FT DR Chapter 150: Last Battle

Chapter 150: Last Battle

Translated by Addis of Exiled Rebels Scanlations

Editor: Karai

As early as the planning stage of the “Suggestion Plan”, Jin Zhe had anticipated that Hannibal would turn against them at the critical moment.

The “Albatross” defense fortification assembled over twenty thousand guides, with more than two-thirds belonging to the Federation. Furthermore, there was a group of newly registered free guides, unmarked. Such a big piece of meat, no one would easily let go. Moreover, “Albatross” was located on the outer edge of the Beta Frontline, originally an extended defense zone of the Voyager Army. With the “Quadrant” stationed on the outer defense under the pretext of “protection”, it was simply a great opportunity for them!

Almost all the Federation’s guides were here. Whether captured or killed, it would severely damage the high-ranking military and political figures of the Federation!

Therefore, Jin Zhe personally led the charge on the day of action, leading the “Tianzhu” to protect the guide team, and mobilizing the “Xingzhu”, “Mulan”, the Third Army Joint Fleet, and the Navy Vanguard Fleet to the Alpha Frontline, forming a tiered defense, ready to counter the Voyager Army at any time.

However, he didn’t expect Hannibal to be so impatient, launching an attack while the passage created by the reapers had not yet disappeared. It should be noted that the situation at this time was extremely unstable, and any accident could happen. If the energy fluctuations caused by the war attracted the attention of the reapers, everything would be lost.

Hannibal’s move could be described as insane!

“Annihilate them all.” Jin Zhe stood in front of the main control console of the “Tianzhu”, his face stern, issuing the highest command in the name of the president. “The ‘Tianzhu’ will fight the ‘Quadrant’ with full force, and the Third Army Joint Fleet will immediately advance towards the ‘Albatross’, surrounding them from both sides, and must annihilate the ‘Quadrant’!”

“Yes!” Jin Xuan was directly led by Jin Zhe for the first time, accepting the command solemnly, without any slack. Jin Zhe continued, “If the ‘Quadrant’ dares to act at this time, the ‘Scout’ and ‘Capture’ will surely follow, as well as the other main fleets of Hannibal. Order the Alpha Frontline to advance according to the plan, and be ready to provide reinforcements at any time.” He lightly tapped the main control console with his mechanical hand, his eyes dangerously narrowed. “What’s bound to come will come sooner or later. Since they dare to act at this time, we’ll accompany them to the end… Observers, continue to closely monitor the energy fluctuations in the universal passage. Report immediately if there are any anomalies!”

“Yes!” Jin Xuan calmly issued orders, commanding various squadrons of the “Tianzhu” to engage the Quadrant, while ordering special forces to prepare to land on the “Albatross” and bring back the twenty thousand guides according to the original plan.

“I’ll go down to meet them.” With everything ready, Jin Xuan handed over command of the fleet to his deputy and prepared to go down to the ground to meet the guides. Before leaving, Jin Zhe stopped him. “Be sure to be cautious and don’t scare the guides of the Voyager Army. They’ve just resolved a major crisis for the Federation. Regardless of whether Hannibal’s sudden attack was prearranged with them or not, don’t chill their hearts at this time.”

“I understand.” Jin Xuan said solemnly, “I will strictly follow the instructions of the cabinet.”

“Good.” Jin Zhe patted his shoulder. “Go.”

On the edge of the thin atmosphere of the “Albatross”, the two fleets were at war, and high-energy particle beams divided the pitch-black night sky into dazzling fragments, with cracked clouds scattered like scales in the sky. Due to early precautions, the “Tianzhu” blocked the attack of the “Quadrant” at the first time, and established a safe landing channel for the special forces. The shuttle group carrying Jin Xuan smoothly reached the ground, and the Marine Corps stationed around the fortifications to protect the guides were waiting in anticipation, saluting him as he arrived.

Jin Xuan nodded in acknowledgment and walked into the hall with a serious expression. The order here was relatively good, most of the guides were sitting in their seats, some familiar ones gathered together whispering, each with an anxious look on their faces, especially the guides belonging to the Voyager Army, because those responsible for protecting them in the hall were all Federal Marines, making them even more nervous.

This was inevitable. Outside, there were only fleets from the Federation and the Voyager Army. The war could only be between these two sides. The Reapers would not use low-dimensional weapons. Jin Xuan glanced roughly at several higher-ranking officers of the Voyager Army and observed their expressions. He tentatively confirmed that they were unaware of Hannibal’s raid, which eased his mind a bit. He exchanged a glance with Mu, received a reassuring “everything is normal” response, then looked at Wu Chenghe. Naturally, he asked through telepathy, “How are you?”

The baby in Wu Chenghe’s belly was already quite large. Due to previous severe mental exhaustion, there was a slight dull pain in his abdomen, but he dared not say anything to distract Jin Xuan. He simply shook his head casually to indicate that he was fine.

Jin Xuan had no time to consider much. Seeing him shake his head, he relaxed, not asking further. He stood on the steps in the center of the hall and raised his voice, “Everyone, don’t be alarmed. There has been a slight incident outside, but everything is still under our control.”

“What happened, General?” A Federation guide stood up and asked, “Were we attacked by someone?”

“Yes,” Jin Xuan said, “the Voyager Army’s ‘Quadrant’ fleet suddenly launched an attack on our ‘Tianzhu’ fleet. The reason is unknown. We are organizing defense.”

Although it was anticipated that the attack would come from a distant army, confirming this news from the fleet captain’s mouth was still shocking. Everyone’s expressions changed, and they began to discuss loudly:

“How could this happen? Wasn’t the ‘Implication Plan’ negotiated for a temporary ceasefire?”

“Why did the Voyager Army suddenly attack?”

“Are they crazy? The Reapers haven’t left yet. The observers just said the energy fluctuations are continuing!”

“Oh my, they just attacked here a moment ago. Don’t they want to protect their guides?”

The area where the Voyager Army guides were located fell silent. Everyone’s faces were unusually solemn. They looked at each other and then turned to a senior female guide with the rank of major general.

“Your Excellency,” the major general guide stood up. Although she was thin and had a few white hairs at her temples, her tone was very calm, evidently the leader of this group, “Has this situation been confirmed?”

“Yes, Your Excellency,” Jin Xuan nodded slightly. Although her military rank was higher than his, they were not under the same command structure at the moment, so he didn’t need to salute her, “The ‘Quadrant’ vanguard destroyer was the first to open fire. I have already sent a communication request to them as the captain of the ‘Tianzhu’ fleet, asking them to cease fire, but there has been no response.”

“What explanation does Hannibal have for this?”

“There has been no explanation yet,” Jin Xuan said, “Our communication with Gabriel has been blocked, and we cannot reach the Voyager Army headquarters.”

The major general took a deep breath, lifted her chin, clearly suppressing disappointment and fear. Her voice remained calm, “General, we are under the jurisdiction of the Far Empire Military Department and do not have a direct subordinate relationship with the ‘Quadrant.’ The situation is still unclear, and Emperor Hannibal has not responded to this matter. Therefore, I urge the Federation to respect the personal rights of our guides according to the ‘Implication Plan.'”

