Signal base stations are small in size and have a wide variety of shapes. In addition to relying on special devices for positioning, they cannot be identified in the vast space with the naked eye.

After entering the capture range, a flexible metal arm extended from the right rear of the reconnaissance ship and fixed a piece of abandoned space floating object.

Qi Yan was surprised: "There is a signal base station on it?"

"To be precise, this piece of metal that looks broken is the signal base station itself. It's just that it was disguised before it was released, making it look like space junk." Lu Fenghan pressed the button, and the metal arm released a small maintenance robot. After three or four minutes, the feedback signal showed "intact".

Lu Fenghan began to recover the small robot and the metal arm: "This mission is boring, but very important."

The expeditionary force floated on the front line of the Southern Cross Region. The distance was measured in "light years" and "stars". If you want to cross galaxies and communicate with Leto or other places, then each signal base station is an important point on this line.

As the Alliance expands its territory, the first thing it does when it arrives at a new place is to build a signal network.

After retracting the metal arm, Lu Fenghan made a mark and maneuvered the reconnaissance ship to the next target.

Qi Yan recalled the scene of the signal base station just fixed: "This signal base station may be fake?" "

Well, for safety reasons, three of the ten signal base stations are fake, three are used as backup, and the remaining four are in use. Usually they are checked in batches, The base stations will not overlap in the two missions. "

Seeing that Qi Yan liked to listen, Lu Fenghan said more, "For example, after the great defeat, Weiss became the acting commander-in-chief, but his authority only allowed him to see the coordinates of some signal base stations. One part is in the hands of the deputy commander Erici, and the rest is in the hands of Metierin and others.

Space is vast, and unless everyone from the commander to the captains of each ship rebels collectively, it is possible to destroy all the base stations. Of course, if one day the commander and the captain both betray the alliance, it can only mean that the alliance is no longer trustworthy."

When Lu Fenghan said the last sentence, his tone was light and floating, without any self-awareness of "treason".

Although he has recited "Just for the Alliance, move forward courageously" several times, he has never been the type of superstitious or blindly loyal person.

Qi Yan continued: "The White Tower is the same."

Lu Fenghan stated the White Tower's purpose: "For the continuation of mankind?"

"Yes, for the continuation of mankind. There is no such thing as 'loyalty' in the White Tower. If you insist on saying 'loyalty' or 'loyalty', then the White Tower is loyal to the human race and only protects the interests of the race and the continuation of mankind.

This is also the reason why the White Tower has always stayed away from politics and never took sides. If one day the Alliance is no longer trustworthy, then the White Tower will tend to the side that is more conducive to the continuation of mankind."

When Qi Yan said this, his expression was colder than usual.

Lu Fenghan had a keen sense of smell and immediately responded: "Is this the reason why the White Tower established a chief?"

"Yes, the chief has the right to make decisions. If one day, the White Tower needs to make a statement to the outside world, then the chief will represent the entire White Tower." Qi Yan paused, a little confused, "In fact, I don't know why they chose me as the chief."

He has always suspected that most people in the White Tower have different stubbornness and quirks. Most of them don't like to see people, like to stay in the laboratory, and are obsessed with scientific research and exploring the truth.

Lu Fenghan rubbed Qi Yan's soft hair and said seriously: "Little chief, I agree with their choice."

As a bystander, Lu Fenghan can easily find Qi Yan's clear brilliance.

Qi Yan is not very old and has not experienced enough, but he is firm, rational and clean enough. Such people often look at problems more purely than those who have been immersed in political politics for many years. And although his intelligence is superior to most people, he never relies on his talent to be arrogant and overbearing. Instead, he is good at discovering the excellent qualities of others.

The people of the White Tower recognized Qi Yan and had expectations for him. They believed that he would grow into a sufficiently excellent person in the future, so they would give him this crown.

Seeing that Qi Yan's hair was messed up by him, Lu Fenghan withdrew his hand and comforted him: "The current alliance is relatively stable. You have enough time to grow and reach the standard in your mind."

Qi Yan was puzzled: "Why is it 'stable'?"

"Although there is a war going on now, even the capital planet has been occupied by the rebels. One of the three generals is collaborating with the enemy, and the other is confused. But to be honest, there is no problem with the 'roots' of the Alliance. The freedom, equality, dignity, order, and rule of law advocated by the Human Interstellar Covenant are still there."

Lu Fenghan spoke casually, and pointed out the key point sharply, "The rebels will raise troops to occupy Leto, and they are actually forced into a desperate situation by the Alliance."

Qi Yan understood: "If the rebels do not take the initiative to seize the opportunity and occupy Leto, they are very likely to be gradually defeated by the expeditionary force?"

"That's right. Although the Alliance has experienced a technological catastrophe and the star map has shrunk to only four administrative regions, its foundation can withstand long-term consumption. You see, countless taxes are allocated as military expenses every year, and the expeditionary force has new weapons and sufficient food.

But the rebels can't hold on. They can last for twenty or fifty years, or even a hundred or a hundred and twenty years. They will collapse without fighting. The rebels have no so-called "economy". The wartime society under full militarized management has not yet formed a complete economic chain. They fight with all their strength. Once they lose the war, they will leave nothing behind."

