Chapter 123: Anti-Aircraft Battle

At this moment, inside the air defense command room of the Galaxy Empire, all the feared soldiers of the empire were stunned, staring blankly at the unfolding events. Such dramatic ups and downs in such a short time left them momentarily speechless. After a while, with a sudden cry, all the feared soldiers began to react. Kad Holo beat his chest in frustration and shouted:

“It’s my fault, all my fault! I never imagined that Kaba Dool from the Yuri Gotnay Group would be so cunning. Even Gase Ori was just a decoy.”

Beside him, the chief of staff wept and said:

“No, it’s my fault. I failed as a staff officer; I did not fulfill my responsibilities. How are we supposed to report this to the Supreme Leader?”

Kad Holo said:

“I’ll take care of it!”

Meanwhile, at the front command post of the Ormei Empire in the Uliyasutai region, the entire command post was jubilant.

Amidst the celebration, the communication screen in the command room showed Sed Ori online.

He was both joyful over the success of the operation and sorrowful for his brother’s sacrifice.

After the cheers subsided, Kaba Dool addressed Sed Ori on the screen:

“Ori, please don’t be sad. Your brother is a hero of the empire. The Ormei Empire will never forget him. He was also very clever—he managed to have a drone lay an ambush in the air beforehand and launched a fatal strike at the last moment, destroying the enemy’s electromagnetic railgun and completing the mission. In other words, you have a brother who is not only wise and brave but also an imperial hero. You should be very proud, Ori.”

Sed Ori wiped his tears and replied:

“Yes, I’m proud. I shouldn’t be sad. Report to the Supreme Commander: the rescue fleet is about to arrive. I will personally lead the first echelon to arrive first. Please send navigation signals to guide us for rendezvous. Thank you!”

Kaba Dool responded with excitement:

“Good, very good! Truly the brother of a hero. Come over! We’re ready here.”

Sed Ori immediately answered:

“Yes, mission guaranteed!”

At the same time, at the meteor crater base between Zalgarant and Brunei, the combined household troops of the Zhang and Liu families were fiercely resisting the Galaxy Empire’s feared legions and had successfully repelled their powerful offensive.

Seeing that the human base inside the meteor crater was holding firm after prolonged assault, with humans suffering mainly ammunition depletion but minimal overall losses, while the attackers had lost over eighteen men including support troops—and this did not even count the wounded—the Galaxy Empire commander, Gori Dende, who directed the assault on the ring mountain base, was furious.

After ordering the sixth assault, he called Jilong Konde and said:

“Commander, our attacking forces have suffered heavy losses. Please send additional support.”

Jilong Konde frowned deeply and asked sternly:

“Gori Dende, what do you mean? How severe are your casualties?”

Gori Dende replied:

“We have lost eighteen soldiers, including several division commanders and two brigade commanders...”

Enraged, Jilong Konde shouted:

“Enough! Now tell me, at what cost have you eliminated the enemy? Don’t tell me you haven’t even breached the human position!”

Gori Dende answered nervously:

“We couldn’t reach the outskirts of the human base and didn’t eliminate many enemies.”

Jilong Konde roared:

“Why is that? You’d better have a good explanation, or you’ll lose your head!”

Gori Dende said:

“It’s like this: our troops seriously lack heavy weapons. We don’t even have tanks or aircraft. If we had three tanks and three planes, it would be no problem.”

Jilong Konde was taken aback and asked:

“What? Haven’t those three hover tanks arrived yet?”

Gori Dende immediately realized and replied:

“Yes, requesting urgent support.”

Jilong Konde calmed down somewhat and said:

“Alright, Dende, I’ll push for the three tanks to arrive quickly. As for the air force, I’ll figure something out.”

Gori Dende, anxious, said:

“Commander, please make sure to bring three fighter jets. Our heavy casualties are not only due to their firepower but also because some invisible air units are aiding them.”

Jilong Konde was shocked:

“What? Tell me exactly what’s happening.”

Gori Dende then explained the aerial strikes they had encountered.

When the Galaxy Empire’s feared attack forces approached the ring mountain base within a certain range, they were met with a relentless hail of bullets from the air, striking their advancing troops from all angles. No matter how they tried to conceal themselves, they could not avoid the assault, causing heavy casualties.

Since they could not see where these air attacks originated, Gori Dende could only feel helpless. Of course, he had no idea that this was the effect of the “transcendence shooting method.”

After hearing Gori Dende’s report, Jilong Konde was silent for a moment before saying:

“In that case, your offensive must not stop. I will expedite the arrival of those three tanks. I’ll also find a way to deploy the air force; three fighter-attack aircraft will reach the battlefield soon. Additionally, I’ll try to allocate more troops to you. Victory is essential—understand?”

“Yes!”

Thereafter, Gori Dende’s assault showed no sign of weakening; if anything, it grew fiercer.

However, their attack process resembled previous attempts. Upon starting the assault, the humans’ Napoleonic cannons fired solid shot at long range.

These solid shots were essentially large iron balls that did not explode but could topple an entire row of soldiers. The Galaxy Empire’s feared troops, employing dense infantry charge tactics, suffered greatly.

