FT DR Chapter 142: The Rebirth of Hope, the Ghosts of War

Chapter 142: The Rebirth of Hope, the Ghosts of War

Translated by Addis of Exiled Rebels Scanlations

Editor: Karai

 

The “Quadrant” lived up to its reputation as the flagship fleet built by Hannibal over the years. Despite the joint attack of the cruiser fleet and the “Mulan,” they ultimately failed to annihilate it completely.

However, Lilith’s combat prowess indeed lived up to its reputation. Even in a situation where the firepower was far inferior, she fiercely fought against the “Quadrant” for over five hours, ultimately inflicting heavy damage, losing two escort ships in the process, and crippling nearly one-sixth of the enemy’s fleet.

With Lilith’s distraction, the “Tianzhu” took advantage of the situation and gradually amassed a large fleet by drawing ships from surrounding space fortresses. Seeing the unfavorable situation, the “Quadrant” desperately assaulted the “Mulan” defense line, dragging its remnants back within the Beta Defense Line before the encirclement was complete, unable to break out. The Beta Defense Line belonged to the Voyager Army, and without explicit permission, Jin Xuan dared not venture deep into enemy territory. He could only abandon the pursuit and guide the “Mulan” back to the Alpha Defense Line.

This battle could be considered the largest fleet engagement in human history, involving the “Tianzhu,” “Mulan,” “Moongate,” “Qinsha,” and “Quadrant” five universe-class expedition fleets. The battlefront stretched deep into the Zhifu Chain Nebula, hundreds of kilometers of star domains from Alpha to Beta lines were engulfed in human warfare. As the youngest fleet commander among the five fleets, although Jin Xuan failed to retrieve Latika and completely destroy the “Quadrant,” his fearless charge left an indelible impression on all officers and soldiers. Especially leading the mecha squadron to block the “Quadrant,” delaying time for the fleet to eliminate the “Qinsha,” his selfless dedication was admirable.

Although the “Quadrant” ultimately escaped, the “Tianzhu” also suffered heavy losses, the cohesion of the entire fleet greatly increased, and morale reached an unprecedented high, which was more precious than any victory.

The “Mulan” followed the “Tianzhu” back to the Alpha Defense Line, taking a rest at a large energy supply station. Jin Xuan and Lilith finally stood face to face.

After experiencing a fierce battle, Lilith showed no signs of fatigue, looking lively and energetic, her eyes sparkling. She took off her military cap, casually ran her hand through her disheveled short hair, and gave Jin Xuan a faint smile. “Long time no see, colonel.”

“Hello, Lilith.” Jin Xuan shook hands with her, just one greeting brought the two sides much closer. “I never expected you to come back. Jin Zhe has been worried about you and some other loyalists to the Federation. He recently issued a statement specifically advocating for the fair treatment of military personnel. Unfortunately, our communication with the Voyager Army was blocked, and we couldn’t reach you.”

Lilith always had a good impression of Jin Zhe, expressing her gratitude, “Thank you for the President’s concern. Many of my soldiers’ families are still within the Federation. They have been worried about whether their families would be affected. Now they can finally rest assured.” Pausing for a moment, she continued, “My fleet has been stationed in the Lyra Constellation for the past two years, exploring and colonizing. We’ve never been close to Gabriel, and suddenly, we couldn’t contact the capital of Dunkirk. When we sent people back to the military headquarters to inquire, we were told that the Voyager Army had left the Federation and wanted to establish the ‘Far Voyage Empire’ together with us.” She said with a hint of resentment and disdain, “We are the Federation’s fleet, supported by the Federation. Why should we ‘independently’ obey? Hannibal is just a Federation General. What qualifications does he have to order us to betray humanity? It’s ridiculous!”

Seeing her loyalty to the Federation, Jin Xuan felt relieved. “That’s great. It seems that not everyone in the Voyager Army has been indoctrinated with his ‘elitist’ rhetoric.”

Frowning, Lilith said, “We also received Hannibal’s ‘Declaration of Independence’ video. To be honest, his rhetoric is very provocative. The Voyager Army’s sentinel base is large, and everyone is eager to extend their lifespan. My fleet, influenced by my ideology for a long time, is relatively loyal, and the democratic atmosphere is stronger. As for other fleets… and the Third Army, I heard they also received his instigating video.”

“We have not been able to establish contact with the Third Army until now,” Jin Xuan said. “Seiling is too far from the capital of Dunkirk, and it’s difficult to push through the entire First Army’s jurisdiction. The efforts of the NTU and the Information Center are proving to be extremely challenging.”

