735 Chapter 735 Preparation Complete
Francus and Grigor, still riding the high of their victory over the hydra, were immediately dispatched to their next mission, a testament to Aldred's relentless training regime. They understood the gravity of their role within the grand scheme of the empire's operations, yet the pace was relentless.
Their shuttle set course for a gigantic gas planet, known for its extreme weather conditions. The inhabitants, adapted to such harsh environments, were now facing a new, unprecedented threat. A legendary creature, the Storm Worm, had awoken from a ten-thousand-year slumber, unleashing chaos and destruction across the planet.
Upon arriving, Francus and Grigor were met with scenes of devastation. The Storm Worm, a colossal serpentine entity, twisted through the turbulent skies, its presence alone causing violent storms and seismic upheavals.
Without wasting time, the duo sprang into action. Using their combined expertise and advanced technology, they engaged the Storm Worm. The battle was fierce, with the creature's immense power and the planet's volatile atmosphere adding layers of complexity. Yet, with determination and strategic prowess, they managed to slay the beast, restoring relative peace to the beleaguered planet.
Barely having a moment to catch their breath, Francus and Grigor were directed to their third mission. They boarded their shuttle and set off for SH33556, a Dyson Sphere harnessing the sun's energy, a marvel of human ingenuity and a hub of ceaseless activity.
Upon arrival, they were informed about a local space pirate group that had grown in power and ambition. The pirates aimed to seize control of SH33556, a move that would grant them immense power and influence. Francus and Grigor wasted no time, contacting the leader of SH33556 to coordinate a swift and decisive response.
The battle against the pirates was intense. Francus and Grigor, leveraging their combat experience and tactical acumen, managed to decimate more than half of the pirate group, ultimately leading to the elimination of their leader. Their actions saved SH33556 from a grim fate, but there was no time for celebrations.
Their next destination was an isolated planet, a world still clinging to ancient technologies like simple bows and arrows and steel blades. The planet was torn apart by never-ending wars between kingdoms, regions, and ethnic groups.
Francus and Grigor's mission was not just to end the conflicts but to open the eyes of these people to the vastness of space, the existence of aliens, and the reality of the massive Human Empire that ruled almost a quarter of the galaxy.
As they descended onto the planet, they realized the challenge ahead was unlike any they had faced before. This mission required diplomacy, education, and a profound understanding of the planet's diverse cultures. The task was daunting, but the duo was determined to succeed, knowing that their actions could change the course of this world forever.
Their journey, a relentless sequence of battles and negotiations, was shaping them into not just warriors but ambassadors of the Celestial Platoons, agents of change in a galaxy full of wonder and turmoil. Each mission, each victory, was a step towards breaking the bottlenecks Aldred had spoken of, forging them into the extraordinary beings they were destined to become.
Aldred and Vortimer observed their growth all these months.
"They are growing very well."
"Why are you training them this way? Won't improving their firepower alone should be enough for you?"
"What do I need more firepower? I have warships and planetary weapon to fill that role. They are humans. They have the ability to do something more important."
Vortimer scoffed. "With absolute power, anything else become meaningless."
"Yes. But none of us have absolute powers. There's always something or someone out there that match our strength or even surpass us."
"And this training will give them an edge over something more powerful?"
"Power comes in all sort of ways, Vortimer." Aldred explained. "Other than brute strength, diplomacy, communication, and building trust is also a form of strength. Tell me, Vortimer. Which one is stronger. A tyrant with no one to trust, or a journalist with great charisma that can move millions of people with a single speech."
Aldred stood up and watched the view of stars. "A journalist is nothing compared to the tyrant, however, with millions of people as his followers…"
Turning around, Aldred glanced towards his robotic sentient friend. "Now, do you see my point?"
"I see a gap in that logic. If I was the tyrant, with my power, I can eliminate all the followers in an instant."
Aldred laughed. "Are you really a sentient robot that has lived for over 100,000 years?"
Sighing, Aldred put his gaze back to the stars. "Let me tell you something. You recalled my experience when we ask for the planets to contribute resources for the war? You remember how the progress is tedious and I have to show them a dramatic display of power."
"I recalled. My memory is not programmed to erase any data."
Vortimer actually put any data referencing to Aldred in a special folder.
"Well, imagine if everyone just simply contribute to me all of their resources without constraint. Of course with the exception of basic needs. Imagine if all of humanity truly unite. Not just formally, but truly unite for one purpose. Humans with all of their disunity manage to conquer a major part of the galaxy. If they truly unite, the galaxy and perhaps the entire universe would be theirs."
Aldred continued. "I have never met the Emperor, but he's doing a pretty good job."
"So you are training them to be your most competent emisarries? Train more people like them and send them all over the galaxy to unite humans under your banner?"
Chuckling, Aldred replied: "My intention isn't that far. Besides, that would be rebellion to the current Human Empire. No. My intention is simple. I will train more humans like Francus and Grigor not to unite humany under my banner, but under the banner of humanity itself."
"Didn't you say that you will unite other races as well? Isn't this the opposite?"
"Yes. I plan to unite other races. However, if one race can't even unite themselves yet, how can you unite others?"
"It seems pointless. I still believe we should search for absolute strength."
"Then perhaps you are searching the wrong way. Or perhaps you can search strength in many different views. I told you that strength can come in many shapes and forms. Perhaps, you need to look in other places as well, Vortimer."
Vortimer's mechanical eyes churned as his digital brain processed the information.
Suddenly, Cleome barged inside the room. "Oops, I should've knocked."
"It's fine. What do you need Cleome?"
Cleome stood up straight, chin proudly lifted. "All the resources have been strategically compiled and processed. Shinari told me to report to you that all preparation have been completed."
"Which mean?" Aldred asked even though he already know the answer.
Cleome took in a deep breath.
"War."
