1 The Fleeing Mechanic

Jake Tenorio lay motionless in a foxhole, his body covered in dirt, blending in with the surrounding environment.

Apart from him, there wasn't a living soul in this former artillery base far from the battlefield.

Not even a single mouse could be found. In fact, Nebulae Star never had such animals.

The small hill was covered in dense forest, and the federal artillery unit, which was hidden within it, had been reduced to ashes in the recent barrage.

Various debris, including metal and flesh-shredding munitions, scattered around Jake Tenorio. The destruction had extended over hundreds of meters of forest, and it took two days for the raging flames to die down.

Jake felt tired, and his eyelids kept drooping. He gently slapped his face, forcing himself to remain alert and focused on the battlefield.

This was Sergeant Jake' twenty-first battle as a member of the federal aerospace ground forces.

The federal army had lost twenty-two resource planets and five human immigrant planets, retreating all the way from the Cassiopeia system to the Newton system. Nebulae Star was one of the two human immigrant planets in the Newton system, with the other, Nebulae No. 2, having been completely occupied by the Empire two months earlier.

If this planet were also to fall into the hands of the Empire, the federal army would have to surrender the Newton system, which had over thirty resource planets.

But Jake was not concerned with such matters. All he cared about was how to stay alive in this war.

For him, the philosophy of self-preservation was paramount.

Thus, despite having experienced twenty-one battles and serving as a corporal in the logistics unit of the 3rd Armored Battalion of the 5th Aerospace Ground Forces, he remained a lowly private, a mechanic responsible for maintaining the equipment.

Most of his fellow soldiers who had experienced the previous eighteen battles had been promoted. However, only Jake, the mechanic, who had survived the transfer between the Cassiopeia and Newton systems, still remained a private.

The 5th Armored Division of the federal aerospace ground forces had been erased, with ninety-five percent of its soldiers having been killed in action. The remaining five percent were left on Nebulae No. 2, with uncertain fates.

Jake had almost died nine times, but he was fortunate enough to have been able to board a retreat warship and was reassigned to the remnants of the 9th Armored Division to defend Nebulae Star.

Jake quietly moved to a large tree that had been knocked down by artillery fire, and lay on his side to relieve himself. It was a technical skill, but he had become quite adept at it. As long as he lay in a slightly elevated position, he wouldn't wet himself. The long hours of fighting had taught Jake not to be scared enough to pee his pants on the battlefield.

Shivering, Jake felt a little more awake as he spat on the ground. He cursed his luck; the 9th Armored Division had already received orders to retreat to the Darwin system for rest and recovery due to a 40% reduction in personnel. However, because the Empire had landed on Nebulae Star within a week, the high command had no choice but to order all nearby forces to concentrate and resist the Empire's advance. This would hold off the Empire and allow reinforcements to gather in the rear.

Although he had carefully chosen this hiding spot and it was far from the center of the battlefield, it was still not reliable enough for Jake, who was focused solely on self-preservation.

From his vantage point, the fighting in the distance was still fierce. At the 9 o'clock, 12 o'clock, and 3 o'clock directions of the battlefield were nearly a hundred Empire-standard, 2-meter-tall, jointless single-soldier combat armor suits, the "Ironclad Goliath."

These Empire-standard armors were as agile as ostriches, leaping and jumping around. The missile launchers on both sides of the wings emitted piercing whistles as they fired laser-guided missiles.

In the compressed battlefield at the 6 o'clock direction were more than ten Galaxy Federation's 3-meter-tall, multi-legged, five-person combat armor suits, the "Ares Warlord." These bulky armors had a jaw-dropping defensive capability, and, under the control of the computer in the center of dozens of short legs, could effectively perform various difficult evasive maneuvers. However, due to their number, their firepower was suppressed by the Empire. For a short time, the jumping Empire single-soldier armor suits formed a defensive formation that the Federation armor could not overcome.

Both sides exchanged blows, and missile contrails crisscrossed and spread throughout the battlefield. The sound of energy mechanism cannons echoed loudly. This small area of conflict, which was fought over by only a small number of mechas, was a protruding part of the northwest defense zone of Rome, an industrialized city on Nebulae Star, where the Federal Army, composed of a reinforced medium armor squadron and an artillery platoon, was stationed. Their mission was to protect the rear logistical passage.

There were no fortifications or trenches to block the infantry; this was just an outpost. The true first line of defense for the Federation was in the jungle more than ten kilometers away.

Beyond the first line of defense was a steel bridge that spanned the Golden Glade River, a tributary of the Nebulae Star, called the Meadowview Bridge. On the other side of the bridge was the second line of defense hastily constructed by the Federation, which was also the last line of defense. If this line of defense was breached, the Federation would have no choice but to resort to street fighting.

