153: Chapter 153 The Battle to Defend the Capital Planet! The Federation's Last Fury!

Galactic Year 3728, the first year of the Dawn Empire era. The final battle for the Human Star Domain erupted in full force in the low orbit and core district of Odin Planet.

The Dawn Empire's million-strong army had completed a full-scale, three-dimensional encirclement of the Federation's capital planet. Eight hundred warships locked down the space lanes, twenty thousand mechas and ten million ground troops advanced layer by layer, the Shadow Fleet infiltrated key points, and the Research Center suppressed information across the entire region. At this moment, the Empire had firmly secured 95% of the Human Star Domain, leaving only Odin Planet—the final 5% of core territory—as the dying graveyard of the Federation's thousand-year dictatorship.

The Dawn flagship hovered directly above the government building, its pale silver antimatter glow shining down like royal authority. Emperor Chen Fan stood with his hands behind his back before the bridge window, clad in black robes with gold trim, his posture like a mountain. His indifferent eyes overlooked the Federation's final desperate resistance. He did not immediately order them to be crushed; instead, he gave the Federation one last chance to "perform"—he wanted to watch with his own eyes as this regime that had framed him and deceived the world destroyed itself in desperate madness.

And the remnants of the Federation did not "disappoint" him.

I. A Cornered Beast: The Federation's Final Mad Counterattack

In the underground command center of Odin Planet, the Federation Speaker who had come to power via a coup had long since lost the qualifications to negotiate. The one truly controlling the Federation's final armed forces was the Federal Grand Marshal—the number one enemy who had personally signed the order to strip Emperor Chen Fan of his military power and exile him to the Dead Zone years ago.

This old marshal, with white hair and beard and hands stained with the blood of loyalists, had completely torn off all pretense after learning that the Empire's encirclement was complete and there was no path to surrender. He activated the "Spark Project" that the Federation had buried for a thousand years—the insane Defense of the Capital Planet.

"All Federal soldiers, listen to my orders!"

The Federal Grand Marshal's voice, transmitted through the only remaining local communicators, roared and echoed through every remaining stronghold in the core district, sounding insane and ferocious:

"The rebel army of Emperor Chen Fan is at the gates! They want to annihilate the Federation, slaughter the nobility, and kill everyone loyal to the Federation! We have nowhere left to retreat! Today, while we live, the city stands; if the city falls, we die!"

"Activate the Capital Planet's full-area shield! Activate the underground Mecha Legion! Activate the orbital suicide cannons! Initiate the civilian shield tactic!"

"Even if we fight to the last man, we will make the Empire pay in blood!"

These insane orders revealed the true, ugly face of the Federation.

First layer of madness: Forced conscription of civilians to act as human shields.

Remaining Federal military police rushed into the streets, forcibly driving millions of civilians to the outskirts of the government building, the Marshals Mansion, and the shield generators. With gun barrels pressed against their backs, they forced them to stand at the very front, attempting to use the lives of innocent people to block the Dawn Empire's advance. The elderly, women, and children huddled together beneath the outer walls of the buildings, becoming the final sacrifices of the dictator.

Second layer of madness: Activating the suicide Mecha Legion.

Thirty thousand old Federal mechas were forcibly activated. The pilots were all teenage soldiers controlled by drugs. The mechas were equipped with fusion bombs, and the order was simple: charge toward the Imperial army and self-destruct to die together. There were no tactics, no path of retreat, only naked human bombs.

Third layer of madness: Indiscriminate firing of orbital cannons.

The seventy-two remaining orbital anti-aircraft cannons of the Federation, ignoring the deterrence of the Imperial fleet in space, fired wildly. The shells were not only fired at Imperial mechas but also indiscriminately rained down on urban areas, residential districts, and plazas. Countless civilians wailed and died in the artillery fire. To prolong its life, the Federation was even slaughtering its own citizens.

Fourth layer of madness: Destroying energy, water, and food supplies.

The Federal Grand Marshal personally issued the order to blow up three energy cores, seven freshwater plants, and twelve national grain depots in the Odin Planet capital circle. He hoped to create famine, plague, and chaos before the military defeat to drag down the Empire's occupation order.

This was not a defense. This was a war of destruction. It was the Federation's insane, mutual-destruction madness before its demise.

Odin Planet instantly turned into a living hell: flames soared into the sky, smoke filled the air, civilians screamed, mechas exploded, and buildings collapsed. The former capital of the Human Star Domain had become the final, insane slaughterhouse of the dictator.

