Chapter 127: Engaging the Enemy Like a Phantom!
What’s happening—
To hear more clearly, Cheng Lei walked out of the bar and onto the street with many others.
“These thugs are the most cruel and vicious Raiders in the Desert. They previously colluded with Mayor Shen Hai of Red Iron Town, deceiving, instigating, and enslaving the innocent townspeople there, forcing them into inhumane, overloaded labor, transforming the beautiful and prosperous town into a sweatshop producing killing machines! What a horrifying atrocity!”
You’re completely twisting black and white. How can you say those words with such a self-righteous tone?
Cheng Lei suppressed the anger in her heart and looked towards the old police station at the end of the street.
It was very quiet over there. Could it be that the attack wasn't launched from Oasis City?
“For the safety of the citizens, the City Lord and the nobles worked tirelessly, and after three days and three nights of intense discussion, they finally made an extremely difficult decision: they had to cut off Red Iron Town’s resource supply.
“Then, half a month ago, Oasis City and Apollo jointly launched a military operation against the villains, inflicting devastating blows upon them!
“I believe everyone still remembers that even the city felt the nuclear bomb’s blast wave and immense roar. This is the power of the golden age of humanity mastered by Apollo, and they shared this power with us. What a selfless act! Of course, after that, the pests weren’t completely wiped out, but that ends today! Today, we return the peaceful and tranquil Desert to all who live upon it!”
The citizens were long accustomed to the Secretary’s dramatic and affected recitation; few were moved.
“How strange. Two weeks ago, they said those Raiders had been completely eliminated, but now they’re saying they need to fight again.”
“Heh, they lied before, is this your first time seeing it?”
“Shh, keep your voice down! Do you want to lose your life?”
“Hey, hey, hey, what are you muttering about?” Two public security officers pushed through the crowd and squeezed in. “Just listen carefully!
Don’t randomly discuss or point fingers at things you don’t understand!”
Over the loudspeaker, the City Lord’s Secretary raised her voice slightly.
“Citizens, we have noticed that a very small number of individuals previously spread rumors about Red Iron Town, actually describing those heinous Desert outlaws as rangers and righteous armies! This is clearly an extremely irresponsible and foolish act, but considering that there might be some ill-intentioned individuals instigating behind the scenes, the City Lord has decided to let bygones be bygones from today onwards.
“Starting tomorrow, anyone who knowingly violates the law and tests the waters will be arrested on the spot! We hope that citizens can distinguish right from wrong, and we also hope that those city destroyers hiding in the shadows can recognize their situation and cease their activities as soon as possible.”
Cheng Lei hadn't contacted Cangyuan in a long time.
Two weeks ago, when the news of “Devil Mountain being completely flattened” reached Oasis City, she actually knew it was false information jointly fabricated by Apollo and Oasis City.
The reason was simple.
Ten of Apollo’s planes were dispatched, but only two returned, and even ordinary citizens discussed this extensively.
However, on the other hand, secret communications with Cangyuan were indeed interrupted.
They haven't been restored since.
At that time, many partners, seeing Apollo’s strength diminished, felt the time was ripe and suggested to her to transition from underground activities to a full-scale uprising, but Cheng Lei resisted and did not agree.
Her judgment at the time was that both Apollo and Cangyuan had suffered losses, and Apollo’s preserved reserve forces were likely stronger.
This decision saved her and her friends’ lives.
At the same time, Cheng Lei also judged that two weeks was enough time for Cangyuan to repair the communication system, and their lack of communication was actually to protect herself within Oasis City.
The less you know, the safer you are.
Brother Prairie also reminded her before he left that even with a secret radio, if Apollo was vigilant enough and started patrolling around the city, their power armor technology could easily detect and locate shortwave radio signals.
Hmm—
Be patient, wait a little longer!
The results should be out tonight!
Inside the Apollo transport plane, the Captain walked towards Ye Xing again.
“Kid, I’m asking you one last time, is there anything on the map that needs to be added? If I find any discrepancies after we land, you know I’ll execute you on the spot.”
Ye Xing wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth.
“Whatever you say. I’ve drawn it five times already, and you’re still not satisfied?”
At this moment, he suddenly found himself weightless, floating.
Could this be...
“Captain, this guy—he’s fainted again. Why does he always faint? And without any prior warning, don’t you think it’s strange?”
Strange your mother! The Captain glared ill-temperedly at his overly curious subordinate.
“Asking me? Do I look like a doctor?”
