Even in this rather busy Starport, the scene of over a hundred strong men and a gentle, handsome young man bidding each other farewell was quite eye-catching.
Yu Lian and the Brothers of the 101st Company were officially saying goodbye today. The cargo ship they took was originally destined for Gibraltar β Starport, so they naturally needed to transfer now. Captain Winter and his party would return to their station, New Yumen Star, which was three stellar jumps from the Star Gate, aboard their mothership, the cruiser Don Quixote; as for Yu Lian, he was originally supposed to take a passenger ship directly back to Earth, but he received a communication saying that an officer from the Outer Rim Fleet wanted to see him.
“You see, I told you, your reputation has already reached the officers even before you graduated. It's truly time for you to seriously consider your future,” Captain Winter said with a smile.
“So, you can really consider serving in the Outer Rim Military District. It would be even better if you could join the Hell Paratrooper Division. Maybe in two or three years, you could be our regimental commander. The greatest fortune for a soldier, besides reliable comrades, can only be reliable officers,” Lieutenant Parkin also said.
The Brothers of the 101st Company were all smiling, and Yu Lian was smiling too. After fighting a battle, a great victory with zero casualties, everyone was naturally in high spirits. The friendship forged in the fires of war naturally formed this way. To put it plainly, men's friendships are very pure, and soldiers' friendships are even purer.
“Then, have a safe journey!”
“Have a safe journey! Take care!”
After seeing off the big guys from the 101st Company, Yu Lian picked up his luggage and, following the communication he had received earlier, left the Starport's transport ship docking area. As the passenger ship bound for the Solar System was announcing its “imminent departure,” he passed through the civilian passenger area and then entered the military-controlled area on the outer side of the port.
Further out, there was a city enclosed by a transparent dome, with pavilions and buildings intertwined. At first glance, it looked like a city in the sky amidst the star sea, possessing a unique, dreamlike quality.
This Gibraltar β Starport is the Blue Star Commonwealth's largest space station before the Star Gate, but it is actually considered a semi-militarized fortress city, with a permanent population of over 100,000.
And there are 21 such space cities in this star system, including 3 mobile fortresses armed to the teeth. Coupled with more than a dozen Star Gate research stations jointly built with the Empire, they form a busy but standardized space urban cluster.
Passing through the sentry post at the entrance, Yu Lian, led by a Rolling guidance robot, entered a three-story building and arrived at the innermost office on the top floor.
“Come in.” The voice from the office was warm and gentle, to put it nicely, it was refined and polite; to put it not so nicely, it was a meek, unaggressive, and easily bullied softie.
Yu Lian felt the voice was very familiar, and when he saw the person, he felt even more familiar. The excitement of seeing a “future” celebrity was instantly overshadowed by the joy of seeing an “old friend.”
Yu Lian said with a smile, “Oh, Teacher Yang, didn't you go to the Military History Research Institute? Why are you here? Have you truly developed a sense of responsibility for your career that doesn't align with your life philosophy?”
“I didn't want to, but the institute is laying off people recently! The director said that for someone my age, hiding in old papers to research some useless history was a waste, so he forced me to write a transfer application! Later I found out that my original researcher position was taken by Admiral Reus's brother-in-law, who has Alzheimer's.”
“Why hasn't someone with Alzheimer's retired? Can they really be a military history researcher?”
“That's what I thought too! But a brigadier general, who is also a doctor of history or something, doesn't even know who commanded the Battle of Proxima Centauri. Besides Alzheimer's, there's no other explanation!”
This person complained self-pityingly, and for a moment, one might truly think he was a frustrated, middle-aged, greasy office worker. But in reality, he was only in his early thirties, yet he was already a Navy Captain. His demeanor was not greasy at all; instead, he was slender, refined, and scholarly, and his appearance barely scraped the lower limit of handsome.
Although there was a visible gap compared to the person himself. Yu Lian thought.
In short, if this person were single, he would definitely be considered a promising diamond bachelor. Unfortunately, he was already married and had three children.
“How is Jessica?”
“She's fine, she's fine. She's already a state senator and says she wants to run for mayor next year. Really, the reason I became a researcher was to take care of the children nearby! Now, I'm forced to take up my post in this godforsaken place, and the children have to be left with their grandparents. Yu Lian, what kind of situation is this… ”
The two of them chatted back and forth like old friends who hadn't seen each other in a long time.
In fact, they were old friends.
This Navy Captain's name is Yang Xiyi, 33 years old, a very classic and fitting name for his temperament—at least, those unfamiliar with him always believed Captain Yang to be a dignified gentleman, well-read and cultivated, much like the famous scholars of ancient East Asia.
Yang Xiyi also graduated from Central Defense University and later returned to teach. During Yu Lian's first two years of university, he was consistently one of the most popular instructors on campus, and because he wasn't much older, his private interactions with students were more like those of a friend.
