Counterfeit Hero

Chapter 25 - 25 Route of March

Tian Xingjian looked back and saw the highest-ranking officer among the rescued Federation soldiers from the POW camp, Land-based Air Force Colonel Pete. This typical gentlemanly officer, although he couldn’t lead everyone to escape, earned the trust and affection of all the soldiers in the POW camp due to his concern for them.

”Of course, please sit down, Colonel,” Tian Xingjian smiled and said.

”Thank you, please forgive my intrusion,

This Colonel was very well aware of his position and did not boss around despite his high rank. Ever since the Special Reconnaissance Company rescued him from the POW camp, he had been cooperating in managing the captured Federation soldiers, and he did quite an excellent job.

For people like him, Tian Xingjian always enjoyed communicating, especially now when everyone was discussing fervently; to calm everyone’s emotions, it was essential to work in unison with Colonel Pete. You know, after all, you are the commander of this temporary unit. I just want to ask what trouble we’ve encountered; perhaps I can be of some help.” Pete sat down and asked gently.

Tian Xingjian didn’t hold anything back and told everything to Pete, even handing him the simulation results and calculation process.

At first, Pete was somewhat astonished. In his opinion, it was hard to understand how a deputy company commander of a Special Reconnaissance Soldier could conduct such a large-scale battle situation simulation in this underground hole and take it so seriously. However, after he seriously reviewed the simulation and conducted the calculations himself, he remained silent for a long time. Finally, he looked up and said, ”Lieutenant, I must admit that although I don’t fully understand how you derived this simulation conclusion, based on the data, the likelihood of this situation occurring is very high. You are the most incredible special soldier I’ve ever seen. Perhaps it was a mistake on the part of the Federation Army Department not to place you in the Combat Command Center; you are fully capable of serving as a combat staff.”

Tian Xingjian said with a bitter smile, ”It is an honor to receive your praise, but now the most important thing is how to send this simulation to the frontline command. I don’t want the predicted situation to occur; otherwise, the Federation will face unbearable losses, and we might end up staying here for the rest of our lives.”

”And also...” Tian Xingjian said with a pained expression, ”Can we stop using ’sir’ to address each other, Colonel?”

Pete laughed heartily and said, ”Alright, Lieutenant, if you are willing to call me Pete instead of Colonel, I am happy not to use formal terms with you.” He stood up and continued, ”Besides me, we have two other excellent military staff among us. I think they should also see this simulation. After all, no matter what decision is made, the responsibility should not rest on your shoulders alone.”

This statement truly touched Tian Xingjian. He was very fortunate to have such an understanding officer in this escape team. Although this officer was overly gentlemanly and somewhat excessively refined, overall, he was a trustworthy good man.

The two military staff had very different opinions. One strongly agreed with the simulation result, while the other completely opposed it.

The disagreement was sharp. Major Staff Pearce couldn’t believe that a single airdrop could capture the army base below Katos Canyon and the air base on the left mountain top of the canyon. Furthermore, this area was within the patrol range of several military airports in Kato City. The space fleet’s advantage would not be easily lost. The carrier battle groups in the space over Kato City could reinforce at any time. How could a special soldier unit capture such well-defended bases? Impossible. Pearce laughed and said, even a whole division of special forces couldn’t do it.

The other Combat Staff named Caleb agreed with Tian Xingjian’s simulation and refuted Pearce’s points one by one. The two quarreled intensely, turning red in the face.

The debate attracted everyone’s attention. Regardless of whether they understood the simulation, they all offered their opinions, making the underground tunnel livelier than the Combat Staff Department.

Regardless of the argument, everyone agreed on one point. With the proactive retreat of the Imperial Army from various cities, their casualties were not significant. They could regroup anytime, and it would be difficult for the Federation’s offensive to reach the area of this underground tunnel in a short time.

To leave or stay, opinions varied.

Regardless of the accuracy of the simulation, the problem was now in front of everyone, and transmitting the intelligence to the frontline command would inevitably expose the team’s location. If someone were sent to transmit the information, being discovered would certainly attract the Imperial search forces, and if the search yielded nothing, military satellites would conduct pinpoint reconnaissance, exposing the underground tunnel. Using the antenna had the same issue; signal transmission would reveal the position. If the simulation were intercepted by the enemy, they might act in advance.

An Army Armored Division Lieutenant shouted, ”Talking too much is pointless. Send the simulation to the frontline command. Whether they believe it or not is up to them. We should figure out how to escape ourselves. We’ve already escaped death once; I’m not afraid to do it again.”

The noisy tunnel suddenly quieted down, and everyone’s expressions grew serious in the face of a life-and-death decision.

Pete looked at the silent Tian Xingjian and asked, ”Lieutenant, everyone’s lives were saved by you, and now they entrust their lives to you again. Tell us, if we escape on our own, do we have a chance?”

Tian Xingjian shook his head and said, ”No! This place is four hundred kilometers away from the Federation’s current control zone. Unless we all move using mecha, it is impossible to reach it.”

A sigh echoed through the group.

This answer was within everyone’s expectation. But hearing it from the magician-like Special Reconnaissance Soldier Lieutenant, they still felt disappointed.

”However...” Tian Xingjian finally decided to reveal his long-held plan. Although this plan was hard to achieve for a runaway soldier with no command experience and a group of escape POWs armed only with light weapons, with all other paths closed, they had to take whatever path remained.

”We can first attack here to get the equipment we need.” Tian Xingjian opened the electronic map and pointed to a coordinate to show everyone.

”Isn’t that the logistics base that Platoon Leader Rashid attacked a few days ago?” A Special Reconnaissance Company soldier recognized the coordinates and asked in confusion.

Tian Xingjian nodded, ”Yes, as a logistics base, this location is very important; the Imperial Army’s supplies pass through here. This base might be rebuilt. Even if it isn’t rebuilt, we can intercept a large number of materials. If our assumption is correct, to regroup and replenish equipment, these materials will likely include mecha. Even if there aren’t any mecha, parts will do. At the same time, when transmitting intelligence to the frontline command, we can request them to insert forces here to shorten the distance between us. Furthermore, we can get air support at this location. Although transport ships can’t land, high-speed armored aircraft can cooperate with us.”

Tian Xingjian drank a large gulp of water handed over by Meiduo and continued, ”Regarding our travel route, I simulated it, because our company members attacked here a few days ago and returned to the Federation control area from here. So, the intelligence on this location is the most detailed, and the simulation results are the same; this location has the highest success rate. Currently, due to the involvement of the Mythical Army, the Federation’s special forces behind enemy lines have suffered heavy losses. Many special forces have retreated to the Federation control area to rest. Although we can’t achieve complete surprise, we can certainly catch them off guard.”

As soon as Tian Xingjian finished speaking, another round of debate erupted.

Finally, Pete waved his hand, quieting everyone down, and asked Tian Xingjian, ”I trust your simulation. Tell us, what is the success rate?”

Tian Xingjian said, ”Thirty percent!”

”That’s enough!” Pete decisively concluded, ”Pack up the equipment, divide into teams, and prepare to set out!”