Counterfeit Hero

Chapter 16 - 16: Return to War

”Pop!” The leader’s cabin door burst open, and Grant jumped out furiously. For a moment, he felt humiliated and angry. He rushed to Tian Xingjian and punched him, cursing, ”You’re too despicable, using such tricks for a sneak attack.”

Tian Xingjian quickly retreated behind Nadal, looking confused and naive, and said, ”Do you reason with the enemy like this on the battlefield?”

Nadal stood in front of Fatty and sneered at Grant, ”You attacked first. How can a direct confrontation be called a sneak attack? If you lost, you lost. Can’t you take it?”

All the soldiers of the Special Reconnaissance Battalion First Company surged forward, flexing their fists and rubbing their palms. It was about to turn into a group fight.

Grant’s face turned red and then white. Finally, he threw down a harsh comment and led the Special Forces Camp members away in a huff.

Alice found this despicable Fatty incredibly loathsome, his tactics utterly shameless. She really wanted to see Fatty beaten and begging for mercy. However, since Grant had lost the competition, staying any longer would only bring further humiliation. Before leaving, she couldn’t help but glare at Fatty, who was blowing kisses at her. Furious yet helpless, she stomped her foot and stormed off, ignoring even Grant who had called her.

The camp finally quieted down. Nadal looked at Fatty, half-smiling, and said, ”Nice one, Fatty. You really put Grant in his place. I didn’t think you had it in you.”

Fatty humbly rubbed his head and said, ”Just luck, just luck. My Mecha combat skills can only bully those with lower IQs.”

Amidst the laughter of the entire company, Rashid announced, ”From today on, Lieutenant Tian Xingjian, welcome to the First Company of the 16th Division’s Special Reconnaissance Battalion.”

Nadal left with a wide grin, seeing Grant fail was his greatest joy. He didn’t expect this unremarkable Fatty to have a few tricks up his sleeve. Not only was he sharp-tongued, but his tactics were also despicable and vile. Haha, this time, they really trampled over the Special Forces Camp. Nadal decided to spread the news at the division headquarters later.

The shared resentment quickly bonded strangers together, and a companion who humiliated the opponent was undoubtedly a hero in this group. So, Fatty, with his heroic aura, quickly integrated into the Special Reconnaissance Battalion.

At this moment, it was 3:00 PM on September 19, 2060, in the Space New Era, Miloke public time, less than ten hours before the famous Kato Meat Grinder Battle in history began.

Also at 3:00 PM, the Federation Military Intelligence Bureau confirmed that the Miloke Star defense map had been stolen, and the follow-up battle plans might have been leaked.

At 3:05 PM, the head of the Intelligence Bureau connected the calls to the President’s Office and the Ministry of Defense.

At 3:10 PM, the Wartime Supreme Command Department, jointly formed by the President’s Office and the Ministry of Defense, issued orders: the 5th Space Fleet was to enter the major airports of the capital, enforce space control, cancel all aircraft operations, and shoot down any violators immediately. Communications control was also issued, halting all communication facilities, and the military activated interference equipment.

At 3:15 PM, the entire Army First Armored Division was mobilized to blockade the capital’s major military units, with the military units’ guard camps required to assist in the lockdown.

At 4:00 PM, a total of sixteen high-ranking officials and one hundred and twelve military advisors, who might have had access to the blueprints and the follow-up battle plans, were isolated for review.

At 5:00 PM, Fatty announced that he would personally pay for an extra meal for the entire company, winning unanimous support and affection from them.

At the same time, a meeting of the Federation Supreme Command was held. Since preparatory work had been completed three days earlier, the Command decided under emergency circumstances to launch the operation planned to open a passage west of Kato City to rescue several cities still besieged by the enemy. The Kato Battle operation was codenamed ”Thunderbolt.”

At 6:00 PM, Company Commander Rashid and six platoon leaders, including both deputy platoon leaders, a communications sergeant, and a tech sergeant, hosted a dinner to welcome Tian Xingjian.

At the same time, the operation plan was issued to the division-level units, requiring them to be ready according to the scheduled launch time in the plan.

At 6:20 PM, the dinner was abruptly interrupted; the camp command ordered the company commander and the deputy company commander to attend an emergency meeting, canceling all company activities. All soldiers were to be geared up and ready; combat readiness level A.

At 6:25 PM, Rashid and Tian Xingjian arrived at the camp command, where they were informed to wait on-site. Camp Commander Nadal had already gone to the division command for the emergency meeting.

At 7:10 PM, Nadal called from the division command to expand the camp command meeting to include platoon-level officers.

At 7:13 PM, platoon-level officers from each company arrived at the camp command.

At 7:30 PM, Nadal finally returned from the division command and immediately held a pre-battle intelligence briefing meeting.

The frontline command required all armored divisions and aviation marine corps under the Army to prepare for battle. The Special Forces under their command would be deployed ahead of schedule. Their tasks included reconnaissance and pinpoint strikes on the enemy’s radar, electronic interference equipment, logistics bases, airbases, missile bases, and battlefield SkyNet systems in collaboration with the air force for unrestricted attacks.

At 8:00 PM, the meeting ended. The entire camp assembled.

At 9:00 PM, the armor-piercing fighter jets escorted by the air force began to exit the hangar and started loading energy and ammunition. Meanwhile, all Special Forces began assembling at the major field airports.

At 9:30 PM, the armor-piercing fighter jets escorted by the air force took off. The first batch of Special Forces began boarding the medium-sized transport ships.

At 9:40 PM, Tian Xingjian piloted ”Logic” and stepped into the cabin of a medium-sized transport ship. The cabin door slowly closed, and the cabin lights turned on. The First Company of the 16th Division’s Special Reconnaissance Battalion would serve as the farthest-reaching strike force into the enemy’s depth. Their aerial journey would exceed a thousand kilometers. They would be the first to take off.

At 10:00 PM, the first batch of sixteen medium-sized transport ships began to split into divisions. Three minutes later, the fleet completed the division and each set off to their respective destinations.

At 10:20 PM, the second fleet division was completed, with three armor-piercing fighter jets escorting the transport ship carrying Tian Xingjian.

At 10:25 PM, the medium-sized transport ship equipped with anti-gravity devices exited the atmosphere. The three escort fighter jets continued flying within the atmosphere towards their destination.

At 10:45 PM, the transport ship re-entered the atmosphere and rejoined the fighter jets.

At 11:05 PM, they reached their destination. The Imperial Army’s anti-aircraft fire began ferociously, and the transport ship was hit multiple times.

At 11:12 PM, the transport ship descended to the pre-determined location, and the Special Reconnaissance Battalion First Company began the airdrop.

At 11:13 PM, a shout came from a battered Mecha that landed first!

”Fuck your war! Here I come again!”

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This Chapter is a transition Chapter and was written frustratingly.