Counterfeit Hero

Carolina, forty this year, is a senior lecturer at the Cleveland Military Academy of the Feiyang Republic. After the outbreak of war, she was transferred to the Logistics Department Director of the Fei Alliance Dalapeiya Military District and then sent to the liaison office of the Chuckna Republic as the deputy liaison officer, responsible for coordinating joint military operations between the two countries. This time, she was personally designated by Fiscella to go to Mars Free Port and form the Fei Alliance Mars Front Army.

Carolina does not like this assignment.

In her view, the so-called Mars Free Port is nothing more than a filthy place riddled with hidden evils, inhabited by ruthless pirates, profit-driven merchants, cold-blooded mercenaries, and whimsical adventurers. Hardly anyone is normal. These exiles are nothing more than a ragtag bunch that, no matter how much they are formed, cannot take shape and offer no help for the war against the Fei Alliance and the Western Alliance.

Carolina abhors this kind of work and equally detests the exiles she will encounter.

Therefore, she has her own plans for Mars.

She does not intend to rely on the unreliable Mars people, nor does she want the Chuckna people to have more influence on Mars. She only trusts the armies of the Feiyang Republic.

In forming the Mars Front Army, Carolina will not be a lone commander. Upon receiving the order, she already had her troops—the 107 Armored Division of the Third Army Group of the Feiyang Republic Dalapeiya Military District, along with a B-grade Mixed Fleet.

This army will be the foundational force for Carolina to form the Mars Front Army, a strong deterrent against the Mars people, and a nail driven into the southwest of Chuckna by the Feiyang Republic!

After receiving the order, Carolina conducted extensive research on Mars. In her view, neither the Military Department nor Fiscella intends to wage a major war in Mars between the two countries of Suss Jiepeng. That does not align with the interests of the Feiyang Republic. This is Chuckna’s battlefield, and the Feiyang Republic simply has no reason to draw fire onto itself.

The reason for forming the Mars Front Army is partly because the Leray colonel named Tian Xingjian had, by a twist of fate, secured control over Mars effortlessly. On the other hand, the disadvantaged Fiscella desperately needs a force that can threaten the Western Alliance’s flanks.

This holding force was originally to be played by the Chuckna people, but their performance since the war began has been unreliable. These Chuckna people are too cunning and pragmatic; without close supervision, they might abandon Fiscella just as they had abandoned their own Resk Star System.

Apart from the combat factors, a more important reason is the strategic need for the Feiyang Republic to impose its military power across the universe.

For many years, the Feiyang Republic has been unable to secure a military base in the Southeast Star Domain to intervene in local interests. Leray has always strongly opposed the Feiyang garrison, with a firm attitude. As for Saleria, because it is adjacent to Jiepeng, the Feiyang Republic’s numerous attempts to push through garrison proposals have met with strong oppositions from Suss and Jiepeng in the Human Supreme Council. Several times, Jiepeng has displayed aggression, frequently moving troops to threaten Saleria. Should the Saleria Congress pass the Feiyang Republic’s garrison proposal, they would not hesitate to start a war.

Therefore, the Feiyang Republic does not actually have its own military base in the Southeast Star Domain. Entering the Southeast Star Domain has always been a strategic goal for the Feiyang Republic, which, as a superpower with fleets distributed across the entire human interstellar map and present in all regional conflicts, has continuously pursued.

Now, this is a rare opportunity. Once this place becomes part of Feiyang’s sphere of influence, it can not only restrain Chuckna after the war but also enormously expand Feiyang’s interests in the Southeast Star Domain. Failing needs no further mention; should the Fei Alliance win, then Saleria, Jiepeng, Suss, and even Leray would fall within the control range of the Feiyang Republic!

In Carolina’s view, this is her most important mission. As for those Mars people, she does not pay them much attention. Even if all of Mars’ ragtag bunch were gathered, they would not be a match for a Feiyang Armored Division that includes three Ninth Generation [Heaven’s Punishment] Mecha groups, one [Divine] Mecha group, a division-directly attached Special Forces Camp, a Logistics Camp, an Electronic Camp, and a non-combat personnel total of nearly 20,000 people.

Moreover, the B-grade Special Mixed Fleet drawn from Feiyang also temporarily includes an [Dawnlight]-class aircraft carrier. Although this carrier is a light carrier, its deterrence against Mars’ pirate fleets and commerce group fleets is more than sufficient.

”General...” came the voice of the adjutant Margaret beside her: ”Your coffee.”

”Thank you.” Carolina took the coffee, rubbed her slightly sore eyes, and closed them.

The surrounding officers remained silent, as they were familiar with this academy-style Major General’s character: serious, stubborn, and unsmiling. At forty, still alone, she has earned nicknames behind her back, such as frigid and old maid. Her unlikable personality starkly contrasts with her fairly charming appearance.

