Chapter 52.2
The turning point came half a month later.
When he heard Pojun’s voice, Lu Fenghan opened his eyes, devoid of any trace of drowsiness. “What’s wrong?”
Pojun’s voice remained flat and unaffected. “I detected a signal, highly likely to be from a nearby starship.”
Lu Fenghan rose to his feet and hurried out of the cave, gazing up at the pitch-black night sky. “Are you sure?”
“Positive,” Pojun confirmed. “Awaiting further instructions.”
Without hesitation, Lu Fenghan commanded, “Take control of the starship.”
Pojun: “Roger.”
The wait felt interminable, each second stretched severalfold. Lu Fenghan flicked his fingers, then clenched his hand suddenly.
“Control acquired,” Pojun’s voice finally came through, “There are five individuals aboard the starship, all injured. The model is G-173z, with signs of modification, and ample energy reserves.”
“This model was phased out by the Alliance forty years ago. Modified or not, as long as it’s running, it’s good enough, even if it’s from a hundred and forty years ago,” Lu Fenghan remarked, not picky as long as it was functional.
Before long, Pojun spoke again, “Three individuals deceased.”
“How did they die?”
“I couldn’t understand. Human speech is too complex,” Pojun replied, adeptly assuming multiple roles, relaying what it heard to Lu Fenghan.
Lu Fenghan grasped the situation after a few sentences.
These individuals were indeed space pirates. Acting on orders, they set out from the Central Region toward the Southern Cross Region. Along the way, unable to resist their ancestral penchant for plundering, they pursued a transport ship.
Little did they know, the transport ship was actually a disguised military ship, laden with frontline supplies. As a result, they were hunted down in turn.
After being chased for several hundred light-years, they fortunately stumbled upon an unstable small wormhole and, without hesitation, plunged in for survival.
Unexpectedly, upon emerging, they encountered a cosmic storm. By the time they regained their consciousness, they found themselves beyond the range of the Alliance’s starmaps. The starship’s system was half-destroyed, and the remaining functions were insufficient to chart a course back to their point of origin.
Drifting in space for a considerable time, their hopes of returning to the Alliance dwindled. They began to shift blame onto each other, and when Pojun seized control of the starship, they assumed it was a malfunction. Long-suppressed tensions erupted. After a few shots, three were dead.
Pojun reported again, “Another one dead, leaving only one severely injured.”
Three minutes later, Pojun reported once more, “The last remaining individual has also ceased vital signs.”
Lu Fenghan raised an eyebrow.
He had been planning how to deal with these space pirates and seize control of the starship.
Pojun spoke again, “Five minutes later, the starship will land.”
Lu Fenghan nodded, uttered a quiet “Hmm,” then returned to the depths of the cave, picking up four stones near the wall engraved with a message.
He didn’t quite believe in ghosts.
However, he would fulfill the wishes of the departed, allowing their souls to return home.
When he came out, he could already see a gradually expanding shadow in the night sky. Before long, a starship, its hull painted in bright yellow and green, covered with traces of repairs, appeared before Lu Fenghan.
Lu Fenghan’s aesthetic standards was not particularly high, but his eyes was almost blinded by the enigmatic vision.
The ship’s door opened before Lu Fenghan, and the gangway reached the ground.
Lu Fenghan boarded the ship. Pojun had already cleaned it up meticulously, even spraying air freshener throughout the entire vessel.
The scent was too cheap. Lu Fenghan sneezed several times upon entering.
As the starship ascended, Lu Fenghan gazed at the shrinking land below. “Pojun, record the coordinates of this planet.”
“Coordinates recorded. What should it be named?” Pojun inquired.
“Dawn,” Lu Fenghan recalled the inscription on the wall. “Let’s call it ‘Dawn.'”
As the dilapidated starship reentered space, Lu Fenghan sat before the control panel, observing the familiar scenery outside the viewport. He leaned back against his chair, the tension in his body finally relieved.
Pojun’s voice no longer emanated from the personal terminal but appeared in the ship’s broadcast system. “Please provide navigation instructions.”
