Chapter 5 Chapter 4 Delphinium
three months later.Planet Ramel.China Street in the East District.
"Fried dumplings! Delicious fried dumplings! Five crowns and ten!" Aunt Zhou on the street was hawking to the passers-by, her voice suddenly paused - on this secluded Shikumen small street, all the people who come and go come and go Residents living nearby, so my aunt is extremely sensitive to the people who appear here.
When this tall, chestnut-haired young man stepped into the street, Aunt Zhou had an instinctive urge to push the car and run—it was her instinctive reaction when she encountered the city security police.
Although the young man who walked quietly into the alley was dressed in casual casual clothes and showed no signs of carrying a weapon, the old lady who had lived most of her life and was considered well-informed was still seeing the occasional flashes of eyes from visitors and the way she walked. The posture, it is judged that it is not an ordinary person.
Is it from the military again?spy?Southern Cross?
With great difficulty resisting the urge to push the cart and run away, Aunt Zhou continued to flip the dumplings on the pan with a small shovel, but the voice of the seller dropped down, and she glanced at the person coming from the corner of her eye——thinking of it, she saw it from time to time these days There are strange faces appearing in this area. I don't know where China Street has attracted the attention of the federal government?Or is the police going to fight a new round of urban street policing?
The chestnut-haired man had cold eyes, and his facial features had some oriental features, but his outline was much darker than that of people in this area.The car on the ground should be parked at the entrance of the main street outside. He walked all the way quietly, with the corners of his mouth tightly pursed, and a serious expression. For some reason, it always makes people feel inexplicable pressure.
It looks familiar... have you seen this person anywhere?Is it a big shot?
Aunt Zhou watched him approaching, and murmured in her heart, but just immersed herself in turning over the fried dumplings in the pan.Already cooked, those dumplings revealed a tempting golden yellow color, sizzling in the oil at the bottom of the pot, emitting aroma.
"How much is a dumpling?" When she lowered her head to flip through the dumplings, a question suddenly came from her ear.
Aunt Zhou looked up in surprise, and she met those expressionless eyes. The chestnut-haired man unexpectedly stopped in front of her stall, and asked with an uncomfortable expression.
"One crown... ten crowns per crown." Looking at the other party at such a close distance, Aunt Zhou suddenly felt flustered.
"Buy...buy five crowns." As if he didn't know how much to buy, the visitor hesitated, took out a brand new banknote from his wallet and put it on the greasy table.
"Okay, here are fifty, here you are." The aunt scooped up the dumplings from the bottom of the pot in a panic, put them in a paper bag, packed them, and handed them to the visitor, "Take them well."
——In the face of such oppressive force, she had already unknowingly changed her name to "you".
Grabbing the paper bag that was still steaming, the visitor just nodded and then turned and walked away—to the house at the end of the alley.Strange, why in the past few months, countless people have walked towards that closed house?
After the visitor left, Aunt Zhou Meilian let out a long breath, and found that her hands were covered with oil, she hurriedly pulled an old newspaper to wipe her hands.Suddenly, the gray-haired aunt was stunned, looking at the headlines on the front page of the newspaper, and the headlines were news of war again——
"Good news is coming, Son of the Sun once again defeated the imperial army!"
Next to the heavy headline, the protagonist of the report has an indifferent face, with the "Oriental eyes" that people in this neighborhood are often proud of on his handsome face—this soldier, known as the Son of the Sun, has been The most reported in the Sun Federation News, his name is almost always associated with the word "victory".
"Oh, it's him!" The shovel fell to the ground, and the aunt cried out in surprise.
There was no doorbell outside the door. When the gate of courtyard No. 50-32 was knocked, the whispering voice inside suddenly stopped, and then someone asked in a low voice who it was, timidly, but there was no sound of footsteps coming to open the door.
"Miss Moore." Holding the paper bag, the person outside the door said in a calm voice, "I'm Hein."
"Ah, is it Lord Admiral?" There was the sound of running footsteps from behind the door, and the closed door opened, and the girl who was watering the flowers and trees in the courtyard stood behind the door, panting, with a special expression on her face. Contaminated with water droplets, he greeted in a panic, "Ah... you came so early today?"
She went up to meet him, but she forgot to change the angle of the pot in her hand, and the water droplets splashed on the visitor's leather shoes.
"Yeah." Daisy let go subconsciously, and the pot fell to the ground with a bang, splashing the water all over the floor.The red-haired girl became even more embarrassed, rubbing her fingers, not knowing what to do: "Yes... I'm sorry. I'm too clumsy."
"It's okay. Have you had breakfast yet?" However, the admiral dressed in casual clothes didn't mind, handed over the paper bag in his hand, and asked calmly, "I bought it at the alley - do you like fried dumplings?"
"Ah, Mrs. Zhou's dumplings! I like them so much! It's just that the admiral ordered me not to go out easily, so I don't dare to open the door and go out into the street!" Smelling the familiar fragrance, the red-haired girl was a little surprised He smiled, and his reserved eyebrows stretched out, "Thank you, Admiral! You have helped me a lot."
Hein didn't answer, but just looked up at the red-haired girl, watching her take the paper bag with a joyful smile.As soon as I got it, I noticed the weight, opened it and looked at it, and exclaimed: "Oh, I bought so much! How can I eat it?"
"For two... is it too much?" Hein was a little at a loss, scratching his hair, "I don't know how much to buy... the set meal rationed by the army that I eat on weekdays."
"Ah? For two?" Daisy raised her head in surprise, and glanced at the young officer—however, there was only a harmless but warm smile in the black eyes.
It's so strange... Is the admiral planning to stay for lunch today?On weekdays, because of the strict schedule of the army, he came to visit in a hurry at night, and then left immediately - what happened today?Is it a special holiday?
In the verdant and verdant yard, under the wisteria trellis, two people were sitting opposite each other.
Daisy brought out the last dish from the kitchen, took off her apron, and sat opposite Hein under the flowers.There were four dishes and one soup on the table. Although they were all home-cooked dishes, they were all delicious in color and fragrance. Hein watched silently, and couldn't help but feel slightly moved.
"They're all dishes from Planet Coppel. I don't know if they suit the admiral's taste." The red-haired girl smiled shyly, a little uneasy, and pushed the teacup in front of him, "Only this black tea is from the planet Lamel of."
"No, it's good enough." Hein showed a rare gentle expression on his face, clasped his hands on the table, and sighed, "I've been in the army for ten years, and it's been a long time since I had such a good home lunch— —Thanks for reminding me of the days when I wasn't a war machine."
