Commander Mark's judgment was like a cold alarm bell, ringing through the core of the Order Alliance.
Taviel had not perished; its power had infiltrated the Alliance's body in the most insidious and covert ways.
Those Clones who had returned safely were like nano-bombs implanted in their veins, threatening the very foundation of the civilization's existence.
However, Trigg's preemptive purge was like roughly cauterizing a festering sore on the skin with a red-hot iron; the surface was charred and scabbed, seemingly clean, but had the source of the infection deep within been removed?
Had the spreading toxins been contained?
The answers were buried beneath carefully disguised ruins and corpses.
Commander Mark stood on the bridge of the Ark flagship, his molten-gold eyes gazing at the star map.
On the star map, the massive chaotic shadow representing the Old Japanese Body still loomed in the deep reaches of space, dormant like a sleeping leviathan.
Yet, the data representing the activity of the Great Old Ones' derivatives had significantly receded to a relatively safe threshold, thanks to the powerful sweep of the Trigg Fortress Star Cluster and the continuous eradication efforts of the Order Alliance.
"Low-intensity polluted derivatives... are no longer a concern."
Commander Mark's voice was calm, yet carried an undeniable weight.
"But beneath this false calm, the crisis is not over. Trigg's purge cut off our leads to trace the source of Taviel's infiltration and covered up too many things."
"The Great Old Ones will not remain silent; They are merely waiting, or attempting... more covert methods of erosion."
He turned, his gaze sweeping over Allen, Eve, Rudy, and several core Titan Avatars.
"I need to leave."
Commander Mark's decision startled everyone.
"Commander Mark?!" Rudy couldn't help but exclaim.
"Where are you going? How many people do you need?" Allen immediately asked, his brow furrowed.
"One person." Commander Mark's answer was decisive.
"To the depths of the universe, to the deepest Great Old Ones-polluted ruins, to areas with abnormal spatial structures... to verify my hypothesis."
"Taviel's core power lies in doorways and pathways; its infiltration would never be as simple as just creating Clones."
"It must be searching for, or creating... larger passages, the wounds of the universe."
He looked at the three Titan Avatars.
"The Titan Clan's database is vast, but records regarding the specific operation of the Great Old Ones' core authorities, especially for an Outer God-level entity like Taviel, are often incomplete."
"I need to see for myself, to experience it personally. Within the Alliance..."
Commander Mark paused, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes.
"My existence is the biggest thorn in Trigg's and the Council of Elders' eyes. If I leave, they will relax their vigilance, and some things... might then surface."
"You staying here will allow you to see more clearly."
Eve said with firm eyes.
"Commander Mark, go with peace of mind. We will guard this place and watch their every move!"
Allen took a deep breath, suppressing his worry.
"Understood. We will maintain the operation of the Order Alliance, advance the application of Titan Clan technology, continue to rescue the fringe star systems, and await your return."
Rudy heavily thumped his chest.
"Commander Mark, come back soon! If those bastards dare to cause trouble, I, Rudy, will be the first to object!"
The cold voice of the Titan Avatar rang out.
"Observation... Universe... Anomaly... Data... Sharing... Survival... Probability... Calculation... Requires... More... Variables..."
Commander Mark nodded.
"Take care, stay in touch, but do not contact me actively unless it's an emergency."
"Remember, be vigilant against any abnormal calm, and against any purge that attempts to erase traces."
The news of Commander Mark's decision to leave the Alliance's core area for personal exploration was like a giant stone dropped into a calm lake, creating enormous ripples among the Alliance's high command.
Inside the Boulder Fortress controlled by Trigg, a flash of relief flickered in his eyes, immediately covered by his usual coldness.
"He finally... had the good sense to leave."
Trigg whispered to his trusted general.
"Without the Star Avatar as a banner, his so-called Order Alliance is nothing but a loose sand. Keep a close eye on them, especially Allen and their contact point with the Titan Avatar."
