...

Bai E sent two requests through the recorder channel to the Star Alliance United Fleet Command—

Postpone orbital strikes and coordinate other teams for evacuation assistance, which quickly reached the United Command responsible for coordinating ground and special operations in the Aisera Star System.

In the command center, several senior officers from different Sons of the Empire countries, all holding ranks at least as major generals, studied the briefing sorted by technical officers, displaying varied expressions.

"The 'New Bauhinia' Republic team reports that the scale of the deep-sea main nest on Jade Stone Star far exceeds estimates, having deeply fused with the crust, making it difficult to destroy through conventional methods. Forced orbital strikes could trigger global geological disasters."

One staff officer reported, "They request to postpone the strike on the main nest and call for other teams conducting missions within the star system to assist in evacuating Jade Stone Star civilians."

"Heh..." A major general with Steel Alliance insignia on his epaulettes sneered, "Far exceeds estimates? It's just been a few days? The growth rate of the Bug Race's main nest has limits. Could it be that they can't handle it themselves and are trying to find an excuse to delay the mission or drag others down to spread out the scoring pressure?"

Another general from the Holy Silver Church Country frowned at the excerpts of the "Traveler" data and the rough scan data synchronized by "Thorny Bird": "The energy reactions do look abnormal. But to change our entire star system's strike plan based on the one-sided words of a single contestant team? That's overkill. Our main task is to repel the Insect Race Fleet and ensure the security of strategic locations. Clearing and striking the planet's surface is already part of the plan." 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

The Golden Federation representative was more concerned with another layer: "Coordinate other teams for assistance with evacuation? Those contestant teams, although their individual strength might be formidable, are not regular troops and lack experience in large-scale battlefield command and coordinated operations.

Assigning them independent high-difficulty tasks is already maximally utilizing their specialties. Now, asking them to do the numerous, complex 'dirty work' of evacuating civilians—a work that extends over a long battlefront? Not only inefficient but could also interfere with their own tasks, potentially causing unnecessary casualties."

Their general consensus was to reject or shelve Bai E's request.

In their view, these elite teams from various nations are essentially here to "gild themselves" and "compete," despite being temporarily conscripted, their primary mission remains completing the high-value special tasks assigned by the Star Alliance and being scored accordingly.

Assigning them large-scale civilian evacuation tasks typical of regular units is against the purpose of using these elites as "cutting edge."

However, just as several generals were about to sign the rejection opinion, another staff officer responsible for intelligence summary entered, bringing the latest combat assessment.

"Generals, latest analysis shows abnormalities in the Bug Race's offensive in the Aisera Star System. The intensity and resource investment in attacking different planets are uneven. Jade Stone Star is under far more pressure than other planets, with signs of Bug Race biomass and Spiritual Energy gathering on it being very evident. Combining 'Traveler' data with 'New Bauhinia' team's intel, we have reason to suspect the Bug Race has indeed invested far beyond normal resources in Jade Stone Star, attempting to establish some sort of 'core node.' If this node is successfully established, it may greatly enhance the Bug Race's operational ability and endurance in the entire star system."

The staff officer paused and continued, "On the other hand, our frontline reconnaissance also found that many civilians on Jade Stone Star have not been evacuated in time. Evacuation work progresses slowly due to interference from ground Bug Race troops and traffic line collapse. If we launch large-scale orbital strikes in suspected main nest areas now, there is indeed a risk of triggering geological disasters, causing massive collateral damage, which not only violates humanitarian principles but could also incite unwanted public opinion and political pressure within the Star Alliance."

Several generals exchanged glances. The situation had changed.

If Jade Stone Star is indeed the Bug Race's core focus, then prematurely stimulating it with a potentially damaging method may not be the wise choice.

And evacuating civilians and delaying time could, on one hand, reduce potential collateral damage, and on the other hand, give the command more time to mobilize more precise strike forces or develop more comprehensive plans.

After all, the main force of the Star Alliance Fleet is still confronting the Bug Race main force on the outskirts, so the orbital strike forces that can be deployed within the star system are also limited and need to be used effectively.

"That 'New Bauhinia' team's request... Although the starting point might just be to save lives and complete the task, objectively speaking, their prepared actions—attempting to evacuate civilians, delay the full formation of the main nest—align to a certain extent with our phased strategic needs." The Steel Alliance major general pondered.

"But they're just one team, twenty people, how many can they save?" The Holy Silver Church Country general questioned.

"That's why they request coordination with other teams." The Golden Federation representative seemed thoughtful.

"Although I think those 'competition participants' aren't much use in this kind of battle, if we can use them for evacuation guidance, clearing small squads of Bug Races, and breaking through critical channels—tasks that require flexible yet elite fighting capability in small-scale operations—it could indeed compensate for our regular ground forces' insufficient numbers and being restrained by the primary defense line. This might accelerate the evacuation speed on Jade Stone Star in disguise, creating conditions for our subsequent actions."

Ultimately, the command reached a compromise decision.

"Agree to forward 'New Bauhinia' assistance requests to all contestant teams operating in the Aisera Star System, along with suggestions from the command: Prioritize their main task progress, but if able, voluntarily provide support to Jade Stone Star civilian evacuation, without restrictions on form, and results will be included in the final task scoring consideration."

An admiral finally decided, "However, it's not mandatory, no specific task assignment. Everything should prioritize team autonomy and task priority. As for the strike plan on Jade Stone Star's main nest... will be postponed, but require 'New Bauhinia' team to deliver continuous monitoring and more precise target data. Meanwhile, command reconnaissance units to enhance monitoring on Jade Stone Star."

This decision, rather than supporting Bai E, was more about "instrumentalizing" Bai E's request, using potentially existing "free elite labor" to serve coalition strategic goals while delegating decision-making and risk to the teams themselves.

The command's "suggestions" were quickly sent via secured channels to the other seven contestant teams fighting across the Aisera Star System.

However, the responses were sparse and mostly negative.

The Steel Alliance team responsible for the "Anvil" operation on Jade Stone Star was theoretically the one most likely and capable of responding to the request.

Their task already involved evacuation, and they were on Jade Stone Star.

But when the team commander received the message, he only glanced at it before telling the advisor, "Reply to command, my unit is establishing a defensive line in the core area of 'New Athens,' resisting the Bug Race main offensive, under immense pressure, unable to spare attention. Evacuation work is handled by local defense force and Star Alliance Marine Corps, my task is to ensure the defense line and key nodes do not fall."

After hanging up, the people in the team sneered, "Ridiculous! Why should we spend efforts on their tasks, or help evacuate the planet's populace... Do they think they're saviors wherever they go?"

"Exactly, holding the core city is our greatest contribution to the battle situation, dispersing forces to aid scattered civilian bases is instead losing the main for the minor, and might even affect our task scoring."

"If they want to be saviors, let them be. No wonder they're bumpkins from the Edge Star Zone, a bunch of barbarians who can't distinguish primary from secondary mandates!"