Chapter 489: Mobilization
The Koya Alliance and the Locke Mutual Aid Society—two alliance organizations composed of Outer-ring civilizations—are the closest and bordering powers to the Swarm’s territory.
When the Swarm launched its comprehensive offensive in the past, these two organizations, despite their longstanding grudges, were forced to meet and form an alliance under the pressure.
However, the atmosphere at that time was far from amicable. Decades of animosity were not so easily dissolved. Unlike the Swarm’s direct attacks on the Qi 101 and Qi 102 Star Systems of the Daqi civilization, the Swarm targeted the LKDW 286, 287, and 288 Star Systems on the Locke Mutual Aid Society’s side.
Although numerically speaking, the Swarm attacked more star systems on the Locke Mutual Aid Society’s side, these three star systems strictly speaking did not belong to the Mutual Aid Society’s core territory. At that time, they chose to retreat, which was fundamentally different from the Koya Alliance’s act of relocating the Daqi civilization and ceding territory.
As a result, during the meetings, the Locke Mutual Aid Society frequently mocked the Koya Alliance for this matter. Over the years, they had consistently maintained the moral high ground, occasionally voicing opinions and jabs about it.
But as the tables turned, with the Swarm showing signs of renewed aggression, the Koya Alliance, even if forced to retreat again, had little to lose. Already tarnished in reputation, they had no lower to fall.
The Locke Mutual Aid Society, however, was in a different position. Their previously established image now rendered them more vulnerable. Should they choose to follow the Koya Alliance’s example, the criticism and ridicule they would face would far surpass what the Koya Alliance endured.
The leaders of the Locke Mutual Aid Society, concerned with their image, found this predicament particularly distressing. In inter-civilizational interactions, apart from strength, face and reputation are paramount.
“I agree to resist the Swarm. We must make our stance clear. We are completely different from those cowards in the Koya Alliance. We will not abandon any of our members.”