Counterfeit Hero

In the clear sky of Sidon, the capital of the Binart Empire, there was a muffled thunderous roar.

As soon as the people on the street raised their heads, they saw three iron-gray military transport ships, escorted by twenty fighter planes, passing over the city, getting lower and lower, and gradually falling towards the military airport east of Sidon.

Different from ordinary Binart military spacecraft, these spacecraft look more advanced. There is also a wolf head logo surrounded by stars painted on the bow of the spacecraft and under the wings of the fighter plane.

Everyone in the Night Army who saw this sign became excited. Their eyes were shining and they pointed towards the sky. Some of them were excited and even cheered. You know, even in the capital, the night army, which is very small in number and shrouded in various legends and mysteries, is not easy to see.

Amidst the roar, the spacecraft fell far behind the urban space city and disappeared. The twenty escorting fighter planes did not land with them. They pulled up the nose of the aircraft gracefully, like a neat wave of arrows shooting into the sky, rolling in the clouds, turning around and roaring over the city, flying towards the west.

The beautiful movements of the fighter plane triggered a burst of cheers. Many people took off their hats and waved to the sky.

"Did you see it? That's Admiral Sobol's night army." A man in his thirties pointed to the sky and said to his son riding on his shoulders in a proud and excited tone: "The greatest army in the empire. "

The little boy riding on him was only three or four years old. Although it is far from the time to understand the meaning of war. But he was just as excited as his father. He held his father's head with one hand, pointed to the sky with the other, and kept repeating Ye Jun's name cheerfully, which caused a burst of laughter from his mother beside him.

In a fruit shop on the roadside, the fat shopkeeper with a rosy face sang the song "The Empire Marches On" together with several old men in their forties and fifties who were passing by to chat.

The singing was sonorous and powerful, with a certain fanaticism.

People from different walks of life either joined in or waved to them with a smile, which made the old men even more excited. They sang loudly, held their heads high and looked contentedly. While singing, he would also wave his fist from time to time, making a powerful gesture of hitting hard.

A little boy of about ten years old ran among the crowd holding an imperial flag high. "Long live the Empire" he shouted, shouting, scurrying like a fish in the cracks of the adults.

As if they heard a horn, many children suddenly appeared from nowhere and ran wildly behind the boy.

"Long live the Empire." A taxi stopped suspended on the roadside and lowered its height. The driver jumped out of the car, took out the luggage from the trunk, and handed it to a captain in military uniform. When he took the money and was about to leave, he did not forget to add the following words enthusiastically.

The captain who returned home had a reserved and serious expression, with a hint of ecstasy. A beautiful young girl held his arm, wearing the most fashionable clothes at the moment, with her chin raised slightly, like a pampered little hen, following the most beautiful big rooster, even if she was greeting neighbors and acquaintances, His face was filled with unconcealable pride.

"Captain Dawson" A middle-aged man called the captain's name: "I heard that there was another victory on the front line?"

"Oh, my Uncle John," the girl holding the captain's arm exclaimed exaggeratedly and said first, "You have to think clearly, when will we not win the battle one day?"

Hahahaha, the crowd around them laughed happily.

The middle-aged man did not feel dissatisfied, he laughed and said to the girl: "It was just reported in the news that the Fei League has now put down its face and brought back Li Fo who was kicked out. Just today, Li Fo's fleet has arrived Tryflan system, join the fight against us."

"Then let's be careful." The fat shopkeeper in the fruit shop shouted loudly from a distance and interjected: "Just be careful."

The innkeeper's teasing aroused even greater joy, and even the captain couldn't help laughing.

"I'm telling the truth," the fat shopkeeper continued to shout loudly: "Hastings doesn't work, what can Li Fo do? With General Sobol, we can give them face by being careful."

People's laughter became louder, and some people shouted: "Long live General Sobol, long live the Night Army"

The sound gradually spread until the mountains roared and the tsunami roared. People cheered. No one thought there was anything wrong with this highly excitable mood. It seems that everyone is used to this kind of day. Celebrate victory, celebrate victory again. Every day, I fall asleep to the waving military flags, sailing warships and the neat footsteps of military mechas on TV news screens, and wake up to the host's excited news of success. ….

Victory, hoarse victory parades and cheers, large and small war rallies, are all the content of their lives in the past two years.

