Reborn as Humanity’s Emperor Across the Multiverse

Not long after, in a small conference room within the governor's mansion:

"What?!"

Johnson Holhold's exclamation echoed through the room.

As Campbell's governor, his astonishment was unmistakable. The surrounding Campbell officials also widened their eyes in disbelief, whispering among themselves in low tones.

"The expedition fleet was defeated so quickly?!"

"The flagship of the Human Empire is ten kilometers long…"

"Our forces couldn't even withstand a single barrage? Oh… my God."

The shock of the Campbell leadership stemmed from hearing the recounting of the expedition fleet's experience at New Hope from Leon, Maggie, and their team.

The catastrophic losses at New Hope had clearly exceeded their expectations.

Leon described the flagship of the Blood Angels, Red Tears, commanded by Primarch Sanguinius—a ten-kilometer-long Gloriana-class Battleship.

Its blade-like, fortress-like design, combined with the overwhelming firepower of the Imperial fleet, allowed it to obliterate the Federation's lines in just a few barrages, shattering the expedition fleet and capturing their forces with ruthless efficiency.

What shocked Johnson and the Campbell leadership even more was how Colonel Honard Thompson's series of poor decisions had directly led to the devastating losses among the mobile infantry.

Due to Thompson's repeated errors in judgment, 40,000 mobile infantry had been suppressed by the Empire's clone troopers in the opening stages of the battle. The officer ranks suffered heavy casualties in the first wave of the assault, causing a breakdown in command and leaving the troops in complete disarray.

Faced with the enemy's precise strikes, the infantry had no opportunity to organize an effective counterattack. With most of their officers dead, morale among the main forces plummeted to unprecedented lows.

As the casualty numbers climbed, the situation became increasingly desperate.

Realizing that blindly following orders would only lead to the annihilation of more comrades, Leon and Maggie decided to break away from the chain of command. Together with like-minded colleagues, they led their units in a daring breakout, opening a path of survival for the remaining infantry.

Through decisive action, they managed to save over 30,000 mobile infantry and escape to Campbell.

As Leon and Maggie recounted these events, Johnson and the other Campbell leaders cross-referenced the details with intelligence and rumors they had gathered through various channels. They concluded that Leon's defiance of Federation orders, while technically insubordination, had been the only way to save the remaining troops.

In particular, upon learning that Colonel Honard Thompson's incompetence had directly resulted in the needless deaths of over a thousand mobile infantry, Johnson and the Campbell officials erupted in anger, cursing openly.

The Federation's ability to maintain its massive fleet and "swarm-like" mobile infantry forces relied heavily on the heavy taxation of the solar system and its colonies.

Campbell's contributions were no small part of this.

Yet, the Federation leadership not only ignored the actual threat posed by the Human Empire but also entrusted the ground command to an incompetent officer like Honard Thompson, who had secured his position purely through family connections.

As a result, tens of thousands of soldiers died in vain due to his poor decisions.

The Federation leadership's true intent was merely to help this "spoiled brat" build his military credentials.

Were all the Federation's commanders such fools?!

The Federation clearly had no regard for the survival and safety of its colonies!

Johnson was particularly furious about how the taxes Campbell had paid over the years had been squandered so recklessly.

If those resources had been used to establish Campbell's own professional military, the colony could have been self-sufficient in the face of the Zerg threat and even better prepared to handle external conflicts.

This realization only deepened the frustration and resentment among Johnson and his officials.

They began to recognize that mere dependence on the Federation might not be a viable long-term strategy. Establishing their own military and securing greater autonomy could be the key to navigating future upheavals.

As the heated criticisms and dissatisfaction began to subside, the atmosphere in the conference room grew quieter.

Governor Johnson swept his gaze across the room, eventually resting his eyes on Leon, who sat across the "U"-shaped table. A faint smile formed on Johnson's face as he spoke:

"Sergeant Kennedy, to be honest, ever since your fleet exited warp and entered Campbell's gravitational field, we've been unable to contact Earth headquarters.

Perhaps the recent stellar storms have disrupted communications.

But rest assured, as long as you are willing to assist Campbell in defending against the Arachnid Zerg and a potential Human Empire invasion, we will provide two months of supplies at no cost. This should allow your forces to rest and recover."