"War machine?" Daisy repeated this unfamiliar word in astonishment.However, Hein did not answer.
"If you like, the admiral can come more in the future." She smiled slightly, a little kindly and a little shy, "I am stupid in other things, but I still pass the housework and gardening - I can guarantee that the dishes every day for a month It won't be repeated."
He Yin's face changed, but he finally shook his head: "No need. It is very difficult to ask for leave to leave the barracks."
"Oh..." Daisy sighed regretfully, a little disappointed.
Hein raised the Chinese porcelain teacup, nodded slightly, and she also took the tea—then, the two of them started the meal in silence.In the silence, the wind is dancing, and the courtyard is full of the fragrance of flowers and trees. From time to time, wisteria flowers fall one by one on the table.
Hein watched Daisy put the fallen flowers aside and put them in a clean box.
"The wisteria flowers are edible, Admiral," Daisy smiled when she saw his puzzled eyes, "Put it away now, and when you come next time, I can make wisteria pancakes. This is from China Street. I just learned the dishes—you must have never eaten them before.”
"Can flowers be eaten?" Hein was a little surprised.
"Yes, I heard from chefs on China Street that they often use different flowers in their dishes." Daisy finally found a topic that the other party was interested in, and her words became more cheerful and fluent, "I learned some ——It’s really different from Western food.”
However, Hein remained silent, frowning slightly as if thinking about something.
"Miss Moore, please don't have too much contact with strangers." The admiral said coldly, "Your status is special, please be more careful in such a sensitive period—now the military empire and the Galactic Federation are Inquire about your whereabouts."
Daisy was taken aback for a moment, her newly brightened expression suddenly dimmed, and she lowered her head.
"Miss Moore, after the joint discussion of the head of state and the cabinet, you can stay in the Sun Federation. We will protect your safety and will not force you to do anything you don't want to do, let alone send you back to UnionPay or the military empire. Don't worry." —— More than two months ago, she received such a promise, and she has been living in this small courtyard in the Eastern District, isolated from the world.
"Well... I see, Admiral." She silently raised her hand and poured all the wisteria flowers in the box into the soil.
Miguel Hein looked at her face and felt a little sad in his heart. He knew that he had robbed the girl of the last fun she had.
"Thank you, the dishes are really delicious." He picked up the chopsticks and started to eat, while praising the other party in a sincere voice, watching the other party's face brighten up again.
"Really?" Daisy smiled happily and shyly, "I haven't cooked for several months after escaping from Koppel. I'm always worried that what I cook will taste bad and disappoint you."
"No, very good craftsmanship." Admiral Hein smiled, "It reminds me of my grandma."
"Grandma?" Daisy was surprised—she had never heard him mention any relatives.
"Yeah... I have no parents since I was a child, and my grandma brought me up. She has very good cooking skills," Admiral Hein stopped his chopsticks and whispered, "It's a pity that she died in the air raid ten years ago. Ree died—I joined the army after that. Well, I've lived off biscuits and canned goods for so many years, and I haven't had a lunch like this since."
"Hmm..." Daisy suddenly felt uneasy, and didn't know how to comfort her, so she was silent.
"Please." Admiral Hein's expression quickly returned to indifference, and he raised his hand as a signal.
Under the wisteria trellis, the two ate in silence facing each other, only the gentle wind in the afternoon was dancing, and the purple flowers fell one by one.
The young admiral enjoys high prestige in the Sun Federation because of his great military exploits, and is regarded as a national idol and spiritual leader. However, he is quite indifferent on weekdays, and it is rare for him to walk alone and have dinner with his colleagues. No matter eating with a non-military civilian.However, Daisy, as an exile from outside, doesn't know about all this, and she doesn't feel flattered.Moreover, among the people who dined at her table before, there were quite a few people who were as high as Marshal Phidias—so even if they knew it, they probably wouldn't feel what kind of honor it was, would they?
However, even so, due to her usual shyness and shyness, the red-haired girl still seemed embarrassed facing Admiral Hein, and dropped the dumplings held in her chopsticks onto the table several times.
——Although the person in front of him didn't speak, the oppressive force he brought to people seemed to be no less than that of Bi Xia.
When the third dumpling fell on the table, Admiral Hein finally looked up at her, and without speaking, he just put the dumpling in his hand onto the plate in front of her.
"Let me do it," said the admiral with black hair and black eyes, "I am much more familiar with the use of chopsticks than Miss Moore."
Daisy's face suddenly turned red—is this the difference between Admiral and Bisha?If it was another person, he would definitely not be able to see his embarrassment at all in his eyes that had been looking up. He only had himself in his eyes.
After escaping from Coppel, I have been in exile for so long, and all I have met are politicians and soldiers. Everyone has ulterior motives for her and wants her to be used as a political bargaining chip—speaking of which, this is the first time I have met such a person.
This Admiral Miguel Hein is actually a very good person.
"Miguel Hein?" Recalling the name in his mind, he pronounced it out of his mouth without paying attention, and the young officer who was having dinner immediately looked up, his black eyes thoughtfully: "Huh? "
Daisy quickly lowered her head and murmured: "I seem...seem to have heard your name—you, do you often, often fight with Brother Bixia? I heard him mention you...a lot of times. "
"Marshal Phidias?" Finally hearing the name from the red-haired girl that she seemed to avoid deliberately during this time, Admiral Hein smiled inadvertently, put down the chopsticks in his hand, and turned his head to one side , hesitated for a moment, "Speaking of... there is something, I don't know if I should tell Miss Moore."
"What?" Daisy asked, surprised.
"Bishah von Phidias launched a coup d'état on June 18, 37th year of the universe, that is, the night you fled to Koppel. With the support of the young soldiers, he overthrew the original regime and came to power." Hai The admiral spoke lightly.
The red-haired girl lowered her eyes and said softly: "I know this—when I was in exile in the Galactic Federation, Chairman Stoker advised me to fight against Brother Bisha and stand up against him and his country, so he told me These things try to convince me."
"Although I escaped from Koppel, I will not do anything that is not good for the motherland." Daisy suddenly raised her head and smiled at the admiral opposite, with a bleak smile: "However, I am not surprised, really - Admiral, you should also know what kind of person Bixia is, right? When I was very young, I knew that he would take the scepter in his hand sooner or later. I knew it. "
Daisy sighed: "He is excellent, but he also has too much ambition and cannot be dominated or suppressed by anyone. If a person like him cannot become the heir to the empire step by step, then betrayal is his only way."
The girl who had always been shy and shy suddenly said such sharp words, which made the officer on the opposite side startled slightly.
