Counterfeit Hero

Chapter 1448: Chapter 129: Advantage (2)

Using three hours to navigate a journey that usually takes six at high speed is nearly a suicidal mission. Not to mention the universe is filled with various dangers, just the burden on the engines and hull structure running at maximum speed is enough to make one terrified.

However, no one cares about all this.

From the moment the order was received, Fleet 601 assembled at maximum speed, moving through the jump point as fast as possible. Now, what needed to be done was just to advance, advance, and advance at the fastest speed! Until they find the bandit army fleet and escort back this force on which many have pinned their hopes!

”Any news from the reconnaissance ships?” Fleet Commander Long Zheng, Major General, paced back and forth on the command platform with his hands behind his back. He occasionally stopped, casting his gaze towards the chief of staff who was personally stationed at the communication console.

”Nothing yet.” The chief of staff shook his head, his expression grim as storm clouds.

Outside the portholes, one after another, constant stars were left behind, while the SkyNet communication device remained deathly silent. Exchanging glances, the two men silently sighed.

This is a task where difficulty increases with the length of distance. If the bandit army fleet were attacked near the second leg, they have complete confidence to cover the band’s retreat. If it were in the third leg, they have a fifty percent chance. If it were in the fourth leg.....the likelihood of completing this mission is less than ten percent.

And now, the fleet has already reached the fifth leg....

Hope diminishes with the increase in distance. Any semblance of wishful thinking is utterly gone by this point.

On such a long route, attempting to use the power of an A-class fleet to intercept Jiepeng General Auben is nearly a fantasy. Moreover, even now, the fleet has not encountered a single bandit army warship.

The universe is so silent it chills the heart. This is not a good omen. One could say, this almost means.....although everyone speculates in their hearts, no one is willing to say it out loud.....

”If they have already suffered a setback, you must do everything possible to block the enemy, gather the defeated ships, and cover their retreat. No matter what, you must bring General Tian back to me!”

Recalling Old Marshal Li Cunxin’s exhortations, Long Zheng felt bitterness in his mouth.

Now, he has no other choice but to prepare for the worst—to find the wreckage of the bandit army fleet somewhere along the route, and bring this extremely heavy news back to the eagerly awaiting command headquarters.

It is hard to imagine what a massive blow this would be for Old Marshal Li Cunxin, for Hastings, for Chuckna, and for the Leray Federation.

”Beep.....” A crisp electronic sound rang out, and the chief of staff at the communication console quickly put on his headset.

Long Zheng anxiously watched his chief of staff, his heart in his throat...but as the chief of staff slowly shook his head, Long Zheng’s heart sank once more.

”The reconnaissance ship has entered the obstacle zone of the fifth leg, and currently, no bandit army fleet has been found, nor any signs of battle.” The chief of staff removed his headset, swallowed, and said to Long Zheng.

This news plunged the entire command room into an uncomfortable silence.

Long Zheng, Major General, stared blankly at the SkyNet control console, momentarily losing his focus. After a while, he shook his head, gaze shifting with difficulty to the screen’s top left corner. The clock displayed that the scheduled time to contact the command headquarters had arrived....

He walked heavily to his command seat, switched on the communication device on the command platform. The communication officer had already connected to the command headquarters’ dedicated line. As the array of light clusters gathered and formed, the tense faces of dozens of senior generals led by Li Cunxin and Hastings appeared on the communication screen.

”What’s the situation?” Li Cunxin asked quickly.

”Marshal....,” Long Zheng opened his mouth, only to realize that a series of blisters had unknowingly formed at the corners of his mouth, burned painfully, and his throat felt like it was on fire, his voice hoarse and unrecognizable....

He stopped, hesitating and unsure of how to begin.

How should he say it?

The reconnaissance ship has passed through the obstacle zone at the end of the fifth leg but found nothing. Based on experience, barring any surprises, the bandit army fleet has likely met with misfortune. Their forces are at a disadvantage, there is no cohesion in the command structure, urgently rushing to Leifeng Star, in ignorance of the enemy’s whereabouts.....so many unfavorable factors are enough to be fatal!