The only soldier without a mecha on this battlefield was the mechanical repairman Jake. He was the only soldier who had been sent to this forward position a few days ago to perform maintenance tasks on the mechas.

Since the start of the battle, he had been alone for two days, with no trenches, fortifications, or infantrymen to share his hardship. Thinking about this, poor Jake felt quite depressed. "Damn, how can I survive like this!" he thought. At that moment, he received the order to retreat through his earphones.

The central line of defense 37 kilometers away had been partially breached by the Empire, and a large number of Imperial armored units were pouring in through the breach. One Imperial armored squad consisting of two heavy and eight medium armor units was now flanking the back. If this Imperial armored squad couldn't be stopped from reaching the battlefield, then everyone was ready to meet God together.

In the hilly terrain, the land combat mecha could reach a speed of 150 kilometers per hour, which could double on a road. Even if the dense jungle and several small rivers along the way could slightly slow down the enemy's advance, they could reach the battlefield in twenty minutes.

Jake was finally relieved to hear the order to retreat from the battle zone, but the thought of a Imperial armored squad with two heavy land combat mechas on the retreat route made his mouth feel bitter.

After checking the command on the combat recorder on his left arm, Jake began his twenty-first escape. He checked his equipment and made sure that nothing was left behind. He ran like a cheetah, leaping over two fallen trees and five shell holes, and had already reached the edge of the hill. He moved like a startled lizard, crawling through the grass for over twenty meters and plunged into the jungle.

Meanwhile, the Federation mecha squadron, which also received the retreat order, began to retract its formation. Perhaps the Empire also received the same message, and the battle became more intense.

The sky was filled with smokeless gunpowder, and violent explosions sent dirt and dust into the air. The Federation's Ares Warlord units covered each other in retreat, while an Imperial squad's individual mecha had begun to flank behind the Federation's position. It seemed that they were going to swallow the Federation's remaining twelve medium mechas in one bite.

The Imperial flanking route was the same small hill where Jake had previously hidden. The Federation had also discovered the Empire's intention. Although the hill was not high, it was advantageous due to its height. If the Empire occupied it, it would be like the road of retreat of the Federation armored squad.

Jake now runs through the jungle like a frightened dog, moving at a breakneck pace.

"People who know Jake Tenorio say that he is a strange coward, who may seem innocent on the outside, but is definitely a sleazy and despicable person," they say.

Indeed, Jake' nature is truly lecherous.

With an ordinary appearance and a slightly overweight figure, Jake always enjoyed chasing after girls in school. He would often boast about his ancestor, the famous general Don Juan Tenorio, but no one paid him any attention. He was still undeterred.

This man has a lot of patience and always finds unconventional solutions to problems. The reason why he joined the army can be seen as evidence of his unconventional thinking.

Believe it or not, his only reason for joining the army was to lose weight.

Jake had many reasons for joining the military. Firstly, he felt he was lazy to an unacceptable degree, and wanted to become a new person. Secondly, he believed he had gained over 20 pounds since leaving school, and if he kept gaining weight at that rate for another 10 years, he couldn't imagine what he would look like. Lastly, he knew he wasn't the kind of person who could stick to a weight-loss plan without supervision.

Therefore, with the world at peace, Jake made the resolute decision to join the military. During his physical examination, the beautiful female military doctor discovered that this Fatty had a physical ability that didn't match his body type. He ran fast, moved quickly, and had surprising stamina. Jake proudly stated, "Beauty, my family has a set of light skills called 'walking a thousand miles alone,' and 365 sexual positions." The female military doctor nodded and assigned this descendant of Don Juan Tenorio to the special training camp. "Don Juan Tenorio, right? If you're going to flirt with me, you must be ready to endure hardship."

Jake, of course, was not really a descendant of Don Juan, he simply idolized the "lewd thief." However, his natural talent for speed and endurance was remarkable.

Once in the special training camp, Jake Tenorio realized the severe consequences of having a loose tongue. The special training camp was where the Lumina Federation Army trained their special talents. Any soldier with special abilities would be sent to this camp for intensive training, and then assigned to the department where they could make the most use of their unique skills.

Some people had excellent calculation abilities, and after completing training without being eliminated, they would be assigned to the Combat Planning Department or the Logistics Management Department to utilize their exceptional computing skills. Computers cannot calculate everything, but these people can. There were also soldiers with extraordinary senses of smell, hearing, and intuition, or who had particularly strong bodies, exceptional strength, nimble hands, or who excelled in a particular subject in school. After completing special training, these soldiers would typically be assigned to the department where they could make the best use of their special abilities.

Jake was assigned to the reconnaissance training squadron for training.

