Limited Ambiguity Chapter 58 Part 2

Chapter 58.2

On the afternoon of July 9th, the Chanyuan set sail from the port, while the Pingning remained stationary. Captain Wayne only led several dozen medium-sized starships at the tail end. Taking advantage of this movement, Duchamp led the assault team to depart from another direction, heading to assist Long Xiyun.

In the command room, a virtual screen rose to the height of the wall, displaying an extremely detailed multi-dimensional starmap. The bottom right corner showed the faces of Magelyn and a few others.

They treated the communication channel like a chat room, engaging in lively conversation.

Lu Fenghan kept a straight face as he listened to their incessant chatter, thinking to himself, “Maybe in my past life, I was mute, and that’s why I’m surrounded by so many chatterboxes in this life, helping me make up for all the words I never spoke.”

Before long, the chatter on the communication channel quieted down, followed by Magelyn’s excited voice, “It’s begun, it’s begun! Donald has sent out his top captains this time. How exciting! Wayne, keep an eye on the rear. Everyone else, get your cannons warmed up. The fat sheep is here!”

At the same time, Pojun began reporting data feedback from the detection system.

“High-density heat signals detected at Jump Gate Y819. Estimated force: one main battleship. Time to exit: 2 minutes and 11 seconds! Attention, Miss Magelyn.”

“That sounds nice.” Magelyn was rarely addressed as “Miss” in her lifetime, so hearing it was quite novel. She felt that having that title attached to her name instantly gave her the refined air of a quiet noble lady from Leto, gracefully attending a banquet in her evening gown.

Consequently, her tone of voice became refined too. “Come, follow this young lady’s lead! Let’s blast those anti-intellectual idiots into oblivion together!”

Wayne couldn’t help but laugh uproariously over the communication channel.

It must be said that Magelyn’s technique of flying the rebel army like a kite was truly superb. Leading her team in a chase, with the rebel army in pursuit, she would run ahead for a while, then swiftly change formation, strike a few blows, and once satisfied, she would continue darting through space as if she were a slippery eel.

Coupled with Pojun’s assistance and the predictions from the new detection system, not a single one of Donald’s ambush plans succeeded. In a series of ‘unfortunate’ coincidences, the rebel forces attempting to encircle Magelyn would always find themselves intercepted. Wayne also firmly guarded the fleet’s rear, preventing the rebels from gaining any advantage.

Seeing Magelyn getting excited and getting into her element, Lu Fenghan diverted his attention to Duchamp’s communication. “Have you linked up with Long Xiyun?”

“Yes, but Donald has fortified this area heavily. Long Xiyun is being held up by the garrison. I’m currently dealing with the defense systems.”

After assessing the situation on-site, Lu Fenghan pulled up the list of the assault team’s members for this operation and quickly scanned through it from top to bottom, instructing Pojun, “Contact Captain Xavier from the assault team.”

Three seconds later, the communication link was established.

Lu Fenghan spoke first, “This is Lu Fenghan.”

Holding the control lever, Xavier suddenly saw a video dialogue box appear in front of him. Startled, he stuttered in response, “Com-Commander Lu Fenghan! I’m Captain Xavier, part of the assault team’s destroyer squadron. Please give your orders!”

“Switch your destroyer to a microstarship, find a way to bypass the planetary defense system, and destroy one of its bases. I’ve already sent you the specific coordinates. This defense system is heavily fortified. Even bombarding it with shells for an hour might not penetrate it.”

Before Xavier could respond, he heard his superior officer, Duchamp, curse, “A small asteroid dedicated to building a military factory actually has such a high-end defense system? Do the rebels have nowhere else to spend their money?”

Xavier somewhat agreed, “Indeed! Frugality is a virtue!” But then, realizing it wasn’t the time to unanimously condemn the rebels, he turned to the video dialogue box with vigor and confidently affirmed, “I’ll ensure the mission is completed!”

After Xavier left the communication channel to switch to a microship, Duchamp couldn’t help but comment, “Commander, how did you spot him so quickly? Xavier has only been in the service for six months.”

