Sky-cracking Rider

Unable to accept it, Chen Fei pressed his head against Barut's chest, listening intently but hearing none of the sounds he desperately wanted to hear.

The old man had not only stopped breathing, but his heartbeat had ceased as well.

Chen Fei instantly panicked, laid the old man flat and began performing CPR, hoping for a miracle.

"Hey, hey, hey, old man, you can't die now! It's not your time to die yet."

But it was no use; it was as if the spark of life had left the body of this elderly Neanderthal, beyond any hope of return.

"Hey! Stop wasting your effort; he should have died thirty years ago!"

The voice of Executive Manager Hanna Gagel arose behind Chen Fei, who was still pressing down on the old man's chest.

As an elite warrior tasked with guarding the Neanderthal tribe's Supreme Council, Barut was fortunate to have survived this long, considering that more elite warriors had perished in the final battle. No matter how mighty the Twelve Overlord Tribes were, they too were annihilated under the joint forces of the Blue Star and Cangqiong Star civilizations, ceasing to exist.

She continued, "Barut was the last warrior of the Neanderthal tribe. To die on the battlefield was a fitting end for him."

Chen Fei finally stopped moving, accepting that he was exerting futile efforts, for death is as extinguishing a lamp.

"Is he really dead?"

He felt an inexplicable urge to cry, yet tears wouldn't come.

Hanna Gagel sighed and said, "The Neanderthal's Secret Technique is powerful but too domineering, harming for harm, life for life. At his age, this was probably the last time he burnt his life. Even if he hadn't been injured, he wouldn't have long to live. For a warrior, having the chance to die on the battlefield at the end of one's life is indeed fortunate."

A true warrior dying of old age or sickness in bed at home, that is the real sorrow.

The executive manager was quite understanding of Barut's final thoughts but was even more envious and jealous of Chen Fei's good fortune in inheriting the Neanderthal tribe's complete Secret Technique.

Before this, she had thought that due to racial differences, the Neanderthals couldn't pass on their Secret Technique to Homo Sapiens descendants, even the War Patterns had to be obtained through handmade tattoos using special materials.

It turned out that not just the executive manager, probably everyone was mistaken.

Now that the War Pattern inheritance had completely ceased for the Neanderthal tribe, no more brave and skilled warriors could emerge. This was also the result of covert manipulations by various sovereign nations of the Blue Star.

No one wished for any more misguided individuals to emerge from the remnants of the Third Era Civilization, attempting a resurgence, forcing the Neanderthal tribe to fully integrate into the Blue Star Civilization. This was an outcome beneficial to all.

Chen Fei, a Homo Sapiens descendant, having unexpectedly received the Neanderthal's War Patterns and Secret Technique, posed a significantly smaller potential threat, basically indistinguishable from an Ability Awakening.

Before Chen Fei could say anything, he heard Manager Hanna roar.

"Had enough of feeling sad? Now, hurry up and get to work!"

The next second, the world spun around.

In order to ensure that everyone at the Aircrew Base could safely make it through this ordeal, the executive manager wouldn't allow too much mourning—better put those worthless tears away early.

Thump!

Chen Fei fell hard to the ground, grimacing as he looked up to find himself thrown inside the hangar doors, immediately spotting the chief mechanic.

This evening, attending to various physical landings, was indeed too strenuous.

Big Brother Xiao spoke in a calm tone, "Hurry up and change your clothes. All the 'Big Mouth Monsters' need their ignition coils and fuses replaced."

The EMP had not only written off most of the electronic equipment inside the 911 Aircrew Base, but even the combat aircraft weren't spared. However, due to their inherent electromagnetic protection capabilities, the damage wasn't too severe.

The condition of the two jet engines was slightly better, yet the ground GPUs for auxiliary ignition were down, turning the power supply trucks into piles of scrap metal. The MiG-28s, unlike the "Big Mouth Monsters," could not self-ignite and were idly waiting on the apron.

Now, the limited available manpower had to first ensure that the more numerous 'Big Mouth Monsters' regained combat effectiveness as quickly as possible.

Today, what 897 Aircrew Base had experienced earlier was now to be endured first-hand by 911 Aircrew Base.

Chen Fei had no time to complain; he wrapped a piece of Magic Robe fabric around his waist, wiping the dirt from his body, then quickly slipped into a new work uniform and ran into the working area.

Several A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" light turboprop attack aircraft were already waiting there. There were no major issues, just that they wouldn't start, and some broken circuits, even if not replaced, would pose no serious problems.

