Chapter 66: A Medal Earned, A Future Forged

Let’s start counting from when Jiang Kai began his operation.

On day one, Lin Yu arrived at the Klein outpost fortress.

Three and a half days later—meaning three and a half days after the fighting began—Shivana arrived.

After that, Lin Yu and Shivana clashed for another two days.

So by now, it’s already been six and a half days since Jiang Kai started his mission.

Also, during these two days, Lin Yu had been subtly steering Shivana in the opposite direction from Jiang Kai, so—

What was originally just a one-day journey to the mining fleet had now turned into two days.

That means even if Shivana turned back right now, by the time she reached the area, it’d already be eight and a half days after Jiang Kai started work.

And by then…

The entire mining fleet would have been gone for more than a day and a half.

So…

Even though Shivana saw through Lin Yu’s plan,

It was already too late!

——

“Lin Yu, the enemy fleet has completely pulled out from this area. They’ve headed straight for the mining fleet!”

“Yeah, they’ve got one impressive commander.”

Lin Yu nodded in agreement.

To be honest, even though his use of Extreme Micro-Control meant that none of his units could overpower the enemy alone, after two days of combat, he thought he’d at least take out more than just a single small ship.

Originally, Lin Yu had planned to destroy around ten ships and cripple twenty or thirty more.

So the fact that he didn’t reach that goal—falling far short, even—was actually because…

Unlike the Klein commander he had faced before, this opponent was a real pro.

And now that she’d caught on to his real intentions, locked on to the mining fleet’s position and made a decisive move…

It proved just how skilled this commander was.

If Shivana had been in command from the start, the mining fleet probably wouldn’t have made it through the mission in one piece.

But unfortunately…

By the time she got there, it was already three and a half days in.

Then even though she caught on within two days, it was still too late.

“Has Jiang Kai finished up over there?”

“They’re pulling in the last few asteroids right now, expected to be completely done in five hours.”

“As soon as they’re finished, have them retreat. We’ll regroup at Sector H7 in three days.”

“Understood!”

Half an hour later.

The fifteen warships that had split up rejoined, then headed toward Mars.

As for Shivana’s fleet…

Two days later, when they arrived at the spot where the mining fleet used to be, all they found was empty space.

But plenty of clues were left behind, proving at least that her hunch had been correct—the enemy really had been mining resources here.

That made her feel a little better inside.

Of course, even though she hadn’t beaten Lin Yu or caught the mining fleet,

There was no way Shivana would just turn back—that would mean admitting defeat and being reduced to nothing but a breeding machine.

No way she’d accept that.

So…

It was time to start hunting. As long as she bagged enough prey, it would be just as good.

Once she’d made up her mind, she led her fleet deeper into the Asteroid Belt, closing in on the Federation-controlled sector.

——

Eleven days later.

Lin Yu brought the mining fleet back to Mars.

This operation saw the Special Mixed Fleet wipe out eighty-seven Klein warships right out the gate.

They then took out five stationed inside the outpost fortress and three returning patrol ships.

Finally, they even destroyed one of Shivana’s warships.

All told, they scored an incredible ninety-six enemy warships destroyed: two large ships, fifteen mediums, and seventy-nine small ones.

And throughout it all, the mining fleet completed its assigned tasks with a perfect success rate.

No one in the entire Federation Fleet could top these results.

No sooner had Lin Yu returned to Mars orbit than he was summoned to the Qiongxiao for a fleet-wide promotion ceremony, hosted personally by Mu Qingxue.

And Lin Yu wasn’t the only one getting a boost.

A number of key members of the special operations unit also received promotions.

George was promoted to lieutenant, while Andrei made it to ensign.

But as for field-grade officers, only Lin Yu got that honor. It wasn’t like everyone would get it all at once.

Still, George was over the moon.

After all, a lieutenant’s rank is just a step away from being a field officer. Plus, as Lin Yu’s deputy, it wouldn’t be hard for him to make that leap, and—

Chances are, he wouldn’t have to wait years, either. It’d happen pretty fast.

Besides promotions, Lin Yu also received a medal.

The Federation First-Class Combat Medal.

It made a whole crowd jealous enough to cry.

See, while the Federation had combat medals, barely any had been handed out in two hundred years.

The main reason? These medals could only be earned in battle.

So apart from the chaotic early years—when there were plenty of fringe forces resisting humanity’s unification and roaming space pirates—only a handful ever earned this medal.

Back then, only three people ever received it: two got third-class, one got second-class, and as for the top first-class medal, only one was given out a few months ago.

That was awarded for staying behind to hold off the Klein fleet, buying time for Io’s fall into Jupiter, and making the Ignition Jupiter Plan a smashing success.

It was Crester, then commander of the First Fleet.

Yep, that First-Class Combat Medal was awarded posthumously.

Which meant, Lin Yu was the only person in Federation history to receive this medal and still be alive.

——

Qiongxiao.

Inside Mu Qingxue’s quarters.

Lin Yu, now standing here, couldn’t help feeling a little envious.

True, he now had his own warship—and not just any, but a heavy cruiser—so he had the captain’s quarters aboard the Zhulong.

Compared to the barely ten-square-meter room he’d had on the Qiongxiao, the captain’s quarters on Zhulong were a full three-bedroom suite with a living room and bathroom.

There was even a study and a gym.

Over sixty square meters of space in all.

But just look at the captain’s quarters on the Warstar…

Besides a bedroom, study, and gym, there was a meeting room for more than ten people, an observation lounge, a simulation training room, even a small swimming pool…

By any measure, the total space had to be over one hundred and fifty square meters.

Warstar…

Truly amazing!!

“What’s wrong? Jealous?”

“Uh, no, absolutely not. Me? Jealous? No way!”

Busted by Mu Qingxue, Lin Yu quickly wiped his mouth and denied it three times.

“Alright, take a seat!”

Mu Qingxue couldn’t help but laugh at his expression.

After Lin Yu sat down on the sofa, she gestured to the one across from him.

Lin Yu sat down quietly, a little awkward and nervous.

“There are a few things that weren’t appropriate to mention earlier in public, so I wanted to talk to you privately.”

“Besides your promotion and the Federation First-Class Combat Medal, the fleet has a few more rewards for you.”

“First, the special operations unit will be allowed to expand—set it up at full squadron scale. When you’re back, organize the structure and report the ships you’ll need. But if you try putting fifteen Warstars on that list, I’ll pull your rank myself.”

“The other thing is, remember the blood sample you handed over, trading for a custom Warstar once you made rear admiral?”

“Well, thanks to the results of this mission, the Federation’s decided to get a head start. As soon as you make commodore, that Warstar will be yours.”

“Someone will be in touch soon to discuss customization options for your Warstar, so get ready!”

Lin Yu was stunned.

It wasn’t the permission to expand the fleet—that was expected.

Basically, just taking a small squad and making it a standard squadron.

But the Warstar…

They were going to start designing it for him now, and as soon as he made commodore, he’d officially own it?

That was way faster than waiting until rear admiral for the design, or even vice admiral to really own the ship…

He was getting a huge head start!!