Perhaps it is precisely because of her character that she was able to complete the tedious studies, becoming one of the few military theorists at Cleveland Military Academy, and demonstrated strong organizational abilities during her tenure in the Dalapeiya Military District’s Logistics Department. Even now, many graduates of the Cleveland Military Academy hold deep admiration for this serious professor with profound military theoretical insights.

They fully believe that once this only female student of Hastings commands independently in war, she will undoubtedly shine brightly and quickly become the only female leader in the great generals ranking.

Following Carolina, the officers themselves were not sure whether it was an honor or a torment. However, following the will of their superiors had long been a habit. A cold superior naturally has a group of silent subordinates.

The only exception, perhaps, is Carolina’s adjutant, Margaret, the granddaughter of Hastings.

If Carolina is an iceberg, then the sexy, charming, and vivacious Margaret is a flame that all men are willing to be burned by.

”General.” Margaret, with her flared skirt, sat down at her seat, crossed her long, straight legs, and looked at the photo of a Fatty on the information desk computer, asking, ”I heard this person is the most famous hero since the Leray National Defense War?”

”Hero?” Carolina took a sip of coffee, shaking her head, ”A soldier who disobeys orders, the more heroic they act, the more harm they do to the group. Besides...” She glanced at the photo of the chubby guy with an honest face and protruding belly, ”I really can’t see how this person could be a hero. I even doubt if he’s a qualified soldier.”

”But...” Margaret, who had professional ballet training, sat with a very straight back. Her prominent peach-shaped bosom, slender waist, and long, fair neck captivated the nearby male officers. She curiously said, ”It’s said that this person has made many contributions, even capturing the Gazalin Emperor himself.”

”Seeing is believing...” Carolina said plainly, ”Some things are just political propaganda that you don’t understand yet. Aren’t such heroes being desperately touted by countries right now? Without the collective wisdom and cooperation, could he alone capture the Gazalin Emperor? It’s merely concentrating everyone’s credit onto one person.”

”How did they choose such a fatty to be a hero...” Margaret muttered in disappointment, ”When I first heard about it, I thought it would be a handsome guy...”

”I don’t care what kind of hero he was before.” Carolina sniffed the aroma of coffee, her eyes flickering, ”Under my command, if he doesn’t restrain his antics, I’ll send him to the military court.”

Margaret stuck her tongue out, looking at the fatty in the photo with eyes full of pity.

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

”Fatty, your wife is here to see you.”

”My wife?” Fatty was startled by Carl, ”Which one?”

”Which one?” Carl’s eyes on the communication screen were obviously a bit glazed, ”How many do you have?”

Fatty was counting on his fingers when he suddenly felt a chill down his spine. He quickly turned around and saw Helen swiftly avoiding his gaze. However, those beautiful ears were still obviously perked up.

”It’s none of your business how many I have...” Fatty said, annoyed and flustered, ”Just say it, who is it?”

”Meiduo.” Carl looked over Fatty’s shoulder.

”Meiduo?” Fatty was taken aback, not caring about the goosebumps rising on his neck, he said anxiously, ”This silly nurse, what’s she doing here, has paranoia? Wherever it’s dangerous, she runs there.”

”She came to find you.” Carl shrugged, recounting what happened at the 106 Space Station. Fatty listened, covered in cold sweat. He hadn’t expected that Meiduo had been waiting for him to find her for the past two years. Even more, he hadn’t expected that this gentle girl would embark on such a dangerous journey all by herself for him.

Carl added finally, ”A girl travels so far to find you; everyone here is incredibly moved. Anyway, at the base now, she’s become a treasure. Those scientific old monsters all say that if you dare to let her down, they’ll develop a super iron chastity belt to lock you up, so that besides nocturnal emissions, you won’t solve things any other way.”

Fatty fell silent.

Reflecting on the past, an inexplicable emotion emerged, sprouting within his heart.

He suddenly very much wanted to see the woman he had saved twice before.

It wasn’t about love nor desire.

It was a kind of moving sentiment in the chaotic times, supporting each other through harsh circumstances.

Fatty’s eyes were a bit moist, and his voice was slightly hoarse and trembling, ”.....Is she wearing her nurse’s uniform?”

.

. Not finished writing yet, but still posting first. The recent transitional chapters are more frequent, needing to lay the groundwork from various angles for the upcoming battle for the trade route, Fatty’s perspective is not omnipotent. Early in the month, asking for monthly votes. Try to keep updating daily.

.

. (To be continued, to know how the story unfolds, please visit www.qidian.com, more chapters available, support the author, support genuine reading!)