1 The Machinery Engineer Who Ran for his Life (1/2)

Tian Xing Jian concealed himself within the tank unmoving. The mud on his body allowed him to camouflage himself with the surrounding environment.

In this distant battlefield, the base of operations for the artillery team, other than him, no other organisms could be seen.

Not even a single mouse could be found.

In reality, there were no creatures like mice existing on Miracolo Planet.

This small hill was initially filled with lush thickets of trees and plants; however, due to the artillery warfare being conducted, the Federation’s artillery team hiding within and the greenery had been turned into ashes.

Around Tian Xing Jian were various types of wreckage; there were metal parts, blood, and flesh. The detonated ammunition had destroyed a 100 meters radius of area in the forest, causing an outbreak of fire that lasted for two whole days before it was extinguished.

Tian Xing Jian felt trapped. His eyelids did not obey his command, as they kept dropping down. Slapping his own face a few times, he tried his utmost to concentrate on observing the battlefield.

This was the Federation Aviation Squadron' Corporal Tian Xing Jian’s twenty-first battle.

From Galileo Galaxy to Newton Galaxy, the Federation had faced a consecutive number of defeats, losing 22 resources planets and 5 human-populated planets. Miracolo Planet was one of the two human-populated planets. The other planet, Miracolo No. 2 Planet, had long been fully conquered by the Imperial Army two months ago.

If this planet were to be conquered by the Imperial Army once again, then the Federation could only concede the remaining 30 resource-filled planets within the Newton Galaxy over to the opposition.

This did not concern Tian Xing Jian. What he cared about more was whether he could survive this war.

This was the the destined path he took – the philosophy of survival.

Hence, even after experiencing 21 battles, the Aviation Squadron, 5th Armored Division, 3rd Armored Battalion, Logistics Company, Platoon One, Mecha Engineer Tian Xing Jian remained as a lowly corporal.

The other comrades who had experienced 18 battles with him earlier on were all practically promoted long ago. However, the only one surviving after the transition of the war from Galileo Galaxy to Newton Galaxy was this engineer who did not get promoted at all. The country’s Aviation Squadron 5th Armored Division had lost a tremendous amount of military unit, with over 95 percent of the division dead. As for the remaining 5 percent of the division, they were currently located in the Miracolo No. 2 Planet.

Tian Xing Jian was almost certainly going to die. It was only due to some good fortune that he was able to catch the retreating battleship before being dispatched to the 9th Armored Division, Veteran section, retreating to this Miracolo Planet.

Tian Xing Jian sneakily moved to a big tree that had fallen from explosives before peeing while lying sideways. This was a very technical term which he was very familiar with. As long as the area he lay down on was higher than the other side, the pee he let out would not flow back to him. At least, his long exposure in war let Tian Xing Jian learn not to pee in his pants even after being frightened during battle.

He shivered from the cold; that woke him a little. Facing sideways, he spat out a spittle, cursing his dumb luck in his heart. The 9th Armored Division had initially sent down the orders to allow 40 percent of the division to return to the Darwin Galaxy for recuperation, yet because of reports of the Imperial Army appearing on the star route to Miracolo Planet, the Supreme Headquarters had no choice but to recall all divisions back to the Miracolo Planet, put up their resistance against the army, and allow for reinforcement to arrive from behind.

Even though this area of concealment was chosen after much consideration by him,it was also far away from the main battlefield. It was still not secure enough for Tian Xing Jian, who only had survival in his mind.

From his viewpoint, the distant battle was simply akin to wildfire. On his direction of 3, 9, and 12 o’clock, there were the Imperial Army’s 200-meters tall crucial Battle Mechas that were operated by a single man - ”Divine Mecha 22”.

This was the Imperial Army’s standardized mecha that was akin to an ostrich in terms of how flexible they were. The two wing-like missile launchers were shooting out homing missiles periodically. Piercing sounds could be heard every time those laser-controlled missiles were fired.

Those at his 6 o’clock were from the Milky Way Federation. There had been tens of those 3-meters tall, 5-man mecha known as the ”Glory 15”. The powerful defense of this large mecha was enough to make others tongue-tied. Tens of these mechas were being led by the central computer, allowing them to conduct several high-level evasive maneuvers. Even though they were outnumbered by the Imperial Army and were suppressed under the Imperial’s firepower, within this short period of time, the flexible Battle Mechas of the Imperial Army could not do anything significant to this team of highly defensive mechas from the Milky Way Galaxy.

