Under the final plan, very few people actually needed to be sent back to Blue Star immediately—fewer than fifty in total. Nor did those from the City of Sin insist on returning as a group, as Azure Headquarters had feared. Aside from a few critically wounded, the rest voluntarily offered to accept orders and remain with the main fleet, lingering in this vast expanse of space to pin down the Great Spike fleet.
The actual evacuation would be carried out by CA117 and the two escort vessels belonging to the Zenith Blade. They had not traveled alongside the main force during the earlier journey, so picking up the personnel in secret and departing immediately would not alter the overall size or composition of the Martian evacuation fleet.
This way, the main fleet could continue wandering while keeping watch to the rear, determining whether any Great Spike ships were truly surveilling or tailing them.
If there were, the evacuation would be aborted at once, and the maneuver would instantly become a probe to test the tracking status of the Great Spike vessels.
That was the first phase.
In the second and third phases, neither of those two escort ships would actually return to Blue Star in the end. They would pull away one by one along the route, slowly widening their distance to conduct trailing observations.
Afterward, regardless of what they found, they would each set off on a false course to execute an "active" misdirection.
"Does General Yergana see any flaws in the plan?" Wen Jifei asked at the conclusion of their discussion.
Aside from the primary plan, they had just gone over every relevant detail with the staff officers—such as how Pegmont would be transferred from the Mechanical Cradle to CA117. With healthy super combatants and specialized safety tethers available, that was not overly difficult.
Admiral Yergana glanced back at the staff officers behind him.
No one spoke; they merely nodded. The old general's expression relaxed, even showing a hint of joy, as he turned back and said, "There is nothing more to add. Let us proceed accordingly. I wish you a safe and smooth journey home."
For this operation, Wen Jifei would also be heading back aboard CA117. The voyage itself was fraught with uncertainties, and impromptu commands and decisions might well be required.... After a brief hesitation, he said, "In that case, we leave everything that follows in your capable hands, General Yergana, and to everyone else."
"Hahaha!" Sensing the unease in his tone, Yergana chuckled. "There is no need to burden yourself, Second Lieutenant Wen, much less worry so much. It isn't anything monumental—just circling around out here. Every ship in the fleet has abundant source energy reserves. Even if we kept flying until my eightieth birthday, I doubt it would be a problem.
"Besides, I am genuinely glad today that you took the initiative to propose such a plan and make this choice, Second Lieutenant Wen," General Yergana continued, his voice hearty for the first time in days. "It is vastly better than that series of foolish decisions you made on Mars. This is the right and best choice. Your return carries immense significance. As for me, for us—we truly have no compelling reason to return anymore."
"..." For a moment, Wen Jifei did not know how to respond.
"Do not take that joke to heart, Second Lieutenant Wen. I have not forgotten that I was the commander-in-chief of this Martian expedition. This battle itself was my utter failure and will remain my eternal regret." General Yergana seemed to be explaining himself, his tone growing somber.
"It's not that," Wen Jifei said hurriedly. "I was only worried about what happens if the Great Spike fleet suddenly catches up with you later."
"Even if you remained here, I doubt you could do much more in that event." General Yergana paused. "If they truly catch up... I will do everything in my power to maneuver and delay them as long as possible."
Wen Jifei remained silent.
"Maneuver, until there is no room left to maneuver. Fuck... fuck them!" The old general suddenly let loose a string of curses, declaring that should an inescapable dead end arrive, he would not hesitate for a second to lead all the evacuation ships to ram head-on into the Great Spike swarm within this boundless universe.
"I refuse to believe that fucking Puta'er could hike all the way from here to the Moon or Blue Star on foot! Hahahaha..."
***
Six days later. Nighttime on Blue Star.
It was a clear night. The Milky Way glittered across the sky, brilliant and distinct. The people of this world knew that hope lay within that sea of stars—the destiny and future of their entire species.
Out there was a massive human fleet searching for Yanxiu skeletal remains near the Moon.
And there was an expeditionary force returning victorious from Mars.
