Counterfeit Hero

The three space armor fighters, with the emblem of the Feiyang Double-headed Griffin on their wings, concluded their combat mission and gradually distanced themselves from the vast, smoke-filled and thundering battlefield on the ground.

The ruined city, mechas firing at each other on the ground, worm-like trenches, the energy cannon light torrents from self-propelled artillery brigades, exploding light clusters and mushroom clouds—all of these grew smaller with the fighters' rapid ascent, finally vanishing as the fighters pierced the clouds.

Soon, the X-wing fighters with silver streamlined bodies reached the top of the atmospheric convection layer. The mothership guidance signal connected, vertically positioned, and the fighters shut down their ion turbine engines. As the proton ejector started and the boosters ignited, the fighters instantly accelerated to the second cosmic velocity, quickly breaking through the aurora-like magnetic layer and leaping into the vast starry sky.

In the space around Mezrich Planet, two [Gods] class space carriers of the Feiyang Republic and one old [Imperial Force] class carrier of the Independent Army's 6th Space Fleet resembled three gigantic beehives, continually recovering space fighters returning from the atmosphere.

Dozens of return bay passages on the carriers flashed with navigation lights. At the open passage entrances, connecting mechanical soft arms resembled octopus tentacles. Each fighter guided by synthesized electronic voice from the auto-navigation system aligned along its designated passage number, absorbed by the arms and pulled into the carrier's hangar. As the fighters concentratedly returned, the carriers' recovery operations appeared busy yet orderly.

Looking past the swarm of flying fighters surrounding the space carriers, not far away, twenty colossal [Unicorn] class battleships quietly stationed in space, their thick armored shells, menacing main guns, rotating turrets covering every surface, and space torpedo launch tubes on both sides, endowed these battleships with an unparalleled intimidating presence.

Encircling the battleships were over sixty [Frenzied Shark] class heavy cruisers. These cruisers of the Feiyang Republic, nearly equivalent in size to battleships of small countries, were indeed cruisers, and the fastest high-speed cruisers in all battle sequences worldwide.

These cruisers, even more than [Unicorn] class battleships, show the technological level and military strength of the Feiyang Republic. Be it carriers or battleships, no warship can survive encirclement by three [Frenzied Shark] cruisers. In space, they are a wholehearted frenzy of sharks.

If cruisers are fierce sharks, then the hundreds of high-speed destroyers patrolling the fleet's periphery are a swarm of small-bodied but equally fierce, even more terrifying piranhas. Though lacking the massive main guns of battleships and cruisers, they are swifter and more agile. Any intrusion of them into the fleet formation yields disastrous results.

Without question, this is the most formidable First and Second Combined Fleet of the Fei-Lai Joint Southeast Expeditionary Army.

Both fleets belong to the Feiyang Fleet, designated as the 11th Mixed Fleet and the 17th Mixed Fleet in Feiyang. Alongside the former Gazalin's 6th Mixed Fleet and the Little Pyrenees local fleet, they've lain in this space for nearly a week.

The fleet's two [Gods] class carriers and one [Imperial Force] class carrier have supported ground operations outside Mezrich Planet's atmosphere.

Without threats, such support operations have seemed easy for the space fleet; yet now, the situation appears to shift somewhat.

Seen from the flagship [Europa] battleship of the newly-formed 5th Fleet from the former Gazalin Fleet, the atmosphere has visibly tense compared to past days. Crew members hurriedly bustle about, and ship broadcasts intermittently relay various directives from the captain's quarters.

Personnel at positions such as the power cabin, electronic control room, weapons bay, damage control, warship security team, turrets, main gun room are all in place. Everyone busily checks equipment and executes commands.

Commander General Kafka of the 5th Fleet stands on the command station in the central control room, face gloomy. Just five hours ago, probes dispersing several tens of thousands of kilometers outward detected two Desic fleets simultaneously approaching the Expeditionary Army fleet from separate directions.

