Counterfeit Hero

Although this channel is absurdly far, it takes about three to four months for a single vessel to pass through, and approximately six months for a fleet. However, it is a channel nonetheless! At a critical moment, this channel would be the retreat route for the Fei Alliance Expeditionary Army Fleet led by Fiscella!

The Knevel Four Nations Alliance, the Tatania Freedom Alliance, and the Puditok Federation have formed a reasonably stable iron triangle. With this iron triangle, Fiscella does not care about losing the Leray Central Channel, which holds little strategic value, as the Leray Federation is already fragmented.

The battle-scarred Atlantis Star Domain is merely an outpost he can abandon at any time.

Thus, as a joint commander in charge of the military forces here, who does not belong to the Southeast Star Domain, Fiscella’s thinking is fundamentally different from Flavio’s. In his view, he still has sufficient strategic depth. What he needs to ensure is the safety of his military forces, not these star systems or the billions of people within them.

Now, two Elephant-class Royal Fleets from Binart and the Desic 5th Group Fleet have joined the Southeast War Situation.

Combined with the Western Alliance forces initially stationed in the Bermuda and Leray Central Star Domain, even without counting the three Great Super Fleets from Jiepeng arriving within a week, the military strength of the Western Alliance in this area is far superior to the forces Fiscella holds.

In Fiscella’s view, Douglas’s strategic attempt to hold the Longbow Star System had already failed when the Binart Royal Fleet arrived in the Leray Central Star Domain. From any perspective, Douglas cannot be Hanfrey’s opponent. If he were leading the 19th Group Fleet, he would choose to leave the Longbow Star System, quickly move north to preserve strength, rather than maneuver within the Longbow Star System to provide a diversionary cover for the Chuckna War Situation.

He is not Douglas. He cannot make decisions for the 19th Group Fleet. However, he can rein in the reins of the Southeast Allied Army in his hand, allowing this force to stop outside the Jump Point of the Leray Central Star System.

No one can change his decision, even if it is Feiyang’s own fleet maneuvering with the enemy in the Longbow Star System. Even if Douglas counts as his student. The war has just begun, and Fiscella does not want to suffer a foreseeable defeat due to a wrong decision!

Flavio clearly understands all of Fiscella’s calculations. However, he lacks the power to change it.

Currently, Leray only holds one star domain and two star systems, with air and ground forces totaling just three fleets, fourteen armored divisions, and thirty-two fully mechanized infantry divisions. It may sound like a lot, but most of them are temporary patchworks. Even with equipment supported by various countries, the personnel quality can no longer compare to the Leray Army at the start of the war of national defense.

Currently, the main force of the Southeast Expeditionary Army is guarding the Jump Point Area between the Newton Star System and the Leray Central Star System. However, Flavio has no doubt that as soon as the Western Alliance launches a major offensive, if the losses of the Southeast Expeditionary Army make Fiscella feel slightly unbearable, he will abandon the Newton Star System and retreat to the Galileo Star System. Thus, the Newton Star System will once again be engulfed in the fires of war.

This is absolutely intolerable!

”Does the Staff Department have a plan?” Flavio paced the room with hands behind his back.

”The Staff Department suggests implementing a strategic shift as soon as possible,” Admiral Markey said heavily, ”If we wait for our predicted situation to occur, I’m afraid it will be too late.”

”Retreat to Galileo?” Flavio stopped, looking at Markey with a shocked expression: ”Do you realize that by doing so, not only will the recently restored bit of public morale vanish, but it will also justify Fiscella’s retreat?!”

”Mr. President, we have no choice!” Markey lowered his head: ”If we are not prepared, we won’t even be able to hold the Galileo Star System! According to the Military Intelligence Bureau’s information, Brody’s rebel forces are intensifying their mobilization. Obviously, their target will not be the distant Saleria or Chuckna. The Desic 5th Group Fleet that arrived at the Leray Central Star Domain, the two Suss A-level Fleets and six Jiepeng Mixed Fleets stationed in Bermuda and the Capital Star, and the three Great Super Fleets from Jiepeng’s homeland that have set off for the Bermuda Star System - [Rising Sun], [Thunderbolt], and [Storm] - are a looming threat over our heads......”

Flavio stared pale-faced at the electronic flat interstellar map hanging on the white wall as Markey uttered the judgment he least wanted to hear: ”.....The current war situation is interconnected. Once Chuckna fails to secure a quick victory in the Resk Battle, once the Mars Free Channel is occupied by the Western Alliance, severing the Southeast Main Channel, once the Feiyang 19th Group Fleet in the Longbow Star System is annihilated........ this rock will lose the ropes restraining it, and crash down.”

The room was deathly silent as Flavio stood quietly in front of the interstellar flat map. His tightly furrowed brows, deep wrinkles, and slightly stooped posture made this cheerful and bold old soldier suddenly seem to have aged ten years!

He slowly turned his head: ”Do we still have hope, do we?”

He pointed at the map: ”What about Tian Xingjian? Where are he and his bandit army? Didn’t Admiral Bernadotte say they had already reached the Longbow Star System and the Hidden Blade Fleet? Maybe they could.......”