Counterfeit Hero

Fiscella looked at the time and said calmly, ”It’s about time, turn to Sector 8 and execute Plan A325. Switch over.”

Plan A325 was transmitted just three minutes ago by the Combat Staff Department. Since the battle began, the Staff Department had been continuously devising fleet combat plans based on the situation. Such real-time combat plans, in the Feiyang Space Force, required completion in five minutes per cycle!

This is the military accumulation of Feiyang over hundreds of years. It is also a manifestation of the combat effectiveness of the Feiyang Army.

Five minutes from analysis to the finalization of the plan. Although most plans consisted of just a few short sentences, they contained the military wisdom of all Feiyang, embodying calm analysis and rapid judgment of the battle situation. To execute and complete the plan thoroughly in the shortest time, the coordination and command required is an enormous and sophisticated system. Feiyang has spent nearly two hundred years building such a system!

Every warship in the massive fleet cluster of the First Fleet almost simultaneously pointed their bows in the direction specified by Fiscella. On the left wing, three Unicorn-class battleships used their solid bodies to block most of the enemy ships’ attacks, assisting the fleet to disengage from the battle. Meanwhile, five high-speed cruisers began accelerating from behind the three battleships. They were the final line of cover.

Just as the attacking Desic Second Fleet had nearly reached the left wing of the Expeditionary Army First Fleet, the First Fleet had already completed its disengagement. The five covering cruisers carved a semicircular trajectory in space, ferociously and accurately using their firepower to firmly pin down the two leading battleships of the Second Fleet. Then, leveraging their speed, they retreated calmly.

The vanguard fleet cluster of the First Fleet horizontally cut into the left wing of the encircling 9th Fleet.

Majestic and vigorous Unicorn battleships formed a cluster, protecting the Space Carrier. They passed by the Desic 9th Fleet. As they crossed paths, they exchanged fire. Energy Cannons struck the energy shields of the warships on both sides, sparking dense ripples like raindrops hitting a pond.

The Desic 9th Fleet was at a clear disadvantage in firepower. Having lost the restraint of the Second Fleet, the 9th Fleet dared not change direction. In such a crossing, any disorder would lead to the most devastating blow. They could only endure, maintain their course, and retaliate as best as possible with sparse fire.

”General.” The Army Coordinator, rarely seen in the Command Room, appeared before Fiscella. His presence brought a very bad premonition to Fiscella.

The Army Coordinator said, ”The newly-built 19th Division on the Mezrich Battlefield and the Freedom Front have already let go of Prisk. Currently, Prisk has been fully occupied by the Desic Armored Division, and they are advancing east along the highway.”

”Let go of Prisk?” Fiscella’s voice was icy: ”Who issued the order?”

”The division commander of the 19th Armored Division, Major General Tian Xingjian of the Leray Federation.” The Army Coordinator apparently didn’t know much about the person being discussed as he flipped through the documents at hand and read aloud.

”We are using our lives to help the Leray Federation in the southeast...” Fiscella slammed the armrest of the command seat in anger, ”He stabs us in the back! Who gave him the authority?”

”...” The Army Coordinator silently lowered his head, thinking, when the fleet withdrew from the Mezrich, didn’t you also leave without saying a word? This thought could only stay hidden in his heart, never spoken aloud. Fiscella was the commander of the Allies at Little Pyrenees, he needed to sacrifice, thus any act that didn’t involve sacrifice was deemed as betrayal!

”General.” The Army Coordinator hesitated for a moment, finally feeling the need to present a fact on behalf of the unlucky Leray Major General division commander: ”Before this, the 19th Division and the Freedom Front had defeated the four Armored Divisions of the Reinhardt attack on the western line and expelled the Reinhardt Group from Long Line Ridge. Letting go of Prisk, I’m afraid, has an unavoidable reason.”

”Hmph, unavoidable reason?” Fiscella seemed completely unaware of the significance of defeating the Ryan Group, unmoved at all. He coldly looked at the Coordinator: ”Soldiers execute orders, not unavoidable reasons! His letting go forces me to make a choice on an uncertain battlefield! Either completely withdraw and leave Little Pyrenees, or stake it all and have the Army land on Mezrich ahead of schedule!”

”If...” Fiscella’s sharp gaze made the Coordinator shiver: ”I am forced to abandon Little Pyrenees, or if the fleet suffers a loss, further losing eighteen elite armored divisions, who will bear this responsibility? Him, or me?”

The Army Coordinator was struck dumb as if in a cold shiver. Fiscella’s questioning tone already carried an implication of misplaced anger. He did not want to poke a hornet’s nest at this time.

In fact, everyone knew that Fiscella had long resolved to sacrifice part of the Feiyang Army and all resistance forces of the Allies at Mezrich. In his military thinking, partial sacrifice to achieve overall victory was a fundamental military tenet! Sacrificing a hastily assembled Leray Armored Division and those ill-equipped Freedom Front forces carried no psychological burden at all.

However, now, the Leray people actually let go of Prisk! Kicking the problem back to the Command Department, something absolutely intolerable to the always meticulous Fiscella. His troops were threatened, while the once sacrificed cannon fodder troops stood peacefully aside. It was simply a mockery!

The Coordinator maintained silence, deeply understanding Fiscella, he could fully anticipate what choice this general, intent on making unparalleled military achievements at Little Pyrenees, would make.

Indeed, after a long silence, Fiscella tapped the armrest with his finger and said, ”Order... the Newly-built 19th Division and the Freedom Front forces to block the eastern advance of the Desic forces with full strength. The second Transport Ship Fleet... execute the Mezrich landing! Tell Douglas he should speed up already.”

After saluting, the Coordinator left quickly. Although Fiscella’s tone when issuing the order was unusually calm, he knew that Fiscella had long buried everything inside his heart and poured water over it. As for Major General Tian who let go of Prisk, there was probably no good outcome awaiting him.

*****

”Ptoo, ptoo.” Fatty, who was urinating, spat out from his mouth the green date he had picked from the roadside, his chubby face contorting into a strange shape, ”Damn, it’s sour enough to kill me.”

After a flick, he tucked his manhood back into his pants, Fatty continued to grimace and spat several more times, then lay down.

Here, it was the Jiacuo Eastern Mountain Area, under the cliff, a massive base brightly lit.

Christers Army Base, Stephen’s Headquarters.

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