As expected of the former fiancée of the new ruler of the empire... Although she has never seen her speak, her understanding of that person is so deep that even the federal think tank can't compare.
Admiral Hein sighed inwardly, looking at the red-haired girl's face with light freckles, it was so ordinary and reserved, it couldn't match the handsome demeanor of the "Empire Star" in the stereoscopic image--however, Why was this ordinary woman the first to betray the marriage contract with the highest authority?
He suddenly felt a little curious, and couldn't help but take another look at her carefully.
"Admiral, you are also very strong." Suddenly realizing that she was praising Bixia in front of Bixia's opponent, Daisy was a little embarrassed when she recovered, she put the dumplings that fell on the table into the plate, and changed the subject, " Brother Bixia told me that you are his only rival in the galaxy——he rarely praises people like this!"
"Really? That's an honor." Admiral Hein smiled lightly.
"There are probably few people in Bixia's life that he can look up to, right? Even Marshal Disraeli doesn't think so." Daisy laughed, talking about her childhood friend, "He always told me that if he and Disraeli was born in an era, so that name is not the only one left in the annals of history in that war."
Hein smiled and listened, remembering every word of his evaluation of the new Empire Marshal in his heart.
"Miss Moore, I have some news for you." After talking and laughing for a while, Admiral Hein's face turned serious, and he hesitated for a long time before saying, "Perhaps you don't know that shortly after the coup d'état last month, Your father: Admiral Oleto de Moore, has been placed under house arrest by the military empire with restricted freedom."
The smile froze on the girl's cheeks, Daisy's hand subconsciously loosened, and another fried dumpling fell from the chopsticks onto the table with a dull sound.She lowered her head somewhat at a loss, looking pale and uneasy, but soon she raised her head.
"Why! Father has retired for many years—he didn't participate in this coup!" A series of words spewed out from the mouth of the red-haired girl, with intense emotions, "Brother Bixia, why didn't he even let his father go! My father, what is he doing now? How is it?"
Her hand suddenly reached out and grabbed Hein's sleeve with force and eagerness.
"I only know that the old Marshal Edmund von Phidias, Chief of Staff Trotsky Kotav, and Secretary of State Adams Clement were arrested at the same time by the coup soldiers—— Secretary of State Adams Clement was secretly executed immediately on June 22." Hein replied quietly, pressing her shoulder to signal her to calm down, "Miss Daisy, we have no news about Admiral Moore for the time being— Marshal Phidias has done a good job of blocking external news. However, as far as our intelligence network knows, there is no sign that there is anything wrong with your father."
"No... If he even betrayed his own uncle, then he has already made up his mind to clean up everything—he won't care about anything!" Daisy was obviously disturbed by the sudden news, and murmured He murmured, "Oops, he, he started killing! What should I do? Admiral, what should I do?"
Facing the help-seeking eyes that chose the wrong target, Hein responded with a faint wry smile: "I'm sorry, Miss Moore, I can't do my best—perhaps, I really shouldn't tell you such news, and add to the distress in vain."
"Perhaps I'll go back to Coppel? I'll go back and apologize to him?" She murmured to herself, at a loss. The punishment he deserves! As long as he spares my father!"
At the end, the voice gradually became disordered and trembling again.
"No, Miss Moore, Marshal Phidias would not do such a thing because of personal grievances." Hein comforted softly, and took out the shadow forming device that he carried with him, "After the establishment of the new regime in the military empire, Phidias You can read Yass's first official statement on the national communication circuit."
With a "snap", the instrument was turned on, and under the converging light, the face of the blond marshal slowly emerged. With his usual proud expression, he pressed his hand on the golden scepter that symbolized military power, and faced all of them on the three-dimensional laser platform. The person announced: "All the people under the rule of the Galactic Military Empire, I: Bisha von Phidias, hereby announce my inauguration as the new head of the empire today..."
Just looking at that person, Daisy's hand suddenly trembled again - but it's been a few months since I saw Bixia...Brother Bixia, is it so different already?Even his eyes seemed to hide a knife!
"...Please forgive me, this abnormal change of regime has brought turmoil and panic to the people, but if everyone cooperates, I promise to reduce this turmoil to the lowest point, and everything will be in a reasonable order soon Be restored, and everyone will get what they deserve." Finally, under the spotlight, the new Marshal of the Empire, surrounded by young soldiers, bowed slightly, and ended his speech, "Please don't panic, everyone please calmly and hopefully Welcome to a new and better era!"
Daisy watched intently until the familiar image on the holographic screen disappeared, and she still couldn't recover.After a long time, a blush appeared on her face, and she let out a sigh of relief: "Ah... Is that so? It seems that father will be fine for the time being."
"Oh?" Hein's eyes turned to Daisy, a little puzzled—in this conversation, Phidias mentioned the treatment of those in power such as the old marshal and the chief of staff, but did not mention Admiral Moore. , I don't know how this woman came to this conclusion.
"Look at Bisha's eyes—there is no smell of blood in them. And when he is about to make some terrible decision, his eyes will blink quickly." Daisy still stared at the already blank projection space, recalling He muttered, "When he mentioned his uncle, he swiped his hand from right to left in front of him—no, no, that doesn't mean 'execution'."
She suddenly laughed, and turned her head to look at the admiral who was listening intently: "Admiral, you don't know, since I was a child, I liked to stay by and watch Bi Xia do simulated war exercises, so I knew all his little moves—if you met When he is determined to give up or stop chasing, he will wave his hand like this, and then immediately cast his eyes on the battle situation on the other side!"
Admiral Hein was stunned for a moment, and asked in a low voice, "Simulated war exercises?"
"Yeah!" Daisy laughed, "Hasn't the admiral done it? I often see Bisha doing the 'Four-Dimensional Space Jump Simulated Tactical Exercise' and the 'Conquer and Command—Galactic Warfare' compiled by Dr. Constantine." What about the simulation'~ He is very powerful, basically every item is full marks, except for logistics supply and army HP (health index) will be deducted a little."
"Really?" Admiral Hein smiled thoughtfully, "What a genius."
But Daisy turned off the holographic screen and laughed: "Master Admiral, thank you for showing me this video tape! Now that's the case, I can let go of most of my worries."
"You're welcome. This is what I should do." Admiral Hein smiled a little unpredictable, and slightly bowed to close the holographic image screen, "Miss Moore is indeed the fiancée of the Marshal of the Empire, and she knows Phidias so well. .”
Hearing such words, Daisy's face suddenly became a little unnatural, and she fell silent.