Jin Xuan further confirmed that they were unaware of the attack. It seemed that Hannibal was truly mad, no longer caring about the lives of so many guides. Giving the major general a comforting smile, he said, “Please rest assured, Your Excellency. President Jin Zhe is on the ‘Tianzhu’ flagship. Before departing, he repeatedly instructed me to ensure the safety of everyone and transport them safely to the ‘Tianzhu’ transport ship.”

“Are you planning to take us away from here?” The major general frowned.

“‘Tianzhu’ and ‘Quadrant’ are at war, and this place is just a temporary fortification, not safe,” Jin Xuan said, “This is also to fulfill the agreement of the ‘Implication Plan’ and ensure your personal safety to the maximum extent.”

“Where do you intend to take us?”

“Tianque Spaceport,” Jin Xuan said, “It’s the closest space fortress to the Federation-Alpha Frontline, with the highest level of safety and defense.”

“I object,” the major general said, “The agreement stipulates that we do not need to leave the Beta Frontline Expansion Defense Zone. We demand immediate contact with the Imperial Headquarters and obedience to Prime Minister Hannibal’s arrangements.”

“Sorry,” Jin Xuan said simply, “Communication has been blocked. We cannot reach Hannibal and can only take you to a safe place first.” Raising his voice, he said, “Please, listen to my explanation. The situation outside is extremely urgent. ‘Quadrant’ is attacking our fleet with full force. Temporarily, we cannot determine whether they are acting on their own or under Hannibal’s orders. For safety’s sake, please fly to Tianque Spaceport…”

Before he could finish his sentence, there was a deafening roar outside. The entire defense fortification collapsed on one side. A group of fully armed Voyager Army soldiers rushed in, with a batch of close combat soldiers wearing auxiliary battle armor providing cover. They aimed heavy weapons at the Tianzhu Special Forces and marine members, shouting, “Drop your weapons! Retreat immediately!”

At some point, “Quadrant” had torn open a gap in the Tianzhu’s defense line, and a large group of shuttles landed on the ground, attempting to seize guides!

In the instant of the explosion, Jin Xuan’s pupils contracted sharply. His fingers moved slightly, and with a “buzz,” a high-energy force field wall immediately appeared, dividing the hall into two halves and firmly covering the majority of the Federation guides.

“Mecha squadron, reinforce!” Jin Xuan quickly issued orders through the communication device. “Hold the fort. Before we retreat, no one, including guides and attackers, must leave here!”

Before his words fell, there was another roar outside. Dozens of combat mechas with the Tianzhu emblem descended from the sky, surrounding the entire fortification and engaging in battle with the Voyager Army waiting outside.

Ear-piercing explosions followed one after another. “Quadrant” and Tianzhu soldiers fought fiercely on the ground. The lighting inside the fortification flashed twice and then went out. The dazzling flames occasionally shone through the perforated metal walls, casting fluctuating light on everyone’s faces.

“Please board the ship,” Jin Xuan’s oppressive gaze stared at the major general, as if he didn’t care about the battle outside at all. He said, “The situation is unclear, and we cannot determine whether ‘Quadrant’ is still under Hannibal’s command. For the sake of avoiding unnecessary casualties, please fly with us to Tianque Spaceport!”

The major general guide was momentarily speechless. Although Jin Xuan said he would abide by the agreement of the “Implication Plan,” “Quadrant’s” sudden firing had already torn up the agreement between the two sides. How long could this “compliance” last? Return to Tianque Spaceport? And then what?

No one was foolish. Although Hannibal had not explicitly stated his responsibility for this matter, “Quadrant” was his most loyal fleet. Without his orders, how could “Quadrant” suddenly attack “Tianzhu”?

At this time, openly confronting the Federation was indeed somewhat thoughtless on the part of the Prime Minister. There was suspicion of disregarding the safety of all guides. However, they were the Voyager Army guides, and their sentinels were all in the Voyager Army. If they were controlled by the Federation, could their sentinels survive? Could they survive?

Returning to the Far Empire was obviously the best choice, but now the Voyager Army, which was supposed to welcome them, was blocked outside by the Federal Legion. How could they interact with the other party?

In an instant, the major general guide had considered countless possibilities. The conclusion she reached was only one—delay, delay until the Voyager Army rushed in and took them away. Unfortunately, Jin Xuan didn’t plan to give them that time.

“Please,” Jin Xuan stepped aside to make way, “Please, board the ship. Please, don’t test my patience, Your Excellency. I don’t want to tear up the agreement and forcibly take you away from here, but if you insist on putting yourself in danger, I can only go against your wishes. Desperate times call for desperate measures. I hope you understand.”

The guards standing by approached quickly. It was evident that if they didn’t leave soon, they would be arrested. The major general guide hesitated for a moment and compromised, “Fine.” Turning to the others, she said, “Let’s cooperate with General Jin’s orders and avoid unnecessary sacrifices.” The battle outside was still raging, and obviously, the Voyager Army wouldn’t be able to break in for a while. They couldn’t delay much longer.

“Thank you,” Jin Xuan waved his hand, instructing people to send the Voyager Army guides onto the shuttle.

Meanwhile, Mu gathered the Federation guides, assigned cabin numbers, and prepared to leave the “Albatross.” Finally, he helped the weakened Wu Chenghe up and asked with concern, “How are you? You look pale.”

“Fortunately, I took some medication to suppress fetal movements earlier, but it has some side effects,” Wu Chenghe said, supporting himself on Mu’s arm. He had been using his mental abilities intensively for almost half an hour now, and his vertical pupils still hadn’t fully recovered, showing a strange elliptical shape with spiderweb-like red blood vessels floating on the whites of his eyes. Although Icarus butterfly guides had extremely strong self-healing abilities, and each time they healed from injuries, their mental powers would increase, confronting the Reapers alone just a few days ago and now exerting full mental effort again was too damaging to his body.

“Your condition is not right,” Mu, though not proficient in obstetrics, had a keen medical intuition. He immediately half-supported him, walking towards Shuttle Number One, “Quick, back to the flagship. You need surgery right away.”

Jin Xuan, in the midst of handling post-incident matters, saw Wu Chenghe being supported onto the shuttle by Mu. He quickly delegated the remaining tasks to the special forces captain and said, “Mix the guides from both sides and send them onto the shuttle. Notify the Tianque Defense Circle for remote protection and reinforce the ground forces. Make sure to annihilate this group.”

The special forces captain complied, and Jin Xuan, no longer concerned about maintaining his aloof demeanor, hurried to Shuttle Number One. He rushed to Wu Chenghe’s side, “How are you? Why do you look so pale?”

“I’m fine, it’s just the side effects of the medication. It’ll pass in a while,” Wu Chenghe reassured him. “Don’t panic. There are twenty thousand guides here. We mustn’t make any mistakes.”

Seeing him remain calm, Jin Xuan glanced at Mu for confirmation. After a brief hesitation, Mu said, “Don’t worry, I’m here. Everything will be fine.” 

Revealing the truth to Jin Xuan at this point would be pointless and could only disturb his mental state, which wouldn’t be beneficial for everyone’s retreat to the Tianzhu starship.

Jin Xuan was somewhat reassured by him. He breathed a sigh of relief and said, “Good, it’s up to you now. I’ll go check up ahead.”

“Go ahead.”

Jin Xuan returned to the cockpit, activated the central control system, and saw that most of the shuttles designated to pick up guides were ready for departure. He immediately ordered them to “take off” and let the prepared shuttles go first.

