FT DR Chapter 141: Battle of Tianzhu

Chapter 141: Battle of Tianzhu

Translated by Addis of Exiled Rebels Scanlations

Editor: Karai

 

Before the departure of the “Tianzhu”, Wu Chenghe had sent Chen Miaomiao aboard the “Xingzhu” escort ship.

Perhaps after experiencing a close brush with death, Chen Miaomiao seemed much calmer when he woke up. He didn’t inquire further about the situation of the Third Army Group or mention Marlow again. Instead, when Wu Chenghe told him that the NTU and the Information Center were trying to establish communication lines and contact Seiling, he simply said, “Tell my mom that I’m waiting for her at Tianque Spaceport. If she doesn’t come, I won’t wait any longer.”

Though simple, his words conveyed his stance and decision. Wu Chenghe sighed at his bravery but couldn’t help feeling heartbroken for him. He said, “Don’t worry, since Hannibal has blocked Seiling’s information, it means General Popova hasn’t sided with him yet. She will definitely bring the Third Army back to the Federation.”

“I believe her,” Chen Miaomiao smiled and nodded. “Take care, senior.”

Though his smile seemed serene, there was a lingering sorrow in his eyes. Wu Chenghe knew he was worried about Marlow, but there was nothing he could assure him at this moment. Finally, he advised him, “Take care of yourself and don’t let him regret what he’s done for you.”

Chen Miaomiao’s nose turned red, but he held back his tears, lips trembling for a while before he hoarsely responded, “Okay.”

The “Tianzhu” fleet cruised towards the Alpha Front, chasing the Radica rebel army. Along the way, they converged with multiple detachments, annihilating some scattered warships like the “Moongate” and “Qinsha”. By the time they neared the front line, they had gathered half of the “Tianzhu” fleet’s strength.

Latika was a native descendant of the Voyager Army, having served in the Second Army for nearly twenty years and was familiar with this sector of space. Although Jin Xuan had some local pilots under his command, they were no match for Latika. Therefore, he abandoned the strategy of intercepting and assassinating halfway and focused on defending the front line. For Latika to return to the Voyager Army, she had to cross the Alpha Front. If she took a detour, she would need massive supplies, which she couldn’t afford.

Ninety percent of the Alpha Front belonged to Jin Xuan, and although the remaining ten percent was under Latika’s jurisdiction, most of it had already been surrounded by the “Tianzhu” detachments sent out. At present, only a few had not been captured. At this moment, Latika couldn’t forcefully break through the “Tianzhu” guarded checkpoints and could only start from her own jurisdiction. To lay in wait for her, Jin Xuan ordered the fleet besieging the “Moongate” checkpoint to deliberately leak out some water, leaving a relatively remote small fortress, showing a lack of concern, appearing as if it were not being taken seriously, waiting for Latika to step on the landmine.

The cruising fleet waited near the small fortress for several days, estimating that Latika’s supplies were about to run out. Finally, they received an alert – the rebels were coming!

At Jin Xuan’s command, they rushed to the scene themselves. Before Latika could cross the checkpoint, her fleet was trapped inside the Alpha defense line.

The battle broke out instantly. Jin Xuan used his absolute advantage to disperse the Latika rebel fleet, intending to surround and take them down one by one. Latika was a seasoned veteran, not to be underestimated. Though her firepower was far inferior to Jin Xuan’s, she excelled in battle experience and quick adaptability. Commanding the remaining “Moongate” forces, she stubbornly resisted, managing to tear open a gap in the encirclement, charging towards the Alpha Front.

Jin Xuan’s fleet outnumbered Latika’s threefold, but he had been reluctant to go all out, intending to preserve the strength of the “Moongate” as much as possible, intending to capture it alive since it was also a force of the Federation. However, Latika’s frantic breakout left him no choice but to order a total annihilation – even if it meant destroying her completely, he couldn’t let her take a ship to Hannibal’s side.

The order for “total annihilation” was given. The cruising fleet of the “Tianzhu” left no room for compromise, launching their maximum firepower towards Latika’s remaining forces. Countless enemy ships burned and exploded, their oxygen extinguishing rapidly in the vacuum environment, emitting thick smoke, forming a dazzling fire dragon in the vertical direction of the Alpha Front.

