After the exchange between Ethan and The Mastermind. Ethan didn't bother to rest even though he was feeling exhausted. He began preparing to rescue his adjutant.
"Zack, is the mecha ready?" Ethan, who had just changed into his pilot suit and came to the outer part of the space station and asked loudly.
"Yes, Commander, it's ready!" Zack replied.
"Alright, gear up and follow me, let's rescue Adjutant Chen!"
"What?! Commander, you're exhausted. We can go, you can just stay and…"
"It's an order!" Ethan cut him off.
Despite being ordered, Zack still hesitated.
He became anxious when he heard that Ethan was going to lead the rescue team himself in his exhausted state.
"I know you are worried about my state, but I'm stronger than I look," Ethan said flashing a bright smile.
Ethan sat in a mecha and closed the cockpit.
When Zack saw Ethan closing the cockpit, he finally reacted. 'The Commander had already gone up, what else can he do but just follow his lead?' He thought.
He assembled seven mech pilots to get on their respective mechas, leaving the rest to guard the captured agents.
A few moments later, nine mechas launched from the space station and flew quickly toward the coordinates where Chen Xue's distress signal was detected.
....
In the Evacuation Pod, Chen Xue was looking outside through the window.
Her heart turned cold when she saw a group of Vortans rebel Warships flying towards her quickly. And a laser beam was also gathering power.
She knew that the Warship was about to shoot, but the Evacuation Pod would not be able to bear such an attack, since Evacuation Pod is not equipped with an energy shield.
'Who would do that' she thought mocking herself.
At this time, the first person she thought of was Ethan. When they were still a kid, he said that he wanted to marry her, but now that they are grown up, he didn't even know her.
(A/N: wait wha.....🤯)
She wondered if he would be sad after seeing her die… Will he remember who she is?
Thinking of this, She smiled and closed her eyes ready to embrace death.
.....
Earlier, while Ethan was piloting the mecha, he looked at the holographic panel in front of him and started giving orders to the 1st Mixed Fleet.
Though the current position of the Fleet is not favorable. It doesn't mean that it's impossible to defend.
While Ethan was analyzing, he noticed a big problem with the Vortans Rebel Fleet. The Fleet's coordination is very poor, and he immediately took advantage of it.
"Use the Battle cruiser as the arrowhead and form an assault formation. Advance at maximum speed and break through their center" Ethan commanded.
"I will rendezvous with the Fleet on the way!"
"Roger that!" the voice of a staff in the command team responded.
Immediately, the 1st Mixed Fleet began to reassemble in battle formation according to Ethan's order.
...
Back at the evacuation pod, Chen Xue closed her eyes and waited for the impact of the laser beam. However, after waiting and nothing seems to happen she opened her eyes and looked outside through the window confused.
She did not see the laser beam directed at her, but instead, she saw an orange laser beam shooting from the left which penetrated the Warship and blasted it off.
Then a mecha appeared in front of her, occupying the view of the entire window.
"Who is it?" she asked warily.
"Xue Xue, are you still alive?!" Ethan asked with concern.
"En, I'm still alive" she answered.
"Very well, bring your head out of the cabin and enter the cockpit!"
"Understood!"
Ethan used himself to block the Evacuation Pod while giving orders to the rest.
"Zack, you guys cover me, I will get Adjutant Chen out!"
"Roger that!"
Zack immediately made arrangements, leaving two mechas to protect Ethan while he took the other six mechas and flew forward for cover fire.
Seeing her open the door of the Escape Pod and float out, Ethan opened the lid of the cockpit.
"Zack, retreat! Otherwise, you will miss the Fleet!"
"Yes! Commander, everyone retreats!" Zack ordered.
At the frontline, seven mechas were constantly shuttled through the complex asteroid groups at the fastest speed.
"Okay, you can now loosen a bit, we have already reached the safe zone" Ethan looked at Chen Xue who was sitting beside him and hugging him due to not having a seat belt.
"You don't remember what you said to me fifteen years ago?" Chen Xue's voice suddenly sounded in the silent cabin of the mecha.
Ethan was astonished. 'Did Chen Xue and him know each other before?' He thought.
As if sensing his trouble, the memories he suppressed earlier came rushing back like a tidal wave. Because of the sudden rush, he felt a pang of pain and rubbed his temples.
"Are you alright?" asked, Chen Xue.
"I'm ok, just some memories suppressed earlier. And yes, I remember what I said that day" Ethan said after recalling some of the memories.
Chen Xue burst into tears and hugged Ethan.
"Have you recovered your memories?" she asked.
"No, my memory was triggered when I heard you followed the mecha unit".
"Oh, so that's how it is," she said in astonishment.
"No wonder, I felt familiar with you the first time we met," Ethan said while rubbing his chin.
"Here we are!"
She snapped out of her thoughts and looked in front after hearing what Ethan said.
She can see the 1st Mixed Fleet, not far away and they should just be able to rendezvous with it.
....
Presidential Office, Earth.
President Mbeki was fuming with anger while pacing back and forth, talking to a middle-aged man sitting on the other side of the office lounge, which looked contradictory to the atmosphere.
"Grand Vizier, didn't the report submitted to my office decades ago state that The Order has been wiped out?" He said.
"Indeed" Grand Vizier Mike responded calmly.
"Then why are there sudden movements from that same organization deemed wiped out?!" He asked in a low roar.
"Mr. President, remember they're an organization that operates in the dark with deep connections spreading across galaxies, Being wiped out doesn't mean they can't regroup. Besides we only clean up our galaxy. Grand Vizier Mike explained calmly.
"Summon an emergency meeting with the council of representatives" he spoke into his communicator.
"And you're attending too" he looked at Grand Vizier Mike,, indicating he had no way to reject.