Lilith nodded. “Yes, Hannibal took advantage of this point to block communications without restraint… Is Popova’s son still in the Federation?”

“He was seriously injured and is recuperating at the Tianque Spaceport,” Jin Xuan hesitated for a moment, then told her the truth, “The medical ship he was on was attacked by the ‘Moongate’ rebel forces. Latika wanted to take him back to Gabriel and use him to coerce Popova. Fortunately, Marlow shot him, hid him from Latika’s sight, and left him in the Federation. Hannibal should think he’s dead by now.”

Upon hearing her son’s name, Lilith couldn’t help but feel tears welling up in her eyes. She had learned from Jin Xuan during the attack on the “Quadrant” that Marlow had been taken back to the Voyager Army by Latika. She had been willing to sacrifice two escort ships in an attempt to intercept the “Quadrant” just to prevent her son from returning to Hannibal’s side.

But she had failed. The “Quadrant” was too powerful, and unless she were willing to die alongside it, she couldn’t defeat them. But she couldn’t do that, not for her son or for “Mulan.”

“That’s good,” Lilith choked back her tears and said, “Chen Miaomiao stayed in the Federation. Even if Popova wants to defect to Hannibal, she’ll have to think twice. This child is too important to both me and Chen Zhen.” 

Jin Xuan, seeing her struggling with pain, felt great sympathy and respect for her. “Failing to retrieve Marlow is regrettable. But even if he returns to the Voyager Army, Hannibal won’t harm him. Perhaps he could even persuade Hannibal…”

“It’s useless,” Lilith shook her head with a bitter laugh. “Hannibal has gone mad. Mania is gradually taking control of his mind. He’s no longer the wise and intelligent commander of the Voyager Army he used to be… No, he was never wise and intelligent. He just used to pretend to be. Now, he can’t even pretend anymore.” After a moment of silence, she sighed, “Marlow… Let it be. It’s all fate. I thought I could protect him by leaving him in the Independent Fleet. But Hannibal managed to turn Latika. He must have been planning this secession war since two years ago, which is why he placed Marlow under Latika. Unfortunately, I lost contact with the Federation and couldn’t inform Marlow in time that I would return to the Federation.”

She spoke with acceptance, but Jin Xuan could sense her inner turmoil. Marlow’s return to the Voyager Army was likely driven by his desire to protect his mother. Lilith was back now, but he was taken back to the crazed father. Perhaps Lilith was right; it was all fate.

Gathering herself, Lilith asked Jin Xuan, “Is Chen Miaomiao okay? Is his injury severe?”

“He’s fine. Marlow notified Wu Chenghe before leaving, and he managed to save Chen Miaomiao in time,” Jin Xuan replied. “He’s at Tianque now, safe and sound.”

“I’ll go see him,” Lilith knew Marlow’s feelings for Chen Miaomiao, but it wasn’t the right time to bring it up, lest it added to Chen Miaomiao’s worries. As a mother, since her son had risked himself to infiltrate enemy territory, she could only take care of the person he cared about the most, letting him rest assured.

“What about Charlie… Is Wu Chenghe okay?” Lilith asked Jin Xuan.

“He’s fine. He went with me on the mecha that day, feeling a bit exhausted, so he’s resting,” Jin Xuan said. Perhaps because of their shared experience in the fierce battle, Jin Xuan felt a strange closeness to Lilith, unable to help but share the good news with her, “He’s pregnant. We’re going to be parents again, with three months left until the due date.”

“Oh! Congratulations,” Lilith sincerely said. Although she had no feelings for Wu Chenghe, the birth of a new life in such circumstances always brought hope, and her mood relaxed. “You’ve been through a lot. Having to fight in such circumstances.”

“The Federation has sent reinforcements to us. Once the Alpha Defense Line is fortified, I’ll take him back to Tianque, and after the child is born, I’ll return to station,” Jin Xuan said, talking more than usual when it came to his wife and child, showing a bit of a soft side. 

Lilith looked at his gentle and joyful expression, couldn’t help but think of Hannibal’s excitement and anticipation when he learned that Marlow was about to be born over twenty years ago. Unfortunately, that was all in the past, and they could never go back.

Coming back to reality, Lilith said, “Pregnancy is no small matter. You still need to take extra care. The fleet will rest here for a few days. I intend to take some ships back to Tianque Spaceport. The ‘Mulan’ is an energy development fleet, unsuitable for combat. I’ll leave the combat forces here and appoint a deputy fleet commander to assist you with patrols, waiting for naval reinforcements to bring the engineering ships back to Tianque for stationing, following the orders of the Ministry of National Defense.”

