Counterfeit Hero

Chapter 123: After modification: Volume 3 Chapter 31 Start of Landing

Since the Space Jump Point has been captured, with the Federation Fleet’s clearing operations, the landing channels of several immigrant planets have been completely opened. The Federation’s giant transport ships, fully loaded with Army Armored Divisions, continuously lifted off from Miloke and entered the Galileo Star System. The 3rd Mixed Fleet and the Newton Star System local fleet took on the heavy responsibility of protecting the navigation routes.

Meanwhile, the aircraft carrier battle groups of the 1st, 2nd, and 4th Mixed Fleets began the first round of air strikes, targeting the main star of the Galileo Star System, Lucerne Planet, as the primary attack target of the Leray Federation. Several carriers from the three massive fleets hovered in near-space like hives suspended overhead, continuously deploying attack aircraft responsible for ground strikes.

These aircraft attacks quickly caused panic among the Imperial Army stationed there, and they began to shrink their lines. Land-based fighter jets were unable to compete with air-based fighter jets; although their altitude limits were not far apart, taking off from the ground and diving from the air are completely different combat methods. In aerial combat, land-based fighters always suffer disadvantages, especially when carriers as movable airports can change positions based on the needs of the battle.

Air superiority is always a necessity in war. The side without air superiority will face limitless attacks from their opponent. However, the Leray Federation’s air superiority cannot be maintained for long, as both fleets are in the Galileo Star System, and the Gazalin Empire’s fleet is continuously reinforcing through the Space Jump Point.

Now, it’s up to the army to perform.

The 16th Armored Division of the Aviation Marine Corps and the 9th Armored Division were the first Army Armored Divisions to land following the forced strikes by the carrier fighter groups. Under the protection of the fighter groups, the giant transport ships of the 16th Division landed on the eastern hemisphere of Lucerne Planet, less than one thousand kilometers away from Lucerne’s largest industrial city, Wali City.

The 9th Armored Division landed in a mountainous basin one hundred kilometers away from the 16th Division. They would establish the largest forward base for the Federation’s landing on Lucerne Planet there. Forming a horn with the 16th Division, they would draw out a defense line to provide security for the subsequent landing forces.

Resistance in Wali City was intense. The giant transport ships were forced to retreat several times from entering the atmosphere. Vice Admiral Snyder commanded the aircraft carrier battle groups of the 1st Mixed Fleet, practically deploying all forces. After nearly a day’s battle, they managed to destroy several missile bases in Wali City.

Without the support of missile bases, the Gazalin Empire’s land-based fighters still crazily swarmed into the sky, engaging in dogfights with the Federation’s carrier fighter groups.

This aerial combat lasted for a day and night. The Federation barely created conditions for the landing of the giant transport ships, relying on the powerful electronic attack capabilities of the Space Electronic Attack Ships and the desperate fights of the carrier fighter groups.

Landing transport ships do not need to take off again. This type of giant transport ship should be called a giant landing ship. Many of its devices are detachable and can be converted into a giant fortress with strong defenses after landing.

After floating anxiously in space for two or three days, the Special Reconnaissance Group of the 16th Division finally set foot on solid ground. Although the Federation fleet carried out similar attacks on all large cities to confuse the enemy and air-dropped numerous Single Soldier Mechas equipped with anti-detection interference devices, the Special Reconnaissance Group knew this was only a preventive measure. The landing ships also had electronic camouflage protection to avoid exposure to enemy aerial reconnaissance. However, no one could tell when the enemy would detect the landing location of the giant transport ships. By then, the Imperial Army would certainly fully mobilize, seeking to eliminate the forward base while the Federation had yet to stabilize their position.

During this time, the two Federation Armored Divisions were treading carefully on thin ice, persisting for twenty-four hours. Subsequent giant landing ships would continually deliver army troops and land-based air forces here, forming a point-by-point comprehensive landing. During these twenty-plus hours, there would be no support; the initial landing forces would rely solely on themselves.

Then, Division Commander Zhou Zhisen finally issued the order. He instructed the Special Reconnaissance Group to immediately establish forward observation posts along the G1011 to G1070 line, five hundred kilometers away, with the main force setting up defensive positions on heights E707 and E710, four hundred kilometers out.

Meanwhile, several other regiments of the 16th Division were distributed on various heights around the Special Reconnaissance Group in a fan-shaped formation. The deployment positions of the two self-propelled artillery regiments newly assigned were not support points for these stationed heights! What was the intention here?

The confused Special Reconnaissance Group, led by Nadal, began their operations. They were unaware that one regiment of the 16th Division had already been air-dropped directly onto a medium-sized enemy base.

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Fatty had been staring at the command terminal in confusion for a long time. Lucerne Planet, under the coverage of the three large mixed fleets, was riddled with scars. The Imperial Army’s defense system was completely different from the previous ones in Miloke. They occupied cities but did not shrink back, instead heavily guarding every strategic point. Especially at important intersections of several high-level roads connecting the east, west, south, and north, they had built large military bases.

The Federation’s army landing plan was not a point-by-point operation. Fatty flipped through for a long time but could not find any follow-up troop information accompanying the landings of the 16th and 9th Divisions. What was Russell up to? Was he really relying solely on air-based fighter combats? Were the 16th and 9th Divisions merely bait?

If they were bait, who was the main landing force?

Fatty scoured the information on the Army First Armored Division and the Aviation Marine Corps 3rd Armored Division. The situation of these two elite armored divisions was exactly the same as that of the 16th Armored Division. They also landed in desolate areas close to major cities, with no follow-up troops.

There was no more information. Fatty was somewhat angry. At such a crucial time, Russell was still playing tricks. There was no point-by-point gradual consolidation, no frontal defense system. Dozens of fully mechanized infantry divisions, paired with over twenty armored divisions, were distributed in more than twenty unrelated positions in the eastern hemisphere. Wasn’t this suicidal?

The more Fatty looked at it, the more confused he became. He had no specific combat plans for the second phase of force deployment, only the code numbers of the landing units. What clues could he find from this? Thinking of how the Special Reconnaissance Group was just abandoned on Lucerne, and Ann Lei was going to the front line with the Intelligence Bureau even before the first phase had established consolidating positions, Fatty wanted to grab a knife and chop Russell while shouting, ”Damn you for playing riddles!”

Fatty sneaked a glance at Russell, pretending to lean down to fetch documents, and quietly slipped a new type of bugging device acquired from Milan into Russell’s pocket. Then he thought, you told me to simulate strategic plans, but never said I could only use simulation and not play other tricks. This is my unique simulation technique.

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This Chapter counts as free on the seventeenth. Seeking monthly votes. For Fatty’s antics during the big battle, go ahead and vote.