57: Chapter 57: The Federation's advance fleet arrives! The final ultimatum!

On the outskirts of the Dead Zone, at the third shipping lane blockade, the deathly silent space was forcibly torn apart by a dazzling white light.

Accompanied by violent ripples caused by spatial tremors, one hundred thousand silver-gray standard warships, engraved with the Federal Eagle emblem, sailed out from the warp channel in perfect formation. Their engine exhaust plumes looked like a burning sea of stars, illuminating the pitch-black star sector. The Federation Vanguard Fleet of the First Army Group, led by Commander-in-Chief Major General Kalan, officially stepped into the Death Sector.

Their massive hulls, ferocious firepower, and strict formations were worlds apart from the dilapidated, pieced-together ships of the Dead Zone pirates—this was a true interstellar regular army, a steel beast built by the Federation with thousands of years of industrial foundation. The shield strength, main cannon power, and command systems of every warship were superior to those of the standard fleets of the Dawn Legion.

Major General Kalan stood on the command bridge of the vanguard flagship, Federal Glory, looking at the defense images of the Dead Zone sent back by the probes, a look of undisguised contempt curling the corners of his mouth.

In his eyes, the so-called blockade line of the Dawn Legion was nothing more than a toy defense line pieced together by a mob that had just put down their pirate blades, fragile enough to collapse at a single touch.

"Report, Commander! We have arrived at the outskirts of the Dead Zone's third shipping lane blockade. The enemy's Main Fleet has completed its defensive positioning, all energy weapons are charged, and shields are at maximum defense status!"

"Oh? They actually dare to set up a formation to fight?" Major General Kalan chuckled, picked up the noble silver cup on the table, took a sip of mellow interstellar red wine, and his tone was extremely haughty. "A bunch of rabble, daring to block the path of the Federation's great army? Pass the order down, activate the global broadcast, and read the Governor's ultimatum to all forces, all ships, and all planets in the Dead Zone!"

"Yes!"

At the same time, in the command hall of the flagship dawn sovereign.

The scarlet alarm was still sounding softly. On the holographic star map, the large red light spots representing the Federation Vanguard Fleet were pressing down like a tide toward the three-layer blockade line laid out by Commander Lei Meng. They were less than one hundred thousand kilometers away from the outermost defense line of the Main Fleet—in interstellar warfare, this distance was already close-quarters, where a hand could be raised to fight.

Emperor Chen Fan stood with his hands behind his back in the center of the command platform, his golden eyes calmly watching the star map. There was no panic around him, only an unfathomable coldness. Behind him, the six great commanders—Commander Lei Meng, Commander Ling Ye, Old Hu, Commander Su Qingyue, Ayla, and Commander Ling Shuang—stood ready, their battle armor straight, their fighting spirit soaring. The entire combat system of space blockade, Shadow Fleet decapitation, Ground Legion occupation, and logistical stability had long been engraved into their bones. Even facing the Federation's regular army, not one of them retreated.

Commander Lei Meng stepped out first, his heavy military boots making a clanging sound on the alloy floor. His eyes were fixed on the approaching Federal red dots on the star map, and his voice was like a booming bell: "The Main Fleet will attack with full force, block all shipping lanes, space stations, and strongholds in the Dead Zone, cut off the enemy's retreat, and implement a comprehensive crush! As long as the opponent dares to cross the line by half a step, I will immediately order a salvo of the main cannons and bury their vanguard team completely in this airspace!"

At this moment, the million warships under Commander Lei Meng's command had already set up a standard defensive formation. Battleships were stationed in the center, cruisers were flanking the sides, and destroyers were out in front for vigilance. Space mines, energy blockade zones, and spatial interference anchors were layered to form an airtight steel barrier, locking all entrances to the Dead Zone tightly. As long as Emperor Chen Fan gave the order, the next second would be a world-destroying space artillery battle.

Commander Ling Ye stepped forward, cold as a ghost, half of his stealth mask covering his face, revealing only a pair of icy eyes devoid of any emotion. His voice was cold enough to freeze the starry sky: "The Shadow Fleet is performing stealth infiltration to first decapitate the pirate leaders, command hubs, and anti-aircraft positions to open the way and break the points! Now the target has been changed to the Federation Vanguard Fleet's command ship, communication hub, and radar base. Everyone has entered the ambush position and can launch a decapitation strike at any time to paralyze the opponent's command system!"

Three thousand Shadow Fleet stealth motherships had long been lurking in the asteroid belts and dark matter blind spots on the flanks of the Federation fleet. The special operations team members were all on board, with energy blades and anti-ship missiles ready. As long as Commander Ling Ye gave the order, this dark blade could tear open the command core of the Federation Vanguard Fleet within three minutes, turning one hundred thousand warships into headless flies.

