"Commander, a large number of enemy fighters have suddenly broken out from their fleet and are flying toward the space station!"
Liang Xue's anxious voice came through Lin Fan's communicator.
"Don't panic. How many are there? Can they be intercepted? How much time do we have?"
"We can't intercept them. The space station is between our fleet and theirs, so we can't open fire. There are more than 5,000 of them. They're expected to bring the space station within range in another ten minutes."
"Order the entire mech force to sortie!"
"Yes!"
"Commander Adams, I need an explanation."
After ending the call, Lin Fan looked at Adams.
"Hmm? How did you know who I was?"
"That isn't important. What matters is what exactly are you trying to do?"
"I never gave such an order!"
"Hmm?"
Seeing Adams's expression, Lin Fan did not think he was lying. Then what was going on?
"This is Adams. What is the meaning of those fighters launching?"
"Commander, I don't know either. We're investigating, but a third of the warships in our fleet have lost control!"
"Shoot down every fighter that has launched immediately!"
"We can't, Commander. They have been flying between the fleet and the negotiation site. If we attack, we may destroy the negotiation space station as well."
"Then—"
"Commander, watch out!"
"Whoosh!"
Everything happened in the blink of an eye. An Oakes negotiator suddenly pulled out a laser pistol and pulled the trigger at Adams.
Upon seeing this, another negotiator immediately shoved Adams away, only to be struck by the laser himself and die on the spot.
Fortunately, the laser pistol was an anti-personnel weapon with low power, so it did not pierce through the space station's outer wall as well.
Adams rose from the floor and glared furiously at the armed negotiator.
"Weide, what are you trying to do?"
"Sorry, Commander, but the Ninth Prince's existence will disrupt the Empire. For the First Prince's sake, the Ninth Prince must die. So we cannot let you reach any agreement with humanity!"
"You are one of the First Prince's men? And you said 'we'?"
"That's right. The fighters on their way here are all our people. Everyone here will die today, and humanity will never return the Ninth Prince. Even if the Empire destroys humanity in the future, they will execute the Ninth Prince before they are destroyed!"
"You're so certain you can succeed?"
"When did you— Aah!!"
Lin Fan was already standing behind him. He directly dislocated his right arm, then picked up the gun and aimed it at Weide, who was screaming on the floor.
For a moment, everyone stared at Lin Fan in shock, astonished that his skills were so good.
What a joke. Lin Fan had 350 in every physical attribute. Was he an ordinary person?
"Don't get smug. Even if you deal with me, you still can't escape the attack of 5,000 fighters!"
"That need not concern you!"
"Whoosh!"
Lin Fan pulled the trigger and ended Weide's life.
"Commander Adams, you don't mind, do you?"
"Of course not. But what do we do now? We don't have much time."
"Don't worry. Just in case, this space station has a Propulsion System. But I'll have to ask Commander Adams to come aboard our fleet. After all, I can't exactly fly toward your fleet right now, can I?"
"Hehe, I have no problem with that. Once this is over, how do you intend to deal with me?"
"Don't worry. I'll send you back once this is over."
"Fine, then I'll come sit with you for a while!"
Lin Fan raised his hand and began operating his portable tactical optical computer. Very soon, three concealed propulsion modules emerged from one side of the space station and activated.
Though they were not particularly fast, they were moving toward their own mechs, so they would rendezvous with the deployed mech force more quickly.
"Marshal Adams, if I heard correctly just now, your subordinate said that a third of your fleet's warships have rebelled, correct?"
"Yes!"
"Then there may be a fierce battle shortly. I may destroy more than 300 of your warships. I still hope you won't mind!"
Lin Fan looked at Adams with a smile.
Adams understood the situation very well. At their current pace, the space station would rendezvous with the opposing mech force before the fighters could bring it within range.
However, once the fighter force failed, the one-third of warships that had mutinied would inevitably continue their assault.
A battle was unavoidable, and those roughly 300 warships could already be considered rebels. Adams felt no burden at all.
Besides, dying at humanity's hands could still be considered a soldier's death.
Six minutes later, the space station had joined up with the 9,000 deployed mechs and continued flying toward the 101st Task Force Fleet.
The mechs split into two groups. Six thousand remained behind to meet the enemy, while the other 3,000 escorted the space station back.
Another five minutes later, the Oakes Empire's fighters encountered the 101st Task Force Fleet's mech force.
Mechs were humanity's only technology more advanced than the Oakes Empire's. During the Battle of the Solar System, it was precisely because of mechs that Liang Xingchen achieved a 1-to-10 record. Otherwise, no matter how well they ambushed the enemy, warship-versus-warship combat could not have produced such a high casualty ratio.
As for the Oakes Empire's fighters, although they were quite advanced, their maneuverability and firepower were simply far inferior to mechs.
After losing more than 2,000 fighters, the Orc Rebel Army's fighter force retreated.
The mech force then began searching the surrounding area for escape pods and soon returned as well.
After returning to the flagship, Lin Fan arranged for the Oakes Empire's remaining four people and Ed's five-person negotiation group to stay in a lounge, then headed for the bridge.
"Hmm? Where is Deputy Liang?"
"Commander, Deputy Liang, she..."
"What happened? Speak!"
"She personally led the mech force out to rescue you!"
"Who authorized her to abandon her post? Where is she now?"
"We just detected Deputy Liang's escape pod ejecting, but the mech force reported that they couldn't find it..."
"Damn it!"
You foolish woman, don't let anything happen to you!
For no reason, Lin Fan felt a little panicked.
"Liang Xue, can you hear me? Answer if you can!"
Lin Fan directly called Liang Xue through the communicator.
"I hear you. Sorry, I think I passed out earlier. I just woke up!"
"Activate your distress beacon immediately. I can't locate your escape pod from here."
"It's already on!"
"Good. Stay there and wait obediently!"
After cutting off the call, Lin Fan contacted the commander of the mech squad aboard the flagship again.
There were twelve mechs in the battlecruiser's mech bay. Liang Xue had taken one out earlier, leaving eleven.
"Zhang Hu, take nine pilots and come with me. I'll be there shortly. Get the mechs ready."
"Yes!"
After ending the call, Lin Fan looked at the bridge command team. "Everyone, join Command Channel Two. I'll direct you on the way."
With that, Lin Fan ran out.
He left behind only the dumbfounded command team members on the bridge.
Deputy Liang was like this, and now the commander was the same?
Before you continue