Lu Fenghan: “So what if it’s only been six months? I see he’s already made it to captain through accumulating military merits. He’ll handle destroying a defense system base just fine.”

Duchamp muttered under his breath, “Clever at such a young age. I think I’ll give him some extra training and send him out more often.”

Lu Fenghan detected a hint of appreciation in Duchamp’s words.

“He’s a soldier, not a new recruit in an office job who needs several months to get familiar with his tasks. A blade isn’t sharp until it’s been honed, and if it’s not sharp, how can it draw blood?”

In just a few moments, Xavier reconnected to the communication channel, reporting, “Commander, I’ve switched to a microstarship! You can trust me to complete the mission!”

Lu Fenghan: “Afraid of dying?”

Xavier replied promptly, “Not afraid! If I were, I wouldn’t have joined the Expeditionary Force!”

Lu Fenghan remembered asking Xavier a similar question in the hovercar on the Foundation Day, and Xavier’s response then was, “With the Alliance in this state, it seems like someone has to do something.”

“Very well, then, go ahead.”

Xavier, filled with enthusiasm, gripped the control lever with his right hand and elegantly saluted Lu Fenghan with his left hand, “Thank you, Commander, for this opportunity to hone my skills!”

Duchamp covered his face, unsure whether to be pleased with Xavier’s insight or worried about his lack of cunning.

Nevertheless, he agreed with Lu Fenghan’s words. Jade cannot be polished without grinding, let alone on a battlefield where life and death hang in the balance.

What he considered protection now might become a deadly weapon in the future.

Meanwhile, Magelyn looked enthusiastic, her eyes shining as she asked Lu Fenghan over the communication channel, “Commander, are you bored guarding the rear? Next time, join us in battle for an exhilarating experience!”

Lu Fenghan was momentarily distracted, only responding with an “Hmm” after a few breaths, “I’ll stay back for this one. We’ll rotate next time.”

Suddenly, Qi Yan asked, “Are you unhappy?”

Lu Fenghan glanced over. “How can you tell?”

Qi Yan pointed to the corner of his mouth. “When you’re unhappy, there’s a slight change in the angle here. I can tell.”

Lu Fenghan didn’t deny it.

Seeing the battle progressing as planned, he muted the communication channel.

“It’s nothing, really. Around this time last year, the fleet I led was completely wiped out. The Eros was bombed to ashes, nothing left but flags and serial numbers.” Lu Fenghan’s tone was flat as he spoke these words.

Qi Yan knew that Lu Fenghan was referring to the first major defeat.

Everyone knew that unexpected events on the battlefield were unavoidable, especially when it involved ambushes due to traitorous leaks.

It wasn’t Lu Fenghan’s fault.

No one had ever blamed Lu Fenghan.

But it was clear that this incident weighed heavily on Lu Fenghan’s mind.

Qi Yan guessed that Lu Fenghan’s current mood was one of “self-blame,” but he couldn’t empathize and didn’t know how to offer comfort.

Rarely, this led him to experience an urgency to recover his emotional perception—

He wanted to understand Lu Fenghan’s emotions and figure out how to console him.

After hesitating for a moment, Qi Yan got up from the sofa and walked over to Lu Fenghan, carefully considering his words. “I’m actually not sure what to do.”

After speaking, he reached out to hug Lu Fenghan, but the angle was off. After a moment’s thought, he decided to bend his knees and kneel on the chair in front of Lu Fenghan, leaning forward to rest his chin on Lu Fenghan’s shoulder.

“General, don’t be sad.”

Lu Fenghan remained still, not daring to move.

He could feel the soft tips of Qi Yan’s hair brushing against his face, tickling him.

Qi Yan was doing his best to comfort him.

Lu Fenghan thought that Qi Yan had never changed.

With his left hand clasped around Qi Yan’s slender waist, Lu Fenghan glanced at the virtual screen where the video dialogue box showed Magelyn, Wayne, and the others with their mouths agape, expressions of shock on their faces.

Flashing a warning glance, Lu Fenghan decisively turned off the camera.

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