Chapter II

“Hey,are you ready?”

“yes,sir!”

“Are you ready?!!”

“Ready,sir!!!”

Just a moment,Karl threw himself into sky’s arms from the iron abdominal cavity of transport plane at the height of 10 thousands meters.

No more than 10 seconds past,Karl could feel the fast wind biting him.Through the transparent mask of helmet,he could see the planet wasn’t flat anymore,it was more like a round ball surrounded by much steam mass.There were totally 20 persons participating today’s task.They just like the little, random papers floating in the sky, but in the speed of more than 100 meters per second.

“27,28......”

Counting the numbers,Karl adjusted himself to find a best posture for the next step.

“30.”

Like a little explosion,two bright tail flames burst from Karl’s special backpack.Karl started accelerating.Karl’s heart rate increased rapidly,with the adrenaline’s sharp rise.

Despite of having a experience of some years in air force,Karl could clearly realize that the person transferred from air force had a quicker reaction in such a high-stimulating environment,compared with himself.

Suddenly,a loud sound impacted the body of Karl.Thanks to the special design of helmet,this sound didn’t ruin Karl’s ears.Following the direction of sound,Karl saw a black point surrounded by the madly vibrating cloud like a cone.

It’s obvious that someone have broken through the sound barrier.

After seconds,Karl saw the sound barrier cloud emerging around himself.At this point,Karl could clearly see the landing area,a lake, already.Only 2 thousands meters from the ground,someone had opened their parachute because of serious losing balance.If Karl keep the speed,half of bullet’s rate,he will break himself into a meaty mess as soon as he touched the ground.

This was the last test of the task,also the most difficult one.They needed to change into wingsuit flight and use their own body to make their speed decrease to no more than 15 meters per second for their safety.

Hearing the prompt tone from earphones,Karl changed flying position quickly to increase resistance.Control such a flying suit was not a easy task,Karl felt like every muscle of his was nearly torn apart.Almost three seconds passed,Karl’s speed has decreased more than 100 meters per second.Insisting keeping his arms open for another seconds,Karl successfully reduced his speed to 10 meters per second at the last moment.Karl fell into the water with a thud and high splashing waves.Of course,there were still someone open their parachute in these seconds.

When the soldiers are pulled into the white rescue boat in fits and starts,on an open jeep by the lake,some military officers used their telescopes to watch everyone’s condition,a officer continuously said something to the one sit on the co-pilot position who was writing.The officer stopped writing,took off sunglasses,turned head towards the lake,biting his lower lip slightly.

Ever since the establishment of “FAK”,the soldiers had begun the devil training like this for almost two weeks.Downhill,diving,parachute descent......they have tried all the special forces training program.During the training,they had a new understanding of Central Science And Technology bureau(CSB).Many advanced equipment they had never seen were surrounding them.After all,before entering this troops,they don’t know a single soldier could break the sound barrier and land safely.

After dinner, “FAK”had its first collective meeting.All the members were present on time,more early to be exact.Different from the scene two weeks ago,they were in the same dark blue uniforms.All the commanders and persons in charge sat in a row in the front row.And on the platform,there were a podium with logo of Central Hall and a big screen displaying “The first restructure and mobilization meeting of ‘FAK’”.

When the hour hand point to “8” exactly,the meeting began.Following the tradition of Kepler army,there was no introduction of the title and speech lecturer.Karl saw their leader ------ Terena Kova went on platform and started her speech.

“Dear officers and soldiers,today we have our first collective meeting to finalize the composition form of ‘FAK’.and then,I will introduce the significant reform these days and the next goal.”

Kova pressed the remote control,a big statistical chart was showed on the screen.

There were three index on the chart:moving speed,reaction speed and hit rate.The chart was a bar graph.Except one of the bars was orange,the others were red.

“As shown in the graph,we are far from achieving our basic requirement after two weeks’ training.So after discussion,the superior decide to advance the restructure time for the convenience and efficiency in future.”