The two opposing sides were attacking and defending passionately. The smoke released from the guided missiles were crossing each other, shrouding the entire battlefield. Occasionally, the resounding sound from Energy Cannons would reverberate around the battlefield. This piece of land that was being contested over was none other than the most industrialized northwestern sector of New Rome. Those defending this piece of land were comprised of a reinforced armored company and an artillery squad from the Federation. Their primary mission was to defend the logistics channel in the rear.

This battlefield had no structures and entrenchments that would impede the infantry. Instead, it was just a field ahead of where their very first defensive line was located –in a forest about 10 kilometers behind the first defensive line.

Past first defense line, there was a bridge built over the largest river of Miracolo Planet, River Su Peng Mang, known as Su River Bridge. On the other bank of the river was the second defense line of the Federation – a defense line which had been built haphazardly. This was the very last defense line of Romania. If this line was breached, the Federation could only continue their war on the sea.

On this battlefield, the only Mecha Engineer without a Battle Mecha of his own was Tian Xing Jian. He was dispatched to the front lines just a few days ago as the only Mecha Engineer.

Ever since the start of this battle, he had been looking on by his lonesome self for two days without any jobs, and neither were there any comrades to pass the difficult times with. Thinking up to this point, the unlucky Tian Xing Jian felt depressed. ”Pei! It’s so hard to live through this period of time!” At this moment, the order for retreat reached his ears.

At about 37 kilometers away, the central defensive line had been breached by the Imperial Army. Large numbers of Battle Mechas belonging to the Imperial Army were pouring through the line. Amongst them, there was a team comprising of two heavy Battle Mecha and eight medium-sized Battle Mecha flanking the back. If they could not retreat by the time this team reached their position, then everyone would die.

As the team traveled on the hill, the land-based Battle Mecha could reach a speed of up to 150 km/h. If they were to travel on an expressway, their speed could be multiple times of that. Even if they were to travel in the forest or pass the several rivers meant to reduce the speed of the enemies, the enemies would still reach them within 20 minutes.

Finally, after receiving the order to retreat, Tian Xing Jian was so excited that he almost jumped for joy. However, thinking of the fact that on their route to retreat were still a team with two heavy Battle Mechas chasing after them, he felt foolish.

Activating the Battle Record Device on his left arm, he acknowledged the orders. Tian Xing Jian began his twenty first retreat. After checking that he had not lost any of the equipment he had on him, Tian Xing Jian leapt out like a cheetah at a speed that was really shocking. He continuously leapt over two fallen trees and five trenches before reaching the boundary of the small hill. Getting on all fours as if a lizard, he passed through 20 meters of grassland down the hill before entering the forest ahead.

At the same time when he received the retreat order, the Federation’s company of Battle Mecha also started to retreat. However, seeing what was happening, it felt as if the Imperial Army had received the same news, and they began fighting even more spiritedly.

Smoke continued shrouding the skies and violent explosions sent soil and dust particles upwards. The Federation’s team of mecha’s Glory 15 covered each other as they retreated. As for the Imperial Army, a company of single-operated Battle Mechas took a different road. It seemed that they wanted to get rid of the Federation’sremaining 12 medium-sized Battle Mecha.

The road that the Imperial Army took was precisely via the small hill which Tian Xing Jian had previously hidden himself at. The Federation’s section had also discovered this attempt by the Imperial Army. Even though this hill might not be tall, if the Imperial Army conquered it, they would still have the height advantage, adding on a nail in the road of retreat for that Federation’s section of Battle Mechas. Soon, two of the Glory 15 Battle Mechas went towards the direction of the small hill under the cover of the rest. They must rush over before the 30 Imperial Army’s single-operated Battle Mecha, the Divine Mecha 22, reached, so that their allies could retreat safely.

Tian Xing Jian was, in other words, like a panicking dog as he ran as fast as he could within the forest.

”Mn, this is a mysterious coward. From the outside, he might seem simple and straightforward, but he is absolutely an immoral person.” That was the opinion given by everyone who knew Tian Xing Jian.