Chapter 69: The Emperor’s Daughter
Gu Hang patted Lambert on the shoulder and said, “I know you’re anxious, but panicking will only make things worse. Calm down. You need to mobilize all your connections and hidden forces in Revival City to find out what exactly is happening.”
After a pause, Gu Hang continued, “Besides, I will be making preparations. If necessary, I will enter the city.”
“You will enter Revival City?”
“The Governor must return to his position,” Gu Hang said. “Moreover, Counsel Head Hodgson is working for me now. If he has suffered because of this, I will do my best to rescue him alive; if… I mean, if the worst happens, I will avenge him.”
“Thank you, Governor!”
“Go, get to your tasks.”
Watching Lambert leave, Gu Hang sat back down.
Revenge—that’s something Gu Hang was serious about.
Old Mr. Hodgson had been a steady figure in Revival City for many years; he couldn’t have become Chairman without solid foundations.
Surviving countless storms only to face disaster after declaring his support for Gu Hang… If the Governor didn’t do something, it wouldn’t be right.
Besides this reason, there was another stronger, more urgent reason for Gu Hang’s decision:
Someone had declared war on him.
Even though the situation was unclear, daring to strike at Hodgson in Revival City after he had declared his support for Gu Hang was undoubtedly an act of war.
Whether it was the heretical cult followers of the Original Owl Beast or the conservative factions within the Alliance government, Gu Hang had to respond.
Actually, his preparations were not yet sufficient.
In his past plans, his personal entry into Revival City was supposed to be two to three months later.
By then, his territory’s economic and production capacity would support a military force at least three times the current size for short-term operations.
At that time, the Quintet’s orbital cannon would serve as his greatest deterrent, and his system-trained troops would be his conventional means.
He would return to Revival City to take full control of the city.
With that, he would gain nearly a million people.
The production potential provided by the technology panel would be greatly realized; politically, he could truly exercise his power as Governor, using military might to quickly sweep through all surrounding settlements, incorporating them into his production system.
Now, it seems this plan had to be pushed forward.
Since it’s a war, there’s no such thing as being ‘ready.’ He couldn’t ask others to wait until he was ready to fight.
But there was some good news.
Gu Hang’s strength hadn’t fully accumulated, but he now had the help of the Star Warriors, an enhancement beyond his original plan.
The assistance of the seven Phoenix veterans was likely more valuable than the military power Gu Hang could develop in the next two months.
“If it’s war they want, then it’s war they’ll get.”
“Advancing the plan might not be a bad thing.”
It’s just a pity about old Mr. Hodgson… Hopefully, he’s safe.
…
Gu Hang’s direct troops quickly assembled, with the Mechanized Infantry Battalion assigned to guard duty as usual.
The remaining five battalions formed an infantry regiment, awaiting further orders.
The mission request was sent to the Phoenix Battalion and received a positive response.
Gu Hang personally communicated with Alicia, and the two discussed for about half an hour.
Alicia stated that the entire starship would enter combat readiness from now on.
Whenever the Governor needed it, orbital cannon strikes could hit any designated location within twenty minutes.
Starting tomorrow, the starship’s combat readiness tasks would be completed, entering a wartime state, which would shorten the orbital cannon strike time to within ten minutes.
Additionally, given that the combat objectives might include heretical cults, Gu Hang’s mission would receive support from the state religious team on the starship.
A squad of Battle Nun would arrive on the surface in six hours.
This was another unexpected surprise!
Until now, Gu Hang hadn’t known that there was a squad of Battle Nun on the Quintet.
He had no idea during the journey to Fury Owl Planet!
Battle Nun are a legendary group.
They are the only armed force of the Imperial Cult openly acknowledged.
After the Wars of Faith, the Cult was not allowed to have any armed men. But they exploited this loophole, supporting the Sisterhood and creating the Battle Nun.
These Battle Nun, blessed by the Cult and with extremely strong faith, are called the ‘Daughters of the Emperor.’
They might not be as powerful as the genetically enhanced Star Warriors, but they can gain extraordinary powers through the Emperor’s blessing.
They also wear specially designed power armor.
Unlike the Star Warriors, they can’t neurally link with the armor through modified spines, but they can drive the armor through divine powers.
Although their blessed armor is not as heavy as the Star Warriors’, it is still a formidable weapon.
Initially, Gu Hang found it strange that the Quintet had a resident squad of Battle Nun, but after searching his memory, he realized why.
The Sisterhood has many branches. Besides the primary ones, there are also secondary and tertiary convents.
They need places to station, usually alongside important institutions of the Cult.
In the Pegasus Sector, on the hive world of Coroja-3, there is a grand cathedral of the Cult, which is not only the most important branch of the Imperial Cult in this sector but also a religious hub for several surrounding sectors.
And stationed there is the ‘Holy Mercy Lily Convent.’
On large starships like the Quintet, a chapel is a necessary facility. Normally, priests and nuns need to comfort the crew; in wartime, they resist the corruption of evil.
In this context, if the sector government and the Cult have a close military collaboration, it’s not impossible for an additional Battle Sister squad to be stationed on top of the standard starship chapel.
Similar to the Star Warriors, the Battle Nun are not directly under Captain Alicia’s command. But being on the same ship, it’s normal for them to respond to requests.
Moreover, this time, it wasn’t even Alicia who requested it.
The news of heretical cults on Fury Owl Planet reached the ‘Daughters of the Emperor,’ and they volunteered for the mission.
Fanatical Battle Nun would not tolerate the existence of heretical cults.
With the help of these Battle Nun, who are almost as strong as the Star Warriors, Gu Hang’s operation would be significantly boosted.
Moreover, compared to the Star Warriors, these Battle Nun are more specialized anti-cult experts.
If the Original Owl Beast Sect is involved, the Daughters of the Emperor will give them a huge surprise.