Starting from the Planetary Governor - Chapter 613

Chapter 611: Who is Dragon Spear fighting for?

Piloting this specialized vessel, agents can navigate enemy-occupied space without fear of capture.

For one thing, it’s fast and agile, making it difficult to capture it with a fleet.

Secondly, and most importantly, it’s only a few dozen meters long, and when combined with anti-reconnaissance equipment, it can appear and disappear without a trace.

Anti-reconnaissance equipment isn’t particularly effective on regular ships. They’re too large to be effective during normal maneuvering. However, during astral travel, as long as the observing astropathic towers and astropaths aren’t too skilled, anti-reconnaissance equipment has limited effectiveness. At most, it can delay observations and lead to some discrepancies in the precise location.

However, aboard a small, agent-type vessel, it becomes virtually invisible.

As long as you avoid driving this vessel directly into the path of enemy ships, you’re generally safe.

Even when traveling through astral tunnels, enemy forces often deploy checkpoints or even star fortresses at the jump points. However, a jump point, while a “point” in theory, is actually as large as seven or eight, or as many as a dozen or even dozens of stars stacked together.

Checkpoints and star fortresses can’t possibly lock onto every location.

A large ship would undoubtedly be detected, but an 80-meter-long boat equipped with anti-reconnaissance equipment, located several stars away, would be incredibly difficult to detect.

Of course, this isn’t always the case.

Several of Amanda’s colleagues were discovered while transiting.

Being discovered doesn’t guarantee capture. While the small, agile, and fast spy ships are vulnerable, they can often escape detection by simply distancing themselves from the enemy and reactivating their anti-reconnaissance equipment.

Only a few dozen unfortunates perished on the spot, and none were captured.

While her journey was somewhat risky, she ultimately arrived safely on the Western Front.

Spy ships can infiltrate undetected on less-fortified planets. After all, most planets don’t have surveillance systems covering their entire orbital airspace. They could stealthily enter the atmosphere using their cloaking capabilities at a relatively slow speed, find an uninhabited surface to stop, activate their camouflage system, and then cover the ship with local materials—that was all they needed.

Amanda wasn’t alone on the ship; there were five agents, each with their own specialties and even from different departments. Amanda didn’t even know any of them.

But that didn’t stop them from being on the same team, sharing weal and woe. And she was the team leader.

The five agents set out, using sophisticated astropathic equipment to eavesdrop on communications; they stopped and observed key areas of the planet; they attempted to integrate into local society and gather intelligence.

After completing their intelligence gathering on a planet, they would retrieve their hidden ship, depart, and head for their next destination.

This process usually didn’t take long. Most worlds didn’t offer much intelligence; they simply observed the local situation, assessed it, and compiled a report back to their base.

Amanda’s original goal was to reach the Magre Realm. There, she could gather firsthand intelligence. Otherwise, the Alliance would have to rely solely on the Empire for intelligence on Magre. Not only was the information provided by the Empire inaccurate, but even its timeliness was unsatisfactory.

It would be better to have their own agents gather intelligence tailored to their needs.

However, on their way, they passed a planet where the Dragon King’s Spears were temporarily stationed. Amanda developed an interest in the chapter and actively integrated herself into local society, creating a false identity. Using this false identity, she infiltrated the Dragon King’s Spears’ home world as a Chapter servant and mortal advisor.

Her action was high risk, but she wasn’t afraid. Her four other comrades had already departed on their spacecraft, leaving her alone. Even if she failed, she wouldn’t expose the others.

Becoming a servant of a Space Marine Chapter is a dangerous undertaking. Even if you exclude those Chapters that treat mortals as inhuman, most Chapters are actually quite indifferent to them. Making a name for themselves within a Chapter is no easy feat. However, this isn’t the case with the Dragon King’s Spears. Their descent from the Dragon Legion makes them, like their parent Chapter, one of the few Chapters that deeply respects mortals. This presents Amanda with an opportunity.