Being able to ascend and fight was what truly mattered.

Moreover, military combat aircraft weren't as fragile as many imagined.

Outside the working area, a heap of equipment awaited urgent repair; it wasn't just the mechanics bustling about—almost everyone was busy, even the pilots of the "Genuine Fragrance" combat flight squadron, doing whatever preparation they could.

Even if the radar systems hadn't failed, it was foreseeable that the Meman Brothers United Defense Consortium, having initiated the attack, would not miss this opportunity to strike you down when you're weak.

Once the 911 Aircrew Base recuperated, this battle would not be so easily fought.

"Aircraft 211 is repaired and ready for takeoff."

With a whoosh, the lights on the hangar ceiling simultaneously came on, their glow instantly dwarfing the light from the oil lamps as the backup power system finally began functioning properly.

Cheers erupted throughout the hangar, signaling that the situation was starting to improve.

Not only the hangar but other areas also brightened up.

A buzz emanated from the main runway as the remaining turboprop aircraft eagerly landed while bringing important reconnaissance information, 18 enemy aircraft had taken off from the 909 Aircrew Base and were estimated to arrive in 20 minutes.

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Combat Information:

Direction 255

Distance 115 km

Altitude 8500 meters

Number 18

Speed 0.4 Mach
Read chapters at m_v-l'e|m,p| y- r

Identified as A-39B "Big Mouth Monster"

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The air raid alarm that had been repaired urgently immediately went off.

An air attack was imminent.

"Aircraft 212 repaired, ready for take-off."

"Aircraft 213 repaired, ready for take-off."

Good news kept coming.

Chen Fei, ripping off the data cable and finishing the self-check, slapped the repair hatch loudly and reported, "Aircraft 214 repaired, ready for take-off."

This chaotic busyness had fortunately not caused any delay.

It was all thanks to Big Brother Xiao for personally teaching him to disassemble the "Big Mouth Monster," otherwise it would mostly have been botched.

"Aircraft 216 repaired, ready for take-off!"

Excluding the recently returned "Big Mouth Monster" of Aircraft 215, all six turboprop aircraft of the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron were fully revived and fully armed with aerial combat ammunition.

"Enemy estimated to arrive in 5 minutes, 'Genuine Fragrance' squadron, attack!"

The ammunition team immediately pulled out the safety plugs of the mounted weapons.

"Aircraft 211 starting air supply, electric power support can only maintain for five minutes."

A MiG-28 on the apron direction flashed fire from its tail, unleashing a huge roar.

Unexpectedly, despite the ground support equipment being damaged, the maintenance team forcibly substituted other methods, enabling a MiG-28 to be ready in hot standby status.

Chekhov Big Bear, who was about to board Aircraft 211, did not hesitate to leave this turboprop behind and sprinted toward the apron.

Chen Fei yelled from behind.

"Hey hey, squadron leader, where are you going?"

"I'm taking care of 201, you take care of 211!"

Chekhov, without turning his head, irresponsibly waved and ran off, beyond calling back.

Ugh, such a scoundrel!

In the imminent aerial combat, jet aircraft obviously had the advantage.

"Rookie, you'll have to pilot Aircraft 211 alone."

Inside Aircraft 212 not far away, "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios, preparing to ignite the engines, loudly spoke, "From now on, I'm the lead aircraft, you are the wingman, keep close to me!"

The two-seater "Big Mouth Monster" could ideally accommodate two pilots, but it seemed there was no problem operating it with one person in combat.

To ensure the combat capability of Aircraft 212, Irinei Rusios had not recklessly made Chen Fei her co-pilot, as her coordination with the fire control operator of Aircraft 212, "Nutmeg" Salaman Francis, allowed them to smoothly deploy some powerful tactics.

Moreover, everything teachable had been taught; only the final step of taking off was left.

As for combat, that must be learned with life at stake!

It was an inevitable circumstance.

At this critical moment, no one would overlook any available combat power, even if it was a rookie, they had to grit their teeth and go for it.

"Eh? Me???"

Chen Fei pointed at himself doubtfully.

He had only flown in video games, crashing eight times out of ten, can you believe it?

"Stop dawdling, take off now!"

Yamada Yuhu, a pilot of Z-9 armed helicopters, along with a few other Z-9 pilots, forcefully crammed the lad into the front seat of Aircraft 211's cockpit and thoughtfully pressed down the cockpit hatch, almost went so far as to weld him shut inside.

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