Chapter 206 Extra: Gray Embers of Steel
Extra: Gray Embers of Steel
Time point: Four hundred years ago during the civil war.
"Captain, when do you think we can win?"
The cold and dark corridor of the space station was illuminated by the huge blue planet outside the window. Two soldiers in protective clothing walked by and stopped here.
The two straight figures stood in front of the window. In front of the huge blue planet, they were so small, and their reflections on the ground were so lonely. No sound could be heard in the silent space.
The war in the Federation has lasted for forty-three years. Forty-three years may be older than age for many people. They have been in a war-torn environment since they were born. Their lives are controlled. TV programs are always war reports from the front line. Factories produce military supplies day and night. Every child must receive a complete military education while growing up.
In the group photo taken at graduation, figures were crossed out one by one, and those familiar names faded one by one. The phone calls could no longer be connected. During the silent voyage, no one knew what kind of news would be synchronized when they connected to the star network next time. Sometimes, just looking at the still lit ID would make people feel a little comforted.
"We will never surrender. It is our sacred duty to maintain the integrity and unity of the Federation. We will inherit Isanissa's legacy, and we will eventually sweep away all the termites and filth, and give all people a clear and fair future!"
The fleet general on the rostrum clenched his fist and spoke firmly. The roar echoed in the steel dome, and tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, and millions of soldiers in the square formations below the stage also clenched their fists and swore.
"For a clear and fair future!" The voice resounded through the dome, and the thousands of wills and roars were shocking.
At the same time, outside the dome, huge warships slowly left the star port. They blocked out the sun and the shadows of the warships made the residents in the star port feel the changes of day and night from time to time.
The Central Third Fleet, one of the most elite and powerful fleets of the Federation before the Civil War, had 2,726 of the most advanced "Otis" class battleships, 15,788 "Paradise" class aircraft carriers, about 57,000 "Iska" class cruisers, and about 210,000 destroyers of various types.
These rising warships slowly sailed into the starry sky, and the bright tail flames slowly disappeared in the dark distance, like stars dotting the night sky.
In order to slow down the enemy's continuous breakthrough offensive and buy time for the subsequent troop assembly, the Third Fleet performed the most difficult task. It would enter the enemy-controlled area alone to block and contain the most elite First and Second Fleets of the Federation before the Civil War.
The war made time seem long. In just one year, they struggled to survive in the fierce and dangerous battles again and again. The numbers in the Third Fleet were gradually cancelled, and the remaining warships were constantly gathered and reorganized, and then they took the lead again.
"When can I go home, when can I win?" Such thoughts spread in the fleet, and some soldiers gradually collapsed in the endless cruel war.
As a fighter mecha pilot in the fleet, although Salin was only 26 years old, he was a veteran who had experienced ten years of war. He woke up to the alarm day and night, and then drove the mecha to attack. Sometimes he would have a trance. Is he really Salin, or did he remember it wrong? Salin was just one of his comrades-in-arms who died in the war a long time ago, and he just took it as his own name because he was shocked by his death.
Such doubts and trances often occur when he wakes up. He has to look at his identity code and think about it repeatedly to make sure that this is indeed his name, not a stranger.
Wandering on the edge of life and death year after year, he almost forgot everything outside the war. Sometimes he would be inexplicably fortunate that he could survive this cruel war.
The 16th Squadron has a total of 127 official mecha pilots, but now only he and the captain are the original members. Over the past few years, the team has changed batches of members, and then recruited from the rear to supplement. They are no longer the familiar faces at the beginning.
After another mission, he dragged his tired body out of the cockpit, handed over the points that needed to be repaired to the maintenance pilot, and then walked out of the docking port, walked forward quickly, and finally caught up with the captain who was alone.
"Captain, when do you think we can win?" His words made the other party stop.
The captain did not answer immediately, but just stood there quietly, like a silent statue. Perhaps silence is also an answer, which made Salin silent as well.
The two were no longer in a hurry to return to the lounge, but stood in this remote and dark corridor, looking at the huge blue planet outside the window.
This planet is so beautiful, with floating white clouds and faintly visible emerald green embellishments. It would be a very pleasant thing to travel and watch on the planet.
However, it is not them who occupy this planet, but the powerful conservatives. Their barriers around the planet and powerful ground forces make it stable. Even the orbital bombardment of the starship can only damage the outer surface of the planet, and it is difficult to really shake the bases and silos deep underground. The
reason why they attacked here is not to take it down, but to contain the enemy's fleet and force it to return to defend, so as to buy time for the rear.
"Victory, I don't know when I can really win..." The captain stared at the beautiful planet in space and spoke after a long silence.
"The advance and retreat in the war are just to serve the strategic goal."
If it were in the past, they would definitely say that they would annihilate and drive away all the enemies, so that they would usher in victory, but such an idea has lost hope in people's hearts after more than 40 years of long war.
It was already the limit to hold the front line from collapsing. Compared with the front line situation at the beginning of the civil war, they retreated again and again, which not only made the remaining people gradually lose confidence, but also made them feel uneasy about the future.
The starting point of the war may be justice, but when the war lasts longer, the residents in the enemy-controlled areas gradually get used to the laws and ideas promulgated by the enemy and no longer stand with them. Is such a war really just?
"No! We will never admit such a future, such a decadent and corrupt future!" The general's words still echoed in his ears. He was so decisive and firm. Perhaps it was because of his persistence that the Third Fleet did not collapse and still insisted on the most intense front line.
"I'm sorry, I don't know when we can win... and take you back home." The captain turned around and put his big palm on Salin's shoulder.
"But I think as long as we keep going, we can see hope and dawn. Yes, as long as we persist, as long as we haven't admitted to giving up, it doesn't mean failure, it means that there is still some possibility in the future." Such a burly and upright body, but the words spoken are so bitter and fragile.
As long as you don't admit defeat, it's fine. This is a childish and naive idea. Salin recalled the last conversation with the captain, and sometimes he laughed at himself for this idea.
However, if it weren't for this naive and childish idea to comfort himself, I'm afraid his spirit would have collapsed on the cruel battlefield.
Sometimes it's good to lie to yourself, at least it kept him alive.
The number of the Third Fleet was cancelled. Although the war was far from over, he finally withdrew from the front line.
In order to provide pensions and care for the Third Fleet, which had sacrificed many lives, Aimulalin proposed that the remaining personnel of the Third Fleet be transferred to the rear for training and auxiliary production to avoid the cruel front-line battlefield.
This proposal was passed, and Salin also left the former number and everything, and came to the distant and remote rear star field with the only remaining damaged mecha. It is said that a new battleship starport is being built here to produce the "Sigh Dragon" class main battleship that is still under trial.
"Four-leaf Crystal Star Field, what a good name." Salin sat in the cabin, overlooking the beautiful green planet outside the window.
"Isn't that right, my old friend?"
He looked back at the cabin behind the glass window. An old mecha with scars and craters stood there. It had a tall body, a steel-gray shell, and a flame pattern on its shoulder, as if it was roaring and burning.
"Just don't admit defeat. It's a stubborn and childish statement. But my war is far from over. I will fix you here, and record all the injuries and bullet holes you've experienced. I will pass on the memories of those life-and-death struggles, so that the younger generations can step on our shoulders to develop more powerful mechas and produce more powerful warriors." "
We will do it, 'Fentie-6412', just don't admit defeat."
(End of this chapter)
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