Lu Fenghan ordered, “Retrieve the navigation logs of this starship.”
Soon, a virtual screen unfolded before Lu Fenghan, displaying a winding line, resembling the meandering trail left by aimless ants in the sand.
With the location of the wormhole exit confirmed, Lu Fenghan tapped his fingertips. “Let’s head here first. If we’re lucky, we might be able to pass through the wormhole again and return directly to Southern Cross Region.”
The starship traversed the silent galaxy, and with each segment of the journey, a new starmap, starting from Dawn, was gradually completed.
Lu Fenghan gazed at the monotonous scenery outside the window. The excitement he felt since the discovery of the signal had subsided, replaced by longing.
It spread across the horizon like a gust of wind, fleeting yet pervasive.
Lu Fenghan couldn’t help but wonder if Qi Yan would be angry with him.
He probably would. Remembering Qi Yan’s tears, Lu Fenghan felt he deserved a scolding.
But then, Qi Yan must have thought he was dead, right?
Would he cry?
When they finally meet, would he think he’s an impostor or a hallucination?
A sharp pang of dull pain surged again. Lu Fenghan took a deep breath, afraid to dwell on it any longer.
After a long while, Pojun’s voice echoed through the ship. “Approaching the jump point. Are we ready to jump?”
Lu Fenghan opened his eyes, his gaze still sharp. “Yes, we’re ready to jump.”
Southern Cross Region.
“I’m starting to feel a bit sorry for Old Klimo now. He always thought Weiss is his man, tried to place him in the Expeditionary Force, and even promoted him to acting commander after the first major defeat. Who would’ve thought Weiss is working for Hodgkin!”
Vincent sighed. “Klimo’s mind seems to have never been clear. He’s been manipulated by Hodgkin, then pushed by the rebel army to challenge General Nie’s authority. When someone acts so foolishly, it’s hard not to recall what the Commander once said, ‘His mind must have been left behind in the interstellar jump!'”
As the last syllable left his lips, he seemed to realize what he had said, and the smile faded from his face.
Erich seemed oblivious to Vincent’s expression and asked, “How’s the situation?”
“The people sent to pick up Weiss have arrived. It’s remarkable how he managed to hide for months and then suddenly make contact with the rebels to arrange a pickup.”
“You’ve got the sequence wrong. He made contact with the rebels first, then dared to show his face.” Erich was wearing a white military uniform with a cap, and beneath the brim, his gray eyes appeared calm. He exuded no martial aura. He looked more like a civilian official within the military hierarchy than the Deputy Commander of the Expeditionary Force.
Vincent shrugged. “Who cares about the sequence? Either way, now that he’s emerged, he’s going to get hammered. Otherwise, it won’t ease the hearts of our brothers who sacrificed themselves in the two defeats. But in terms of manpower, we’re not lacking, and the rebels aren’t either. Can we really win this battle?”
Erich replied, “The rebels are led by Donald this time. He’s suspicious and cautious. We only need to detain Weiss and avoid protracted fighting. Everyone is having a hard time recently, so Donald won’t recklessly pursue us.”
Just as Erich predicted, halfway through the battle, the rebels sent a signal, clearly indicating their desire to halt the fighting temporarily. When the communications officer asked for Erich’s opinion, he nodded, “Our only target this time is Weiss.”
In the silent expanse of space, the two forces faced off, their cannons primed and ready, awaiting only the command to fire.
Vincent said, “Donald must be calculating too, wondering if it’s worth it to confront us over one Weiss.”
Erich followed Vincent’s lead, “After years of friendship, we can afford to let him finish his calculations.”
Just then, a report came in from the sensors, “Deputy Commander, unidentified starship approaching. It seems to be… space pirates!”
Vincent expressed his confusion, “Pirates? Aren’t they causing trouble with the rebels in the Central Region? How many are coming from there? What kind of weapons do they have? Are they here to help our opponents or fight them?”
Erich turned his gaze in the direction indicated.
The sensor operator sounded puzzled, “Report, only one starship, and its weapons seem rudimentary!”