More importantly.....they encountered an opponent they should never have met. That is Jiepeng’s renowned General Auben—the One-eyed Python, Auben!

This name has been famous worldwide for over a decade. The numerous wreckages of warships floating in space, the countless bones of sacrificed soldiers, can all testify to this.

Twenty years ago, when the Dragon Rider Fleet was not yet a royal fleet of Jiepeng, Auben, with the strength of two A-class fleets, annihilated six A-class fleets of the opponent in a regional conflict in the northwest interstellar map, making a name for himself in one fell swoop. The following year, reassigned to the royal Dragon Rider Fleet, they again ambushed and decimated a group fleet of the Ryan Republic during a conflict between the Western Alliance and the Fei Alliance.

Though there was no conclusive evidence for that event, everyone knew it was Auben’s doing. Only he could be so audacious, and only he appeared in that star domain. If it weren’t for the Feiyang Republic’s ambiguous stance, that surprise attack could have almost sparked an interstellar war!

Post-investigation showed that the Ryan Fleet did respond correctly when ambushed. However, the commanding officer’s skill was far inferior to Auben’s, and ultimately, they were utterly defeated, with no survivors.

Such battles are countless. During the peaceful years of standoffs between the Western Alliance and the Fei Alliance, Auben’s presence in regional conflicts was more frequent than that of Mikami Yuto. One could say he has become the ace hitman of the Western Alliance.

The bandit army’s General Tian, although renowned for creating miracles, this time, his opponent is neither Reinhardt of Gazalin nor Stephen or Mars’ warlords...it is Auben, a truly great general. Even compared to Hanfrey, he would merely be an exceptionally talented but inexperienced up-and-comer!

Rising stars are called rising stars precisely because they have not yet matured into a legendary general.

During their growth, they can still make mistakes, even reach a point of no return. While Auben, over a decade ago, had already moved beyond the time for making mistakes.

In front of such a person, the bandit army fleet hardly stands a chance. Never mind that Auben is prone to ambush tactics; even in a head-on battle, how many can confidently claim to escape unscathed from his annihilation tactics?!

This is a mistake.

A mistaken time, an ill-composed fleet, a flawed military operation.

”I’m very sorry.....” Long Zheng found it hard to meet Li Cunxin’s expectant gaze. He was reluctant to state his judgment, yet reality allowed no room for pleasant words that wouldn’t help the situation. He hesitated, struggling to choose his words carefully and said painfully: ”The reconnaissance ship has reached the obstacle zone at the end of the fifth leg and has found no trace of the bandit army fleet, nor have any warships returned, it might be.....”

Before Long Zheng could finish speaking, suddenly, a voice exploded by his ear.

”Sir! The fleet,” the chief of staff suddenly jumped up, grabbing Long Zheng’s arm and pulling him as he staggered: ”The fleet, the fleet, it’s the bandit army fleet! The reconnaissance ship spotted them. They are in combat, oh my God, they are fighting with the Dragon Rider Fleet! At the origin space of the jump point in the sixth leg.....the footage, the footage is coming through, look, look!”

The chief of staff’s incoherent voice ignited the entire command room in an instant.

Long Zheng felt all the blood in his body rush to his head in an instant. A mixture of shock and ecstatic joy exploded like a bomb in his mind, leaving him completely blank.

A moment later, he vaguely saw on the screen, hundreds of warships entangled in battle across a stretch of starry sky. Countless energy cannons crisscrossed through the cosmos, countless warships shattered in explosions. Numerous fighter jets danced in the air.

Before he could collect himself, the frozen image on the communication screen showed dozens of generals jumping like children!

The bandit army was pressing down hard against the Dragon Rider Fleet!

A victory! (To be continued, if you wish to know what happens next, please log on to www.qidian.com, more Chapters available, support the authors, support legitimate reading!)