After passing their evaluations, the current batch of special training cadets had been assigned to the Baimu Star Domain Military District.
Tian Xingjian spent another six months in the special training corps. After mastering the system of mech maintenance, he was personally recommended by the colonel to his old friend, the Chief Logistics Officer of the Atlantis Star Domain. Soon after, Tian Xingjian joined the 1st Squad, Logistics Company, 3rd Armored Battalion, 5th Armored Division, Galileo System, Atlantis Star Domain, becoming a newly enlisted corporal.
At first, Tian Xingjian felt a sense of pride. He was a graduate of both the reconnaissance and mech maintenance training camps, and thanks to the colonel's recommendation, he had entered as a corporal—already one rank higher than other fresh recruits. Even the squad leader of the 1st Squad in the Logistics Company was only a corporal.
But his luck ran out quickly…
Three days after Tian Xingjian reported in, the Gachalin Empire launched a full-scale invasion of the Atlantis Star Domain of the Lele Democratic Federation, and war broke out. In just six months, the four human-colonized planets of the Galileo System fell one after another. Following the remnants of the 5th Division, he retreated to Miloc II only to be trapped by the Imperial Army's Newton and Galileo corps. He finally boarded a ship from the 9th Division, only to be ordered by headquarters to join the defense of Miloc.
The Imperial Army landed on Miloc within a week.
Then this chubby soldier, admired by his superiors for his knack for survival, was sent to this forward outpost to maintain the mechs.
And then… the Imperial Army attacked.
Tian Xingjian didn't even have time to catch his breath!
Now all he could do was survive.
Racing against mechs on foot, Tian Xingjian was both terrified and furious. Even at his maximum speed—about 20 km/h—he was nothing more than a tortoise in a race against hares. His only relief was that mechs, due to their bulk, struggled in dense jungle. Surviving in the jungle and evading enemies, however, was one of Tian Xingjian's specialties. After all, he was just a logistics maintenance soldier—who would bother chasing him?
Climbing a tree, he carefully observed the battlefield. If the twelve multi-legged Federation mechs could break away, Tian Xingjian had no problem following them in the shadows.
If the retreat went smoothly, it was good—if there were only a few enemies, he could rely on their strength. If there were many, he would vanish like a tiny star next to the sun.
The battle's focus was now on the small hill Tian Xingjian had just left. Two Federation Honor 15 mechs were already moving toward it. The Imperial detachment's San-Kai 22 single-pilot mechs swarmed like frenzied bees: some advanced in scattered formation to attack the Honor 15s directly, while others used high-speed rockets to flank the hill, ignoring the danger of prolonged exposure to become targets.
The Federation was in a critical position. The front could not shake off enemy entanglement, and if the rear high ground fell, the battle would be lost. Controlling the hill was the key to allowing most mechs to escape.
Silence filled Tian Xingjian's headset.
"Damn it! Go all out, 2119! Brothers, cover us!"
The closest Honor 15 broke from cover and dashed toward the hilltop.
Exposed, L9-2119 immediately became a prime target. Within hundreds of meters, its defensive shield turned red, signaling extreme danger.
"2119, get your ass back here!"
"Open fire! Open fire!"
"Go! Guys, we can't let 2119 die ahead of us!"
"The Lele Federation has no cowards!"
"Are we warriors, boys?"
"We are!"
"And always have been!!"
All twelve Federation Honor 15 mechs roared in unison, breaking from the formation. Their rotating energy cannons unleashed maximum firepower, while their energy shields turned faint red—indicating the pilots had pushed their defenses to the limit to protect 2119, abandoning survivability for offense.
"Ha! This is damn satisfying! Gachalin bastards, take it!"
"Imperial fleas, let me teach you a lesson!"
"This missile greets your mother, this one greets your father!"
The Imperial forces were stunned by the sudden surge of firepower. Twelve red mechs surged forward like death gods leaping from hell, glowing with energy, swinging deadly scythes, and raining missiles like torrential rain.
"L9-2108, enemy concentration at 1 o'clock, fire!"
"L9-2117, advance!"
"L9-2121, advance!"
"L9-2119, keep moving! Almost there, guys."
"L9-2110, advance!"
"L9-2111, damn it 2119, that one's mine."
"L9-2106, charge, don't fall behind those bastards."
"L9-2133, forward!"
"L9-2129, brothers, let's go!"
"L9-2101, advance!"
From his perch, Tian Xingjian trembled uncontrollably. Goosebumps covered his skin. Was he excited or terrified? He didn't know. All he knew was that he would never forget the scene: a red-shielded Honor 15 barreling toward the hill, two mechs sacrificing shields to intercept the swarming Imperial mechs, and nine others advancing while unleashing firepower to draw enemy attention.
