in2ebook Chapter 1465 Doubts
Chapter 1465 Doubts
The captain's hoarse, dry voice said, "You...are right."
The entrustment that followed was like an invisible thunderbolt, splitting the despair and deathly silence shrouded in the ruins of Lingas, and also striking Xiao Dingshan's heart heavily.
He succeeded!
This unruly interstellar behemoth, who regarded him as an ant...
Finally, Prince Xiao Ce's series of vicious schemes and Xiao Dingshan's carefully crafted cowardly strategist performance completely broke his spine, revealing an unprecedented vulnerability and confusion.
It seems this battle truly shattered his inner faith...
"Captain! Your subordinate...your subordinate is terrified!"
Xiao Dingshan suddenly knelt on one knee, his head bowed deeply, his body trembling violently with excitement, and his voice choked with disbelief!
"How dare I, your subordinate, bear such a heavy responsibility! The legion belongs to you, and only your will can lead us out of this desperate situation! Please... please rescind your order! I am willing to give my life to assist you in rebuilding our strength!"
His performance was flawless, perfectly capturing the helplessness and loyalty of subordinates in the face of their leader's collapse.
"Assist?"
The captain let out a low, sneer filled with endless exhaustion and self-mockery!
His massive metal hand unconsciously stroked a deep, charred scar on his chest, revealing the internal structure of the scar!
That was a memento left by shrapnel from a shell that grazed the command post during the retreat from the beachhead.
The crimson electronic eyes, now dull and lifeless, swept over Xiao Dingshan, who was kneeling on the ground, and the surrounding remnants of his army, their faces ashen and their eyes vacant.
"I...can't see the road clearly."
The captain's voice was so low it seemed to be swallowed by the cold wind as he said, "Anger has consumed reason, arrogance has blinded us... Now, after defeat after defeat... how can I possibly command them?"
He paused, his massive body seeming to hunch over even more, the steel skeleton that once supported him and looked down upon the starry sea now appearing as if filled with failed lead.
“You’re right, Xiao Ce’s traps…are everywhere…I…need to calm down, I need time…to think things through.”
He looked at Xiao Dingshan again...
That gaze no longer held the oppressive and contemptuous quality of the past; only an almost hollow weariness and a faint, desperate hope for support remained.
"Now, only you are here... only you understand Xiao Ce best, and only you... can still maintain a little bit of clarity."
These people...
He struggled to raise his arm, pointing to the wounded soldiers and mechs on the port, whose morale had completely plummeted!
"These brothers who are still alive... their lives are more likely to survive in your hands than in mine."
"Commander-in-Chief! Absolutely not! I am too incompetent to shoulder this great responsibility! The legion needs you! The brothers need you to step up!"
Xiao Dingshan raised his head, his face filled with heartache and indignation!
Her voice rose, trembling with tears.
He had to play his refusal to the extreme in order to make his subsequent forced acceptance seem natural and to further solidify the captain's trust.
"enough!"
The captain's voice suddenly rose, carrying a hint of frustration from being repeatedly rejected!
But more than anything, he felt utterly exhausted and powerless. His massive metal fist slammed into the cold armor of the landing craft beside him with a dull thud, sending ice shards scattering down.
"Xiao Dingshan! How long are you going to keep making excuses?! Do you really want me to... do you really want me to kneel down and beg you?!"
"Do I really have to kneel down and beg you?!"
These words struck like a thunderclap in the deathly silent harbor.
All eyes instantly focused on Xiao Dingshan, filled with shock, bewilderment, and a barely perceptible hint of...expectation?
The Captain-General, the once supreme conqueror, actually said such a thing?
Xiao Dingshan trembled violently, as if he had been struck hard by an invisible force.
He suddenly raised his head, his eyes instantly filling with tears of shock and fear!
"Captain! You...you're making me feel terrible! I...I..."
His lips trembled violently, as if he were enduring a tremendous psychological shock.
Finally, under the intense gaze of the Captain-Commander—a gaze that held a mixture of exhaustion, pleading, the last vestiges of authority, and the verge of collapse...
He seemed to have used all his strength to press his forehead deeply against the cold deck, letting out a scream filled with endless sorrow and determination:
"Your subordinate... obeys! I will do everything in my power to live up to the Commander-in-Chief's trust! Even if I am shattered to pieces, I will protect the bloodline of the Legion and buy time for the Commander-in-Chief!"
