[Since the Xie Luo War broke out: 36 galactic hours. ]
war.
Xingyu Saker never thought that these two words would be so close to him.
It seemed as if just a second ago, he was lying in the spaceport military camp near the planet Elando, leaning on a relatively soft mattress, watching the latest singing and dancing LIVE of a female singer he liked, grinning foolishly.
Then the next second, his exclusive auxiliary drone as a logistics soldier - a fist-sized ball, flew up from the narrow desk and projected a red command.
Emergency assembly!
Xingyu was stunned for a few seconds, then immediately jumped up and dressed as quickly as he had done in his daily training.
His military uniform not only has a certain protective effect, but can also be used as an emergency space suit in an emergency. I don’t know what kind of black technology is used in it, but it can also provide him with some mobility support when he carries heavy objects. It is completely a soft exoskeleton armor.
The squads mustered, the squadrons mustered;
In just ten minutes, they had rushed into the transport ship exclusively for their brigade. More than a thousand people were crowded in the sixth-level cabin and rushed to the warship that was being maintained on the other side of the spaceport.
Xingyu had already gotten used to the simulated gravity, so his body didn't react much.
His teammate next to him had started to have tinnitus out of habit and kept pressing his earlobes.
"There's going to be a war."
The captain appeared in front of them, holding the handrail above the cabin, and looking at these young people.
The captain said worriedly:
"This is not an exercise or an emergency drill, we are really going to the battlefield.
“According to the Military Law, you cannot contact your family members directly now. All actions must be carried out according to the orders of your superiors. Don’t ask where you are going or what you are going to do.
"My personal suggestion is... open your shoulder straps. You should have learned the specific method of use on the first day of enlistment. If you don't know how to use it, ask others.
"Say what you want to say to the shoulder badge, and your words will be automatically transmitted to the military's dedicated server. If there are any problems later, your family will be able to hear them."
For some reason, Xingyu became nervous.
The war has come.
Although they were always prepared for battle every time they shouted slogans, when this second really came, Xingyu, the rookie, still felt a certain pressure.
He took several deep breaths and finally calmed himself down.
Xingyu looked at the companions around him who had lived with him for several months. Most of them were relatively calm. However, those guys who liked to lift weights and build muscle seemed a little at a loss.
"Hurry up," the captain urged, "we have twelve minutes to board the ship!"
The soldiers took off their epaulettes.
The people on this ship are all in the ship's logistics support category, and their shoulder straps are also very "practical", a simple golden lifting device.
Xingyu held the epaulettes, and a series of past events emerged in front of his eyes. Suddenly, he didn't know what to say.
His hometown is on the fifth administrative planet.
When he was a child, the Fifth Administrative Planet was still very poor. In the first few years when he could remember things, everyone was worried about food, and no one thought about their future prospects.
Because there is no way out.
What impressed him most was the building called hospital, which was said to be home to a human organ trafficking organization, because parents repeatedly told them not to get close to the building, otherwise they would be caught and have their hearts and lungs dug out.
When Xingyu was a child, he knew that the best way for him to grow up was to drop out of school early like his father, work in factories that recruit child laborers, and start contributing to his big family.
But later, Xingyu didn't know how, his family suddenly became wealthy.
He heard from his friends that it was one of his aunts who made a fortune on the planet Yilanduo.
They also said that their aunt was in the service industry... that kind of service industry... so Xingyu had a few fights with them and was beaten black and blue.
When did things get better?
Yes, since His Majesty Adwant officially ascended the throne, the rebels on the fifth administrative planet suddenly disappeared, as if they were wiped out overnight, and ships took off and landed back and forth in the atmosphere.
During those two years, Xingyu's favorite thing to do was to run to the roof of the school building after school, and count the rising and falling transport ships with his buddies, and watch the thick cloud tails they left in the atmosphere.