II. Imperial Fury: The Six Commanders Request Battle, Blood Bath for the Unjust

In the command hall of the Dawn flagship, the giant holographic screen played the Federation's atrocities in real-time. Every Imperial soldier watched with eyes burning red, the monstrous rage nearly overturning the ship.

Commander Lei Meng, clad in gold-trimmed heavy armor, slammed a fist onto the console, causing the metal shell to dent instantly. His voice was like thunder, shaking the hall:

"Emperor! The Federation is insane! They are using civilians as shields, bombing livelihood facilities, and launching suicide attacks! This is not a defense; this is a slaughter! I request that the Main Fleet launch a full-scale attack, frontally blockade all space lanes, space stations, and strongholds of the Dead Zone, cut off the enemy's retreat, and implement a total crushing blow! Deploy the Star Destroyer immediately, tear through their shields with one shot, and avenge the innocent people!"

Eight hundred capital ships were already poised for action, their bow antimatter main cannons fully charged. The pale silver light pierced the starry sky, waiting only for an order to deliver the judgment of destruction.

Commander Ling Ye's body surged with shadows, his cold killing intent nearly solidifying. He knelt on one knee, his voice icy:

"Emperor! The Shadow Fleet has infiltrated the lower levels of the shield generator. We will decapitate the Federation operators first and open the way! I request to act immediately to destroy the shield energy and stop the Federation's madness!"

One hundred and twenty stealth assault ships lay dormant in the clouds, and Shadow warriors had already reached the doors of the suicide mecha control center. With silenced weapons loaded, they could execute the insane Federal commanders at any moment.

Old Hu's burly frame trembled violently. The iron-blooded man's eyes were red, his iron fists clenched, and his voice was hoarse but carried the weight of a thousand jun:

"Emperor! The Ground Legion is ready to land and clear the area! We will be responsible for planetary landing, ground clearing, mining planet recovery, and permanent occupation. Every inch of land, every inch of Dawn! The Federation is so cruel that they do not deserve to live in this world! Our soldiers are willing to charge for the people and flatten all rebel strongholds!"

Commander Ling Shuang pressed her jade hand onto the mecha command console. The engines of twenty thousand Dawn Mechas roared, their silver-white bodies gleaming with cold light. Her cold voice carried unquestionable firmness:

"The Mecha Legion is ready to air-drop! Break through the defense lines, rescue the civilians, and occupy the government building! The Federation's madness ends here!"

Commander Su Qingyue's silver-white research battle suit shimmered, her fingertips operating rapidly, her voice steady and angry:

"The Research Center will provide battlefield scanning, energy interference, and mothership support throughout! I have locked onto the Federation's shield frequency, the suicide mecha control signals, and the locations of the explosive devices. We can paralyze 70% of their combat power instantly! Absolute information superiority is in our hands!"

Aila bowed, the divine patterns of the Grey Race shimmering with colorful light, her tone heavy and firm:

"The Grey Race has activated the emergency rescue plan; medical supplies, materials, and shelters are all in place! Resource inventory, mineral vein sealing, and logistical support are all running to ensure that the Empire can win when it fights and hold what it wins! No matter how the Federation destroys, we will be able to stabilize the people's hearts and rebuild our homes!"

The six commanders bowed in unison, the entire army's fighting spirit boiling, and the same voice echoed in the communication channel:

"We request the Emperor's order! End the Federation! Save the people! A debt of blood must be paid in blood!"

Emperor Chen Fan looked quietly at the Federation's atrocities on the screen, his black robes fluttering without wind. In those deep eyes, there was no anger, only a frozen silence.

Ten years ago, the Federation used the same cruelty to frame the loyal and exile him.

Ten years later, the Federation used doubled cruelty to slaughter civilians and destroy their homes.

This regime had long since lost all meaning for existence.

"The Federation is courting its own destruction."

Emperor Chen Fan spoke, his voice calm, yet carrying a majesty that made the entire starry sky tremble:

"Pass on my decree—Defense of the Capital Planet, full-scale counterattack!"

III. Imperial Counterattack: The Steel Torrent Crushes the Madness

The moment the order was given, the entire Dawn Empire launched a devastating counterattack. Every step precisely crushed the Federation's madness, and every strike pointed directly at the Federation's fatal weakness!

1. Commander Lei Meng · Main Fleet: Star Destroyer in position, aiming at the Capital Planet's shield.

"Main Fleet, obeying orders! Star Destroyer formation, move out to position! Aim at the Capital Planet's full-area shield, charging complete, waiting to fire!"

