Chapter 281: 274 Order Association
The Teizene Expeditionary Fleet had already entered several gigantic Warp Bubbles and departed, leaving behind only a field of wreckage from warships in space. Ten days later, a few reconnaissance ships appeared at that location.
The reconnaissance ships were not uniform in shape; some were shuttle-like, while others were rod-like, apparently hailing from several different civilizations.
"My condolences to the heroes who attempted to intercept the atrocities of the cannibals," said an alien captain with a stocky build and a head that resembled a capybara from Earth, bowing to the debris.
Standing next to him was an alien with an especially slender body and skin that looked amphibious, who said, "The Order Association has already made too many sacrifices in this interception of the Teizene civilization."
Behind them emerged a robust, hairy, bipedal great ape. This great ape, at least two and half meters tall and possibly close to eight hundred pounds, was naturally also a highly intelligent creature. Clad in armor, he looked particularly imposing.
"The very purpose of the Order Association's existence is to stop the three enslaving civilizations from continuing to wreak havoc on the Galaxy. The tasks the Galaxy and the High Governance Council refuse to take on, we, the Order Association, embrace," he said.
Quickly, the capybara-like man said, "General Caesar, we have never doubted our original intention. The Teizene civilization must be stopped."
The amphibian replied, "This massive mobilization by the Teizene civilization has already destroyed two civilizations along their path, and yet they have not halted. After a brief reorganization, they set out again on their expedition. What is their ultimate goal?"
The great ape known as General Caesar wore a solemn expression, "Whatever the Teizene people's goal is, this time they must be planning an earth-shattering event that could greatly impact all the civilizations in the Galaxy that love peace."
He lowered his head and placed both hands on the table, with an expression of regret and sympathy, "We hastily united and prepared close to three hundred warships, and were fortunate to encounter the Teizene, but it was to no avail. To beat the Teizene, we need stronger and more warships."
With difficulty, the capybara-like man said, "Our Jidite civilization is not proficient in warfare to begin with, and the size of our fleet is not large. Deploying several dozen warships for the Order Association was already our limit."
The amphibian also said, "Yes, our home planets need protection too. Along with the cannibals, we have other enemies to worry about. If we rashly pull out a large number of fleet forces, we might expose ourselves to even greater risks."
The capybara-like man asked, "Relying solely on the civilizations within our Order Association, it's doubtful we can stop Teizene's operation. Perhaps we should seek help from the Galactic Council?"
Caesar said sarcastically, "Those who fancy themselves the rulers of the Galaxy, how could they possibly respond to us? In their eyes, no matter what havoc the Teizene wreak, it doesn't affect them. Just like the Box Star Territory's fortress civilization that the Galactic Council placed, which is powerful enough to stand up to the Teizene, yet they never proactively intervene to stop Teizene's atrocities, allowing so many innocent civilizations to be destroyed and enslaved by the Teizene."
Caesar knew that the so-called Order Association formed by their civilizations, in fact, didn't have military power comparable to that of the Teizene. Over sixty years ago, when the great apes' home, Ape Planet, was attacked by the Teizene, the great apes rose in resistance. At that time, a distinguished diplomat united about a dozen civilizations with similar values, which supported the concept of justice and peace, into a loose defensive alliance, the Order Association.
However, the levels of civilizations in the Order Association weren't very high. For instance, the Ape Planet Civilization was already the highest at level 20, and a third of the civilizations were below level 15, classed as Lower Civilizations.
In the war against the Teizene over sixty years ago, the Order Association gathered hundreds of warships, engaging in a decisive battle with the Teizene in the Lewando Galaxy, where the Ape Planet was located. Eventually, the Teizene suffered heavy losses and were forced to withdraw from the war. In reality, the Order Association suffered even greater losses in this battle.
Although the Teizene were brutal, they were not foolish. When multiple civilizations banded together, even though they were still weak, the effort to conquer them did not pay off. In the time since, the civilizations of the Order Association stuck together for warmth, repelling attempts by the Teizene to attack some of the Lower Civilizations, each repelled by the combined fleets of the Order Association.
Consequently, the Order Association grew more confident. At a new summit of civilizations, led by the Ape Planet Civilization, some civilizations outright proposed the ambitious goal of completely defeating the Teizene and liberating their enslaved vassal civilizations.
But reality was harsh. The Teizene didn't attack the Order Association simply because it was a nuisance, but if the Order Association initiated conflict, they would crush the Order Association's fleets like crushing bugs.
Caesar personally felt how unrealistic the principles adopted by the Order Association were.
"Regardless, even if we can't defeat the Teizene, we must find out exactly what the Teizene are up to. If this operation of the Teizene poses a great threat to the Order Association, we must bet everything we have and put all our strength into stopping them," he said.
The Jidite capybara-like general named Shutai had worry written all over his simple, small eyes, "The Teizene have never traversed such a distance in their invasions of other civilizations; they have already crossed more than seven hundred light-years and continue to march on. What could their destination be this time?"
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Caesar said, "Wherever it is, it must be of great significance to the Teizene civilization, compelling them to take such risks. Unfortunately, this was a good opportunity. The three thousand warships dispatched by the Teizene, far from the Teizene Empire, if we could have destroyed these warships, the Teizene would have been significantly weakened. Alas..."
At that moment, Caesar felt a sense of powerlessness. Even the Ape Planet Civilization, the strongest in the Order Association, could not dispatch several hundred warships at a time to intercept the Teizene's expedition. The Order Association had assembled three hundred warships, originally planned to harass the Teizene. But the Sixteenth Prince's military prowess should not be underestimated; he swiftly executed a brilliant encirclement battle, annihilating the entire fleet of the Order Association.
"The Order Association cannot pull together any more forces for an expedition; we are the only hope. Though we're unfamiliar with the new stars and there might be dangers, we might also meet friends who share our values. Even if we cannot defeat the enemy, we must at least gather enough intelligence for the Association to refer to," Caesar declared.