Hearing this, Leon allowed an expression of gratitude to surface naturally on his face. He responded sincerely, "Thank you, Governor Holhold, for your generosity and trust."

Internally, however, Leon breathed a sigh of relief. Although he had anticipated that Campbell's leadership harbored resentment toward the Federation, he hadn't expected that a single briefing would be enough to secure a stationing agreement.

It seemed that there was no need to resort to intimidation or further negotiation to establish a foothold here.

In reality, Leon knew full well that the "communication disruption" was simply a ruse orchestrated by the intelligent AI, which had severed all channels connecting them to Earth.

The AI's goal was to buy time for the remnants of the expedition fleet and ensure that Leon had the upper hand going into the negotiations.

Now that the stationing agreement had been successfully finalized, this outcome was precisely what the AI had sought to achieve.

However, after the agreement was signed, they would still have to face the "storm" of retaliation from the Federation leadership.

At this moment, Johnson shifted the topic, his expression showing a hint of concern as he asked:

"Sergeant Kennedy, you and your officers have collectively removed Colonel Honard Thompson from command and unilaterally decided to lead the remnants of the fleet to Campbell. Once the Federation learns of this, they will undoubtedly seize the opportunity to strike back.

Have you already prepared a contingency plan?"

"Heh."

Before Leon could answer, Ace chuckled lightly with a hint of disdain and said,

"The Federation? What right do they have to strike back? Besides, with that incompetent Space Marshal constantly making disastrous decisions, he might actually be worse than Honard Thompson!

The Arachnid Zerg are clearly a common threat to both humanity and the rebels. Logically, the Federation should prioritize defeating this enemy rather than wasting every effort on purging dissent and framing their own people."

As soon as Ace finished speaking, Rico chimed in:

"When the Zerg threat begins to reach the inner colonies—maybe even Earth itself—the Federation leadership will use it as an opportunity to divert attention from internal strife.

They'll exploit the conflict between the two species to shift the blame outward, covering up their own incompetence.

When that time comes, the Federation will suffer no losses. Instead, by blaming their political enemies for the crisis, they'll strengthen their own rule."

"Exactly. They might even shamelessly claim it's all in the name of safeguarding humanity, using the opportunity to eliminate all their rivals," added Dizzy Flores, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

Hearing these remarks exposing the Federation's internal corruption, one of the Campbell officials couldn't suppress his anger. Slamming the table, he exclaimed:

"Of course! They bear no losses—it's always us frontier colonies that pay the price!

Those Federation leaders squander our taxes and manpower, leaving us to fend for ourselves! To them, our lives are nothing more than insignificant numbers on a ledger!"

The heated words further ignited the room's tense atmosphere, with the Campbell officials expressing their dissatisfaction with the Federation one after another.

Leon silently observed everyone in the room, gradually gaining clarity.

The discontent among Campbell's leadership had clearly reached a boiling point. The Federation's exploitation and neglect had left them completely disillusioned.

It seemed that only a "final push" was needed to bring Campbell fully into the Empire's fold.

Swoosh—!

Suddenly, the conference room's automatic doors slid open.

"Governor!"

Before the doors were even fully opened, Johnson's secretary hurried in with an urgent expression.

Johnson, understanding that his typically composed secretary wouldn't act this way without reason, immediately softened his tone and said,

"Calm down. Speak slowly—what's going on? Why the rush?"

The secretary took a deep breath to compose herself but still spoke with urgency:

"Governor, we've just restored communications with Earth!

However, they are demanding that the remnants of the expedition fleet return to Earth immediately!

And that's not all—we've also detected a Zerg fleet advancing toward Campbell. Based on its trajectory, it will enter our orbital defense range in approximately six hours!"

As she spoke, the secretary quickly moved to the end of the "U"-shaped table and activated a display screen.

The screen lit up, showing the details and trajectory of the Zerg fleet. Countless red dots represented the swarm of Zerg vessels heading their way.

All eyes in the room turned to the screen, and the atmosphere grew even heavier.

The air of unease quickly permeated the room, weighing on everyone like a crushing force.