Jin Xuan had previously sent a battle report with such a recommendation, so naturally, he agreed with her opinion. “Alright, the Independent Fleet’s jurisdiction has been cleared. You can safely bring the engineering ships back. Your combat forces will remain here and continue to follow your command. I’ll only supervise.”

“Okay, then I’ll return to Tianque in three days,” Lilith agreed with him, feeling a bit more relaxed. “I’ll go see the twins when I’m back. Last time I saw them was at your wedding. They were adorable.”

Speaking of his two sons, Jin Xuan completely forgot how they used to climb on his head like horses, play with his chest muscles, and grab his nipples. His heart was filled only with tender concern. “Hehe, thank you. They will surely like you.”

The “Mulan” engineering fleet set out three days later, heading towards Tianque Spaceport. Jin Xuan led the “Tianchao” fleet to continue guarding the Alpha Defense Line. General Yan’s instructions for this battle were soon issued. He promoted Jin Xuan to the rank of Major General and allocated half of the forces of the “Xingchao” to him, assisting him in fortifying various space fortresses to guard against the possible aggression of the Voyager Army.

However, to everyone’s surprise, for more than twenty days, the entire Alpha Defense Line remained calm. Not only did they not suffer any attacks from the “Quadrant” or the “Scout,” even the remnants of the “Capture” that used to harass them were cowering behind the Beta Defense Line, not daring to step beyond the thunder pond.

A strange peace descended over the Zhifu Chain Nebula. Although no one believed that Hannibal would obediently abide by the boundaries set by the Federation, it seemed that he really had no intention of launching a war in the short term.

So… why?

This suspenseful question finally received an answer more than twenty days later—the NTU and the Information Center’s communication task force crossed the First Army’s defense line and successfully made contact with the Third Army! Upon hearing that Chen Miaomiao was alive and seeing a holographic video recorded personally by Chen Miaomiao for them, Popova and Chen Zhen, who had heard that Chen Miaomiao died at the hands of the Federation fleet, immediately led the main force fleet of the Third Army to break through the First Army’s defense line and return to the Federation!

When Jin Xuan received the message from the NTU, he was accompanying Wu Chenghe for a mid-term check-up. After the Five-Party War, the Independent Fleet specially provided them with a male obstetrician-gynecologist, just to allow them to cruise on the Alpha Defense Line with peace of mind. Now Jin Xuan’s reputation on the front line of the legion was at its peak. Even the “Capture” and the “Quadrant” were terrified of him. With him stationed at the front line, he could exert immense psychological pressure on the enemy.

This child probably inherited Jin Xuan’s fierceness. As a fetus of less than four months, he displayed unusual characteristics in terms of both physique and temperament. Wu Chenghe’s appetite had almost doubled, his waist had thickened by two rounds, and his temper had become somewhat dominant. Previously, whenever Jin Xuan said something unreliable, Wu Chenghe would just smile and pretend not to hear it. But now, if he heard anything he didn’t like, he would immediately jump up and criticize Jin Xuan, his tongue as sharp as his ferocious uncle.

Jin Xuan missed the former soft and silly demeanor, but that silliness had gone with the wind, leaving him with only a queen. He loved and hated the child in Wu Chenghe’s belly. After enduring to the mid-term check-up when they could test for mutant genes, he eagerly asked the doctor with starry eyes, “Is he a sentinel? A guide? Or just a regular person?”

The doctor, chilled by his wolf-like gaze, shivered as he completed the examination and said, “Congratulations, Major General, your son is a sentinel. He’s growing very well and is already the size of a normal fetus at four months!”

“Oh!” Jin Xuan had long guessed that this child was not an ordinary person, otherwise, he wouldn’t be so lively. He hurriedly ran to tell Wu Chenghe, “Little Tree is a sentinel! The doctor said he’s growing fast and healthy!”

Thanks to him, Wu Chenghe was also promoted from Lieutenant to Captain. Holding his slightly protruding belly, he was very pleased. Although it didn’t matter much whether he was a guide or not, in the current social environment, sentinels were evidently more free, and embryo interference agents had begun clinical trials. When the sentinels of their generation grew up, they shouldn’t have trouble finding guide wives.

As the couple rejoiced, Jin Xuan’s secretary sent him a battle report: there was movement on the Beta Defense Line, and a large-scale fleet was engaging in battle!

Jin Xuan hurriedly had the doctor send Wu Chenghe back to the main cabin and went to the control room to understand the situation. The deputy fleet commander was monitoring the situation with the navigator. Upon seeing Jin Xuan enter, he immediately reported, “Major General, there’s movement on the Beta Defense Line. We detected abnormal energy fluctuations and signals of a large-scale fleet approaching. Preliminary estimates suggest that a battle is underway over there!”

