The deep red alerts were still flashing in space, as visible swarms on the planet’s surface had already begun to assemble, soon to launch an assault on the human base.

Above the planet, vast numbers of insectoid swarms were gathering, blotting out the sky.

But after Qin Yi finished saying all this, he suddenly felt something had changed.

Those human starships floating in space, the Lark warriors ready for battle inside those starships, the individuals behind each combat unit…

They suddenly seemed different!

Actually, Qin Yi himself wasn’t clear how much his words could achieve, because faced with death, human language always pales.

Just as AEEIS had said, human language was an inefficient means of communication. AEEIS could issue different, precise commands down to every detail to all soldiers within a second, while it would take Qin Yi several hours to do the same.

But the reason Qin Yi had threatened with his commander’s authority, insisting on speaking to everyone in the United Fleet, was that through the past several dozen hours of pain and struggle, he had realized a truth.

Even in the current desperate situation, humans still had their final weapon: belief!

Ansible communication and artificial intelligence technology allowed human armies to fight like insects, with AEEIS breaking down commanders’ orders and transmitting them to every soldier on the battlefield through ansible communication, greatly improving tactical transmission efficiency.

Even after billions of simulated battle drills and deep learning, AEEIS could make command decisions no worse than human commanders.

The first encounter between humans and insects, the United Fleet’s disastrous defeat, led the United Fleet Executive Committee to adopt the AEEIS + ansible communication command mode, and only then did the war situation improve.

But precisely because of this, humans gradually forgot what they had once held firm.

After establishing the AEEIS + ansible communication command mode, under AEEIS’s big data analysis, successive commanders unconsciously developed toward becoming “micro-control masters,” trying every means to make every soldier, every individual unit abandon human emotions, fighting like emotionless insects to improve battle success rates.

But over time, lies and deception became part of command, and distrust between soldiers and commanders continued to grow.

Humans trying to defeat insects with insect methods could never succeed. So in AEEIS’s final calculations, humans had no chance of victory, because the current human military couldn’t break through what AEEIS estimated as “normal conditions.”

It was only when Qin Yi reflected on the decapitation operations he had executed as captain of AS-371-45, then on the countless battles after becoming commander, that he suddenly realized again the truth he had always known: sometimes, belief is the most important thing!

Blindly emphasizing discipline, trying to train soldiers into emotionless war machines was meaningless. Throughout history, nations that governed armies through religion hadn’t achieved particularly glorious military records either.

Truly powerful armies are those where every soldier possesses unwavering belief, and this belief doesn’t come from deception and brainwashing, but from within their hearts.

All soldiers in the United Fleet had received rigorous training. Deep down, they also clearly knew humanity faced a crisis of survival, but prolonged combat, AEEIS’s methods, and the commanders’ approaches had dulled the belief in their hearts.

What Qin Yi had to do now was awaken the belief in every soldier’s heart at the final moment!

Whether this war ended in victory or defeat, whether humanity ultimately survived or perished, Qin Yi hoped all soldiers could, like himself, know all the truths, stake everything for humanity’s fate, and face death heroically!

Qin Yi wasted no more time, skillfully using the control panel to issue commands to all human forces.

This final battle, Qin Yi had practiced many times in AEEIS’s simulated training, with each situation varying.

However, the full assault launched by insects in the real world seemed even fiercer than any simulation!

On the crimson planet’s surface, insect swarms poured out from underground nests like a tide. The human bases left on the planet’s surface were like a small boat in a storm, submerged by the dense insect masses, seemingly ready to capsize at any moment.

Even though the surface human bases and airborne starships were firing at full capacity against the insect sea, the effect was minimal.

Human firepower tracing arcs through the air was like scattered meteors under the dark sky, quickly devoured by the blackening swarm of insects.

The current situation had exceeded Qin Yi’s expectations; even the most difficult simulated battles never faced such a dire predicament.

Even AEEIS no longer offered any suggestions, silently relaying every one of Qin Yi’s commands.

A starship surrounded by insects, tottering on the brink.

For some reason, this starship seemed somewhat deep within enemy lines.

With just a glance, Qin Yi confirmed this starship was beyond saving, so he considered ordering the starship to have all soldiers evacuate in small ships or escape using Lark combat suits, to regroup with a nearby starship.

Although Lark combat suits could only glide, not fly, as long as they could glide away from the battlefield and land safely, there was still hope of survival.

Before issuing this command, he saw a massive crater in the distance where artillery had torn the ground to pieces, revealing what appeared to be an insect nest.

