Thanks to Gus's strong cooperation, Jiang Ziyue's plan was quite successful, and it was almost perfect. 1(6) k Small says αр.(1)(6)Finishing when the Immortal Star Bundeswehr Fourth Fleet Commander Gerald? Rear Admiral Hancock found out that he had fallen for the enemy's plan to divert the tiger from the mountain, and immediately led the fleet back to the logistics supply fleet.

But at this time, the logistics supply fleet and the supplies on each ship have become space junk scattered everywhere. Of the supply fleet of up to four hundred, less than thirty survived.

Remorseful Hancock forced his men to prepare to pursue the enemy with all their might, so as to avenge the revenge. But this time, Robb and Edward? Together, Mandalay tried to stop him from losing his mind.

However, Robb and Mandalay disagreed on what happened next. Robb believed that although the Fourth Fleet had lost its logistical supply fleet, it would be difficult to continue to penetrate deep into the empire in the future, and suggested that it should be withdrawn to the planet Egypt immediately, and then relaunch the attack after receiving reinforcements and a new supply fleet.

"But in that case, I'm going to lose all my work." Mandalay commented on Robb's suggestion, "The fact that the enemy did not dare to confront us head-on shows that our army is seriously under-positioned in the direction of the offensive. If they still have a fleet in the New Rhine, why haven't they come to reinforcements yet, when we're only a hundred light-years away from New Rhine? So, even if our army loses its logistical supply fleet, we still outnumber them and can still storm the New Rhine. I think we should continue to penetrate deep into enemy territory, attack the planet Neu-Rhine, and complete our diversionary mission. ”

Robb immediately asked rhetorically: "Colonel Mandalay, can you guarantee that our battleship can be repaired by the logistics supply ship if it is wounded, and has enough spare parts?" Our food supply and energy supply are constantly on the line? ”

"Don't we still have more than twenty supply ships? Although the number is small, if there is enough time, it is still possible to repair and maintain these 900 warships. As for the accessories, food, and energy you mentioned, since the enemy destroyed them, why can't we get them back from the enemy? Although the planet New Rhine is a bit desolate, the planetary system where it is located is an important mining base of the New Roman Empire, with a large number of cargo ships, space orbital stations, and planetary mining bases...... Including the planet Neo-Rhine itself, isn't it all the goal that we can get loot? Mandalay said excitedly, as if a greedy pirate saw a huge fortune.

"You want us to raid civilians like interstellar pirates?" Robb asked in surprise.

Mandalay told him in a matter of course: "In the eyes of most of the people of New Rome, we are nothing more than invaders, and we regard them as enemies." Our behaviour is inevitable in war, and although morally inferior, it is quite helpful for our present situation. ”

Then, he analyzed to Hancock and Robb: "In the battle just now, the enemy racked his brains to take out our logistics fleet. Obviously, they just want us to not be able to keep the offensive going. However, if we maintain our offensive by plundering the enemy's resources, we will certainly surprise the enemy and deal a heavy blow to them who are already at a disadvantage. And, sir, didn't you say that General Bloomberg was going to send reinforcements? As soon as reinforcements arrive, we will be even more resolute in holding out. ”

"Although we will be in a very difficult situation with the loss of most of our supply ships, isn't it the good tradition of our Bundeswehr to overcome the right in difficult conditions?"

The sentence added by the other party reminded Robb of his father Su Yu.

At that time, Su Yu led a group of remnants of the defeated army that retreated from the territory of the New Roman Empire, and under many extremely unfavorable conditions such as low morale, mixed teams, and insufficient troops, he still succeeded in defeating the 10,000 imperial warships led by Du Yimin, and achieved the victory of the "Machu Picchu" Star Field Battle against the sky. In Robb's opinion, compared to the almost unimaginable difficulties his father faced back then, now he has only lost the supply fleet, which is nothing at all.

However, to plunder the property of the other party's citizens and use it as his own war resources, Su Yu would never accept it under any circumstances.

