Due to the high-energy mineral deposits in the Sigma system, Imperial troops are stationed on Wu Mu and on the planets where these mines are located. However, what embarrassed the Empire's military was that when Wu Mu declared its independence this time, the troops stationed on Wu Mu also revolted together. The reason for this situation was that the middle and lower-level officers in the local garrison ambushed these senior officers while the senior officers were having a dinner, and then seized control of the army. These middle and lower-level officers are civilians promoted from soldiers, and they have all secretly joined the Freedom Alliance.
After the independence of Wu Mu Planet, the garrison of the nearby mining planet immediately organized an attack. However, what embarrassed the Empire's military was that the attacking army had not officially exchanged fire with the rebels, and the soldiers of the conquering party were actually organized by lower-level officers. When the enemy rebelled, they also joined the independent Wu Mu Star Army. After receiving the news, the senior officers of the army who stayed behind at the mine were afraid that there would be people from the Freedom Alliance here, so they and the mine managers hastily fled in the only transport ship and gave away a few asteroids to the Freedom Alliance. After the complete withdrawal of Imperial military forces, the Sigma system fell completely into the hands of the Freedom Alliance.
Although the Freedom Alliance has complete control of the Sigma Galaxy, the chairman of the Freedom Alliance, Claude Fan, is not excited at all. He clearly realizes that they have not yet won the final victory! The fleet of the Golden Lion Empire will invade the Sigma system at any time. Therefore, at the first Wu Mu government meeting just now, Claude strongly urged all people to prepare for war. His proposal was supported by the majority of those present. For the Freedom Alliance, the most important thing now is to consider how to withstand the Golden Lion's counterattack.
When Claude was alone in his office, a man in a black robe suddenly appeared silently behind him. Claude was startled when he turned around. "Shadow, can't you make a little noise when you walk? It happens every time!"
"My Chairman Claude, I am here to express my congratulations to you. Yes! Your Freedom Alliance has finally successfully taken the first step!" The man in the black robe said lightly, and their gender could not be distinguished from their voice.
"Shadow! Our victory this time is actually inseparable from the help of you and the organization you represent! If it weren't for the encryption methods you provided, if you hadn't deliberately confused the audio and video of the Imperial Intelligence Agency, I don't think we would have gone so smoothly in seizing power here." Claude replied calmly.
"Haha, my Lord Chairman, aren't you happy at all?" asked the man in the black robe named Zuoying.
"Of course, I'm happy for this victory." Claude looked at Ying, but the other person buried their face deeply behind their robe, and all he saw was darkness. "However, now is not the time to celebrate. The empire will definitely not let our galaxy go so easily."
Ying took a few steps back, and it felt more like they were floating backwards. "Your worries are absolutely correct! In addition to congratulations, I also want to tell you some bad news. An army group from the Empire is approaching your galaxy."
"We have already guessed this. If they don't come, it'll be weird." Claude didn't seem too interested in the news.
"Oh, my Mr. Chairman, don't be so impatient. Do you know who the imperial general is leading the army this time?"
"Oh? Do you know?" Claude asked.
"Yes. The one leading the army this time is known as the 'Little Butcher,' Gore Baseman." After speaking, the shadow disappeared.
Claude didn't seem to notice Ying's disappearance. In fact, he was frightened by the name. He knew that they were going to have a tough battle next.
Gore Baseman had been recalled to the imperial capital since he captured the famous Redbeard Pirate's flagship six years ago. Staying in the military office every day and dealing with boring administrative tasks, Gore felt that his life was full of gloom. But whenever he applied to his father, Duke John of Besman, who was the Imperial Minister of Military Affairs, to join the frontline regiment, his father would always reject his application. The old Duke always explained to his son: "My son, I have sent you to the army since you were a child. You already have front-line command and combat experience, and your achievements are obvious to all. But why are you still just a small major general now? You can only command a cruiser fleet, but those who can't even distinguish between destroyers and frigates can become the head of a military region." Whenever Gore heard the old Duke's questions, his face would show confusion, as these questions had indeed puzzled him. At this time, the old Duke would patiently guide his son: "That's because they have good relationships with the senior officials of the military department. And how do they maintain good relationships with the senior officials of the military department? They often visit the military headquarters and attend family events organized by the wives of senior officials. My child, go and enjoy your life! Go and establish good relationships with the ladies in the imperial capital!" Gore didn't understand his father's words very well, but he did follow his father's advice. Although he still disliked office work in the military.
After a long wait of six years, Gore finally got the battle he had longed for. On the day Wu Mu Star declared independence, Emperor Rudolf XIX convened an emergency cabinet meeting. As a result of the meeting, the director of the Intelligence Agency, Earl Barton, was fined one year's salary, and several of his division chiefs were sent to military court. In response to the sudden defection of Wu Mu Star's army, the emperor asked the secret police force to imprison all the relatives of those soldiers who had defected. Finally, the emperor appointed Duke John, the military minister, to be solely responsible for the war against the rebels. And Gore got his wish and was appointed commander of the counter-rebellion army by his father.
Sitting on his new flagship, the Destroyer, Gore couldn't help but think of his father's words before leaving: "My son, please seize this opportunity. You want your enemies to see the Iron-Blooded Chancellor. Their descendants are also iron-blooded!"
