Pre-War Preparations

To be fair, Yu Lian didn't feel much resonance with the identity of a Commonwealth soldier, nor did he recognize the Commonwealth as a regime. He couldn't even convince himself of military honor or national responsibility, so how could he convince others?

However, Yu Lian at least accepted the identity of an Earthling, even if it was just an Earthling from a parallel universe.

Similarly, he could accept that the Earthlings of this universe were his compatriots. He would empathize with the fate of the political systems established by Earthlings and the suffering that the race of Earthlings was about to endure.

He didn't know why he could return to this era. Could it be that his sincerity had truly moved the Spirit of the Universe, giving him a chance to rewrite history?

But no matter what, since he was here, the "Tulon Incident" that would later trigger a series of subsequent events was right before him. How could he not participate? How could he not let it end in a more perfect way?

Moreover, the memories and emotions belonging to this life's Yu Lian were not fake. Since Senior Sister Eleanor took such good care of him at the Academy and even treated him to charcoal-grilled groundhog when he came to Tulon, how could he let such a beautiful big sister lie in the hospital for half a year?

As for the racial missions and changing history that traversers and reborn individuals must undertake... well, those were secondary reasons.

"We really don't need to rush to destroy the heavy cannons! After taking their positions, adjust the muzzles and bombard the Sandfolk camp below the mountain! That will create the maximum amount of chaos," Yu Lian said.

Yes, it was a great idea. It's just that there was a difficult professional problem here—those were heavy Ion Cannons, not the legendary three divine artifacts of guerrilla warfare. Operating them required a certain level of professional expertise.

In fact, not to mention the Guard Team Minions, even the elite mobile infantry of the 101st Company had no professional artillerymen. This was why Captain Winter said "destroy" instead of "capture."

"Can you operate cannons?" Eleanor asked, squinting her eyes.

"Yes!" Yu Lian felt something was wrong with Senior Sister's question, but he still nodded.

"Where did you learn?" Senior Sister asked suspiciously.

"The Academy's simulator. I've played with the Commonwealth's Type 09, the Alliance's Defender V, and even the Empire's Punisher Star. I've operated cannons at least several hundred times."

Eleanor also felt something was wrong, but upon careful consideration, it seemed to be fine. She could only say with a straight face, "You're in the Strategic Research Department, not the Artillery Department. It's precisely because you're so unprofessional that you always hover around the passing line. If you continue like this, you might not graduate."

Indeed, top students in Strategic Research didn't need to be tested on artillery skills, but they also weren't tested on combat or Power Armor operation! Senior Sister, you who get an A+ in both these subjects every semester, do you have the right to lecture me?

"Of course, simulators and actual operations are two different things. So I hope to act with you. If we find that we can't operate them on site, it's not too late to destroy them. Is that okay, Captain?"

If it were usual times, Captain Winter would have thought that the "Moonfolk" should just stay behind and give orders. In terms of physical fitness, strength, and individual combat tactics, they couldn't keep up with these battle-hardened marines. However, since this "Moonfolk" was also a psionics, it wouldn't be a problem.

"Approval granted," the Captain nodded.

"Also, here..." Yu Lian drew another location on the map. It was also a hidden highland, not large in area, but strategically important. It could perfectly control the passage from the flat ground to Alchi Highland 6 from another direction. Similarly, if the Sandfolk army collapsed and fled eastward, this would also be a necessary route.

"Supply Station No. 12 has a guard team of 30 people. We have a captured Tank and two heavy machine guns obtained from the Enlighteners' ruins. We can completely set up a comprehensive interception position."

"Your recent experiences are truly rich..." Senior Sister Eleanor couldn't help but say.

"Uh, in short, the guard team will occupy this highland, forming a crossfire against all Sandfolk attempting to retake the heavy cannon positions, and also blocking the enemy's retreat. I suggest entrusting the command to Sergeant Major Ina."

Captain Winter nodded. The command of the guard team would be left to their own non-commissioned officers. He didn't think that having a company officer take over command would necessarily be better, and besides, this young Sergeant Major was also a psionics, so it would be even less of a problem.

"Our reconnaissance can confirm that the Sandfolk have set up a sentinel camp on this highland, and there are also two anti-aircraft guns..." At this point, Senior Sister's teeth ached a little. These homemade anti-aircraft guns, pulled from some unknown workshop, had become the weapons that caused the most damage to the guard team—so far, they had shot down two airships and fourteen drones. The Governor's Mansion was heartbroken by this and directly abandoned all plans for low-altitude bombing and aerial breakthroughs.

"If you rashly attack them, it might alert the enemy on Highland 6 and the heavy cannon positions."

