Chapter 10: Betrayal

Lu Yuan shook hands with the Iron Rider named Xu Renhan and asked, "Who wants to see me?"

"You'll find out soon, but after this incident, it's likely more than just one person who wants to talk to you," Xu Renhan tapped the leg of the Phoenix mecha and waved his hand, saying, "Do something useful, 9814."

The mecha replied in a sweet, feminine voice, "Understood, Iron Rider," then turned around and began clearing the rubble from the square like a piece of heavy machinery.

Noticing Lu Yuan's curious expression, Xu Renhan shrugged and said, "There's no regulation on standard mecha voices, and chatting with your mecha during downtime isn't a bad way to pass the time."

"What are you going to do with my men?" Lu Yuan asked, his tone softening slightly. After all, every Iron Rider held the rank of major, and due to the special status of the Iron Rider Corps, their real authority often exceeded that of officers of the same rank. Just a word from Xu Renhan, and a regular infantry major wouldn't dare show disrespect.

Xu Renhan paused, put one hand on his hip, and faced Lu Yuan seriously, saying, "This is the Star Monument Dispatch Square, not your paratroopers' exclusive playground. I've already shown you some leniency by not having the military police restrain your men—consider that a favor to Major Bai. The fleet has been strictly prohibiting fights between officers lately; you should be aware of that."

Lu Yuan was about to argue but, as he instinctively gripped his Paratrooper Honor Dagger and took a few steps forward, Xu Renhan swiftly grabbed his hand. Sighing, Xu patted the back of Lu Yuan's hand and said somewhat melancholically, "I understand how you feel, but regulations are regulations. Also, you really need to control your temper."

"9814 will stay in touch with me; no one will give your paratroopers a hard time," Xu Renhan reassured him when he saw Lu Yuan hesitating. Then he gestured for Lu Yuan to follow. "We shouldn't keep them waiting."

As they entered the Star Monument Fortress, many of the people passing by had crimson trim on their uniforms, a sign that they belonged to the Fleet Headquarters. Squinting, Lu Yuan wondered when such high-ranking officials had gathered in this small place. He glanced at Xu Renhan, who just signaled for him to stay quiet.

Outside the recently captured Star Monument Drawing Room, several light mecha infantry stood guard. After repeatedly verifying their identities, they were allowed to enter.

"Report! Iron Rider Major, Xu Renhan," Xu immediately announced with a sharp click of his heels.

Lu Yuan glanced at the elderly man surrounded by the crowd and quickly saluted, "Report! Paratrooper Second Lieutenant, Lu Yuan!"

Just one look at the elderly man, whose hair and beard were white, made Lu Yuan feel a cold chill down his spine. Worse yet was when the old man stared at him for a few seconds. When the man finally uttered a casual "Hmm" and looked away, Lu Yuan felt as if he'd been granted a reprieve, taking a deep breath.

Above the drawing room, a planetary model was rotating along a pre-set orbit, emitting a faint glow. Just looking at it for a short while made one feel dizzy. Floating around the newly risen calculation sphere were the fleet's Syntacticians—the most brilliant human minds, tasked with deciphering the jump data from the Deep Space Light Monument. Their status was even higher than that of Iron Riders.

To command such a large group of strategists and Syntacticians—and to intimidate the usually fearless Lu Yuan into submission—this elderly man's rank was self-evident.

This was Rear Admiral Shao Lusi, commander of the Solar Alliance Expedition Fleet's flagship, the *Corona*, a space battleship.

Admiral Shao beckoned Lu Yuan over. Lu's steps were stiff, almost like a goose-stepping march, far slower than his usual pace. His mind raced, wondering how he had been so unlucky as to get caught fighting under the nose of the admiral himself.

When Lu Yuan finally reached the admiral, he shouted as loudly as he could, "Report! Lu Yuan!"

"Report on the battle to capture Star Monument Fortress No. 31, especially the scene when you broke into the drawing room and the enemy's forces during the Imperial Army's counterattack," the admiral said, after letting Lu Yuan stand awkwardly for a moment. Only after reviewing the charts presented by the Syntacticians did he allow Lu Yuan to speak.

Lu Yuan calmed himself slightly and began recounting the operation, starting from the moment they parachuted in, through the capture of the central fire control command tower, and the storming of the drawing room, which the enemy had attempted to destroy by fire, concluding with their defense against the Imperial Flood Demon mecha's counterattack.

