Frustrated as he was, Ethan Rhea was not one to admit defeat. If Yang Hui and Kycilia Zabi wouldn't let him get involved, then he would force his way in!
"Relay my orders. Advance this defensive line, fully occupy the Philippine region, and take over the Twelfth Independent Technical Division's defense sector."
"Understood."
"At the same time, order the 45th, 46th, and 47th Aerial Strike Groups to depart from the island base and make a few rounds over the Indochinese Peninsula. Put pressure on Zeon before they can establish a firm foothold."
"Understood."
"Has Captain Natarle Badgiruel replied?"
"She has. Captain Badgiruel thanks our division for its support and agrees to our proposal. She will order the 4th, 6th, and 7th squads to await our support at coordinates Y29."
"The 1st Naval Fleet is to depart immediately. Bring supplies and head to the designated coordinates to support the Twelfth Independent Technical Division."
"Understood!"
"Hmph, Kycilia Zabi, is it... The Federation has more than just Revil and Yang Hui. I, Ethan Rhea, will have a go at you as well." A confident smile appeared on Ethan Rhea's face. Proud and never one to be outdone, he was the Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Army in the East Asia Theater. How could he let others take the lead role while he was relegated to a supporting character or a mere spectator?
...
After destroying the Stung Treng base, Yang Hui led the 1st Squad to attack the Pakse base directly to the north. This base was still under construction, so it didn't take much time to breach it, but...
"Major, we're low on ammunition," Ford Romfellow reported.
Because they were fitted with Underwater Specialized Equipment, their main armaments were the Solid Trident, Sonic Cannon, Torpedo Launcher, and a Beam Rifle folded into the Arc Shield. The Torpedo Launcher was obviously unusable on land. The Sonic Cannon's power was reduced, its range shortened, and its penetration weakened on land, making it unsuitable as a primary weapon.
All that was left was the Solid Trident and the Beam Rifle. The Beam Rifle used Energy Magazines and didn't draw from the Mobile Suit's own power, and now... they were almost out of Energy Magazines.
"Hmm..." Yang Hui fell into thought. They had fought their way here but hadn't achieved their expected objective. Although no battles had broken out in the direction of the 8th and 9th Squads, they were still in danger. Yang Hui contemplated a change in strategy.
"...Amuro, tell Natarle that after the 2nd and 3rd Squads are relieved, have Colonel Rhea send transport planes to take them to the Luna's location. After they switch to Aerial Backpacks, they are to advance slowly with the Luna and rendezvous with us."
"Understood. Should I contact Bock and Fred?" Amuro asked.
"Don't contact them. It would expose their position. If we let Kycilia Zabi find all of our locations, we will lose."
"Understood."
"Let's go." Yang Hui glanced up at the sky, then led his team onward across the desolate, hostile land in search of their next prey.
...
In the Philippine region, the 2nd and 3rd Squads, having breached the command headquarters, awaited the arrival of friendly forces. Exhausted, they rested within the dilapidated base.
Danger? There was no danger left. Because they were few in number, they had taken no prisoners. They killed everyone they could, and those they couldn't get to were left to find their own transport and flee the area. They had deployed detectors in a 50-kilometer radius around the base. If Zeon dared to launch a counterattack, they would teach the Zeon Army how to behave in their next life.
"I regret it," Dick Allen complained, leaning against a broken wall and slumping carelessly to the ground.
"Regret what?" asked Liddell Wolf, also from the 2nd Squad.
"I regret joining this unit," Dick Allen said with a bitter, shaking smile.
"Huh?" Liddell Wolf looked at Dick Allen as if he were an idiot. "Are you a moron?"
"I guess so, but... it's just too exhausting. My body can't take it."
The combat record of the Twelfth Independent Technical Division was indeed astonishing. This time, every single one of them had achieved results worthy of becoming a hero of the Federation. But... with great merit came great pressure, not just mental, but physical as well. How many people could endure such prolonged, high-intensity combat? The feeling of either being in the process of annihilating the enemy or on the way to do so, with the oppressive threat of death from all directions—what kind of iron will was needed to withstand such an environment?
"Don't let the Major hear you say that," Kowloon and Chap Adel from the 3rd Squad walked over and reminded Dick Allen. "If you can't handle it, it means you haven't trained enough."
"I'm different from you guys," Dick Allen said self-deprecatingly. "Most of you were already Federation Ace Pilots and have been in many battles. What about me? I was just a rookie before I was conscripted."
Due to timing, some of the personnel conscripted by Yang Hui who would later make a name for themselves had only just joined the Federal Army. There were rookies like Dick Allen, and also junior officers like Brad who had just graduated from the Federation Central Military Academy. They were different from the veterans, a notch below in both physical fitness and mental fortitude.
