The rest of the day went on without any incidents, but the discussions in the Zhongnanhai lasted until midnight. Today was probably the most critical day for the future of the Alliance.
I returned to the embassy shortly after the Chinese police completely surrounded the meeting hall and the building itself.
While I was in the embassy, a message was received from Mars. I went to confirm the transmission of the message and have a look.
'--==DECRYPTED OUTPUT==--
MJD 217348
People's Republic of Mars - Naval Forces
S-Co Miranda has regretfully confirmed the destruction of the Martian flagship Olympia and gunship Hercules in a collision during an orbital manuever. SAR teams still have no information about Admiral Fatih or Commander Valtteri. Investigation is ongoing.
FC Minerva of the Homeland Defense Fleet will serve as the new flagship of the Martian Navy from now on. (Currently orbiting Mars)
The remaining assets near Ceres will follow these orders:
*EC Idyll, MC Nezha, MC Yer Tanri, G Yakutiya will group up in sparse formation and retreat to Callisto.
*FC Athena, Co Holland, G Sebil will retreat to Mars.
*MC Revolution, MC Volta will remain in high orbit for delaying action. After Ceres is overrun, they will meet S-Co Tanaka in Mars Lagrange Point 2.
--==END OF DECRYPTED PACKAGE==--'
I was amazed by our undoing. We had lost two ships, one being the Martian flagship; and like that wasn't bad enough already, we were now about to retreat from Ceres, the second most fortified Republic territory after Mars itself.
With allies or not, there was very little hope of turning the tide after this point.
For that moment, I let everything off of my mind. I couldn't take everything the life was throwing at me. For once, I wanted to stop thinking about war and destruction.
I left the embassy in the middle of the night to have a walk around Beijing, simply watching the city lights and the aircraft flying overhead. I would love to run into the forests or dive into the rivers of planet Earth, but that was what Beijing had to offer for me. At least the air quality here was better than most Martian settlements I have visited... And it was gradually getting better since China recently approved an environmental restoration initiative.
After walking for kilometers, I sat down in front of what seemed to be a small shop or storage of some sort. I watched the people walking around, and the sounds of various vehicles passing by.
Eren's words were echoing in my head. Right now; leaving the Navy, running away to remote village and being a rice farmer was looking like a really good idea. I would rather have physical pains instead of this chaos and the mess of the Martian Navy.
I closed my eyes and tried to imagine what a rice farm would be like. So far, I've only seen the photographs of the farms on Earth. I was really wondering how it would feel like if I was actually working in one.
My meditation session didn't last long, however. Someone was trying to contact me from the embassy. My Vineura was pulsating.
"Commander, this is Nuan. You absolutely, definitely HAVE TO come to the embassy right now, at this moment, and in this very-"
"Okay, shut up, I get it. What is the problem?" I asked as I got up and started walking back to the embassy.
"I must tell you face to face. Come on."
I sighed and started walking faster.
- - - - -
When I arrived at the embassy, Nuan was waiting in front of the door.
"It is 02:43. What is going on?" I asked.
"You won't believe it." said Nuan.
"Yeah, I probably won't." I said. "Anyway, what is it?"
"The Alliance has resolved the internal discussion on supporting the Republic. Alliance leaders will contact President Melik tomorrow." Nuan said.
"Let this not be a joke." I said. "Let this not be a dream!"
This could easily be the best news I've got since the war was declared. In fact, it could very well be the only good news so far!
"Now, sleep tight, Commander. A new world will be waiting for us tomorrow!" Nuan said.
"It is already tomorrow." I said. "It is 02:43."
"Well, anyway, space nerd..." said Nuan. "Hell may break loose soon enough. I mean... for a second time."
I barely slept that night. I was sure that Nuan was no different.
- - - - -
After sleeping for about 3 hours, I was woken up... by Nuan. I had fallen asleep in a random spot in the residental area of the embassy.
"Wake up!" she said.
"Why are you here? Don't you have more important things to do?" I asked. "And why is it an envoy's job to wake me up in the first place!?"
"Shut up." said Nuan. "And don't you think, after all we've been through, we are a little bit more than comrades?"
"Nuan, you are an envoy, you represent the whole Republic! You can't just-" I tried to argue, but Nuan didn't even listen.
"Not right now, I am not." she said. "Anyway, get your ass up, you have an urgent message."
"Geez, okay, don't be so tense..." I said and walked to the comms station.
'--==DECRYPTED OUTPUT==--
Commander Kagan - Chief of Security of People's Republic of Mars' Embassy to Alliance of Asian Nations in Beijing
Commander, you will travel to the government spaceport in Beijing and board the Alliance Shuttle NurSultan-II in MJD 217349 as soon as possible. The shuttle will take you to Alliance cruiser Ural. You will get further instructions once you arrive.
The Alliance is expected to officially declare war on the Federation around 21:00 Greenwich time. Make sure you board Ural before 16:00!
Please be nice to our allies, Commander.
Grand Admiral of the People's Repulic of Mars Naval Forces
--==END OF DECRYPTED OUTPUT==--'
I was having a mind stroke. How was it possible for the Alliance to mobilize enough forces to declare war on a superior power in a single Earth day!?
And when did the Republic and the Alliance start secretly coordinating their operations anyway? A few hours ago!?