"General, our fleet has arrived at the predetermined coordinates. The Sigma galaxy is 7.2 light-seconds ahead," the adjutant's words interrupted Gore's thoughts.
"Order the forward fleet to break into the Sigma galaxy and seize those mines as quickly as possible," Gore commanded.
Following Gore's order, several cruiser fleets formed and advanced toward the Sigma galaxy.
The asteroid where the high-energy mine A-7 was located was now full of craters caused by high-energy explosives and missiles. There were also human limbs and broken arms scattered about. Two days ago, the Empire's counterinsurgency fleet had broken through the defenses of the first few mine asteroids. The Free Army at the A-7 Mine had used the anti-aircraft weapons left behind by the original Imperial garrison to hold on for two days. Because Wu Mu Star was behind them, these two days allowed Wu Mu Star's comrades to better prepare for the war.
"Captain Yang, another Imperial battleship has just left our area, heading
in the direction of Wu Mu Planet," a signal soldier reported to his commander.
"We've done our best. The space mines we deployed previously have almost been cleared," Captain Yang sighed.
"Yang, our mission is complete. We bought Chairman and his friends two more days to prepare for the war," another captain beside him said, comforting him.
"Yes, Jin. I think we'll be reunited with other comrades in heaven soon," Captain Yang agreed. The Free Army, commanded by Captain Yang and Captain Jin, had a total of 20,000 troops, all originally from the Sigma system uprising. Since their independence, these 20,000 had been stationed on A-7. To buy Wu Mu Star more time to prepare for the war, the A-7 defenders had seeded the entire space channel from A-7 to Wu Mu with space mines. They had also taken the initiative to attack many times, using small warships and amphibious fighters to harass the Imperial fleet and delay their advance. But no matter how hard they fought, all 20,000 would eventually be exhausted. Now, the total number of defenders had dwindled to less than 2,000.
Explosions echoed in the ears of the defenders once more, and all they could see through their masks was dust in the air. Pieces of rubble were shaken onto the defenders under the air defense fortifications. After the intense air strikes, the dust cleared, and landing craft in the distance had landed on the planet's surface. Another group of Imperial Marines rushed toward the defenders.
"How many waves of attacks is this already?" Old Jack asked his comrades.
"I don't know," was the straightforward response.
"I hope we can meet here again," Old Jack said, not truly wanting to know the result. He and his comrades were wearing space combat uniforms stained with dark red blood, both from the enemy and their own comrades. Their arms were numb. Each time they sat down to await the next wave of Imperial Army attacks, Old Jack felt that his arm no longer belonged to him. But every time he fought with the enemy, his arms were still filled with strength.
"Hey! Brother, get ready! Let's go!" The enemy was approaching. Old Jack grabbed the laser tomahawk next to him. His laser gun had already run out of energy clips. As he rushed toward the oncoming laser beams, Old Jack yelled at his comrades.
"Okay! Brother, if I fall first, I'll be waiting for you on the way to hell!" his comrade replied and rushed out of the trench.
Though the defenders were vastly outnumbered by the Imperial Marines, they were not lacking in courage. As the two armies drew closer, they realized that they couldn't fire their laser guns recklessly, as laser beams might accidentally hit their comrades due to reflection. So both sides wielded battle axes, competing for bravery and valor, much like samurai in the age of cold weapons.
A severed arm from the Imperial Army floated on the weightless planet's surface, obscuring the sight of some soldiers. However, when they finally removed the arm, they were met with the sight of the enemy's battle axe.
Soldiers kept falling. In space combat, damage to combat uniforms could lead to death. Many fallen soldiers often suffocated because their combat uniforms were damaged, causing oxygen to leak.
Old Jack witnessed his comrade's mask being shattered by a Marine sergeant. His comrade's face deformed and exploded due to lack of oxygen and pressure, and the red and white matter that floated out splattered on the sergeant's mask. Old Jack seized the opportunity to rush forward, raised his laser tomahawk, and cleaved the sergeant in half. The sergeant fell, and Old Jack avenged his comrade. He muttered, "Wait for me at that place!" before charging toward another Marine...
King dragged his overdrawn body back to the command room. There was no one there, and the defenders had killed every last soldier. Jin stumbled to the podium, where a small box with a red button was placed. There was a deep crack on the back of Jin's combat uniform, and oxygen was rapidly escaping into the planetary space through this crack. Jin felt that his eyes could no longer focus on the scenery in front of him. He simply closed his eyes and fumbled like a blind man, relying on his sense of touch. Finally, he found the control box. Using his last reserves of strength, he pressed the red button. As he did, Jin recalled his hometown, childhood, and the moment he joined the Freedom Alliance. He had no regrets about the choices he had made.
When the defenders fell to the surface of A-7 and the Imperial Marines could no longer spot any enemies, everyone thought it was over. But then, a muffled sound emerged from the depths of A-7. It roared like an angry beast, and suddenly, half of the entire planet broke apart. Before his death, Captain Jin had detonated high-energy explosives buried deep beneath the planet's surface. This was the last line of defense for A-7, guarding Wu Mu Planet.