686: Chapter 686 The Soldiers' Refusal to Follow Orders

Inside the combat Command Center of the Guard Division base, the company barracks, the turret control rooms, and the starship cockpits, General Commander Kova's near-insane Level One combat readiness order spread to every corner through the internal communication channels.

The moment the entire body of officers and Soldiers heard the contents of the directive, almost everyone froze on the spot, their faces filled with shock and disbelief; the entire base instantly fell into an uproar.

Everyone understood the situation perfectly.

The Security Assurance Division was not some ordinary local garrison; they were an elite force directly under the Imperial Center. Their equipment levels, combat proficiency, and firepower configurations all crushed the local Guard Division by several grades. A direct confrontation was simply like throwing eggs against a stone.

More fatally, behind this unit stood The 33rd Inspection Team. The Inspection Team held the Imperial Imperial Sword, representing the supreme will of the Imperial Center.

Opposing the Security Assurance Division was openly opposing the Inspection Team. Opposing the Inspection Team was equivalent to raising an army in rebellion and betraying the entire Empire. This was a monstrous crime; once tainted by it, one's life would be completely ruined.

Having thought through this lethal conflict of interest, the vast majority of grassroots and mid-level officers and Soldiers exploded on the spot. The fear in their hearts instantly transformed into resentment and resistance, as complaints and curses rose one after another across various posts.

"He's gone mad! He really wants us to open fire on the Imperial Center's troops? Isn't this forcing us onto a path to death!"

"Exactly! The Inspection Team is here to arrest Kova and those corrupt high officials. It has nothing to do with us ordinary Soldiers. Why should we risk our lives to rebel for him!"

"I don't want to lose my head, and I certainly don't want to involve my Family. Whoever wants to execute this order can do it; I'm definitely not doing it!"

"Does he really think we're stupid? Who in the entire Empire doesn't know the consequences of rebellion! He's embezzled enough and committed a capital crime, and now he wants us all to be buried with him? Not a chance!"

Large numbers of officers and Soldiers explicitly refused to execute the order on the spot. They shut down turret power, halted starship preheating, and even directly blocked communication channels, making their stance clear that they would not participate in the rebellion.

Of course, there was a tiny handful of officers and Soldiers within the base who, upon receiving the order, looked panicked and restless, quickly moving into combat positions to respond to Kova's command.

Without exception, these were the core confidants who usually followed Kova and Haran in embezzling military funds, accepting bribes, and participating in corruption. They were already tied to the same boat as the high-level suspects and knew that once the General Commander fell, they would not escape severe punishment. They decided to throw caution to the wind and follow Kova to resist to the end.

Meanwhile, in the Flagship Command Center of the Security Assurance Division fleet in the starry sky, Xikufu had already seen the chaos and resistance within the Guard Division through battlefield monitoring and intercepted internal communications.

His expression was cold and stern. He did not wait another second, nor did he give the opponent any opportunity to continue delaying or inciting rebellion.

"All fleet units, hear my command. According to the predetermined combat plan, advance steadily and force entry into the base's airspace!"

Xikufu gripped the command terminal, his voice powerful and resonant as it spread through the command channel to the entire fleet.

"The objective is clear: strictly follow the Inspection Team's arrest list and forcibly arrest Kova, Haran, and all involved officers! If you encounter armed resistance from stubborn elements, do not hesitate and do not ask for instructions—shoot to kill!"

"Understood!"

The neat and loud response instantly echoed through the Command Center. In the next second, the massive fleet's engines flared with light, and the formation advanced steadily toward the Guard Division base with a solemn Aura.

Watching the Security Assurance Division fleet steadily pressing closer with its engines shimmering in the starry sky, the few Guard Division starships that had originally been ordered to take off for interception remained in a silent standoff within their cockpits for a moment.

Several Commanders glanced at each other through internal communications, seeing hesitation, doubt, and deep dread in each other's eyes. Finally, they sighed in unison and abandoned the idea of resistance.

The lead Commander among them gave a low-voiced order over the communication channel, his tone full of helplessness yet completely clear-headed.

"That's enough. Everyone, withdraw the fire control locks, open the flight paths, and let them through."

He knew very well that the consequences of disobeying Kova—a General Commander about to fall from grace—were completely different from the consequences of actually firing on the Security Assurance Division.

Firing on the Security Assurance Division was equivalent to standing against the Empire. At that time, what awaited himself, his Family, and even the entire crew would only be the Empire's most cruel liquidation and trial.

Compared to a corrupt General Commander who was about to fall, no one was willing to bear the monstrous wrath of the entire Empire.

Under this Commander's lead, the Guard Division starships that had ascended to intercept abandoned their defensive postures and silently moved aside, proactively yielding a wide flight path leading directly to the heart of the base. They made no aggressive gestures and sent no warning signals.

In this manner, the Security Assurance Division fleet led by Xikufu encountered no firepower resistance throughout the journey. Entering as if into an uninhabited land, they steadily sailed into the Guard Division base's berthing airspace and docked firmly on the designated platforms.

"Hum..."

The starship hatches lowered with a boom, and alloy gangplanks slammed heavily onto the base's ground. Groups of Security Assurance Division Soldiers, already fully geared and ready, rushed off the starships with rapid strides.

Holding fully charged energy guns and wearing battle armor, they followed pre-assigned zones and advanced quickly in multiple directions toward key locations like the Guard Division's Command Center, officer office buildings, dormitory areas, and armories. Their actions were swift and orderly.

Meanwhile, the large number of ordinary Guard Division officers and Soldiers along the roadsides, inside the outposts, and beneath the turrets watched coldly throughout. Not one person stepped forward to block them, not one person raised an alarm, and certainly, not one person executed Kova's previous order to fire.

They tacitly lowered their heads, turned away, or pretended to organize their equipment, as if turning a blind eye to this elite force intruding upon their territory. With their silent attitude, they expressed their total rejection of Kova's insane directive.

After all, no one was willing to sacrifice their own life and their Family's future for the corruption crimes of the upper management. Since it didn't concern them, they naturally chose to stand by and watch, even secretly hoping the Inspection Team would take away all these parasites soon.

This scene was witnessed by several officers not far away. They were all Kova's long-time trusted aides, equally deeply involved in the massive corruption case, and among the few loyalists willing to follow Kova in resistance.

Seeing the base's officers and Soldiers defecting en masse and the Security Assurance Division's Soldiers driving straight in, their faces turned as white as paper. Scared out of their wits, they no longer cared about anything else and frantically ran toward the General Commander's office, stumbling in panic.

In their hearts at this moment, the only one they could rely on, who could make decisions, and who could provide them a way out was General Commander Kova—their last saving straw.

However, they also knew in their hearts that the situation was already lost. Even if they found Kova, it was likely too late to save the situation.

Several of Kova's confidants, looking panicked and gasping for breath, rushed to the door of the General Commander's office. Anxious and impatient, they wanted to push the door open and report to Kova the critical situation of the base being completely out of control and the Security Assurance Division driving straight in.