Old Hu clenched his fists violently, his knuckles making a crisp sound. His bronze face was filled with iron-blooded determination, and his roar shook the entire command hall: "The Ground Legion is responsible for planetary landing, ground clearing, mining planet reclamation, and permanent occupation. Every inch of land, every inch of Dawn! All ground defense lines on Qingming Planet, Black Rock Planet, and Red Flame Mining Planet have been reinforced, and anti-aircraft turrets are aimed at the orbit around the clock. If the Federation army dares to land, I will leave them dead across the field; they won't be able to step into our home by even half a step!"

Inside the super fortress on the main peak of Qingming Planet, a million ground troops were holding their guns and waiting. Heavy mechas were arrayed like mountains. Underground bombs, gravity traps, and spatial collapse devices were all activated. The entire planet had become an impassable war fortress. Old Hu made a death vow: as long as there is a person, the position remains; not a single inch of Dead Zone land will be lost.

Commander Su Qingyue walked slowly to the console, her fair hands sliding rapidly over the data stream. The Research Center's global battlefield system was running at full speed, her voice cold and precise: "The Research Center provides full-process battlefield scanning, energy interference, and mothership support, ensuring absolute control over battlefield information! All communication frequencies, detection signals, and command links of the Federation have been locked and interfered with by us. What they see is the weak defense we forged, but we can see the location of every one of their ships!"

A massive information network composed of tens of thousands of detection satellites enveloped the Dead Zone. Energy interference towers released strong electromagnetic turbulence, making the images sent back by the Federation's probes nothing but static and false data, completely rendering them deaf and blind.

Ayla bowed slightly, the pale golden energy patterns unique to the Grey Race flowing on her fingertips, her tone calm and firm: "The Grey Race is responsible for resource inventory, vein sealing, and logistical support, ensuring that we can win when we fight and hold when we win! Combat supplies, warship energy, ammunition, and medical supplies are all in place. The trillion-dollar mineral veins are running at full capacity. No matter how much is consumed on the front line, the rear can seamlessly replenish it!"

Countless Grey Race logistics transport ships shuttled between the star sectors, delivering boxes of energy blocks, shells, and repair fluids to every stronghold. The self-destruct programs for the mining planets were all locked; not a single bit of resources would be left for the Federation.

Commander Ling Shuang, the Mecha Legion commander, had her silver armor reflecting light, her posture as straight as a spear. She slammed her mecha command staff on the ground, her cold voice piercing the air: "The Mecha Legion is ascending in full force, stationed in the orbit of Qingming Planet and various core airspaces, responsible for anti-aircraft interception, mecha combat, and assault breakthroughs! Five thousand ace mechas have entered combat posture. If Federation fighter jets dare to cross the border, I will tear them apart in the air!"

The silver-white mecha group lined up in a blade formation in space, engine lights flickering like a thunderous sword hanging over the head of the Dead Zone.

Six great commanders, six veins of power, interlinked, without a single leak.

A perfect tactical system tempered from suppressing pirates had now fully turned to confront the Federation army. The Dead Zone had strict defenses on the surface and dense secret layouts in the dark. A net had long been cast, waiting only for Emperor Chen Fan's order to erupt with world-destroying combat power.

Emperor Chen Fan nodded slightly, his expression still calm: "No rush, let's hear what they have to say first."

As soon as he finished speaking, the global broadcast system in the center of the command hall was forcibly connected!

An arrogant, violent, and condescending male voice instantly resounded throughout the dawn sovereign, spreading to all warships, all space stations, and all planetary surfaces in the Dead Zone, reaching the ears of every living being—it was none other than the commander of the Federation Vanguard Fleet, Major General Kalan!

"All rebel forces in the Dead Zone, listen up! I am the commander-in-chief of the Federation's First Army Group Vanguard, Major General Kalan!"

"By the order of Governor Augustus, an ultimatum is issued to the rebel leader Emperor Chen Fan, who is entrenched in the Dead Zone, illegally building an army, expanding territory without permission, and defying Federal authority!"

The voice carried absolute hegemony and coercion, like a heavy hammer striking everyone's heart.

The newly liberated civilians in the Dead Zone, the Grey Race people, the surrendered former pirates, miners, and refugees all stopped what they were doing, held their breath, and looked toward that suffocating Federation fleet in space.

Major General Kalan's voice continued to echo in the global broadcast, arrogant and overbearing:

"First order: Emperor Chen Fan must disarm all forces, disband the Dawn Legion, and personally travel in an unarmed small boat to the Federation vanguard flagship to surrender and plead guilty within ten minutes!"

"Second order: All planets, mining planets, space stations, and shipping lanes in the Dead Zone must be unconditionally handed over to the Federation army for takeover. Qingming Planet, as an illegal stronghold, must have all defensive fortifications dismantled immediately!"

"Third order: Hand over all war resources, warship blueprints, scientific research data, and the entire Grey Race to the Federation for disposal!"

