Counterfeit Hero

Fang Xiang gritted his teeth and glared at Fatty, listening to the idiot striking a strategic pose and continuing:

”Our combat methods are very different from those of traditional fleets. In the barrier zone, although we can smoothly launch the first wave of attacks on the enemy, our speed advantage and our ramming beak advantage are not easily exploited in areas filled with asteroids. If an emergency arises, it is also not conducive to our retreat.”

”Consider defeat before contemplating victory!” Fatty raised his index finger, his chubby face serious like a bun: ”Safety first. Whatever battle we fight, we must be ready to run at any moment. If the timing isn’t right, retreat quickly. These eight words are the first guiding principle for the bandit army’s future operations. Everyone should understand that in life, we must hold reverence. Fear of death is actually a very noble sentiment!”

”Pfft!...” Fang Xiang couldn’t help but secretly spit. This shameless Fatty was the first to speak about fear of death in such a self-righteous manner.

”Not ambushing in the barrier zone does not mean not utilizing the barrier zone!”

Fatty continued leisurely: ”Everyone, don’t forget, what you’re piloting now is the world’s unique invisible warship. As long as we need, the first attack always belongs to us! We can set an ambush at any location we require! Considering both escape and attack factors, I believe this time, the ambush location we choose should be...”

Fatty’s index finger pressed on a point outside the interstellar map’s barrier zone: ”...here!”

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”Admiral Gershkov, the Chuckna fleet has appeared!”

In the command room on the bridge of the [Admiral Yangkevich] aircraft carrier, a staff officer suddenly stood up and shouted excitedly.

Admiral Gershkov, who was leaning over the simulation table, had just raised his head when the staff officer rushed to his front: ”The reconnaissance ship has sent a report; they have already discovered the whereabouts of the Chuckna fleet. General, it’s exactly as you predicted; this fleet is indeed sitting on the third navigation section. Currently, they are in the AR-1861 Star System. The detected coordinates are...”

”AR-1861 Star System?” Gershkov quickly turned to another staff officer beside the simulation table: ”Bring up the map of this star system. Mark all barrier zones!”

”Yes, General!” The staff officer operated quickly. Soon, the simulation table displayed the interstellar map of the AR-1861 Star System.

Gershkov grabbed the folder from the staff officer reporting intelligence, flipping it casually, murmuring the space coordinates of the Chuckna fleet’s appearance, then turned his head, verifying the position on the map while asking the staff officer in charge of the simulation: ”Where is my First Group Fleet A1 fleet currently located?”

”Here, General!” The staff officer checked the SkyNetwork coordinates on the simulation screen and used the electronic push rod with the black strip sensor head to move the A1 fleet marker to the precise location on the simulation map.

”What about the other fleets?” Gershkov asked.

”A2 fleet is here. A3 is here...” The staff officer’s electronic push rod moved further away.

”Crafty Chuckna people...” Once Gershkov confirmed the appearance coordinates of the Chuckna fleet, he couldn’t help but sigh. Built on years of experience and the intelligence in his hand, his gaze swept over the dozens of barrier zones in the 1861 Star System, landing on the Smoke Lake Barrier Zone in the center.

The Chuckna fleet would appear here, and only here! Clearly, the Chuckna Fleet Commander is no fool and hasn’t recklessly attacked due to hotheadedness. They must have determined this attack location through repeated reconnaissance centered around the Transport Ship fleet. Choosing any other place wouldn’t allow such free movement in attack or retreat!

Looking at the map, the Smoke Lake Barrier Zone is the center of the entire 1861 Star System, surrounded by other barrier zones and jump channels, forming a natural barrier. As long as the jump channel is monitored, the Chuckna fleet can ensure that for at least five hours, no Suss fleet reinforcements will appear nearby. Whether attacking or retreating, five hours is already sufficient!

Gershkov felt some regret, he sighed because there was no way to annihilate this Chuckna fleet entirely!

Recently, the Saleria Front Army has almost fully mobilized to search for this Chuckna fleet, which resembles a thorn in the flesh. However, the main channel is vast and long; merely maintaining this supply line occupies two A-class fleets from the Suss Saleria Army. Finding a fleet with no exact purpose and direction, akin to playing hide-and-seek in the vast space, is truly elusive.

Thus, Gershkov took advantage of the supply opportunity at Blue Stone Star Base to orchestrate this operation. On the surface, around the Transport Ship fleet, there are only some small patrol fleets that cannot pose a threat to a Chuckna A-class fleet. In reality, along the route of the Transport Ship fleet’s progress, every star system they pass contains an A-class Suss fleet!

The A1, A2, and A3 fleets of the First Group Fleet from the Suss Saleria Army, along with the A5 fleet from the Second Group Fleet, are like the rolling chain of a bicycle, taking turns to ambush along the transport fleet’s path.

To avoid alerting them prematurely, Gershkov did not choose the traditional tracking method.

This wait-and-watch tactic, although clumsy, is already sufficient to achieve the strategic goal of forcing the Chuckna fleet into the Mars Free Channel. When the Chuckna fleet sees an A-class Suss fleet appear before them, no matter what they initially intended to do, their only choice would be to flee immediately.