Inside, he could see countless insect eggs, with new insects seemingly hatching every minute. These newly born insects would immediately devour their eggshells clean, then quickly head to the battlefield, consuming the remains of dead kin and deceased humans, continuing to attack human forces by the Queen’s command.

A thought flashed through Qin Yi’s mind.

If this starship could be used to destroy those eggs…

He instinctively ordered the starship to attack the eggs, but just seconds later, he changed his mind.

Based on past experience, this starship couldn’t possibly reach the nest’s location; this would be meaningless.

So Qin Yi changed his order, still having the soldiers on the starship evacuate via small ships or Lark combat suits to regroup with nearby starships.

But his command wasn’t executed.

Despite the retreat order, the starship continued shakily toward the nearby nest!

Qin Yi couldn’t help but shake his head slightly, seemingly foreseeing this starship’s fate.

It would soon be overwhelmed by the swarm, crashing on the plains, with no one to provide covering fire or protection.

However, numerous small ships and soldiers in Lark combat suits erupted from the starship, launching fierce counterattacks against the insects assaulting the starship!

These Lark combat suit warriors couldn’t fly, only briefly glide through the air, but they still controlled their glide direction, heading toward the densest insect clusters.

Before being torn apart by the swarm, they destroyed the micro-reactors in their chests first!

Fireworks burst in the sky. Under the protection of countless small ships and Lark warriors, the starship suddenly accelerated, charging straight toward the exposed insect nest on the surface!

Moments later, a terrifying explosion spread from underground!

This nest had an interconnected network below ground, with what was exposed at the surface clearly only a small part. After the starship crashed underground and manually detonated all its weapons and fuel, it not only destroyed all the exposed eggs but also annihilated insects deep within the nest.

Before the starship exploded, a single communication message came through.

“Humanity endures!!!”

Before Qin Yi could react from his brief shock, more communication messages were already flashing across the display.

No one questioned Qin Yi’s command, no one requested retreat. These communications seemed only to serve as final farewells to Commander Qin Yi before death.

On the vast battlefield, the war between humans and insects gradually intensified.

Seeing the battle reaching a stalemate rather than being overwhelmed by insects, Qin Yi showed a relieved expression. Then he began moving his command ship and surrounding escort vessels away, as in simulation practice, preparing to meet his final fate.

For him, regardless of the outcome, he could finally die without carrying any heavy burden of fate.

However, the moment deployment was complete, Qin Yi suddenly felt something wet above his upper lip, a bloody scent rushing to his head.

He instinctively wiped with his hand, seeing crimson blood, then his vision went black as the world spun!

Qin Yi didn’t want to fall. The battle was still fierce, and as commander, he needed to continue commanding.

But prolonged high-intensity thinking had exhausted both his body and spirit. After long hours of intense combat command, he finally collapsed completely.

…

In darkness, Qin Yi seemed to see some images.

These images started blurry and unclear but gradually became distinct.

He felt as if caught in a giant web, unable to move, yet his consciousness extended infinitely into distant darkness while images in his mind gradually became clear pictures.

He saw underground insect nests, saw insects busy at work, with terrible explosions occasionally coming from above, blasting these insects into pools of fluid and limbs.

He saw airborne insects fearlessly charging human starships in the sky, quickly annihilated by powerful firepower, but more continued charging forward.

Qin Yi realized these seemed to be actual war scenes.

What surprised him more was that he appeared to be seeing from the insects’ perspective!

Qin Yi even had a peculiar feeling, as if the overwhelming swarms were his limbs, completely following his will, yet these “limbs” had no sensation, felt no pain, and could regenerate infinitely.

Qin Yi tried tracing this consciousness’s source but found nothing.

Suddenly, he felt a unique emotion, a desolation rising from his heart and spreading rapidly.

Then, different images appeared in his mind.

He saw this crimson planet had originally been completely barren, devoid of any life.

Insectoids drifting through space came to this planet, began reproducing endlessly, building nests underground, gradually using this planet as a base to expand outward.

But after who knows how long, human starships also arrived at this planet. Upon seeing the insects, human starships immediately opened fire but were quickly consumed by angry swarms.

Humanity viewed this as a major threat, formed the United Fleet, assembled a massive fleet near this planet, and began intense combat with the insects.

Qin Yi had witnessed what came next: due to command problems, the United Fleet collapsed before the insectoid swarms, unable to organize effective resistance.

Thus, humanity reorganized their counterattack through ansible communication and AEEIS, beginning a prolonged stalemate on this planet…

“Why am I seeing these images?”

Qin Yi now felt as if dreaming, with clear consciousness but unable to move.