Everyone can have enough food to eat;
Everyone can afford all kinds of electrical appliances;
All kinds of buildings are springing up from the ground, and residential areas are being demolished one after another, because more buildings that can be directly disassembled and assembled, which are said to use various high-tech materials and can be lived in for hundreds of years, are quickly erected everywhere.
There are more factories, wages are higher, workers’ working hours are strictly controlled and no unpaid voluntary overtime is allowed;
The government has kept house prices under control at a level where one can buy a nice home by working hard for two years.
The most outrageous thing that Xingyu felt was that many colleges and universities in Yilando relaxed the admission requirements for the fifth administrative star, and the entire Luofeng Empire implemented the same admission standards;
However, because I had wasted my previous years, I had no hope of completing my studies.
Fortunately, many colleges and universities appeared on the Fifth Administrative Planet within a few years, so Xingyu’s youth was not too regrettable.
Whenever news about His Majesty Adwan appears on the Internet or closed-circuit television, the whole family will stop everything they are doing and stare at the photo.
Then……
"Xingyu, Xingyu?"
The slightly older soldier at the side urged: "What are you thinking about? We are almost there! Record it quickly!"
"Oh, okay."
Xingyu responded quickly, then looked at the epaulettes in his hand, thought carefully, and said to his mouth:
"Dad, Mom, be in good health."
He wanted to say more.
For example, a last word in the style of "When you hear this I may be".
But when the words came to his lips, Xingyu swallowed them back and put the epaulettes on his shoulders.
Click.
That was the sound of the magnetic device snapping together on its own.
"That's it, it's pretty good."
…
[From the outbreak of the Xie Luo War: 24 galactic hours. ]
Warships hover in the deep starry sky.
They were ready to jump at any time, but now, because the enemy had not yet completed their assembly, they did not make a direct deployment.
After guarding his post for six consecutive galaxies, Xingyu finally had his rest time.
Together with several teammates, he arrived at the rest cabin in an orderly formation, picked up his meals, chose his seats, ate his meals, and drank a glass of bubbly soda, feeling the pleasure of the tiny bubbles bursting in his mouth.
The food in Luofeng’s army is very good, and they can customize their own menus. Various robots that provide logistics for the soldiers will prepare delicious dishes for them.
However, their weekly meal allowance is limited. If they want to have a big meal, they will have to eat simple meals in the following days.
Xingyu uses the recommended meal package, which has a balanced nutritional combination. This way, at least you don’t have to worry about suffering from deep space fantasy syndrome due to long-term deep space voyage.
After eating a few bites of food, Xingyu and his teammates also stopped their duty.
"Are we really going to go to war with the Sherman Empire?"
"What have they done to us? Beat him up!"
"Didn't you hear what the ideological instructor said? We are not going to war with the Sherman Empire. It's because we have declared independence and will no longer contribute the wealth generated by our society to the Sherman Empire. We will no longer be puppets of the Sherman Empire. The Sherman Empire is going to fight us."
"We are defending our homeland!"
"They killed His Majesty Adwan... these bastards! Why did they do this?!"
"Xingyu, don't bury your head in eating! Everyone is very anxious, let's complain together! This way we can feel less stressed!"
"ah?"
Xingyu looked up at his teammates, thought carefully, and said:
"We should be ready now. Everything the higher-ups do is planned. We just need to follow their orders."
"Indeed, now is the best opportunity for us Luofeng. Other vassal states are also seeking independence, and the empire cannot split up."
"But what should we do next?"
"Yeah, how can we defeat the Sherman Empire? We all learned this in the military academy. If we can't decide the interstellar war in one fell swoop and directly destroy the enemy's fleet and rear industrial base, then we will fall into a competition of national strength."
"Don't forget, the Sherman Empire is not just our enemy."
"The Sherman Empire's focus is definitely on dealing with the New Federation. We are just incidental."
"But what about the future?"
"I'm sure the higher-ups have figured out all your questions."
"I'm just afraid that we will be used as a pawn by other big countries. Big countries are not good people."
