Counterfeit Hero

Zhang Pengcheng’s words immediately stirred a commotion among the Chuckna officers.

The fact that this mysterious reconnaissance ship knew about the Feiyang Fleet and their use of directional signals that could only communicate at close range left everyone present bewildered!

”Radar, long-range detectors, space telescopes, long-range viewers, spectrum analysis...” Zhang Pengcheng couldn’t believe his eyes: ”Why haven’t any of the surveillance departments reported?! They’re right under our noses!”

Like a trapped beast, Zhang Pengcheng turned halfway and glanced at the intelligence officer: ”Did the other party reveal their identity?!”

”No!” the intelligence officer reported, ”However, I have ordered the communications department to send a communications code and request to establish an independent communication channel!”

Just as the liaison officer finished speaking, a faint beep sounded from the central computer in the central command area.

It’s here! Everyone shuddered.

As they focused, they saw the octagonal virtual light screen generator slowly rotating, with beams of various colors projecting upward, gradually converging together. Soon, a young Lieutenant officer in a blue uniform, with collar insignia and shoulder epaulettes marked with ’bandit’, appeared on the virtual screen.

”The bandit army?!” Zhang Pengcheng frowned. The military represented by this name was something he had heard of as soon as he entered the main channel. Later, the intelligence gathered from various channels was innumerable. Apart from this army’s deeds in the Mars Sect War and that Leray Major General, he also knew about the rift between Carolina and this uncooperative army.

Is it them?!

”Lieutenant Brian Port of the Mars bandit army, ordered to inform your forces,” the Lieutenant on the virtual screen said expressionlessly, ”Currently, the Suss A-level Fleet is rapidly approaching the Smoke Lake Barrier Zone in the 1861 Star System. If your forces do not promptly evade, you will encounter them in forty-five minutes. Although our forces are not allied with yours, we believe it necessary to warn you, as we both oppose the Western Alliance.”

”I am Admiral Commander Zhang Pengcheng of the Chuckna 12th Fleet!” Zhang Pengcheng stared intently at Lieutenant Port of the bandit army: ”How did you know the whereabouts of the Suss Fleet? And how did you manage to approach us?”

”I’m sorry!” Faced with the almost aggressive questioning from an Admiral, Lieutenant Port remained expressionless and composed: ”No comment. My task is complete, and if you understand, please inform the Feiyang Fleet as soon as possible. As for its authenticity, if you still have time to question it, you can verify it yourself. Farewell!”

”Wait!” Zhang Pengcheng quickly gestured, asking: ”I am grateful for your warning. However, I would like to request a conversation with General Tian Xingjian... You know, I am not familiar with your forces. I need to verify your identity and intentions. And among you, I only know Major General Tian Xingjian.”

”General Tian Xingjian is merely an advisor to the bandit army,” the Lieutenant replied meticulously. He was careful not to place the bandit army under Fatty, as per Fatty’s repeated instructions. He did not want just anyone capable of commanding him to take over the bandit army.

”However... if you need General Tian to alleviate your concerns, I can apply to my superiors. Please wait a moment.” The Lieutenant nodded to Zhang Pengcheng and temporarily cut off the communication screen.

”What do you all think?” Zhang Pengcheng turned to the Chuckna officers beside him.

”It shouldn’t be false information,” said Sam, the Space Carrier ship captain, ”But what I don’t understand is why only a single Suss Fleet has appeared. With such a small force, trying to take us out seems overly arrogant, doesn’t it?”

”Perhaps the Suss Fleet just happened to appear,” an Colonel Staff suggested, ”Moreover, I feel we should maintain some vigilance against the bandit army. In case they plan to target the Suss Transport Fleet...”

”That’s possible!” another staff officer said, ”According to intelligence, these people who call themselves the bandit army tend to snatch everything.”

”Yes, very few know about the Feiyang Fleet. Even fewer know their whereabouts!” said a Major Staff, ”Even if the bandit army knows of this fleet’s existence, they shouldn’t know it’s here. Unless they’re monitoring the Feiyang Fleet as they monitor us! They’re obviously not clairvoyant. Look at our current position; it’s clear they must be monitoring several points on the main channel simultaneously!”

As the Major spoke, he marked several points on the electronic interstellar map on the control console: ”This is us... this is the Feiyang B15 Fleet... this is the Suss Fleet they claim. Look at this triangle, and then at the Transport Ship’s route. It’s evident these reconnaissance ships are distributed around their main force as the center, and their main force’s location... they also aim to attack the Transport Fleet!”

The staff officers expressed their views and engaged in lively discussions.

Zhang Pengcheng placed his finger under his nose, pacing in circles, listening and pondering.

”A single fleet... a single fleet... Do the Suss people want to lure us out?” He halted, raising his head: ”The enemy wants to expose us, driving us into the Mars Free Port airspace!”

Under the staff officers’ watchful eyes, Zhang Pengcheng clapped his hands: ”Yes, that’s it! The Transport Fleet is a decoy. However, they’re uncertain where we’ll attack their Transport Fleet, so they can’t set an ambush. They can only take turns cooperatively with their fleet, finding us when we attempt to attack the Transport Fleet, driving us into the surrounding channels of Mars, eliminating threats behind and beside them for their next offensive!”

Zhang Pengcheng, after all, was a seasoned Chuckna senior commander. At this moment, through the synthesis of various intelligence, his analysis was incredibly precise, flawlessly interconnected.

The nearby staff officers, after careful consideration, nodded in agreement.

Yet, Zhang Pengcheng sighed, somewhat dejected. This kind of deduction seemed somewhat like hindsight. If it hadn’t been for the bandit army’s reminder, he might still be burying his head, advancing toward the Smoke Lake Barrier Zone! Earlier, the discussions with Carolina ultimately never unveiled the enemy’s intent behind the conspicuous advance of this Transport Fleet. He had unwittingly fallen into a trap.

Though not fatal, it was quite disheartening. It indicated the Suss Commander’s profound skill in overall strategic planning and local interest extraction. Sometimes, such unnoticed loss of benefits and initiative could turn into fatal flaws at critical moments. The balance scale was inherently such that you gain when I lose.

However, this time, Admiral Gershkov of the Suss seemed to have somewhat miscalculated. They hadn’t anticipated the appearance of the Feiyang Fleet!

”With the Feiyang Fleet, can we take down the Suss Fleet within five hours?” Zhang Pengcheng’s eyes sparkled with an unabated defiant spirit.

The staff officers exchanged glances and nodded.

A staff officer smiled and said: ”If it were only our fleet, certainly not. But now, with the Feiyang Fleet’s cooperation, even if we can’t take them down, we can come and go as we please! There shouldn’t be any danger!”

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. Don’t worry, I won’t write nonsense. My speed, I’ve honed through time. What takes others an hour to write takes me seven or eight hours.

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. Celebrate reaching eighty thousand collections; everyone cheer by casting your votes! Ah! We’re just a few votes away from JJ’s little butt. Brothers! Let’s crush him today!

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.(To be continued, to know what happens next, please visit www.qidian.com, more chapters available, support the author, and support legitimate reading!)