“Surrender,” Jin Xuan stood in the flagship’s control room, commanding the officer, “Tell Latika that if she doesn’t cease fire within three minutes, we will launch the final round of attacks and reduce her to ashes!”

“Yes!” The officer solemnly took the order and connected the communication. At that moment, the navigator suddenly exclaimed, “Captain! There’s a large fleet approaching, right behind us!”

“Who?” Jin Xuan’s expression froze as he activated long-range monitoring. At a glance, the navigator recognized the opponent’s code, exclaiming loudly, “It’s the ‘Qinsha’!”

Previously, the “Qinsha” fleet, which had been placed in the Independent Vertical Fleet’s jurisdiction by Latika, was flying towards the battle group. It was unclear whether they had received Latika’s distress call or had previously agreed with her to cross the line back to the Voyager Army. However, at this moment, the reason didn’t matter. Since they had arrived, Jin Xuan couldn’t let them leave unscathed. With a wave of his hand, he commanded, “The first squadron stays to deal with Latika. Everyone else, follow me. Surround and annihilate the ‘Qinsha’ fleet!” 

Latika had already been severely weakened, and although the “Qinsha” fleet was slightly larger, it was still far from the strength of the cruising fleet. Combined, they didn’t even make up three-quarters of their forces, so besieging them shouldn’t be a problem.

The cruising fleet split into two routes: one continued to persuade surrender while the other engaged the “Qinsha”. The “Qinsha” had long been a nemesis of the “Tianzhu”. While there might have been some hesitation in attacking the “Moongate”, there was no such restraint against the “Qinsha”. Under Jin Xuan’s command, they unleashed their firepower, overwhelming the enemy.

As the battle raged, Jin Xuan anticipated that Latika wouldn’t play any tricks again, so he focused entirely on the “Qinsha”. He was calculating the enemy’s remaining firepower when he heard the navigator say, “Captain! An anomaly has been detected behind the Beta Front. There’s a large shadow flying towards us, less than a thousand kilometers from the Beta Front!”

“Is it a fleet?” Jin Xuan’s brow furrowed, a sense of unease rising within him. The navigator released a probe, and five minutes later, the probe transmitted an image back. The navigator exclaimed in disbelief, “It’s the Quadrant!”

“The Quadrant!?” Jin Xuan’s pupils contracted suddenly. The Quadrant hadn’t crossed the Beta Front since it withdrew from the Zhifu Chain Nebula two years ago. Why would it suddenly appear now? Were they here to support the “Moongate” and “Qinsha”?

The Quadrant was formidable. Even if the entire “Tianzhu” fleet assembled, they might not be its match, especially since half of the “Tianzhu” forces were scattered across various checkpoints on the Alpha Front! Jin Xuan leaned on the main control panel for ten seconds, then said, “Ignore them. Concentrate firepower on the ‘Qinsha’!”

With the “Qinsha” in the front and the Quadrant in the rear, he had to focus on taking down one first. Otherwise, if both sides joined forces, the cruising fleet would be caught in the middle!

“Immediately request nearby fleets for assistance. Inform the ‘Xingzhu’ that we’ve encountered a formidable enemy.” Jin Xuan made a quick decision and issued orders, “Mecha squadron, standby! Follow me to the Beta Front to organize defenses and buy time for the fleet to destroy the ‘Qinsha’!” Finally, he said to the deputy fleet commander, “This is yours now. The Quadrant has formidable firepower. We may not be able to hold on for long. Act swiftly!”

“Yes!” The deputy fleet commander solemnly took command and took over the main control panel. Jin Xuan stepped down from the main control panel and said to the guard, “Notify my full-time doctor. Meet me in the mecha bay.” There was no time to consider Wu Chenghe’s condition. He had to do everything in his power to hold off the Quadrant; otherwise, the entire fleet would face disaster.

Jin Xuan descended to the mecha bay via the elevator, where Wu Chenghe was already waiting under the “Rifle”. At a glance, Wu Chenghe’s complexion seemed fine, perhaps a bit healthier due to increased eating. However, Jin Xuan knew appearances could be deceiving. In reality, Wu Chenghe’s body was much weaker than three months ago. This child had a voracious appetite, even more so than twins, like a bottomless pit! The only thing to be thankful for was that his morning sickness had passed; he neither vomited nor fell asleep randomly.

