Chapter 1, Returning Home

Although restrictions on artificial intelligence were imposed as early as three thousand years ago due to the rebellion of robots, starships remain the most advanced in terms of intelligence. With the extensive use of intelligent machinery, a starship typically has between 800 and 1,000 crew members, of which more than two-thirds are mecha pilots

There was no furious outburst, no frantic agitation, no angry accusations, and certainly no physical altercation

After completing this task, I should be able to enjoy some time on Earth, Renault thought to himself

Indeed, those individuals must not have returned on such a dilapidated vessel.

"What are you saying?" Colonel Crisp's gaze towards Renault was clearly unfriendly

"Docking complete." Laura's voice came through once again

Boom

Captain Johnny Reno, Commander of the Second Mecha Battalion, currently serving as the Acting Captain of the Abrodi.

In fact, this is not madness. Johnny Reno replied calmly, "According to the Federal Star Defense Act, when all command personnel of a starship are killed, the officer with the highest rank at that time automatically assumes the position of acting captain. In the past five hundred years of combat history, similar incidents have occurred three hundred and forty-two times, of which nearly forty percent of the acting captains successfully completed their missions"

He is not very old, has a thick head of golden hair, and possesses a handsome and tall appearance

He actually forgot about Nora's existence again

After a few seconds of surprise and astonishment, most people returned to normal and continued with what they were supposed to do

In the year 4288, the federal government, exhausted from continuous civil wars, declared its dissolution, and humanity returned to a warring states period

His body is as strong as a bear, with bandages wrapped around his arms, yet his voice is robust and resonant, sounding almost like thunder: "Hey, boss, don't send me to the hospital, I'm not that hurt."

Three days later, the "Abrodi" flew into Earth's orbital line, entering Spaceport No. 12. Twenty-six enormous mechanical arms, resembling octopus tentacles, reached out to grasp the ship's hull and secure it firmly with anchor chains at the spaceport

Renault let out a helpless sigh and leaned his body slightly to the side

He took a step forward, using his body to block the deadly passage to Matthew's heart: "Matthew, I guess you didn't come aboard my ship just to taste the flavor of being targeted by a laser sight. Why don't we shift the topic to business?"

"Come in." Renault replied

Unfortunately, before he could continue his demonstration, the medical staff had already roughly pulled him away

Of the five warships dispatched, only one ultimately returned, while all others remained forever in the depths of a foreign land

He was once incredibly close to this dream, but it was destroyed by an accident...

The federal government has strict and almost cumbersome requirements for every starship commander, and as he is merely a mech commander, he does not meet the qualifications to become a captain, so he will soon step down from the position of captain again

In the year 2584, the first successful experiment in extracting quantum vacuum zero-point energy was achieved, allowing for the direct absorption of zero-point energy from the cosmic vacuum, marking the beginning of humanity's capability for long-distance space travel

Goodbye, comrades, after this time, I will no longer be your commander, Reynolds thought to himself

In the year 4638, the Third Space War concluded, and the New Federal Government was established, leading humanity once again towards unification

Before the soldier could respond, a group of soldiers dressed in black uniforms, adorned with purple thorn insignias and wearing white gloves, approached Reno. This was the emblem of the gendarmerie

He simply said: "Colonel Crisp, I know you are questioning my qualifications to command a starship, but I believe it no longer matters whether I have the ability to command a starship. What is important is that there are three thousand one hundred eighty-two injured personnel on this starship"

Finally home

Although he had seen countless images of the Earth before, Reno was still struck by its beauty when he finally beheld it in person

Nora Jia, the twin sister of Claire Jia, is a killer who forever remains hidden in the shadows

It is hard to imagine that the Abrodi actually rescued members from other ships

At this moment, Renault gazes at the water balloon with curiosity and admiration

In the year 4257, a large-scale rebellion broke out among mutants and clones, shattering humanity's dream of waging war through substitutes, and war returned to an era of direct physical engagement

Stepping out of the Abrolhos, he entered the airport, following the long stream of people as he walked mechanically and numbly, as if he were a living dead.

The command hall was once again filled with applause, although the level of excitement was noticeably lower than when they had leaped out.

