Counterfeit Hero

Chapter 1173: Chapter 13: Kerry’s Proposal

In October 2063, the cold wind was biting in the Feiyang Capital, Hydefield, with fallen leaves swirling around.

The first snow arrived gracefully, and the chaotic snowflakes enveloped the entire city, reducing the number of pedestrians on the streets significantly.

For the residents of the capital of this largest superpower of humanity, the impact of war had already begun to manifest. Prices had risen significantly compared to before the war, and many supplies were beginning to show signs of shortage. Many factories had shut down, and trade volume had dramatically shrunk. For the first time in nearly a century, the unemployment rate exceeded the warning line.

These factors were already enough to focus all of everyone’s attention on the war.

Television news, the internet, and other media were their sources for information. Every piece of news about the war was carefully and repeatedly chewed over and spread by word of mouth. Colleagues, classmates, lovers, family, friends... all topics, aside from small talk, revolved around the progression of the war.

In this era of highly developed information, a plethora of varied and chaotic messages were flying everywhere. Coupled with people’s own embellishments, news about capturing or losing a soldier could multiply tenfold, to a hundredfold, as it’s told to ten people.

Although the government’s strict control over the media curtailed many people’s access to real information, the sheer number of participants in these public discussions was overwhelming. Rumors disseminated through various channels were gathered by keen individuals, producing a picture surprisingly close to reality.

In late September, the Western Alliance launched a massive winter offensive. In the operation named ”Sever,” main forces from member countries launched a grand attack on selected strategic targets. Countless fleets struck at various locations, and innumerable soldiers and Mechas landed on target planets. The originally stalemated situation became perilous in an instant.

Within a week, the Fei Alliance Joint Army lost six critical Space Jump Points. The previously severed interstellar main channel was once again divided. Logistics routes were cut off, Alliance forces’ communications were severed, and telegrams requesting assistance flooded into the Alliance Command Department like snowflakes.

Ordinary citizens witnessed this, while the Fei Alliance Joint Congress building remained brightly lit almost all night. Officials representing each country rushed back and forth with grim faces. It was said that even ordinary staff hadn’t returned home for a long time.

The Northern Battle Zone in crisis, the Western Theater in crisis, the Binart Fleet aggressively attacking the Karsdon Star River, after multiple fierce battles, the Feiyang main fleet suffered heavy losses, having transitioned entirely to a defensive posture. Major military districts canceled leaves, and emergency gatherings were called. All kinds of news struck like heavy hammers, leaving everyone flustered and unsettled.

Everyone knew that the situation was unfavorable for the Fei Alliance. However, how unfavorable it was and to what extent remained unclear, which only intensified people’s worry.

The most concerning issue for the public, undoubtedly, was the Resk Star System battle.

The covert maneuver and surprise attack by Jiepeng’s Mikami Yuto on Canglang Star was no longer a secret.

Upon learning of Canglang Star’s fall, the public was in an uproar.

Chuckna and the Feiyang Republic were allies and neighboring countries as close as lips and teeth. For hundreds of years, in the hearts of Feiyang’s citizens, Chuckna represented the most stable line of defense. As long as this country was behind them, the Jiepeng Empire and Suss Empire—these two greedy, ferocious wolves—would never have the chance to bite Feiyang.

However, now the entire Southeast was under Suss and Jiepeng’s control. With the loss of Resk Canglang Star, if the Western Alliance were to crush the Chuckna Republic via the Southeast Passage, even if the Fei Alliance were to win at Karsdon and achieve victory in the Northern and Western Theaters, it would ultimately face defeat.

After the loss of the Leray Channel, the Western Alliance Fleet roamed unhindered in the Southeast Star Domain.

Initially, Douglas’s surprise attack on the Longbow Star System excited everyone for a while. But Sobel, exceedingly talented, with his covert plan in Hastings just after taking the Longbow Star System, turned the situation around in a flash, magically conjuring up two Elephant-class fleets led by Hanfrey and the Desic 5th Group Fleet. It could be said that Douglas’s 19th Group Fleet had almost no chance of victory.

If Hanfrey occupied the Longbow Star System and opened a second passage to attack the Resk Star System, advancing northward, the entire situation in the Southeast would rapidly deteriorate beyond control.

Amidst this chaotic scenario, on September 28th, news of the Longbow Battle arrived. Hanfrey’s forces were annihilated, and the nineteenth Group Fleet, led by Douglas, continued to defend the Longbow Star System.

This news was somewhat ambiguous. Such a significant victory didn’t receive a clear, comprehensive report—just a few sentences and images.

How the 19th Group Fleet fought and won this battle was entirely unknown.

But the news was, after all, officially released. The entire Fei Alliance citizenry was completely in a state of jubilation. Especially those with family members serving in the 19th Group Fleet, they took to the streets, setting off fireworks, waving the Chuckna flag, celebrating the victory.

The officials of the Fei Alliance Joint Congress seemed to breathe a sigh of relief as well.

The noose around their necks had not tightened at the first moment. Although the Fei Alliance remained at a disadvantage in other theaters, as long as the Longbow Star System and Southeast Main Channel remained under control, there was still room for strategic planning in the Resk battle. Given the Fei Alliance’s formidable mobilization capabilities, with Chuckna’s and Qian Bolin’s current forces on Leifeng Star, Mikami Yuto absolutely could not swallow Resk in one go.