Chapter 25: Choosing the Right Allies

George Campbell.

Currently a probationary staff officer with the First Fleet, holding the rank of lieutenant.

In fact, when George first graduated, he was a second lieutenant.

It’s true that Lin Yu and George never quite got along back at the academy.

But as mentioned before, Lin Yu never actually disliked George.

Because even though this guy’s pride runs sky-high—even after losing to Lin Yu time and again—he never stoops to petty revenge or plays dirty behind the scenes.

That’s actually the complete opposite of his father’s character.

Lin Yu read through the file, but didn’t give an answer right away. Nor did he turn it down.

Instead, he used the Federation Fleet’s internal comms to make a call.

A few seconds later…

The call connected, and George’s figure appeared before Lin Yu through a holographic interface.

“George, long time no see!”

“Not really, considering we just saw each other yesterday.”

“Fair point!”

Lin Yu slapped his own forehead with a laugh.

He reminded himself—of course, it was only yesterday at that meeting.

“Alright, let’s get to business. You want to transfer to the Fifth Fleet, and you’re specifically requesting to join the newly formed mixed fleet?”

Again, George is the proudest person you’ll ever meet.

Joining the Fifth Fleet, and not just that, a specialized new unit, would mean he’d have to serve under Lin Yu.

That’s not exactly in line with his usual attitude.

Which is why Lin Yu decided to talk to George personally.

He wanted to get a clear read on what George was thinking before making a decision.

“After yesterday, I spoke to my father. I know everything now.”

After a moment’s pause, George spoke up.

In Lin Yu’s mind, a single phrase flashed by—just as I thought…

“Of course, my father is his own person, and I’m my own. So I’m not trying to join the Fifth Fleet to atone for anyone’s mistakes. I have my own reasons…”

……

……

Ten minutes later.

When George finished saying everything he wanted, Lin Yu was left a little stunned.

Maybe I don’t know George as well as I thought?

That sudden idea sprang into his head.

During their final exam’s simulated battle module, George faced off against Lin Yu—and lost badly.

Though he’d scored perfect victories in the other rounds, that one match he made some wildly irrational tactical choices for… various reasons, and ended up with an abysmal score.

In the end, his overall score for the simulation slipped from perfect to just barely above the threshold for “excellent.”

After all, every other match he’d aced.

Of course, his ‘perfect’ marks were just hitting the line for such a rating, while Lin Yu’s perfect marks were because—

‘Perfect’ was the highest possible rating.

Anyway, George’s one lousy round cost him, dropping him from second to fourth in the command department.

You have to remember, back then Lin Yu was utterly dominant in first place—and George was far ahead in second.

Yeah, the whole ranking for the command department actually had two big gaps!

From third place down, there was a huge point difference compared to second, and first outpaced second by a mile.

But in the end, even the would-be second—who was supposed to be miles ahead of the rest—ended up ranked fourth after the graduation exam.

So don’t ever question George’s abilities.

And as for a supposed psychological defect?

Lin Yu never saw it that way.

Because whatever flaw George might have only shows up in very specific cases.

Like losing to the same person for ten years straight.

Or getting one last shot at defeating that rival.

Or, when that guy knows you even better than your own father does.

Or…

In short, nobody but Lin Yu could ever use these factors against George.

Besides, who doesn’t have some weakness in their head?

The only difference is whether anyone’s figured it out—or whether anyone strong enough to use it comes along.

That’s all it is.

Point is, Lin Yu never doubted George’s capabilities.

What he got wrong was…

He actually…

Wait, what exactly did George say in those ten minutes?

George said that after the Jupiter campaign ends, he expects humanity and the aliens to stare each other down across the Asteroid Belt for at least two years.

And during that time, large-scale fleet battles just won’t happen.

Because—

The Asteroid Belt simply isn’t suitable for massive operations.

Not to mention, the Federation has been entrenched in the belt for two centuries; unless they carve out a truly safe route, the aliens won’t dare throw a big fleet across just like that.

So, for the next two years, small-squadron skirmishes and guerrilla warfare inside the Asteroid Belt will be the name of the game.

Obviously, the First Fleet won’t be taking part.

The Second and Third Fleets will need major shuffling and restructuring before they could even consider it.

The only units that can jump right in and rack up battle experience are—

The newly formed mixed fleet under the Fifth Fleet, already reorganized and training for months in advance.

And if humanity wins this war—

Lin Yu’s special operations unit will have the most opportunities and stand to earn the most credit.

That’s why, if George doesn’t join Lin Yu’s unit now, he risks falling even farther behind.

By the end of the war, Lin Yu could be a general—while George, stuck in the First Fleet…

Might not even make major. He could still be a lieutenant!

George was absolutely direct: that’s the one outcome he won’t accept. Compared to that, serving under Lin Yu? That’s nothing.

——

A few minutes later.

Lin Yu closed the comms, and over at the Zhulong’s bridge, he finally filled the vacant deputy slot with a name.

George Campbell.

As for the staff officer role…

Honestly, Lin Yu would have loved to have Serena as his head of staff, but—

She outranks him. The other option is—

Mu Qingxue won’t let her go, either!

Plus, asking the senior staff officer of a Warstar to come fill the same post aboard a cruiser?

That’s an obvious demotion.

So Lin Yu let that idea drop.

Who, then, should be chief of staff?

Him?

Would that work?

Suddenly, Lin Yu thought of someone.

Only catch is, that guy isn’t technically in the combat fleet roster.

But hey, it’s war. If the guy agrees, exceptions can be made—right?

Right, and besides this person, Lin Yu really ought to pull that other guy in as a staff officer too.

Honestly…

Ordinary people just can’t keep up with Lin Yu’s way of thinking.

Even if that guy didn’t crack the top ten in the graduation exam—

The thing is, he’s just heavily unbalanced in his subjects; in some areas, he’s right up there with George.

At the moment, the two people on Lin Yu’s mind are—

Lieutenant Colonel Qin Qiong, one of the tactics instructors at the First Federation Advanced Military Academy.

The other is Lin Yu’s only real friend at the academy—

He’d just left Mars, heading for his newly assigned post with the Fourth Fleet, but in the middle of the journey he was recalled and is now back on Mars, awaiting new orders—

Warrant Officer Andrei Stepanov.