Chapter Eighty-Five: The Chase on the Moon

Zhang Desen felt an overwhelming urge to curse. He was utterly isolated, without support. His plan had been to hide on the moon, wait until both waves of enemy forces left, and then return safely to Earth. Who would have thought he’d be discovered so quickly? It was infuriating. Worse yet, eight enemy ships had arrived in pursuit.

Without hesitation, Zhang Desen turned to Li Longfang and said, "Longfang, enemy ships are tracking us."

Li Longfang was startled. "What? Where?"

"Behind us. Go to the tail section and operate the rear cannon. Prepare to engage."

"Understood!" Li Longfang replied, immediately rushing to the rear cannon station and activating the ship's tail gun.

Zhang Desen felt a brief surge of relief. He had taught Li Longfang how to use the rear cannon before launch—a wise decision indeed.

Though Zhang Desen increased speed, the enemy ships still drew closer. It was clear their target was him. He could have sped up even more, but doing so now would be suicidal; he was approaching the Plato Crater and had no intention of crashing.

Just then, the ship’s communications device crackled with incoming calls in an unintelligible language, though their arrogance was unmistakable. Zhang Desen guessed their intent and didn’t bother translating or replying.

Having been spotted, Zhang Desen did not immediately reactivate the plasma stealth system—it had been switched off after installing the data collection device. The enemy ships, enraged by his silence, opened fire, unleashing sweeping beams of light.

Zhang Desen called out to Li Longfang, "Fire back with everything you’ve got! No mercy!"

"Yes!" Li Longfang responded, unleashing a barrage from the tail cannon. To their delight, he shot down an enemy ship with his first salvo.

"I hit one, Desen! I hit an enemy ship! I’ll take them all down!"

"Excellent! Keep it up!" Zhang Desen replied, sharing the excitement.

The remaining seven enemy ships, seeing one of their own fall, kept their distance but intensified their attacks. Li Longfang retaliated without hesitation, unleashing even fiercer fire from the tail cannon.

Outnumbered, Zhang Desen decided to lead the enemy ships on a chase, hoping to shake them off. After entering the southern edge of the Plato Crater, he headed toward the Alpine Valley on the moon, planning to traverse from the southwestern mouth to the northeastern exit, using the canyon’s terrain to evade pursuit.

The enemy ships followed relentlessly, their firepower dense. Zhang Desen was forced into constant evasive maneuvers to avoid being hit.

The enemy pilots, evidently experienced, skillfully dodged Li Longfang’s pulse cannon shots, maintaining their pursuit.

At last, after considerable effort, the southwestern entrance to the Alpine Valley came into view. Zhang Desen lowered altitude and accelerated toward the canyon.

Upon reaching the mouth, he executed a daring aerial maneuver. The pursuing enemy ships were caught off guard; two crashed directly into the mountains, while another was struck by Li Longfang’s tail cannon.

"I hit another! Two crashed into the mountain!" Li Longfang exclaimed.

"Very good! Keep going. Four enemy ships remain—don’t let your guard down," Zhang Desen cautioned.

"Desen, if you repeat that move a few more times, we’ll finish them all," Li Longfang suggested.

"They’re experienced as well. Too many repetitions and they’ll adapt," Zhang Desen replied.

"Understood!"

Just then, the monitor displayed new information: Atlantian combat ships were approaching the artificial satellite belonging to the Terrorian Olm Empire. The Terrorian Olm Empire’s space forces began defending the satellite.

Zhang Desen, piloting the ship, remarked, "Looks like the Atlantians intend to attack the Terrorian satellite."

"Let them fight," Li Longfang replied indifferently.

"I hope the Terrians hold their ground. Otherwise, all our efforts will be wasted," Zhang Desen said.

"Why?" Li Longfang asked, surprised.

"I just installed the data collection device. If the satellite is destroyed now, our ‘thousand-mile eyes’ and ‘favorable winds’ will vanish. Once I input another program, the satellite will serve both the Terrians and us—not just for intelligence gathering," Zhang Desen explained.

"Let’s see how it turns out. For now, let’s shake off these pursuers," Li Longfang said.

"Agreed. Brace yourself; another major aerial maneuver is coming," Zhang Desen instructed.

"Understood!"

Near a cliff, Zhang Desen performed a rapid climb. Another enemy ship, unable to react in time, crashed and exploded. The remaining three managed to ascend just in time to avoid disaster.

Meanwhile, Jeff Cole, captain of the Atlantian space squadron leading the pursuit, was infuriated. Previously, his unit had lost only two ships while destroying nine Terrorian Olm Empire fighters. Now, this elusive target had cost him ships without so much as scratching the enemy, and he was livid.

He ordered, "Number Two, intercept the enemy on their predicted route."

"Yes, sir!" came the reply.

"Number Three, move to the canyon above and prepare for an ambush. Execute a dive attack at the right moment!" Cole commanded.

"Yes, sir!"

With their orders, the remaining three Atlantian fighters split up. Observing two enemy ships depart, Li Longfang said, "Desen, two enemy ships just left. Are they plotting something?"

"Ignore them. Keep firing," Zhang Desen replied.

"Understood!"

Zhang Desen, aware of the situation from the radar, stuck to his plan, climbing to a certain altitude before suddenly diving at high speed, flying between two nearby mountain peaks.

He passed through at a perilous angle. Cole, in pursuit, managed to follow and evade Li Longfang’s tail cannon fire, making Zhang Desen realize the opponent was more skilled than he had anticipated.

Zhang Desen began weaving through the mountains, trying to lose the enemy. Suddenly, an enemy ship appeared ahead—the Atlantian Number Two, tasked with interception. It opened fire immediately.