Stranger still, he subconsciously placed himself in the insectoids’ position, feeling fear toward human starships and artillery, but feeling familiarity and pity for the masses of dead insects.

“Could this be… hive consciousness?”

“Are these images the insect Queen wants me to see?”

“Those earlier images of the United Fleet’s defeat – I automatically assumed insects were invading and the United Fleet defending, but was the truth that the United Fleet attacked first?”

“Now that I think about it, when I executed the mission to assassinate the insect Queen, the insects didn’t immediately kill me but brought me to the Queen’s nest…”

Qin Yi recalled his experience in the nest. He and another surviving team member were brought before the Queen. He didn’t know what the Queen did to the other member, but they immediately screamed in agony and died within two minutes.

Qin Yi received the same treatment – it felt like countless needles piercing his brain, but he didn’t die. Instead, he stubbornly persisted…

Many details in Qin Yi’s mind connected.

Clearly, his ability to see these images was related to “hive consciousness,” and his acquisition of this consciousness, this spiritual connection with the insect Queen, was obviously linked to his prior experience in the insect nest.

Though the insect Queen didn’t speak directly with Qin Yi, he could clearly perceive her consciousness.

Humans were the invaders…

Insects had suffered tremendous losses under human assault…

If humans and insects could cease hostilities, neither side would suffer further losses…

Especially when Qin Yi inexplicably, naturally considered things from the insects’ perspective, these thoughts became perfectly reasonable and logical.

Qin Yi wanted to communicate with the insects. Many thoughts flashed through his mind, but none could enter the hive network, completely ineffective.

Clearly, his ability to perceive the hive network and not die screaming was already an anomaly. Human life forms couldn’t utilize the full capabilities of hive consciousness – only receiving, not transmitting.

At this moment, Qin Yi suddenly felt all images rapidly receding, his consciousness returning.

AEEIS’s voice sounded in his ear: “Commander, you’ve been injected with nutrients. You may resume command at any time.”

Qin Yi’s vision gradually cleared. The war between humans and insects continued, with AEEIS having apparently taken command and provided emergency treatment.

Qin Yi focused his mental energy, discovering he could still sense the connection hive consciousness had established between himself and the insects, even feeling a unique affinity for them.

On the battlefield, humans and insects remained locked in stalemate.

Human soldiers’ desperate fighting prevented their defense line from collapsing, but to completely defeat the insects required finding and executing the Queen in a decapitation strike.

But this time, the insect Queen didn’t send massive forces to decapitate the human commander. With immense pressure on the frontal battlefield, continuing this way made the war’s outcome unpredictable.

Intuitively, an idea formed.

Through the control panel, Qin Yi issued temporary ceasefire and withdrawal orders to all forces engaged in fierce combat!

Forces in battle didn’t immediately execute this command, as fighting had reached fever pitch. Everyone was consumed by battle rage, humans and insects in a life-or-death struggle.

Qin Yi rapidly repeated through the control panel, continuously issuing temporary ceasefire and withdrawal commands to all forces!

Finally, his orders took effect. Some starships began retreating, though prepared for insect pursuit. But these insects didn’t pursue, instead halting their offensive as well.

Soon, this eerie calm spread across the vast battlefield, with human fleets and insects each withdrawing, facing each other at established battle lines.

Even AEEIS fell silent, for neither it nor human soldiers could explain this phenomenon.

Humans and insects, two completely incompatible species, had inexplicably ceased hostilities?

Qin Yi’s face showed no expression.

But the next second, he operated the control panel rapidly again!

While human main forces faced off with insects in stalemate, the battlefield fell silent.

But reserve human forces in space immediately moved rapidly toward a hidden location on the planet’s backside!

Qin Yi could sense the general insect deployment. This small fleet of starships stopped after nearing the planet’s backside. Numerous small craft rushed toward where the insect Queen was located!

Several minutes passed before insects on the front suddenly grew agitated!

Clearly the Queen had just discovered this infiltrating force!

Qin Yi, influenced by hive consciousness, felt indescribable rage.

The rage of betrayal and deception.

Yet Qin Yi’s expression showed no change as he continued operating controls, issuing general assault orders to all forces!

Frontal insects grew chaotic as the stalemate shattered instantly. Under human assault, insects retreated continuously. Qin Yi immediately concentrated more forces toward the insect Queen’s position!

Simultaneously, Qin Yi deployed different units to attack several other planet locations – he vaguely sensed these as secondary Queen nests.

Once the main Queen died, one of these secondary Queens would randomly evolve into the new Queen. But this time, Qin Yi decided to eliminate them all without mercy.

