Miss Witch Doesn't Want to be a Diva-Chapter 1630 - 84: Biao Xing and Jiao Yang (Part 2)

"Earth dog" refers to mech pilots who have spent their entire careers serving on the ground, without having ever been in space combat. Within the mecha circle, this is a kind of contempt chain, as space combat requires higher spatial awareness and physical fitness that ground members can't overcome.

The Federation has always given preferential treatment to elite pilots. With his current salary and social benefits, it even surpasses those of small company bosses outside. He earns a guaranteed annual salary of over a million Federation Coins, and for missions, exercises, or awards, there are additional rewards. After serving for ten years, he can easily accumulate a fortune worth tens of millions, and receives protection due to his military status. If he becomes an ace pilot, acquiring a billion-level fortune is easily achievable. This is unimaginable for ordinary office workers.

Not to mention other things, the experimental mecha he pilots costs billions of Federation Coins in terms of sheer cost. As a pilot, he sometimes is even more valuable than the mecha.

"Let's go, Biao Xing, stop dazing off." A companion pats him on the shoulder.

"Hmm." He nods in response and follows along.

The dinner was very sumptuous, just like the Captain promised. They almost ordered every expensive dish on the menu, and drank countless beverages.

Late at night, a group of people stumbled back to the dormitories. Though disheveled, tomorrow was a day off, and no one would come out to criticize them.

Dragging a drunken fellow like a dead pig to bed, he heard snoring resembling pig noises. He chuckled, closed the door, and then went to the balcony to get some air.

The night wind here is refreshing, even within the space station, you can still see the artificial urban landscape.

The entire space station is like a giant drum, and all buildings are constructed along the inner wall of the drum. The rotation of the space station brings centrifugal force, simulating the effect of gravity.

Leaning on the balcony railing, Biao Xing closed his eyes to feel the refreshing night wind. Occasionally, his gaze swept over surrounding apartment buildings of the same style, all inhabited by military personnel like him currently serving in the Eighth Fleet.

As a training reserve unit, the Eighth Fleet never lacks new recruits and instructors. After years of service training, they are transferred to other main fleets based on performance. The best treatment currently belongs to the Fifth Fleet, because of the allocations by the Fire Lotus - Radiant Star faction, this fleet's development is rapid, currently surpassing the traditional strongest Third and Fourth Fleets.

The instructor also previously served in the Fifth Fleet, right? He said he participated in the battles of the Western Star Region, Biao Xing suddenly recalled.

I'll ask him about it later.

On the next day, training went as usual, but after training ended, Biao Xing approached the instructor and captain individually.

"Captain." He called out to the other.

"Oh, it's you, Biao Xing." The man turning to face him, showing signs of aging, placed down the towel he was using to wipe sweat.

"Is there anything, or are you here to ask for a reward, hahaha." He wasn't stingy with admiration for this talented individual.

Raising his hand for the young man to come forward, the instructor pulled him to sit by his side, at this moment they were seated at the viewing stand of a huge battleground, spacious and bright.

"Sit."

"Yes."

"Speak."

"I want to ask about the combat in the Western Star Region 20 years ago, instructor."

"That..." The instructor skillfully took out a cigarette and lit it, drawing slowly, his facial muscles twitching, his eyes gradually becoming deep and distant.

"What do you want to know, how brutal the fighting was, or lessons learned from the battle?"

"I want to know your feelings during the war and how you viewed the campaign afterward."

"You're quite special, asking about things others don't care about." He smoked, exhaling long rings of smoke.

"If you want to discuss justice with me, then I won't answer. It has nothing to do with me; you should go to Congress and find those old senators."

"I'm not narrow-minded or extreme, instructor." Biao Xing shook his head.

"I simply want to understand your true feelings at that time and afterward."

"Back then..." The instructor sighed again.

"On the battlefield, alongside countless companions charging out of the cabin, traversing the vast Star Sea. It was the grandest operation I participated in; I had never seen so many mecha and warships on the radar screen."

"I was exceptionally excited, feeling a surge of hot blood, once thinking that sacrificing myself on the battlefield wouldn't bring regret, but soon that excitement waned."

"Do you know why?" He turned his head, his expression obscured by smoke, somewhat blurred.

"The battleship's broadside fire was too dazzling. In that instant, countless comrades and foes vanished from the radar screen."

"I don't know what they thought in the end, if I was also engulfed by that light, perhaps I wouldn't even say a word before turning to ashes."

"Years of effort, training countless hours for skills and experience, in that moment turned into smoke and clouds, of no value or meaning, merely a figure on a casualty list."

"But I couldn't be a deserter, nor could I become one. Every mecha, every starship has tracking and monitoring devices; since I enjoyed the treatment as a soldier, I had to stake everything in such moments."

"The battle was challenging, even if our equipment had the advantage, the enemy's mecha fought desperately against all odds."

"Yes, I couldn't see the faces of their pilots, nor hear their voices, but in combat, you will directly feel the opponent's will, that tenacity, anger, and defiance, chilling us to the core, compelling us to confront them with all our strength and spirit, to obliterate them."