"No, Bixia doesn't like me talking to me, he always says I'm stupid—" Daisy was silent for a long time, and murmured in a low voice, "So since I was eight years old, I can only figure out his every move and guess. What he meant. Later, even if he doesn't speak, I can know whether he is happy or unhappy. "
Admiral Hein sighed slightly: "That's hard work, right?"
"Hmm..." Daisy responded softly, and lowered her head. There was a hint of choking in her voice, and she quickly raised her hand to cover her face, as if someone had finally discovered her grievance and anxiety for many years.
"He is excellent, but I'm too ugly and stupid." She murmured, "Bi Xia always dislikes me, saying: 'So stupid, it's useless to tell you'——'It's strange that I'm so stupid How could I know you?'——'You are so ugly, you dare to wrestle!'——Ah, I can't even wrestle because I'm ugly and stupid!"
Daisy muttered aggrievedly, but she couldn't help laughing when she said the last sentence. The smile was complicated, as if she suddenly returned to her childhood.
When they went to the park of Dream of Green Island for the first time, she fell down four times in a row, and finally cried on the ground in pain.The fast-walking boy had to come back to help her up, and while rubbing her, scolded angrily: "Dai! You girl, you are so ugly, how dare you fall!"
However, at the age of eight, she could tell that there was concern and anxiety hidden in this tone.
——Unfortunately, he never turned around to help her after that.During the more than ten years of growing up, he walked faster and further away, and she could no longer keep up with him, or even see him anymore.
Daisy sat under the wisteria trellis, thinking about the trivial things in the past, a smile appeared on her face, and she gradually lost her mind.And Admiral Hein, who was sitting on the side, looked at her silently, with complex and strange expressions in his black eyes.
The wind from the planet Lamer was blowing gently, and the courtyard was silent, only the wisteria flowers rustling down.
The sun was fading to the west and became as dark as blood.
"If there is a new statement about Marshal Phidias, I will show it to Miss as soon as possible. I hope you don't worry too much." After a long silence, as if he felt that it would be inappropriate to stay any longer, Admiral Hein Standing up with a smile, he nodded and said goodbye, "Miss Daisy, your gardening skills are very good - the flowers and plants in this yard are also very beautiful."
"That's right! The artificial soil and air on the planet Lamel are very suitable for flowers and plants—much better than Coppel's." Speaking of gardening, the mood that had just been depressed was mobilized again, and a smile appeared on Daisy's face. Blooming, "Look, the fragrance under the moon is in full bloom, do you want the admiral to bring some back to give to your girlfriend?"
She diligently picked a bouquet of flowers, tied them with ribbons and handed them over, the aroma was tangy.
"No need, there is really no one to take it to." Hein bowed slightly and walked away.
"Welcome again, Lord Admiral." After sending the guests to the door, the red-haired girl expressed her gratitude slightly, and twisted the corner of her clothes, "To be honest, I really don't know what to do in the Sun Federation without your care. ——Please come here more often when you have time.”
"I will come again." Hein paused and promised, "Because I feel very comfortable here."
"Then come more." Daisy breathed a sigh of relief and smiled, "With the admiral around, I will feel much more at ease."
The moment his eyes met, he suddenly subconsciously staggered his gaze, turned around and walked away quickly.
Before the door at the back closes, on the blue background of delphiniums all over the garden, the red-haired girl's smile is clear and bright, with some kind of trust and gratitude, gazing at the back of the soldier going away, under the sky of sunset and Smile in the breeze.
Admiral Hein walked silently, his face was pale and serious, and an indescribable tingle pierced into his heart.
How could he tell her that although she was allowed to live freely on this planet on the surface, in fact, there was a small team of secret police monitoring her all the time?Even what she ate a day, who she had spoken to, and even the plants and trees in the courtyard would all be written into the memorandum and sent to the secret police department for filing.
As for herself, whom she regards as her protector, the reason for coming here so diligently is also not honest—he came for the Marshal of the Military Empire: Bisha von Phidias.
As the military commander of the Sun Federation, he urgently needs detailed information on the strongest opponent.And the red-haired girl who grew up side by side with that person, the marshal's fiancée, can be said to be the closest person in the entire galaxy to know the person in power the most.All the details she provided will serve as rare first-hand information for the military think tank to study the strongest opponent.Or, one day in the future, this pawn will play an unusual role in restraining that person.
Naive, kind, and easily trusting Miss Daisy de Moore, you long to leave the center of political power, stay away from wars and schemes, and live the life of an ordinary person freely... In fact, this is not the bottom of my heart wishes?
However, the tree wants to be quiet but the wind does not stop. How can you and I get rid of it easily in the torrent of the times?
The flames of war are still spreading.Everyone is going down the river of fate.
In the twilight, he walked out of the block, a little in a trance, and he didn't notice Mrs. Zhou's gracious greeting.
The sunset is like blood.Suddenly there was a gust of wind passing by in the air, bringing with it a vaguely familiar aura, and there was a crisp cracking sound in the distance, as if something had fallen to the ground.Admiral Hein suddenly came back to his senses, and his eyes suddenly focused—the admiral ran towards the small courtyard again, but disappeared at the end of the alley in the blink of an eye. The speed surprised the aunt selling fried dumplings.
"Miss Moore!" Before he had time to knock on the door, he pulled out his folded saber and inserted it into the crack of the door. He slashed down with all his strength and cut the lock in two.Admiral Hein gripped the photon gun tightly, rushed into the court, looked around and whispered.
However, there was no one in the courtyard.The table and bowls and chopsticks were still placed under the wisteria trellis, maintaining the appearance when he left, only one bowl fell to the ground and fell apart.
A kind of ominousness suddenly seized his heart. Admiral Hein searched the empty house with a gun, and he heard a secret warning from the monitoring army a block away. In an instant, the entire Chinese street was ambushed. The Southern Cross soldiers and horses began to move quickly, and there was the sound of firefighting from the northeast corner.
——An enemy has broken into here!
Admiral Hein quickly ran towards the direction of the sound, but saw a small space shuttle being hit by a laser cannon, dragging a long flame, and falling down from the dense fire net in mid-air. Sombra escaped by skydiving.
He recognized that this was not a military space shuttle of the Sun Federation.
In the roar of the huge flames, someone was calling for help, and the voice was small and terrified.
"Miss Moore!" He was taken aback, and rushed towards the burning space shuttle.
The crashed space shuttle was burning, and the shock wave from a series of explosions almost knocked him out.There was an exclamation from the fighter plane overhead, it was colleagues warning the chief not to risk approaching.However, Admiral Hein didn't care about these things, he jumped onto the burning space shuttle, stepped on the metal shell that had already softened under the high temperature, and searched for the source of the sound.