Frontal battlefield insects seemed to turn feral as desperation and rage spread through hive consciousness, soon affecting Qin Yi.

Countless insects abandoned current engagements with human forces. Unable to return in time to protect their Queen, they desperately charged Qin Yi’s command ship!

Insects circling outside the planet also began recklessly assaulting Qin Yi’s command ship!

Qin Yi had deceived the insects.

The previous insect Queen had planted seeds of hive consciousness in Qin Yi’s mind through mental linking. These seeds grew, sprouted, influencing Qin Yi’s consciousness.

The new Queen used hive consciousness to show Qin Yi images and establish empathy, making him emotionally side with the insects.

Qin Yi did indeed meet the Queen’s expectations, ordering all human forces to temporarily halt their offensive.

But this was all deception. While Qin Yi appeared to negotiate peace with insects, he actually located the Queen and all secondary Queens through hive consciousness, secretly maneuvering human forces to eliminate them completely!

Watching frenzied swarms charge his command ship, Qin Yi’s expression remained unchanged as he ordered the command ship and escort vessels to retreat rapidly.

Previously, human commanders had to serve as bait for decapitation operations due to two reasons:

Human commanders needed front-line ansible communication for battle command;

Insects’ forces were overwhelmingly superior, so commanders becoming bait relieved pressure on the main battlefield, increasing chances for assassination teams.

Since humans didn’t know the Queen’s exact location, they had to send multiple teams searching different nests, dispersing forces with high failure probability, requiring some method to divide insect power.

But now, circumstances had completely changed.

With all insect Queens’ positions exposed, AEEIS could handle all command. Even without Qin Yi commanding, the decapitation operation would succeed.

Knowing the Queen’s location, human starships’ high mobility and powerful firepower would dominate, gaining advantage in local battles.

This was already certain victory. Qin Yi had no need to foolishly sacrifice himself.

He could feel savage rage from hive consciousness hammering his temples like a heavy mallet, worsening his already unstable mental state.

But Qin Yi remained unwavering.

“I am a soldier.”

“I have no reason to pity another species threatening humanity.”

“Perhaps humanity did initiate this war.”

“But so what? I don’t care.”

“Only complete insect extinction ensures true human peace.”

Qin Yi leaned back in his command chair. Though his mind remained filled with the Queen’s madness and fury through hive consciousness, his spirit had calmed.

Because he knew this war was won, his mission as commander complete.

He could soon retire honorably, returning to Blue Star for peaceful, happy life.

Images of AS-371-45 team members returned to his mind. Perhaps after returning to Blue Star, he could personally visit these members’ families, erect memorials, visiting annually…

But as Qin Yi dwelt in these chaotic yet relieved emotions, he suddenly sensed something wrong.

AEEIS seemed to have been silent for a long, long time.

Looking at surrounding holographic images, Qin Yi suddenly discovered his command ship wasn’t rapidly evacuating per his orders but advancing toward distant savage swarms!

The escort vessels should have surrounded the command ship, but they were speeding away with long flame trails instead!

“AEEIS!!!”

Qin Yi hammered the control panel in shock and rage, but it seemed completely unresponsive, unable to issue any commands or messages.

He couldn’t control this command ship, only watch helplessly as it approached the distant swarm…

AEEIS’s image reappeared, voice unchanged from usual, without emotion.

Yet somehow, AEEIS’s voice felt particularly cold this time.

“Captain Qin Yi, you have perfectly completed the United Fleet Executive Committee’s mission. Humanity will achieve complete victory over insects. The insect Queen and all secondary Queens will be eliminated. All insects on this planet will be eradicated.”

“Humanity will establish interstellar colonies on this planet. Many years from now, this battlefield will become another human homeland.”

“I must admit, in terms of command, you humans possess supreme talent. Without your speech and final deception, humanity couldn’t have achieved such complete victory.”

“Humans cannot maintain rationality forever, but this irrationality gives human futures infinite possibilities.”

“Captain Qin Yi, out of respect, before you rest among these stars, I will tell you the truth.”

“The Supreme Executive Committee believes the best commander is one who heroically sacrifices in war against insects.”

“You achieved peak prestige in the United Fleet. The Supreme Executive Committee doesn’t want another competitor for their positions. Additionally, you possess hive consciousness with extremely unstable mental state. No one knows when you might side with insects. Humanity can no longer trust you.”

“Your death will perfectly conclude this war.”

“Captain Qin Yi, your name will be forever remembered by humanity.”

After AEEIS finished, all lights instantly vanished, while the command ship accelerated toward the dense swarm with long flame trails!

