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Ch89 – Joyous Meeting

He Wei Ye immediately looked up, “What did you say?”

“Supreme Commander, I want to go to the frontline.” Ruan Tang once again replied in a firm tone.

“No! Absolutely not! The frontline is too dangerous!” He Wei Ye refused Ruan Tang’s request without hesitation. The situation on the frontline had been improving but the emergence of the new type of Zergs made it perilous once again. How could he let a chef who doesn’t have any combat ability go to the frontline!

Not to mention, given Ruan Tang’s role in the Empire and in this war, staying in the Capital Star was safest for him.

“Supreme Commander, I know you want to use the new mech to change the current situation, but mass production of the new mech takes time. After all, right now, despite working non-stop, we’d only been able to come out with two units. You cannot rely on just these two mechs to face off against the tens of millions of Zergs.” Ruan Tang said, “These two mechs may help us catch the new type of Zergs and send them back for study. But transporting it here and then researching it and sending the results back, all this shuffling back and forth takes precious time. This time, the new Zergs are bearing down menacingly. How many soldiers will be sacrificed by wasting this precious time? You also know that I am interested in the Zergs, maybe I can discover something! ”

He Wei Ye’s index finger tapped against the table, his expression was a little relaxed. What Ruan Tang was saying, was a predicament he’d already been thinking about.

Although communication technology now was well-developed — there was no need to use slow and time-consuming letters like they did during ancient times — but the situation on the battlefield was rapidly ever-changing. There was no way to relay all this in real time. Coupled with the time needed for transporting supplies, and the harassment of the Valens, all these delays were costing precious time.

As commander-in-chief, it was his duty to stand behind the lines and take charge of the overall situation. It was impossible for him to run to the frontline himself. Someone who could provide help to the frontline, had an understanding of the Zergs and could even find ways to restrain the Zergs? Indeed, Ruan Tang was the best candidate.

Thanks to the unremitting efforts of Xia Mi and the Academy of Sciences, they have finally produced two of the improved Zerg-fused mechs. These had strong defenses and could resist the attacks of the Zergs’ sharp claws and corrosive fluids. This time, they will be part of the supplies to be delivered to the frontline. But as Ruan Tang pointed out, if they wanted to rely on these two mechs to fight against the tens of millions of Zergs, that would be impossible. Their purpose was indeed to capture the new Zergs and return these to the Academy of Sciences for research to find a way to fight against them.

However, the last time they were able to turn defeat into victory was precisely because Ruan Tang discovered the way to eat Zergs. What if he could also find something this time? It would definitely be faster than transporting the Zergs’ bodies back for further research. The harm caused by these new types of flying insects and ground crawlers was too great. The number of casualties they reported every day was truly shocking. They couldn’t afford any more delays.

“I promise to stay in the base, safe under the protective barrier. Nothing will happen to me.” Ruan Tang said again.

He Wei Ye looked at him and Ruan Tang looked back without any fear. After a while, He Wei Ye conceded and sighed, “Alright. Alright. Then go. Take some of the Zerg researchers with you. I will deploy a team to ensure your safety. ”

Ruan Tang originally wanted to decline the protective detail however when he saw the grave expression on He Wei Ye’s face, he decided to follow good advice and agreed.

For the Blue Star Empire, Ruan Tang was not just an ordinary chef. His contribution to the Empire was definitely no less than the soldiers’ fighting on the frontline. He Wei Ye sighed. If Ruan Tang really could discover something again this time, he will definitely speak to His Majesty and formally grant Ruan Tang a military rank, rather than an ordinary title like ‘consultant’ that afforded him no real power.

“Thank you, Supreme Commander!” Ruan Tang’s face couldn’t help but smile a little more when the matter was finally settled.

***********

Celtic Star.

“Is the transport ship here?” He Yun Chen frowned, looking up towards the sky.

“Reporting to the Marshal. The transport ship should still be en route. We have not yet received any request to land.” Li Kai was a bit puzzled as he looked at He Yun Chen. This was the seventh time today he had asked the whereabouts of the transport ship. What special supplies were being delivered that had the Marshal so nervous?

“Notify me immediately if there’s any news.”

“Yes!”

He Yun Chen endured the agitation he felt and returned to his own lounge. He had learned from his father that Ruan Tang was also coming to the frontline onboard the transport ship. Hearing this, he suddenly felt inexplicable anxiety.

What is my father thinking? How could he allow Ruan Tang, an ordinary citizen without any combat training, to go to a battlefield?

The attacks of the new Zergs were very powerful. Every time they fought, the Imperial Army was sure to suffer casualties. If not for the fact that the Zergs have not yet been able to break through the protective barrier, they would have already been reduced to meat inside the Zergs’ bellies.

But they couldn’t hide behind the shield forever, and the Zerg would not have the patience to deal with them if they did. If they simply hid, the Zergs would undoubtedly abandon Celtic star and directly attack the Rutes’ Capital Star and other resource planets. Therefore, they had to leave the base from time to time and engage with the Zergs. They had to delay the pace of these Zergs and they also had to try and catch these insects and transport them back to Capital Star to help find a way to eliminate these Zergs. However, the price they paid was also very heavy.

However as soldiers, they couldn’t tolerate the slightest retreat. Behind them were the country and people they wanted to protect.

The previous transport ships were escorted by the Imperial Mech Squadron and were able to land safely. However, in the face of the new Zerg types, He Yun Chen could not guarantee their safety. How could he not worry about Ruan Tang?

“Reporting to the Marshal, the transport ship has completed the space jump and is expected to reach Celtic Star in an hour.”

