Just as the instructor was preparing to lead the cadets into battle, a calm, male voice came through their communicators.
"Ahem, this is Duke Feng Mo of the Yunshan Empire. Please remain calm. Stay in place if you're not in immediate danger—the insectoid swarm will be repelled soon."
The cadets burst into excited chatter.
"Is that our Senior Feng Mo?" one cadet murmured, only to be corrected by a friend nearby.
"Yes, it's our Senior Feng Mo, the Duke of the Yunshan Empire! He graduated less than a decade ago and has already achieved so much. He's the most brilliant command student the academy has produced in nearly a century!"
Gu Yanyan, standing among the cadets, muttered to herself, "Is it really Brother Feng Mo from when we were kids, come to rescue us?"
"Look over there!" another cadet shouted, pointing to the distant sky. Finding the view unclear, they hurried to retrieve a large interstellar telescope from a nearby, smoking starship and connected it to a holographic projector, projecting an image before the gathered cadets.
On the screen, hundreds of silver drones suddenly appeared in the sky, surging into the insectoid swarm without hesitation. Reaching the core of the swarm, the drones detonated simultaneously.
"Boom!"
Even from a distance, the cadets heard the tremendous explosion as a massive mushroom cloud rose, blocking out the sun. Green blood and insectoid fragments rained down, painting the battlefield in a macabre hue.
After the explosion, seven to eight hundred more silver drones appeared, launching waves of interstellar missiles and laser cannons. Their coordinated attack created a web of firepower, igniting the insectoid flyers and transforming the sky into a blazing inferno.
The insectoid flyers dropped like hail, crushing those on the ground or being trampled by others in the swarm.
"Boom!"
Ten T4 mechs, each thirty meters tall, landed on the battlefield, creating deep craters beneath them. As soon as they touched down, their shoulder armor opened, unleashing a barrage of micro-missiles that cleared the area ahead.
Explosions and insectoid screeches blended into a chaotic symphony. Dust filled the air as green blood stained the ground. With the appearance of drones and mechs, the tide on Z227 shifted drastically.
"T4 electromagnetic cannons ready!"
At Feng Tianyi's command, the mechs extended their arms, pale blue energy gathering into orbs in their palms.
"Fire!"
With a thunderous blast, twenty energy beams shot out, slicing through the insectoid horde and carving twenty blood-soaked paths.
Overhead, interstellar bombers fired more missiles, complementing the electromagnetic beams and clearing large swaths of the insectoids. The once-dense swarm noticeably thinned as it pushed against the defense line.
The cadets cheered, some hastily checking the Federation database to identify the mechs and drones. Yet, due to the bio-magnetic interference from the insectoid mother ships, the database search progressed slowly. When they finally accessed the entry, it read simply: "Equipment of the Storm Fleet, Commanded by Duke Feng Mo."
At that moment, a massive starship descended, casting a shadow over the mountain range. A beam of light landed near the cadets, and Feng Mo stepped out with Han Peipei.
The cadets stared in awe at Feng Mo in his black armor, his youthful face uncovered. This image would be forever engraved in their memories—a scene they'd recall for years.
"Hello, everyone. Given the situation, please follow Secretary Han Peipei to the Hurricane for rest."
Feng Mo nodded to the instructor, then strode toward the cadets, recognizing Gu Yanyan among them from the photo provided by Gu Jun.
Reaching her, he smiled gently and said, "My, how you've changed! You're prettier now, though you were cuter as a kid. Do you still remember how you'd follow me everywhere, gap-toothed, talking with that little lisp?"
Embarrassed by his teasing and the curious gazes of her peers, Gu Yanyan's face flushed a deep red, feeling as if she were burning from within.
Seeing her innocent face, delicate features, and slight frame, Feng Mo felt a surge of affection and protectiveness, though he reminded himself she was a childhood friend, like a sister to him. He already had three women in his life, and he wasn't interested in adding another.
Patting her head, he said softly, "Big Brother Feng Mo is here. This insect swarm will be gone soon. Go with your instructor and everyone else to rest on the Hurricane."
He signaled to Han Peipei to lead the cadets aboard, then turned and headed toward the battlefield.
Meanwhile, on Z227, the air and ground forces, bolstered by hundreds of T4 drones and ten T4 mechs, began their counteroffensive.
In orbit above Z227, four T4 Scorpion stealth bombers crept into position behind the insectoid mother ship cluster. Mello, the squad leader, located the optimal bombing spot and connected with the Federation fleet still fighting the mother ships.
Once connected, Mello got straight to the point, "This is Mello, leader of Duke Feng Mo's T4 Scorpion squadron. We're preparing a bombing run on the mother ship cluster. Request cooperation from the Federation fleet for complete extermination."
The Federation fleet commander, familiar with Feng Mo's Storm Fleet and the destructive capabilities of the Scorpions, quickly replied.
"Our fleet will full
y cooperate with Duke Feng Mo's plan to annihilate the mother ships!"
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