Qi Yan paid little attention to these things in the past, but now, listening to Lu Fenghan's casual talk, he gradually had a general understanding of the situation.

"On the surface, the Alliance was defeated. But in fact, the rebels' occupation of Leto was just the beginning of their most difficult time?"

Lu Fenghan found that chatting with Qi Yan was a very good experience, because no matter what you said, he could understand it quickly and apply it to other situations.

"It's just what you said. The rebels penetrated deep into the central administrative district and occupied Leto. While taking the first step and severely weakening the morale of the alliance, they also put themselves in a dilemma.

Leto is easy to defend but difficult to attack, but once General Nie gradually takes back the remaining occupied planets and encircles Leto step by step, what will the rebels face?"

Qi Yan: "Trapped in an isolated city?"

"Yes, trapped in an isolated city." Lu Fenghan praised, "At that time, the rebels will either choose to surrender and hand over Leto. Or they will defend Leto until they are forced to surrender and hand over Leto."

"The core battlefield has always been on the front line of the Southern Cross Region?" Qi Yan remembered what General Nie Huating said to Lu Fenghan in the communication on the day of the founding day, "So General Nie asked you to go directly back to the front line."

"How can you be so smart? Yes, the battle situation on the front line is under control, and the rebels' manpower has been eliminated. Then, the situation is completely determined."

Qi Yan imagined: "What if the rebels did not invade Leto? Maintain the status quo and do not make this move."

"It will continue to be consumed. The army and the rule will gradually collapse and be completely dragged down. It is only a matter of time." Lu Fenghan pointed out, "So, the new wise man of the rebels is more skillful and courageous than his predecessors. He is unwilling to shrink outside the Alliance star field and wants to fight for the future of the rebels.

However, this is no less than a gamble. If he wins, the Alliance will be overthrown and the entire star field will be his. If he loses, the rebels will be destroyed and leave a mark in history. "The end of the story."

After listening to Lu Fenghan's analysis, the situation that was originally shrouded in fog became clear. Qi Yan concluded, a little roundabout: "Now, the Alliance has lost, but it has not really lost. The rebels have won, but they have not really won."

Lu Fenghan added: "The premise is that the Alliance and the people are determined to fight and no one is dragging their feet."

At this time, the reconnaissance ship had stopped near the second signal base station, and the metal arm extended, and the small maintenance robot released reported that the instrument was damaged. Lu Fenghan gave the "maintenance" order, and the small robot began to move in the monitoring screen.

Lu Fenghan continued with the previous topic: "Now, the wise men of the rebels want to do their best and fight to the death in order to survive. The Alliance has been aroused with anger and blood. When people are sad and angry to a certain extent, they will also erupt with unpredictable energy."

At this moment, the alarm sounded in the cockpit, and Lu Fenghan said: "Pojun?"

Pojun spoke only after getting permission: "General, Chief, a mass fight has been detected not far away, and it is recommended to bypass."

At the same time, several red spots representing high-speed energy bodies appeared on the radar screen.

Lu Fenghan judged: "They didn't intercept us on purpose. It must be a coincidence. Zoom in the picture."

The next second, a "fighting" picture appeared on the screen. Several gray starships were fighting against black starships, but the aesthetics of both sides were not good. The hulls were sprayed with all kinds of messy symbols. The style was exactly the same as the starship that Lu Fenghan robbed when he came back from Chenxi Star.

Qi Yan also saw it: "Interstellar pirates fighting?" He pointed to a certain place on the screen, "Here, this is the rebels' supply ship, a medium-sized one. Are they trying to rob this?"

"Eighty percent of it is true. The supply ship has been scrapped, but the stuff inside is still there. The gray side found it first, and the black side found it later. There is no point in talking about the spoils, so the thieves just rob the thieves."

Lu Fenghan has sharp eyes. After a few glances, he figured out the eighteenth generation of the opponent. "Now the small starship that has been in service for decades has its tattered armor almost falling off. A single shot will shake the hull three times. If you are not rich, you will be poor. , it should be a 'rat' that has been wandering around the border for many years and dares to show up only when the situation is chaotic."

Qi Yan saw through Lu Fenghan's intention, but still asked: "General, are you ready?"

Lu Fenghan raised his eyebrows: "Do you want to play together?" Qi

Yan nodded: "Yes!"

So Lu Fenghan ordered: "Po Jun, see how many people are nearby."

Po Jun sent a message and quickly reported: "Three reconnaissance ships nearby responded to me."

"Enough, connect the communication."

In less than ten seconds, three video dialogue boxes appeared on the virtual screen, and Qi Yan saw a familiar person in it - Chagall.

Without further ado, Lu Fenghan spoke up: "We ran into some pirates robbing the rebels' supply ship. They might have taken advantage of our last battle."

Chagall responded positively: "Frugality is a virtue! Even a small mosquito is still meat!"

"Captain Chagall is right," Lu Fenghan ordered, "Everyone, assemble."

In a neighboring star field, a long distance away, Mei Jielin glanced at the message she received from Po Jun. She didn't want to travel thousands of miles to participate in the event, but she was shocked that

other people's dates were under the moonlight, but the commander's date was to bring people together... to rob pirates?