Countless sleepless people looked up at the river of stars tonight, just as they had done for the past dozen nights, praying devoutly, waiting with anxious hope.
"Why hasn't anything come of the search on the Moon yet?"
"Yeah. Fortunately, the Martian expeditionary force should be back soon. To my mind, they're the most dependable. Even under such brutal conditions, they still won a great victory."
"Mm, Major Qing is coming back! Bringing yet another magnificent victory. I'm sure he's become even stronger."
"And Second Lieutenant Wen Jifei, Pegmont, and the rest!"
"Yes! Do you know? Just thinking about it makes me feel that sense of security returning, along with strength and conviction."
The adults talked among themselves like this.
Nearby, a little boy strained his neck, looking up. He took no part in the discussion, continuing to scan the night sky intently on his own.
"Where will they land?" the child mused aloud, full of longing. "If only the fleet could fly right over our roof. Then I could wave and greet them. 'Welcome back! And congratulations, heroes of humanity!'"
"You could salute them," his mother said with a smile.
"Yes, I will!"
"Me too!"
Children from neighboring homes came running over, forming a ragged little line with a flurry of excitement. With no fleet or spaceships in sight, they simply raised their hands toward the starry expanse above, saluting the heavens.
"For all that breathes, fight with no retreat; bar the skies with our bodies!" the children called out to the night sky in their tender voices.
Those shouts certainly could not be heard aboard any spaceship.
Yet perhaps those far away on Mars who would never return could hear them, and feel comforted and glad.
***
Fenglong'ao.
Night had just fallen here. After the sun sank entirely out of sight, the sky swiftly spread out a blue-black canopy, framing the moonlight and unveiling the boundless sea of stars.
Over the years, the people of Fenglong'ao, including the Han family, had steadfastly focused on doing one thing: answering the nation's call to cultivate grain, striving to grow more and stockpile more.
The autumn harvest had only just ended. During the day, the threshing ground had been covered in rice paddy, but by now it had all been gathered, leaving the area bare and clean.
The weather was still warm, so going outside at night to catch the cool breeze and shoot the breeze was an evening pastime shared across nearly all Huaxia villages.
After dinner, the villagers first paid respects at the altar tables in their main halls, lighting fresh incense before carrying bamboo chairs and stools out of their homes to gather on the threshing ground.
Before long, a crowd had gathered on the threshing ground. Han Qingyu's parents were naturally among them. News of the victory on Mars had put their worries to rest, and their spirits had been high lately.
"Do you reckon our spaceships are among those bright stars? Especially the one Qingzi is on—it's bound to be the biggest, right? I reckon we might spot it, though who knows which one it is."
The villagers also tilted their heads to gaze at the sea of stars, speculating and debating aimlessly as they looked.
"No way. From what I remember, aren't spaceships pitch-black? The one that brought Old Han and Jiexia back the year before last was jet-black." Someone raised an objection regarding whether a spaceship in the sky would actually look like a star.
"Well, they've got lights, don't they!" someone countered immediately.
"Do they? I can't remember. Why don't we ask Old Han and Jiexia? They're the only ones around here who've ridden in one."
Han Youshan and Zhang Jiexia didn't catch it at first, and turned to look over.
"You don't even need to ask—of course they do! Haven't you seen airplanes passing overhead at night, with those red lights blinking away? If spaceships didn't even have lights, how could they fly through that pitch-black expanse of outer space?"
"That does make some sense."
"Actually, even without lights, or if they kept them off, spaceships would still shine by reflecting moonlight. Oh wait, no, I think it's sunlight—I remember my teacher saying something like that," a school-aged child chimed in.
"Get out of here! It's night here—where would sunlight come from?!" the adults chorused.
Even as they talked, their eyes remained fixed on the night sky.
And so they chatted on and on...
All of a sudden, everyone stopped talking.
Because within their sight, a star reflecting faint moonlight was falling...
From high above, falling, falling.
Getting closer, and closer.
CA117 appeared in the sky above the threshing ground of Fenglong'ao.
Chapter 957