"Then hurry up and catch up to us," Chap Adel said, patting Dick Allen's shoulder comfortingly.
"That's right. If you wanted a transfer now, even if the Major agreed, no one else would," Kowloon said more sternly.
Every pilot in the Twelfth Independent Technical Division was a talent that would be fought over by various factions on the outside, but the places they could go were few and far between.
First, due to the highly classified nature of the Twelfth Independent Technical Division, it was impossible for anyone who transferred out to choose their unit freely. Even if they were transferred, corresponding surveillance measures would be put in place to prevent leaks.
Second, you want to rack up merits in the Twelfth Independent Technical Division and then switch to an easier post to enjoy them? There's no such thing as a free lunch. If someone proposed a transfer, Yang Hui might agree, but the others in the Twelfth Independent Technical Division would never accept it. Compared to those who left, those who stayed would accumulate more and more merits and climb the ranks faster and faster. By the time you're still enjoying your easy life, your former teammates will be your direct superiors. As a "traitor," what future would you have?
Third, the Military Affairs Committee was gone now. Revil was in power, and the reformist faction controlled 80% of the Federal Army. Yang Hui was a collaborator with Revil and Gopp. Would Revil use someone who "deserted" from his unit?
"That's true." No one wanted to be a "deserter." Being a rookie was no excuse. For example, Amuro was younger than all of them and had the weakest foundation when he first joined the Twelfth Independent Technical Division. But he never cut corners in any of his training, gritting his teeth and persevering through it all. Moreover, his growth was incredibly fast; he had already surpassed many and become part of the top echelon of the Twelfth Independent Technical Division.
And now, he was still following Yang Hui on the most dangerous missions without a single complaint. No one else had the right to complain either.
"Assemble!"
"Looks like we have another mission. Let's go."
Jung's summons made the resting team members prop up their weary bodies and fall into formation.
"We just received an order from Captain Badgiruel. Due to the Zeon Army deploying a New Model Reconnaissance Aircraft capable of high-altitude flight, the 1st, 8th, and 9th Squads led by the Major have encountered significant obstacles. After reinforcements arrive, we will proceed to the island to rendezvous with the Luna, then enter Cochinchina to support the 1st, 8th, and 9th Squads."
"Support the 1st Squad!" Everyone was shocked. In their hearts, Yang Hui was an invincible god of war. There was no enemy he couldn't defeat, no line he couldn't break, no base or fortress he couldn't conquer.
They were all striving to follow Yang Hui's example, never stopping their steps even though his back was so far in the distance.
And now, the "god" in their hearts had faltered.
"I know what you're thinking. To be honest, I feel the same way!" Jung spoke, and the crowd's murmuring instantly ceased. "But no matter how capable the Major is, he's still human! Otherwise, what would be the point of our existence?"
Everyone was stunned. That's right, if Yang Hui really were a god, what would they be needed for? Why form the Twelfth Independent Technical Division at all? He could just sweep through Zeon all by himself!
"Without the Major, we wouldn't be who we are today. It was the Major who led us step by step to where we are now, who made us heroes of the Federation, who guided us to achieve unparalleled merits. And now... the Major needs our help. Tell me, what should we do!?"
"Support him!" came the unified roar.
"Very good! Dismissed. Get some good rest. The moment the support troops arrive is the moment we depart!"
"Understood!"
The assembled crowd dispersed once more. Unlike the lifeless atmosphere from before, a fire could be faintly seen burning within each of them. It was a fighting spirit, an excitement, a momentum that pushed ever forward!
"Honestly, I'm not good at speeches," Jung said with a wry smile, shaking his head as he watched the departing figures.
"But it was very effective, wasn't it?" Kajima Yuu said, patting Jung's shoulder. "Look at the light in their eyes."
"Yeah." Jung sighed with emotion. Seeing them, he also saw his former self. Wasn't he the same back then? Exhausted, weighed down, on the verge of collapse, but under Yang Hui's leadership, they had overcome it all, step by step.
And now, they were squad leaders. The men under their command also needed their guidance to cross these high mountains and become qualified soldiers.
"Say..." At this moment, Kajima Yuu suddenly fell silent, looking down in thought. "...Do you think the Major might have anticipated this situation and deliberately created this opportunity for us?"
"This..." Jung's eyebrows shot up. It felt... like something Yang Hui would do. But he still offered a counterpoint, "...Probably not, right? Our opponent this time is Kycilia Zabi. The Major wouldn't be that reckless, would he?"
"Hmm... hard to say."
"Hmm... it really is hard to say."
Jung and Kajima Yuu stood there, holding the same posture with the same expression, pondering the same question.
--Enjoying the story? Want more chapters? Check out my Patreon and support me for 40+ advance chapters.
Just search for "TLGod" on Patreon!"
Thanks!