With the current level of technology, almost all designated targets can be monitored. However, this only applies to designated targets, as without a target or knowledge of the target's location, there is no way to monitor it. This is where reconnaissance soldiers come in, especially in ground combat, where their role is very important. Although high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft or spy satellites and outer space reconnaissance ships are powerful enough, there are times when they cannot distinguish truth from fiction. The current electronic technology can create many illusions to deceive radar and cameras in the sky, and all that is needed is an interference transmitter. Coupled with the fact that the sky is the battlefield of the military, if air superiority is lost and there are no reconnaissance soldiers, the battle cannot be won.

Reconnaissance soldier?

This was risking Jake' life. This is a dangerous job, one that Jake cannot do! For Jake, life is precious. He will not put himself in danger for any reason. Greed, lust, cowardice, and fear of death are common traits among Jake' generation, but Jake is just more straightforward and malicious than others. Round after round of ideological work did not change Jake' mind. He looked like a turtle eating a weight, with an iron heart, refusing to go to the reconnaissance training squadron assembly.

But the situation was not something Jake could control. Could a soldier make decisions after joining the army? The reconnaissance instructor beat Jake severely and completely dispelled his determination not to obey.

Before hitting him, the instructor asked, "Why don't you want to be a reconnaissance soldier?"

"Being a reconnaissance soldier is too dangerous, I am afraid of death."

"Very well, either you become a reconnaissance soldier and die, or I will kill you right now."

Crash, bang, "Are you going or not?"

"I am going!"

A wise man changes his mind sometimes, a fool never.

"Pah, scumbag. You either go willingly or I will beat you into submission." The strong and sturdy instructor said before leaving.

Jake Tenorio tried very hard to make himself feel happy while crawling on the ground. He thought, "Damn, it's peacetime. I'm just going to the reconnaissance training camp, not going to the reconnaissance battalion to fight. What am I afraid of?"

"When I finish learning this set of reconnaissance skills, instructor, I can take on ten with one hand!"

A typical spiritual victory.

So he got up from the ground happily and followed the instructor to report.

Jake Tenorio joined the reconnaissance training camp. His training was very rigorous. The bear-like instructor was always by his side, and any hint of laziness would result in a beating.

Jake had a natural talent for reconnaissance training. Additionally, he had a bit of the bachelor's air of Don Juan Tenorio. So after a year of training, his performance was excellent, surpassing even his instructors in wilderness survival, disguise, infiltration, long-distance marches, and more. When his hand-to-hand combat reached a very high level, the bear instructor began carrying a knife by his side every day. Jake thought about it painfully for a long time but eventually didn't dare to take the risk.

Just as Jake was about to graduate from the training camp, he cunningly found a way to avoid being assigned to the reconnaissance unit. In his spare time, Jake would run to the mechanical repair camp.

"As long as you complete your training and don't cause trouble, you can do whatever you want," said the reconnaissance instructor. From his perspective, there weren't many reconnaissance soldiers who had the energy to do other things after their grueling training.

People selected for the mechanical repair camp all had nimble hands. They were not ordinary mechanics, and what they learned was much more advanced than what regular mechanics learned, whether it was aircraft carriers, fighter jets, land-based mechas, or electronic equipment. There was nothing they couldn't fix.

Jake Tenorio had quick hands. He could disassemble and reassemble firearms in a short amount of time. His speed was five seconds faster than the repair camp's high record. Being one second faster was already impressive, let alone five seconds. Every day, Jake would watch dumbfounded as the soldiers in the mechanical repair camp dismantled and assembled various warships, mechas, and weapons. He had to attend the instructor's lessons on mechanical principles, blueprint analysis, troubleshooting, field assembly, and electronics. Soon, all of the camp's instructors and trainees knew about this seemingly simple-minded reconnaissance trainee. One month before the special training ended, Jake approached the mechanical repair camp's instructor and straightforwardly applied to join.

This application made the reconnaissance camp's instructor go ballistic, but there was nothing he could do.

Because the mechanical training camp's instructor was also a high-ranking officer of the special forces. Jake only took two hours to completely win over this white colonel. He participated in the mechanical training camp trainees' theoretical exam and ranked at the top. The subsequent practical operations made the colonel ecstatic, and Jake's quick hands made him believe that he was a mechanical genius trainee.

Due to the fact that mechanical maintenance involves a lot of technology and military secrets, the rank of the mechanical maintenance battalion is much higher than that of the reconnaissance battalion. Many of the federal mecha designers come from the mechanical maintenance battalion. When Colonel saw a genius about to be buried in the foolish reconnaissance battalion, he immediately used his privilege to transfer Jake Tenorio to the mechanical maintenance battalion. Jake was overjoyed to have escaped from the reconnaissance battalion. But the actual result left him with deep regret.