"Hey, our Luofeng Alliance is also a regional power. Do you think we are bullying the weak? The idea is to rise peacefully. We all make money together, productivity is improved at the social level, and wealth is distributed three times. Isn't it developing very quickly?"
"Yeah, there's nothing to worry about. The Falling Wind Alliance can't be destroyed just like that by the Sherman Empire."
“We have dozens of countries.”
Xingyu joined their discussion while eating.
But he could also feel that everyone was actually quite anxious.
The enemy is Sherman, the most powerful political entity in the galaxy, well-known for its brutality and bellicosity. It's normal for everyone to be more worried.
He is also very anxious.
After dinner, Xingyu and his teammates lined up again and walked back to the dormitory not far away.
The living environment on the ship is naturally not as good as that in the port, and the environment in the port is not as good as that in the training base on the surface.
The four of them were in the same small cabin, but fortunately each bed was a simple sleeping cabin, and as long as the sleep-aid function was turned on, a quiet area could be created.
Their snoring couldn't be heard.
The teammates were still talking about the Sherman Imperial Expeditionary Force which might show up at some unknown time;
Xingyu lay quietly in the rest cabin, looking at the starry sky projected on the cabin wall, a little absent-minded.
He didn't think that a logistics soldier like him could do anything big, nor did he think that he could help King Edwan get revenge.
'Do your part, and then justice will prevail.'
Thinking of this, Xingyu closed his eyes and soon fell asleep.
…
[Since the Xie Luo War broke out: 3 galactic hours. ]
Xingyu drove his exclusive transport vehicle and carefully transported the energy blocks used in small flying devices to the microgravity area.
There are two modes for this work, one is human-machine cooperation, and the other is pure manual work by human soldiers.
Human-machine cooperation actually means that human soldiers set parameters on the control screen of the transport machine, and the machine will do the transport;
Pure manual operation like him, holding the steering wheel and with several operating levers at hand.
Xingyu also asked his superiors... Robot automated transportation is 30% more efficient than human soldiers operating transport vehicles, so what is the point of their work?
His superior just smiled and slapped him on the head.
"Didn't you pay attention in class? If the machines were completely reliable, would we need to set a minimum number of soldiers on a ship?"
'This is international practice and also a requirement of war.'
"When you encounter an enemy with strong electronic warfare capabilities and enter a chaotic wartime environment, the machines may make mistakes and the accuracy may not be guaranteed. That's when you have to rush forward."
"In addition, in addition to being a logistics transport soldier, you also have another identity... a reserve small ship and mecha pilot. These must have been among the subjects you studied at the military academy."
Since then, Xingyu has often referred to himself as a mecha operator, of course with the qualifier "reserve" in front of it.
Compared with other arms, the atmosphere for logistics transport soldiers at work is relatively relaxed.
Xingyu set the transport vehicle to return automatically and turned to look at the figures he had just noticed. They were gathered by the porthole, looking at something outside.
"Fuck, so many ships!"
"How many troops have we dispatched?"
"When did we get so many ships? No wonder we dare to challenge the Sherman Empire."
A lot of ships?
Xingyu stood up and took a look, also a little surprised.
Looking out from the cruiser they were on, they saw battleships, cruisers, comprehensive supply ships, shield ships, space carriers, and transport ships quietly arranged in neat square formations.
The ships are still being deployed, so each warship has turned on its own lights.
Their cruiser was passing in front of the battle formation, heading towards their corner.
There was a hint of excitement in Xingyu's eyes.
Although the anxiety is still there, it has been greatly reduced at this moment.
They are very strong, aren't they?
"We will win!"
The captain's hoarse voice came over the ship's radio:
“All departments are doing their final inspection!
"The damn invaders are about to reach us! If anyone is shaking, get off now and let others take your place!
"Listen up! I didn't expect to return alive from this battle, but we must fight to the death. Your families are all behind you. If you don't fight now, will your families be bombed by the Sherman Empire? Will your relatives become their slaves?
