Earth Federation's Capitol, Presidential Conference room.
President Uhuru Mbeki, Grand Vizier Mike, and the rest of the members of the Council of Representatives were waiting anxiously in the conference room.
"Has the battle report from the frontline not come yet? It's been several days!"
*Knock… Knock*
No sooner after Grand Vizier Mike said those words, knocks sounded from the door!
"Come in!"
"Reporting, the battle report from the Ninety-Fifth Fleet has been received!"
"Read it quickly!"
As soon as Grand Vizier Mike heard that it was the battle report from the Ninety-Fifth Fleet, he immediately stood up and shouted. The others also looked nervously at the Colonel!
The Colonel straightened his back when he felt all eyes are on him and he started reading the report.
"On August 7, the main force of The Ninety-Fifth Fleet encountered the Vanguard Fleet of the Vortans in the Kuiper Asteroid Belt and engaged in a fierce battle! By the strategy planned by Rear Admiral Ethan Kane, with a loss of less than 5,000 Warships, they have destroyed 30,000 Warships of the opponents."
"On August 10, the Ninety-Fifth Fleet penetrated deep into the Asteroid Belt, and the strategy proposed by Rear Admiral Ethan Kane, they set up multiple ambushes...
"Currently, the Ninety-Fifth Fleet is on its way back to Odeus Base." The Colonel ended his report, saluting.
For a moment, everyone in the conference room was confused! Where was the expected desperate situation? Where was the expected desperate battle?
Why does this battle report sound so strange? Especially the ambush toward Fisk's Fleet of 90,000 Warships. The battle damage ratio is 1:43. How did this divine battle come about?
"Is there a detailed report of the war?"
"Yes!"
The colonel who delivered the battle report immediately took a memory card and put it into the holoprojector in the conference room. Then, the holo projection device immediately projected the memory card's contents which was the entire battle process!
"If this is not a divine battle, then what is?!
The officials were shocked, even Ethan's adoptive Father Grand Vizier Mike was shocked. Likewise, on his side, the representatives were equally frozen.
While everyone was still in shock, Councilwoman Raya spoke up!
"I propose that Ethan should take command of our soon-to-be-reorganized First Fleet!"
After her words sounded, the conference room turned deathly silent.
For a while, the members were silent as they dared not to vote casually. They looked at each other seeking others' opinions.
"It seems that we all have concerns, so how about discussing it together?"
Councilwoman Raya looked around and was very clear about what they were thinking. It was nothing more and was just a seniority issue.
"Councilwoman Raya, Ethan is just too young. He's just 23 years old."
"Yes, even the youngest Fleet Admiral in the history of the Federation, Collins Wu was only promoted at the age of 37!"
The council members kept talking and their problem was indeed… age!
However is age a problem? If they are in a peaceful era, then it is indeed a problem because the soldiers of that time do not have any way to obtain military merit, hence they can only rely on seniority.
But they are in wartime. Who cares about age? What's important is the ability and prowess that the soldier displayed!
"Since your concern is only age, I want to ask you a question. In regards to the survival of the Federation, do you want a young and vibrant mind in his 20s that can defeat the Vortan's commander-in-chief? Or do you want a 50-year-old that's incapable of doing so?"
"This…"
The conference room was dead silent.
Indeed, what era are they in right now? Is it the time to talk about age and seniority?
"Councilwoman Raya, you are right, I agree with this proposal!"
"Indeed, nothing is more important right now than defeating Vortans. I agree!"
"Me too!"
Soon, all the council members in the room raised their right hands and voted unanimously.
"Good, since the vote was unanimous, then we will appoint him as the acting commander of the First Fleet!"
Seeing that there were no more objections, President Uhuru stood up and announced.
As for why he designated him as an acting commander, it is very simple: within the system of the Federation, a Vice Admiral is only a Commander of a Sub-fleet, and only an Admiral could Command a fleet.
....
As the Ninety-Fifth Fleet's starships glided through the void of space, the crew members couldn't help but feel a mixture of exhaustion and exhilaration. Their victory over the formidable Vortan Vanguard Fleet had come at a cost, but the sight of their battle-worn vessels returning to base brought a sense of pride that couldn't be extinguished.
Admiral Collins stood on the bridge of the flagship 'Stellaris' his gaze fixed on the holographic display showing the Vortan ships being escorted by the Ninety-Fifth's vessels. His uniform was adorned with medals and commendations, a testament to his leadership and achievements in battles. The hum of activity around him spoke volumes of the dedication and expertise of his crew.
As the fleet entered the docking bay of the spaceport a wave of excitement swept through the ship. Crew members hurriedly prepped for the welcome ceremony, donning their dress uniforms and polishing their boots. This was a moment they had all been waiting for - a chance to celebrate their hard-fought victory.
The docking bay's immense doors slowly opened, revealing a vibrant scene. A throng of officers, mechanics, and support staff stood in formation, a sea of applauding hands and beaming faces. The air was filled with palpable energy, a mixture of relief and triumph that radiated through the crowd.
As the Ninety-Fifth's crew members disembarked from their ships, they were met with cheers, claps on the back, and even a few tears of joy.
The celebration continued late into the night, with crew members sharing stories of the battle and toasting to the fallen. A holographic display projected images of the battle, showcasing the tactics and maneuvers that had led to their victory. Laughter and camaraderie filled the air, a stark contrast to the tension of the past days.
Amid the revelry, Ethan was spending a quiet moment with Chen Xue.