"My next step is to process the signals of the fallen soldiers and upload their consciousness... However, it will still take time to bring them back to life..."
The captain was truly more grief-stricken than heartbroken at this moment...
He couldn't see the future...
His confidence was shattered, bit by bit, by them...
At that moment, Xiao Dingshan's image of accepting a critical mission and enduring humiliation was deeply imprinted in the hearts of every surviving Hyena soldier.
The captain looked at him, the last glimmer of light flashing in his crimson electronic eyes, as if he wanted to say something...
But in the end, he simply nodded heavily, then said to Xiao Dingshan:
"It's up to you to decide... I need to be alone for a while..."
The enormous figure, exuding an overwhelming sense of desolation, staggered silently, surrounded by several equally distraught guards, towards the deepest, most fortified, and loneliest compartment within the fortress...
He needed rest, and even more so, he needed to lick his wounds from a failure that he had never experienced before and that had penetrated deep into his soul.
After seeing off the captain, Xiao Dingshan was still very happy...
After all, he knew his time had come...
However, the only unpleasant thing was that he was controlled by Xiao Ce.
However, after so many years of playing against Xiao Ce, becoming a useful pawn in his game might not be so bad...
His first step after taking over was to clean up the mess.
Xiao Dingshan displayed a ruthless and efficient approach, a stark contrast to his previous cowardly strategist. He immediately summoned all officers who were still mobile, his voice cold and clear, devoid of any unnecessary words:
"First, compile a complete list of all surviving personnel, equipment, and supplies, down to the last energy bomb!"
Seriously injured patients should be given priority in treatment; those who can be saved should be treated with all their might, and those who cannot be saved... should be given a quick death.
They were then stored in their storage system, and once they were settled, the system would be used to revive them...
Everyone expressed their understanding.
They do indeed have machines that can bring the dead back to life.
However, people don't really want to use it unless there's no other way.
Because after their consciousness is transferred, they always feel that they are no longer themselves.
But now that I'm dead, there's nothing I can do...
Xiao Dingshan continued to issue orders...
"Second, all defensive units should retreat to the core area of Lingas Fortress and the main mine entrance."
Abandon all non-essential outposts to conserve energy and manpower.
Immediately repair the fortress's basic energy shield. High strength isn't required; just enough to cover the core. Prioritize the life support systems and basic defensive firepower.
"Third, the engineering corps, working in two shifts, will spare no effort to prioritize the repair of the main mine's ventilation system and resume the mining of deep spiritual marrow!"
This is our lifeline! Other mines should maintain a minimum level of operation, provided safety is guaranteed.
"Fourth, the intelligence department, use all means to closely monitor the movements of Xiao Yang's troops, and... the repair progress of the Arctic Abyss Roar! Report any unusual activity immediately!"
"Fifth, all soldiers are to be relieved of non-essential duties. Without my order, no one is to leave the defensive perimeter even a step! Anyone who disobeys will be killed!"
No grand pronouncements, only clear commands...
The surviving hyena legion, like a spinning top whipped by a powerful lash, began to operate with difficulty under Xiao Dingshan's command, carrying a numbness of surviving a catastrophe and a trace of awe for the new commander's swift and decisive actions.
Miraculously, under Xiao Dingshan's efficient command, the chaotic order within the fortress was quickly restored. The core shield glowed weakly but steadily, and the drilling rigs in the mines roared back to life a few days later—actually, this was due to the secret assistance of Xiao Ce's Star Network Hub...
Although morale remained low, the apocalyptic panic was temporarily replaced by a tense, oppressive order of survival!
That night, after confirming that he was absolutely safe, Xiao Dingshan connected to the Star Network Hub through the most secret passage deep within his consciousness.
"Your Highness, the lair has been taken over, and order has been initially established. Please give us your instructions for the next step."
Xiao Dingshan's mental fluctuations carried an uncontrollable excitement and a hint of self-satisfaction.
Xiao Ce's thoughts were like a cold spring, instantly calming him down: "Well done, Xiao Dingshan."
You have gained a respite and have begun to establish your authority.
Next, you need to firmly establish yourself and win the genuine trust, even... worship, of these remnants.
"Please enlighten me, Your Highness!"
Xiao Dingshan was greatly encouraged.
