Serpent of the Rings, entered and exited the L3 border several times in the past six months, and even entered and exited the Gate of Glory several times.

Then, Miss Nair's partner changed to Gongsun Qing, who made great contributions to connecting all the anti-empire forces inside and outside the Star Gate.

This roughly means that while Yu Lian was traveling with his dragon boat through the distant nebula, being chased and intercepted by the imperial army in the extreme frontier, and going in and out of the abyss nebula while also making a trip to the Great Free City to search for treasure, his companions had already taken the initiative to act.

They not only joined forces, but also frequently harassed the Empire's shipping routes, and formed close strategic partnerships with two promising rebel forces.

Yeah, I'm starting to feel more and more that it doesn't matter whether I'm there or not. It's such an annoying feeling.

Yu Lian didn't know whether to feel disappointed or relieved, so he asked again, "Where are Agnes and her men?"

He didn't see his old comrade-in-arms, Gumeia, in the crowd. To be fair, Gumeia was an important comrade who helped him win the God's Chosen Championship. His contributions to his team at the God of War Festival should have been enough to rival Krell for second place.

If no one had mentioned it, he would have really forgotten about that girl, Gumeia. But now that it had been brought up, he suddenly realized that he still missed her quite a bit.

Actually, I'm still a very sentimental person. Yu Lian said to himself.

"We're in New Taran. Ms. Agnes is now the most respected friend of the Tarans. We've found a gold mine in New Taran, which should be enough to pay her salary." The reply to Yu Lian came from Mr. Tuken, a representative of the "Taran Liberation Front."

He told Yu Lian that since the Taren rebels had discovered a usable new planet outside the Empire's L3 colony sector with the help of the remnants of the raiders, they would naturally treat it as their base to develop and manage.

Agnes and the people from the North Wind Company are professional planetary pioneers, resources that the Taurean rebels would never normally have access to.

Yu Lian thought that this made a lot of sense.

The North Wind Company has fewer than a hundred people in total, with humans, Terrabi, and Gumeia each making up about a third. They can hardly be called elite warriors, but they are certainly very professional explorers.

Professionals can do professional things, which can even be considered a blessing.

The Terrabi people have just gained independence and are lining up hoping the Empire will recognize them as a vassal state. It is said that the Imperial Court of State Ceremonies is quite interested.

The ancient Meya people number 500,000, most of whom live in the Celestial Realm and are direct employees of the Imperial royal family's businesses. Many even hold citizenship.

“This war does not belong to them,” Yu Lian said.

Of course, no one would object. Agnes and the others had actually gone too far in their loyalty. They would not only be "Friends of the Tower People," but also "Good Friends of the People of Earth." Whether this title could be activated depended on whether the war could be won. "So, what's the next step? Does anyone have any suggestions? As I said, the war and everyone's future can be discussed over a meal. Since we're at the dinner table, there's nothing we can't say."

They quickly exchanged glances, a hint of hesitation in their eyes. Clearly, while Yu Lian and the High Priest were locked in a fierce battle in the illusionary world, their comrades had automatically formed a new advisory group and reached a certain degree of consensus.

Of course, it's probably a consensus that's not very pleasant to hear.

I told you to speak freely. Just as Yu Lian was about to say a few more words, he heard Horatio Wayne say in a frank, or rather, overly frank, tone, "We must abandon the Gate of Glory immediately."

Okay, I should say, as expected of you!

Yu Lian glanced at his old classmate with a half-smile, then subtly glanced at the two rebel leaders present.

Mr. Ai Meng, who looked like an elite bureaucrat from the Imperial Prime Minister's Office, and Mr. Tuken, who was wearing a power suit that assisted breathing, sat upright with no change in their expressions, as if they were just observers and recorders of this meeting.

Clearly, the group had already communicated with the rebel leader.

You've done a very thorough job. Yu Lian was naturally very satisfied.

Of course, he also increasingly felt that he was somewhat superfluous.

Seeing that Yu Lian showed no dissatisfaction whatsoever, Eleanor explained in detail: "We've already analyzed this. In the long run, this fortress is actually undefendable. As long as we continue to stay here, more and more Imperial fleets will gather here. The pressure we have to bear will also increase. Putting aside the stargate, this system has five gravity wells, so the Imperial army can come from all directions. Moreover, the functionality of Fortress No. 1 is far inferior to that of the fortress."

Captain Nemo also puffed out his chest and said, "If it is only the fleet of the Gate of Glory, I dare to devour it for you. As for the garrison fleets of Sobaik and the L3 sector, I dare to drive them away for you."

Why don't you take a look at the back of your head and see if you have a rebellious streak? Yu Lian glanced at the captain.

Of course, it doesn't really matter if he has a rebellious streak. If Wei Yan had even a tenth of your emotional intelligence, he wouldn't have ended up in such a sorry state.

The captain continued, "If the fleets of Fischlen, Schweinsteiger, and even Vice Admiral Nobof were to gather here, under your brilliant leadership, we would certainly be able to hold our position impregnable. However, if Duke Barryen, who is still near the Diamond Nebula, arrives with his main force..."

Yu Lian nodded: "Indeed, the fleet that attacked Said back then was about this size."

Feifei laughed and said, "But when you were still operating in the Diamond Nebula with the Silent Ship, you didn't care at all about Duke Barryen's large army. The omnipresent ghosts are the Empire's nightmare, but a ghost trapped in a corner is no different from a beast caught in a trap."

Yu Lian readily agreed: "But what happens after we give up? How do you all consider this?"

Eleanor gave a discreet wink, and Staff Officer A. Michael Kent said, "We can retreat toward the New World. The garrison fleet in the L3 sector has just suffered heavy losses and is no longer capable of fighting."

Staff Officer B, Deng Zhengqing, said, "Right now, the only threat the Empire can pose to us in the New World is the fleet in the Dawn Starfield. However, if we join forces with Yang's fleet, our overall combat strength will not be weaker than theirs, and we can find an opportunity to annihilate them."

“We could also maneuver towards Nantianmen, recapture Xinlushun and Xinyumen, and pass through Nantianmen. This would allow us to coordinate with the outer fleet to create a pincer movement against Marshal Farrell. However, Marshal Farrell also commands a large force and can receive support from King Suliuka's fleet from Terra at any time. We might not gain much advantage. But at least we could break through Farrell's blockade and join forces with the outer fleet to seek support from the Alliance,” Eleanor pondered.

The staff member who was just there to make up the numbers, Ina Sirika, said, "To put it another way, we can retreat to the Dawn Starfield, consider reclaiming the Ring of Miracles, or meet up with Commander Yang and then return to New China via the Tower of Babel."

Very good, this is Yu Lian's original plan.

After joining forces, the fleet was strong and well-equipped, and the collective wisdom of everyone was certainly able to make the right decisions.

But then, Ina blinked, her voice slightly low: "However, all of the above can only be considered the 'best' approach. Is it really the wisest decision?"

Her expression seemed somewhat innocent, like that of a mischievous child who blurted out the truth.

As a mere advisor (C), she seemed completely unconcerned that her questions were like boomerangs that contradicted her own words.

However, such truths are especially important in crucial military deliberations that determine everyone's fate.

Anyway, Yu Lian inexplicably felt like he'd been shot in the knee. At least, before this great battle with the High Priest of Norddos, his heart had leaned towards these "best" approaches.