"The Imperial Army gathered outside the death ray shield and didn't retreat even after the fleet's air force arrived?" The admiral mused, turning to speak to the fleet staff. He then stared at Lu Yuan again and asked, "Did you notice any signs of Zero Point Destruction rounds being prepared in the artillery fire your unit encountered?"

Lu Yuan was puzzled but replied, "Sir, if the Imperials had used Zero Point Destruction rounds, I wouldn't be standing here reporting to you!"

The admiral's adjutant whispered something to him, and the admiral shook his head as if in denial. From his lip movements, Lu Yuan could only make out words like "insufficient" and "decoy." The admiral then dismissed Lu Yuan without further concern. After a while, guards escorted both the bewildered Lu Yuan and Xu Renhan, who had been questioned separately, out of the drawing room.

"What did they ask you?" Lu Yuan inquired. Xu Renhan responded that it had been a standard battle report with a few odd questions about how many heavy weapons the Imperial Army had used. When the topic of Zero Point Destruction rounds came up, Xu joked that if such weapons had been used, there wouldn't have been anything left to bury. Even the smallest yield of such a round would vaporize a fifty-square-kilometer area into a crater thousands of meters deep. Only warship-grade shields could effectively resist such apocalyptic weapons.

Lu Yuan didn't dwell too much on why a busy fleet captain would personally listen to his report. He didn't have time to think, as the next person he was to meet was not someone who would be as indifferent as Admiral Shao.

"I've just submitted a recommendation to headquarters for a commendation, planning to make the 28th Paratrooper Battalion a model unit. I even considered putting you in the next promotion list. Lu Yuan, you really know how to embarrass me, don't you? As soon as I land, you go and disgrace me in front of everyone. What do you want to do? Tell me, what do you want?"

"Sir, nothing at all!" Lu Yuan stood at attention, face covered in the spittle of Colonel Bao Longtao of the 1st Orbital Assault Division. Clearly, the colonel was furious, barely restraining himself from smacking Lu Yuan in the face with his Honor Dagger. Lu Yuan had earned some credit in battle, but right next to his superior, Admiral Shao, he had brazenly fought with a senior officer. Normally, no matter how much Colonel Bao protected his men, he would have had to remove Lu Yuan from duty and throw him in the brig.

"Forget the commendation, and don't even think about a promotion. Get yourself to the fleet's military law office and take your punishment. Stop using my reputation as a shield—you've embarrassed me completely! Now get out!"

Colonel Bao shooed Lu Yuan away like an annoying fly. Just as Lu was reaching for the door, the colonel called him back.

"Oh, and take your unit back to the fleet for reorganization. You'll be on the next shuttle out in an hour. Someone will deal with you then."

Lu Yuan's heart warmed, knowing that the colonel had secretly looked out for him once again. After all, in the Expeditionary Fleet, experienced officers were becoming scarce as casualties mounted, and bold, capable officers like Lu Yuan, who had the support of their men, wouldn't be abandoned for minor offenses, lest it damage morale.

As Lu Yuan slunk out of the Star Monument Fortress, his paratroopers gathered around him, furious and eager to get back at the infantry. But Lu Yuan gave them a stern reprimand, announcing instead that they were returning to the fleet for rest and reorganization. The paratroopers, however, showed no joy, instead silently making their final prayers before the remains of their fallen comrades, many tracing the sign of the cross even if they didn't believe in God, simply following the gestures of those who did.

"The dead are gone; the living must move on," said Xu Renhan, leaning against the ankle of his mecha. His face was full of emotion as he sighed, "I envy the bond between you paratroopers. It's like you're brothers."

"We are brothers," Lu Yuan replied, as he studied the deep dents, scorch marks, and scratches all over the Phoenix mecha. He rummaged through his pockets and finally pulled out a cigarette. "It's been a tough night. Got a light?"

Xu Renhan flipped open his lighter with a click, lighting the cigarette for Lu Yuan, who then added, "But you guys arrived really late."

"See that sword?" Xu pointed at the completely dulled alloy sword on the mecha's shoulder, crossed his arms, and said, "You should be glad it was me who came and not a fully armed Vladimir model."

Lu Yuan didn't care, already used to his own recklessness.