"Yes, there are about ten people, who have built a watchtower and a beacon tower, and have installed two anti-aircraft guns. However, having anti-aircraft guns is even better. We have quite excellent technicians in our army. If we can modify them temporarily, we might even be able to strengthen our firepower. Sergeant Major Sirica's ability can conceal tanks and troop movements over a small area. Additionally, among the civilian team here, there is an Alliance mercenary, a Traveler, who is skilled in stealthy assaults and can completely end the battle before the Sandfolk react."

Since when did psionics become potatoes, dug out with a whole bunch attached? Everyone felt their brains were not enough.

"Mercenary? From the Alliance? Can he be trusted?" Eleanor frowned.

"Don't worry, sir, I have already persuaded him with his Star Ring's true words and the Spirit of the Universe's oath to cooperate with our actions with all his might!"

Eleanor looked like she didn't quite understand the values of these psionic charlatans, but in the end, she chose to believe her junior, and just as she was about to give the order, she couldn't help but say again, "You don't have any other psionics with you, do you?"

"No, really no more!" Yu Lian quickly shook his head.

"Alright, it's decided! Everyone please rest for half a day, and at 21:00 tonight, November 19th, Commonwealth Year 829, we will officially launch the general offensive!"

The orbital satellites had long since illuminated the Sandfolk's heavy cannon positions clearly. Eleanor was even more familiar with their construction progress than Great Elder Hessen himself. The assembly of those heavy cannons would likely be completed around evening, with a margin of error no more than an hour. Eleanor didn't believe that the enemy's rabble would have night combat capabilities. In that case, the best time for the general offensive would naturally be in the early morning.

However, considering that the Sandfolk looked like they evolved from reptiles, they might be nocturnal. To avoid unforeseen complications, it was better to be safe.

Yu Lian didn't object. The textbooks clearly recorded that the 101st Company and the army within the city advanced very smoothly, with the enemy offering almost no organized resistance. Later, it was understood from various testimonies that Great Elder Hessen indeed planned to launch an attack in the early morning, relying on the Sandfolk's natural night vision. Thus, he ordered the soldiers to eat and rest in advance. By the time Senior Sister and Captain Winter launched their attack, most of the soldiers had just fallen asleep, and the goblin engineers on the artillery positions were feasting and celebrating the completion of their work.

By the way, Karda Goblins are actually a minority ethnic group of the Alliance. They are short, agile, and very skilled in engineering, but they are also very greedy for money. They are indeed like creatures from myths and legends, hence the name, but don't call them that to their faces.

With the main business decided, Yu Lian felt he should advise her in a personal capacity, so he changed his address, "By the way, Senior Sister, you are the commander, so you shouldn't..."

"Yes, junior brother, look at Sister's two-meter-long greatsword. We'll see each other on the battlefield tomorrow. Ho ho ho ha!" Senior Sister brandished her chainsaw greatsword in the holographic image, leaving behind a string of hearty laughter, and abruptly cut off the communication.

"..." Yu Lian was stunned. Although he knew Senior Sister seemed to have this persona, when she truly went crazy, it still caught him off guard!

"I like this Lieutenant Colonel." Lieutenant Parkin exclaimed with heartfelt admiration, his face full of awe.

Captain Winter rubbed his face, feeling he had a new understanding of both the "elite bureaucratic group" and the "Moonfolk," and then asked, "Matthew, do we have any spare exoskeletons?"

"There are still thirty sets, of all models," Lieutenant Matthew Serot, the logistics equipment staff officer of the 101st Company, answered loudly, as if he had expected the Captain to ask.

In fact, as elite orbital airborne troops, the 101st Company had over 200 spare exoskeletons, but they were all carried by dedicated transport vehicles and were not with them at the moment. However, according to their own combat regulations, even when marching on foot, they had to carry at least one-fifth of their total force in spare armor.

"Lend one of the Lynxes to this young lady," Winter pointed at Ina. "Then, give my spare mecha to Second Lieutenant Yu Lian."

Ina's large eyes began to shine again, her hazel eyes seeming to flicker with flames. She stood at attention and saluted the Captain.

"Your subordinate will certainly occupy the position within the specified time and cooperate with your general offensive to the maximum extent!"

It was the first time Yu Lian had seen her look so moved. But he could understand, because he was also quite moved. After all, the Captain was lending him a Dragon Cavalry type, the AS56R, a modified captain's model. Compared to general models, it had enhanced communication and anti-interference functions, and also came with a Vulcan cannon for suppressing fire.

These captain models were produced in small numbers, and even fewer were preserved intact. In later generations, they were quite valuable collectibles in the military collecting world. Yu Lian had wanted to get one to play with for a long time, but he never got his wish until he was sprayed in the face by the Star Dragon King.

He never expected that not only could he play with one after being reborn, but he could also fight in it. Truly, life is unpredictable...

Four updates today. Tomorrow, for some indescribable reason, I will definitely have a stomachache and won't update. As a struggling little author who hopes to supplement my family's income and kindergarten tuition with this book, this is the only thing I can do.