Counterfeit Hero

Chapter 31 - After Modification: Chapter 31 Uncertain Future

After clearing out the corpses inside the [Demon Tiger], Tian Xingjian immediately climbed into the mecha piloted by the leader of the Mythical Mecha Team. Soon, he found a fixed communication signal generator on the left side of the console. This device was designed to work with the battlefield SkyNet System, constantly communicating with it, reporting their location, and ensuring safety. Generally, mechas activate this system upon leaving the base. If danger arises or they go missing, the SkyNet System can record their last known coordinates for dispatching search and rescue missions.

Besides ensuring safety, the signal generator can also guide SkyNet System missiles for laser-targeted attacks. When the mecha identifies a target and locks onto it with laser, the SkyNet System computes the target and inputs precise coordinates into the missile’s guidance system. These laser-guided missiles can be launched from over ten thousand kilometers away, and if not intercepted or diverted, they can accurately hit any target.

In large-scale battles, when signals from all mechas on the battlefield are transmitted to the SkyNet System, it can analyze the enemy’s forces, directions of advance, casualties, and battle deployment, providing data close to reality. This valuable intelligence and data can greatly assist the command in strategic deployment or battle situation simulation.

However, computer systems are predefined programs and can be deceived. Right now, Tian Xingjian was preparing to deceive the SkyNet System of the Gazalin Empire.

Since this mecha team had already caught up with him, shutting down the signal generator would only make the SkyNet System conclude that this team had disappeared after a few dozen minutes, attracting more pursuers.

A team on foot can only cover so much distance in a few dozen minutes, anyone could figure that out. So, Tian Xingjian decided to go all in, restoring the signal and deceiving the SkyNet System while reaping some benefits. At least, once the deception succeeded, the location of this team would be marked as a searched area, and the SkyNet would definitely not send troops to search the same area again. Such orders could only be manually given, but without further intelligence or a report from the mecha team, who would give such orders?

The problem that had been plaguing Tian Xingjian was how to deceive SkyNet.

Since signal transmission could possibly be interrupted by geomagnetism, mountainous terrain, or mecha malfunction, the SkyNet System judged the signal by entire teams. A team consists of ten mechas, and signal interruption cannot exceed an hour. If it does, SkyNet reports to the command, which will then contact the team through other communications. If contact fails three times for a total of fifteen minutes, a search team will be dispatched.

Another case that would prompt a search team dispatch is if the team’s signal drops below sixty percent, which is considered abnormal. SkyNet would change the data to red, indicating alert, and report to the command, which would then initiate an inquiry.

Either scenario would spell the end for this fleeing Federation team.

As long as there was one signal generator, Tian Xingjian was confident he could modify it, splitting or duplicating one signal into ten to deceive SkyNet.

Currently, five of the six surviving mechas had working signal generators. Originally, there was concern that splitting the signals too similarly would cause SkyNet to detect an anomaly. Now, with five signal generators available, each could be slightly modified to split into two signals, changing signal characteristics slightly and interchanging them. SkyNet would never notice.

Tian Xingjian quickly dismantled several signal generators, gathered them, found wiring and electronic parts, and split the signals. Ten minutes later, the splitters driven by five original signal generators successfully began blinking green, indicating safety. Tian Xingjian installed these signal devices in five [Demon Tigers]. As the [Antenna]’s electronic interference gradually decreased, a simulated geomagnetic interference effect was created. The signal generators reconnected with the SkyNet’s reception system.

The few minutes that followed felt like an eternity. When the other green light, indicating SkyNet’s acknowledgment, lit up, all the Federation soldiers cheered.

This deputy company commander, previously a mechanical repair soldier, had brought them countless surprises. Without him, these Special Reconnaissance Soldiers would not have achieved this. They would have had to break out relying solely on mobility and firepower, and the walking Federation prisoners would have been inevitably sacrificed.

The Federation Mechas lifted several [Demon Tigers] along with remaining parts, including two [Pioneers] whose driving systems were destroyed, and began to catch up with the vanguard team.

Half an hour later, in a valley within the northern mountains, the Federation Mechas successfully caught up with the anxious forward team. Upon seeing the recovered [Demon Tigers], the Special Reconnaissance Soldiers were surrounded by an ecstatic crowd. This hard-won victory meant that, after eluding the pursuers, the escape team would have a greater chance of survival, holding substantial significance for future battles.

After discussing with Pete, Tian Xingjian decided to set up camp in the valley for the night. It was getting late, and repairing the incapacitated mechas would also require time.

Six Demon Tiger mechas had two with dismantled power systems. As long as they were reinstalled, it would be easy, while another one had its head’s sensor system damaged, which was a simple fix with a makeshift sensor. The materials were plentiful, and although its movements were not as agile as before, walking and firing systems were unaffected.