Her cover is easily exposed, but upon closer analysis, it doesn’t really matter. As long as she successfully infiltrates the Chapter, she’ll be off the planet soon, and the locals’ exposure won’t be of much consequence.

Of course, there’s a chance she won’t be able to infiltrate the Chapter. But ultimately, she has an advantage over most candidates on her home planet. She’s an elite agent trained by the Alliance, having participated in subverting a planetary government with remarkable success.

It’s not that she’s overconfident, but she simply wonders: how many elites like her can be found in this ordinary, electrical-age civilization?

She’s a rare talent in the entire Alliance!

As expected, she was selected. With her extensive knowledge, experience working for the Imperial Chamber of Commerce, and extensive travels across numerous worlds, she possessed a wealth of insights and profound perspectives. She successfully caught the attention of a Captain within the Chapter, and, having shed her ordinary role as a mortal servant, was frequently summoned by the Dragon King’s high command as an advisor.

Initially, Amanda’s main focus was on questions regarding local customs and practices, both domestically and on surrounding worlds. She readily answered these questions—the intelligence she had gathered from various planets along the way proved incredibly valuable at this point.

Later, her profound understanding of current affairs, particularly her deep knowledge of the Alliance, further distinguished her. The Space Marines were amazed to discover that this advisor, beyond simply providing intelligence, often offered valuable insights into current events and the Space Marines’ perplexing questions.

They began seeking Amanda’s advice on more matters. They didn’t necessarily follow her advice completely, but at least they listened, perhaps sparking new ideas.

It was during this process that Amanda gained a profound understanding of the Dragon King’s Spears.

She understood the circumstances surrounding their involvement in this war,

and learned about the chapter’s history and culture. These two crucial points allowed Amanda to understand the Dragon King’s Spears’ mindset.

Therefore, Amanda could empathize with their current predicament and internal struggles.

The Dragon King’s Spears had never wanted to participate in this war. From the outset, they had merely sought to mediate, aid Iron Armor, and “reason” with the Empire. They had never considered engaging in a life-and-death battle against the numerous Imperial forces that surrounded them on a battlefield of mutual annihilation.

Iron Armor had also completely concealed from them the fact that they were utilizing the Zerg. In fact, even since the widespread outbreak of Zerg corruption, the Dragon King’s Spears’ mindset had shifted.

First, they argued, “There can’t be widespread Zerg corruption. It must be a rumor spreading against us.”

Then, they said, “It seems true, but it can’t be Ironclad. The Zerg threat has intensified, let’s stop fighting.”

And recently, they said, “It’s possible Ironclad did it, but it shouldn’t be… What should we do?”

This is how their mentality has changed.

Amanda seized the opportunity.

In fact, the Dragon King’s Spears’ initiative to move south without orders was largely due to Amanda’s encouragement.

And along the way, after witnessing so many tragic Zerg infestations and seeing that Ironclad’s main force had disappeared, their hesitation grew even stronger.

Until now, Amanda felt the time was ripe.

…

Walking along the corridor before the throne room, Amanda’s mind was constantly reassessing what she would say next.

Before she knew it, she had reached the heavy gate.

The Space Marine who had been leading her stopped, turned, and asked hesitantly, “Amanda, have you truly thought this through? Once you take this step, there’s no turning back. I’m not sure what the Chapter Master will do; he might just kill you.” The one

who warned Amanda was Ricardo Lazio, Captain of the 4th Company of the Dragon King’s Spears.

Amanda had already revealed her identity to him.

This was her carefully chosen target. Ricardo was the most wavering of the Chapter’s senior leaders. From the very beginning, he had opposed following Ironclad and opposing the Imperium. Furthermore, he was perhaps the most soft-hearted of the Dragon King’s Spears, who were generally soft-hearted.

She was confident there was an 80% chance he wouldn’t betray her and would actively help her. The prerequisite was that she refrain from doing anything to harm the Dragon King’s Spears, or if she did, she kept it a secret.

