Starsea Fleet: Age of the Lord

Feng Mo wasn't particularly concerned about whether the Interstellar Human Federation would break apart; his focus was on the potential harm this crisis could bring to the Storm Kingdom.

"Uncle Gu, haven't the Tianqi and Radiant Empires in the Central Sector made a statement yet? Are they also planning something?" Feng Mo's question was pointed, though he left the rest unsaid. Gu Jun paused before replying slowly.

"Feng Mo, I'll be honest with you," he began. "When the Federation was founded, there were no 'empires' as we know them today. Back then, it was a coalition of aristocratic families, influential noble houses, and military and political titans. But humanity's desire for greater interests has no end, which is why the seventeen great empires were eventually established."

"Now, they're presented with a chance to pursue even grander ambitions. Do you really think any of them will hold back? While it may appear that the Western Sector is carving its own path, the truth is that sooner or later, the Yunmeng and Snowhawk Empires will likely be absorbed by the Moonfrost Empire. So, Feng Mo, you need to start preparing now."

It seemed Gu Jun had more to say, but looking at Feng Mo's young face, he held back. Feng Mo understood Gu Jun's reservations, so he refrained from making difficult requests, like asking him to bring the Yunshan Fleet to the Storm Kingdom.

After ending the call, Feng Mo leaned back in his chair, mentally mapping out the Federation's trajectory. He quickly realized that the current position of the Storm Kingdom put it in a precarious spot. The Chaos Star Sea had long been treated as a "backyard" by the Western Sector—an untamed area without a single dominant power. Now, with Feng Mo's Storm Kingdom claiming territory there, it was natural for the surrounding empires to see him as an intruder.

Previously, the Federation, along with the Yunshan and Radiant Empires, kept these empires in check. But with the sector's independence, the Western empires no longer feared the Federation. As they saw it, Feng Mo's Storm Kingdom was an unwelcome presence that had invaded their backyard.

Just then, Feng Mo received another video call. This time, Chu Yunjian's face appeared on the screen, looking slightly troubled.

"Feng Mo, have you heard about the Western Sector's secession?"

"I just discussed it with Uncle Gu. What's the Chu and Hua families' take on this?"

Chu Yunjian's expression lit up a bit. "The Radiant Empire has three main power centers: the aristocratic families, led by the Chu and Hua families; the nobility, led by the military; and the council, led by the Starship Design Department. Right now, all three factions are in agreement about pursuing their own path. However, there's a problem: they don't have a leader among the younger generation."

"My father and Hua Yucheng proposed you as the leader to guide the Radiant Empire forward, but the military and council opposed the idea. It's not entirely off the table yet, but the situation is still unclear. For now, we're waiting to see how things develop."

Feng Mo understood. Although the Chu and Hua families supported him, the Radiant Empire wasn't comprised solely of these two factions. There would always be opposing voices, especially with something as monumental as taking leadership of the empire.

He could see that if he could strengthen the Storm Kingdom to the status of an empire, the Radiant Empire's support would naturally align with him. Proving his worth would solidify his influence there, demonstrating he was capable of leading them to greater prosperity—or perhaps even the Federation's highest seat.

"One more thing," Chu Yunjian added. "Father wanted me to inform you that conflict between the Federation and the three empires in the Western Sector is imminent. The whole Federation will be swept up in it soon. Make your moves before it's too late. If the Western Sector holds its ground, they might come after you later."

"The Radiant Empire won't officially back you in this conflict," he added, "but the Chu and Hua families' fleets are at your service. Quietly, I'll tell you, we've got a few T5 black ops starships—just like the Snowhawk Empire."

Understanding the veiled hint, Feng Mo's mind raced. This was his opportunity. He could take advantage of the Federation's impending clash with the Western Sector to move against the Snowhawk Empire, drawing their fleet back to defend their own territory.

This strategy had several advantages. First, keeping the battle out of the Storm Kingdom would prevent damage to his holdings. Second, it would divert the enemy's attention and forces, as the Snowhawk Empire's T5 fleet would be forced to retreat to defend its borders. Feng Mo wouldn't even need to attack; simply stationing his troops nearby would suffice.

With the Snowhawk Empire's fleet distracted, the Western Sector would be left with only six T5 fleets to fight the two strongest fleets of the Federation—a near-impossible challenge that could very well backfire on them. This would buy the Storm Kingdom the time it needed to develop further, giving him time to bolster his forces and perhaps even overtake the Snowhawk Empire.

The more he thought about it, the more his eyes gleamed. As he finalized his decision, his Spark System's mission module flashed with new updates, adding several temporary missions.

Temporary Mission: Conquer the U1, U2, U4, and U5 star systems. Reward: 10,000 points, T5 Paladin-Class Interstellar Siege Ship blueprint.

Temporary Mission: Decimate the Snowhawk Fleet. Reward: 5,000 points, T5 Pegasus-Class Missile Ship blueprint.

Temporary Mission: Capture the Windmill, Auckland, and Snowhawk star systems. Reward: 10,000 points, T5 Blue Whale-Class Interstellar Fortress blueprint.

The Spark System's offerings were enticing yet challenging, but Feng Mo's heart raced at the sight of these rewards. Combined, these three missions offered a total of 25,000 points and would yield the highly sought-after missile and siege ships of his dreams. Moreover, the T5 Interstellar Fortress was an extraordinary prize—a massive, armed-to-the-teeth mobile fortress comparable to the mythical Xuanwu Fortress.

The missions were difficult, but Feng Mo's path had always been one of facing obstacles and emerging victorious. This would be no different.

Time flew by, and a week after the Frostfall Alliance announced its formation, the entire Federation was in an uproar. As the three Western empires withdrew their fleets from the southern front, the Northern and Central Sectors had no choice but to deploy T5 fleets to fill the gap. Although the Federation remained silent, some within the organization were already preparing for what was to come.

Finally, on the tenth day after the Frostfall Alliance's declaration of independence, the Interstellar Human Federation made its move, announcing its refusal to recognize the new alliance. Two T5 fleets were dispatched to the Moonfrost Empire's borders.

Predictably, the Moonfrost Empire was not inclined to back down, sending four of its T5 fleets to intercept the Federation forces. However, the Federation's fleets proved too formidable, and the Moonfrost Empire was unable to withstand their assault alone. Fortunately, the Yunmeng Empire arrived with two additional T5 fleets, creating a standoff that was only waiting for the Snowhawk Empire's fleet to tip the scales.

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Happy New Year Everyone! May this year bring you joy, peace, and prosperity. Cheers to new beginnings! 🎉🍻🎊