In the eyes of all Binart people, as long as the white wolf, surrounded by stars in the sky, is still staring ahead with its fierce eyes half-squinted, Binart's victory must be not far away. All everyone needs to do is wait for the news of victory and cheer and celebrate at the rally

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Seton West District, Junlin Mountain.

The Binart Palace built of white boulders is like a castle built of snow, with tall towers and pointed roofs pointing straight upward. Exquisite carvings and large and small sculptures can be seen in every eaves, beams and door openings. Being on the top of a lush green mountain makes it even more majestic and gorgeous.

This is a symbol of the imperial power of the Binart Empire.

Powerful, high above, overlooking the world, inaccessible, indestructible, and invincible.

For hundreds of years, generations of subjects have kowtowed to their emperor, and generations of Binarts have stood in the streets of the capital, Sidon, looking up to the west. They marveled at the beauty of the palace, were grateful for the benevolence of the monarch, or trembled at his wrath and prayed for his forgiveness.

On the broad and flat tower, William III held an arrow stack in his hand and stared at the east. The burly and majestic figure is just like the dozens of majestic sculptures of emperors from past dynasties behind him.

"Adam." William III took his eyes back from the night army transport ship that was slowly descending in the sky, called the name of Defense Secretary Keynes, and asked, "Today is March 10th? A lot of words."

"Yes, your Majesty," Defense Secretary Keynes replied.

Keynes, who is seventy-five years old this year, is already a veteran of three dynasties. Although from the outside, the Minister of Defense looks more like an old scholar, everyone knows that in the Binart Empire, except for Emperor William and the first man in the military, Sober, his power and prestige are unparalleled. and.

The reason is not only that he has held a high position for many years and has disciples and old friends all over Binart, but more importantly, when William was still one of many princes and Sobol was still working his way up the grassroots army, Keynes was already their follower.

Yes, follow, not just lead and support.

It is difficult for people to imagine what kind of psychology Keynes, who was already a highly respected minister, had in making such a decision.

No one can figure it out. Therefore, there is only one Keynes. In the past forty years, this was the only defense minister of the Binart Empire. Even after the Imperial War thirty years ago, when the Feyon Republic was handed over to the throne of the first superpower and hundreds of people were imprisoned for questioning, Keynes still stood tall.

"Time flies so slowly." William III said to himself, "At this time, he has just arrived in the A3 galaxy? A lot of words."

"That's how you feel, Your Majesty. For me, time passes very quickly." The thin figure of Defense Secretary Keynes is like a ghost behind William III: "In my memory, more than 20 years ago It seems like it was yesterday when we drank tea together and talked about the overall situation of the world."

Was it that time at your manor? ". William III smiled slightly, "I remember it was that day when you and Sobol swore allegiance to me? Quite a few words”

"Yes, Your Majesty." Keynes said respectfully: "I have always been very happy for my original choice."

"Fortunately, it should be me." William III turned around and looked at Keynes: "If it hadn't been for that day, I would not have obtained the allegiance of you and Sobol, and I would not be standing here today, full of confidence and enthusiasm. Hope, waiting for the final victory of the empire."

"I still remember that day when we were sitting on the lawn of your manor, you and Sobol asserted that there would definitely be a war between the Empire and Feiyang within thirty years..." William turned and looked into the distance, "It was also from From that time on, I knew that we had prepared longer and more fully than the Fei League. And I also had a chance to become a great emperor that surpassed all my ancestors."

"Ever since we got the little girl twenty years ago, we knew this day would come. Now, it's time." Keynes's voice was full of intoxication and enthusiasm, "The general will bring you a News of victory. You know he never lets you down."

"I firmly believe this" William III said categorically: "Since more than 20 years ago, I have never doubted the loyalty and ability of you and Sobol. While we are united, our enemies are plotting against each other. There is internal strife and endless arguments.”….

As he spoke, he suddenly raised his hand and pointed to the east: "The current Binart Empire is the most powerful period in history. Our territory has expanded to the territory of the Feiyang Republic. All the member states of Western York have Surrendering at our feet with an unprecedented humble attitude. When our army violently attacked Trifran and headed south to the Leray Federation, a new batch of fleets had already set off."

He turned his hand into a fist: "There is no reason why we cannot win this war. I want nothing but victory."

The voice of William III spread from King's Landing to Sidon, echoing among the tall buildings.

