Counterfeit Hero

So, the next thirty-six hours won’t be thirty-six peaceful hours of defense but will be extremely grueling, continuously fighting hours—thirty-six hours of mental and physical battles.

Currently, the enemy’s fastest advancing force is less than a hundred kilometers from the outskirts of Puluo Town’s defensive line. The SM 3rd Group must launch their attack first, striving to break off one of the enemy’s pincers before they can encircle us, a fleeting opportunity only available before the enemy reaches Puluo Town’s defenses, and it must be seized tonight.

Mars Planet’s weather always changes abruptly. Just recently, the sky was clear and full of stars, but within a few hours, thick clouds have piled up—a condition unique to Mars known as wandering rain clouds.

Markovich stopped his Mecha on the hillside, and in the dark, rows of Mechas with searchlights on passed by him like flowing stars. The communication channel intermittently delivered voices from Cosmo and several other battalion commanders.

”Hurry! Keep up.”

”Maintain formation... listen to the command channel orders, don’t just chat in the local channel.”

”Come on, it’s just taking down three Mechas, you’ll have your turn in front!”

”Logistics Transport Mecha, don’t fall behind.”

A white flash lit up the sky, and a low rumble of thunder rolled through the clouds.

A moment later, large raindrops pattered down, growing heavier by the minute. In an instant, the whole world turned into a domain of water.

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DE-176 Public Star System.

From a distance, like a yolk in a black box, is the constant star. Various sizes of different colored planets, floating asteroids, and colorful band-shaped nebulae in the star’s light hang quietly in space. To human senses, they are almost motionless.

Beside a large, dark-brown planet, three satellites silently rotate on their orbits. The side of one satellite that always faces the planet is the Redbeard Pirate Base, which is now the location of the bandit army Base No.1.

Had it not been for encountering the bandit army, Fang Xiang would never have come here.

Standing on a high platform in the dock, Fang Xiang and a group of Saleria senior officers were intently watching the warship construction at the ship berth.

The entire dock was a scene of bustling activity. Hundreds of mechanics and staff were working intently on the maintenance frame; nearby, machine tools and giant stereotyping presses emitted deafening sounds; Transport Mechas moved back and forth along the transport lane, with blinding flashes occasionally appearing on the ship’s hull.

In the huge ship berth, three hovering cruisers were taking shape. Additionally, a battleship had completed its structural shaping. Its empty framework stood there, with a 166-meter-tall hull that the dock couldn’t contain, requiring a second-level open-close roof to solve the problem. Once the lower structures are complete, the movable berth will sink it to work above.

Everything was proceeding in an orderly fashion. Watching their warships being dismantled and then refashioned, the Saleria felt an indescribable mixture of emotions.

They missed their old treasures yet anticipated these new lovers. More than anything, they now respected the Leray people.

These days, the Saleria found themselves continuously amazed by the Leray people’s genius-like intelligence, their passionate work ethic, and their unyielding tenacity.

Before the war, no one would have believed the Leray people were this strong. At that time, in the entire Southeast Star Domain, anything related to the military positioned the Leray as subjects of ridicule and scorn. Their soldiers didn’t look like soldiers; their weapons and equipment seemed beneath notice. People even doubted whether, if war broke out, this nation would have anyone with the courage to fire a shot at the enemy.

The truth provided all the answers. Three years of the Patriotic War later, what people saw was a tough, unyielding Leray Federation; what they heard were stories of soldiers who advanced fearlessly. Those carefree, boisterous Leray youths completed their transformation seamlessly when the country was in peril.

Looking at this base, seeing these Leray students, scientists, mechanics, and warriors adrift in the far reaches of the universe, away from their homeland, all the Saleria were filled with respect.

Yet, however, regrettably, every country has those who are despicable.

”Sir...,” a Saleria Colonel stood beside Fang Xiang, hesitant to speak. He glanced at Fang Xiang, then turned to look at his colleagues alongside him, following their gaze to the hard-working Leray people on the maintenance racks, and let out a long sigh.

Fang Xiang didn’t turn around; she knew what the Colonel wanted to say. Just now, the Electronic Reconnaissance Ship sent to collect information on the air channels brought back a weighty message—the Central Leray Star Domain had been breached by the United Fleet of Suss and Jiepeng. The Leray Fleet left behind, after seventy-three hours of battle, was utterly defeated.

Their defeat was largely due to Brody and Hansford, who, having seized power, refused to provide logistical support. Meanwhile, the joint fleet of the Feiyang Expeditionary Army, also due to supply issues, couldn’t reach the combat region in time. In the final battle, the Leray Federation lost two Admirals, six Vice Admirals, and twenty-three Major Generals. This included the great Admiral Snyder and Admiral Brown of the 4th Mixed Fleet.

In this battle, the elite of the Federation Space Fleet fell together. The Federation’s best, wiped out completely!

The iron fortress was destroyed by the hands of its own. How tragically similar to Tolstoy’s sacrifice.

The First Fleet led by Chekov was still out hunting. In the military intelligence duty room, the first to receive the news was the Saleria duty officer, so the news was yet to be disclosed.

Fang Xiang didn’t know how ruthless she would have to be to tell the Leray people this news. Watching the busy Leray people, she couldn’t bring herself to speak.

More importantly, she had no way to relay this message to the Fatty fighting hard.

She couldn’t imagine what would happen to these Leray Warriors, still battling against all odds in a hopeless situation when they learned this news. The Leray Central Star Domain was now filled with Western Alliance warships. The armies of Suss and Jiepeng were preparing to land on their capital. What they were doing here now, no one knew, and no one cared.

If it were her, she would surely crumble!

But is silence an option?

”Help me connect to Colonel Chekov and Colonel Tian....” Fang Xiang bit her lip hard. In her heart, she prayed that the Leray people would survive this test. In the future, she would fight alongside them for the sake of their respective countries.

The communication request, through specially set hidden relays, reached Mars Planet.

The planet turned slowly, and the star’s light crept over rivers and mountains, gradually extending across the vast plains. The night was nearing its end; in three hours, the dawn would first illuminate Central City, preceding the arrival of the first light in Puluo Town.

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