“Large-scale? How large?” Jin Xuan asked. After discussing with the deputy fleet commander and the observers below, he replied, “About five to eight times our size, Major General.”

“!” Jin Xuan was instantly horrified. He exclaimed, “Send probes! Send drones to cross the Beta Defense Line and gather intelligence. Notify Tianque Headquarters to speed up the arrival of naval reinforcements!” He might be good at fighting, but he couldn’t handle enemies five to eight times stronger than himself!

“Yes, sir!” The deputy fleet commander hastily arranged for the deployment of probes and contacted headquarters. After a brief shock, Jin Xuan calmed down and said, “Don’t panic, everyone. Since they’re fighting over there, it means they’re not on the same side. It’s possible that there’s a mutiny within Hannibal’s ranks, with someone trying to take his place. Or perhaps there are officers and soldiers loyal to the Federation who want to come back to our side.”

His speculation had some merit, but everyone dared not take it lightly. After calling for reinforcements, they deployed fleets to reinforce patrols, guarding against any potential schemes from the enemy, seizing the opportunity to strike the Alpha Front.

The situation was intense. Probes released by Jin Xuan hadn’t sent back any images for hours. Just when everyone speculated whether the probes had been destroyed, the communication officer suddenly received a message from the NTU. Excitedly, he exclaimed, “Captain, good news!

The Third Army is back, currently engaging in fierce battles with the Hannibal faction fleets ‘Quadrant’ and ‘Scout’ within the Beta Front. The Information Strike Team is with them. The NTU requests immediate support from us, urging us to cross the defense line to assist and welcome them back to the Alpha Front!” 

Instantly, silence fell. After waiting for months, they finally heard the joyful news of the return of the Third Army. The control room erupted in cheers. Jin Xuan was particularly overjoyed, saying, “Dispatch Fleets One to Eight to cross the defense line and support them!”

The “Tianzhu” fleet set out, swiftly approaching the Beta Front, launching attacks against the Voyager Army fleet stationed there. On the inner side of the front line, the Third Army carved out a path, inching forward under their support. Eventually, with a joint effort, they tore open a rift in the Beta Front, charging back into the territory of the Alpha Front.

Jin Xuan personally led the flagship to greet them. Upon seeing the fleet breaking through, he realized the heavy price the Third Army had paid to return to the Federation — nearly half of Popova’s two main faction fleets were destroyed, both long-distance fleets were heavily damaged, and four fleets had fought their way back from Seiling, almost a quarter of their forces decimated by Hannibal!

Jin Xuan established communication with the flagship of the Third Army, guiding them to settle within the defense line. After a busy few hours, he finally met the current leader of the Third Army — Chen Zhen.

Chen Zhen looked frighteningly thin. His once healthy wheat-colored skin now bore a deathly pallor, covered in bruises on his cheeks and neck, like an elderly person at death’s door. Much of his black hair had turned gray. The only sign that he was still alive was his bright eyes, icy and sharp.

Seeing Chen Zhen’s withered appearance, Jin Xuan almost couldn’t recognize him. He had met Chen Zhen once four years ago at the Gabriel Military Harbor when Chen Zhen was still a handsome and dignified man. In just four years, how had he become like this? If he remembered correctly, he wasn’t even forty-five yet!

“Major…” Jin Xuan hesitated, saluting him. 

Chen Zhen nodded slightly, his voice hoarse, “Hello, Major General.” Then, as if overwhelmed, he sat down on the chair, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath, “Sorry, I’m feeling a bit unwell.”

“It’s okay, please have a seat.” Jin Xuan, filled with uncertainty, asked tentatively, “Are you injured? Or have you been infected with the interstellar virus? Should I have the ship’s doctor check on you?”

“No, no need.” Chen Zhen waved him off, pausing to catch his breath before continuing, “Over a month ago, we received a notification from the Gabriel Military Harbor. Hannibal demanded that we respond to his declaration of independence, severing ties with the Federation. At that time, communication with the capital was blocked from Seiling Military Harbor. Unable to contact the capital, and as a precaution, General Popova temporarily did not refuse his request, delaying on the grounds of internal disagreement, refusing to express an opinion.”

He seemed extremely exhausted, pausing after each segment to catch his breath. Jin Xuan had someone bring him vitamin water, but he refused to drink it, resting for a moment before continuing, “Twenty-something days ago, Hannibal informed us of our son’s death, claiming that due to the Voyager Army’s independent incident, the Federation had executed him as a traitor. General Popova and I were deeply saddened. Fortunately, the NTU Information Team managed to cross the jurisdiction of the First Army in time and contacted us, letting us know that Miaomiao was still alive.”

