Chapter 26: Arrival at the Fifth Fleet

The high-speed passenger ship docked smoothly at the Mars Port.

After that, Andrei boarded a military shuttle and, half an hour later, arrived at a military homeport also orbiting Mars.

Andrei knew this was the temporary home of the Fifth Fleet.

Originally, after graduation, he’d planned to serve in the Fourth Fleet. After all, that was the Slavs’ fleet.

But less than a week after setting out, the Klein invasion broke out.

The high-speed passenger ship he was on received a notice to cancel its planned route and return to the Homeworld.

A few days later, the Battle of Nyx erupted.

The entire Fourth Fleet was destroyed, except for 27 warships that withdrew in advance.

A few more days passed.

Just as he was about to return to Mars, a new set of orders arrived.

Andrei was told to report directly to the Fifth Fleet as soon as he landed.

At this point, Andrei didn’t care which fleet he joined, as long as he could fight.

After all…

In the Battle of Nyx, over a hundred thousand Fourth Fleet soldiers died. All of them were his people.

Many of them were even his upperclassmen, people he knew by name.

He was determined to avenge them!

He swung his bag over his left shoulder.

Step by step, Andrei walked down the gangway, then spotted a familiar figure.

“Lin Yu?”

“What are you doing here?”

“Oh, right. You told me you got assigned to the Fifth Fleet, but why did you come to meet me?”

Seeing Lin Yu, Andrei genuinely brightened up.

Because Lin Yu had been his best friend at the Military Academy.

He was also the person Andrei respected most.

But there was something odd: even if Lin Yu joined the Fifth Fleet, how did he know Andrei would arrive today, much less wait here to pick him up?

It wasn’t like Andrei had told anyone he was being assigned to the Fifth Fleet.

Lin Yu had just graduated too—barely ten days in the Fifth Fleet. How could he…

Wait a minute…

Suddenly, Andrei’s eyes drifted to Lin Yu’s shoulder.

He froze.

Two bars, two stars…

Lieutenant Colonel?

What the hell?!

“Lin Yu, what’s this about…”

“Come on, I’ll show you where you’ll be staying. We can talk about the rest later!”

“Alright!”

He was still stunned at first.

But once he recovered, Andrei didn’t know what was going on, just that he felt really happy for him.

Back when Lin Yu’s spot was taken at the academy, he made quite a scene about it.

Of course, it did absolutely nothing.

In fact, Lin Yu even got slapped with a disciplinary mark—a stain he’d carry in his military file.

But Andrei had never cared about that.

He’d even told Lin Yu, “Come on, which Slav doesn’t have at least a few offenses on their record?”

To people like them, that was basically a badge of honor.

He wasn’t just messing around, either. In the Fourth Fleet, not having a couple of demerits would get you laughed at as a goody two-shoes—not very Slav at all!

——

Half an hour later.

Inside Lin Yu’s temporary quarters at the military port.

Andrei stared, utterly dumbfounded.

“Wait, say that again?”

“You’re acting commander of a newly formed mixed fleet, and you even have your own next-gen heavy cruiser?”

“Hold on. What exactly have you been doing for the last two weeks?”

“This is ridiculous!”

Anyone hearing Lin Yu’s story for the first time would have their nerves shot, too.

Honestly, it was just too unbelievable.

You could say he got promoted straight to Lieutenant Colonel for some amazing accomplishment.

That sounded far-fetched, but maybe still within reach.

He was handpicked by the top brass and given a heavy cruiser.

Okay, that’s even more absurd, but Andrei barely managed to accept it.

But you’re telling me he not only has his own warship, but is acting commander for a new fleet?

Dude, my brain can’t handle this!

Does anyone do all this at eighteen?

“Alright, from now on you’re my combat advisor on my ship!”

“Wait, am I only being sent to the Fifth Fleet because of you?”

“What else did you think?”

“Holy crap, does that mean I get to be a combat advisor on a next-gen heavy cruiser? No ‘trainee’ in my title?”

“Nope, and you’ll see two more familiar faces soon.”

“Familiar faces? Who?”

Andrei perked up immediately.

“Instructor Qin Qiong. He’ll be the bridge chief of the Zhulong. Yep, your direct superior!”

“…”

All color drained from Andrei’s face.

Qin Qiong…

That man had been his nightmare for three years.

He thought he finally escaped that devil after graduation.

But now…

He was right back under his thumb again?

“And as for the other one, that’s my adjutant!”

“Adjutant? Someone I know? Who’s that gutsy?”

“George!”

“Wait, who did you say?”

“I said George!”

Andrei gaped at Lin Yu in disbelief.

Of all people, how did they end up picking that jerk George?

Back at the academy, Andrei and George never got along. Every time they met, sparks flew—it always threatened to turn into a full-blown brawl.

But thinking about it…

Slavs and Anglos were practically born to clash.

At the Military Academy, those two factions never mixed.

“George isn’t that bad, actually…”

“Enough, I’ve heard you say that for three years straight.”

Andrei cut him off, dropped his head onto the table, and waved dismissively.

“Hey, I’ve heard the Fifth Fleet’s commander is supposed to be a real stunner. Is that true?”

Andrei made a smooth switch in topic, suddenly bringing up Mu Qingxue.

Lin Yu just nodded.

“It’s true. And there are plenty of beauties on the Qiongxiao too. Like Major General Mu’s adjutant, Ye Lingwei, and the chief of staff Serena…”

“Hold on, who?”

“Ye Lingwei?”

“No, no, the next one!”

“Serena, the chief of staff on the Qiongxiao?”

“Yes, that’s the one. Is that the woman who insists everyone call her ‘boss’ and has a figure for the ages?”

“That’s her. You know her?”

“Holy crap!!!”

Three years at the academy, and the things he picked up from Lin Yu…

At this moment, Andrei put that knowledge to use—with quite an outburst.

“No way, I can’t stay in the Fifth Fleet. Bro, help me out, just say I wasn’t up to the task and return me to the Fourth Fleet, alright?”

“That’s it, I’m outta here!”

Panic flashed in his eyes.

Andrei snatched up his luggage, yanked the door open, and bolted out.

Lin Yu was left in the dust, utterly confused.

But just as Andrei burst out the door…

He crashed into something solid, bounced back, and landed on his butt.

He looked up with a scowl, about to curse out whoever was blocking his way.

But the fear in his eyes only grew.

“Well, my dear brother, where do you think you’re going?”

Serena stood right outside the door, smiling softly.

Except… there was a dangerous edge to that smile.

Lin Yu suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.