However, now, a mecha pilot has actually achieved this

To say that there are no regrets about this would be false. Although Renault greatly enjoys piloting mechs in intense battles in space, piloting starships has also been his childhood dream

"This is exactly what I wanted to say, Renault. Your personnel have violated Article 124 of Chapter 6 of the security regulations. When a warship is transporting important national strategic materials, those materials must be stored in a fully enclosed manner. But look at what your people are doing now! They are actually crowding in the cargo hold, together with Target Zero!" Matthew shouted sternly.

After taking three long breaths, he said in a tone full of sarcasm

In the year 4574, the Third Space War broke out, during which space mechs had become the most dazzling favorites on the battlefield, replacing the status of fighter jets and being referred to as the butchers of space

In the year 4859, the first warp engine was completed, possessing the ability for faster-than-light travel, marking humanity's entry into the era of interstellar exploration

In the pitch-black expanse of space, a wave of light ripples like water, and then a dilapidated starship leaps out of the void, creating an invisible ripple that extends for a distance of one billion kilometers in the vacuum. It appears as if it has just been salvaged from a junkyard, having been torn apart and then reassembled, yet missing many parts. Every part of the ship's body is almost riddled with pockmarks from cannon fire, densely packed like a honeycomb. It looks as if it has just been salvaged from a junkyard, having been torn apart and then reassembled, yet missing many parts. Every part of the ship's body is almost riddled with pockmarks from cannon fire, densely packed like a honeycomb.

Matthew once again displayed his signature victorious smile: "In that case, please have your soldiers clear the number 4 passage, as my people need to pass through there."

He watched them leave, his eyes filled with reluctance

Reynolds replied: "Captain Jeram was killed in action sixty Earth days ago, Colonel Crisp."

Yet, in the face of such a young captain, everyone stood up at that moment, offering their most sincere and enthusiastic applause

He removed his white gloves, took a paper bag from the soldier beside him, and said: "From now on, the custody of Target Zero will be taken over by the Military Police Department, and this is the document issued by the Military Police Department as proof."

The medical team arrived in just fifteen minutes

They will be sent to hospitals in various locations, where they will receive the best treatment

Life is precious and not worth pausing for gossip

The most terrifying aspect of this madwoman is not her extraordinary marksmanship that can take down a mosquito from ten miles away, but rather her audacious personality that dares to do anything. In the memories of all the cadets of the 856th session at Alpha Military Academy, there is nothing that Nora would not dare to do. She and her sister Claire are like extremes of ice and fire; Claire is always so gentle and considerate, like an angel, while Nora brings only death.

If Tycos is a mountain, then Claire is water; her beauty and gentleness can melt all strong hearts

Johnny Reno shrugged his shoulders and did not offer any further explanation

Renault replied: "That is because the living quarters of the Abrodi were severely damaged, and I had to transfer all the soldiers to the cargo hold, which was the only place available for relocation. Moreover, it is spacious there, and it is the only place where we could concentrate on providing care... At that time, we did not have many personnel left to attend to the wounded, the warship was severely damaged, and everyone was busy repairing the ship to avert its impending destruction."

Moreover, everyone possesses intelligence; foolish accusations will only reveal the malicious intentions of those with ulterior motives

He has finally begun to regret his provocations

It was a massive metal box, approximately three people high, completely sealed. Nevertheless, one could still sense that there seemed to be some object inside emitting a glow, as the metal box made of Bork 97 alloy exhibited a faint red spectral response, indicating that there should be some kind of strong light source within.

Renault had to walk over

In the year 4123, a robot rebellion broke out. After suppressing the rebellion, the federal government began to regulate artificial intelligence, no longer allowing the emergence of high-level artificial intelligence

Having accomplished this task, Renault finally felt a sense of relief. The burden that had weighed heavily on his heart for dozens of days and nights was finally lifted. In addition to the feeling of liberation, he suddenly experienced an inexplicable sense of loss.

After having a good sleep, Johnny Reno woke up

I am not interested in your incompetence and evasion of responsibility; I only know that you have violated the security regulations!" Matthew shouted without any decorum: "I will report this matter to higher authorities, and for now, clear the passage immediately!