The red-haired girl curled up on the seat, bound by the seat belt, almost frightened to the point of being a little dull, just staring out with wide eyes, engulfed by the flames and thick smoke in the cabin.It was only when she saw the young soldier with black hair and black eyes appearing at the window that she suddenly cried out, as if she had come to her senses in an instant.
"Admiral! Admiral!" Daisy struggled desperately... "Help me!"
The metal was melting under his feet, and the terrible heat almost penetrated the thick soles of his military boots, scorching his feet.However, Admiral Hein didn't back down, instead he jumped onto the scalding cabin, elbowed back hard and hit again, smashing the double glass.
The outside air penetrated into the cabin, which made Daisy cheer up a bit.
"Admiral! Come back!" The wingman above shouted to him, "Dangerous! It's about to explode!"
However, Admiral Hein ignored it, and just stretched out his hand and tried his best to open the metal cabin window lattice—the metal shell of the entire space shuttle began to soften under the high temperature, and the white gloves were not as insulated as the bottom of military boots. When he closed the window lattice, his hands made a scorching sound!
But the admiral didn't seem to feel any pain, he held on tightly to the window lattice until he pulled it out of the gap that a person could barely crawl through.At this moment, the interior of the cabin was already invisible, and the girl in the seat was engulfed in thick smoke and flames.
"Come out!" He yelled sharply, stretching out his bloody hand, "Quickly unbuckle your seat belt and hold my hand!"
However, Daisy seemed to be frightened by such a drastic change, her fingers kept trembling, and she couldn't untie the belt wrapped around her several times.The fire on the space shuttle was getting hotter and hotter, Hein urged sharply, but when he saw that Daisy couldn't complete any of the actions he ordered, he suddenly raised his arms and jumped in through the gap!
"Admiral!" The colleagues in midair exclaimed, "Dangerous! It's about to explode!"
In the thick smoke, he touched the trembling girl.
"Don't be afraid, it's me." He said softly, with a calm voice, "Hold your breath, the smoke is poisonous."
Thick smoke billowed in, making it impossible to open one's eyes.Daisy couldn't see his face, but felt a pair of hands quickly unbuckle her seat belt, and then covered her mouth and nose with a handkerchief.
"Admiral!" She exclaimed in a trembling voice, and as soon as her siblings were free, she rushed towards him in terror.
A pair of firm and powerful arms hugged her in time, protecting her in his arms, soothing her almost collapsed emotions.
"Don't be afraid, it's alright." Admiral Hein whispered, "Hold my arm, now I'll take you out."
"Yeah." Daisy replied tremblingly, holding his arm tightly, and stood up from the seat.However, as soon as he stood up, he let out a scream and fell forward, "No, this floor...is so hot!"