"Any resource allocation, any personnel change, I want to know immediately!"
The Council of Elders, meanwhile, breathed a sigh of relief.
Commander Mark's existence was like a volcano that could erupt at any time; his power commanded both awe and fear.
His departure meant that the biggest variable, capable of disrupting the current fragile balance, had temporarily exited the stage.
The Speaker even expressed a hint of genuine, or at least outwardly genuine, emotion.
"Commander Mark has contributed much to the Alliance; it is time for him to rest and explore the mysteries of the universe. The Alliance will always be his backing."
And so.
A grand farewell and Alliance security outlook banquet, nominally hosted by the Council of Elders and strongly supported by Trigg's faction, was held in the Crown of Stars Hall, the most luxurious hall at the Alliance headquarters.
The banquet was resplendent with light, and guests gathered in droves.
Gentle interstellar symphonies flowed, and exquisite synthetic foods were abundant.
Trigg, in a luxurious imperial gown, wore a formal smile, chatting and laughing with the Speaker of the Council of Elders and others, his words filled with praise for Commander Mark's achievements and hopes for the Alliance's bright future.
It was as if the previous discord in the City of Hope had never happened.
The Council of Elders also smiled broadly, echoing his sentiments, creating an image of harmony and prosperity.
Commander Mark, in simple dark casual clothes, seemed out of place in the crowd. He calmly accepted the various false congratulations and platitudes of 'bon voyage,' his molten-gold eyes showing no ripples deep within.
Allen, Eve, Rudy, and others accompanied him, their faces not looking too good.
They could clearly feel the scrutiny, calculation, and even a hint of schadenfreude in the surrounding gazes.
"Commander Mark, your departure is truly a great loss to the Alliance!"
"However, exploring the mysteries of the universe and pursuing a higher realm is also a model for our generation!"
A general from Trigg's faction approached with a wine glass, a wide smile on his face, but the meaning behind his words was thought-provoking.
"Indeed, Commander Mark, travel with peace of mind. With Trigg and us old-timers watching over the Alliance, it will be as solid as a rock!"
An Elder echoed.
"We hope you can bring back valuable knowledge about the universe to contribute to the Alliance's future."
The Speaker's smile was impeccable.
Commander Mark merely nodded slightly, saying nothing more.
His gaze swept across the hall, pausing in a corner where a nearly transparent figure of a Titan stood quietly, no wine glass in its hand, simply watching the boisterous feast.
Their gazes briefly met in the air.
The Titan shook its head slightly, its lips silently opening and closing, the message directly imprinted into Commander Mark's consciousness.
"Beneath the feast... undercurrents surge... the universe's wound... never healed... take care..."
Commander Mark understood.
He raised a glass of clear water, his voice calm yet clearly resounding through the hall.
"Thank you all for your hospitality. The future of the Alliance is in your hands. I hope you all... prioritize the greater good."
After speaking, he drank it down, placed the empty glass on a waiter's tray, and without looking at anyone else, turned and walked directly out of the banquet hall.
Allen and the others followed closely.
The feast continued, the music still melodious.
But after Commander Mark's departure, the veil of false harmony in the hall seemed to thin considerably.
Trigg's smile vanished, his eyes sweeping in the direction Allen and the others had left, then glancing at the spot in the corner where the Titan Clan figure had disappeared, his gaze becoming even more profound and inscrutable.
The Council of Elders exchanged glances, whispering something.
...
Commander Mark's Ark, like a lonely sword, pierced through the stargate of the Alliance's core star systems and vanished into the vast deep space.
The day after he left, the internal power struggles within the Alliance, like beasts unleashed from their seals, revealed their ferocious fangs.
Several key resource planets under the jurisdiction of the Order Alliance suddenly received official notifications from the Council of Elders' Resource Management Committee.
The notifications, citing optimization of resource allocation and prioritizing the core defense construction of the Trigg Fortress Star Cluster, demanded significant reductions or even suspension of resource supply quotas to the Order Alliance.
