Counterfeit Hero

Flavio and I signed our names on your promotion order, then for the first time, left with our heads held high. Whether or not you’re given a Mecha, that’s your concern, not ours.

We returned to the embassy, drank the whole night, and cried the whole night too.

That old guy Flavio cried the loudest, not at all like a president, with tears and snot flowing together. While crying, he praised you all, using every adjective he could conjure from his bald head full of gray hair.

Back then, it was you who covered him as he escaped the Western Alliance’s encirclement. At that time, you were forever his pain. Now, once more in the Free World far from Leray, you’ve planted a seed, tenaciously blooming and bearing fruit... This old man is proud of you.

Not only are we proud of you, but everyone at the embassy howled with joy all night for your victory.

The Chuckna Guards outside the embassy thought the people in this building were mad. Yes, we were crazy, shedding tears as we hugged each other, toasted each other, sang, and danced. We know, Leray is still alive! She stands in front of the Fei Alliance and the Western Alliance, teetering but never collapsing!

You delivered a resounding slap to all who scorned us! Tell all the Leray Warriors beside you that you are our pride.

As I wrote this letter, it seems I saw that fearful look of Fatty from back then, the Mechanic Soldier Corporal I once sent to the Kato Front with a badge and a lieutenant’s rank in Gallipalan. Destiny is so wondrous. As it closed a door on Leray, it opened a window. I’m certain that choosing you as the hero of Leray was the most correct decision we ever made.

A gift will one day be presented to you personally by Admiral Russell. It is the only thing that we, who are away from home, President Hamilton, Admiral Mihailovich, and countless generals and congressmen imprisoned, can do for this country at this moment of uncertain life and death.

Believe in us, as you fight alone in the distant Mars, we have never given up either. One day, we will return together and reclaim Leray’s freedom and glory. We will send the invaders and traitors all into the grave. I dedicate my remaining life to longing for that day.

All for Leray.

For freedom.

And for the heroic souls shimmering among the stars!

Salute to you, our heroes.

John Bernadotte

June 29, 2063.

The night shrouded Puluo Town.

Weii Jianshan, Old Smith, Cosmo, and all the Mars people quietly stood in the corridor, watching Markovich and a group of Leray Warriors gathered at the meeting room door.

They knew what had happened to these Leray people. They also knew that after being adrift in the Free World for so long, these Leray people finally received a letter.

Three hours passed, and inside the room, there was dead silence.

Helen, hand on the door handle, hesitated for a long time, finally, under the nearly pleading eyes of the warriors, gently opened the door.

The meeting room was empty. Gently bypassing the oval conference table, everyone stopped in their tracks.

They saw Fatty curled up on the floor in front of the flickering virtual screen, clenching his fists tightly, tears flowing long. Crying like a wronged child.

All eyes were on the letter on the virtual screen.

As the warriors’ eyes moved back and forth through the lines of text, with each pass, their eyes grew wetter.

”...Yes, we were crazy, shedding tears as we hugged each other, toasted each other, sang, and danced. We know, Leray is still alive!” a warrior softly read, his voice somewhat shaky.

”...Believe in us, as you fight alone in the distant Mars, we have never given up either.” Another warrior could no longer restrain his sobs.

Tears rolled from their eyes.

Wiped away, they flowed again, unstoppable!

For all Leray Warriors, the immense suffering they endured had received the greatest reward at this moment.

Looking at Fatty’s back, at the men around with tear-streaked faces, Helen covered her mouth tightly. Her long eyelashes were hung with tears. The rolling beads of tears, like a string of broken pearls, slid over the back of her hand and dripped to the floor.

Men don’t cry easily, just not until to hearts break. What could be more heart-wrenching than the tears of these men who resisted with all their might!

”Colonel...” a young warrior wiped his eyes, ”Will we fight back?”

Fatty staggered to his feet.

”We will!” his voice was a bit hoarse.

In front of his eyes, scenes played like a movie. It was Leray battleships blasted to smithereens, faces exhausted in the trenches. That was, Leray’s burning map.

One day, we will return...

The heroic spirits are not far, waiting for us under that starry sky!

Many Leray people have never given up!

******************************************************************

”Leray people?” Trisha and Keo’s faces changed immediately.

In all the docks and space stations of the Freedom Channel, there was a rule that outside the forces occupying these places, no one else could bring weapons inside.

Even though Trisha and Keo were part of the privileged class of this space station, they only had a few knives at best.