Chapter 1253: Team 18’s First Battle
One day later.
In the rest room where Zhao Chen's 18th squad was located, the three green lights turned yellow.
This means that the 18th squad has entered a state of combat readiness.
At this moment, Cao Zhenlong and Lieutenant Zhang arrived.
"Sir!" Upon seeing the battalion commander, everyone in the lounge stood up.
"Sit down," Cao Zhenlong gestured for everyone present to sit down.
Except for Zhao Chen, all the soldiers of the 18th squad sat down, but they all sat up straight.
"This is the first battle for most of you here."
I know you're under a lot of pressure.
But you must trust your captain. On the battlefield, only trust can bring you back alive.
"At that time, I will hold a real baptismal feast for your Eighteenth Squad to celebrate your 'bloody rebirth'!"
"Yes!" came a voice from the lounge.
"Xiao Zhao, come out with me." Cao Zhenlong looked at Zhao Chen beside him.
Zhao Chen followed the captain out.
Lieutenant Zhang stood to the side.
"Xiao Zhao, this is your first time leading a squad in combat."
I know you may be under a lot of pressure.
But everyone faces this hurdle.
I went through the same thing back then.
"Don't be nervous, just show me what you're capable of," Cao Zhenlong said to Zhao Chen.
Zhao Chen nodded.
Despite being nervous, Zhao Chen wasn't nervous at all.
He has commanded large-scale battles involving hundreds of thousands of interstellar warships.
Regarding the request you made earlier.
After we reported it, the lieutenant colonel agreed. Cao Zhenlong mentioned a request that Zhao Chen had made to him earlier.
"Thank you, Captain Xie. Thank you, Lieutenant Colonel Xie," Zhao Chen said gratefully.
Lieutenant Zhang patted Zhao Chen on the shoulder and said in a low voice, "Although there are no hard and fast rules regarding a squad's first battle."
But there is actually a hidden test.
If the squad's casualty rate exceeds 80% in the first battle, the squad leader will be demoted to the vice-captain of a regular squad after the battle ends.
And they may not be able to get promoted for a long time.
You must at least ensure that the casualty rate in this first battle is below 60%!
Zhao Chen nodded silently.
"If our two teams are in close proximity at that time, please contact me."
"I'll find a way to support you over there," Lieutenant Zhang whispered in Zhao Chen's ear.
Cao Zhenlong, who was standing next to him, could actually hear the sound.
But he didn't say anything.
After all, they are all from the same brigade, so they will look out for each other.
Zhao Chen nodded.
Then, the two officers left.
Zhao Chen also returned to the lounge.
He glanced around at the expressions on everyone's faces in the lounge.
Some were excited, some were nervous, and some were afraid.
At this moment, a boy who looked only sixteen years old handed a fruit that looked like an orange to Zhao Chen.
"Captain, this is what I brought from my hometown."
My dad knows I've graduated from military academy and am going to join the flight squadron.
They specially prepared a box of fruit for me; it's a local specialty.
"Try it." The boy held out the peeled fruit with both hands.
Zhao Chen didn't stand on ceremony and took half of it, putting it in his mouth.
The juice bursts in your mouth, and the sweet and sour taste fills your taste buds.
Zhao Chen nodded: "The taste is indeed quite good."
"Hehe, of course."
My parents and relatives contracted an orchard and rely on the fruit to make a living.
With the money they earned, they finally managed to get me into the local military academy.
They originally just wanted me to be an ordinary crew member.
But to my surprise, I was selected to become a starfighter pilot.
My dad dropped me off, but he didn't say a word.
My mother was already sobbing uncontrollably.
Everyone knows that the mortality rate for interstellar fighter pilots is high.
I...I..."
As the boy spoke, tears streamed down his face without him even realizing it.
Zhao Chen patted his head.
"Obey orders and follow commands."
"You will definitely be able to return to your parents' orchard," Zhao Chen said.
At this time.
The yellow light above the lounge has turned red!
Subsequently, the list of those to be dispatched was presented one by one.
Because it was the first real-world test, some people were still sitting there dumbfounded when they received the notification.
"Feng Yongyi, Hua Wenbin, Pei Jun, Sun Yishan..."
"Prepare to board and fight immediately!" Zhao Chen shouted.
Those whose names were called finally realized what was happening and got up one after another, preparing to run to their respective starfighter positions in the combat hangar.
"Remember the orders I gave you."
Do as I say!
"yes!"
Zhao Chen's name was called when he was around the hundredth place.
He looked at the veteran deputy captains he had appointed: "I'll go first."
When they are called later.
Just a reminder.
"Don't worry, Captain, leave it to us," the vice-captain said.
Zhao Chen walked to his camera position.
It was still the same starfighter he knew.
DK9577.
According to the rules of the mothership.
A starfighter is usually tied to a pilot.
Unless this starfighter is unable to fight, a backup will be arranged.
Or perhaps the pilot left the mothership, or in an extreme case, there was a pilot without a starfighter.
In that situation, it doesn't matter whose it is.
Just pull it out and take off to fight.
Zhao Chen skillfully piloted his old friend into flight.
In the airspace outside the mothership.
A circle of interstellar fighters has gathered here.
They form several concentric circles and fly around them.
There are already hundreds of them.
And it's still increasing.
The interstellar fighters gathered here are naturally all from Zhao Chen's 18th squad.
This was a request that Zhao Chen made to his superiors.
That will be the first battle for the 18th squadron. Hopefully, we can arrange for 300 interstellar fighters to be deployed together.
This is why everyone is flying in circles here while waiting.
After waiting for two or three minutes.
All three hundred interstellar fighters have arrived.
"According to the predetermined combat plan, form battle formation! Flight direction: L-123, combat area," Zhao Chen issued the order.
"yes!"
Zhao Chen's interstellar fighter took the lead.
Subsequently, the other interstellar fighters performed their respective duties, following Zhao Chen at a fixed speed.
They gradually formed a battle formation, which, from a distance, resembled a soaring bird.
Zhao Chen looked at the completed formation.
He said in a deep voice over the command channel, "Remember what I taught you."
Those things might save your lives in the battle to come.
Then remember one thing.
Obey orders and follow commands!
Zhao Chen emphasized this point again.
This is something Zhao Chen repeatedly emphasized when training them.
"Obey orders and follow commands!"
The sound of the squadron could be heard over the command channel.
soon.
The distant interstellar battleground gradually came into view.