Counterfeit Hero

In the current phase of battle, Feiyang and the Binart Empire once again fought to a stalemate. Although the Binart Empire’s loss ratio was higher, the Feiyang Fleet was ultimately forced to abandon their position... There’s no inexhaustible ground. Moving forward, the 19th Group Fleet will eventually lose its threat to Blue Stone Star, its control over the Longbow Star Domain, and will flee into the depths of the universe.

The battleship ”Oscar”, elegant and majestic, inclined and turned silently in the void. With its rear main propulsion and side steering propulsion, it maneuvered swiftly and agilely like a fish skimming along the edge of a school.

Outside the window, allied ships covering the retreat continued to exchange fire with the enemy. The blinding light grew sparse and distant. Vaguely visible were the wings of destroyers and the mixed formations of cruisers, reminiscent of octopus tentacles in deep sea, gradually retracting.

Hoffman, feeling as if his whole body was falling apart, took a cigarette handed over by the Chief Officer and leaned forward to light it.

”If this fight drags on....” The Chief Officer, his eyes red with blood, said hoarsely, ”I’m afraid we....”

The smoke curled through his trachea into his lungs, and Hoffman erupted into a fit of coughing...

The Chief Officer’s prediction was accurate, but who could be blamed for it?

No one could blame Douglas. Who would have anticipated that within less than sixty hours of completing the stealth attack on Blue Stone Star, two Elephant-class Royal Fleets of the Binart Empire would appear in the Longbow Star System.

The fully constituted Feiyang 19th Group Fleet comprised four A-level fleets, whereas the Binart Empire’s two Elephant-class fleets, though differently named in composition, were equivalent to six A-level fleets in scale. Moreover, this was not the fleet of Jiepeng or Suss, but the elite fleet of another superpower with matched personnel, vessels, and comprehensive combat capabilities!

More crucially, their commander was Hanfrey!

A formidable adversary listed among the top foes by Feiyang’s intelligence agency; his reputation is revered among soldiers of various nations.

That Douglas could engage him evenly in the first three stages of combat speaks volumes of his caliber. Any other commander would have seen the 19th Group Fleet scurrying like panicked rabbits, unable to navigate decisively through this Western Alliance heartland.

The battle plan is beyond reproach; the route from Blue Stone Star to Torreclais has been optimized to its limit. Every possible tactic, from ambushes to blockades, has been employed. The losses suffered by the Binart Empire’s two Elephant-class fleets far exceeded those of the Feiyang Fleet. Yet, from a broader strategic perspective, it’s still hard to resist the steady advance of the Binart Fleet.

In silence, a massive flash cut across the distant night sky.

After a stir in the Command Room, everything fell into a deep silence. Through the coordination system, everyone present could clearly know that among the fleet covering the retreat, a Frenzied Shark-class cruiser named ”Green Field” had been reduced to cosmic dust. This warship was destroyed while facing ten high-speed destroyers alone, and her sacrifice bought time for the retreating fleet.

The destroyer and cruiser groups on the wings had fully retracted, while the Binart Empire Fleet abandoned the chase due to the intimidating presence of the Feiyang Battleship’s main formation and the complex terrain ahead.

A communications officer, eyes red, activated the communication recording.

It was the deep voice of Ship Captain Joseph from the ”Green Field.” The voice was chaotic, as if he were issuing orders and praying at the same time. Around him, there were cries from other Feiyang Soldiers, footsteps, the electronic sounds of equipment, and all these sounds mixed together, making it impossible to distinguish anything....

Ultimately, these sounds vanished completely after a sharp noise.

Hoffman’s coughing echoed in the silent command room. He bent over, slowly removed his cap, and hurled it to the ground furiously. His bloodshot eyes welled up with tears.

This is war. Even the mighty Feiyang will bleed, will sacrifice, will feel pain to the bone!

Ahead lies a small asteroid belt. Without nebulae or dust to obstruct the view, it was almost entirely visible at a glance. Yet, this damned asteroid belt was right in the narrow path of retreat! Though passage was possible on either side, its occupying position would slow the entire retreating fleet down considerably! At least a third of the warships must pass through the asteroid belt!

What does that entail? It means that the Binart battleships clinging to their tails will eagerly embrace their prey.

The command channel transmitted Douglas’s weary voice.

”All ships, free to maneuver, retreat dispersedly. 19A1 fourth and fifth sub-fleets cover the rear!”

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