Counterfeit Hero

Fatty appeared to be deep in thought.

Unaware of her own indiscretion, Fang Xiang maintained her stooping posture, watching Fatty expectantly.

The fleet began to accelerate. A reddish-orange constant star outside the battleship’s port window had gradually been left behind, becoming a distant small red dot. Far behind the star, a mottled, diffuse bright nebula quietly hovered in space,

like a... fog of war.

”The Suss Transport Fleet...” Carolina put down the intelligence in her hand and looked up at the middle-aged man with graying hair on the communication screen, hesitantly asking, ”Admiral Zhang Pengcheng, what do you think of this intelligence from the command center?”

”I believe there’s a sixty percent chance it’s a trap set by the Suss.” Admiral Zhang Pengcheng, Commander of the Chuckna 12th Group Fleet, with his square face and sharp eyes, tightened his expression: ”According to the intelligence, the Suss Saleria Army has two mixed group fleets, totaling six A-Class fleets and two B-Class fleets, double our strength. It’s unreasonable for such an important transport mission to lack tight protection...”

Seeing Carolina deep in thought, Zhang Pengcheng continued, ”... Currently, several A-Class routes leading from the main route to Mars and their jump points are under the control of my Chuckna 1202 and 1203 fleets. The Suss Commanders Ulianov and Gershkov are well-renowned and can’t possibly be unaware of this intelligence. They are holding back probably because the 1201 fleet I lead, along with your Feiyang Dalarpeya B15 fleet, are still out of their sight. They won’t act rashly without tracking us. However, they also don’t want to drag this on...”

”So, the appearance of this transport fleet and the intelligence we’ve received are just too coincidental...” Carolina sat upright, habitually raising her chin slightly: ”Do you think this is a trap set for the 1201 fleet?”

”Exactly.” Zhang Pengcheng nodded affirmatively.

”But, as far as I know, there’s no large scale Suss fleet in the third segment of the main route.” Carolina tapped the table lightly with her fingers, frowning: ”This transport ship is carrying supplies and a large amount of weaponry and equipment for all the fleets of the Suss Saleria Army for three months. Clearly, they’re preparing for the upcoming route battle. If we let this opportunity slip by, once they are fully prepared, our situation will be even more challenging. Furthermore...”

Carolina paused, a smile appearing on her face: ”Your 1201 fleet, General, is among the finest in Chuckna. I can hardly imagine how many battleships the Suss would need to ensure the destruction of the 1201 fleet. From all the intelligence gathered, there seems to be no force near the third segment capable of threatening you.”

Zhang Pengcheng remained silent. He had to admit that Carolina’s observations were sharply accurate. In fact, while he felt it was an enemy trap, he was also repeatedly pondering another possibility—if the appearance of this transport fleet wasn’t a trap, letting it pass would not only waste the invaluable intelligence obtained through great risk but also put their future strategic positions at a disadvantage.

Bear in mind, Chuckna is currently putting all efforts into competing with the Suss Empire for the Resk Star System, leaving extremely limited forces available for the main route. The three fleets under his command represent Chuckna Military Department’s maximum maneuverability in recent times. For a long time, no more fleets can be sent to reinforce the main route.

Thus, for the outnumbered forces, time is of the essence. As long as they can threaten the main route, whether they engage in battle or not, whether north against Resk or south against the Leray Channel, it serves as a form of constraint. The longer this constraint lasts, the better! Once Chuckna’s third reinforcement plan is completed or a major victory is achieved at Resk, there would be continuous reinforcements entering the main route. By then, with Chuckna and Fiscella-led Fei Alliance Southeastern Front Army supporting from north to south, the southeast corner will stabilize!

And to achieve all this, attacking this Suss transport fleet is an excellent opportunity! Destroying supplies that sustain the entire army for three months and critically needed weaponry would deal a significant blow to the Suss Saleria Army, which is preparing for war.

Carolina observed the pensive Admiral Chuckna without showing any intention on her face. She knew her analysis had already convinced him.

Though, within the Fei Alliance Joint Army, this Chuckna fleet factually does not fall under Mars Front Army’s direct command, and in terms of rank, Zhang Pengcheng is also an admiral. However, the current situation has the Fei Alliance militaries forming a Joint Army under the Alliance Command Center. Thus, aside from tacit understanding, maintaining nominal hierarchy is necessary.

As the overall commander of the Mars Front Army directly assigned by the Alliance Command Center, Carolina not only leads a Feiyang Armored Division and a Feiyang B-Class Fleet but also heads the entire Mars war zone’s command. Nominally, she has advisement authority over Zhang Pengcheng leading the Chuckna 12th Group Fleet.

Upon seeing the intelligence from the command center regarding this Suss Transport Fleet, she immediately conducted a comprehensive analysis.