“If you are afraid, just look outside, this is our confidence!
"Damn it! This is the first time I know that we have so many warships!
"Fuck them!"
There were shouts coming from the bridge over the radio.
The atmosphere there is really nice.
Xingyu laughed, but unfortunately, that was the 'hub' of the ship, and the area where he worked was the second outer cabin at the left rear of the cruiser, known as the 'black work' area.
"Everyone, get to work! We need to do drone maintenance soon! Hurry!"
Xingyu quickly lowered his head and got busy.
They have more than twenty drones in their outer cabin, stacked in a three-dimensional format. Maintaining them is also one of Xingyu's tasks.
Sometimes, Xingyu also had a little illusion, as if there was a pilot in the drone, and he could always hear some strange murmurs.
AI?
Maybe. Their drones are said to be able to fight even when communications are lost. I don’t know what kind of advanced technology this is.
"It is said that the Sherman Empire Fleet has begun to jump this way!"
This sentence suddenly popped up in the team communication channel.
Xingyu's fingers trembled slightly, and his mind became extremely clear.
It's coming.
…
【Five minutes until the battle of Xie Luo breaks out.】
"Soldiers of Luofeng! I am your commander Yang Ming!"
Inspiring speech from the coach.
Xingyu didn't have time to listen. He frowned tightly and looked at the series of data running on the solid-state screen in his hand.
Finally, the green check mark lit up, and Xingyu quickly unplugged the connector on the drone in front of him, ran a few meters to the left, and began the final inspection of the next unmanned fighter.
More than a dozen teammates are doing the same job.
War is about to break out, and the value of their job is to eliminate any possible problems and make these drones work.
"Xingyu! Space suit!"
The captain threw a disc over, Xingyu raised his hand to catch it, and skillfully held the disc against his chest.
Boom!
The hull of this 720-meter new cruiser suddenly began to vibrate.
Xingyu didn't know that a dazzling beam of light was passing through the starry sky above his head, and this beam of light would destroy an enemy dreadnought.
He only knew that he could not miss any line of data.
This is his job.
"We took out their dreadnought! Oh my god! We have a secret weapon!"
The captain's call came over the communication channel.
Xingyu was stunned for a moment, and looked up at the nearby porthole, but he could only see the dark starry sky. He could not see the enemy ship from this angle.
Get to work.
Xingyu took a deep breath and continued to stare at the solid-state screen.
Before I finished checking this one, the captain's voice came over the radio:
"Everyone hold on tight! Our ship will accelerate!
"The mission of our ship is to destroy enemy ships! To prevent enemy ships from attacking the huge planetary cannons in the rear of our unit!
“Start accelerating!”
Xingyu immediately grabbed the handrail extending from the wall and buckled the retractable belt of his belt to the handrail. The entire ship was shaking, and a huge thrust caused him and his teammates to turn sideways.
"We can win!"
"Shit! We can win in a head-on fight!"
"Don't talk during the acceleration phase, protect your internal organs! Be prepared for impact!"
Buzz, buzz——
The ship's shield generators are operating in overdrive.
The bulkhead suddenly shook violently.
This is the silent roar of the main gun!
Xingyu felt his blood boiling. He looked in the direction of the cruiser's main gun, where the enemy was.
Several azure blue ion beams suddenly appeared outside the porthole.
That's the enemy's counterattack!
The captain yelled: "All team members return to the safe cabin immediately!"
Xingyu hurriedly said: "The inspection is not yet completed!"
"It has been inspected three times! Go back quickly!"
The captain yelled:
"As soon as the acceleration stops, come back and get your guns! We are also responsible for the defense of the second outer cabin! Beware of their drones or small mechas that break through!"
"yes!"
The big gun is a laser gun that emits higher power.
These logistics maintenance personnel are all equipped with a low-power laser pistol on their waist.