Mandalay's bold insights, though unable to convince Robb, impressed the offensive 'sex' General Hancock. Hancock said with interest: "In that case, we shouldn't have given up so easily. ”

"But, sir, do we really have to plunder like pirates?" Robb asked worriedly, "We are the army of a free and democratic country. Aren't we here to free the people of New Rome from the autocratic dictatorship? And now you want to ransack them instead? ”

Hancock looked at Robb and said, "Lieutenant Colonel Luo, don't forget that the mining base near the planet New Rhine is the enemy's state-owned property, a 'private' company of the Senate, and does not belong to the people of New Rome. We are not going to rob the property of civilians, but to seek justice for them and to free them from the tyranny of the Senate. ”

Robb was 'tempting' to plead further, but was signaled by Hancock to shut up.

"Okay, I'll decide." Hancock made the decision, "Take Colonel Mandalay's advice, no matter how difficult it is, to continue the attack on the planet New Rhine." Everyone split up and prepared to search for the wreckage of the supply fleet as much as possible to obtain useful supplies. At the same time, reconnaissance ships were sent to reconnoiter the enemy's whereabouts. Then we feigned retreat to 'confuse' and 'confuse' the enemy. When the time comes, we will fight back and march on the planet of New Rhine to contain the enemy's main force. ”

After the correspondence was over, it was Robb's turn to angrily connect the correspondence with Mandalay and complain: "Colonel Mandalay, you suggest that we all become criminals. ”

"Lieutenant Colonel, I don't want to argue with you about morality." Mandalay said calmly, "I just want to remind you that since both the President and Congress have unanimously agreed to wage war against the new Roman Empire, this country and her people are our enemies." ”

"The new Roman Empire was hateful, but its people were innocent. Those people deserve the human rights they are entitled to, treated humanely and respected by the law. Our future actions will certainly violate the laws of the Union and the universal morality of mankind. Robb looked indignant.

"Don't mention any human rights, Lieutenant Colonel Luo." Mandalay exclaimed disdainfully, "Human Rights is nothing but a scumbag who can be taken by anyone." Whether it is white-skinned, yellow-skinned, or dark-skinned, whether it is a democratically elected president or an authoritarian senate, if you have the strength, you can go to bed with 'human rights' in your arms and let it scream. Why are you also 'fascinated' by its thick 'glamorous'? ”

Mandalay continued: "Do you think that there are human rights for the Confederation to take the initiative to go to war against the new Roman Empire? The greatest trampling on human rights is not autocracy, but war! Lieutenant Colonel Luo, didn't your ancestors still pay attention to 'being famous as a teacher' when they fought wars? The Confederation waged war against the new Roman Empire in the name of human rights and democracy, did it have the will to respect human rights? Did the people have their opinions? Is the power of the people only 'represented' by the so-called 'democratically elected' parliamentarians? Mandalay is not at all trying to persuade Robb to accept his proposal, but rather like a leader of a pro-democracy movement who is denouncing the ills of national politics to the general public.

"Colonel, I don't want to argue with you about these political topics. We are soldiers of the Federation, and we should never do the same thing as an interstellar pirate! Robb replied in a loud voice.

"Since you say that we are soldiers, then we should obey orders and do whatever it takes to win." Mandalay said frankly, and then terminated the correspondence in order to end the doomed argument with Robb.

Robb sat back in his command seat with rage. The annihilation of the logistical supply fleet has made many people go crazy, even the original quite sane Edward? Mandalay is also rife with a criminal frenzy. It seems that the Fourth Fleet is truly grateful to the Imperial soldier who came up with the idea of destroying the logistical supply fleet, and he has brought the Fourth Fleet to a dead end, and then turned the Fourth Fleet into a crazy war machine.

First mate Scati of the Imperial Side? Tiassi then said, "Sir, Colonel Mandalay is right. We should have no mercy for the people of the empire. ”

Robb glanced at the cold first mate angrily, this 'woman' was full of hostility to her old homeland. Robb said coldly: "Skati, you hate your homeland and her people? ”

"The New Roman Empire killed my father, and why should I not hate it?" Without thinking, Scati replied, "I love my country, but my country doesn't love me." ”

Her latter words not only seemed old-fashioned to Robb's ears, but also rather childish, naïve to the point of ignorance.

