Signal base stations are small in size and come in a wide variety of shapes. Apart from relying on special devices for positioning, they cannot be identified in the vast space with the naked eye.
After entering the fishing range, a flexible metal arm extended from the right rear of the reconnaissance ship and fixed a piece of abandoned space floating object.
Qi Yan was surprised: "Is there a signal base station here?"
"To be precise, this piece of tattered-looking metal is the signal base station itself. It was just camouflaged before being launched, making it look like space junk." Lu Fenghan pressed the button, and the metal arm released a small maintenance robot. Three or four minutes later, the feedback signal showed "intact".
Lu Fenghan began to recycle the small robot and the metal arm: "This task is boring, but very important."
The expeditionary force floats on the front line of the Southern Cross Region. The distance is measured in "light years" and "star miles". If one wants to communicate with Leto or other places across galaxies, then each signal base station is an important point on this line.
As the alliance expands its territory, the first thing it does when it arrives in a new place is to build a signal network.
After retracting the metal arm, Lu Fenghan made a mark and maneuvered the reconnaissance ship to the next target.
Qi Yan recalled the scene of fixing the signal base station just now: "Could this signal base station be fake?"
"Well, for safety reasons, of the ten signal base stations deployed, three are fake, three are used as backup, and the remaining four are in use. Usually they are checked in batches, and the base stations will not overlap in the two missions received one after the other."
Seeing that Qi Yan liked to listen, Lu Fenghan said more, "For example, after the great defeat, Weiss became the acting commander-in-chief, but his authority only allowed him to see the coordinates of some signal base stations. One part was in the hands of deputy commander Erich, and the rest was in the hands of Mei Jielin and others.
Space is vast, and unless everyone from the commander to the captains of each ship rebels, it is possible to destroy all the base stations. Of course, if one day the commander and the captains betray the alliance, it can only mean that the alliance is no longer trustworthy. "
When Lu Fenghan said the last sentence, his tone was light and light, without any self-awareness of "treason" at all.
Although he has repeated "For the alliance only, move forward courageously" many times, he has never been the superstitious or blindly loyal type.
Qi Yan continued: "The same is true for the White Tower."
Lu Fenghan stated the purpose of the White Tower: "For the continuation of mankind?"
"Yes, for the continuation of the human race. The White Tower does not have the word 'loyalty'. If we must say 'loyalty' or 'loyalty', then the White Tower is loyal to the human race and only to safeguard the interests of the race and the continuation of the human race.
This is also the reason why the White Tower has always stayed away from politics and never took sides. If one day the Alliance is no longer trustworthy, then the White Tower will lean towards the side that is more conducive to the continuation of humanity. "
When Qi Yan said this, his expression was even more cold and distant than usual.
Lu Fenghan had a keen sense of touch and immediately reacted: "Is this the reason why the White Tower established a chief?"
"Yes, the chief has the power to make decisions. If one day the White Tower needs to make a statement to the outside world, then the chief will represent the entire White Tower." Qi Yan paused, a little confused, "In fact, I don't even know why they chose me as the chief."
He had always suspected that most people in the White Tower had different stubbornness and quirks. Most of them didn't like to see people, liked to stay in the laboratory, and were obsessed with scientific research and truth.
Lu Fenghan rubbed Qi Yan's soft hair and said seriously, "Little Chief, I agree with their choice."
As a bystander, Lu Fenghan could easily detect the clear brilliance of the prayer.
Qi Yan is young and has not experienced much, but he is firm, rational and clean. Such people often look at problems more purely than those who have been immersed in political politics for many years. Although his intelligence is superior to most people, he never relies on his talent to be arrogant or domineering. Instead, he is good at discovering the excellent qualities of others.
The people in the White Tower recognized Qi Yan and had high hopes for him, believing that he would grow into a good enough person in the future, which is why they gave him the crown.
Seeing that Qi Yan's hair was messed up by him, Lu Fenghan withdrew his hand and said to comfort him: "The current alliance is relatively stable. You have enough time to grow and reach the standard in your mind."
Qi Yan wondered: "Why is it 'stable'?"
"Although there is a war going on now, and even the capital planet has been occupied by the rebels, and one of the three generals is collaborating with the enemy, and the other is confused. But to be honest, there is no problem with the 'roots' of the alliance. The freedom, equality, dignity, order, and rule of law advocated by the Human Interstellar Covenant are still there."
Lu Fenghan spoke in a casual tone, but pointed out the key point sharply, "The rebels took over Leto because they were forced into a desperate situation by the alliance."
Qi Yan understood: "If the rebels don't take the initiative, seize the initiative, and occupy Leto, they will most likely be gradually defeated by the expeditionary force?"
"That's right. Although the Alliance has undergone a technological catastrophe, and the star map has shrunk to only four administrative regions, its foundation can sustain long-term consumption. You see, countless taxes are allocated as military expenses every year, and the expeditionary force has new weapons and sufficient food.
But the rebels can’t hold out. They can hold out for 20 to 50 years, 100 to 120 years. They will collapse before they even have to fight. The rebels don’t have a so-called ‘economy’. The wartime society under the full military/business management has not yet formed a complete economic chain. They fight with all their might. Once they lose the war, they will leave nothing behind.”