However, the issue lay with the three mechas with destroyed mobility systems. The damage was located in the mechanical legs of these mechas. The beast-like mobility systems of these [Demon Tiger] mechas were unique, featuring reverse-joint mechanical legs that were completely biomimetic in design, with practical leg drives and structures. Its hind legs had tremendous explosive power, and the front claws were not only auxiliary power and steering systems but also close-combat weapons.

Due to the completely different mecha types, the Federation human-shaped mecha’s toolbox lacked parts compatible with these mechas, and both [Antenna] and [Anger] were multi-person mechas, much larger in size, and lacked parts compatible with [Demon Tiger].

Ultimately, three mechas were recombined and two of them were repaired. The front and back claws were processed by Tian Xingjian, barely making up eight claws. The remaining one was dismantled, with the mecha’s main body and two damaged Pioneer cockpits cut and remodeled into a large cockpit that could accommodate six people. Then, it was reassembled with a power system and control system, with four Pioneer mechanical legs as the main mobility tools. Four mechanical arms were placed in the lower part of the mecha, becoming auxiliary mobility systems and climbing tools. A strangely shaped combined mecha was formed. This mecha had all its weapons removed, retaining only mobility functions, used entirely for transportation to supplement the team’s lack of mobility.

At 2 AM, [Demon Tiger]’s mechanical computer received an intelligence alert from the Gazalin Empire’s SkyNet system. The intelligence indicated a large-scale activity of Federation warplanes east of coordinates 1213.2230, warning the Imperial ground troops to remain vigilant against Federation air strikes.

This news revitalized everyone’s spirit. The coordinates were less than thirty kilometers away. As long as they secured the Imperial Logistics Base twenty kilometers ahead, this team could potentially escape the enemy’s control zone with the support of the air force.

There was initially another piece of good news. [Antenna] had finally re-established contact with Rashid. Albert’s encrypted communicator was currently the only channel for the team to contact the Federation.

However, the subsequent news shocked the Special Reconnaissance Squad soldiers. When asked why they had been unreachable for the past two days, Rashid replied that after the Special Reconnaissance First Company returned to base and reported the operation, the higher-ups suddenly assigned a mission specifically to the Special Reconnaissance First Company. This mission airdropped them into an enemy-controlled zone six hundred kilometers away to attack an airbase, almost wiping out the entire company. Thirty Warrior Pioneer mechas, including one new [Antenna], two [Anger], and platoon leader Barak, were lost. The rest who made it back to the base were all wounded.

If it wasn’t for Special Reconnaissance Battalion Commander Nadal personally leading a rescue team, with Command dispatching an armored squadron and two medium transport ships, the entire company would have nearly perished.

Upon returning to the base, Rashid discovered that three hours after they left for the mission, Command had issued a directive for the company to rest in place and maintain contact with Deputy Company Commander Tian Xingjian behind enemy lines, ready to respond to a prisoner of war recovery operation.

Yet, Command had no knowledge of the previous order. Upon learning about the company’s mission, Command was shocked, immediately issuing a recall order for the airdropping transport ship. However, the airdrop had already been completed, forcing Command to both trace the order issuer and dispatch a rescue team. The company was finally retrieved in near-complete annihilation, with the order trace leading to a Lieutenant Colonel in the Combat Staff Department who then committed suicide in fear of punishment.

This news left Tian Xingjian and all soldiers of Second Platoon’s First Squad both shocked and angry. Since the battle began, enemy spies within the Federation have surfaced continually. Defectors and collaborators infiltrated both high and low ranks of the Military Department. Just before the ”Thunderbolt” campaign, sixteen general-level officers from combat, logistics, equipment, research departments, and government officials above departmental level were arrested. Over a hundred Colonel-level military aides were under investigation, with thirty-nine confirmed to be involved in stealing and selling military secrets. Some were planted by the Gazalin Empire, gradually rising through bribery. Some, during the war, were coerced or bribed, and some traitors, seeing the Federation’s defeats, proactively contacted the Gazalin Empire Military Department, selling information for a way out.

Two space fleets, worth over a thousand billion Leray Yuan, were completely destroyed. Two star systems and five immigrant planets were lost, with billions displaced and cities destroyed. Protestors or dissidents were executed, nearly eighty resource planets occupied, and over a million ground resistance troops killed or captured. All of this resulted from these traitorous sell-outs. How many more were hiding? How many more would die because of their betrayals?

Now, to cover up the Prisoner of War Camp incident, these hidden enemies within the Military Department revealed another—just a Lieutenant Colonel, capable of forging orders through rigorous procedures, sentencing a Special Reconnaissance Company to death. In fabricating and issuing this order, how many green lights were given? How many neglected their duties? How many turned a blind eye and played both sides?

Tian Xingjian felt some fear. Could the team’s route, status, and his battle situation simulations reach the genuine Federation soldiers? In the multi-layer reporting process, how many handlers were traitors, and how many were derelict in their duties?

The Federation’s honorable military and government were already riddled with failures. Could this war be won?

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Transitional Chapter being rushed