"The state is nothing but an instrument of domination." Robb said to Scati in a very solemn tone, "Your father's enemies have used the tool of the 'state' to 'blind' the people and killed your father. ”

"But isn't the evil of the new Roman Empire well known?" Scati made a feeble justification for his realization.

"There is no distinction between good and evil in the state itself. What we should hate is not the state itself, let alone the people who make up it, but the people who use it to do despicable things. Robb told Scati like a comrade on the same front in education, "So neither you nor I have any reason to hate the New Roman Empire and her people." ”

Feeling very puzzled and dissatisfied with Robb's words, Scati asked, "Didn't Ling Zun also die at the hands of the assassins of the New Roman Empire?" ”

"No, he was killed by his own country!" Robb clarified, "To be exact, he was killed by his compatriots using the tool of the Perseus Federation. Therefore, although I am somewhat similar to you, my own father died at the hands of my motherland, but I do not hate my country and people. On the contrary, I have always been loyal and dutiful to my country and people, and I have made a vow to rid her and her people of those 'treacherous' and sinister 'shady' schemers. ”

Robb's words silenced Scati, who was a bit despicable and shameful in comparison to Robbo's grandiose ambitions. But she can also be like Robb, devote herself to the ranks of the national army to which she originally belongs, and realize the redemption of her country while growing up, she can't do it at all. Her understanding of New Rome was so ingrained that it was difficult to change it.

Robb quickly sensed the contradiction in Scati's heart, and hurriedly said: "Actually, we are the same, you are also a citizen of the Immortal Star Federation now, and your motherland is the Immortal Star Federation. Your allegiance is no longer the evil Senate in your eyes, but the free and democratic Star Federation. ”

That's what relieved Scati was that she needed this sense of identity and belonging for immigrants like her. Reluctant to face the heavy topic any longer, Scati said, "Sir, you don't need to take the enemy people so seriously, all we have to do is fulfill our duties as soldiers." ”

"My father taught me when he was alive: 'There is no justice in war, but since we are born as human beings, we have a responsibility to prevent justice from falling into war.' So, I strongly disagree with Colonel Mandalay's proposal. ”

"But the commander has already made a decision, should we disobey?"

"We can only avoid criminal acts within our purview." Robb replied helplessly. At this time, he could finally feel the feeling of his father Su Yu when he was the commander of the detachment and accompanied the army deep into the territory of New Rome. At that time, my father was also strongly opposed to attacking New Rome, but in the end he had no choice but to carry out the battle order.

After successfully destroying the opponent's logistical supply fleet and confirming that the opponent had begun to retreat, Gus and Jiang Ziyue led their respective fleets to retreat at full speed, flying continuously through space for more than 100 light-years and returning to the asteroid rubble. In this battle, the Imperial Army's losses were negligible, but it wiped out almost all of the opponent's logistical supply ships, leaving it in a dilemma.

Arriving at the rubble asteroid, the notification ship from the planet Iserren also happened to arrive with new instructions from the commander of the Central Fleet, Field Marshal Bergdorf. Bergdorf demanded that they stop attacking the Federation and retreat to the planet Neu-Rhine to defend it with all their might.

"Did the marshal say to send reinforcements?" Jiang Ziyue asked Gus, who had informed the instructions, with concern. With the current strength of their "Haraldi" fleet, it is quite insufficient to block a possible attack by the Federation on the New Rhine.

