Chapter 32: The Silent Ambush in the Asteroid Belt

The 77th Fighter Squadron is made up of two interceptor groups and one heavy bomber group.

Each interceptor group fields 24 interceptors.

The bomber group brings 12 heavy strike bombers to the table.

Add the squadron commander’s craft to the mix and the entire squadron boasts a total of 61 various warplanes.

Right now, aside from the 12 heavy bombers, every interceptor from both groups has already been deployed.

The first group is in charge of perimeter security while the second is assigned to close escort for the four asteroid mining ships.

Their deployment spans an area with a radius of about 1,500 kilometers.

The outer patrol zone itself stretches close to 1,000 kilometers.

It’s not that the radar can’t see further, but the asteroid belt is such a tangled mess—countless rocks of every size, plus swarms of micro-asteroids barely a meter across…

All that makes life hell for radar scans.

Even covering 1,000 kilometers in all directions isn’t possible.

In some directions, there’s a decent-sized rock sitting just a few kilometers away, and you never know if there’s something lurking behind it—you have to go check in person.

Radar alone won’t cut it.

“Seriously, what’s the point of this exercise anyway?”

“I don’t get it either. Shouldn’t we be split up? One team does escort, the other pretends to be the aliens, right?”

“Exactly! Right now we’re all just escorts. Where’s the enemy supposed to be? Are we just practicing formations?”

“At this rate, we might as well just run the simulation!”

“Quiet down, all of you! We’re in the middle of a drill. Try to act your age!”

The pilots grumbled in the channel until finally, the squadron leader, Si Rong, couldn’t take it anymore and barked out a warning.

“Boss, just spill it already—who exactly are we up against this time?”

“Yeah, give it to us straight. I don’t even know what I’m supposed to do anymore!”

Right then, the two group captains opened a private channel. Only the three of them had access.

At that moment, they were just as clueless as their pilots.

They thought for sure the commander would know something, but…

“I have no idea either!”

“Seriously? Even you’re in the dark, boss?”

“You’ve got to be kidding—how can the captain not tell you the training plan?”

“Believe me, I really don’t know!”

Si Rong shook his head, repeating himself just to make it clear.

Right then,

Up ahead inside Si Rong’s cockpit, the holographic interface glowed, projecting three-dimensional info across the display.

Part of it showed the status of all 48 interceptors.

Suddenly, one of them—

Turned red!

That meant the fighter had been shot down…

“033, do you read me?”

“033, respond with your status immediately!”

“033!!!”

Si Rong kept calling out for 033 over the 77th Squadron’s comms, but…

No answer at all.

“036, head to 033’s last known location and check it out right now!”

“036 acknowledged, on the way!”

Even though Si Rong was seriously worried, he still figured it was just a comms glitch.

As for tracking 033 with radar—

No chance.

The asteroid belt is far too chaotic, littered with space junk in every direction.

Radar barely works, only picking up what little open space there is nearby.

So in the end, the closest fighter has to fly over to take a look in person.

Meanwhile…

Inside a fighter jet marked with identification tags, the pilot sat in the cockpit, fully suited in the latest generation pressure suit and a matching full-face helmet…

Looking utterly baffled.

His controls had been locked by the system after his fighter was ‘eliminated’; all he could do was stare.

A message flashed on the holographic interface before him.

[You have been eliminated. According to exercise protocol, all systems except life support are locked until the end of the drill.]

So it really was a drill—one with a ‘Blue Team,’ no less?

He glanced through the canopy at his fighter’s right—a massive steel monster, over ten meters tall.

Wait a minute, did they really build that thing? And does it actually work in combat?

——

Ten minutes later.

Si Rong’s face was etched with worry.

Starting from 033’s disappearance, their squadron had lost seven more fighters in quick succession.

Two of them disappeared after going to investigate, and five others from different patrol sectors vanished as well.

Count 033 and that makes eight losses.

That’s already a sixteen percent loss rate—way too much!

“Colonel Si Rong, this is the bridge!”

“Si Rong speaking. Go ahead, bridge.”

Right then, Qin Qiong’s voice came through the comms.

“Just now we received word—a few Klein reconnaissance ships have been moving inside the asteroid belt. The attack on your group was likely their doing!”

“Wait, weren’t they supposed to be three hundred days out?”

“We’re not sure. These might be scouts that arrived ahead of their main fleet. We just never picked them up until now!”

Qin Qiong offered a quick explanation over the comm.

“You’re ordered to stop the exercise immediately and escort the four disguised assault ships back to the Zhulong. Then begin searching for hostiles. Weapon lockdowns are cleared—execute!”

Hearing the orders, Si Rong immediately responded and, after cutting the comms, broadcast the weapons-free command to the whole squadron.

“Commander, what about our missing pilots? It’s not certain they’re casualties yet!”

“The enemy situation isn’t clear. Follow orders from the Zhulong and escort the assault ships back. Acting on our own will only cause more losses. Carry out your orders!”

“Yes, sir!”

“First group, form up and guard the assault ships on their way back!”

“Understood!”

“Second group, recall all fighters out on patrol and cover from the rear as we move out behind the first group!”

“Roger!”

“One last thing—if you spot Klein ships, don’t hesitate. Open fire at once!”

“Yes, sir!” x2

Truth is, as elite as the 77th Fighter Squadron is within the Fifth Fleet, none of them—not even Si Rong—had ever seen a real battle. By old standards, they’re still just greenhorns.

After all, in the two hundred years since the Federation’s founding, not a single war has broken out—not out in space, not even on Earth itself.

Virtual drills might be almost indistinguishable from the real thing—realism hitting as high as ninety-nine percent.

But fake is fake. Compared to real combat, with bullets and blood, it’s just not the same.

——

A few minutes later.

All sixteen remaining fighters from the second group had made it back safely.

They regrouped with Commander Si Rong and followed the first group’s flight path.

But then…

“Commander! The first group is under attack—repeat, the first group is under attack!”

“Luo Hao, hang in there! We’re almost there!”

“Damn it, what is that thing? How can it pull off moves like that?”

“Keep it together! Report enemy details now!”

“Commander, the enemy is…—zzzzt!”

The message cut off halfway, the transmission lost.

On Si Rong’s display, the squadron’s 48-interceptor icons were vanishing one after another, flickering red in rapid succession.

The rate was staggering—

Not even two minutes later,

The first group and those four assault ships…

Were completely destroyed.

Now, except for their twelve unused heavy bombers, the 77th Fighter Squadron only had seventeen interceptors left—Si Rong among them.