Under the remote protection of the Tianzhu Defense Circle, the shuttles took off one by one, heading towards the transport ship. Shuttle Number One was in the lead group, and as they approached the atmosphere, they suddenly saw a fleet of silver-gray ships descending from the sky. The bottom hatch of one of the transport ships opened, and a large group of densely packed black fighters flew out and charged towards the shuttle group!

“We’re under attack!” The pilot immediately reported to Jin Xuan, “Quadrant has breached the Tianzhu defense line!”

“Captain!” the voice of the Tianzhu flagship navigator came through the earpiece at the same time. “The Voyager Army is launching a large-scale fleet assault on our forces, including ‘Scout,’ ‘Kill,’ and Gabriel patrol fleets, even Hannibal’s guard troops! We and the Third Army Joint Fleet are intercepting them, but there’s a breach in the Tianzhu defense line. Some enemy ships may have entered the near-earth defense zone!”

“We’ve seen it already.” In this critical moment, Jin Xuan calmed down instead. He said in a deep voice, “The Albatross is an asteroid. Large fleets can only battle outside the atmosphere and cannot enter the near-earth defense zone. So, they’ve only sent a batch of unmanned fighters to intercept us. But the airborne protection force of the special forces may be insufficient to protect the shuttle group completely… Flagship, immediately deploy all mecha units to ensure the safe evacuation of all shuttles! Also, release my mecha!”

“Yes, sir!”

A few seconds later, thousands of mechas descended from the outer atmosphere like meteors, with the crimson gun mechas leading the charge in the forefront of the first echelon! Inside Shuttle Number One, Jin Xuan took a deep breath, stood up, and prepared to dock with the Rifle mecha in mid-air. Before leaving, he habitually glanced at Wu Chenghe, wanting to invite him along, but seeing his pale face, he swallowed the words and ran to the ejection pod alone.

The shuttle’s main control system calculated the flight trajectory of the cannon gun and launched the ejection at the closest point, sending Jin Xuan out. In mid-air, Jin Xuan performed a smooth leap, firmly grasped the outstretched tentacle of the cockpit, and entered the mecha. The soft filaments instantly connected to his body, integrating him with the machine.

Jin Xuan hadn’t piloted the cannon gun alone for a long time, so he felt a bit out of practice. He flexed his fingers and was about to enter combat mode when he suddenly heard the system alarm, “Alert, Shuttle One requests a second docking. Your co-pilot is about to be ejected into the cabin.”

“!” Jin Xuan was startled. Co-pilot? The cannon gun’s default co-pilot was Wu Chenghe!

How did he know I got into the mecha? What is he up to?

If it weren’t for the military cap, Jin Xuan’s hair would have stood on end. Just as he was about to refuse, the system continued, “Shuttle ejection countdown, three, two, one… activate tentacles?”

No kidding! If I don’t activate the tentacles to grab him now, is he supposed to fall and become a meat patty? Jin Xuan was very irritated by Wu Chenghe’s current decisive actions, but he had no choice but to obediently activate the tentacles to bring him in.

“Why didn’t you notify me?” Wu Chenghe entered the cockpit, somewhat clumsily unfastened the tentacles, and squeezed himself into the co-pilot seat. “If I hadn’t seen the Rifle flying from outside, I wouldn’t have known you were going into battle.”

“I didn’t notify you because I didn’t want you to come with me!” Jin Xuan was so angry that he trembled. “What are you doing here in your condition? You can barely fit into the seat, and you can’t even fasten the seatbelt properly. How are you going to fight?”

“Uh, it’s still manageable.” Wu Chenghe loosened the seatbelt to its maximum length, fastened it, and muttered, “Is it that bad? I’m not that fat, am I?”

“Fat my foot! Is that fat?!” Jin Xuan couldn’t hold back and cursed. But since Wu Chenghe was already here, he couldn’t just throw him out. He could only try his best to ensure his safety and warned, “Listen, it’s not that serious. It’s just a group of fighter jets. I don’t need your support! So just sit there, and we just need to protect these shuttles until they dock with the transport ship.”

“I know, just be cautious.” Wu Chenghe smiled good-naturedly. “I know my limits.”

Jin Xuan couldn’t deal with him, glaring as he activated the dual-pilot mode. Unfortunately, the system ran for less than two seconds before lighting up a red cross, “Warning, this machine is a dual-pilot model, limited to two people. The system is overloaded.”

“Ha!” Jin Xuan angrily slapped the control panel. “See? Overloaded! Too many people! Now what, should I go out, or should you go out, or should we throw the baby out?”

Wu Chenghe was also dumbfounded. This mecha was too advanced, it could actually detect the baby! Had the child grown so much that it needed a child ticket before being born?

The two stared at each other for a while. Jin Xuan snorted like a bull, turned his head in frustration, and hacked his own mecha through his personal terminal.

The red cross disappeared, and Wu Chenghe breathed a sigh of relief, saying, “Alright, let’s get down to business. We’ve fallen behind. Aren’t you a tank? Are you planning to switch to long-range?”

“Do I want to? Whose fault is it?!” If the system hadn’t been hacked, the health monitor would probably have reported Jin Xuan’s high blood pressure by now.

Wu Chenghe gave him a trademark smile, and while Jin Xuan piloted the mecha forward, he quietly extended a mental tendril to soothe his emotions, simultaneously giving him a suggestion: [Behave…]

[Behave your ass!] Jin Xuan, despite being busy, still maintained his sensitivity and angrily replied. 

Wu Chenghe awkwardly retracted his tendril, holding the head of their Barbary lion child, stroking its fur to calm himself.

The cannon gun quickly flew to the forefront of the mecha squad. Its hands and legs loaded with long-range weapons, firing all out to intercept the unmanned fighter jets attempting to attack the shuttles. The other mechas followed behind him, forming a defensive formation and opening fire, quickly blocking the enemy’s assault.

Two thousand guides, filling over three hundred shuttles, flew rapidly within the cylindrical defensive zone formed by the mecha squad, breaking through the atmosphere towards the “Tiancha” transport ship. Countless light cannons hit the mecha defensive line, colliding with the mecha’s energy shields, emitting fierce white light that stung the mecha warriors’ eyes even through their visors.

The first shuttle safely entered the transport ship’s hold, and the flagship sent a message that all shuttles were expected to dock within ten minutes. Jin Xuan breathed a sigh of relief and ordered the mecha squad to contract the defensive circle, retreating towards the space-based defense line formed by the larger fleet, while he still held the forefront, bearing the brunt of the firepower.

“Someone is approaching.” Wu Chenghe, eyes closed and seemingly dozing in the co-pilot seat, suddenly pointed in the two o’clock direction. “A very chaotic mental cloud, possibly a manic sentinel.”

Sentinels who hover between normal and mania are in a state called quasi-mania. This condition grants them extreme combat power but makes them prone to losing control and potentially falling into full-blown mania, which can lead to death. Few sentinels allow themselves to remain in this state; they typically use inhibitors at the first signs of mania.

“It’s the Voyager Army’s mech legion!” Jin Xuan adjusted the visor to its farthest setting and indeed saw thousands of super combat mechas advancing in an attack formation. The leading row of “Hawk” mechas had the double-winged lion insignia of the Voyager Army on their chests, clearly Hannibal’s elite force!