Twenty space fighters streaked across the sky like lightning and jumped into the clouds.

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On March 10, 2064, the Sobol fleet arrived in the A3 system.

After going through an unstoppable journey from the Desik Empire to the A3 galaxy, this time, these majestic and powerful Western warships did not continue their lightning offensive. They ended their march at the front of the Double-Pointed Star Corridor and gathered together. Like a pack of wolves with half-closed green eyes in the dark night, quietly staring ahead.

More than two million kilometers ahead of them, the bandit army, which had never encountered them all the way, finally stopped. In the void behind these black warships with unique ramming horns on their bows, countless Fei Alliance warships were like knights entering the battlefield, coming one after another, lining up from columns to rows.

Everyone who witnessed this scene could not describe their shock in words. So much so that during post-war interviews, many veterans sat in front of reporters and used all the adjectives they could think of, but could not describe the spectacular scene.

In their mouths, there are two words mentioned most.

One is spectacular, the other is fate

"That was a fateful showdown," said an old colonel Fei Yang when he was being interviewed at the age of seventy. The sudden burst of light in his cloudy eyes made the reporter sitting opposite his heart beat faster instantly. Even though the colonel had not yet begun to tell, this short sentence made him feel as if he was already in the starry sky.

"Yes, it was a fateful duel. Every one of us knew it." The colonel recalled: "Before that, the war had been going on for two years. We were very tired. Fighting, sailing, all kinds of things happened every day. Such depressing news - the Meima Star Territory was invaded, the Beima Republic suffered a disastrous defeat, Triflan lost another *-class fleet, and a fortress gun in the Al-Aqsa Fortress was destroyed by the enemy... ......."

The colonel looked into the reporter's eyes and said word by word: "You can't imagine the discomfort of being surrounded by these news every day during the war. You don't know when the war will end. You only know that you are telling the reporter Sailing southward, far from his own country, to fight a battle that would lead to the de facto division of Feiyan.”

"I can understand." The reporter replied with a smile: "Colonel, even though I was only ten years old at the time, I can already understand many things. I still remember the way my father and the adults around me sighed every day at that time. In fact, looking back now, it’s hard for us to believe that we could have persisted under those circumstances.”

"What you see is only the surface of things. If you want to understand the despair, maybe you should pick up a gun and walk around the battlefield instead of watching the news at home." The colonel said calmly: "What you are seeing is the Filipina League disunity, and in the eyes of us soldiers, it is a hopeless hell.”

The reporter nodded and said no more. He just watched quietly as the colonel gradually fell into memories, and slowly said to himself: "Marshal Hastings is the idol of all Filipino soldiers. But at that time, we didn't know whether what we did was right, even though We followed him, but all the information told us that he was confused. The reason why the FI League was in the situation it was in was because of his disappointing leadership."

"Does everyone think this way?". The reporter asked while writing down notes in his notebook.

"Trust and suspicion are equally divided," the colonel said without any concealment: "The ones who caused the most ferocity were the guys from the Republic of Lane. Ever since they learned that the four major galaxies of the Republic of Lane were invaded by Xiyo, they have not thought about it for a day. Go back. Under their influence, many Allied officers and soldiers from other countries also do not understand the southward strategy."

The colonel said and sighed: "You can imagine how high our morale can be in such an ideological atmosphere. Moreover, the enemy we are about to face is Sobol and the Western York fleet that is twice our number. . That feeling of pessimism and no hope, like being stuck in a quagmire, sinking little by little.”….

"Then what?" the reporter asked.

"Then we arrived at the Leray Federation. Without any stop, or even a symbolic fleet welcome ceremony, we passed directly through Bermuda and the Leray Central System and flew to the A3 Galaxy."

"March 10, 2064?"

"Yes, I think every soldier who participated in that battle remembers this day. It will never be forgotten." The colonel nodded and said: "When we arrived at the Double-Pointed Star Corridor in the A3 galaxy, the bandits Just retreat. More than two million kilometers behind them is the West York Fleet."

"You must have been very angry at that time," the reporter asserted.

"You are right," the colonel said: "It can be said that no one in the entire fleet is not angry at the bandit army's non-resistance. In our opinion, in order to protect the Leray Federation, the bandit army can go north to attack , defeated the forward fleet led by Banning, why couldn't they delay Sobol's advance and leave more room for maneuver for the Allies? At that time, except for selfishness, we could not think of any reason to excuse them."