“Are you ready?” Jin Xuan squeezed his arm and asked.

Wu Chenghe nodded, “No problem.” He was already accustomed to fighting alongside Jin Xuan, even during pregnancy. Since their lives were intertwined, only by protecting each other could they hope to survive together.

“Let’s go.” Jin Xuan had a thousand words to say to him, but there was no time. He opened the auxiliary hatch under the mecha and simply said, “If you feel uncomfortable, let me know, and I’ll bring you back.”

“Okay.” Wu Chenghe ascended to the cockpit, giving Jin Xuan an “OK” gesture through the transparent cover. Jin Xuan took a deep breath and said to the other mecha warriors, “Let’s move!”

One hundred and fifty combat mechas leaped out from various warships of the cruising fleet, charging towards the Beta Front under Jin Xuan’s leadership. In the distance, the outlines of the Quadrant fleet were faintly visible.

The Quadrant had once been the flagship fleet of Hannibal’s faction. Two years ago, after restructuring, it defended the jurisdiction of the First Army Group along with the “Scout”, making it the elite of the elite in the Voyager Army. Jin Xuan’s last encounter with it was in the Tartaros Battle, where its fierceness and cunning left a deep impression on him, still giving him a shudder when he recalled it.

But fear aside, they still had to fight. Jin Xuan ordered the mecha squadron to organize a strong defense line between the Alpha and Beta Fronts, quietly awaiting the arrival of the Quadrant fleet.

“Attack!” When the lead ships of the navigation fleet entered the range of the mecha defense line, Jin Xuan ordered all mechas to activate their shield fields and launch remote weapons against the enemy vessels. The Quadrant’s forward speed quickly slowed, and the navigation fleet retreated as ten assault ships flew forward, activating railguns to bombard the mecha squadron!

Mecha combat was Jin Xuan’s specialty, but he had never tried facing off against hundreds of super warships with one hundred and fifty mechas. Fortunately, his goal wasn’t annihilation but delay, so the defense was the priority, not head-on confrontation. After each round, they would retreat slightly, waiting for the Quadrant to regroup before attacking again.

It was a grueling trench warfare with no room for fancy maneuvers, relying solely on timing. Wu Chenghe sat in the co-pilot’s seat of the “Rifle”, his eyes turning into vertical pupils, tightly connecting with Jin Xuan’s consciousness cloud through mental tendrils, stimulating his potential, suppressing his mania, and controlling his attack power at the most delicate point. Jin Xuan’s eyes were tinged with a faint red mist, and faint green micro-neurons floated around him, precisely controlling the “Rifle” mecha. His senses extended to the maximum, his mental vision almost touching the leading ships of the Quadrant.

From the first collaboration at Tartaros three years ago until now, they had been closely cooperating on missions dozens of times, with a thorough understanding of each other’s intentions long established. Wu Chenghe completely understood Jin Xuan’s limits, and Jin Xuan also fully comprehended Wu Chenghe’s boundaries. Under their joint control, the “Rifle” mecha’s combat effectiveness was nearly perfect!

However, the “Quadrant” was simply too powerful. Relying solely on the mecha squadron, it was difficult to halt their advance. In a lull between attacks, Wu Chenghe communicated mentally, “We can’t hold on any longer. They’re changing tactics. This time, the firepower they’re pressing with is twenty percent greater than last time.”

Jin Xuan scanned behind them with mental vision. They were retreating further and further, nearing the forefront of the Alpha Line, yet there was no news of victory from the Vice Fleet Commander, nor any triumphant reports from the First Fleet, indicating that “Qinsha” and “Moongate” were still putting up stubborn resistance. They must have received news of the “Quadrant,” hence their desperate efforts.

“Continue the retreat, endure a few more waves,” Jin Xuan replied. “There’s still a hundred kilometers of buffer. Give them a bit more time.”

Wu Chenghe’s forehead beaded with sweat, his pupils almost narrowing to slits. Jin Xuan felt his mental tendrils trembling but dared not let him withdraw at this moment. They had to persevere.

The next assault from the “Quadrant” came, and Jin Xuan mobilized the mecha squadron to meet it, barely blocking their firepower. However, two destroyers broke away from the flank, bypassing the mecha defenses and flying toward their rear!