“No, you don’t—”
“Then why aren’t you hurrying to board and prepare for the landing operation?!”
“Yes!”
A few seconds later, Ye Xing’s crucial intelligence arrived.
【Jin Yi Ye Xing】: “The formation has begun to glide at a constant speed, likely to allow the pilots to return to their fighter jets.
They’ll probably change orbit and maneuver soon. Give me half a minute; I’ll go back and verify.”
【Jin Yi Ye Xing】: “—Worship the Chief Investigator! I’ve confirmed for you, the prey is changing orbit,
and beginning to decelerate further.”
In the past two weeks, he had crammed a lot of aerospace knowledge and could generally understand the flight methods of space vehicles.
【Fengqi Loulan】: “Aren’t you worried that using cheats so brazenly will arouse suspicion?”
【Jin Yi Ye Xing】: “Don’t worry, Apollo is determined to win now and can’t be bothered with me!”
【Nan Guo de Xue】: “According to estimations, Apollo’s reinforcements are less than 1000 kilometers from the ground. You can go.”
【Fengqi Loulan】: “Good!”
“Executive Officer!”
In the camp, Chang Kong jogged over to Lu Yuan.
“Ye Xing, he—well, he found a way to contact us. Apollo’s reinforcements are about to make their final landing.”
To prevent cheating in the game from affecting the plot, he used a rather vague phrasing.
Of course, Lu Yuan, who already knew everything, didn't care at all.
“Take off!”
Moments later, five space fighters were first propelled off the ground by liftoff boosters, then adjusted to a high angle of attack in mid-air and ignited their main engines.
The tail flames swept across the Desert, their brightness quickly surpassing the setting sun.
The new pilot players in the camp looked up at the neat and imposing formation, their hearts surging with excitement.
The most adventurous and ingenious military operation since the game launched was finally about to begin!
In orbit.
The well-trained Apollo main fleet was deploying its formation, 24 fighter jets like a large hand, reaching down towards the only golden patch on the pale yellow-green planet.
“Beginning planetary atmospheric entry.” The lead fighter reported.
“Very good.”
The Captain relaxed. In his view, the most dangerous part of this space journey was now completely over.
Through the fighter’s canopy, the Captain saw Oasis City’s reservoir in the Desert. He heard there was a good bar there. After this mission, he might find a couple of local girls and go have some fun!
“Captain—there seems to be some anomaly from the ground direction.”
The lead plane reported.
“Anomaly? What anomaly?”
The Captain frowned.
“The infrared system detected large areas of high-temperature gas within the atmosphere, suspected to be left by chemical rocket engines, inferring that space vehicles are ascending, at least one.”
Ascending space vehicles?
The Captain’s mind went blank.
Impossible—
There are only our two fighter jets in Oasis City. As for the ten defending the mine, they have all been destroyed or damaged by the barbarians and are lying on the lunar surface.
The Captain thought, I saw it with my own eyes, am I seeing ghosts?!
But everyone else saw it too...
Are they pre-civilization fighter jets dug up by the barbarians? But why didn’t they use them before?
Besides, what the hell is being powered by chemical engines? I’ve never heard of any faction equipping such antiques!
In the eyes of post-apocalyptic humans like the Captain, space fighters using chemical engines were even more ancient than gasoline cars.
The latter were at least still used by some in Star Alliance space.
As for chemical rocket engines, because their specific impulse would not exceed 600s, although the thrust was not small, the overall efficiency was extremely low. No one with even a little zero element would ever consider using them.
And if there’s no zero element, why bother with space travel? Isn’t that just pure suicide?
He couldn't figure it out.
How strange!
“Captain, how should we proceed?”
At this moment, Chang Kong’s First Air Fleet was accelerating at maximum power, with an overload reaching 8G. Not only was he firmly pressed into his seat, but his face was also distorted by the g-force.
“Hang in there, brothers! We’ll be at the engagement point soon!”
“Hmph hmph hmph!! Ah ah ah ah ah!”
Fengqi Loulan could no longer speak normally, only emitting some indescribable gurgling sounds in response.
When he flew fighter jets in the air force, he had experienced a momentary 12G at most, but the game character was merely a Level 1 mortal body, making it truly difficult to withstand.
“Captain! How should we proceed!?”
In the face of sudden situations, reaction speed is crucial, but the Apollo Captain had been deceived all the way, so how could he possibly make the most correct choice immediately now?
Poor kid, he didn't use cheats.
“Immediately perform friend-or-foe identification!” The Captain, as expected, made a fatal mistake.