Asteroid Belt Sector 019, inside the hangar of the flagship Uranus.
Lin Fan was currently seated inside a mech cockpit.
"System, use the personal ability upgrade opportunity I saved last time on Mech Piloting."
"Ding! Used. Please prepare yourself, Host. The infusion is about to begin!"
As soon as the system's voice fell, Lin Fan felt a sharp pain in his head. A vast amount of advanced mech maneuvers, combat techniques, experience, and more was being infused into him, merging with his original memories and body.
One minute later, Lin Fan opened his eyes. It was as though he had undergone years of training and countless real battles; everything had been deeply etched into his memory and body.
Lin Fan checked the system's status panel. His Mech Piloting ability had already reached S-rank. Combined with his superhuman physique, with all attributes at 350, he could fully be called humanity's greatest mech pilot.
Uranus was different from Lin Fan's former flagship. After all, his old flagship had merely been a battlecruiser, while Uranus was a battleship—a customized, oversized battleship at that. Its mech bay could hold a full 300 mechs, an entire mech squadron!
Moreover, not long ago, all the mech pilots of the 101st Task Force Fleet had held a major competition. Three hundred of the most elite pilots had been selected from among nine thousand and transferred to Uranus.
Thus, the combat strength of a single mech squadron aboard Uranus was absolutely comparable to that of a mech regiment on a carrier. That was no exaggeration.
"Commander, the fleet and mech forces have been deployed. We're just waiting for the fish to enter the net."
"Good. Then it's time for me to set out as well. Wait for my signal before making your move!"
"Commander, I still want to persuade you one more time. Just let Zhang Hu lead the team. You don't need to take this risk!"
"Will, I don't think you understand who I am."
"Commander?"
"I am humanity's strongest mech pilot!"
"..."
Will was rather bewildered. His commander was humanity's strongest mech pilot? How had he not known that?
"Enough. Just follow my plan. You don't need to worry about anything else!"
"Yes!"
After ending his call with Will, Lin Fan took a deep breath. Liang Xue, I'm coming to save you!
"All units, sortie!"
"Yes!"
Launched by electromagnetic catapult, Lin Fan was the first to shoot out of the ship. Zhang Hu then led the other 298 mechs, launching one after another and following Lin Fan's direction!
Half an hour later, a fleet appeared between Asteroid Belt Sectors 019 and 016. It was the Ninth Prince's escort fleet, currently moving toward Sector 019.
"Report! This is Scout Ship 027. Enemy sighted. They are entering Sector 019 from Sector 016. Eight hundred and seventy-six warships in a protective formation. The target vessel is in the center of the formation."
"Received. Continue monitoring."
"Yes!"
"Report! This is Scout Ship 015. The target will enter the ambush zone in one minute!"
"Understood!"
Inside his mech cockpit, Lin Fan reached up with his right hand and touched the pendant on his chest.
"Liang Xue, can you feel it? I'm here to save you!"
At the same time, inside the transport ship, Liang Xue felt the pendant on her chest vibrate. Her eyes suddenly widened as she recalled something, and two streams of tears rolled down her beautiful cheeks!
Lin Fan had once specifically asked Bai Zixuan to make this pendant. It was a matching pair, with Lin Fan and Liang Xue each wearing one.
Since it had been specially made by Bai Zixuan, it naturally possessed a special function. When the two pendants were within ten million kilometers of each other, they would not react at all. But if they moved more than ten million kilometers apart and then came back within that range, they would trigger a slight vibration.
Lin Fan had told Liang Xue that he was afraid she would nearly become impossible to find again, like last time, so he had specially asked Bai Zixuan to make this. Liang Xue had been deeply moved when she received it, but it had never truly been used over all this time, so she had almost forgotten it had such a function.
And naturally, this thing also had a tracking function. That was why Lin Fan and the others knew their retreat route so clearly.
"Oh? Our beautiful Liang is crying. Don't worry. Once we reach Jupiter, I'll take very good care of you!"
Hmph, you won't get the chance. Feeling the faint vibration of the pendant on her chest, Liang Xue thought to herself. Then she closed her eyes, unwilling to look at that disgusting man any longer.
"Enough. Once we return to Jupiter, you can play with her however you want. Be quiet now!"
"Yes, Your Highness!"
Boom!
All of a sudden, everyone saw countless energy shells and beams flash past the portholes. Several warships were directly blasted apart.
This scene felt familiar to Duolun. It was exactly like what they had encountered with the Rex Fleet back then!
"What's going on?"
Duolun immediately contacted the escort fleet's commander!
"Your Highness, a human fleet has appeared on our flank. One hundred and forty-five ships!"
"Only a hundred-odd ships? Why haven't you wiped them out already?"
"Yes! I have already ordered the fleet to turn. Please rest assured, Your Highness. We will eliminate them all within half an hour!"
"Very good!"
However, what they failed to notice was that, just like last time, the 101st Task Force Fleet was specifically targeting the carriers!
By the time the Oakes Empire fleet completed its turn, twenty-eight of its thirty-five carriers had already been destroyed.
At that moment, the nine thousand mechs that had originally been concealed on the other side were now behind the Oakes fleet after its turn.
Just as the escort fleet completed its turn and prepared to open fire, the nine thousand mechs charged in from behind, giving the escort fleet commander a fright.
Being assaulted by mechs from behind was absolutely the worst possible position. To intercept them, the fleet would have to turn one hundred and eighty degrees—but that was clearly impossible. During the ninety-degree turn just now, the enemy had already destroyed more than eighty warships. Turn again just to intercept the mechs? Was he insane?
Fortunately, they still had seven carriers. The commander immediately ordered all the fighters aboard the carriers to launch and intercept the mechs, while the fleet continued its attack on the human fleet.
But at that very moment, the human fleet retreated. They even scattered into the surrounding asteroid clusters, causing the Oakes Empire fleet to suddenly lose its targets and not know what to do.
After a brief few seconds, the escort fleet commander made his decision. Two hundred warships at the rear would turn one hundred and eighty degrees to intercept the human mechs alongside the fighters.
Meanwhile, four hundred warships at the front would advance to attack the human fleet, while the remaining roughly one hundred and fifty warships stayed in the center to protect Prince Duolun.
Inside a nearby asteroid cluster, Lin Fan watched the tactical display from his mech cockpit, and his eyes lit up. Just as he had anticipated, the entire escort fleet had split into three parts. Only a little over a hundred warships remained in the center to protect the transport ship.
The time had come!
"Everyone, follow me and attack!"
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