Chapter 682: Humanity's Final Trump Card: Plan Zero (Part 2)

“One-time use?!”

“…”

The councillors finally understood.

Temporarily constructing a “satellite positioning network” in the air meant its altitude definitely couldn’t reach space.

As a result, high-ranking aliens could easily destroy it.

Furthermore, the drones were also consumables. Once damaged in battle or after completing their mission, they couldn’t be used again.

No wonder the “Zero Hour Protocol” was called the Human Alliance’s last trump card.

Hearing this, Gao Neng was also starting to understand.

He had always found it strange. The Alien Race Alliance Army was so powerful, yet how had the Human Alliance managed to struggle on for a hundred years without being wiped out?

In truth, the biggest reason was that humanity possessed a technological civilization.

But there was a fundamental difference between technology and martial strength.

When a person’s strength was depleted, it would recover after a day. However, once technology was damaged, rebuilding it was incredibly troublesome.

‘Technology is a consumable!’

In the hundred years since the Great Cataclysm, the Human Alliance had already consumed far too much.

Therefore, the Human Alliance would never bring out its true technological weapons unless it was the last resort.

“An Alien Race Alliance Army of three hundred thousand… The Beast Race and Celestial Race are really trying to fight us to the death… In that case, let’s fight them to the death!” a councillor stood up and declared.

“No, we can’t!”

“That’s right! If we go all out now, what will we do when they revive in a year?!”

“Exactly. We can’t go all out now. We have to endure. We wait for the final, decisive battle a year from now. That way, we’ll at least have a chance to secure the next twenty years!”

Councillors immediately voiced their opposition.

“But if we don’t fight, how can we possibly defend this place? An Alien Race Alliance Army of three hundred thousand! How many people do we have in the Eastern District Fortress? Not even eighty thousand! How can we defend it?” As this councillor spoke, his gaze unconsciously drifted to Gao Neng, who had remained silent.

It wasn’t just him. The other councillors were also looking at Gao Neng now.

‘That’s right!’

‘If they don’t activate the Zero Hour Protocol…’

‘The only thing they can rely on is Gao Neng’s plan.’

‘But those are aliens!’

‘Who would be willing to entrust their back to aliens?!’

“Let’s vote!”

“Right, there’s no more time for debate! Let’s just vote to decide whether to activate the Zero Hour Protocol or… wait for reinforcements from the North District!”

“…”

As the councillors said this, their gazes fell back upon Wu Qingjing.

“Gao Neng, what is your opinion?” Wu Qingjing nodded. However, he didn’t immediately stand to call for a vote. Instead, he first solicited Gao Neng’s opinion.

“Democracy, freedom.” Gao Neng shrugged.

“Fine. In that case, let’s put it to a vote!” Wu Qingjing clenched his jaw. There really was no more time for arguments.

It could only be decided by a vote!

“All in favor of activating the Zero Hour Protocol, raise your hands!”

“I stand by my opinion. Activate the Zero Hour Protocol!” Liangshan was the first to raise his hand. “The Eastern District’s aliens aren’t fools. As long as we reveal the Zero Hour Protocol, they will definitely not clash with us head-on. Otherwise, how could they fend off sneak attacks from aliens in other regions? Therefore, I believe activating the Zero Hour Protocol is the most stable option at this stage. Besides, the consumption won’t be as great as we imagine!”

“Elder Liang has a point. The Alien Race Alliance Army looks united on the surface, but in reality, they’re a disorganized mess. Revealing the Zero Hour Protocol would be a sufficient deterrent to the Eastern District’s aliens. They might even retreat! So, I also agree with Elder Liang’s opinion. Activate the Zero Hour Protocol!”

“I object. We can’t pin our hopes on whether the enemy retreats. We must rely on our own strength. Moreover, revealing the Zero Hour Protocol now would be extremely disadvantageous to the Human Alliance. There’s still a year to go. Who knows what might happen? If we alert the enemy to the Zero Hour Protocol, how will we fight the war in a year’s time?”