“According to the results of these training and specific target, ‘FAK’ consists of three main groups:breakthrough force,capture force and jamming force.In each force,there are ten squads.All the detailed information are sent to your electronic wristband.”

Karl slightly gave a look on his wrist, “B0111”.

After a pause,Kova continued: “From now on, you could see your own various data and the ranking in your own force.And the system will refresh it each 12 hours.We will also observe your data all the time.The first five to reach the target will get national level 3 military merit medal.”

“Then comes the center of this meeting,according to the official statement of central military commission,change the existing military system into “three plus one” military system.‘Three’ means ‘Anterior Defence Army’, ‘Central Government Army ’and ‘Rear Liberation Army’, ‘one’ refers to ‘Central Bureau of Science and Technology affiliated force ’.And we troops, ‘FAK’,is under Anterior Defence Army unified command.”

Before saying the next sentence,Kova looked around the soldiers under the platform,it was apparent their expressions were added with shock and puzzlement,just like the former senior generals.

“What calls for attention is that our exact time for actual combat is still not sure.But it has been truth that our enemy is unknown and far more stronger than our imagination.So I hope that every soldier here could train yourself to your full potential.The more you get on your data,the bigger chance you have to defeat the enemy.At last,I want to say no matter how strong the enemy is,we have a great king and thousands of Kepler people behind us to support us.We will surly get the final success.”

Then,Kova continued saying some details,the three groups’ commanders introduced themselves in turns.Karl’s leader,Miller Stone,with dark skin and lean but strong body ,was the very the officer writing on the jeep.

After the meeting,the soldiers went back to their new dormitory according to the distribution declared by Kova.Receiving so much information,they made the noise full of the walkway.

“Hey,Karl,what’s yours?”

“Oh,Steven,I’m in breakthrough force.what about you?”

“Capture force.Have you seen others in our squad?and their group.”

“No,hearing what you say,I find in this two weeks I really didn’t see many former squad.”

“I guess that they design it on purpose for today’s restructure.”

“Maybe,oh,how are your grades?get to the target?”

With head shaking helplessly and a wry smile,Steven said: “Your ability to play jokes is really getting better,Karl.If I got that,I should show off my medal to everyone in the whole base.”

Karl laughed: “Ha ha,to be honest,I don’t think someone could get that target now. ”

Steven opened his eyes widely,earnestly said: “I have the only ‘there are mountains beyond the mountains,there are people beyond the people.’It is said that there is really one guy who get the target,seeming to be in the air force.”

When Karl wanted to ask something about this man,Steven said: “Oh,at this corner,I got to go,my dormitory is in that direction.”

“Well,see you soon!”

“Bye!”

After minutes,Karl reached his new room.Opening the door,there were already four people.Because of the same uniform,Karl couldn’t recognize where are they from.

One of them saw Karl,came to greet enthusiastically: “Hi,nice to meet you.I’m Jessica Hill,in the north navy before.”He reached out his hand by saying this.

“Nice to see you,too.Karl Dawn,from the land aviation corps.”While shaking hands with Jessica,Karl had a took a good look at the room.There were totally six beds.Two people were talking sitting on a bed.One man with glasses was reading a book,lying in bed with his legs crossed.

“Oh,this is Landu and Taketetsu,all from air force.”Jessica added.The talking two said hello to Karl, “And the reading guy is my old friend,Telus.”Telus didn’t make any reaction except for turning page.

Having a basic understanding,Karl asked: “Someone not be here?”

“Yeah,having a look on the name list,It may be a soldier from air force.”

“Oh,that’s it……”Karl nodded thoughtfully.

Commander office of “FAK”.A knock on the door.

“Report for duty,sir.”

“Come in.”

Kova was still reading the files in her hands,not raising her head.

“Sit down.”

“Yes,sir.”

Kova took out a piece of paper and was ready to record something after sorting out the files on the table.

“B0112,right?”

“Yes,sir.”

