Counterfeit Hero

Could it be, are we just going to give up here?

This question simultaneously appeared in Fatty and Margaret’s minds. The two unconsciously exchanged a glance, then quickly turned their heads away. Margaret snorted coldly, this Ragged Fleet, even if it joins the battle, wouldn’t make a difference! On the other hand, Fatty was as proud as a fat rooster, shouting inwardly, beg me, beg me.

”What should we do?” Fang Xiang looked at Fatty and asked softly.

Fatty paced back and forth, turned around, and strode over to the electronic sand table in the operations room. He pulled up the interstellar map of the Longbow Star System and asked Fang Xiang, who was following closely behind, ”You’re the most familiar with this place. If Douglas wants to engage in guerilla warfare with the Binart Empire Fleet, where would they choose to fight?”

”Here, here, and here!” Fang Xiang pointed out three space coordinates without hesitation and immediately explained, ”To defend the Longbow Star System, we must prevent the Western Alliance from reestablishing an advance base on Blue Stone Star. The only places threatening Blue Stone Star and providing enough maneuvering space are these three.”

Fatty gestured for Fang Xiang to continue.

”The Longbow Star System consists of billions of planets, about one two-thousandth the size of the Milky Way. Blue Stone Star is located on its A2 spiral arm. The three major Jump Points and two other Immigrant Planets are on this spiral arm, in a triangular distribution.” As she spoke, Fang Xiang’s finger landed on the first space coordinate she pointed out: ”This is the Vine Nebula between Blue Stone Star and the main route, and the Bermuda Star System Jump Points... which is right behind our current position. Because of the nebula’s cover, dozens of complex environmental obstacle zones form a natural guerilla location. More importantly, this is the closest to Blue Stone Star. If the Feiyang Fleet enters here, they can come out from any obstacle zone at any time, posing a significant threat to the Western Alliance Fleet trying to land on Blue Stone Star and rebuild the base.”

Fatty nodded as Fang Xiang pointed to another space coordinate and continued, ”This is the channel between Blue Stone Star and the second Immigration Star, Kouxian Star. Because there is only one Jump Channel, the Feiyang Fleet can make another choice, which is to guard this channel and form a standoff with the Western Alliance. From the perspective of Feiyang’s strategic objectives, this choice might be more acceptable than the first one. This Jump Channel is located between Constant Star NK1881 and NK1751. Surrounded by gravity reefs and obstacle zones formed by asteroid belts, it is a natural interstellar ambush site. The only drawback is that Kouxian Star is at the end of the spiral arm, a dead end; once the Jump Channel is lost, there will be no strategic maneuvering room.”

”The third choice...” Fang Xiang’s finger landed on a small planet and suddenly fell silent.

”What’s wrong?” Fatty asked.

”This is Torreclais...” Fang Xiang lifted her head, her clear eyes fixed on Fatty: ”It has a population of only three million, a semi-natural, semi-artificially modified planet. Six months ago, it was the base of our Longbow Local Fleet.”

Fatty said nothing; he knew Fang Xiang’s sadness, which had just settled, was stirred by that tiny planet on the interstellar map. At such a time, any comfort seemed so pale. Just like one day returning to a war-torn Leray, returning to his own home.

Fang Xiang quickly adjusted her mood and continued, ”Torreclais, located between Blue Stone Star and Bermuda Channel Jump Points on the edge of the A2 spiral arm. The environment of the Little Bear Constellation to which it belongs is complex, with a greater maneuvering range than the first space coordinate I mentioned. There are dozens of crisscrossing Jump Channels. Once the Feiyang Fleet enters here, they not only can resupply at Torreclais but also pose an immediate threat to Blue Stone Star and the main route Jump Points. They can even rely on Torreclais as an ambush ground to confront the Western Alliance.”

”Sister Xiang, which space coordinate do you think the Feiyang Fleet will choose?” Fatty’s gaze wandered among the three space coordinates, his expression unusually serious.

”It’s hard to choose...” Fang Xiang glanced at Margaret beside her, smiled slightly, ”Among us, probably I am the least familiar with General Douglas. I can only provide some advice on the terrain; as for what choice General Douglas will make, I can’t guess. In this regard, Maggie has more say.”

”Her?” Fatty glanced at Margaret disdainfully, the flesh on his face twitching rhythmically, with an expression enough to make Margaret wish to shoot him in the face: ”How could she possibly know?”

”Do you think this kind of provocation will work on me?” Margaret sneered.

”I’ll tell you two facts. First, we’re Allies, and we’re discussing how to help your Feiyang Fleet. Second, no matter what method I use, you’ll speak. As a soldier, I don’t believe you’d ignore the big picture over a grudge.” Fatty, looking infuriating, said leisurely, ”I know you’ll talk; I’m provoking you just to disgust you.”

The operations room fell into dead silence. Fang Xiang lowered her head, rubbing her temples with her hand, unsure whether she was troubled by the relationship between the two or trying to cover her amused expression.

Margaret, her face flushed with anger at Fatty, gritted her teeth and said, ”You’re so damn childish!”