As he mentioned his wife and son’s names, a faint hint of tenderness appeared in Chen Zhen’s cold black eyes, quickly replaced by profound sadness. He paused, saying, “After internal deliberations, we decided to reject Hannibal’s request and return to the Federation. To preserve our strength, we withdrew half of the Third Army to guard the Seiling Military Harbor perimeter, preventing the First Army from launching a devastating strike on our headquarters. Then General Popova personally led the two main faction fleets and two long-distance fleets back to the Federation to jointly resist the Hannibal rebels.”

“Thank you,” Jin Xuan sincerely said, “Thank you for considering the overall situation at such a critical moment and returning to the Federation!”

“We are federal soldiers, educated by federal military academies, supported by the Federation. Naturally, we must be loyal to our country.” Chen Zhen spoke softly but firmly, “Anyone attempting to divide the Federation, divide humanity, is our enemy.”

Jin Xuan felt a weight lift off his chest. After the battle of the Zhifu Chain Nebula, the Voyager Army controlled half of the Federation’s forces, and Hannibal declared independence, subverting the ‘Moongate’ fleet. Although Lilith surrendered with the ‘Mulan,’ the two sides were still evenly matched. Now, the return of the Third Army to the Federation meant a complete reversal of the situation. Hannibal suddenly lost a third of his power, and for a while, he probably wouldn’t dare to launch a large-scale war against the Alpha Front.

Moreover, Seiling Military Harbor was still under Popova’s control. Caught between the Federal Alliance and the Third Army, the First Army would be constrained regardless of which side it fought against, a significant advantage for the Federation.

But… “Where is General Popova now?” Jin Xuan asked in confusion. In terms of position and rank, Popova was the undisputed king of the Third Army. Since Chen Zhen said she personally led the four fleets back to the Federation, why was he meeting with her full-time military doctor instead?

Pain and sadness uncontrollably washed over Chen Zhen’s face. His voice was low and hoarse, even carrying an imperceptible choke, “General Popova… passed away a week ago, in the battle near the Gabriel Near-Earth Defense Line.”

“Fallen in battle!?” Jin Xuan almost couldn’t believe his ears. “General Popova sacrificed herself?”

Chen Zhen didn’t want to recount the heart-wrenching news, only closing his eyes and nodding slightly. “To cover the retreat of the main force, she led the personal guard into a decisive battle with Hannibal. Unfortunately, she didn’t make it out alive. However, she avenged herself, annihilating all the fleets besieging her.”

A sorrowful silence enveloped them. Jin Xuan was shaken by this astounding news. In the eight hundred years since the Federation was founded, never had a General died at the hands of their own people. Popova was the first senior Federation officer to die in the Hannibal rebellion. Her death undoubtedly represented a tremendous loss for the Federation and a significant loss for the Third Army.

“Please, accept my condolences,” Jin Xuan said solemnly. Finally, he understood why Chen Zhen was in such a deteriorating state. The bond between guide and sentinel was inseparable. When the sentinel died, the guide would rapidly deteriorate in fear and loneliness. It could take days or weeks, but eventually, their consciousness would wither, and their organs would fail.

Popova had been gone for seven days, and Chen Zhen was now on the verge of death. The fact that he managed to lead the fleet back to the Alpha Front was nothing short of a miracle.

Facing someone destined to die, Jin Xuan felt deeply uncomfortable. His usually sharp tongue couldn’t find suitable words. Surprisingly, Chen Zhen was very understanding. Seeing Jin Xuan at a loss for words, he gave a faint smile and said, “Don’t feel sorry for us, Major General. Being able to bring the Third Army back, we have no regrets. It’s just that my time is running out. Before joining my wife, I want to see my son again.”

“Of course,” Jin Xuan couldn’t refuse this request under any circumstances. “Then, I’ll send a fleet to escort you back to Tianque Military Harbor later. Please, don’t worry. Miaomiao is fine. His surgery was performed by my full-time doctor, so I’m very aware of his condition. I’m sure he’s almost fully recovered by now.”

“Thank you.” Chen Zhen’s noble brow relaxed slightly. “I’ll have General Popova’s adjutant handle everything with you. Our fleet will stay here with you for rest and resupply. When the Federation appoints or promotes another General, they can continue to lead them.”

Author’s note: War is always cruel, with both good news and bad news. Chen Miaomiao and Marlow each carry the last hope of their families. After enduring painful trials, they will grow into true warriors. I am the real father!

 

 

 

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