What disappointed him even more was the reaction of those around him

In the year 6989, an exploratory spacecraft named "Eagle" went missing in the Messenger Galaxy Cluster. The last words of the crew before their disappearance were:

He walked over and stood beside Renault, looking at him with a vulture-like gaze

In the same year, the Second Space War broke out, and the space mechs made their debut, but ended in failure, being referred to as clumsy space toys and live targets in space

Waving his hand, he forcibly dispelled the lingering sense of reluctance in his heart, as Renault strolled on the bridge, observing the work of the medical team

We have returned alive

Matthew's expression suddenly changed

"Because he is afraid, just like a wolf seeing a hunter, he can only use howling to mask the unease in his heart," said Reynaud softly

Only here can he see the true grasslands, high mountains, fine horses, and white clouds, rather than the artificial creations that permeate everywhere like on the immigrant planet

This statement spread throughout the bridge, and everyone's gaze simultaneously focused on Renault

The personnel on board were carried out of the Abrodi and transferred to a specialized medical boat, which then departed

Renault quietly gazed into his eyes.

They all died in battle

How did he do it

Renault replied: "Trust me, you cannot afford it. Those who come here are either rich or noble, and there are very few poor soldiers like us."

He indeed relinquished the passage, and the red dot from Nora's MX748 laser sight reappeared on Matthew.

Wow! Upon hearing Renault speak, Tycos whistled: "I must find a few girls on Earth."

He glared fiercely at Reno: "As you wish, I will wait here. However, I must remind you that offending the gendarmerie is not a trivial matter. I will keep a close watch on you, looking for every mistake you make"

I saw it, what happened?

Renault and Claire looked at each other and burst into laughter

Renault took the document and carefully reviewed it: "It is true, you may take Target Zero away"

"Colonel, I believe you should first dispatch a medical team here," Reno said with neither arrogance nor servility. "I recall just informing you that there are over 3,000 injured personnel on board, including more than 800 severely wounded. Every second you delay could result in a life losing the chance to be saved"

They have not slept well for a very long time; some people have gone to sleep, yet never woke up again

Upon seeing Claire approach, Tycus closed his mouth

Finally, he is about to arrive home, and it is only at this moment that he can say this to himself

He is still somewhat unaccustomed to such situations

Then he shouted: "I do not know how you became the captain, Renault. But I guess they must not know that their captain is actually a rapist!"

... ...

For others, this may merely be a string of cold numbers, but for a general experienced in the battlefield, upon seeing these numbers, they will automatically transform them into the breathtaking wars amidst the sea of stars, the terrifying rain of projectiles, and the desperate cries of soldiers

Matthew's face turned pale all of a sudden

With his laughter, the soldiers behind him also joined in, expressing mocking smiles alongside their officer.

The controllers in the command hall were all shouting and calling out.

"That's great, I will send someone to retrieve the goods right away," the colonel sighed with relief

Before hatred burns through reason, the flying car departs

"Damn it, it's Matthew!" Claire Jia exclaimed in disbelief

However, it miraculously completed a superluminal journey. When the electronic voice of the starship's intelligence, Laura, announced "Jump completed" in the command hall, the entire hall erupted in excitement

This is simply a great irony

The primary objective is the Abrodi, and this mission is solely for it. Four starships and over two thousand soldiers remain forever in that dark and profound space.

Then what about you? Who are you?

This statement made Matthew very angry

The operational efficiency of the military is very high

In the year 2290, the Mars Canopy Project was completed, marking the official maturity of humanity's planetary transformation capabilities and heralding the beginning of the era of interstellar migration

This left Matthew with a feeling of having struck air with a punch

"It is truly difficult to understand," Claire exclaimed. "It should have been you who rushed up to teach him a lesson, so why is he so agitated upon seeing you?"

