Ch.197I got you.

# Chapter 197: I Got You

The planetary defense forces were unable to mount any proper resistance against the offensive of the assault troops who had descended in “Kang-Cherebi” transports.

“How dare you rebel against the Empire! Surrender immediately!”

“Yes, we surrender.”

“…???”

However, because they surrendered so readily, the commanders of the assault forces often displayed the embarrassing behavior of not believing the surrenders.

“Honestly, we never thought the Governor would start a rebellion, you know?”

“Besides, you saw those cruisers mixed in with the planetary defense fleet, right? How are ground-pounders like us supposed to stop that?”

There was a reason for this utterly deflating situation.

As the surrendering planetary defense forces testified, Goliath’s rebellion hadn’t begun with firmly established “loyalty” within the planet in the first place.

——————————————

From the perspective of the planet’s inhabitants, the current rebellion was…

It was essentially like the protagonist of a lordship story suddenly going crazy and declaring war against the central government.

Everyone was inwardly filled with doubts, thinking, “Does that even make sense?”

But most of the population was swept along by a handful of fanatics and the boastful declarations of Governor Goliath, the protagonist of this lordship story.

Of course, that’s setting aside the question of what methods these weak planetary citizens, without proper arms or anything else, could possibly employ against the planetary governor who monopolized military force and power.

———————————————

And the planetary defense forces were just as dumbfounded.

“Uh… why are we rebelling?”

“Why has His Excellency the Governor suddenly started a rebellion?”

For some unknown reason, Goliath had not held separate meetings with most of the commanders in the planetary defense forces.

Because he had unilaterally handled this important matter without informing them…

Most of the planetary defense forces were essentially going about their normal day when they suddenly received news that they had become rebels.

But that didn’t mean they could do anything about it.

“Hey there, defense forces.”

“…Welcome, fleet.”

The massive fleet, which exceeded the normal defensive capabilities of a typical planetary system, was something the defense forces, mere ground troops, could never hope to contend with.

“Hello, I’m your new neighbor who just moved in.”

“…”

And in areas the fleet couldn’t cover, units known as “Loyalty Forces” who pledged absolute allegiance to the Governor were deployed.

Most of the planetary defense forces couldn’t express any resistance or opposition in such an atmosphere, and on the surface, they appeared loyal to the Governor.

——————————

In addition to all these connected situations, Governor Goliath had made one critical mistake.

It was about the Cobard vaccine from Prosnack that he had administered to the entire planet.

He had somehow mistakenly believed that the function of the so-called Berry Chip was to make people obey “him.”

Of course, if even one person who knew the actual function had been present, they would have immediately corrected the Governor’s misunderstanding…

Unfortunately, “someone” who had delivered the vaccine sample had no interest in whether the Governor misunderstood or not.

And the Governor’s associates, not knowing the vaccine’s capabilities, naturally couldn’t offer any advice.

“Now that the vaccine has been administered, this entire planet is as good as in my grasp.”

In a way, it was understandable that Governor Goliath had this misconception.

Moreover, when he actually started the rebellion, as mentioned above, he had merely prevented resistance through the appropriate deployment of the “fleet” and “Loyalty Forces,” yet…

“It seems the vaccine is indeed effective.”

For Governor Goliath, this only maximized his delusion.

And because of that, the fleet was annihilated.

And the Loyalty Forces, on the Governor’s orders, all gathered at the Governor’s Office to protect it, abandoning their role of keeping other units in check.

————————————————–

As a result.

“We had no intention of participating in the rebellion. As proof, we surrender all weapons and will sincerely participate in any necessary inspections.”

“…Is this right?”

With all the safeguards against “betrayal” gone…

For the planetary defense forces, it was better to surrender quickly than to become meat shields waiting to be bombarded by the 10,000 ships gathered in orbit.

Of course, after the war, there would be quite rigorous investigations into allegations of participation in the rebellion…

But as mentioned above, that promised a much better future than pointing guns at the suppression forces out of some misplaced loyalty to Governor Goliath.

However, the situation of planetary defense forces surrendering without proper resistance was being reported to the Governor’s Office in real-time…

“How could this be happening!”

As a result, Governor Goliath, who had been relying solely on the Berry Chip in the vaccine, was shocked by the mass surrender of defense forces that should have been absolutely loyal to him…

“I see! This must be the work of that damned treacherous minister! He must have done something!”

“…”

Considering his age, it wouldn’t have been strange for him to collapse by now.

But remarkably, the loyalist to the former emperor didn’t collapse, and instead began to burn with even more determination.

“Death to the false emperor! Death to the treacherous minister!”

“Long live Governor Goliath! Long live His Majesty the Former Emperor!”

And together with the “purely” fanatically loyal Loyalty Forces, he was holed up in the fortified Governor’s Office…

“Breaking through that massive fortress as it is would likely cause considerable casualties.”

“Attacking the Loyalty Forces around it would also invite supporting fire from the fortress.”

“Do you have any ideas?”

Seeing the Governor’s Office’s fierce resistance, the suppression force headquarters…

“Let’s use ‘Ash’ and ‘Levia’ here.”

“Oh.”

“Those two forces will definitely succeed.”

“Let’s also deploy the purge unit that Minister Arto provided support for, and end this in one go.”

They decided to deploy the two who had been idling around doing nothing since breaking through the planetary system’s defense line.

About an hour after Levia and Ash were deployed.

With all gun emplacements and defense lines completely collapsed and melted at the center of the Governor’s Office, Governor Goliath was dragged out, tightly bound in turtle-shell restraints by the purge unit.

But despite his miserable appearance, the demonic aura refused to leave the old governor’s face.

“You fools! Do you think other planetary governors will stand by if you treat a planetary governor like this?”

“…”

“The Empire will perish this way! By the hands of the dull and incompetent current Emperor and his evil minister!”

Since he was spouting such words after having started the rebellion himself, it was truly absurd behavior.

The purge unit members who had captured the governor stood behind him, out of his line of sight.

They were subtly pointing their heavy armor pile bunkers or weapons at him, casually discussing how stray bullets could happen anywhere on the battlefield.

But at that moment.

-Ziiing… Pibibit!

New drones and purge unit members appeared before the half-crazed governor.

And through a hologram projected from the drone…

“How dull and ugly you are, Governor Goliath.”

-Thud!

“Minister! You’ve come!”

“Yes.”

None other than Arto revealed himself before the governor’s eyes, albeit as a hologram.

—————————————

Honestly, appearing on the battlefield even as a hologram was something I really wanted to avoid if possible.

I’m not some attention-seeker, and what would I gain from such an act besides additional attention?

But if I let mere unit members handle the punishment of a “Planetary Governor” rather than someone of similar rank…

Although they might deny it outwardly.

The planetary governors who form the foundation of the Empire might collectively think, “Is this what I became a governor for? How depressing…” and start causing trouble.

“I, Arto Virtorius Sevelli, a saint recognized by the Empire’s Emperor and the Papal Office, will announce the result of this holy war.”

“…!”

“Governor Goliath, no, Gorite Armus, who has raised rebellion, is charged as a traitor who betrayed the Empire and a heretic, and I hereby excommunicate you forever from the Empire’s state religion.”

“Me, a heretic? How dare you utter such nonsense…!”

Using my “Saint” title, I decided to create a result that could be propagated not as a simple political confrontation between the Empire’s central government and a governor.

But as a holy war to execute a traitor who had betrayed the Empire.