“Gather the Mech Squadron! Prepare to escort the transport ship!” He Yun Chen changed into his protective suit and strode toward the open space where the mechs were docked. He would personally lead the team to meet the arriving transport ship.

“Marshal? You’ll be leading the team yourself? Are the supplies this time very important?” Li Kai knew how dangerous it was to leave the protective barrier. The new type of flying insect has sharp mouthparts and double pincers, which could easily tear the armor. Every time, the safe landing of the transport ships was at the risk of human lives.

Generally speaking, commanders must command from behind the lines. If it was not absolutely necessary, they shouldn’t perform such dangerous tasks. Moreover, although guarding the transport ships was important, it wasn’t so important that He Yun Chen had to personally see to it. To personally lead a team to meet the transport ship, how important was the cargo carried on the transport ship this time?

In his heart, Li Kai thought about all kinds of materials, mechs, food, medicine, energy ... It seemed that everything was very important, but it seemed that nothing was particularly important.

“Extremely important.” He Yun Chen succinctly answered Li Kai’s question and entered the mech’s cockpit.

Single dogs like Li Kai wouldn’t understand that this transport ship not only carried necessary power sources and the new improved mechs, but also carried his beloved.

Not long after, the huge hull of the transport ship appeared on the periphery of the protective barrier. The Zergs circling around the base, as though smelling their prey, immediately swarmed.

The mech squad of the Third Army was responsible for escorting the transport ship and they immediately engaged with the Zergs. But the Zergs had such fierce attacks and overwhelming numbers that soon the mech squad coudn’t cope.

“Charge!” He Yun Chen drove the mech and led the mech fighters out of the protective barrier. They provided the transport ship with heavy cover fire.

Their goal was not to attack, but to defend. They intend for the battle to be a quick one and not to zealously continue the fight. However, from the fighting situation during the past few days, these Zergs, who had some simple intelligence discovered the effect of this giant “steel meat”. The fighting power of the Imperial Army increased every time it landed. Therefore, they were doing their best to prevent the transport ship from landing. Each side had its own advantages and disadvantages, and soon they were deadlocked.

Ruan Tang listened to the constant sound of exploding artillery from outside and felt the constant tremor of the ship’s hull. His heart quickly tensed up. This was the first time in his two lifetimes that he had been exposed to war. It was even more dangerous and frightening than he imagined. The scope of interstellar battles was much larger than battles on Earth and the firepower involved was more ferocious. It may be that with a single beam of light, hundreds of people would die.

Even though the firefight outside was blindingly dazzling, Ruan Tang couldn’t help looking through the window of the cabin and watching the situation outside.

He saw the flying insects fighting the mechs outside. Because the opponent’s body was too large and the window was too small, he couldn’t get a look of the whole insect. He could only see it bit by bit until he could patch together all he’d seen to create a mental image.

This insect was much larger than the previous locust type. It had a narrow body and a black carapace, almost like the hill-like beetle. It had a cold metallic luster, and its sharp pincers could easily rip mechs.

Comparing it with his mental inventory of insects from his previous life, he felt that it looked a bit like an insect known as a tiger beetle. Only the color of the carapace was different. The Earth-type tiger beetles had strong jumping ability and was extremely fast. These flying Zergs were shockingly fast. It looked almost like they were teleporting. It would move from one mech to another in an instant. Once injured, it would quickly jump out of the battle, so that the Imperial Army would always be surrounded by countless energetic flying insects. Seeing that the mechs guarding the transport ship were constantly being shot down, Ruan Tang’s heart almost beat out of his chest.

When the transport ship suffered another heavy hit, several soldiers in charge of guarding the transport ship came to Ruan Tang and the others. They quickly led them to the escape bay behind the transport ship. “Mr. Ruan, doctors, please come with us!”

The order they received was to ensure the safety of Ruan Tang and the researchers; so when they discovered that the transport ship might sink, they immediately led them to escape. It was obviously easier to defend a few people than a huge transport ship.

However, just before they ran through a long passageway, a crack appeared in the hull of the transport ship. A flying insect’s sharp forelimb stabbed in, and the wall of the ship was instantly breached. A pair of protruding compound eyes from behind leaned in and saw the people inside the cabin.

“Mr. Ruan, quickly! Go!” Several soldiers immediately took out their weapons and attacked the flying insect’s eyes to cover Ruan Tang’s escape.

The soldier’s photon gun only left a shallow mark on the carapace of the flying insect. The flying insect’s eyes were relatively fragile. Seeing that these people dared to attack it, it was immediately enraged and issued an angry hiss. It opened his mouth and bit in the direction of the soldiers.

Seeing that the soldier was about to be killed, Ruan Tang looked back and it felt like the blood in his body froze. When he subconsciously began to close his eyes, six bombs hit the flying insect’s belly quickly and relentlessly. Each one of them attacked exactly at the same spot. Finally, a large hole was made in the belly of the Zerg. With a loud blast, the flying insect finally fell, twitching.

“Get ready to land!” The mech across from him opened the radio and a familiar voice rang out. Amidst the flames of war, Ruan Tang felt instantly at peace.

Under the cover of thousands of mechs, the transport ship landed inside the base. Despite being riddled with gaping holes from the attack of the Zergs, it finally landed safely. Once he was under the protective barrier, upon seeing the countless mechs pierced into ruin by the Zergs, Ruan Tang’s eyes immediately turned red.

This was ... a battlefield.

It was like his ears were rendered deaf by a loud clap of thunder. He was dizzy and couldn’t think. He could only instinctively follow the crowd out of the transport ship. His legs and knees felt weak, but the next moment, he fell into a solid and familiar embrace.

“——A’Tang!”

His brain was instantly awakened by this voice, and he suddenly burst into tears.