Unfortunately, due to human development reaching this point, the population has exceeded 500 billion, and the Earth has long been designated as a special zone that does not accept foreign immigrants, providing temporary residency only for those who have made special contributions to the new federal government

But they certainly are not piloting a starship that is riddled with holes!" Crisp shouted loudly. Even without having seen the damage report, just by observing with the naked eye, he knew how dire the condition of the ship was

He rushed over intending to grab Reno by the collar, but several soldiers on the ship blocked his way, and the gendarmes behind him also restrained his impulse

His heart has forever remained in that captain's chair

Now

After completing the jump, the Abrodi will need to travel at a constant speed for three days to reach its destination

Provoking Reno is second only to the crime of harming her sister in Nora's eyes

In the eyes of the crew of the Abrolhos, she is like an angel

Reluctantly removing the eagle insignia that symbolized his identity as captain, he ran his fingers over the already polished and tidy control platform. Renault's gaze lingered for a few seconds before he turned and left

In the year 3248, humanity developed a new type of supermaterial, Barbeta One, which led to the democratization of the aerospace sector that had been expensive for over a thousand years, and the colonization of stars began to flourish everywhere

Renault finally understood the reason for the commotion: "Channel 4 is currently transporting the injured and cannot be made available to you at this time. Please have your people wait."

Thus, everyone stopped together and looked at the young officer who was sitting in the captain's seat

"On the contrary, if possible, I would not wish to see you for even a second," replied Reno politely.

He said: "We are not done, Renault!"

Fortunately, Renault is also aware of this fact

Even when Matthew publicly accused Renault of being a rapist, Renault still maintained this expression, offering no defense, and his gaze even carried a hint of sympathy.

His expression appeared somewhat defiant, and upon his arrival, he stated: "Jelam, you must explain to me why you have consistently failed to respond to my communication requests, as well as the completion of the task..."

Year 7255

In the year 4988, humanity discovered plankton on a planet, marking the first contact with extraterrestrial life

The colonel noticed that when Renault spoke, none of the others on the ship interrupted him, and their gazes towards Renault were filled with admiration, which indicated that Renault was certainly not relying on chance to complete this journey

Matthew's complexion resembled that of a thoroughly cooked pig's liver

Renault said with a smile: "Don't worry, buddy, your injury doesn't require a long hospital stay. The Abrodi is undergoing major repairs on Earth, and until it is fixed, we don't have to go anywhere; we can take a nice stroll on Earth, see the sights, and consider it a rare vacation. Moreover, in my experience, this vacation will last at least three Earth months"

Colonel Crisp understood

In the year 3856, the first artificial intelligence emerged

Looking at Matthew, Reno said: "You can complain about me however you like, but for now, stand honestly by the side until my people leave. Is there a problem?"

His neck became stiff, and he struggled to lower his head, only to find a subtle red dot on his chest that he had not noticed before.

Hooray, we succeeded, we have succeeded

Seeing the white spot on his chest disappear, Matthew let out a sigh of relief

including the personnel on the Hongyu, Qiuri, Tianniu, and Magro ships" replied Renault

Soon, the commotion began to escalate, spreading to the deck, causing the entire evacuation of the wounded to come to a halt

His eyes darted around, and suddenly he had an idea, chuckling to himself.

The leading officer was tall and slender, with an impressive hooked nose and a small mustache adorning his lips

Then what about the deputy captain? Where are the other candidate commanders?

In 2046, humanity landed on Mars and established the first settlement there, which lasted for 49 days

"So many people?" Colonel Crisp was clearly taken aback by this number

That is heartfelt gratitude and admiration for their commander, who brought them back alive from that dangerous place

Then his tone suddenly faltered, and he looked at Johnny Reno with an incredulous expression, saying: "Who are you? Where is Jeram?"

Although they are unclear about the grievances between Matthew and Renault, this does not prevent them from flattering their superior.

After a moment, Colonel Crisp finally turned around and shouted loudly: "What are you waiting for? Send out the medical team and bring those things back to me!"

He watched as the medical personnel carried away an injured soldier. Each soldier who passed by him would say, "Thank you, sir," to which Reno would respond with a standard Allied salute—bringing the tips of his two fingers together and placing them beside his temple, then gently waving them away.

Colonel Crisp was stunned: "You, a mecha pilot, actually went to command a starship? This is simply madness!"

Is this the Earth, the origin star of humanity

Look who it is! Isn't this the renowned genius Johnny Reno from Alpha Academy? The genius who was expelled from the academy, hahaha!

Thus, Matthew left the Abrodi with his sense of frustration

However, the colonel was more concerned about another matter. He asked, "How is the mission progressing?"