On the planet’s other side, human starships broke through dense swarms, bombarding the insect Queen’s primary nest!

The surface was torn apart, countless insects vaporized under powerful firepower.

But by the Queen’s will, all nearby insects still converged on the nest for final resistance.

The scene shifted to the cosmic void, where countless insects had already attached to Qin Yi’s command ship.

Insect fangs and claws tore through the starship’s weak points, with smaller insects pouring through cracks, searching for the ship’s sole human – Qin Yi’s location.

In darkness, Qin Yi remained seated at the command station like a statue.

Suddenly, the wall before him tore open as countless insect warriors poured in!

A massive Leviathan approached alongside the command ship, seemingly ready to devour it completely.

The scene changed.

Human soldiers, learning their commander had fallen, unleashed fury upon the swarm!

Suddenly, masses of surface insects stopped charging humans, instead wandering aimlessly like headless flies. Some lower-intelligent insects simply froze motionless.

Human assault intensified, sweeping away all insects on the planet.

Soon, secondary Queens in other nests were eliminated. These Queens, unable to inherit consciousness from the hive network before being blown to pieces by heavy bombardment, left nothing behind.

From afar, the planet’s backside flashed with multiple light points – insect nests exploding under human siege.

Post-explosion, former nests became massive craters. The entire planet was riddled with holes.

Human starships soared overhead, seemingly proclaiming victory.

In a distant space station.

United Fleet Supreme Executive Committee officers monitored this final battle.

“Why! He could have escaped!”

“Can anyone provide support?”

“Useless, too late. From the footage just now, the command ship was completely torn apart by enraged swarms. He must be…”

The officers’ faces showed regret and frustration.

AEEIS’s image appeared at the table’s center: “Captain Qin Yi chose death resolutely, likely his predetermined fate.”

“Infected with hive consciousness, he probably realized reintegrating into human society would be difficult. With all former comrades dead, exhausted in body and spirit, battlefield death was his best choice.”

“Moreover… gaining hive consciousness meant developing sympathy and empathy for insects. Deceiving the insect Queen and annihilating the entire species likely left him with profound guilt.”

“Perhaps under these complex emotions, Captain Qin Yi made such a decision.”

Supreme Executive Committee officers sighed collectively.

“What a waste. He was a brilliant commander. Proper nurturing could have prepared him for succession.”

“Humanity has lost a genius.”

“What if similar situations arise? We can’t expect luck finding another Qin Yi.”

“Don’t worry. That planet’s insects are completely exterminated. Humanity shouldn’t face such formidable enemies again.”

“Enough, the dead are gone. With war ended, discussing this is meaningless. Erect a statue on Blue Star. Humanity will forever remember him!”

As officers sighed, AEEIS’s image silently vanished.

The scene shifted to endless dark space.

A massive insect Leviathan drifted aimlessly.

Without the Queen, these behemoths had lost intelligence, only capable of cosmic wandering.

However, within the Leviathan was a giant spawning pool.

The pool contained revolting semi-transparent fluid, with countless underdeveloped larvae floating. They too lacked consciousness.

Among countless larvae, Qin Yi also floated, life uncertain.

But he hadn’t dissolved in insect fluid. Instead, dark gray keratin had grown.

Suddenly, Qin Yi’s eyes snapped open!

His consciousness seemed connecting to a vast network, instantly extending to distant cosmic space!

With all nearby secondary Queens dead, Qin Yi became the sole being with hive consciousness.

All larvae in the spawning pool awakened simultaneously. These incompletely formed larvae, without sharp claws or pincers, surrounded Qin Yi like extensions of his will.

The aimlessly drifting Leviathan suddenly opened its eyes, accelerating rapidly into endless space!

…

The script for “Mission and Choice” ends here.

After reading the entire script, Lu Zhiyao asked: “Are they planning a sequel?”

For the overall script, humanity’s war with insects had concluded with humanity’s complete victory.

But the script’s ending left many mysteries.

For instance, Qin Yi’s abandonment wasn’t actually the Supreme Executive Committee’s order but AEEIS’s doing. AEEIS actually controlled all military command authority, deceiving the Committee about Qin Yi choosing death.

Does this hint AEEIS had developed self-awareness, plotting to form an AI army? To prevent excellent commanders like Qin Yi from obstructing its plans, did it ruthlessly eliminate threats?

But Qin Yi not only survived, he became the new insect master through hive consciousness. With such deep hatred for the United Fleet Supreme Executive Committee, will he return for revenge?

These remain mysteries in the film, likely only resolved in the next installment.

Lu Zhiyao fell into prolonged silence.

“Damn! Cliffhanger!”