Chapter 245 — Vengeance

Elderly viewers across the Federation showed complex expressions, memories flooding back of friends who’d died at fifteen, sixteen, seventeen – children forced to become soldiers before they’d learned to be adults.

"The price we paid was severe. Catastrophically severe. All of us watched friends and family die. There is not a single family in this entire Federation that hasn’t paid for our current peace with someone’s life."

His eyes became fierce, burning with intensity that made even watching through screens feel overwhelming.

"But this peace we worked so hard to build? It’s an illusion! A comfortable lie we’ve been telling ourselves!"

His voice rose, carrying across the airways with increasing power.

"While the masses enjoy their peaceful lives, hundreds of soldiers die every single day at the battlefronts. EVERY SINGLE DAY–"

BAM!

He slammed his hand on the podium, the sound echoing like a gunshot.

"–I sign compensation documents for their families! I see young faces on the casualty lists! I see fresh graduates who had dreams of serving the Federation, of making their families proud, of building better lives!"

The passion in his voice was undeniable, the pain genuine.

"On those lists, there were NO commoners! There were NO Nobles! There were NO Imperials! There were only brave human beings who sacrificed their lives for mankind! For the next generation! FOR THE VERY SAME STUDENTS WHO WERE ATTACKED TODAY!"

He paused, his breathing heavy, his entire body radiating conviction.

Silence spread across the entire Federation as millions of people absorbed his words.

"Thousands of people perished today. Hundreds of our next generation are trapped in a hostile portal, fighting for their very lives at this moment while we stand here safe!"

His voice became a roar.

"So I ask all of you – should we remain delusional about our so-called peace?! Should we be foolish enough to remain divided into Nobles and commoners, continuing to weaken ourselves through internal conflict?! Or should we accept the fundamental truth that we are all humans, one and the same, and that our survival depends on unity?!"

The rhetorical questions hung in the air, unanswered but feeling like they demanded response.

"THIS IS NOT A FIGHT WE CAN WIN ALONE! THIS IS NOT A FIGHT WHERE PRIVILEGE AND STATUS MATTER! THIS IS A FIGHT THAT REQUIRES THE BLOOD OF EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US IF WE HOPE TO SURVIVE!"

By the time he finished that sentence, he was shouting, his voice carrying rage and determination in equal measure.

The reporters present, the crowd gathered behind them, everyone watching – they could all feel their blood beginning to boil, emotions rising in response to words that demanded action rather than passive acceptance.

The Chairman pointed toward the destroyed stadium visible through the windows, his gesture sharp and accusatory.

"If we remain divided, that is the fate awaiting all of us! Destruction! Death! Extinction!"

His eyes swept across the cameras as if looking directly at every viewer.

"It is for you – the people of the Federation – to decide! Should we follow the footsteps of our ancestors and unite to defend against our enemies?! Or should we continue fighting amongst ourselves while our true enemies grow stronger?!"

His expression became fierce, almost savage, showing rage that had been building for decades!

"Hell, I say we STOP DEFENDING and start ATTACKING!"

The crowd of reporters behind him started to stir, energy building.

"We should start preparing for our OFFENSIVE! We enter THEIR world! We seek them out! We bring the war to THEM for once instead of cowering behind portals waiting for the next attack!"

His voice became absolutely thunderous.

"VENGEANCE FOR OUR ANCESTORS! VENGEANCE FOR ALL THE SOLDIERS WHO DIE DAILY! VENGEANCE FOR ALL THE THOUSANDS OF INNOCENT PEOPLE WHO DIED TODAY!"

"VENGEANCE!"

The word echoed across the airways like a war drum.

The crowd gathered behind the reporters began shouting, their voices joining together.

"VENGEANCE! VENGEANCE! VENGEANCE!"

In living rooms across the Federation, people stood from their chairs shouting the same word.

In public squares, crowds formed spontaneously, all chanting together.

"VENGEANCE! VENGEANCE! VENGEANCE!"

The sound built and built, spreading like wildfire, thousands becoming millions, all unified by rage and grief and determination.

The Chairman let it continue for several long seconds, letting the emotion build to fever pitch.

Then he raised his hand, and silence fell immediately, showing just how much authority he commanded.

His voice became calmer, but carried undertones that made the words land with tremendous weight.

"And since even a cabinet member – the ACC President herself – was compromised by our enemies, I am announcing an emergency session of the Federation Council."

Hush Hush

Shocked whispers spread even through the chanting crowd.

The emergency session of the Federation Council was only called for matters of existential importance, situations that threatened humanity’s very survival.

It hadn’t been convened for a long time!

"We will ensure no other officials have been compromised! We will root out any enemy infiltration at every level of government! And we will plan our response to this attack with the full resources of humanity brought to bear!"

He paused, his next words carrying finality.

"Gia will personally oversee the investigation and security measures. Anyone who has been compromised will be found. Anyone who threatens humanity from within will be executed without mercy or hesitation!"

The mention of Gia – the mysterious Admin AI – who remained neutral in all internal matters of the world, brought shock to people.

Being investigated by Gia was terrifying even for the innocent.

Because Gia monitored the entire Federation and knew almost everything.

The Chairman’s expression became harder than stone.

"This attack will not break us. It will not divide us. It will only unite us in purpose and strengthen our resolve."

His final words rang out with absolute conviction.

"To the Monsters who did this – who think they can break humanity’s spirit through terrorism and mass murder – understand this clearly: you have awakened something you cannot put back to sleep. You have unified a species that thrives on conflict. You have given us common purpose and common enemy."

His smile was terrifying, carrying promise of violence on scales that would reshape dimensions.

"And we are coming for you."

The broadcast ended.

But the words continued echoing across every platform, every forum and every conversation.

The Federation had been given its rallying cry.

Unity or extinction.

Vengeance or death.