"Fourth order: Acknowledge the Federation's absolute sovereignty over the Dead Zone, admit that everything the Dawn Legion has done is an illegal rebellion, and all soldiers must accept judgment by the Federation!"

Four orders, each more overbearing than the last, each more humiliating than the last!

This was not urging surrender; this was naked slavery and plunder!

It was demanding Emperor Chen Fan to cripple himself, demanding the Dawn Legion to perish completely, demanding to push the billions of living beings in the Dead Zone back into the dark abyss of exploitation by the Federation, and demanding to push the Grey Race, who had just escaped from the sea of suffering, back into the fire pit!

Major General Kalan seemed to have victory in his grasp, his tone becoming increasingly contemptuous: "I give you ten minutes! Within ten minutes, if Emperor Chen Fan does not surrender, the Dawn Legion does not lay down its arms, and the Dead Zone does not submit, this general will order—"

"The entire fleet will fire their main cannons to crush your blockade!"

"Bombard all planetary surfaces and raze your homes to the ground!"

"Kill all resistors, leaving no one alive!"

"My Federation's million-strong army is right behind, and flattening the Dead Zone is just a snap of the fingers! Don't be ungrateful; you are not qualified to negotiate with the Federation!"

Threat! A naked death threat!

Fire, massacre, destruction, extermination—all the bloodiest words were spoken by Major General Kalan in the most contemptuous tone.

In his eyes, the Dead Zone was just a soft persimmon that the Federation could pinch at will, Emperor Chen Fan was just an ant that could be crushed at will, and the Dawn Legion was just a mob that could not withstand a single blow.

The broadcast ended, and the Dead Zone fell into a dead silence.

The next second, anger erupted like a volcano!

"Too much! The Federation is simply a robber!"

"We saved the Grey Race, cleared the pirates, and guarded our home—what sin did we commit!"

"Never surrender! Fight to the death!"

"Every inch of land, every inch of Dawn! We will never retreat!"

On the surface of Qingming Planet, the roars of the people went straight to the sky; in the camp of the Ground Legion, the soldiers slapped their weapons and roared; inside the space warships, the crew members had red eyes, staring at the Federation fleet; in the medical ship of the Grey Race, the newly recovered tribesmen clenched their fists, their eyes full of grief and determination.

They had just escaped the torture of pirates and welcomed the light; they would never return to the darkness.

Inside the command hall of the dawn sovereign, the atmosphere was extremely heavy, and the air seemed to be burning.

Commander Lei Meng was trembling with anger, stepped out, and requested to fight: "Commander! No need to endure any longer! Order to fire! My Main Fleet will crush them directly and blow this bunch of arrogant fools into pieces!"

Commander Ling Ye's dark aura surged, and he said coldly: "The Shadow Fleet can decapitate them at any time. Kill Major General Kalan first, then destroy the flagship, and let them be leaderless!"

Old Hu patted his chest and roared: "The Ground Legion is ready to defend to the death; Qingming Planet will be their burial ground!"

Commander Ling Shuang gripped her mecha command staff tightly, her silver teeth slightly clenched: "The Mecha Legion will charge; within ten minutes, we will tear apart their vanguard formation!"

Commander Su Qingyue and Ayla spoke at the same time: "Research and logistics will support with full strength. In this battle, we will surely win!"

Six great commanders, all requesting to fight!

The entire Dawn Legion, from top to bottom, not a single person thought of surrendering!

Not a single person was willing to accept this humiliating ultimatum!

Emperor Chen Fan slowly raised his head. In his golden eyes, the last trace of calmness faded completely, replaced by a domineering fighting spirit that could burn through the starry sky, and the invincible edge of a ruler of the Dead Zone.

He did not roar immediately, did not yell immediately; he just walked to the global broadcast microphone, his posture straight, his aura collapsing the starry sky.

The entire Dead Zone instantly quieted down.

Billions of eyes were focused on this absolute hegemon of the Death Sector.

Major General Kalan of the Federation was still waiting smugly in the flagship for the surrender signal. He was certain that Emperor Chen Fan would not dare to resist, certain that the Dawn Legion would be frightened by the Federation's might, and certain that the Dead Zone would obediently submit.

He would never know that what he was facing was an interstellar hegemon who had crawled out of a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood, swept across the Dead Zone with a humble body, and vowed to protect his home.

Surrender?

Impossible!

Emperor Chen Fan stared at the microphone, his lips parted slightly. His voice was not loud, but it carried the power to penetrate the star sector, clearly entering every corner of the Dead Zone, entering the one hundred thousand vanguard warships of the Federation, and entering the ears of Major General Kalan through the global broadcast!

His answer was only one sentence, yet it was as heavy as a star, shaking the sea of stars!

And this sentence would also completely tear apart the Federation's ultimatum and ignite the full-scale war between the Dead Zone and the Federation that was destined to sweep across the starry sky!