Russell and Bernadotte, who hurried back to the capital from the front line in Lucerne, exchanged a glance and thought simultaneously, "It’s here..."
After receiving the joint order from the Supre Command Departnt and the President’s Office, Russell and Bernadotte discussed the possible situations they might face. The options were limited; the President’s request for the two front-line commanders to return is naturally related to the conflict between the front-line war situation and dostic political affairs.
This matter had already been discussed between Russell, Bernadotte, and President Hamilton before the front command was relocated to Lucerne. As the saying goes, compassion does not command soldiers; casualties in war are rely an indicator of the battle situation. The most important thing is that the war must achieve the pre-planned strategic goals and serve political objectives.
Take Miloke Planet for instance: even if the post-war statistics show that Federation Army casualties far exceed those of the Gazalin Empire Army, ultimately, the Federation Army completely expelled the Imperial Army from Miloke, reclaid the massive base of Miloke Main Star, and cut off the Gazalin Empire’s jump point to the Newton Star System, forcing the Gazalin Empire to fully retreat from the Newton Star System to preserve its strength.
The victory in the Miloke Star System also signified a strategic shift for the Leray Federation from defensive to offensive against the Gazalin Empire. Whether it be dostic morale, the economy, international opinion, or trust among allies, all soared with this victory. More importantly, the Federation Army gained the experience, preparation, and confidence of victory, which cannot be asured by casualties.
Since Russell and Bernadotte’s last special report on the Lucerne war situation to the Supre Command Departnt and the President’s Office, Hamilton had indeed unconditionally supported all front-line demands as he promised. And the front line responded with a series of victories, creating a harmonious and tacit cooperation. However, with several major countries in the Western Alliance proposing a peace resolution at the Human Supre Council, things beca no longer simple.
The Human Supre Council’s proposal for an imdiate ceasefire, and the phased withdrawal of the Gazalin troops from the Galileo Star System over three years under international supervision, has turned into the opposition party’s peace advocacy, garnering considerable support, especially from families who lost loved ones at the front lines, who abhor the war. They gathered, hoping to influence the ruling authorities to make appropriate adjustnts to the war strategy, instead of continuously fighting as they are now.
The unavoidable high casualties in the recent Lucerne battle have deeply grieved these people, who yearn desperately to return to their forr lives and want no more Federation children sacrificed in this war.
However, the people do not realize that this war cannot end in a peaceful way. Neither is this the end of the war, it is rely the beginning for the entire human society. The Leray Federation too cannot escape this fate; the war fire sweeping across the universe is on the verge of erupting, and those major countries show no sign of dialogue or restraint. On the contrary, they are fully preparing for war.
The seemingly at-hand peace is actually just a phantom. Once the war begins, this phantom will turn into a shadow, casting over the Leray Federation’s head, bringing even greater pain to everyone. Without achieving a decisive victory, sufficient political benefits cannot be gained, and the so-called reluctantly accepted peace will only result in worse consequences.
The absurd clamor for peace has begun to strengthen, shown by the recent proposals aid at increasing military funding and front-line recruitnt, all of which were jointly resisted by opposition party mbers and passed by a narrow margin. The current passage is due to the ruling Leray Republican Party’s absolute majority in parliant, but with the parliantary elections in two months, letting the current anti-war sentint beco mainstream could jeopardize the Republican Party’s seats. If they suffer a crushing defeat in the elections, just imagining the critical monts of war being stalled by unresolved ergency decisions would send chills down everyone’s spine.
By that ti, it would an the ruling Republican Party has lost the people’s trust, leaving an incapable President with the only option of resigning.
Russell and Bernadotte could almost confirm that Hamilton’s summons at this ti is because the so-called peace advocacy is becoming increasingly rampant, and Hamilton no longer has the firm resolve he used to have regarding subsequent political and warti affairs. The situation isn’t that bad currently, but if front-line battles continue this way, what happens in two months is hard to predict.
If the President withdraws support, this war will turn into a farce criticized by future generations, which is unacceptable for Russell, who is determined to use Federation power to overthrow the Morton family regi. Hearing Hamilton vaguely broach the subject, Rassen smiled and said, "Yes, such a thing wouldn’t happen in Gazalin, but..." He nodded to the President’s secretary who placed the coffee in front of him, waiting for the secretary to leave the office and close the door, then lifted the coffee cup and smiled, "This doesn’t seem like a good thing for that self-proclaid wise dictator."
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