Commander Lei Meng roared his orders. Twenty of the Empire's top Star Destroyers sailed out from the fleet formation. The ships were ten thousand meters long, with main cannons of kilometer-level caliber. Pale silver antimatter energy gathered at the muzzles, forming dazzling balls of light, precisely locking onto the pale blue full-area shield on the surface of Odin Planet.

This was the Federation's final physical barrier and their umbrella for slaughtering civilians. As long as the shield did not break, the Federation's madness would not stop.

"Report to flagship! Star Destroyer targeting complete! All shield energy nodes are locked! One volley can pierce it directly!"

Commander Lei Meng's eyes were like torches as he looked toward the Dawn flagship, requesting loudly:

"Emperor! Star Destroyer in position! Please order to fire!"

Above space, twenty beams of destruction were ready to go. The first shot of the Human Star Domain's endgame was about to be fired!

2. Commander Ling Ye · Shadow Fleet: Decapitate the control hub, stop the mad slaughter.

"Shadow Fleet, move!"

At Commander Ling Ye's command, the Shadow warriors lurking underground struck simultaneously! Energy daggers silently pierced the throats of Federal commanders, hacker terminals instantly took over the suicide mecha control systems, and bomb-disarming devices were attached to the explosive devices in energy depots and water plants...

In less than three minutes, all three of the Federation's madness control centers were destroyed! The human shields were rescued, the suicide mechas stopped, and the explosive devices failed. The Federation's madness lost its brain first.

3. Commander Ling Shuang · Mecha Legion: Air-drop to relieve the siege, protect civilians.

"Mecha Legion, air-drop! Prioritize rescuing civilians, then clear the rebels!"

At Commander Ling Shuang's command, twenty thousand Dawn Mechas descended from the sky, forming a massive protective barrier, standing between the civilians and the Federal artillery fire. Antimatter particle blades sliced open the gun barrels of Federal military police, and transport pods transferred millions of citizens to safe shelters. The Imperial mechas used their own bodies to protect innocent lives.

Contrary to the Federation using civilians as shields, the Dawn Empire used steel to guard the common people.

4. Old Hu · Ground Legion: Steady advance, fight for every inch.

"Ground Legion, charge! Every inch of land, every inch of Dawn!"

Old Hu was the first to rush out of the landing craft. Antimatter assault cannons shattered Federal strongholds. The soldiers advanced step by step, clearing out the remnants in the streets and raising the Dawn battle flag. Wherever they passed, the people welcomed them, and the rebels surrendered at the sight.

5. Commander Su Qingyue + Aila: Information suppression + Livelihood rescue.

Commander Su Qingyue's interference field completely paralyzed all Federal weapons, and Aila's logistics team restored water, energy, and food at the first opportunity. The Empire fought, rebuilt, and pacified the people all at once. The difference was clear, and the hearts of the people returned to them.

IV. Prelude to the Endgame: Under the Shield, the Cornered Beast Fights

In just one hour, the Federation's "Defense of the Capital Planet" completely collapsed. The madness was crushed, the atrocities were stopped, civilians were rescued, and the rebels were cleared.

The Federal Grand Marshal retreated to the Marshals Mansion, with less than a thousand loyalists left by his side, hiding under the Capital Planet's shield, lingering on his last breath. He looked at the retreating army on the screen, watched the Empire's steel torrent like gods, and watched the people turning to the Dawn Empire, finally letting out a desperate roar:

"Impossible! I am the Federal Grand Marshal! I cannot lose!"

"The shield is not broken! I can still fight! Emperor Chen Fan! If you have the ability, break this shield!"

In the command hall of the Dawn flagship, Xing Xi's voice was crisp and impassioned, echoing throughout the hall:

"Report to the Emperor! The Federation's madness has been crushed! The remaining forces are all cowering inside the shield! The Star Destroyer has fully locked onto the Capital Planet's shield! We can break the shield with one shot at any time!"

Commander Lei Meng knelt on one knee, his voice shaking the heavens:

"Emperor! Please order! Break the shield with one shot! Flatten the Federation! Unify the galaxy!"

Commander Ling Ye, Old Hu, Commander Ling Shuang, Commander Su Qingyue, and Aila all bowed in unison:

"Please order, Emperor!"

The entire army and the hearts of billions waited for that final shot to end the thousand-year Federation.

Emperor Chen Fan stood at the pinnacle of the bridge, his black robes fluttering, his eyes like ice, staring directly at the pale blue shield below that was lingering on its last breath. He slowly raised his right hand, his fingertips falling.

"Fire."

At the command, the world changed color.

(Chapter 153 End)