Qi Yan paid little attention to these things in the past, but now, listening to Lu Fenghan's casual talk, he gradually had a general understanding of the situation.
"On the surface, it looked like the Alliance was defeated. But in reality, the rebels' occupation of Leto was the beginning of their most difficult time?"
Lu Fenghan found that chatting with Qi Yan was a very good experience, because no matter what you said, he could understand it quickly and apply it to other situations.
"That's what you said. The rebels penetrated deep into the central administrative district and occupied Leto. While taking the first step and severely weakening the morale of the alliance, they also put themselves in a dilemma.
Leto is easy to defend but difficult to attack, but once General Nie gradually recovers the remaining occupied planets and moves towards Leto step by step, what will the rebels face?"
Prayer: "Trapped in an isolated city?"
"Yes, they will defend the isolated city." Lu Fenghan showed approval. "At that time, the rebels will either choose to surrender and hand over Leto. Or they will defend Leto until they are forced to surrender and hand over Leto."
"The core battlefield has always been on the front line of the Southern Cross Region?" Qi Yan recalled what General Nie Huaiting said to Lu Fenghan in the communication on the day of the founding ceremony. "That's why General Nie asked you to go back to the front line directly."
"How can you be so smart? Yes, the situation on the front line is under control, and the rebels' manpower has been eliminated. Then, the situation is completely settled."
Qi Yan imagined: "What if the rebels didn't attack Leto? We should maintain the status quo and not make this move."
"It will continue to be consumed, and the army and rule will gradually collapse and be completely dragged down." Lu Fenghan pointed out, "So, the new wise man of the rebel army is more skillful and courageous than his predecessors - he is unwilling to shrink outside the alliance star field and wants to fight for the future of the rebel army.
However, this is no less than a huge gamble. If he wins, the Alliance will be overthrown and the entire star field will be his. If he loses, the rebels will be destroyed and history will end. "
After listening to Lu Fenghan's analysis, the situation that was originally shrouded in fog became clear. Qi Yan summarized, a little confusingly: "Now, the Alliance has lost, but it has not really lost. The rebels have won, but they have not really won either." He was very serious, "Of course, this is based on the premise that both the Alliance and the people are determined to fight."
At this time, the reconnaissance ship had stopped near the second signal base station, and the metal arm extended, and the small maintenance robot released reported that the instrument was damaged. Lu Fenghan gave the "maintenance" command, and the small robot began to move in the monitoring screen.
He continued the previous topic: "Now, the wise men of the rebel army want to do their best and fight to the death. They are trying to survive. The Alliance is aroused with anger and blood. When people are angry to a certain extent, they will also burst out with immeasurable energy."
At this moment, the alarm beeped in the cockpit, and Lu Fenghan asked: "Pojun?"
Po Jun spoke only after getting permission: "General, Chief, we detected a group fight not far away, we suggest you take a detour."
At the same time, several red spots representing high-speed energy bodies appeared on the radar screen.
Lu Fenghan judged: "They didn't deliberately intercept us. It must be a coincidence. Zoom in the picture."
The next second, a "fight" scene appeared on the screen. Several gray starships were blasting against black starships, but the aesthetics of both sides were not very good. The hulls were sprayed with various symbols, and the style was exactly the same as the starship that Lu Fenghan robbed when he came back from Dawn Star.
Qi Yan also saw it: "Interstellar pirates fighting?" He pointed to a certain place on the screen, "Here, this is the rebel supply ship, a medium-sized one. Are they trying to steal this?"
"That's probably true. The supply ship has been scrapped, but the stuff inside is still there. The gray side found it first, and the black side found it later. They couldn't agree on how to divide the loot, so they just robbed the robbers."
Lu Fenghan has sharp eyes. After a few glances, he figured out the eighteen generations of the enemy. "It's still a small starship that has been in service for decades. The armor is so tattered that it's almost falling off. When a cannon is fired, the ship will shake three times. It's not wealthy and poor. It must be a 'rat' that has been roaming around the border for years and only dares to show up when the situation is chaotic."
Qi Yan saw through Lu Fenghan's intention, but still asked: "General, are you ready?"
Lu Fenghan raised his eyebrows: "Do you want to play together?"
Qi Yan nodded: "Yes!"
So Lu Fenghan ordered: "Pojun, see how many people are nearby."
Po Jun sent a message and quickly reported: "Three reconnaissance ships nearby responded to me."
"That's enough, connect the communication."
In less than ten seconds, three video dialog boxes appeared on the virtual screen, and Qi Yan saw someone he knew in them—Chagall.
Without further ado, Lu Fenghan said, "I ran into a few pirates trying to rob the rebels' supply ship. They might have taken advantage of our last battle."
Chagall responded positively: "Diligence and thrift are virtues! Even the smallest mosquito is still meat!"
"Captain Chagall is right," Lu Fenghan issued an order, "Everyone, assemble."
In an adjacent star field, a long distance away, Mei Jie Lin glanced at the message she received from Po Jun. She didn't want to travel thousands of miles to participate in the event, but was shocked by -
Other people's dates are under the moonlight, but the commander's date is to bring people along... to rob pirates