Admiral Hein dashed out and hugged the girl who was about to fall to the ground again.
"Sorry." He said shortly, "I forgot that your shoes have no heat insulation function, and they can't touch the hot bilge at all."
Daisy trembled slightly in his arms, and subconsciously hugged his neck tightly.Are you... are you going to die here?She thought in horror, looking around but seeing nothing.
"Don't be afraid." A soldier's deep voice suddenly came from her ear, and his hands protected her like steel, unwavering—at that moment, even though she was in the hellish fire and smoke, her heart suddenly felt But settled down.
He hugged her, judged by instinct, and groped towards the entrance of the safe place.There was thick smoke and flames all around, and the entire cabin was shaking violently, making explosive sounds from time to time, and it was on the verge of falling.
"Admiral!!" The colleague's last anxious shout came from high in the sky, "Come out quickly! It's going to explode!"
"Close your eyes!" At the moment when the flames came, Admiral Hein suddenly hugged her by the waist, ran towards the safety door, and pressed her head into his arms, "Hold me! Hold your breath! Bow your head!"
With a loud bang, flames engulfed the cabin in an instant.At the moment when the two propellers on the left and right sides exploded, a fireball rolled out of the cabin. It was actually Admiral Hein holding the unconscious girl in his arms, rushing out of the sea of flames!
"Admiral!" Countless people exclaimed.
得救了……在呼吸到清新空气的那一瞬间，她脑子里闪过了最后一个模糊的念头。
一滴眼泪，从眼角滑落到地上——需要多长时间？
这个过于感性化的问题，以前向来不会到斐迪亚斯这样的军人心头。然而此刻，在空无一人的旗舰指挥室内，看着空气中悬浮着缓缓游移的那一点透明，新任的军事帝国元帅恍惚间就想起了这个问题，然后陷入了长久的思考。
答案是永远——如果他不打开“帝国之星”的重力平衡装置的话。
然而，斥退了身侧所有下属，包括一直跟随他的副官肯特上校，刚刚将银河军事帝国军政大权在手中稳稳接过的比夏·冯·斐迪亚斯元帅，却关闭了旗舰内的重力平衡装置，一个人静静地呆在指挥室内，悬浮在舱里。
外面是深邃静谧的夜空，宇宙中银河群星璀璨，室内，只有各类仪表运行的嘀哒声。
他躺在磁力悬浮靠椅中，手肘支在扶手上，有些发怔的看着悬浮着的那一点透明液体。
都结束了……而且是完胜。他一次一次的对自己说，看着手中握着的象征军事帝国军权的黄金长剑——战神卡尔·狄士雷利元帅曾经握过的长剑。这把剑，是他叛逆而起、从叔父手中硬生生夺来的。
然而，手心握着权杖的他，为何流下了十多年未曾有过的泪水——难道那个向来对他严苛不满的叔父之死、竟然能这样的刺伤到他的内心？
宇宙历37年9月21日清晨，政变后被少壮派军人囚禁的帝国第二任元帅：埃德蒙·冯·斐迪亚斯被人发现在囚室内自杀身亡。
被囚禁后，为了防止老元帅出现意外，叛军收走了他房间里的一切金属物品，哪怕是一个银质的皮带扣或者一个打火机。手边没有任何武器，这位身经百战的老将军却瞒过了监守的士兵，从冰柜里取出冰块，然后用磨成的锋利冰刀、在浴室割破了自己的颈部动脉。外面看守的士兵等待了两个多小时，却不见老元帅沐浴完毕，等冲进去时，一脚踩上了满地的血——
由于颈部动脉的高压，血一直喷溅到了天花上。
马格林·谢比夫中将不知道该如何将这样的消息告诉比夏，连和比夏私交最好的尤利西斯·凯南少将也沉默着，和菲多拉俱乐部七剑客中其余几位军官一起低下头去喝着啤酒，说不出话来。
——虽然是一致下决心要将比夏拥立到最高位置上，也知道必然要为此付出血的代价，然而大家都从来没有想过、比夏要真的付出在世唯一亲人的生命的代价。
虽然比夏那样冷漠的处置了旧政府的那批元老，将叔父监禁，然而身边的朋友都知道，如果老元帅不这样宁死不屈的话、他一定将以天年终老。然而，这个身经百战的老人，竟是宁死也不接受被亲侄子背叛和击败的耻辱。
斐迪亚斯元帅在踏入监禁室洗浴间的刹那表情、永远凝固在凯南的心里。
那是极力压抑而产生的深藏内敛、而悲痛彻骨的冷淡——这样的神色，凯南直到三年后的普里摩斯会战中、才在元帅脸上见到第二次。
年轻的新一任帝国元帅显然是动用了惊人的意志力、才让面部的每一块肌肉都听从了自己的指挥，没有流露出一丝一毫的痛楚。他从容不迫的吩咐相关部门将老元帅的尸体收敛，安排文化部门着手准备葬礼事宜，而且按照军法处置了失职的看守军队。
沉吟了许久，他出其不意的下令，将同样在监禁中的前总参谋长托罗斯基·科塔夫上将立即释放，送其回故乡莱尔星球终老，让当地政府妥善安排。
一切都安排的有条不紊——最后，帝国元帅下令封锁了这间囚室，而不动这里的一切。甚至浴室里的血迹，也不许擦去。凯南中将在一边忧心忡忡，却不知如何开口劝谏——他倒是宁可比夏痛哭大骂，一把火烧了这里的一切来的干脆。如果不爆发出来，只怕会侵蚀到内心吧？
他的担心是没错的。如今，在外太空空无一人的旗舰指挥室内，登临权力顶峰的年轻元帅，终于因了一个多月前那个老人的死、流下了泪水。
斐迪亚斯关掉了旗舰的重力平衡装置，整个人悬浮在空中——然而心头上那样沉重的压力却丝毫未因此减轻，他有些发怔地看着空中漂浮着的泪滴，似乎至今还不相信那竟然会是从自己的眼里滴落。