Caught off guard, Zhang Desen evaded, but the right wing was grazed by a sweeping beam. The hull was damaged, though not severely.

Amid blaring alarms, Li Longfang asked, "Desen, what happened?"

"Don’t worry. Focus on your task; I’ll handle the rest," Zhang Desen replied.

"Yes!"

Zhang Desen realized the two enemy ships had coordinated to ambush him. He needed a new strategy.

Soon, Zhang Desen’s ship and the enemy crossed paths. Fortunately, the Atlantian Number Two nearly collided with Cole’s fighter; both had to make emergency maneuvers. In the tight confines of the canyon, chaos ensued.

Taking advantage, Li Longfang fired the tail cannon, striking the Atlantian Number Two, which crashed.

"I shot down another! Only two enemy ships left," Li Longfang announced.

"Good. One is still pursuing us, and the other is lurking nearby. Stay vigilant," Zhang Desen warned.

"Understood."

To gain a better vantage, Zhang Desen climbed and spotted the ambushing Atlantian Number Three.

He sped past the mountain peak, then leveled out. Cole, delayed by the earlier confusion, couldn’t keep up, cursing as he pursued.

"Number Three, what are you doing? Why didn’t you dive attack? That was your chance when the enemy climbed!"

"Sorry, captain. I thought he was doubling back to attack you. I misjudged. I’ll catch up and attack now," Number Three replied.

Cole, enraged, shouted, "Idiot! Maintain altitude and keep tracking. Wait for the right moment to dive. I’ll attack from below; together we’ll avenge our comrades!"

"Yes, sir!"

Perhaps due to his anger, Cole made a mistake. As he crested a mountain, his fighter scraped the peak, damaging its underside. Alarms blared.

Number Three called, "Captain, do you need assistance?"

Cole snapped, "Shut your mouth! When I first fought, you weren’t even around. This is nothing—just keep up and pursue!"

"Yes, sir!"

Cole’s damaged fighter shook violently. Number Three worried for his captain but dared not say a word, continuing the mission as ordered.

Li Longfang saw the situation from the tail and informed Zhang Desen, who confirmed it via radar.

Zhang Desen then made a bold tactical move, turning left in a wide circle—just wide enough to keep Number Three from finding a proper angle for a dive attack.

After two left turns, he switched to two right turns, repeating the sequence. Cole, meanwhile, struggled. His damaged fighter, already difficult to control, now spun uncontrollably as he pursued Zhang Desen’s circling maneuvers.

Finally, the propulsion system beneath Cole’s fighter, vital for climbing and vertical takeoff, exploded due to severe damage. This triggered a chain reaction, sending his ship tumbling down in flames.

At that moment, Number Three, still searching for an opportunity to attack from above, was stunned by the scene, unable to believe what he saw. He frantically called out, "Captain! Pull up, pull up!"

But reality was unyielding. Seizing the moment, Zhang Desen turned his ship to face Number Three and climbed rapidly, launching a fierce attack.

The Number Three pilot, caught off guard, could only shield his eyes and cry out in despair.

In seconds, Number Three’s ship was hit, exploded in midair, and disintegrated. Its pilot was killed instantly.

At last, Zhang Desen and Li Longfang had overcome their pursuers and were safe, for now.

"Longfang, we’ve won. You did well. Without your help, I don’t know if I could have escaped. Thank you," Zhang Desen said.

"No, Desen, it was your piloting and tactics. Otherwise, the enemy would have concentrated all their fire on us," Li Longfang replied.

"Enough—no need for mutual praise. The danger isn’t over. Our ship’s energy is low. We must replenish it immediately, or switch to backup power," Zhang Desen warned.

"How do we recharge the ship?" Li Longfang asked.

"As long as there’s sunlight," Zhang Desen answered.

Li Longfang looked out anxiously. "It’s dark outside."

"This is space. It’s different from Earth. Look up—see that beautiful blue planet? You haven’t had time to notice before."

Li Longfang looked where Zhang Desen indicated. "It’s gorgeous! What is it?"

"Can’t you guess?" Zhang Desen asked.

"No idea."

"There’s a prize for the correct answer."

"I really don’t know."

"That’s our home—Earth," Zhang Desen said.

"What? Really?" Li Longfang was astonished.

"Enough chatter. Back to business. It's a new moon now; sunlight falls on the far side of the moon. We need to reach the far side to find sunlight and recharge using solar panels. If there’s solar wind, we can absorb plasma from it," Zhang Desen explained.

"And how do we get there?" Li Longfang asked.

"Don’t worry. We’re in the Alpine Valley, near the lunar north pole, heading for the northeastern mouth. Ahead lies the Aristotle Crater; before reaching it, we’ll fly north across the Mare Frigoris plain to the north pole. Beyond the pole, we’ll find sunlight. Since the Terrians and Atlantians are fighting between the Earth and the moon, the far side gives us cover," Zhang Desen replied.

"That’s wonderful!"

"Yes. With the pursuers gone, we’ll reach the far side, deploy solar panels, replenish energy, and then head south to the Poincare Crater. We’ll decide when to fly to the lunar south pole and when to return to Earth."

"Understood!"

But Zhang Desen overlooked a detail: though they had eliminated the pursuers and shot down Jeff Cole’s flagship, Cole was a seasoned combatant. Before his ship exploded, he activated the escape system, separating the cockpit and landing safely, then sending out a distress signal.

Soon, rescue arrived. Cole resolved to pilot a new fighter and continue the chase, seeking revenge for his squadron. Zhang Desen remained unaware of all this.