Wu Chenghe’s eyes snapped open, his pupils contracting into narrow slits. “Hannibal! I can sense his mental cloud!” 

Having fought the Reapers twice, his mental capabilities had rapidly advanced. A few months ago, he could only sense a sentinel from this distance; now, he could discern their identity through subtle differences in their mental cloud!

Jin Xuan’s heart skipped a beat. He immediately connected to the “Tiancha” flagship. “President! Hannibal’s elite mecha legion is attacking our forces. We suspect they’ve been hiding within the ‘Quadrant’ fleet all along, meaning Hannibal has never been in Gabriel. He’s been on the ‘Albatross’ front line!”

Jin Zhe’s voice came through, “Are you sure? Are you certain Hannibal is there?”

“Almost certain. Wu Chenghe sensed his mental cloud.” Jin Xuan trusted Wu Chenghe’s judgment and replied, “Hannibal is currently in a quasi-mania state, making him extremely powerful. Their mecha numbers are about three times ours. We need immediate reinforcements.”

“Very well!” Jin Zhe said loudly, “Hold them off! I’ll send the Third Army mecha troops to reinforce you right away!”

Jin Xuan activated multi-angle communication, ordering the entire “Tiancha” mecha squad, “Hannibal’s elite mech legion is about to engage us from the two o’clock direction. Switch to attack formation and prepare for battle!”

“Yes!” The warriors under his command responded in unison and quickly changed formation under the lead of the cannon gun, charging towards the Voyager Army’s mech legion.

Mechas moved at incredible speeds. In just a few seconds, the vanguard of both sides collided. The cannon gun led the charge into the enemy formation, unstoppable, slashing through enemies as if it had grown three heads and six arms, leaving destruction in its wake.

Unbeknownst to Jin Xuan, Wu Chenghe had already linked with his brain, extending numerous fine mental tendrils into his mental cloud, half-stimulating, half-soothing, precisely controlling his emotions. At such a critical moment, Jin Xuan no longer stubbornly resisted Wu Chenghe’s participation, instead opening his mind and fully entrusting himself to his guide.

After three years of fighting side by side, they had developed an extraordinary level of coordination, their breathing gradually syncing. In the mecha cockpit, the only sounds were the faint vibrations of the main engine and the pounding of their hearts.

Even facing the Emperor of the Voyager Empire, a quasi-mania super sentinel warrior, they felt no fear!

“Kill!”

The cannon gun charged through the enemy ranks like an unstoppable wedge, its high-powered weapons on its shoulders and legs firing continuously, scattering enemies before they could get close. Occasionally, when someone dodged the long-range attacks and approached, it transformed its hands into glowing blades, dispatching foes with swift, fluid movements—decapitating, piercing hearts, slicing in half. In moments, the battlefield was littered with dismembered mecha “corpses.”

The “Blood Bull” earned its name well, its agile movements and deadly strikes combining offense and defense. Even Wu Chenghe, who thought he knew his sentinel well, was astonished by the killing intent Jin Xuan displayed. Like the Icarus butterfly, the Barbary lion sentinel continually reached new, awe-inspiring heights!

“Boom! Boom! Boom!” A series of light cannons collided in mid-air, their powerful shockwaves instantly dissipating the surrounding thin clouds. Even the cannon gun’s massive frame was pushed back, its leg thrusters firing repeatedly to stabilize its stance.

A massive white “Hawk” mecha appeared before them, its left chest bearing the double-winged lion insignia that seemed to shimmer, and above it was a golden General badge.

[Hannibal!] Wu Chenghe’s eyes widened, his needle-like pupils quivering slightly, and he exclaimed, [He’s looking for me!]

A faint red mist clouded Jin Xuan’s eyes. Even after four years of marriage, the thought of what Hannibal had once done to his guide still ignited uncontrollable fury within him.

[Stay calm!] Wu Chenghe, realizing his own lapse, immediately soothed Jin Xuan’s rising rage, his hand groping to clasp Jin Xuan’s left ring finger. [Don’t rush in. He’s in a quasi-mania state. Don’t let him control the situation. This is our best chance to take him down!]

The red mist in Jin Xuan’s eyes slowly receded, his nostrils flaring as he regained his composure, his heartbeat syncing once more with his guide’s. Taking a deep breath, he said, [I know… How about you? Can you hold on?]

[I can!] In this moment, there was no room for doubt. [This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. If we miss it, who knows how long it will take to get this close to him again… Hurry! Request reinforcements, get the best mecha units to back us up!] 

The Voyager Empire had not been around for long, and Hannibal had yet to find a suitable guide. Missing this chance might mean he’d find one, doubling his lifespan and becoming an even greater threat to the Federation.

Wu Chenghe had never been more grateful for Hannibal’s obsession with him. A quasi-manic sentinel was the most crazed, driven by unfulfilled desires and unachieved dreams, making them desperate to crush and achieve them!

Jin Xuan, fully composed, coordinated his forces through multi-angle communications, repelling other mechas attempting to ambush them. Gradually, they cleared a wide battlefield on the edge of the “Albatross” atmosphere. In the center, only two super combat mechas remained—the Rifle and the Hawk!

An alarm from the communication system indicated an unauthorized entry. Jin Xuan remained calm and connected the call. Hannibal’s familiar yet alien voice resonated in the cockpit, “Charlie, my son.”

His voice was as deep and magnetic as ever, but with the metallic edge characteristic of a quasi-mania sentinel, making it harsh on the ears. Wu Chenghe shuddered at Hannibal’s address.

Hannibal didn’t wait for a response and continued, “I’ve missed you, Charlie. Did you know? Your genes are a gift from me. My blood flows through your veins. You are the perfect fusion of an Icarus butterfly and a black-and-chestnut eagle! It’s a shame… you’ve given yourself to a filthy Barbary lion sentinel, an idiot with feline gene fragments!”

Despite his efforts to stay calm, Jin Xuan couldn’t suppress his fury at being called a “feline.” His Barbary lion was equally enraged, agitatedly lashing its tail and baring its gleaming fangs. Wu Chenghe, speechless at Hannibal’s near-pathological self-aggrandizement, soothed both Jin Xuan and his lion while suppressing his own Icarus butterfly, which was always vexed by the ugly gray line on its wings and wanted to lash out at Hannibal’s black-and-chestnut eagle.

“Oh God, what a disaster!” Hannibal continued manically, “Just thinking about my genes being inherited by two… no, now I hear there’s another one… thinking about my great genes being passed down to three lowly Barbary lion boys makes me sick to my stomach! Charlie, I regret letting you leave Gabriel. You are mine, do you hear me? Your mother gave you to me. You belong to me!”

“Enough!” Wu Chenghe interrupted, unable to bear it any longer. “Do you realize you’re dying? Your mania is on the brink of collapse! Maybe you should inject yourself with an inhibitor, Hannibal.”

Hannibal’s breath hitched, apparently surprised by Wu Chenghe’s defiant response. After a moment, he said, “Ha! Such sharp words!”

“Listen.” Wu Chenghe cut him off again, his voice steady. “I don’t belong to anyone. I am my own person. My blood is my own, my genes are from my mother, and everything about me has nothing to do with you! I pity Lady Lilith. You didn’t deserve her. She sacrificed half her life to support you. And you? You gained the status and power she gave you but couldn’t even offer basic loyalty!”

“Shut up!”