“That’s not wrong. I also object!”

“I support Elder Liang’s opinion! Activate the Zero Hour Protocol!”

“I support!”

“I object!”

“I object!”

“…”

“Seven votes in favor, four against? Gao Neng… what about you?” Wu Qingjing frowned, his gaze finally landing on Gao Neng.

“Naturally, I stand by my opinion. I object.” Gao Neng nodded lightly.

“Seven votes to five…” Wu Qingjing’s fists tightened. He then spoke again, “I am the Speaker, so I possess a special authority I can use three times to turn one vote into two. I will now—”

“Wait!”

Just then, Qin Lei, who had been silent the whole time, spoke up.

“Elder Qin?” The councillors all turned to look at Qin Lei. After all, by regulation, the decisions of the Supreme Council did not require the participation of the Strongest.

“I know the council’s regulations, but didn’t you all say it yourselves? This is a meeting that doesn’t follow the rules. Since we’re not following the rules, why don’t we let everyone present vote together? I wonder if anyone has any objections?” Qin Lei said with a smile.

“This…”

“Since Elder Qin has spoken, we will naturally abide by his opinion.” Liangshan looked around and finally nodded.

“Good. Then I will express my opinion.” Qin Lei nodded, then pointed to the various bottles on the table. “Everyone here should know how important these ‘Sacred Liquids’ are to the aliens, right? Now that these Sacred Liquids are right here in front of us, what is there to hesitate about? What is there to disbelieve?”

“Gao Neng went to the North District and came back!”

“And he broke through to the ninth rank! Could anyone have believed such a thing was possible?”

“But it’s the truth!”

“There’s an old saying on the battlefield: victory is won through surprise. And to achieve that element of ‘surprise’ always requires seven parts danger and three parts luck! Where can you find a one-hundred-percent guaranteed miracle?”

“Since Gao Neng dares to entrust our backs to the aliens of the North District, then so do I!”

As Qin Lei said this, the corner of his mouth lifted into a smirk.

“I support Gao Neng’s decision!”

“Hahaha, Gao Neng is my apprentice. I really can’t find any reason not to support him,” Li Tiannan also said with a laugh.

“The new generation surpasses the old. The young need to be tempered and tested, but we old fossils also need to give them a stage to perform on. Mmm, alright, I support Gao Neng!”

“I support him too!”

“I support!”

“…”

“Although I didn’t hear what you all were talking about, since it’s Gao Neng’s decision, I might as well support it too,” Qin Jianfei said with a smile.

“I can’t possibly object to my future grandson-in-law’s decision. Ning’Er, what do you say?” Shen Changsheng glanced at Shen Ning’Er and Gao Neng as he spoke casually.

“Mmm, Grandpa is right!” Shen Ning’Er glanced at Shen Changsheng. Without any sign of blushing or embarrassment, she simply nodded in reply.

“Hahaha, this granddaughter of mine… she takes after me!” Shen Changsheng roared with laughter.

“Congratulations, Vice Commander Shen!”

“Congratulations, Division Commander Shen!”

“Congratulations, Councillor Gao!”

“…”

“Alright, in that case, the result of the vote is clear. Then let’s officially—” Wu Qingjing looked around, the stone in his heart finally lifting. He was about to make the announcement.

“Wait!” Liangshan immediately interrupted.

“Elder Liang, do you have any other opinions?” Wu Qingjing frowned.

“I have no objection to the matter decided by the council’s vote, but I propose a new vote: to make the ‘Zero Hour Protocol’ the backup plan for this war!” Liangshan shook his head.

“Make the ‘Zero Hour Protocol’ the backup plan?”

“Correct!”

“What does everyone think?”

“Acceptable!”

“That would be the safest approach!”

“Then let’s vote!”

“I support it!”

“Agreed!”

“…”

The result was quickly determined.

This time, even Qin Lei and the others voted in favor.