He didn't say it. I don't think there will be any reinforcements. Gus looked a little disappointed, "The marshal is only staring at the planets of Iserlon, New Byzantium, and Africa. Now we don't have enough troops in general, and I think he will not hesitate to abandon the New Rhine if necessary. Even His Excellency Archon Wang Zeren meant this. ”

"But it doesn't matter if you don't have reinforcements." Lotta? Stoldt optimistically said, "Having destroyed the enemy's logistical supply fleet, hasn't the enemy already retreated?" ”

"Don't be too optimistic, Lotta." Jiang Ziyue said calmly, "If I were the enemy's commander, I wouldn't have given up so easily." We have 'exposed' our weaknesses, and after several successive battles, the enemy must have learned that we are rather undermanned in the direction of the planet Novorhine. If we take advantage of the situation, it will be very difficult for us to deal with it. ”

"But you're not an enemy, and the enemy isn't you." Lota said happily.

"Lotta, if the men of your family become our enemies, we will have to change the dynasty in New Rome." Gus joked again, "In any case, our military operation has been quite successful, and the losses of the enemy are close to two to one. How about a couple of drinks? ”

"There's no better idea than this." Lota exclaimed excitedly.

Although Jiang Ziyue didn't say anything, he agreed. After all, the victory made him feel relieved too.

The remaining 600 warships and nearly 300 logistical supply ships of the "Haraldi" fleet, totaling more than 40,000 officers and men, are hiding in the asteroid belt around the rubble, seizing the time to take turns to rest, repair the warships, maintain the machines, replenish supplies, and prepare to plunge into the battle to defend the planet New Rhine, which is 25 light-years away.

The three of their commanders took advantage of their spare time to gather at the bar of the underground base and met up.

It's a barn in the barracks, unlike the Lion and Tiger Club in New Paris, the planet of Ishellon, which is full of loud rock 'and roll' and indulgent 'women', everything seems orderly and laid-back. Soft classical music was playing in the bar, and some of the officers and men who were resting were dancing 'ballroom' dances on the dance floor, some were drinking drinks, playing cards, and chatting around the table, and some were playing billiards, playing video games, and watching movies in the recreation area.

Gus and Lota asked for a glass of low-alcohol red wine for the army.

This red wine is tailor-made for the army by the Afrigian Planetary Wine Guild, and it tastes good, but the wine contains only four degrees of 'essence'. In the army, only this alcohol was allowed to be drunk.

"How about a drink, big lover?" Gus said to Jiang Ziyue with a smile while holding a wine glass.

"Don't make fun of me all the time, Gus." Jiang Ziyue said in disgust, and then said to the waiter behind the bar, "Please give me a glass of water." ”

"Sir, what water do you want? Water? Space water? Or the snow-capped mountain mineral water of the planet Neu-Rhine? The waiter asked.

"Just ask for mineral water."

Gus smiled again: "Don't get a drop of wine?" Are you ready to be a model husband now? ”

"Gus, you're here again."

"He's scared by the wine." Lota said as she sipped her wine.

Jiang Ziyue looked at the 'female' beside him who had taken the initiative to lie beside him, and said angrily: "I was scared by the wine and the 'female'. ”

"It's not good, a man can live without alcohol, but he can't live without a 'woman'." Gus sighed with pity.

"Stop talking about these boring topics." Jiang Ziyue hurriedly changed the topic, "Let's talk about how we will defend New Rhine in the future." ”

At this time, Jiang Ziyue's first mate Joseph? Captain Dietrich came up to them and said, "I'm sorry, sir, can I ask Lotta?" Does Captain Stoldt dance? With that, he smiled and bowed slightly, and held out his right hand to Lotta, showing a gentleman's invitation to dance.

"Absolutely." Lotta happily agreed, and put her right hand on Dietrich's hand. Then he turned his head and squeezed his eyebrows at Jiang Ziyue, and said proudly: "Ziyue, you don't know yet, Joseph is a big rival hidden by your side." ”

Jiang Ziyue stared at the usually serious first mate Dietrich in surprise.

Dietrich calmly said to Jiang Ziyue: "Sir, I will never dare to be your enemy on the battlefield, but on the love field, I will not lose to you." ”

Gus immediately slapped Jiang Ziyue's bald head fiercely, and said with a smile: "Haha, it was taken to the back by his subordinates." ”