“Also Marlow, he was harmed by you. You disregarded his personal wishes and imposed your own shameless ambitions on him, causing him to lose the opportunity to realize his own ideals, to hurt his lover, to hurt himself, and to live with regret for the rest of his life…” Perhaps it was the influence of Mu over the years, or perhaps these words had been fermenting in his heart for too long, but Wu Chenghe’s words became unprecedentedly sharp, delivering a torrent of criticism at Hannibal without a single stutter. “You are unfit to be his father, unfit to be anyone’s father. You are a selfish tyrant, a profiteering opportunist! Go and die with your great black-and-chestnut eagle, you two are the perfect match, you greedy carrion animals, only fit to circle around maggot-infested corpses!”

Jin Xuan, sitting next to him, initially huffing like an angry bull, gradually widened his eyes in disbelief, staring at Wu Chenghe as if he didn’t recognize him, his mouth slowly forming an “O” shape.

“Shut up!” Hannibal roared in fury, his shout almost collapsing the communication system. His sharp voice screeched like cheap metal scraping against itself, producing an ear-piercing noise. “Damn it! Bastard!” 

Before his voice had even faded, the Hawk mecha on the opposite side waved its arms, sending a barrage of dazzling light bullets towards them!

Jin Xuan, despite his shock, instinctively defended, activating the leg engines to flip aside from the attack, simultaneously swinging his right hand to counter with a series of light bullets. The energy waves from the attack stirred up a gust, scattering cosmic dust in all directions. Hannibal, failing to humiliate his son, was instead infuriated by Wu Chenghe, teetering on the edge of a manic outburst. He roared, maneuvering the mecha towards the laser gun.

[He is on the verge of a manic outburst] Wu Chenghe focused on enhancing Jin Xuan’s consciousness cloud, communicating through the sensory link, [The distance is unstable, I can’t directly attack his consciousness cloud, I can only provoke him with words to make him go mad.]

Jin Xuan, astonished by Wu Chenghe’s verbal prowess, momentarily unsure whether to applaud or worry about their future, replied with his signature, [Hehe].

Wu Chenghe, [ …]

In the blink of an eye, the laser gun and the hawk mecha clashed at close quarters, engaging in combat in the vast space on the outskirts of the “Albatross” atmosphere. Around them, the most elite mecha legions of the Federation and the Voyager Army gathered, initiating an unprecedented mecha battle in human history! Further away, the “Tiancha,” “Xingcha,” “Mulan,” the Third Army United Fleet, and the Voyager Army’s ace warship group—”Quadrant,” “Capture,” “Scout,” Gabriel’s Patrol Team, and the leader’s guards—engaged in a massive space battle!

Terrifying warfare erupted between the Alpha and Beta fronts, gradually spreading to the Zhifu Nebula Chain, illuminating half of the Reflection Nebula with humanity’s extraordinary battle. Intense energy waves surged through the cosmos, lifting stardust and ionized gasses like hurricane-driven ocean waves, striking the asteroids and meteoroids drifting in the nebula.

Countless battleships and fighter planes were hit and exploded, with escape pods scattering like ants, some being picked up by nearby warships, while others were unfortunately struck by flying debris, bursting into fleeting sparks, disappearing without a trace.

The entire battlefield resembled purgatory.

“Boom!” The Hawk’s railgun struck the Rifle’s right shoulder, while the Hawk itself was hit by a light bullet from the Rifle, flying half a kilometer backward before managing to stabilize. Inside the Rifle’s cockpit, Jin Xuan’s face was serious, devoid of his previous ease, his fingers flying over the controls to manually maneuver the weapon systems, coordinating the mecha’s movements through neural filaments to repair the injured right shoulder.

[Energy is insufficient] Wu Chenghe, assisting in managing the power systems, frowned, [Call for the energy body, we need to refuel.]

Jin Xuan, wanting to continue the fight, reluctantly ordered ten mechas to cover him and called for the mobile energy body to refuel the Rifle. In the distance, the hawk quickly repaired its knee damage and flew towards them, followed by a dozen large mechas, engaging Jin Xuan’s temporary substitutes in a chaotic battle.

Hannibal, completely mad, broke through the defense line, charging towards the refueling Rifle with its arms transformed into railguns, firing at them!

Refueling required disabling the protective shield, forcing Jin Xuan to disconnect the energy body, hastily deploying a weak energy shield to withstand Hannibal’s attack, then loading the elbow close-combat light cannon for a fierce counterattack.

The aftermath of the cannon fire swept over the energy body, which couldn’t withstand such high energy fluctuations, exploding instantly into dust! The Rifle, too close to the energy body, was hit by the shock wave of the explosion, instantly melting a large section of alloy on its waist. Jin Xuan desperately stabilized the mecha, retreating several hundred meters, the metal rapidly cooling in the low-temperature space, cracking with a brittle sound and shattering into pieces.

“Warning! The outer layer alloy has suffered irreparable damage. It must be manually replaced immediately, or the internal neurons are likely to be harmed!” The system issued a yellow alert. Jin Xuan was about to release the micro-engineer robots to replace his outer shell when the Hawk mecha, like a relentless parasite, already aimed its railgun at the laser gun’s waist and fired!

A blinding white light shot towards him. Relying on his extraordinary agility, Jin Xuan quickly dodged, but he couldn’t completely avoid the attack, and his right foot was exposed within the enemy’s range. At the critical moment, a massive, pitch-black figure flew in like a meteor, flashing red and firing a cannon to intercept the Hawk’s deadly shot, saving the Rifle.

[Hyena! Jin Zhe!] Jin Xuan, in the cockpit, broke out in a cold sweat, both shocked and delighted [Why is he here?!]

[Dean is here too!] Wu Chenghe, drenched in cold sweat, which dripped down his feet, his slit pupils trembling even more than his voice [I sensed his consciousness cloud!]

“Rifle!” Jin Zhe’s voice came through the multi-channel communication, “Retreat, you have five minutes to repair the parts!”

“Yes!” Jin Xuan, instantly full of fighting spirit, maneuvered the laser gun behind the pitch-black hyena mecha. 

Jin Zhe, still piloting his most cherished modified fourth-generation Hyena mecha, had replaced a joint on the right arm with a red alloy to match his flamboyant personality and his red mechanical arm. Inside the cockpit, Mu sat in the co-pilot seat beside Jin Zhe, his eyes turning into vertical pupils as he entered a consciousness attack state, controlling his sentinel in battle for the first time.

Due to his overly aggressive nature, which often led to Jin Zhe crashing into walls unintentionally, the President had added an extra set of safety belts to secure himself in the seat, providing an additional sense of security.

“Roar!” Jin Zhe manipulated the Hyena’s fists to collide, emitting a fierce roar like a mad gorilla, “Come on, little Hannibal, let me show you what a war god is, what a legendary untamed wild dog is!”

Mu silently facepalmed, sweating profusely [Can you stop being so foolish? Who calls themselves a wild dog?]

[I am a war god, even the war god of twenty years ago is still a war god!] Jin Zhe said displeasedly [The wild hyena is a compliment from everyone, why don’t you appreciate my greatness?!]

[…] Mu ground his teeth helplessly [What good is spouting nonsense here, he can’t hear you anyway!]

[It’s to boost morale, understand?] Jin Zhe explained to his wife [This is how war works.]

Mu was completely speechless.