Allen argued vehemently, submitting detailed scientific research and production plans, proving that these resources were crucial for enhancing the entire Alliance's combat power.
However, lengthy administrative procedures, various compliance reviews, and the bureaucratic foot-dragging of the Council of Elders made resource allocation exceptionally difficult.
Production lines faced the risk of shutdown.
Meanwhile, several top military-industrial enterprises and scientific research institutions controlled by Trigg's faction suddenly offered irresistibly generous terms, aggressively poaching core scientists and engineers involved in Titan Clan technology analysis and weapon development from the Order Alliance.
Many of these talents had been painstakingly recruited and cultivated by Allen.
Faced with the temptation of doubled salaries, top-tier laboratory conditions, and a safer, more stable work environment, many wavered.
Allen and the others had to expend immense effort to appease them, raise their benefits, and even use some of Commander Mark's remaining prestige to retain them, running themselves ragged.
On the fifth day after Commander Mark's departure.
Some interstellar media outlets closely associated with Trigg began objectively reporting negative news about the Order Alliance, such as slow rescue operations in the fringe star systems, opaque resource distribution, and chaotic internal management.
At the same time, they extensively promoted the impregnability of the Trigg Fortress Star Cluster and its welfare provisions for internal citizens, shaping Trigg's image as the Alliance's guardian, subtly disparaging Commander Mark as idle and disregardful of the Alliance's safety.
In the fringe areas near the Order Alliance's controlled territory, some previously wavering small factions and planets, under the coercion and inducements of Trigg's diplomatic delegation, began to align with the Trigg Fortress Star Cluster, seeking Trigg's protection.
The Order Alliance's sphere of influence was quietly eroded.
The Council of Elders, under the guise of deepening technological exchange and promoting Alliance unity, frequently and extremely politely invited the three Titan Avatars to visit and guide top research institutes controlled by the Council of Elders or participate in joint projects.
Their purpose was obvious.
They sought to bypass Commander Mark and establish direct contact with the Titan Clan to gain deeper knowledge.
The Titan Avatars, based on cold logic and protocols for improving the efficiency of low-entropy creations, sometimes accepted some invitations.
Allen and the others could not forcefully prevent it; they could only try their best to arrange reliable personnel to accompany them and repeatedly emphasize to the Titan Clan their primary cooperative relationship with Commander Mark, feeling mentally exhausted...
The lights in Allen's office burned all night.
He rubbed his throbbing temples, looking at the mountain of rejected resource applications, resignations from core technical personnel, and reports of a fringe planet aligning with Trigg on his screen. Fatigue washed over him like a tide.
"These bastards! How many days has Commander Mark been gone?!"
Rudy punched the alloy wall, leaving a shallow dent, and roared in anger.
Eve, meanwhile, calmly analyzed the intelligence.
"Trigg is systematically weakening us, and the Council of Elders is seizing opportunities for profit. We must fight back, or by the time Commander Mark returns, the Order Alliance might be nothing but an empty shell!"
"Fight back? With what?" Allen smiled bitterly.
"We don't have Trigg's military power and territory, nor the Council of Elders' administrative network and propaganda machine. A head-on confrontation would only accelerate division, playing right into their hands. We can only defend now!"
"Hold on to the core research team, hold on to the channels of communication with the Titan Clan, hold on to the hearts of the people in those rescued star systems, and let the facts speak."
"Use our tangible results and rescue operations in the fringe star systems to counter their smear campaigns! Wait for Commander Mark's return, or..."
"Or what?" Rudy pressed.
Allen's gaze turned to the deep universe outside the window, his expression grave.
"Or wait... for the real crisis to erupt. At that time, these petty schemers might finally be seen for what they are."
They were like sentinels guarding the last embers in a storm, facing overt and covert attacks from their allies, able only to cope exhaustedly and struggle to hold on.
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