"I will have Xiao Yang hand you a few victories."
With an air of complete control, Xiao Ce followed Xiao Dingshan's words:
"The scale doesn't need to be large, but the momentum must be strong. Harass our reconnaissance squads and transport teams on the periphery, or harassment squads that try to get close to the mining area."
The location and time will be provided later. What you need to do is anticipate the enemy's moves, command with composure, and achieve a great victory.
Use the blood of your enemies to forge your unshakeable position in the Hyena Legion.
Let those people know that you are a hundred times, a thousand times stronger than that captain...
Xiao Dingshan instantly understood Xiao Ce's intention:
"Your Highness is wise! Your subordinate understands! We will certainly perform this act well!"
The plan was quickly put into action.
A few days later, a mixed reconnaissance team consisting of a dozen Shadow drones and a squad of Hyena infantry arrived.
Conduct perimeter patrols according to the route predicted by Xiao Dingshan.
Sure enough, they encountered a small federal drone squadron and several light mechs attempting to infiltrate.
The battle broke out at the designated location.
Sitting in the temporary command center, Xiao Dingshan issued orders through the communication channel in a calm and clear voice:
"Group A drones, flank from the left and disrupt the enemy's communications!"
"Infantry Team B, take control of the high ground on the right-hand ice mound and bombard it with EMP grenades!"
"Third and Fifth Ripper Mechs, don't rush in! Wait until the enemy is paralyzed by EMP, then attack from the flanks and prioritize destroying the light mechs!"
"Be aware that there may be an ambush behind the snowdrift at the three o'clock position. Reserves, prepare to intercept!"
His orders precisely anticipated every move of the federal forces.
The hyena soldiers were surprised to find that the new commander seemed to have an excellent grasp of the enemy's tactics.
When the Federation's light mechs were indeed affected by the EMP, their movements became sluggish, and they were precisely targeted and killed by the ambushing Rippers; when two Federation mechs attempted to ambush from behind the snowdrifts, they were suppressed and destroyed by the reserve firepower that Xiao Dingshan had arranged in advance...
For the first time in the long-suppressed fortress, cheers of victory resounded!
"Long live the Commander!"
"Military Advisor Xiao is incredibly insightful!"
"Well done! You finally got your revenge!"
Similar victories occurred three or four more times in the following two weeks...
Sometimes it's a successful ambush of a small team intending to attack a mining convoy...
Sometimes, the route of the drone harassment was accurately predicted, and it was destroyed in mid-air with dense anti-aircraft fire.
On one occasion, Xiao Dingshan even discerned the route of a small-scale infiltration operation by the Federation, commanded his troops to counter-infiltrate, and annihilated an entire robot squad in the ruins.
Each victory, though not large enough to change the strategic situation, boosted the morale of the Hyena Legion, which was on the verge of collapse, and solidified Xiao Dingshan's authority like a heavy hammer.
The soldiers' gazes toward him gradually shifted from initial suspicion and indifference to awe, reliance, and even a touch of fanatical worship.
The titles "Military Advisor Xiao" and "Commander Xiao" began to be used frequently, both privately and in public.
He is no longer that coward who only knows how to dissuade others!
Rather, they are wise men and commanders who can lead them to victory in desperate situations!
Deep within the fortress, in that silent cabin.
The chief commander silently monitored everything happening outside through encrypted internal surveillance.
Watching Xiao Dingshan restore order methodically, watching the troops achieve small victories one after another under his command, and seeing the hope rekindled on the soldiers' faces!
Even if this hope is built upon his own failure...
A faint warmth seemed to seep into his heart, which had been frozen by failure.
The crimson electronic eye watched as Xiao Dingshan calmly accepted the cheers of his subordinates after his victory, yet remained humble on the screen!
For the first time, a complex light shone through his eyes—a mixture of relief, acceptance, and even a hint of...gratitude?
A few days later, the chief commander walked out of his "meditation" cabin.
Instead of immediately reclaiming command, he took a tour of the fortress under the guise of an inspection.
We can see that the fortifications are more complete and that the mine is operating normally!
He saw that although the soldiers still looked pale, their eyes had regained their spirit, especially when he walked by!
Although the soldiers still saluted respectfully, they addressed him more often as "Commander Xiao is..." Their genuine reverence was directed towards Xiao Dingshan.
The captain's doubts were finally put to rest.