"Well done, boss!" a crew member suddenly shouted

With the communication access, a three-dimensional image of a middle-aged officer has appeared in the hall

A soldier ran up to him, saluted, and said: "There has been some trouble, sir"

During these three days, all the crew members finally breathed a sigh of relief, loosening the tension that had been tightly wound in their hearts, and fell into a deep sleep

When Target Zero was removed from the cabin, Renault knew that his mission had come to an end

In the year 3459, the first space war broke out, leading to an explosion of technological advancements in cosmic warfare. Humanity began to unite and establish a federal government

Before leaving, he turned back to take a glance and saw Renault explaining the subsequent tasks to several personnel on board.

Johnny Reno had no intention of explaining anything

From now on, he is no longer the captain, but has returned to the position of commander of the second squadron's mecha.

At the heart

In front of others, he must maintain the image of a commander who is cautious at every step and does not easily speak of success or failure

In 1969, the "Apollo 11" spacecraft, carrying three astronauts, successfully landed on the Moon, marking the beginning of the great space age for humanity and the vigorous development of human space technology

"A communication request has been received from Earth," said the communicator Daniel Braid.

At that moment, some commotion occurred in another corner of the starship

Perhaps there will be a certain princess who takes a liking to my strong biceps. Tycos raised his arm, straining to flex his muscles

In such a desperate environment, even the most outstanding starship commanders may not be able to bring the starship back

From beginning to end, he did not look at himself even once

It seems that everything that has happened is unrelated to him

"Not yet." Jonny Reno smiled shyly.

... ...

Before me lies a haze, as if I have returned to ten years ago, back to that vibrant era

A burly soldier was being carried on a stretcher past Reno.

"Frenemies always find themselves on a narrow path." Reno couldn't help but shake his head

The goods have been brought back

Colonel Sean Crisp, the Executive Officer of the Earth Fleet, is a proud and obnoxious individual

Ah? Is this not the renowned Claire Jia of the Alpha Flower? I sincerely apologize for not noticing you earlier. Are you and your sister still following that shameless fellow, Renault?" Matthew exaggeratedly spread his hands.

Although Crisp did not know him, he was acquainted with the colonel

Matthew's mood seems to have settled down

The young officer, who was striding over with an air of invincibility, was momentarily taken aback, and then he erupted in anger: "Reynolds, how dare you be here!"

Claire angrily said: "Since you still remember my sister, you should not forget her habits"

"No...la!" Looking at the red light spot on his chest, Matthew's throat felt as if it were blocked by a stone, making it difficult for him to utter this name

Matthew showed no interest in the goods he intended to take; his focus was instead on Renault. He confronted Renault with an air of arrogance, akin to that of snatching away a beloved toy from a child, but unfortunately, all he encountered was a cold, impassive face.

Oh my God, what is that

"That's enough, Matthew!" Claire Jia said angrily, "Don't go too far!"

The true extent of the damage to the Abroladi is far greater than what is visible on the surface. The entire ship has sustained over 200 attacks, with 137 areas of the hull damaged, including 16 critical sections. The energy shield of the hull has only 3.4% remaining. The power compartment is severely damaged; after completing the jump, six out of eight ion engines exploded, leaving only two operational. The life support system has been severely compromised, and the crew is relying on the life support systems of their mechs to survive. The energy system has suffered 82% damage, leading to a severe shortage of energy supply. This is why Renault is not responding to communications; he must allocate all available energy to flight.

In other words, when Nora's gun was aimed at her own chest, she truly dared to pull the trigger

In the year 2158, humanity on Mars surpassed one thousand.

Matthew felt a rage of being ignored, consuming his chest like flames

He walked to the porthole, gazing at the azure sphere that was continuously enlarging in his eyes, and took a deep breath

In the year 2999, the miniaturization of vacuum engines was completed

Her name is Claire Jia, the chief medical officer on the starship, a young woman who captivates everyone. It is precisely because of her that many injured personnel on the starship have been able to endure until now

"Shut up, Tycus, your wound has become infected. If you don't treat it properly, you will have to undergo amputation!" said a tall, striking female officer with aquamarine eyes and short golden hair as she walked over.

The death mission of the Abrodi was issued by him

One hour later, the Abrodi completed the transfer of all personnel, and Matthew was finally able to retrieve the cargo he was ordered to collect from the hold: Target Zero