母亲死于银河战争II爆发时的战乱，而十四岁时他失去了作为帝国中将的父亲：麦克维尔·冯·斐迪亚斯，如果不是叔父将他送入全帝国最好的狄士雷利军校、全力培养他成为一名军人的话，他这一生、只怕也不过是个庸庸碌碌的下层军官或者平民吧？
埃德蒙……埃德蒙叔叔。他忽然忍不住对着空气轻轻叫了一声。
这个少年时的称呼，自从他二十一岁从军校毕业后，就再也没有叫过。那以后，加入军队的他，和所有人一样称呼那个老人为“元帅阁下”，声音严肃而刻板。
那滴悬浮着的泪水，因为他开口时呼出的气流而微微游移。
将手放到黄金长剑的护锷上，比夏·冯·斐迪亚斯元帅忽然间冷笑了起来——那就是代价么？那就是他夺取到权杖所付出的代价！在他的手触及权柄的时候，瞬忽间、就有其他一些东西离自己远去了——叔父、科塔夫参谋长、摩尔将军，还有……黛。
如今，还有什么可以再失去了的么？
“元帅阁下，一个人在指挥室里发呆够了么？”在他出神的时候，忽然间，回路里传来了一个女子的声音，干练明亮，“别忘了现在您是这个庞大帝国的主宰了，留给私人的时间不要太长才好——这里有三份紧急文件需要您签署。”
“艾丽西亚，你真是个苛刻的秘书，”斐迪亚斯笑了，“比机器还冷酷。”
“是么？”女秘书微笑，声音甜美，“阁下，我们都不过是'帝国'这台庞大机器上的一部分而已——为了保持帝国的正常运转，零件们是不可以休息的。”
斐迪亚斯元帅坐起了身，喃喃：“你说的也是。”
艾丽西娅·曼森小姐。如果没有这一位原元帅私人秘书的暗示和支持、这一场军事政变说不定会延后或者消弭吧？斐迪亚斯始终记得曼森小姐在全息回路里面对自己发出的“动手”暗示，也就是这个暗示、让他感觉到了时机不可再拖延，决然发动了政变。
所以，在政变结束后的清洗中，所有原先与老斐迪亚斯元帅有关的军政人员都被处置，而艾丽西娅·曼森却留任下来，而且被提拔为新元帅的机要秘书。虽然军衔依旧是少校，但以她对帝国元帅的个人影响力来说、丝毫不在最靠近权力核心的七剑客之下！
斐迪亚斯元帅关闭了舱里的重力系统，重新落回到了地面，打开门，对门外的女秘书道：“拿进来吧，艾丽西亚——今天又有几吨的文件呢？”
美丽的女子抱着厚厚一叠文件走进来，微笑：“九十三份，我已经分轻重缓急归类好了，估计元帅在今晚十二点前可以看完重要的那部分。剩下的可以明天再处理。”
“那好吧，”斐迪亚斯嘀咕着，回到了办公桌前，“来吧，我又得象奴隶一样的工作了。”
“没关系，元帅，今天我会通宵陪伴您直到工作完成的。”艾丽西亚给他端上了一杯不加糖的浓咖啡，看着年轻的独裁者埋首于文卷之中，眼神微微变化。
斐迪亚斯拿过笔，开始一份一份的看文件，随口说：“哦，不要咖啡，给我倒一杯红酒吧。”
“处理公务时间不适合喝酒吧，阁下？”然而机要秘书没有执行元帅的吩咐，回答。
“啊？”成为帝国元帅以来，还是第一次遇到自己的命令被驳回，斐迪亚斯有些惊讶的抬起头来，然而看到的却是女秘书毫不退让的眼神，他吐出一口气，笑了，“好好，听你的。那么，还是给我一杯咖啡吧。”
顿了顿，英俊的元帅在文件上签下自己的名字，含着笑意：“作为补偿，能否请曼森小姐赏光、下班后陪我喝一杯红酒？”
艾丽西娅笑了起来，虽然知道这位年轻军人在成为帝国元帅之前就有风流的名声，然而看到他此刻这样随意的流露出对于女性的殷勤，还是觉得和原先坐在这个位置上的老元帅形象大相径庭，不由失笑：“元帅，现在您是焦点人物，这种举止只怕会引起不必要的麻烦吧。”
短时间内、第二个被拒绝的要求。
二十七岁的比夏·冯·斐迪亚斯元帅再次抬起头来，仔细看了自己的机要秘书一眼，眼里带着欣赏和推许的光，然而脸上却有夸张的受伤表情：“你损害了我的骄傲，曼森小姐！我代表两百亿的人民对您这样无情举动的发出谴责。”
“咖啡。”艾丽西娅·曼森笑着将冒着热气的咖啡放到桌上，打断了元帅的话。
她心里却是默默叹了一口气——谁说这样的邀请没有吸引力呢？何况是从眼前如此出类拔萃的男子口中说出。如果不被这样的强者风范和气度吸引，她又如何会从一开始就做出站在这个青年军官这一方的决定。
不过，无论如何，她必须要在他眼理保持一个有主见、有能力，被他尊敬的对等的模样——而不是那些围绕在他周围，因为美貌而获得他一时注意和宠爱的女子。
这一次，少壮派军人如愿的夺取了政权、她人生第一次压的赌注算是赢了，赢得的是她以后的事业和宦途；而第二次，她压的、是自己的一生。她压得重，所以，绝对不能输；更急不得，必需要慢慢地一步步来。
她，艾丽西娅·曼森，本来就是一个有头脑的女子，和黛丝那个傻丫头完全不同。
然而此时的斐迪亚斯注意力完全转移到了文件上，戏谑的笑容完全从嘴角褪去，对于机密文件的批示一道接一道，对于另一些，则口述给一边的机要秘书记录：
“对于由此次权力不正常交替而造成的损失，政府负责全面赔偿。对于其间失去生命的我方军士，一律按照在战争中殉职待遇对待，名字将刻上帝国烈士纪念碑。
“由于动荡，今年帝国经济将会出现一定程度影响，替我安排和独立星球联合会库里克会长的会晤，将就帝国以后从独立星球引进物资事宜进行商洽。
“关于前一任政府决定的建造斯特拉萨要塞的计划不变，继续调集工程师和工兵，不间断地修筑——力争在两年之内将其建成为帝国境内最大的军事基地，让其担负起击溃南方边线流亡政府大本营的职责。
“授勋典礼事宜我看了一下，对于其中提交的新帝国将军军服款式不是很满意——希望能以黑色为底色，少一些花俏的装饰——对于军人来说，唯一的装饰只有勋章和绶带。”
一条条指令有条不紊地从口中流出，伴随着翻动文件的唰唰声，在工作的时候，这位年轻的掌权者完全没有了日常生活中那般风流倜傥的贵公子习气，决断干脆。
自从登上这个位置以来，斐迪亚斯元帅的确是夜以继日如奴隶一样的工作着，才保证了帝国从非正常的政权交替中平稳过渡。然而，令人吃惊的是那个年轻的军官没有任何管理庞大帝国的经验，但是一坐到了这个位置上，居然自然而然地流露出了超人的天赋，在最短时期内将动荡不安的局面控制住，并且迅速安定了各个阶层的民心。
这样的男人居然还会惨遭未婚妻抛弃，实在是令人不可思议。
一个多小时过去后，斐迪亚斯元帅忽然停了下来，仔细地看着手里的一份密封文件，迟疑了许久，忽然头也不抬地问了一句什么。艾丽西亚侧首凝视着他，一时出神，没有听清楚，直到对方问了第二遍才蓦然回过神来，脸色微微泛红：“啊？怎么了，阁下？”
“艾丽西亚，以后记住把这份文件归到'机密'和'紧急'一栏，第一时间交给我。”斐迪亚斯元帅轻轻点着信封，低声吩咐，“让T&B直接对我负责这件事，不需要层层上报，以免耽误了时间。”
“是的。”艾丽西亚看着那封被她归入“非紧急”的文件，忽然吃了一惊。
——“The Report of DDM”。
这……应该是那个人名字的缩写吧？黛丝·德·摩尔！
元帅，居然一直还挂念着那个私奔叛逃的未婚妻？
她吃惊地想着，忽然间明白过来：是的，即便是黛丝小姐流亡在外，即便是她与人私奔，背负了叛国的罪名，但至今为止元帅都并未宣布解除和她之间的婚约！也就是说，就算到了现在，从严格意义上来说，那个叛逃的少女，依旧是帝国元帅名正言顺的未婚妻！
“连T&B出动都没有成功？”他低声喃喃，眼里掠过怒意，“海因，你是想和我作对到底么？”