“Hold them off!” Jin Xuan shouted over multiple channels. Four mechas moved to intercept, but the enemy split into four more ships, continuing to encircle them. The “Quadrant’s” naval forces outnumbered their mecha by far. After several rounds, the main defensive line of the mechas began to falter. Jin Xuan realized they couldn’t delay any longer and ordered Wu Chenghe to retreat while instructing other mechas to provide cover and withdraw the fleet.

The “Quadrant” fleet dispersed in a trapezoid formation, its flanks encircling the mecha squadron. Jin Xuan retreated at full speed, barely breaking through their blockade. However, three dilapidated warships flew out from the Alpha Line, charging into the flanks of the “Quadrant.” They were the remnants of the Latika’s rebel faction, three starships.

“Damn it!” Jin Xuan’s eyes turned red, grinding his teeth as he pounded the console. Wu Chenghe could barely contain his agitation, knowing that Jin Xuan’s potential had been pushed to its limit. He tried to soothe his emotions through mental hints, “Stay calm! Withdraw! ‘Qinsha’ is still under our control!” They could only salvage what they could; the “Quadrant” was too powerful to fully control the situation.

Jin Xuan calmed down. Though unwilling, he knew they could only protect their gains to the best of their ability under the current circumstances, avoiding greed. He maneuvered the mecha swiftly toward the flagship.

Thankfully, under the command of the Vice Fleet Commander, the main fleet had nearly depleted the “Qinsha.” Jin Xuan piloted the mecha back into the protective range of the flagship, reconnecting with the main control system through multi-angle communication and regaining control. “Form up, prepare to face the ‘Quadrant’!”

“All ships respond, ‘Yes!'”

Over the next two hours, Jin Xuan experienced the toughest battle of his thirty years. He finally understood why Jin Zhe had said he “lacked experience in commanding large fleets” when he assumed duty two years ago. Despite his self-improvement and tactical studies over the past two years, encountering the “Quadrant” today made him realize the vast difference between himself and those fleet commanders who had risen from junior ranks – their combat experience was too rich, their strategies too elusive!

“We have to retreat, Fleet Commander!” the Vice Fleet Commander’s request came through from the flagship. “The ‘Quadrant’s’ firepower is more than twice ours. If we continue, we’ll be surrounded!”

Jin Xuan, within the mecha, glanced at Wu Chenghe, who was drenched in sweat. Realizing they couldn’t capture Latika and Marlow anymore, Jin Xuan knew the “Quadrant” was the elite force of the First Army, dispatched by Hannibal to retrieve Marlow. Unless they annihilated the entire “Quadrant,” there was no way to capture Marlow and Latika.

In fact, destroying the “Qinsha” was already a significant achievement. Any further delay could result in the enemy forming a complete encirclement, likely causing heavy casualties to the cruiser fleet.

“Let’s retreat,” Jin Xuan reluctantly commanded. “Assign the mech squadron to the Vice Commander. Open the lower bays of the flagship. I’m heading back. My full-time doctor has reached his limit; he needs rest.”

The Vice Commander took over control. The flagship’s lower bays slowly opened as Jin Xuan piloted the mecha toward the hatch. Just then, within the Beta Line, a crimson cloud suddenly emerged, resembling a fiery sunrise, rushing towards the Alpha Line!

“The enemy has reinforcements!” the Vice Fleet Commander urgently exclaimed over communication. “God! It’s the ‘Mulán’ Fleet!”

Mulán? Jin Xuan was shocked, even the dazed Wu Chenghe snapped back to attention, questioning, “Mulán? Colonel Lilith’s fleet? How could she be here? There’s at least a light-year’s distance between her jurisdiction and here!”

“Full speed retreat!” Jin Xuan ordered sternly. Dealing with one “Quadrant” was challenging enough; adding a “Mulán” would be overwhelming! Though Lilith’s fleet was primarily for energy exploration, after years of frontier exploration, facing various alien species, their combat capability was formidable. And Lilith herself was a force to be reckoned with!

The “Heaven’s Ark” cruiser fleet systematically retrieved their war machines and discs, activated their shield barriers, and, under the cover of the mecha squadron, retreated into the Alpha Line. Jin Xuan piloted the “Rifle” back to the flagship. Wu Chenghe’s military uniform was drenched in sweat; Jin Xuan had to carry him out of the cockpit and hand him over to the ship’s medic, saying, “Take care of him.”

