After learning that the Arachnid Swarm was about to join the fray, Colonel Honard Thompson and his loyal junior officers once again displayed their incompetence to Maggie, Ace, Frost, and the other sergeants.
One of the captains even blurted out, "We should retreat!"
But Ace and the others, having fought alongside Lyon to reach this point, knew there was no retreat.
"Retreat? With officers like you, the Federation doesn't need external enemies—it's doomed by its own people," Maggie retorted, showing no regard for their rank.
She quickly pulled up the tactical map on her HUD, using the crash sites of the transport bugs to estimate the location of the Arachnid main force. She marked these positions on the map.
Then she gave orders with calm authority:
"Ace, Frost—contact the Thunderbolt squadron and tell them to bomb the swarm.
We can't deal with the Imperium's anti-air defenses, but we can definitely take out the bugs.
Tell the squadron to use everything they've got. Drop every last bomb on those damn bugs. That's our only chance to hold back the swarm."
"Yes, Corporal!"
Ace and Frost immediately relayed her orders to the Thunderbolts.
Meanwhile, the other sergeants and corporals began to compare Maggie's composed demeanor with the panicked chaos of Thompson and his staff.
The conclusion was clear.
"Corporal Maggie Shaw!"
Thompson finally recovered his composure and raised his voice:
"Stand down and remember your place! I am the—"
"I've had enough of you!"
Before Thompson could finish, Maggie exploded in anger. She leapt forward and delivered a controlled punch to his gut.
"Ugh—!"
Even though Maggie restrained her strength, her genetically-enhanced punch was still enough to send the colonel flying several meters.
Thompson hit the ground with a heavy thud and lay there motionless, unconscious from the impact.
!!!
"What the hell are you doing?!"
"Arrest her!"
"Shoot her! Now!"
Thompson's remaining officers and bodyguards immediately drew their weapons and prepared to fire at Maggie.
But Maggie, enhanced as she was, didn't even flinch.
Before they could pull the trigger, Maggie spun around with a sweeping kick that sent the nearest soldiers sprawling.
In a blur, she sprinted to the last standing officer, a captain, and slammed him into the ground with a shoulder throw.
THUD!
"ARGH!"
As the captain groaned in pain, Ace, Frost, and the other sergeants raised their rifles, hesitating. They appeared conflicted, unsure whether to side with Maggie or uphold their chain of command.
Then one of the bodyguards who had been knocked down reached for his rifle, aiming it at Maggie's back.
BANG! BANG-BANG!
Frost fired three warning shots into the ceiling, freezing everyone in their tracks.
The tension in the room skyrocketed as all eyes turned to Frost.
Maggie, now aware of the attempted ambush, slowly turned to face the would-be shooter, her expression unreadable.
She said nothing, instead locking eyes with Frost, waiting for his decision.
Having trained with Maggie and Lyon for the past two months, Frost knew this was a pivotal moment. If the sergeants and soldiers sided with Maggie, it would mean outright mutiny.
If not, Maggie might abandon them altogether—and take her chances surviving on her own.
Frost took a deep breath, surveying the room. Finally, he broke the silence:
"Everyone, listen up!
Due to the repeated reckless and dangerous decisions of Colonel Honard Thompson and his command team, which have jeopardized this mission and endangered every soldier here, I am invoking Article VI, Clause 12 of the Federation Constitution.
We have no choice but to remove Colonel Thompson from command!
Ace—arrest the colonel and his staff!"
"Finally! You, you, and you—help me cuff these idiots!"
Ace was more than eager to comply, rallying three nearby soldiers to help him.
"You're committing treason!"
"Arresting officers above your rank? You're all dead men!"
Thompson's staff shouted threats even as they were disarmed and restrained, but Maggie smirked coldly:
"Our comms are down, remember? No one outside this room knows what's happening.
And if we successfully evacuate New Hope, all we have to do is write in our report that you were killed in action due to the swarm. The military tribunal won't bother investigating.
As for you... you'll be swallowed by the bugs before you can tell anyone otherwise."
The restrained officers finally fell silent, their faces pale with fear.
"Well, damn..." Ace muttered, impressed. "Didn't know we could pull something like this."
Maggie ignored him, already turning her attention back to the tactical map.
While the mutiny resolved one problem, the looming Arachnid swarm was a far greater threat.
Maggie suspected the Blood Angels had intentionally allowed the bugs to land.
Given how easily the Red Tears could have annihilated the swarm, it was likely the Angels saw the bugs as part of their plan—to pressure the Federation soldiers into unifying under Lyon and Maggie's leadership.
The clones' strangely coordinated "retreats" also hinted at a deliberate strategy.
Maggie couldn't shake the feeling that the clones had additional orders—ones she had yet to uncover.