After pushing forward a bit more, they entered the range of Napoleonic explosive shells, which detonated amidst the attackers, toppling ranks of feared soldiers.

At the same time, the human forces unleashed a rain of Maxim machine-gun bullets employing the transcendence shooting method. The Empire’s troops, using dense infantry charges, suffered even more devastating losses.

Advancing further, they came within range of Napoleonic buckshot and shrapnel shells, enduring continuous attacks that inflicted escalating casualties.

Shrapnel shells, an early form of cluster munitions, exploded to scatter steel balls that killed enemies.

Meanwhile, the combined household troops of the Zhang and Liu families manned hand-cranked Gatling guns from the high ground, firing down on the enemy. Together with the airborne Maxim machine-gun fire, they formed a three-dimensional integrated fire network akin to combined air-ground assault.

Following this, the household troops employed Hanyang rifles, explosive charges, and M24 reduced-yield grenades, delivering heavier blows to the Galaxy Empire’s feared legions, increasing their losses.

Despite relentless efforts, the feared soldiers finally neared the edge of the human defensive line.

However, the Zhang and Liu troops immediately threw more grenades and explosives, halting the Empire’s advance once again.

At this moment, the three hover tanks of the Galaxy Empire finally arrived at the battlefield, causing a sudden shift in the situation. The presence of tanks greatly boosted the morale of the feared soldiers, who launched immediate assaults.

Although the Empire’s infantry had been suppressed, the Napoleonic cannons and other weapons of the human combined household troops could not penetrate the tanks’ outer armor.

Seeing the tanks approaching, the assembled troops turned to the temporary commander Zhao Chengming and asked:

“What should we do? Those three iron beasts are getting closer...”

Zhao Chengming stopped their questions, observed carefully, then turned and said:

“Don’t worry. These must be the tanks. Didn’t the 'Ring Mountain' ship have anti-tank missiles and pulse anti-tank rocket launchers left by the ancient humans? Bring them down immediately.”

“Yes!”

At that moment, someone shouted, pointing to the sky:

“Air force! Enemy air force!”

Zhao Chengming and the others looked in the direction indicated and indeed saw three Galaxy Empire space fighter-attack aircraft flying toward their position.

Yet Zhao Chengming remained calm and even joked:

“Alas, using space fighters inside the atmosphere—what a waste of precious assets...”

He then turned and ordered:

“Immediately activate the air defense on the 'Ring Mountain' ship. Use the ancient human weapons left by our ancestors to make sure the enemy aircraft do not return!”

“Yes!”

Meanwhile, the Galaxy Empire’s tanks sped up their advance, aiming to break through the human outer defenses and seize the guarded positions.

At the meteor crater base, a guard ran to Zhao Chengming and reported:

“Commander, the ancient humans’ anti-tank weapons have been brought out. The air defense weapons are fully prepared and standing by to counterattack.”

Zhao Chengming smiled and said:

“Good, very good! Relay my orders: everyone continue their duties. As for the enemy tanks, the anti-tank squads must be ready. When the tanks come within about two hundred meters of our front line, open fire and destroy them, then report back.”

“Yes!”

He added:

“Although we don’t know if the enemy fighters are just circling at a distance without approaching, pass my order: air defense units hold fire until I give the command to attack.”

The guard replied promptly:

“Yes!”

Far away, the pilot of the Galaxy Empire’s third space fighter-attack craft, Long 1, reported:

“Flight leader, we have circled for a long time, but we only see our ground troops constantly suffering air attacks. We haven’t spotted the enemy air force, and our radar cannot detect enemy aircraft either. Has their technology advanced beyond our ability to compete?”

The flight leader of the first craft surveyed the situation and said:

“Not necessarily. The weapons used by their ground forces don’t seem very advanced. There may be secrets unknown to us. Third craft, proceed with a dive attack. First and second craft will continue aerial observation.”

The third craft pilot responded:

“Yes!”

Seeing one of the three enemy fighters suddenly begin a dive, the assembled troops looked to Zhao Chengming. Someone quickly asked:

“One enemy craft is diving. What should we do? Please instruct!”

Zhao Chengming smiled and said:

“Perfect. Let’s take down that one first—let it be the opening cut.”

Everyone answered in unison:

“Yes!”

The Galaxy Empire’s third space fighter then fully committed to its dive toward the human base in the meteor crater.

The weather was clear and cloudless with excellent visibility. Seeing the clearly visible human base ahead, the pilot felt confident and thought:

“Good attack visibility, an ideal target. It’s mine!”

Although worried as the enemy craft rapidly approached, Zhao Chengming waved them down and said:

“Hold steady!”

As the craft got closer, he repeated:

“Hold steady!”

When the enemy craft opened its weapons bay and prepared to strike, Zhao Chengming immediately ordered the air defense:

“Attack!”

At once, all anti-air fire from the 'Ring Mountain' ship rained down. The third craft was caught off guard and struck by fierce defensive fire before it could react. The pilot couldn’t even cry out before the cockpit erupted in a massive explosion, the craft disintegrating midair into a brilliant burst like a spectacular firework.