TNS Chapter 29 Preview (Patreon)

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Probably a lot more fleets. Even I was a bit surprised to learn that both the Republic and the Omni-Union had 250 million ships. Unfortunately that bit of news has made it to the civilians, and armchair admirals are already pronouncing the United System's defeated. Thankfully we've managed to keep a lid on the xenocidal nature of the threat, otherwise there would probably be riots.

A lot of the military doesn't want to admit this, but civilians are their backbone. The question of what exactly one is fighting for haunts many soldiers, sailors, and even troops. At the start of the most recent gont pacification campaign there had been protests among the humans and the knuknu. This nearly crippled morale. But after the first gont city was liberated, a reporter interviewed the civilians that had been living under the insurrectionists.

The gonts that were interviewed recounted cruelty after cruelty, and gave thanks to the marines that freed them. The interviews were played throughout the military to show them what they were fighting for, and morale soared. The interviews were also played for the civilians, which crippled the momentum of the protests. There are still agitators online, but there will never not be.

"Omega?" asked Admiral Heckett.

The Admiral was in his office aboard the Sol Orbital Station. It was a station that had originally been the nerve center of humanity's military might, but had since been refitted to serve as a science station to observe the sun.

The Admiralty still had their offices aboard, as much of the science that took place aboard the station required military oversight and/or funding. It turned out to be a perfect place to keep the Admiral and his staff. It had a very low threat-profile and was remote enough to be out of the way of misfires, while also being able to communicate with the fleet using subspace communications.

I activated my avatar and replied, "How may I be of service, Admiral?"

"I have concerns about the previous engagement that I'd like to run by you."

"Certainly," I said, my curiosity piqued.