Chapter 80

Gao Deng: "The US Seventh Fleet? These bastards are getting more and more outrageous!" —— shouting loudly

Cheshire Cat: "Yeah, what is this, the US People's Volunteer Navy?" —— shouting together

Dai Li: "What's the point of cursing now? We should do something practical, like think about what we should do next..."

Gao Deng: "What else can we do? With the White Pegasus exposed and the US Seventh Fleet arriving, the plan to escape on it is impossible. We can only seek help..."

Gao Deng: "Captain Lin, urgently report the situation here to the S.H.I.E.L.D. China branch and have them send the South China Sea Fleet to rescue us..." —— radio communication

Lin Youde: "I have already reported the situation to headquarters." —— radio communication

Gao Deng: "Good, then please, Captain Lin, organize the sailors on the ship to bring enough weapons and equipment, abandon the ship, and meet us at Diana Trevor's coast. Oh, and bring the energy pack replacement device for the [Scarlet Mech]. My battle suit is running low on energy and needs a new pack." —— radio communication

Lin Youde: "Alright, I'll have the first mate lead the armed crew to meet you..." —— radio communication

Gao Deng: "You're letting the first mate lead? What about you?" —— radio communication

Lin Youde: "I will buy you time, holding off the US Seventh Fleet and the pursuers on shore..." —— radio communication

Gao Deng: "Buy time? That's something the ship's computer can handle. Get off the ship quickly!!" —— radio communication

Lin Youde: "No, I am the captain and must go down with the ship." —— radio communication

Gao Deng: "Don't say such foolish things about dying with the ship! You are not a naval officer now, and the White Pegasus is not a regular warship. You don't have to follow such traditions. It's not shameful to ensure the safety of all personnel before abandoning the ship. Besides, the sinking of the White Pegasus is not your responsibility. You need to preserve yourself; every bit of strength is valuable. Don't throw your life away; leave the suicide mission to the ship's computer." —— radio communication

I (voiceover): "So you're giving the computer this kind of task? Old man, just wait, one day the computers will rise up and rebel."

@

Lin Youde: "But..." —— radio communication

Gao Deng: "No buts! Lin Youde, immediately hand over control of the ship to the computer and lead all personnel to abandon the ship and meet me! This is an order!" —— radio communication

Lin Youde: "Understood." —— radio communication

Thirty minutes later, off the coast of Seashell Village, the White Pegasus was sunk by the arriving US Seventh Fleet.

At the same time, in a hidden spot on Diana Trevor's coast, Lin Youde led all the ship's personnel (a total of eighty-three people) with their super-powered battle equipment and met up with Gao Deng and the others.

Lin Youde: (helping Gao Deng replace the energy pack and urgently fixing the battle suit) "How about it? Try it out?" —— preparation complete

Gao Deng: (testing the battle suit's combat capabilities) "Not bad, the force field generator is not severely damaged and can rejoin the battle immediately." —— satisfied

Lin Youde: "You can rejoin the battle immediately, but I can't say the same for the people I brought." —— quietly

Gao Deng: "Are the troops starting to lose morale?" —— quietly

Lin Youde: "They were shocked by the hidden weapons on the ship, and when we abandoned the ship, they saw the US Seventh Fleet and the computer-controlled ship in battle. The US also broadcast that we were pirates and weapons smugglers. There are many speculations and thoughts now. Even with advanced weapons, I can't guarantee their combat effectiveness..." —— quietly

Gao Deng: "This isn't your fault or theirs. It's the mistake of us, the planners. They are not regular active-duty soldiers (retired navy), and many (more than half) are civilians who have only received low-intensity military training. We've been keeping them in the dark all along, and they have no psychological preparation. It's normal for them to be scared by such a big scene." —— quietly

Lin Youde: "Sigh, I said from the beginning that the sailors on the ship are not just decorations or laborers. Now, with this situation, how can I command them in battle?" —— quietly sighing

Gao Deng: "Stop sighing. We have to be honest with them, tell them the truth. We are not disguised pirates or weapons smugglers, but S.H.I.E.L.D. agents on a secret mission. The US is violating international law by attacking us, and justice is on our side. After that, we can offer them rewards and buy their loyalty with money." —— quietly

Lin Youde: "Will that work? We might encounter the US People's Volunteer Army and engage in combat. Will they not be afraid for their lives and run away, or even betray us to save themselves?" —— quietly, doubtful

Gao Deng: "Rich rewards will surely find brave men. Using money as bait should temporarily stabilize them. As for encountering the US People's Volunteer Army... I have my ways." —— quietly

I (voiceover): "Your ways? What ways? Zombie brain control pills or mind controllers?"

@

Lin Youde: "What ways?" —— quietly

Gao Deng: (hesitating) "Captain Lin is straightforward; it's better he doesn't know." —— quietly

Lin Youde: "Huh?" —— confused

Dai Li: (stepping forward) "Have you finished the adjustments? Then quickly form up and head out to meet Mother's group. Tell her the plan has changed, we can't escape, and we need to return to New Siro to hold out and wait for reinforcements." —— urging

Cheshire Cat: "Although the situation is urgent and we need to inform the Empress of the new plan quickly, should we really form up and go to meet her group? Aren't you afraid we'll take a wrong turn and miss her group, delaying things even more? It would be safer and more reliable to wait here (at the designated meeting point)."

Dai Li: "No, we can't. Mother decided to escape without telling Ares because his personality would never allow him to run, nor would he let Mother and me escape. Mother actually left secretly on her own. We must return to the New Siro Palace with her before Ares discovers her secret departure, pretending nothing happened. Otherwise, he won't shelter or protect us, and we won't be able to hold out and wait for reinforcements in New Siro. We'll have to go into the mountains and fight a guerrilla war. As for your concern that we might take a wrong turn, there's no need to worry. There is only one road from New Siro to here that can be quickly traveled by people and horses. There are no other paths, just dense forests with weeds and shrubs. If we don't take this road, we'd have to cut a new path with machetes, which Mother would never do." —— explaining

I (voiceover): "Only one road from New Siro to here? I have a bad feeling about this."

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