The facts turned out just as Amanda had anticipated.

Ricardo had indeed not reported her, and he was keen to contact the Alliance, giving the Dragon King’s Spears a chance to rectify their misdeeds.

He saw this as a way to save the entire Chapter. Following Iron Armor’s path blindly would ultimately lead to self-destruction.

Therefore, he was willing to help Amanda spread these ideas throughout the Chapter.

The results were quite positive, winning over a number of people. Those who embraced their ideas would often instill these ideas in others, even in front of the Dragon King’s Spears Chapter Master, Tai Shichen.

This was one of the reasons Amanda decided to reveal her true colors now.

She had already laid a lot of groundwork.

Amanda looked up at Ricardo’s worried face and gave him a resolute smile. “Of course, I know exactly what I’m doing.”

“Well… then, good luck,”

he said, turning and pushing the door open.

Amanda nodded slightly, then walked inside with her head held high.

Tai Shichen, the wielder of Dragon Spear, sat at his private desk. Hearing the door open, he looked up and saw Amanda, smiling. “Our know-it-all consultant has arrived, and dear Ricardo, hello.”

His manner was gentle.

“Hello, Captain Tai Shichen,” Amanda said with a slight bow as a sign of respect.

“Is there anything you wish to tell me today?”

“Yes,” Amanda said, looking up again. “I come on behalf of Gu Hang, the Imperial Marshal, Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial Southern Front, and Governor-General of the Alliance. I hope the Dragon King’s Spear will not advance any further, but remain to protect the surrounding human worlds, awaiting the arrival of the Alliance forces to reclaim these worlds. The Dragon King’s Spear will also receive a fair trial shortly.”

After hearing these words, even Tai Shichen, despite his gentle nature, could no longer maintain his smile.

He sighed, “Alas… Ms. Amanda, I’m surprised you’re actually a spy for the Alliance.”

He paused, then glanced at Ricardo Lazio, who stood behind Amanda like a bodyguard. “How many of you are standing there?”

He was no fool. He

knew everything from Ricardo’s expression.

Amanda had a reason to be so blunt.

A slight embarrassment washed over him, and he opened his mouth to speak, but Amanda blocked his way with a raised hand.

Amanda said, “Please don’t misunderstand. This is not a coercion, and I harbor no ill intentions. If the Chapter Master wishes to treat me as a spy, I will submit without hesitation.”

Her words successfully drew Taishichen’s attention back, and he said, “I will do so. It’s a pity, Ms. Amanda, that you shouldn’t have revealed everything before me. Now, let me hear what you have to say before you die.”

He spoke with such venomous intent, but he didn’t move.

Amanda knew she had already won half the battle when Tai Shichen didn’t pull out a gun and shoot her to death on the spot.

“It’s true that I’m a spy, but I’ve honestly checked myself over the past few days and haven’t done anything to let the Spear of the Dragon King down. Day and night together, I understand too well what kind of people you are. You are by no means enemies of the Empire, nor are you willing to betray humanity, much less the Emperor.”

“On the contrary, in my eyes, every warrior of the Spear of the Dragon King is unique. You are not only the protectors of humanity, but also our friends; you are passionate, brave, and uphold justice.”

“That is why the Spear of the Dragon King should never be broken here.”

“If the Spear of the Dragon King is to perish one day, how would you like it to be recorded in history?”

“During the Ironclad Heresy, you betrayed the Emperor, became a traitor, aided the tyrant, helped the cruel Humphrey Paul, spread the hive disaster to countless human worlds, were accomplices in the devouring of countless worlds, and were despicable people who degenerated into helping the Zerg aliens devour humanity?”

“Or will you be a brave warrior who sets things right, makes the right decision, and fights alongside the Alliance to save the countless people who are about to die at the hands of the Zerg, and finally atone for your sins?”

“These choices are all up to you. For whom does Dragon Spear fight?”

(End of this chapter)