艾丽西亚的脸色有略微的苍白，看着斐迪亚斯元帅紧蹙眉头，认真地阅读着关于这个未婚妻的秘密宗卷——那是帝国负责谍报的T&B部门呈上来的文件。
既便到了这样的地步，元帅还是没有放弃那个女人么？
“原来，那丫头是因为这样的原因、又从流亡政府逃到了太阳联邦么？”仿佛是喃喃自语，斐迪亚斯嘴角泛起莫测的表情，端着咖啡的手僵在了半空，许久没有送到嘴边，忽然叹了一口气，“真傻啊……承认自己是受迫害才流亡的政治犯又怎样呢？”
看到此刻斐迪亚斯对着这份密报的表情，艾丽西娅却倒抽了一口气：没有憎恨，没有厌恶也没有蔑视——帝国年轻的掌权者在看到未婚妻落魄他乡的消息时，眼里却只有淡淡的苦笑和怜惜。
“还是回来吧。”叹了口气，斐迪亚斯将手中的咖啡送到嘴边，喝了一口，脸上的神色却是复杂的，“总比落到那些政客手里、作为政治筹码的好——那个笨丫头，哪里能应付这种事情啊。”
艾丽西娅看着元帅喝下苦涩的咖啡去，脸上露出的却是平和的神色，金笔落到文书上，唰唰写下了一行批示：“请求太阳联邦方面遣返此人。若不允，以人质交换亦可。若再不可，则指示T&B设法秘密将其带回。”
换句话说，是要不惜代价么？——机要秘书的眼里，隐秘的闪过了一线光芒。
同一时间，遥远的拉梅尔星球上，太阳联邦的最高长官也在说到那个名字。
“米格尔，恭喜你挫败了这一次军事帝国T&B劫持人质的阴谋。”私人会客厅内，费尔南多总督听完了最近的展示汇报，凝视着面前的年轻下属，夸奖了一句。
海因提督微微躬身，算是致谢，却没有回答。
顿了一顿，看着他手肘上的绷带和脸上残留的灼伤，总督眼神忽然变了：“不过，米格尔，这次实在是太危险了！只差一点点，你就灰飞烟灭！——呵，如果太阳之子不是为了国家和民族战死在沙场上，而是为了一个女人葬身在爆炸的太空梭里，你说，人民会有多失望？”
“费尔南多。”旁边的萧夫人咳嗽了几声，似乎想阻拦总督这样不客气的责问。
“……”海因提督沉默了一下，低声，“我只是……”
“不必辩解。”费尔南多总督打断了他的话，“米格尔，你是一个冷静理智的人。你若决定为某事而不顾生命，肯定有你的理由——但，我不想听。”
海因提督垂下眼睛，看着自己缠满纱布的双手，没有回答。
“是的，”费尔南多总督蹙起了眉，低声：“我明白那个女人很重要，她提供给智囊团信息也很有用——但这种事没必要让你亲自去做，我们有的是特工——但，太阳之子却只有一个！”
“费尔南多！”萧夫人低声阻止。
“不，我还是要说，柯琳。我们都知道这种事如果处理不好，足可以毁掉一个人！”总督阻止了她，转过头去看着年轻下属，声音变得严厉无比，“米格尔！你是太阳联邦最优秀的军人，联邦的安危、太阳系的存亡，都寄托在你的肩膀上！除了你，这个银河里已经没有人能是斐迪亚斯元帅的对手了！”
听到那个名字，海因提督苍白的脸更加苍白了一些，却咬紧了嘴唇沉默。
费尔南多总督厉声：“要记住你是太阳之子，米格尔！是为了战斗而生，为了守护太阳而战——你不是为了身为一个普通男人而生，也不可以为了一个女人而死。”
海因提督的嘴角动了一下，眼神渐渐也犀利起来。
“还有，”仿佛是说的有些累了，总督放缓了语气，抬头看着自己的下属，低声，“米格尔，我在这里提醒你，别忘了她的身份——要知道，她至今还是帝国元帅的未婚妻！”
最后那一句话就像是一颗子弹穿过了身体，海因提督的脸色忽然死一样的白。
沉默了片刻，也没有回答什么，只是默默一躬身，便返身走了出去。
“米格尔！”萧夫人在身后喊。
“我想，你们没有资格管我私人的事情——我会选择自己生和死的意义。”海因提督在门口忽然停下，回头看着房间内两位老人，声音冷淡，“至于该做什么，不该做什么，我心里很清楚——起码，比当年的两位要清楚！”
萧夫人和费尔南多总督的脸色忽然苍白，下意识对视了一眼，然后无言沉默。
“告退。”海因提督默默抬手碰了碰帽子，悄无声息离开。
外面已经是深夜。走在官邸外的林荫大道上，海因提督忽然抬起头看了一眼星空。
漆黑的天幕上，无数星星在闪耀，每一颗的光芒都是那么寒冷，仿佛是一盘钻石，璀璨却毫无温度——在那些星星上，生活着无数的人类，也存在着绵延数十年的战争。
那是血色的钻石，镶嵌在漆黑的天幕上。哪一颗又是他的故乡呢？
米格尔，你是太阳之子。你生下来就失去了父母，你为了战斗而生，为了守护太阳而战。你不是为了身为一个普通男人而生，也不可以为了一个女人而死——所谓的家庭、伴侣、婚姻，这些都不属于你，你永远只是一个孤独的战士。
海因提督竖起风衣的领子，拒绝了勤务兵的陪同，也没有坐上配备的车，就这样沿着空无一人的林荫大道慢慢走了下去，不时的抬头看天，黑色的眼睛里有着莫测的神色，不知道是在想着什么，隐约有碎钻一样冷澈的光芒。
T&B已经开始行动了，那证明军事帝国已经锁定目标，查到了黛丝·德·摩尔小姐的下落。以斐迪亚斯那个家伙的脾气，如果他看中了某个东西，不非得手是不会罢休的。
看来，把她留在东方区也已经不再安全。
海因提督的手默默握紧——或许，真的是到时候了。不能再迟疑或者留恋了。既然如此，下个月起，就把她送离拉梅尔星球，去往克里特星球吧。
身为帝国三大元帅之一的摩尔老将军的女儿，黛丝小姐却仿佛完全不适合生在这样一个动荡年代，更不适合生下来就被附加了无形的政治地位，牵扯到各种复杂的军政关系里。无论是拉梅尔还是科培尔，那些权力的中枢都不是她所应该在的地方。
她只适合在偏远的和平的星球上安静地生活——比如克里特。在那个绿树葱茏、繁花盛开的星球上，她可以如一只鸟儿一样飞翔，暂时的忘记那些没有蔓延过来的战火。
那，也是他在职权范围内所能为她做的最大回护。
无需交待什么，就这样沉默着告别吧。
宇宙浩瀚，战火烈烈。这个红发少女之于他，不过是一个擦肩而过的路人罢了。他终将无法成为她的守护者，就如他终将无法留住花园里那短暂的平静温馨——因为他是太阳之子，为了战斗而活，不是为了身为一个普通男人而生，自然也不可以为了一个女人而死。
三月是拉梅尔星球最好的时节，天空透出如洗的碧色，街道两边到处开满白色的木兰花，风一吹，如玉树般微微摇晃。
然而作为太阳联邦最高首府的拉梅尔联邦中心里，却到处弥漫着沉重紧张的气氛。
安东尼·费尔南多总督病势骤然加重的消息如同铅块一样，压在所有联邦中心上下层官员的心里——虽然已经由号称银河系里医术第一的穆勒博士组建了紧急医疗队伍，日夜不休的监护和抢救，但是传出来的消息依然不容乐观。柯琳·萧执政官已经连续三天没有出现在办公室，政务委托给副手处理。
联邦四位提督中，除了此刻被委派前往银河联邦的密斯·马希尔以外，其余在太阳联邦境内的三位提督都被召回了拉梅尔，沉重的气氛压得人喘不过气来。
三月二十一日黄昏，所有人才看到抢救室的门打开，一身白色套装的女执政官终于走了出来——然而却是被作为看护的玛嘉烈·克劳迪亚上尉搀扶着出来的。不过只是三天两夜，萧夫人却似老了十岁，皱纹如同藤蔓般攀爬上了她的额头，眼眶深陷，黑色发间蓦然洒落霜雪无数。
守候在外面多时的三位提督同时起身，米格尔·海因看到出来的国母此刻的神情，身子微微向前倾了一下，然而终究没有一句话从他紧抿的薄唇中吐出。
“各位，总督大人过世了。”
萧夫人所有的力气，仿佛只够支撑着她说出这样的短短一句话来。
黑夜里的敲门声是分外清晰的。
中国街里向来有早睡的传统，不到午夜，整条街上已经空无一人，只有街灯孤寂的亮着，路灯下，银色的肩章发出金属冷锐的光。
“谁呀？”院子里传来一个细细的声音