The presidential couple continued their bickering as usual, but it didn’t delay their engagement with the Hawk mecha. The fierce Hyena mecha pounced like a mad dog, relentlessly attacking the opponent. The Hawk’s railgun, most effective at long range, couldn’t fully exert its power at such close quarters and was repeatedly scratched by the Hyena’s cold blades, which, though not deeply, were densely packed, quickly triggering alarms in its alloy shell.

The Rifle received its precious five minutes. Jin Xuan swiftly deployed a pair of engineer robots to replace the waist alloy block, completing the repairs quickly and rejoining the battle. For the first time, the Jin brothers fought side by side on the battlefield, their red and black super mechas standing righteously before the battered Hawk, exuding an air of righteous might without a trace of guilt for outnumbering their foe, instead reveling in the joy of “group fighting is great.”

Of course, in a battle involving tens of thousands of mechas, their two-against-one scenario was justifiable.

Enemies meeting face to face, their eyes were full of hatred! The three mechas attacked simultaneously, clashing in the windswept cosmos! Wu Chenghe poured his remaining strength into bolstering Jin Xuan’s consciousness, his mind flashing back to Hannibal’s past humiliations and cruelties, the brutal persecution of the Wu family, wishing he could tear him apart!

Wu Chenghe’s obsession was Jin Xuan’s obsession. Jin Xuan’s greatest regret in life was almost letting Hannibal mark his guide in a moment of weakness. For four years, he had dreamed of avenging himself, wiping away the shame!

Mu, having been protected by his family for forty years, had always hoped to repay his parents and protect his sister, never expecting the family’s sudden downfall and almost losing his nephew. Finally facing his enemy, his blood surged to his head, swearing to kill Hannibal here for his family’s revenge!

As for Jin Zhe, as a president, his greatest humiliation was the division of his territory during his term. Only by killing Hannibal could he achieve his lifelong ambition!

Kill!

In the darkened sky and earth, a brutal battle unfolded, unprecedented in human history, later written into the compulsory curriculum of Aston Military Academy as a classic case study. Especially the three-way battle between Hyena, Rifle, and Hawk mechas, unmatched in history, inspired countless successors, who could only regret not being born in such a magnificent era!

However, during the battle, none of the five participants felt any magnificence. Hannibal, a formidable figure in his own right, in a near-mania state, displayed overwhelming combat prowess, facing four opponents without showing any sign of fear! The Rifle and Hyena’s coordinated close and long-range attacks almost shredded its shell, exposing the electrical nerve bundles inside, yet he did not retreat, advancing step by step!

They fought while flying, gradually moving out of the “Albatross” defense perimeter into the Beta front. At this moment, the Hyena suddenly lunged, its sharp steel teeth biting into the Hawk’s exposed nerve bundles and tearing them apart. Simultaneously, the Rifle’s twin blades flashed, sparking as they severed its spinal column!

The massive Hawk mecha collapsed like a boneless dragon, its cockpit lights flickering, clearly issuing a red alert.

“Kill!” The President, his blood boiling, completely abandoned his usual elegance and grace, reverting to the fearsome war god of twenty years ago. His muscular left arm controlled the mecha’s left cold blade, stabbing it fiercely into the Hawk’s left chest energy core!

“Roar!” Almost simultaneously, the Rifle flipped sideways, leaping in front of the Hawk mecha. Its twin light blades merged, forming a gleaming light chain that once again strangled Hannibal’s throat, just like in the Tartarus air battle three years ago.

Suddenly, a gust of wind blew. A massive shadow pressed down from the twelve o’clock direction. The “Quadrant” flagship miraculously broke through the massive mechalegion battlefield, approaching the three-mecha battle group!

The mecha battlefield, unlike the warship battlefield, had extremely close combat distances, with many small combat groups having gaps as small as a few dozen meters! Navigating a warship through such a dense battlefield was akin to threading a giant club through the eye of a needle!

What kind of unparalleled navigation and piloting skills were needed to steer the “Quadrant” flagship into a mecha battlefield?!

“Boom!” A flash of white light erupted from the flagship’s head, and massive weapons rained down.

“Dodge!” Jin Zhe’s pupils contracted sharply as he shouted in the multi-channel communication. Simultaneously, he fully powered his engines, dodging downward to the side! Jin Xuan reacted swiftly, maneuvering the Rifle agilely with Wu Chenghe’s support, retracting the light chain and dropping the Hawk, darting away at a thirty-degree angle with the Hyena mecha!

Almost simultaneously, the Hawk’s cockpit opened, and a silver-white escape pod shot out, arcing smoothly to avoid the artillery fire, heading towards the “Quadrant” flagship.

“Boom boom boom!” The fierce artillery fire caused a chain reaction, incinerating nearby mechas that couldn’t evade in time into molten metal, which quickly solidified in the low-temperature environment of space, forming grim metal lumps!

Energy waves rippled through the Zifu Chain Nebula, one after another…

Seconds later, a resonant tremor echoed from the depths of the nebula, starting lightly but growing heavier and heavier…

“Super energy fluctuation!” After the eerie silence, all the senior commanders of the Federation heard the hysterical scream of the passage observer through their communication systems, “Dark matter is exploding uncontrollably! The passage left by the Reapers… Heaven! The anti-de Sitter black hole is expanding, and gravity is increasing exponentially!”

“Retreat!” Jin Zhe didn’t wait for the observer to finish, immediately shouting, “Everyone, retreat, all fleets! Target the Alpha front and Tianque Spaceport! Full speed! Move!”

As he yelled, he activated the mecha’s engines, flying towards the “Tiancha” flagship. Jin Xuan, piloting the Rifle, followed closely. The two mechas broke the sound barrier, disappearing into the dark cosmos like meteors.

With the President’s order, the Federal Legion, trained and disciplined, orderly retreated towards the inner side of the Alpha front. Initially, the Voyager Army tried to pursue, but a few minutes later, they received the highest order from the supreme leader’s communication frequency, and immediately turned around, retreating along the Beta front away from the anti-de Sitter black hole.

An hour later, in the “Xingcha” fleet. The Hyena and Rifle finally caught up with the main force and returned to the command ship. Jin Xuan carried the unconscious Wu Chenghe out of the cockpit, handing him to the flight doctor, trembling like a leaf, “I don’t know, he suddenly passed out… No, I don’t know if he bled… It seems like a lot of water…”

“It’s okay, it’s okay, his vitals are still there, he’s alive.” The flight doctor, seeing Wu Chenghe’s condition, already knew it was bad, but looking at Jin Xuan’s expression, he feared the truth would make things worse. So he tried to control his own expression, forcing out a smile uglier than crying, “The fetal heart is still there, the baby is fine. I’ll arrange for surgery immediately, everything is ready. Captain’s health has always been good.”

“No no no, his body is very weak, he’s a guide, his organs and bones are much weaker than normal.” Jin Xuan clenched his fists, his hands shaking uncontrollably, “The baby is twenty-eight and a half weeks old. He said he could hold on, he promised me he would tell me if something was wrong, I didn’t know he would pass out…”

“Calm down, Major General.” The flight doctor connected Wu Chenghe to various medical devices, each adding a new screaming alarm. He had to mute them all to prevent the Major General from fainting as well, and reassured Jin Xuan, “He’s very young, he can get through this. I’m his primary doctor, I know his body well.” He took out a form, “This is the surgery consent form, he’s already signed it. By regulation, you must sign it too, this one…”

Jin Xuan’s head was drenched in cold sweat. Large beads dripped from his hair as he struggled to read the form, his vision blurred. Finally, he focused on the header and was horrified, “Sterilization? Why sterilization?”