Of course, if they were the type who strictly adhered to hierarchy, a ten-year age difference would be enough for them to assert their superior position. Fortunately, Teacher Yang was not that kind of person.
Yu Lian still remembered that he made a bet with the young masters of the Blueblood Brotherhood, and then he secretly sneaked out of school with his childhood sweetheart Miss and a group of beautiful girls from the student council. They rode mining vehicles across the lunar wilderness and drilled their way into the urban area of Guanghan City.
Everyone bought 6 cases of beer and a dozen roasted chickens, and returned the same way, only to be caught red-handed by Teacher Yang on patrol.
“You need to be more careful in the future. Leaving a backdoor in the academy's surveillance network is fine, but the surveillance footage freezing for a long time will still expose you. Also, if I were you, I wouldn't buy beer, but spirits.” Teacher Yang gave a few instructions, accepted Yu Lian's bribe of a case of beer and a roasted chicken, and swaggered away.
Watching the other party's arrogant departure, Yu Lian was immediately filled with respect, and often went to bother him, mutually encouraging (and complaining), and back and forth, they actually became friends.
Before Yu Lian started his third year, Yang Xiyi finally got his dream job: a researcher at the Military History Research Institute. His dream was to be a historian, so he happily ran off to take up his post.
“And then, as you can see, I was banished to the Outer Rim Fleet, becoming the Chief Intelligence Staff Officer of the Fleet Staff Department…” At this point, Yang Xiyi's face was full of sorrow, and he gritted his teeth in hatred towards the brigadier general, who he suspected had Alzheimer's, who took his position.
To go from a military history researcher to the Chief Intelligence Staff Officer of the Outer Rim Fleet, only you would consider this a “banishment.”
After a round of complaints, Yang Xiyi seemed to come to his senses, motioned for Yu Lian to sit down, and while making tea, asked, “Yu Lian, I’ve already received several detailed reports about New Yumen Star. However, I want you to tell me again, everything you saw with your own eyes, truthfully!”
This was the concern of a friend and elder brother, and also the inquiry of the future “Fox of the Outer Rim,” Yang Xiyi. Yu Lian nodded and revealed everything except for the fact that he was a transmigrator and a Reborn .
“New Yumen itself can be stable for a while. Losing Hessen, they lose a spiritual leader with enough appeal. Losing Kaz Khan, they also lose their future.” Yang Xiyi nodded.
“You… really value Kaz Khan!” This guy wasn't a cheat like Yu Lian, who had a second playthrough, yet he noticed this obscure little tribal chief so early?
“I only discovered this person after taking office. You know, Sand People tribal chiefs and city-state lords are all under the surveillance of the military intelligence network, which of course includes things they ‘legally’ purchase from the Galaxy Native Land through the Star Gate. After I took office, I checked their shopping lists for the past three months. Ha, the other chiefs bought daily necessities or luxury goods, but he alone bought all sorts of textbooks. Of course, they were all elementary and middle school textbooks available on the market, so I had no reason to confiscate them! Yu Lian, this person is a pity! He might have a great future.”
“…Yes!”
“Now, the pressure on New Yumen, and indeed all our colonies in the Andromeda Galaxy, actually comes from external sources.” Yang Xiyi pondered for a moment, then asked, “Because of those goblins, the government has already protested to the Compass Merchants, but I don't expect any results. On our side, however, because of Elinore, and your few shots, it has given the Kaitai people an excuse.”
“Uh, they didn't listen to our warnings and entered the planetary orbit, so they are the aggressors!”
“That’s right! But they can also find sufficient reasons to say that they were invited by the Governor's Office to evacuate their citizens and protect the safety of allied cities.” The Captain sneered, saying, “So, you should have guessed the reason why the Outer Rim Fleet is gathered here, right?”
“The Kaitai's stubborn big cats want to make a move?”
“A move might not happen, but intimidation is possible. The United Fleet, composed of the Kaitai people's First and Third Fleets, has indeed gathered in the Xiwei Star System opposite us, conducting some kind of exercise. Ha… they do this every few years, everyone is used to it. But this time the scale is really big. Besides this fleet, according to intelligence, the Royal Guard Fleet stationed in their capital Bamio has also left port.”
That's not right, I'm familiar with this script... but this is nearly a year early!
“…Ugh, Teacher Yang, I think that the other party’s mobilization is far more than just a simple standoff and intimidation! There must be a larger objective!”
“Such as?” Captain Yang put down his teacup, and an almost imperceptible sharpness flashed in his calm eyes.
“To completely expose the Commonwealth’s bluff!”
Today's second update. From now on, updates will be long, short, long, short, long. Won't everyone be more excited?