"Advance! Honor 15!"
The twelve Honor 15s charged, their firepower and crimson fury composing a deafening symphony of assault.
The Federation's sudden counterattack caught the Imperial Army off guard. Despite numerical superiority, their single-pilot mechs had no advantage against medium mechs beyond mobility. A single direct missile hit or two energy blasts could easily destroy a San-Kai 22.
Watching San-Kai 22s explode one by one under overwhelming Federation fire, the Imperial Army's numerical advantage dwindled. The ratio of combat-effective Imperial mechs had dropped to 5:1—only sixty-some left—and after prolonged combat, most of their five light missiles were expended. Without missiles, machine guns were useless against Honor 15s.
The Honor 15s fought with desperate courage, terrifying the Imperial forces. Panic spread, and one by one, San-Kai 22s were destroyed. Soldiers hid in craters and behind obstacles, unable to lift their heads under the Federation's covering fire.
War is a strange thing.
No matter how strong your troops, how brilliant your tactics, or how advanced your weapons, you can still lose. Why? Because of something uncontrollable.
Luck.
At the right place, at the right time, luck could overturn the expected outcome.
The Federation's luck was outstanding now. These nearly defenseless mechs not only survived but gained the upper hand.
Historically, there were instances of a single soldier chasing a group of soldiers—a lesson in morale and fortune.
Without the morale to risk everything, such acts would be impossible. Without luck, a single stray bullet could kill the foolish pursuer.
As an ancient Chinese philosopher said: "When the human spirit scatters, the troops are hard to lead." Now the Imperial commanders knew the bitterness of those words. Their soldiers were disorganized, many acting independently.
Under the pressure of seeing mechs explode one by one, the Imperial Army faltered, then fragmented, and finally panicked. Mechs scattered like sheep driven by starving wolves.
Tian Xingjian's mouth tasted bitter. He wanted to cry. Life was unbearable. Behind him, the shadow of the Imperial flanking detachment loomed. In ten minutes, they could reach the battlefield.
Amid the chaos, Tian Xingjian thought: "If I make it back, I'm applying for discharge!"
The unlucky chubby soldier ran sweat-drenched through the battlefield.
A year of reconnaissance training had not reduced his weight; six months of war had only prevented further gain.
"If I'd known I wouldn't lose weight, why did I come to suffer?"
Tian Xingjian's life felt like a tragedy.
He dreamed instead of inheriting a villa from his parents, flying cars, a simple job, a beautiful wife, and leisurely evenings with friends—this was the life he imagined.
"I'm Corporal Tian Xingjian, temporary logistics mech maintenance. Requesting comms."
Panting, he ran while calling out.
"The fat guy who came to repair mechs? You're still here?"
This was the armored squad's local channel. If they could connect, it meant he was nearby. After two days and nights of battle, it was odd that this chubby maintenance soldier was still around.
Tian Xingjian thought wryly: "I'd run if my battlefield recorder let me."
Unknown to him: battlefield recorders typically don't restrict logistics personnel from retreating. Their main function is to log combat activity and restrict soldiers' movement within the operational radius. But for anomalous data—like twenty retreats without firing a shot—the recorder overrides commands. Tian Xingjian's data had triggered a red alert in the Federation's central command.
"Fat guy, escape yourself," said L9-2101's pilot.
"How do I escape?!"
Tian Xingjian wailed, pitifully.
"Around you is flat terrain except this patch of jungle. The Imperial heavy mechs are coming."
The Imperial "Beast II" heavy mech: 12 meters tall, 80 tons, all-alloy construction, full radar, heavy energy shields, eight jointed legs for off-road, sixteen wheels when prone, road speed 280 km/h, carrying 20 medium missiles, four anti-air missiles, two energy cannons, and a 360° rotating "Fire Snake" heavy gun.
Killing a 20 km/h, unarmored logistics soldier with a modified rifle in the open jungle would be like child's play.
"No time! Follow the single-pilot mechs ahead: north, then west, then south along the Su River. The eastern central line is breached; the rear is blocked."
Tian Xingjian panted, his lungs burning. It took him five swallows of saliva just to finish the instructions.
"Fat guy, are you serious?"
The mech pilots hesitated.
"Damn it! I'm a special training reconnaissance soldier!"
Immediately, they followed his plan without question.
On the battlefield, reconnaissance soldiers were trusted above all. Their assessments often dictated operational decisions. Without arguing, the mechs accelerated northward.
Reaching the edge of the jungle, Tian Xingjian looked at the Federation mechs rolling at 150 km/h and groaned:
"It's over!"
He threw his rifle to the ground and cried, "Damn it, at least take me with you!"