Vincent rose to see for himself, observing the garish and dilapidated vessel on the screen. It looked like it might fall apart any second. “Is that thing even worthy of being called a starship? Did it get lost?”
At the same time, Donald also noticed the approaching starship.
Just then, the communication channels of both the Expeditionary Force and the rebels were forcefully intercepted.
A casually indifferent voice suddenly resounded through the frequencies, “Donald? Long time no see, old friend.”
Donald jumped to his feet, his eyes fixed on the audio frequency displayed on the communication channel, still shaken by the unexpected voice.
On the other side, Vincent accidentally knocked over the cup of water beside him, his eyes widening as he and Erich exchanged puzzled looks. Vincent stammered out, “That voice just now—”
Erich clenched his fist and then relaxed it, taking a few steps closer to the control console, leaning his hands on the edge, and asked in a deep voice, “Who are you?”
He waited almost breathlessly for a response from the other side.
On board the starship, Lu Fenghan heard the question and could almost imagine Erich’s expression at that moment.
He replied with a hint of amusement in his voice, “You’ve been through a lot, Erich.”
Erich’s eyes suddenly reddened.
Another voice echoed through the communication channel.
Donald enunciated each word deliberately, “Lu Fenghan.”
He questioned, “Back from the dead?”
Lu Fenghan’s voice sounded nonchalant, “What, can’t a guy die and come back?”
He then instructed, “Initiate video feed.”
In the next moment, the video communication was forcefully initiated on the starship where Donald was located.
Lu Fenghan appeared before everyone’s eyes.
Arching an eyebrow, Lu Fenghan spotted Weiss standing next to Donald and, across the vacuum of space, asked Erich, “Arresting people?”
Through the communication channel, Erich replied, “Yes, depends on whether Donald is willing to release him.”
Lu Fenghan looked towards Donald. He was leaning back casually, devoid of any military bearing, simply raising his chin slightly. “What do you say?”
Weiss glanced at the unexpectedly resurrected Lu Fenghan, then looked at Donald, feeling a sense of unease.
After many years with the Expeditionary Force, Weiss knew all too well about Lu Fenghan’s notorious reputation on the front lines. Donald might not necessarily engage in conflict with Lu Fenghan for his sake.
He instinctively took a small step back.
As expected.
After a brief pause, Donald generously said, “If this man is worthy, consider him your resurrection gift.”
Lu Fenghan raised a finger. “Your kindness is appreciated, and I’ll accept it without hesitation.”
After Weiss was taken away and handed over to the Expeditionary Force, Lu Fenghan instructed Erich again, “Erich, on my first day back, I’d rather not spill any blood. Once we have him, lead the team back.”
With that said, he glanced at the interface for messages. There was still no reply from Qi Yan.
Inexplicably, Lu Fenghan felt a surge of restlessness in his heart.
Erich promptly responded without hesitation, “Yes!”
Donald watched Lu Fenghan’s image in the video, suspecting that this person had been hiding for a long time. Half a year ago, he had suddenly appeared near Leto, only to quickly disappear again. Now, he calmly appeared here—
There must be some trickery or plan behind it.
Moreover, he was piloting a starship clearly belonging to space pirates.
Despite his various thoughts, Donald didn’t show any signs of it, only smiling as he spoke, “Congratulations, Commander Lu. However, it’s been over a year since you last showed. Upon your return, things might be,” he paused subtly, “a bit different from before.”
This blatant attempt at sowing discord fell just short of saying that Lu Fenghan’s ability to command effectively after being away for so long was still unknown.
Meanwhile, the Expeditionary Force arrayed itself in a disciplined and imposing manner.
All the starships turned their hulls, facing the same direction, and simultaneously released emblems composed of shields and swords, the light dazzlingly bright.
With darkness as the backdrop.
The leader of the Expeditionary Force had returned.
“Today, I’ll teach you a lesson while I’m at it.”
A smile played on Lu Fenghan’s lips as he stared directly at Donald, his gaze as sharp as a knife.
“The command ship of the Expeditionary Force will be wherever I am.”
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