Chapter 933: Firefight in the Chao Mo Asteroid Belt (3)

Kashika watched as one ship after another lost contact, their signals turning from green to red.

He saw with his own eyes a nearby supporting Destroyer hit by several Boarding Pods; soon, its internal communications were filled with screams and explosions, then it fell completely silent.

"Sir! Boarding Pod signals detected on the starboard side! They are coming for us!"

Kashika drew the Energy Pistol at his waist and issued an order.

"All non-essential personnel, evacuate to the core area! Marines! Prepare to engage the enemy with me!"

Kashika glanced at the tactical star map, where the blue dots representing their own forces were few and far between.

But for the sake of the Feng Qi Xing Alliance, and for the Fengrao Starport behind him, he had to fight until the very last moment.

"Sir! '... -class' has lost contact!"

"'... -class' engine room exploded, it is falling toward the asteroid!"

"'... -class' reports... they have been boarded..."

The Communications Officer reported to Kashika with a trembling voice.

"Sir, we are surrounded by three enemy ships, and one of them is approaching."

Kashika's tone was surprisingly calm at this moment.

"Transfer all remaining power to the forward shields, prepare for impact."

Seeing this, Kashika's Adjutant said urgently.

"General, we could attempt a breakout, perhaps..."

"It's useless, look around you."

The Adjutant followed Kashika's gaze; through the main observation window, burning ship wreckage collided with meteorites, triggering chain explosions.

From time to time, life pods ejected from damaged ships, but most were turned into Ashes by enemy fire in the next second.

"They will not leave any survivors."

At this moment, a Laser Beam grazed the starboard side of the *Jian Ding*, and shield energy dropped by 30 percent.

"Sir! Starboard shield is about to collapse!"

Kashika looked at the Adjutant beside him and spoke.

"Adjutant, I have a Task for you."

"Sir?"

"Package all the combat data we have collected, especially the enemy's tactical patterns, weapon characteristics, and that Double-Headed Eagle Emblem, into a Highest Priority intelligence packet. Send it to Fengrao Starport, then activate the backup transmitter and repeat the broadcast in an omnidirectional format three times."

"Sir, an omnidirectional broadcast will expose our position!"

"I know. But the intelligence might be Intercepted or jammed; an omnidirectional broadcast at least ensures a greater chance of the Starport receiving it. This is the last thing we can do for those in the rear."

This was not to seek survival, but to deliver a warning.

The Adjutant gave a solemn military salute.

"Understood, sir!"

After the Adjutant left, Kashika spoke over the ship's broadcast.

"Everyone, we may not be able to leave here alive. But our fight is not meaningless. We have delayed the enemy, we have identified their tactics, and we must send this precious intelligence back so that our comrades at the Starport can be prepared."

Kashika paused for a moment and continued.

"I am honored to have fought alongside you. Now, let us complete our final mission."

"For the Feng Qi Xing Alliance!"

In the next few minutes, the shields of the *Jian Ding* disintegrated layer by layer, the armor plating was torn apart, and one compartment after another lost air pressure.

But even in such a desperate situation, the officers and soldiers on the ship remained orderly, executing Kashika's final orders.

"Intelligence packet transmission complete!" the Adjutant shouted, "Starport confirms receipt!"

Kashika nodded, a faint smile of relief crossing his face. At least, they did not sacrifice themselves in vain.

Just then, a vibration different from the shelling traveled through the hull.

It was dull and rhythmic, as if something was striking the ship's shell.

"They have boarded!" the Security Chief shouted, "Forced entry detected in C-7 Zone and D-4 Zone simultaneously!"

Kashika slowly stood up from the command chair and drew the Energy Pistol at his waist.

This gun had followed him for many years, with his service number and records of past campaigns engraved on the grip.

He had originally thought he would pass it to his son after retirement; now it seemed there would be no chance.

"Adjutant, you are in charge of Bridge defense," Kashika checked the energy reading of the Pistol, "I am going to the C Zone corridor."

"Sir, that is too dangerous! You should stay on the Bridge!" Terra said urgently.

"In front of the enemy boarding party, nowhere is safe," Kashika shook his head, "Besides, my soldiers are fighting for their lives at the front, how can I sit securely in the rear?"

He put on his Power Armor, donned his helmet, and walked toward the Bridge exit.

At the door, he stopped and looked back one last time at the place he had commanded for five years.

"If I must die, let me die like a soldier."

The C Zone corridor had already become a battlefield.

Fengqi soldiers relied on makeshift defensive fortifications to fire toward the end of the corridor.

There, several huge figures were steadily advancing.

It was the first time Kashika had seen these enemies with his own eyes.

These enemies moved with extraordinary coordination, fired with precision, and every one of those large-caliber bolter rounds could cause significant damage.

Similar to the High-Explosive Armor-Piercing Shells of the Feng Qi Xing Alliance, but with more power than the High-Explosive Armor-Piercing Shells.

Even if injured, they would not retreat, but continued to advance steadily.

"Concentrate fire! Aim for the same target!"

Kashika gave the order and fired his weapon at the same time.

The energy beam struck the shield of the leading enemy, causing no substantial damage.

The opponent did not even pause; with a wave of their hand and a single shot, a soldier beside Kashika became a corpse.

The defensive perimeter was constantly shrinking. The soldiers around Kashika fell one after another.

Kashika personally saw a young soldier cut in half at the waist by a Chainsword.

Death, death was everywhere.

Kashika's left arm was grazed by shrapnel from a Bolter, and blood soaked through his uniform.

In the end, only three soldiers remained by his side, forced back to an intersection.

"Sir, we..."

Kashika nodded.

"I know. Let us die where we belong."

They launched their final charge.

Amidst the roar of Bolters, Kashika felt a sharp pain.

His leg was hit, and he lunged forward and fell.

He struggled to crawl up, only to see the last soldier's skull split open by a Chainsword.

Everything went quiet.

Heavy footsteps approached.

Kashika raised his head and saw a Luna Wolves Space Marine standing before him.

There were several damaged spots on the opponent's Power Armor, but none were clearly fatal.

"What... exactly are you?"

The Luna Wolves Space Marine did not answer, merely raising his Bolter.

In the final moment of his life, Kashika realized that what Fengrao Starport was about to face was such a powerful fleet.

Not only were their ships powerful, but their individual combat capabilities also surpassed the normal soldiers of the Feng Qi Xing Alliance.

Could the Starport win this battle?

This thought became Kashika's final consciousness.

The next second, the roar of a Bolter ended his life.