The fleet was not out of danger yet, and Jin Xuan didn’t have time to tend to Wu Chenghe. He rushed back to the command room. The fleet commander wore a puzzled expression. As soon as he saw Jin Xuan, he said, “Fleet Commander! Something’s not right!”

“What is it?” Jin Xuan returned to the control panel.

The Vice Fleet Commander explained, “We’re retreating at full speed, with the ‘Mulán’ Fleet reinforcing us. Logically, the ‘Quadrant’ should be pursuing us relentlessly, but they’re not all following. Instead, they’ve diverted more than half to intercept the ‘Mulán’! What’s going on?”

The “Quadrant” intercepting the “Mulán”? Jin Xuan was equally perplexed. He activated long-range monitoring, observing that three-fifths of the “Quadrant” fleet had turned around, flying towards the “Mulán” fleet. Meanwhile, Hannibal’s two fleets slowed down between the Alpha and Beta Lines, gradually approaching each other as if testing the waters.

A bold guess crossed Jin Xuan’s mind. He tapped on the main console and said, “This doesn’t seem right. The ‘Mulán’ shouldn’t be here to reinforce the ‘Quadrant.'”

“Huh?” the Vice Fleet Commander was surprised. “Then, what are they…”

“Colonel Lilith has turned against Hannibal!” Jin Xuan’s eyes gleamed. He couldn’t believe it, but his intuition told him it was true! “Lilith is bringing the ‘Mulán’ Fleet back to the Federation!”

As if to confirm his speculation, the lead ship of the distant “Mulán” Fleet suddenly opened fire, its bright beams striking the leading destroyer of the “Quadrant.” Then, a barrage of fire erupted from the “Mulán” Fleet, raining down on the “Quadrant”!

“Turn around!” Jin Xuan made a quick decision. “We’ll flank the ‘Quadrant’ with the ‘Mulán’ Fleet and attack! Communicator, immediately request communication with colonel Lilith and establish contact!”

The situation instantly turned around. With Lilith’s reinforcements, the “Heaven’s Ark” cruiser fleet once again engaged the “Quadrant,” flanking them alongside the “Mulán” Fleet. After fifteen minutes, the communicator patched Lilith’s communication to Jin Xuan’s main console.

“Hello, colonel, I’m the Voyager Army’s ‘Mulán’ Fleet Commander, Federation colonel Lilith Lancer!” Lilith wore the uniform of the Voyager Army, stars shimmering on her shoulders. Her face, once melancholic, now radiated with pride and determination. Her ice-blue eyes sparkled with proud resolve, like a phoenix reborn from the flames, exuding an irresistible radiance. “Hannibal Simpson has betrayed the Federation, launching an attack on the Independent Vertical Zone. As a Federation colonel, I cannot condone his actions. From today onwards, I declare my withdrawal from the Voyager Army and lead the Mulán Fleet back to the Federation!”

“Welcome back. I’m Federation colonel Jin Xuan, representing the independent vertical fleet ‘Heaven’s Ark,’ and I sincerely thank you!” Jin Xuan was ecstatic. He never imagined Lilith would choose to break ties with Hannibal at the last moment and return to the Federation. “Thank you for standing on the side of justice, Colonel Lancer!”

Colonel Lancer… Lilith heard this long-forgotten title, and a faint mist shimmered in her ice-blue eyes. After four years of hiding, she had finally rid herself of the shame imposed by Hannibal and the nauseating surname of “Simpson”! She had finally defended her independent personality and her family’s honor. She could finally stand proudly on Federation soil, reborn with her fleet!

“Defending the Federation is the duty of a Federation soldier.” Lilith’s eyes sparkled with starlight as she raised her chin proudly. “Thank you for your trust, Colonel Jin!” She paused briefly before continuing, “I have engaged the ‘Quadrant’ fleet. The ‘Mulán’ Fleet is primarily for energy exploration and lacks significant combat strength. The ‘Quadrant’ is Hannibal’s main force, with formidable firepower. Please flank them from behind and coordinate with my actions. Together, we may have a chance of success.”

“Understood.” Jin Xuan was thrilled. “Please, keep in touch, and I’ll fully support your attack!”

 

 

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