The fleet, forced to end the ground support mission, seemingly shows no intent to engage. Commands from the "Poseidon" carrier indicate the fleet will voluntarily withdraw before Desic fleets reach Mezrich. The transit coordinates sent to the 5th Fleet point to a space over 6 million kilometers away, between Mezrich and Minsk.

Kafka does not quite grasp why the Expeditionary Army headquarters relinquished Mezrich so easily, knowing that upon departure, only thirteen flying battalions and over a thousand land-based fighters will support the combat stretching nearly two thousand kilometers across Tanville east to west.

Such scant air combat power, unable to even cover Long Line Ridge despite rotating them constantly, is insufficient to control Jiacuo. Should Stephen and Reinhardt's air forces recover, combined with Desic fleet's space fighter support, the entire ground battle scenario will shift reversely.

Does Admiral Fiscella remain unaware of all these?

"Connect headquarters communication to the captain's quarters—I want to speak with General Fiscella." Kafka clenched his fist, determined to clarify— the Independent Army cannot be sacrificed right under his nose.

"Yes, General." The communications officer in the central control room swiftly operated, sending a communication request to the "Poseidon" carrier.

Kafka turned and walked into the right corridor of the central control room. As he walked to the end of the circular passage, the automatic recognition door of the captain's quarters opened, and the virtual screen on the room's front wall already displayed a converged signal.

As blue light transformed into brilliant multicolor, the light group at the tip of the light coalesced into the image of Fiscella.

"General Kafka, hello." Fiscella smiled, not asserting a commander's air.

After glancing at the automatic door closing, Kafka paused and said, "Your Excellency Commander, I apologize for demanding communication at this time. However, I hope you can answer some of my questions, which relate to... Gazalin's future."

"You are courteous..." Fiscella's smile was infectiously warm: "In fact, I know what you wish to inquire about—let us both save some time." His image suddenly zoomed in, seemingly pressing something in front of him. Subsequently, a document marked "top secret" appeared on Kafka's terminal.

Opening the document on the information station, Kafka saw it was a detailed report on Desic fleet's movements in Little Pyrenees, where currently two fleets approach Mezrich.

"Seeing this report, I trust you will understand a bit why I choose withdrawal." Fiscella smiled, saying: "Mezrich has become a large vortex—if we don't leave, we will face enemies advantageously positioned within it against us. Withdrawal doesn't mean abandoning warriors fighting at Mezrich. Admittedly, they face immense pressure, even near despair. Yet, this definitively isn't caused by our departure."

Kafka looked up from the document, hearing Fiscella continue: "On the contrary, withdrawal benefits us and our ground forces optimally. Imagining a battle here with two routes totaling four Desic mixed fleets—victory is certain, but at what loss? The enemy is well-prepared; they visibly send four fleets, yet covertly, their mixed fleet stationed at Biekelan has already left the base, whereabouts unknown."

Kafka remained silent, acknowledging indeed, as Fiscella described, that facing enemy fleets on Mezrich wouldn't be a wise decision. Should defeat or significant damage occur, it spells greater catastrophe for ground units.

"But Jiacuo's assault stands critically timed—our withdrawal now risks things reversing with enemy space fighters joining the fray, especially at Long Line Ridge, which may not endure three days." Kafka inquired.

"Our two Ryan fleets stationed at Minsk already set sail, and twelve ground armored divisions are ready." Fiscella's words seemed somewhat evasive, yet his concluding statement struck the key point: "They will rendezvous at our transit coordinates, our target..."

"Biekelan!" Kafka exclaimed upon viewing the coordinate's extension line.

"Indeed, General Kafka, your acuity astonishes me." Fiscella approvingly nodded, calmly stating: "Thus, you should trust—be it the untraced Desic fleet or these two routes, their eventual heading points to Biekelan! They cannot linger at Mezrich to join ground combat."

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