The very scenario they feared most—the arrival of a Zerg fleet—had now become a reality.

Rumors of these Zerg fleets described them as harbingers of total annihilation, leaving nothing but desolation in their wake. The sheer scale of the swarm far exceeded Campbell's defensive capabilities.

"What's meant

to happen has finally come," Johnson sighed, his face growing more grave by the moment.

The governor knew full well that Campbell was utterly incapable of repelling such a massive Zerg invasion.

And yet, at this critical moment, the Federation was demanding the immediate withdrawal of the expedition remnants, effectively abandoning the colony to its doom.

Evacuation seemed like the only option, but time and resources were both in critically short supply.

Even if they initiated an emergency evacuation immediately, mobilizing every civilian and commercial vessel, they could only save around 200,000 people—a fraction of the colony's total population.

In such circumstances, any attempt to evacuate would be like trying to extinguish a raging inferno with a cup of water. Worse still, it would mean standing by helplessly as countless others were devoured by the Zerg.

The expressions of the Campbell officials were grim as they discussed potential responses in hushed tones.

Rico, Ace, and Dizzy were equally shaken by the size of the Zerg fleet displayed on the screen.

The swarm appeared even larger than the one that had attacked New Hope.

Even if they chose to remain and assist Campbell in defending against the oncoming wave, it would be a hopeless endeavor without Federation reinforcements.

As the room fell into an oppressive silence, the secretary sighed in frustration and displayed the live video feed from Earth on the screen.

The display showed an older male officer in his sixties, clad in a gray-green uniform.

!!!

The room's heavy silence was abruptly broken by the appearance of the man on the screen.

Upon recognizing him, every Campbell official, including Johnson, froze in shock.

Rico, Ace, Dizzy, and the others immediately stood up and saluted the figure, exclaiming:

"Marshal Dean!"

Leon and Maggie also stood at attention, saluting without a word, their expressions composed.

The elderly officer on the screen was none other than Marshal Dean, the current Supreme Commander of the Federation's armed forces.

"At ease, soldiers."

Dean nodded slightly, raising a hand to signal them to relax. His calm tone carried an undeniable authority.

Turning his attention to Leon, Dean furrowed his brow slightly and spoke firmly:

"Sergeant Leon Kennedy, in light of your decisions that prevented the total annihilation of the expedition fleet, the Federation hereby promotes you to the rank of major and grants you command over the remaining forces.

The ranks of your accompanying personnel will also be adjusted accordingly. The official documents will be transmitted to you shortly."

The sudden promotion left everyone in the room stunned.

It seemed that Dean admired Leon's actions and had overridden the influence of Honard Thompson's family to make this decision.

However, it was more likely that Dean's decision was a calculated move to pacify Leon and his team.

Once Leon led the remnants of the expedition fleet back to Earth, it was highly probable that they would be arrested by elite agents from the Political Division, silenced, and imprisoned for good.

Almost everyone present could sense the hidden implications of Dean's actions, and Leon, being a seasoned strategist, was no exception.

Moreover, with the Zerg fleet closing in on Campbell, the colony faced an existential crisis.

As the only remaining professional military force on the planet, the expedition fleet remnants could not afford to abandon Campbell, especially after receiving supplies from Governor Johnson and his team. This only strengthened Leon's resolve to stand and fight.

Straightening his posture, Leon saluted once more. After lowering his hand, he responded decisively:

"Thank you for your recognition, Marshal, but I must respectfully decline this order.

We cannot stand by and watch as two million human lives are slaughtered by the Zerg. The remaining forces will hold the line here until the enemy is completely repelled!"

"That's right!"

Ace immediately chimed in, echoing Leon's words with determination.

Dean's expression darkened as Leon refused the order. Struggling to contain his anger, he offered a justification:

"The Federation is not abandoning Campbell. The plan is for you to retreat and rendezvous with the 12th Fleet.

The 12th Fleet will take full responsibility for Campbell's situation. If you remain here, you'll only find yourselves isolated and unsupported. The 12th Fleet will need at least two Earth days to arrive!"

"We are not entirely unsupported," Leon replied, firmly rejecting the order once again. "We can request reinforcements from the Human Empire at New Hope."

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