“Calm down!” The flight doctor, afraid Jin Xuan might faint before signing, grabbed his shoulder, “It’s a precaution. If things go wrong, I must perform a sterilization to save his life! He’s already signed; you need to too…”

Jin Xuan was stunned. He had remained composed on the battlefield, even in the face of death, without a hint of fear. But now, holding this form, he felt a terror akin to the end of the world, “Life-threatening… Will he die? No, he said it would be fine. He’s the best doctor; he wouldn’t lie to me!”

“Every surgery carries risks, Major General!” The flight doctor shouted as he had Wu Chenghe moved into the operating room, shaking Jin Xuan fiercely, “Please, sign quickly!”

“Slap!” A crisp sound echoed as a firm slap landed on Jin Xuan’s face. A slender, thin hand snatched the form from the doctor’s grip and slammed it against Jin Xuan’s chest, yelling, “Do you want him to die? Is having a child more important than his life?!”

Mu, drenched as if pulled from water, his uniform clinging to his bony shoulders, stood with a cold and forceful expression, stronger than any sentinel, “Are you out of your mind? Not listening to the doctor and mumbling nonsense?” He took a bottle of water handed by a guard, opened it, and splashed it on Jin Xuan’s face, “Useless!”

Jin Xuan, jolted awake by the slap and cold water, shivered in a corner, quickly signed his name on the form, and shoved it at the doctor, pushing him towards the operating room, “Go! Save his life, do whatever you must, just hurry!”

Jin Zhe finally rushed up from the lower deck, supporting Mu’s back anxiously, “What happened? Are you fighting? Don’t mind that guy, he’s out of his mind… Are you okay? Why are you crying?”

“It’s sweat!” Mu wiped his face, pushing Jin Zhe away fiercely, his thin back straightening as he walked towards the operating room, “Wu Chenghe is having surgery. It’s critical, I need to check on him.”

“Huh? Is he giving birth?” Jin Zhe followed him for a couple of steps, remembering the numerous pressing matters awaiting him and realizing he couldn’t rely on Jin Xuan—who was now walking awkwardly, almost tripping over his own feet. So he had the special forces follow Mu while he went to the control room to manage the situation.

Wu Chenghe’s surgery didn’t take long. It was a simple procedure—delivery plus sterilization. He had anticipated it and prepared everything, even writing out the surgical steps. The doctor only had to follow his instructions.

“It’s a boy, very strong, weighing 2431 grams, almost like a natural birth.” The flight doctor quickly came out to report to the family, “If he were twenty grams heavier, he wouldn’t need the artificial womb; he could survive under regular conditions… Oh, and congratulations, Major General, you’re a father again. And you, First Mate, you’re an uncle again.”

“Thank you!” Jin Xuan looked at his newborn son in the artificial womb, half his face still swollen, grinning with a hiss, “And Captain, how is he?”

“My assistant is stitching him up. The surgery went smoothly,” the doctor first brought good news, then added a regretful note, “However, we had to perform the sterilization to save his life.”

“…” Jin Xuan’s expression twitched but he managed a smile, “That’s… fine. This is already good.” After a pause, he whispered, “Please, don’t tell him right away. I’ll explain it to him myself when he’s better.”

“Of course.” The doctor nodded, “I’ll go check on him. He should be out in about fifteen minutes, and you can see him then.”

“Thank you.” Jin Xuan had fully calmed down, watching the doctor re-enter the operating room. He then turned to see Mu leaning against the wall on the other side of the door. He coughed awkwardly, “Thank you for waking me up. I was a bit… lost. He kept saying it was fine.”

Mu snorted, “He lied.”

“…” Jin Xuan was speechless, then said, “I know now.”

“Take good care of him and don’t be an idiot again,” Mu took a deep breath, rubbing his temples, “I’ll go check on your brother.”

“Okay.” Jin Xuan respectfully saw Mu off, almost bowing.

In the control room, Jin Zhe was listening to the deputy fleet captain report on the situation. “All fleets have been withdrawn and are flying to the Tianque Spaceport. The mecha corps have suffered 27% casualties, with 70% already withdrawn to various warships. A small number are scattered in the periphery, all heavily damaged. I’ve dispatched supply ships for salvage and support.”

“Very good.” Jin Zhe breathed a sigh of relief after reviewing the battle damage report. With such a large-scale battle, a 27% loss was fortunate, but he wondered about the situation with the Voyager Army. Was Hannibal still alive? If he was gone, who would take his place? And when would the Federation face its next grim battle?

Feeling the strain of age after experiencing such a battle, Jin Zhe sat down, weary, and rubbed his temples. “Try connecting with the flagship ‘Quadrant’ again, see what they have to say.”

“Yes!” The deputy fleet captain acknowledged and left.

Entering the control room, Mu placed his hand on Jin Zhe’s right shoulder, rubbing the junction where the mechanical arm connected to the stump. “Does it hurt?”

“A bit.” Jin Zhe touched his hand and asked, “How’s Wu Chenghe?”

“He’s fine. The child is born, healthy and strong. Jin Xuan is waiting to take him back to the main cabin for rest.” Mu took off Jin Zhe’s shirt to inspect the connection points of his mechanical arm. It had only been a few months since Jin Zhe had received the prosthetic, still adjusting to it. Vigorous activity could easily cause inflammation and damage to tendons and bones.

Following Mu’s instructions, Jin Zhe moved the joints and fingers, assessing each part’s sensation. He adjusted a few small components, helped Jin Zhe put his shirt back on, and said, “It’s alright. There might be a slight injury to the humeral condyle, but it’s nothing serious. Just rest for a while.”

“Mm-hmm.” Jin Zhe maintained his composure in front of others, avoiding any indiscreet remarks. 

At that moment, the deputy fleet captain exclaimed, “Your Excellency, the flagship ‘Quadrant’ is online. Their representative requests a personal conversation with you.”

“Oh?” Jin Zhe frowned. If Hannibal’s lifeboat had been retrieved by the Quadrant flagship, who was this “representative”?

Approaching the main console, Jin Zhe watched as the deputy fleet captain activated the holographic communication. A tall figure appeared before him, dressed in Voyager Army uniform, with a stern expression and calm eyes.

“Your Excellency.” Marlow, now in the uniform of the Voyager Army, introduced himself as Marlow Simpson, the former navigator lieutenant of the Moon Chariot fleet. “I am representing the Quadrant flagship and offer you our greetings.”

“Hello, Lieutenant Simpson.” Jin Zhe’s curiosity was piqued. Why Marlow? Where was Hannibal? And why did Marlow refer to himself as the former navigator lieutenant of the Moon Chariot fleet? “And your father?”

Marlow took a deep breath. “My father… former Voyager Army Supreme Commander General Hannibal Simpson, passed away an hour ago. I am now acting in full authority of the Voyager Army’s First Legion.”

Jin Zhe was stunned. Although he had hoped for Hannibal’s demise, hearing the news first hand was… profoundly shocking.