“True name is……”

“Tiancheng Xiao,sir.”

Hearing this,Kova held up her head,having a look at this young man who had a pitch-black hair and deep eyes that seemed not to belong to his slightly immature face.

“Where is your hometown?”

“Northeast region of sky-continent.”

“Enemy-occupied area?”

“Yes,sir.I moved to Layton by age 10.”

“Family?”

“I have only an impression of my father,but little.My mother seemed to lose after I was born.No brothers or sisters.There is just my uncle who brings me up.”

Kova paused for a moment while hearing this.

“Do you have any big disease,before?”

“No,sir.”

“Have seen your grade?”

“Yes,sir.”

“You are the first one that get to the target marks.Congratulate,the medal have been on your file.”

“Yes,sir.”

“Do you feel any strange while strange about your body?”

“No,sir.”

“Well,today’s main topic is informing you about the medal.That’s about it.You can go back to your dorm room.”

Xiao stand up,gave a salute: “Yes,sir!”

After Xiao went out,the military phone on the table rang.

“Yes,sir.En,no……no……yes……”

Only last for two minutes,the call ended.

Kova turned around and sat on the table slightly,looking out of the window,deep in thinking.

Midnight,Sky-King palace,Layton,the capital of empire.

A waiter knocked on the door gently: “King,It is already 3 o’clock.Get some sleep,please.”

“Nina,call Ban,I had something to tell him.”It seemed the king didn’t hear what she said just now.

Watching the scene that the king sitting amidst a mountain of documents worked hard ,Nina pursed her lips slightly and said: “Get it,king.”

When the minute hand turned 90 degrees,there was another knock on the door.

“Ban Singh,King.”

“Come in.”

Ban came in,with a thick folder.

“Sit down.Do your work go smoothly?”

“In the special period,to tell the truth,a little difficult but smooth generally.”

“Let’s begin main topic,what about this month’s situation?”

Ban opened the folder,took out a few pages of paper to show to king: “In terms of finance,this month’s GDP keeps rising up.According to the forecast of Central Ministry of Finance,it will get 15 trillions kars.And in the same time,the proportion of military budget is rising up,too,to 7.5 percent.And because of this,protests have emerged in multiple parts of country……”

“What’s their main content of protest?”

“The main focus is calling for more government subsidies instead of paying more military activities,and in our research,we find during the protests,70 percent is incited by hostile forces.”

King flipped the files,keeping asking: “What about the progress of the military reform?”

“The main generals have arrived at their new posts,and the heavy weapons begin to be transported to front line.However……”

Ban took out a report from the files, “Some military enterprises showed obvious reluctance.According to the secret report of Central Procuratorate Committee,they even funded the violent protests to block reform.Some senior officials who have been on the list of suspected embezzlers,mainly in ministry of finance and land force also showed same reaction.”

“In recent days,organize a meeting,invite all the heads of technology enterprises and the senior officials of the Ministry of Finance.”

“Get it.”

“And,what about the matter I asked you to investigate?”

“Only weak evidence could prove your assumption,most information keeps consistent with what she said before.”

King wrinkled the brow and paused for a moment, “Keep investigating.Report to me as soon as there is any situation.”

“Ring!!!”went the telephone in red.

“King,something’s wrong!Tiankan 4 find huge thing suddenly emerge in North Patanic!A squadron of our naval aviation on patrol near it disappeared from our radars at the same time!”

The two stood up instantly.

“Ban,go back to Central Hall,right now!”Ban nodded,quickly ran out of the room.

“Connect to CSB(Central Science And Technology bureau).”said King.

Somewhere in the center of Zhontanic.

In the empty room,only slight moonlight made the oppressively dark scene a little clear.One who wore a black military uniform sat with the back towards the darkness,flipping a coin which had the Kepler’s national emblem.

One person came in.

“They appeared as expected,sir.”

No answer except for the pounding sound of coin.

“Whether start the ‘fertilization’ now?”

The sound stopped.

“Go according to plan.”