"Frost," Maggie said, breaking her train of thought. "Broadcast an open message to the enemy forces.
Tell them about the incoming Arachnid swarm.
Humanity can settle its internal disputes anytime, but we can't let an alien species like the bugs catch us off guard.
Tell them we'll hold the southern and western sections of the town against the bugs and won't advance on their positions until the swarm is dealt with."
"Yes, Corporal!"
Frost immediately began transmitting the message.
Ace, having just finished locking Thompson and his officers in a nearby storefront, returned to the operations center.
"What if they don't agree to the truce?" he asked.
"Then we'll both end up fighting on two fronts," Maggie replied flatly, her eyes still focused on the tactical map.
"Besides," she continued, "according to the Federation's own intelligence, the Imperium's main selling point to colonies like New Hope is that they can eliminate Arachnid infestations.
Logically, the Imperium should see the swarm as their enemy too.
If the intel is wrong, or if the Imperium is secretly allied with the Arachnids... then we're as good as dead anyway."
"Hell, if I knew things would get this bad, I'd have drunk more at Lyon's last party," Ace muttered.
Moments later, Frost spoke up:
"Corporal! The enemy's commander agrees with our terms!"
He adjusted the radio so the entire room could hear the clone commander's voice:
"This is the Auxiliary Clone Army of the Blood Angels Legion. We accept your proposal.
As a gesture of good faith, we will provide your forces with weapons, ammunition, and supplies.
We will also send personnel to coordinate the transfer of these materials with your frontline units."
Maggie took the radio from Frost and replied, "Thank you for your cooperation and support."
Turning to the rest of the room, she addressed the soldiers:
"You all heard that! This isn't the time for humans to fight humans.
Our priority is to deal with the bugs. Once the swarm is eliminated, we can settle our differences.
Now, let's get out there and see who can kill the most bugs!"
"YES, MA'AM!"
The soldiers roared in unison, invigorated by the shift in focus.
On the Frontline
Lyon, Rico, and their mixed force of 400 soldiers received the news of the truce through the comms.
Emerging cautiously from their cover, they gathered at a crossroads near the town center to meet the clones for the supply transfer.
Lyon, aware of the clones' limited autonomy, suspected that their agreement to the truce—and their offer of supplies—was part of a larger plan orchestrated by the Imperium's Investigation Division.
If the clones were delivering supplies, it likely meant the Division intended to strengthen Lyon's position and leadership among the Federation forces.
As the sound of hover engines filled the air, the soldiers saw a convoy of ten hover trucks rounding the corner, heading toward their position.
The troops tensed, raising their weapons in case of treachery.
Lyon joined them, feigning wariness while secretly anticipating the transfer.
The convoy stopped a short distance away.
Twenty armored clones disembarked and approached Lyon and the others, stopping a few meters from the Federation troops.
The soldiers instinctively tightened their grips on their rifles, fingers resting on triggers.
But the clones ignored the tension, their leader stepping forward and addressing Lyon in a gravelly, nasal tone:
"We have brought enough equipment and ammunition to arm 2,000 soldiers, along with supplies to feed your entire force.
If you require additional medical supplies, provide a list, and we will deliver them to a location of your choosing.
We hope this cooperation proves fruitful."
The clone extended its right hand to Lyon.
were visibly uneasy. Despite the clone's gesture of goodwill, the memory of their earlier brutal firefights with the clones was still fresh in their minds.
A few tightened their grips on their weapons, their instincts screaming at them to stay ready for an ambush.
Even Rico glanced at Lyon, whispering, "You sure about this? What if it's a trick?"
But Lyon didn't hesitate. He stepped forward, extending his hand to meet the clone's in a firm handshake.
"Thank you for your assistance," Lyon said evenly, his tone calm but authoritative.
As their hands met, Lyon felt the clone press a small, solid object into his palm. Without breaking stride or revealing anything in his expression, Lyon subtly slipped the object into his pocket as he withdrew his hand.
The soldiers were visibly uneasy. Despite the clone's gesture of goodwill, the memory of their earlier brutal firefights with the clones was still fresh in their minds.
A few tightened their grips on their weapons, their instincts screaming at them to stay ready for an ambush.
Even Rico glanced at Lyon, whispering, "You sure about this? What if it's a trick?"
But Lyon didn't hesitate. He stepped forward, extending his hand to meet the clone's in a firm handshake.
"Thank you for your assistance," Lyon said evenly, his tone calm but authoritative.
As their hands met, Lyon felt the clone press a small, solid object into his palm. Without breaking stride or revealing anything in his expression, Lyon subtly slipped the object into his pocket as he withdrew his hand.
In the distance, a faint rumbling began to grow louder.
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