“In recent times, my father’s manic episodes became frequent, and his health deteriorated.” Marlow’s voice remained calm, with a hint of sorrow in his eyes. “The Battle of the Albatross triggered his ultimate mania. Shortly after returning to the Quadrant flagship, he passed away.”

Jin Zhe remained silent for a moment before saying, “Please, accept my condolences, Lieutenant.”

“Thank you.” Marlow nodded slightly in appreciation. “Before his passing, my father deeply regretted his past mistakes and felt immense guilt for his divisive actions among humanity. Following his wishes, I respectfully request that you accept the return of the Voyager Army. All fleets and territories under the Voyager Army’s command should be reintegrated into the Federation!”

Jin Zhe’s eyebrows raised, a weight lifting off his heart. He calmly took a breath and said, “On behalf of the Federal Government, I accept the Voyager Army’s request. Welcome back.” Pausing for a moment, he added, “Thank you for everything you’ve done for the Federation, son.”

Marlow’s eyes welled up suddenly, his breath catching for a moment. But he quickly regained control, saluting Jin Zhe and saying, “Thank you, Mr. President.”

Jin Zhe nodded with a smile. Marlow took a deep breath and continued, “The return arrangements have been discussed with the heads of the various divisions of the Voyager Army. I’ve entrusted all affairs to Colonel Ivanov, my father’s former bodyguard captain. He will represent me and my father at the Tianque Spaceport to meet you and discuss the details of our return with the Defense Secretary.”

A hint of confusion arose in Jin Zhe’s mind. He furrowed his brow and asked, “Then what about you? Since your father entrusted you with everything before his death, why aren’t you coming to meet me at the Tianque Spaceport?”

“Because I’m on a starship, the Quadrant flagship, and we’re near the edge of the anti-De Sitter Black Hole.” Marlow remained calm, showing no fear of impending doom. “We can’t escape the gravitational pull of the gateway and are being dragged step by step into another universe.”

Jin Zhe’s eyes widened in shock. “You weren’t able to retreat in time?”

“My father’s death was very sudden, and I… I’m young and inexperienced. I failed to promptly lead the Voyager Army out of the dangerous area around the gateway.” Marlow explained, “Fortunately, only the Quadrant fleet was affected, and the vast majority of the Voyager Army’s fleets have already withdrawn in time.”

Jin Zhe fell silent. Despite Marlow’s understated words, he could guess how cruel the reality must have been. Hannibal’s ultimate mania, upon returning to the Quadrant, must have been uncontrollable, resulting in chaos. As for how Marlow “assisted” his father’s “passing,” Jin Zhe didn’t want to know.

After Hannibal’s death, the Voyager Army fell apart. Marlow, being too young and wholeheartedly loyal to the Federation, faced a daunting task of rallying the entire Voyager Army. The Quadrant flagship happened to be too close to the gateway left by the Reapers. By the time he gained control of the situation, it was too late. The Quadrant entered the dangerous zone of the anti-de Sitter Black Hole, with no sufficient power to escape.

Jin Zhe considered himself a very rational and difficult-to-be-moved person. Yet, facing this young man of not even twenty-three, he felt a tightness in his throat and a sting in his eyes.

He didn’t know Marlow well. He had never really paid attention to this unremarkable junior lieutenant. In his impression, this kid was nothing more than “Hannibal’s son,” “Lilith’s son,” “General Lancer’s grandson,” or “Wu Chenghe’s brother.” This was the first time he seriously regarded him as an independent individual, worthy of attention.

“I’m sorry, son,” Jin Zhe said with difficulty. “I’ll immediately have the military’s ship scientists contact you. Perhaps they can provide you with some technical advice.”

“Thank you, Mr. President.” Marlow had evidently accepted the reality. He smiled faintly and said, “You don’t need to worry about us. Our fleet… is a cosmic-level fleet. We have experience in warp flight. Our equipment and power might be able to handle this unforeseen event. Even if we don’t make it through this, you don’t need to feel sorry for us. Death is inevitable, but being able to return to the Federation and die in the name of the Federation fleet, we are deeply grateful.” After a pause, he added, “We are about to enter the gateway, communication may be interrupted at any time, Mr. President. I have one last request.”

“Go ahead.”

“I request that you appoint the Quadrant fleet as the human inter-universal exploration fleet.” Marlow’s ice-blue eyes sparkled like stars, his tone devoid of self-pity, only firmness and hope. “If we can safely fly through the gateway and enter another universe, I ask that you allow us to serve as humanity’s ambassadors, to extend greetings to other intelligent life forms. We will make every effort, in the name of humanity, to establish contact with other beings. Perhaps one day, our descendants may return to this universe. We are still human, and we will forever belong to the Dunkirk Federation.”

Jin Zhe looked at his young, spirited face, fighting back tears. He solemnly nodded, “In the name of the President of the Dunkirk Federation, I appoint the Voyager Army’s Quadrant fleet as the human inter-universal exploration fleet, with General Marlow Simpson as its fleet commander. Representing humanity, you will fly to other universes and establish contact with other intelligent life forms. In the name of all humanity, you will extend greetings to them!”

The holographic communication flickered for a moment, and Marlow’s image became blurry. On the other end, Marlow took a deep breath, stood tall, and saluted Jin Zhe solemnly. “I, Marlow Simpson, will never disgrace the mission!”

Jin Zhe stood at attention, his back straight, and returned the salute. Lowering his left hand, he said tearfully, “Wishing you fair winds and following seas, son.”

“Wishing you good health and happiness, Your Excellency, Mr. President.” Marlow’s voice began to fade. “Wishing humanity everlasting peace and unity…” His voice vanished amidst a cacophony of static, and the blurry image flickered before disappearing altogether.

The Quadrant was completely drawn into the gateway left by the Reapers, disappearing from this universe.

A hush fell over the flagship Tianzhu, and everyone watched in the direction where Marlow had disappeared. Suddenly, an officer raised his right hand in salute, and soon others followed suit.

Jin Zhe, like them, stared blankly at the empty holographic control panel. Mu stood silently beside him, wordless.

In the main cabin, the sedated Wu Chenghe was brought back to his bedroom, while the newborn baby floated in the artificial womb, flipping around leisurely. His big toe found his way into his mouth, and his large eyes rolled under thin eyelids, perhaps dreaming sweet dreams.

On the bedside holographic frame, dynamic pictures of the twins played continuously. Jin Xuan sat by the bed, gently holding Wu Chenghe’s right hand. The family finally reunited in various ways, and Jin Xuan sighed contentedly, burying his cheek in the palm of his mate.

With warp propulsion, the Federation fleet flew towards the Tianque Spaceport, while in another direction, the surviving Voyager Army fleet headed towards the Gabriel Military Harbor.

Betrayal, return, death, rebirth, enslavement, freedom… Never had a race been as rich and contradictory as humanity, selfish yet generous, fragile yet incredibly resilient.

Author’s note: I missed the update yesterday, but today… I combined three updates into one, totaling twenty thousand words hahaha!!!! Are you satisfied yet??? I know you won’t be satisfied because the great me hasn’t finished satisfying you, so there should be an epilogue tomorrow, or the day after tomorrow! And then there will be all kinds of cute extra stories!!! Little buns! Young Jin and Old Jin couple! Chen Miaomiao! Marlow! Queen Lilith!!! Who else do you want to see? If you don’t tell me, how will I know?

 

 

 

 

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