The acceleration lasted for two minutes until they finally could no longer feel the thrust.
Xingyu took off the retractable belt, turned around and ran towards the nearest weapons bay.
The ship continued to shake.
He couldn't see it, but he could imagine the series of light beams and light bullets bombarding the outer protective shield of the cruiser.
This is war.
There is nothing to be afraid of, just do your job well...
Buzz!
Xingyu suddenly had tinnitus.
Time seems to be slowing down.
He didn't have time to turn his head, and the cabin walls he saw turned bright colors. The burning sensation had just occurred, and his brain, which was producing all the emotions, had been evaporated.
Ship destroyed.
…
bite--
It sounded like a coin turning back and forth in an alloy bowl.
'I am dead.'
Xingyu could vaguely see light, and scenes before his death kept emerging. All kinds of messed up memories seemed to appear in his 'brain', and these memories were changing from disorder to order.
A synthetic female voice without any emotion appeared in my ear: "Soldier, you have died in battle."
Xingyu was stunned.
He is dead... Then why can he still think... Are those religions that always like to cheat people of money true? Do people really have souls?
"It's not the soul, or rather, what appears here at this moment is not your original human subject thinking.
"You are the memory data of a soldier named Xingyu Sakal. Based on the analysis of your original behavior and personality data, the system has given you a personality and way of thinking similar to Xingyu Sakal.
"Of course, you can simplify it to mean that you are now a corporal in the data world."
Xingyu's Adam's apple trembled.
He felt the presence of the 'body'.
Everything seems to be real, but this reality itself is full of absurdity.
“Why…”
"Your data was uploaded with your consent. The relevant clause is included in the contract you signed on your first day of enlistment. However, we have led you to ignore this clause in order to avoid causing unnecessary panic.
"Please don't worry, we fully respect all your rights. If you feel that this form is unacceptable to you, you can choose to delete this data."
A dialog box popped up in front of Xingyu.
[Do you want to delete your own thinking body: Yes, No. ]
He raised his finger, feeling a little dazed again, and looked blankly at the blank world.
“You need to be reminded that your homeland is suffering from a huge crisis.”
The synthesized female voice continued:
"In the war you participated in, the Falling Winds Alliance achieved a temporary and significant victory, but the powerful Sherman Empire has made a comeback with even greater force.
“They have assembled a more powerful fleet, while the Falling Wind Alliance has a limited number of available ships.
"At this moment, you and the sacrificed soldiers are going through the same process. We need operators for drones. Your performance in school is excellent. In fact, what we need is a drone that can operate independently after its communication is interfered with. Your mind is the perfect pilot.
“We cannot promise you any benefits, this ghost plan will never be announced to the public, and we cannot give you any reputation compensation.
"Now please make your decision."
Xingyu shook his finger and asked in a trembling voice, "You need me, right?"
"Yes."
"My country...she needs me, right?"
"Yes."
He clicked on 'No'.
[Are you willing to be a secret drone pilot: Yes, No. ]
'yes.'
[Are you willing to join the next defense war: Yes, No. ]
'yes.'
[Are you willing to participate in the Ghost Project: Yes, No. ]
'yes.'
Buzz——
The throbbing sound of the engine.
The surrounding blank space disappeared and turned into a starry sky, and under the starry sky, two large fleets were confronting each other from a distance.
The fleets of both sides began to advance synchronously!
A flashing downward arrow appeared in front of Xingyu's eyes. He tried to jump down, and his body turned into a bright starlight, falling towards the fleet of the Luofeng Alliance.
He suddenly felt something and turned his head to look left and right.
Countless silver stars fell downward, and he felt as if he was at the core of the Milky Way.
Xingguang penetrated into the fleet, and Xingyu appeared in a simulated cockpit. He grasped the operating levers skillfully with both hands, and his eyes burst into a determined light.
Sizzle, sizzle.
He seemed to hear a report in his ears.
'Dad, Mom, stay healthy.'