"There is a very good reason for a strategic retreat to preserve our troops." The reporter asked knowingly.

"This is the worst reason. War is war. Don't fight if you are afraid of sacrifices." The colonel shook his head and said: "We ignored the dangerous situation in Triflan and went south to support them, but they strode back in order to preserve their troops and put down the early stage. The space for strategic detours has been completely lost. No one else would be able to maintain magnanimity and tolerance."

"You know," the colonel looked directly into the reporter's eyes: "This is war, and we fight this war at the cost of our lives."

The reporter was silent.

From the people's perspective, or after the fact, it may be easy to give an explanation for the retreat of the bandits. However, as the colonel said before, only by standing at that time and standing in the position of a soldier who is ready to sacrifice at any time can you understand what all that means to the Allies.

"The scene must have been spectacular. Can you describe it?" The reporter changed the topic.

The colonel thought for a long time and then said slowly: "I said, it was a fateful war. I have no way to describe the scene when the fleets of both sides met. I can only tell you everything I experienced... ....”

"At that time, I was just a captain's information officer. When I arrived in the A3 galaxy, it was my turn to be on duty. As soon as I walked to the information center, I heard a piercing alarm, and then the whole battleship exploded. Everyone didn't They jumped out of nowhere and ran wildly. In addition to the shouts, footsteps and sirens, the captain kept repeating the orders to prepare for battle on the radio. "

"At that time, my mind was blank. When I sat down in front of my work terminal, I realized that we had met the Spanish fleet. The distance between the two sides was only two million kilometers. In front of us, the bandits The military fleet is turning. At this distance, a battle may break out at any time."

"That day was also the day when the Li Fo fleet arrived in Triflaen. Next to me, there was a TV that was still playing news footage of the Li Fo fleet entering the Triverland system."

"I saw hundreds of millions of people taking to the streets on the Al-Aqsa immigration star, cheering. I also saw thousands of Allied warships lining up on both sides of the channel in the starry sky, paying tribute to the Li Fo fleet, which came to help in times of need. and accepted a review by their new commander.

Al-Aqsa Fortress, which had moved to the jump point airspace, sent out a signal to welcome Admiral Lifo during the fierce battle. When the West York attack fleet slowly exited the jump point airspace like a group of hyenas seeing a lion, the entire airspace All ignited by the light signal of victory. "

"But it's strange, I don't feel anything about it. Although that is the honor we deserve. Although we arrived at the A3 galaxy amidst the angry curses of all the Fei League people. However, I don't feel angry or frustrated at all. The emotion that had been tormenting me throughout my journey south suddenly disappeared."

"I breathed a sigh of relief, really. I wasn't nervous or panicked, but breathed a sigh of relief. At that moment, I could clearly see those Western battleships on the screen. I suddenly felt that this was my destiny. All of them The mental confusion and torture disappeared at that moment. I no longer think about the Tryfland Galaxy, the Meima Galaxy, or the Fei Alliance that has abandoned us."

"I just looked at the countless Spanish warships in front of us, staring at us like wolves. I watched our fleet enter the designated position in a standard formation, and the densely packed battleship porthole lights extended to my line of sight. At the end. The bandit army is on the left, our Feiyang central cluster is in the middle, and more than 20 *-class fleets of the Lane Republic are on the right, forming a huge trident."

"At that time, we were in a subtle and tense confrontation with the enemy. Both sides were controlling their emotions and testing each other tit for tat. We both sent out reconnaissance ships and escorting high-speed destroyers. They fired blue ion light Liu, rush out of the main formation and fly towards the center of the battlefield."

"Although no main gun can span a distance of two million kilometers, our main gun has begun to charge. The mothership opened the fighter ejection channel, the electronic ship began to activate electronic defense and jamming with all its strength, and the reconnaissance ship moved toward Fly forward and release the satellite..."

After saying this in one breath, the colonel stopped and looked at the nervous reporter.

"We all remember that day. March 10th. I don't know if you, who was only ten years old at the time, were in class or playing in the mud. I only know that I forgot about it under the starry sky millions of light years away from you. Everything, thinking in my mind, damn it, we are a lone army, here we come. The battle begins."

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Volume 10, Chapter 58, March 10th.

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