Counterfeit Hero

Chapter 1436: Chapter 123: War Begins

”All members execute combat positions for Operation Number One. Arrive at your post within one minute. The Power Cabin prepare for engine inspection, Power Storage Device fully loaded; Reserve Cabin execute combat deployment immediately; Damage Control Team stand by; Electronic Attack System ready; Torpedo Room fully loaded, missiles fully loaded, main cannon charging... Hurry, hurry, everyone perk up.”

Aboard a cruiser, the ship captain who had just returned from a meeting on the flagship, stood on the command platform, yelling wildly with red eyes.

Crew members poured out from various places, rapidly running through narrow passageways. The Electronic Soldier sat down at the control console, gasping for breath, wearing his headset, while the gunner climbed the tight rotating turret using both hands and feet. Mechanic Soldiers nervously verified instrument data in the much smaller command room than the flagship, caught in a flurry of activity.

The Deputy Captain responsible for onboard management, and the Combat Officer responsible for operational coordination, both stood at their respective positions, roaring like lions.

”Hurry up, damn it.”

”Level 1 combat readiness, Tom, you’ve been at it for ten years, don’t you know what level 1 readiness means? If I find your team not at their posts in half a minute, I swear I’ll lock you up until the universe ends!”

”Bastards, hurry up, run! Don’t block the passage. If anyone’s not at their post when I count to ten, I’ll personally shove his head up his ass!”

”Ten... nine... eight...”

Thunderous roars, footsteps, and the urgent sound of alarms, along with the frenzied opening and closing of automatic doors, echoed throughout the cruiser. This scene unfolded simultaneously on every warship of the Phantom Fleet.

”Captain, we’re...?” Finally managing to glance at his iron-faced partner, the gasping Deputy Captain, who had completed Level 1 battle preparation without hesitation, still wondered why the fleet, while still in transition, would issue a Level 1 readiness command.

After the meeting on the flagship, the usually composed ship captain seemed like a changed person. His eyes glared, emitting a fear-inducing light, like a ravenous wolf gleaming despite facing a lion, eager to bite. What had distressed the poor captain, or what had the bandit army fed him?

”Combat,” the captain gritted his teeth, looking ferocious. ”Damn it, we’re gonna fight a big one!”

We’re gonna fight a big one. The same words spread instantly throughout the fleet.

As this sentence came from different ship captains, with varied accents, tones, and voices, the meaning remained unchanged.

In less than eight hours since jumping into the Resk Star System, this fleet would face a formidable battle. And the opponent was Port Auburn, the One-eyed Python leading the Jiepeng Dragon Rider Fleet!

An adversary, a name causing trepidation among all Space Navies, ranking in the top ten of the Western Alliance’s renowned generals, and universally recognized tactical master!

The various ship’s staff, deputy captains, and combat execution officers who didn’t attend the meeting, couldn’t comprehend why these experienced, proud captains readily complied with orders. Especially when understanding who they were about to face, it seemed even more astonishing.

Moreover, the captains showed no concern about the impending fierce battle. They swiftly issued commands, standing on the command seat, eyes fixed intently on the tactical computer screen, glowing green.

What happened on the flagship?!

In the midst of the officers and soldiers’ confusion, the entire fleet was wound up like spring coils, ready for action. One could even hear the scraping sound as the steel coils tightened.

It was less than ten minutes to the barrier zone marking the boundary of the 5th and 6th Leg.

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”The Fei Alliance Fleet has entered the 5th Route Jump Channel, undergoing gravitational transition via the TP1223 Constant Star’s gravitational circle, expected to arrive at the BX831 White Hole’s outer area in three minutes and twelve seconds, entering a linear jet jump channel, reaching the 6th Leg barrier zone in six minutes and nine seconds...”

The mechanical voice of SkyNet’s electronic sound reported the Fei Alliance Fleet’s movements. Every warship in the Dragon Rider Fleet was enveloped in a tense and oppressive pre-combat atmosphere.

The Dragon Rider Fleet has always been the Empire’s elite.

In Jiepeng’s universe-renowned five Super Fleet rankings, only the Royal First Guard Fleet and Mikami Yuto’s Sunshine Super Fleet ranked ahead of them. Even the Thunderbolt and Storm Super Fleets ranked behind them.

This fleet, an experienced and distinct unit.

In outsiders’ eyes, they were brave and cunning in battle, adept at surprise attacks and strangulation. Once their ambush succeeded, no fleet could escape unharmed.

And in their executions, they chain reactions swiftly, using serpent-like tactics capable of causing suffocation to prey in the shortest time.

They were madmen, fearless of death.

From Commander Auburn to the fleet’s chefs, each individual’s every cell was filled with aggressive genes. Their greatest joy was watching mighty opponents helplessly fall before them. Their preferred entertainment was transforming capturable ships into fireworks in space.

Had it not been for Auburn’s incessant penchant, causing the Jiepeng Military difficulty in deriving benefits from his victories, his status might have been higher.