Chapter 97

Unable to accept it, Chen Fei pressed his head against Balut's chest and listened carefully, but he did not hear the heartbeat he was hoping for.

Not only had the old man's breathing stopped, but his heart had also ceased beating.

He panicked, laid the old man flat, and began CPR, hoping for a miracle.

"Hey, hey, hey, old man, you can't die! It's not time for you to die yet."

But it was no use. It seemed as if the life force had suddenly left the Neanderthal elder's body, and there was no way to bring him back.

"Hey! Don't waste your efforts, he should have died thirty years ago!"

The voice of the female executive manager, Hana Gager, sounded behind Chen Fei, who was still pressing on the old man's chest.

As a guard of the Neanderthal Supreme Council, Balut's survival was already a stroke of great luck. Many of the elite warriors had perished in the final battle. The Twelve Ruling Tribes, no matter how powerful, were ultimately annihilated by the combined forces of the Blue Star and the Azure Sky civilizations.

She continued, "Balut is the last warrior of the Neanderthals. Dying on the battlefield is a fitting end."

Chen Fei stopped his efforts, finally accepting that his efforts were futile. Death is like the extinguishing of a lamp.

"Is he really dead?"

He felt an urge to cry but couldn't bring himself to do so.

Hana Gager sighed and said, "The Neanderthal secret techniques are incredibly powerful, but they are too domineering. They involve trading injuries for injuries, and life for life. At his age, this was probably his last chance to burn his life. Even without being injured, he wouldn't have much time left. As a warrior, dying on the battlefield at the end of his life is a fortunate thing!"

For a true warrior, dying of old age or illness in bed is a tragedy.

The female executive manager understood Balut's final thoughts but envied and resented Chen Fei's good fortune for inheriting the complete Neanderthal secret techniques.

Before this, she thought that due to the racial differences, the Neanderthals could not pass their secret techniques to the descendants of Homo sapiens, and even the battle marks had to be tattooed using special materials.

It turned out that not only the female executive manager but probably everyone was wrong.

Now that the Neanderthals' battle marks have been completely lost, they can no longer produce brave and skilled warriors. This is the result of the covert manipulation by the sovereign nations of the Blue Star.

No one wants a few delusional remnants of the Third Epoch civilization to attempt a comeback, and integrating the Neanderthals into the Blue Star civilization is a beneficial outcome for everyone.

Chen Fei, a descendant of Homo sapiens, unexpectedly obtained the Neanderthal battle marks and secret techniques, so the potential threat he poses is much smaller, almost like having awakened abilities.

Before Chen Fei could say anything, he heard Manager Hana roar.

"Are you done grieving? Now, get to work!"

The next second, the world spun.

To ensure that everyone at the airbase could safely get through this crisis, the female executive manager did not allow too much mourning. Cheap tears should be put away.

Thud!

Chen Fei was thrown heavily to the ground, gritting his teeth and lifting his head to find himself inside the hangar, where he saw the maintenance chief.

This night, with all the physical landings, was truly exhausting.

Xiao Lao, with a calm expression, said, "Change your clothes quickly. All the 'Big Mouths' need their ignition coils and circuit breakers replaced."

The EMP had destroyed most of the electronic equipment in the 911 airbase, including the fighter jets, but the jets themselves had some electromagnetic protection, so the damage was not too severe.

The two jet aircraft were in slightly better condition, but the ground GPU for auxiliary ignition was damaged, and the power supply vehicle was burned to a pile of scrap. The MiG-28 couldn't start like the 'Big Mouths' and could only wait on the tarmac.

With limited manpower, they had to prioritize getting the larger number of 'Big Mouths' back into combat readiness.

The 911 airbase was now experiencing what the 897 airbase had gone through.

Chen Fei didn't have time to complain. He wrapped a piece of the magic robe around his waist and ran into the hangar, his face and clothes covered in dirt.

Due to the lack of power, only a few emergency lights, makeshift oil lamps, and some candles kept the hangar from being pitch black. The rest of the airbase was still in complete darkness.

There was no choice but to prioritize the hangar.

In the maintenance office, wet towels were prepared. Chen Fei quickly wiped himself down, put on a new work uniform, and rushed into the work area.

The A-39B 'Big Mouth' light turboprop attack aircraft were already waiting, with no major issues, just unable to start. Some damaged circuits, even if not replaced, were not a big problem for the time being.

The most important thing was to get them airborne and into combat.

Moreover, military fighter jets are not as fragile as many people imagine.

Outside the work area, a large number of devices were waiting to be repaired. Not only the maintenance team but almost everyone was busy, including the pilots of the 'True Fragrance' combat flight squadron, who were preparing as much as they could.

Even if the radar system hadn't failed, it was clear that the Miman Brothers United Defense Corporation, which had initiated the attack, would not let this opportunity pass, striking while the iron was hot.

Once the 911 airbase recovered, this battle would not be so easy.

"211 aircraft repaired, ready for takeoff."

Suddenly, the lights on the hangar roof came on, their brightness overwhelming the oil lamps. The backup power system finally began to work normally.

Cheers erupted in the hangar, indicating that the situation was improving.

Not only the hangar, but other areas also began to light up.

A hum came from the main runway as the remaining turboprop aircraft landed, bringing important reconnaissance information: 909 airbase had launched 18 enemy aircraft, expected to arrive in 20 minutes.

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Combat Information:

Direction: 255

Distance: 115 km

Altitude: 8500 m

Number: 18

Speed: 0.4 Mach

Identified as A-39B 'Big Mouth'

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The repaired air raid alarm immediately sounded.

An air raid was imminent.

"212 aircraft repaired, ready for takeoff."

"213 aircraft repaired, ready for takeoff."

Good news kept coming.

Chen Fei, after removing the data cable and completing the self-check, slammed the inspection cover and reported loudly, "214 aircraft repaired, ready for takeoff."

This frantic work did not waste any time.

Thanks to Xiao Lao personally teaching him how to disassemble and reassemble the 'Big Mouths,' otherwise, he would have been at a loss.

"216 aircraft repaired, ready for takeoff!"

Except for the 215 'Big Mouth' that had just returned, all six turboprop aircraft of the 'True Fragrance' combat flight squadron were fully restored and armed with air combat ammunition.

"Enemy expected to arrive in 5 minutes, 'True Fragrance' squadron, take off!"

The ammunition team immediately removed the safeties from the weapons.

"211 starting to supply air, power can only last for five minutes."

A flash of fire and a loud roar came from the tail of a MiG-28 on the tarmac.

Unexpectedly, despite the damage to the ground support equipment, the maintenance team managed to get the MiG-28 into a hot standby state using other methods.

Chikov, the bear, who was about to board the 211, without hesitation left the turboprop and ran toward the tarmac.

Chen Fei called out behind him.

"Hey, hey, squadron leader, where are you going?"

"I'm responsible for 201, you're responsible for 211!"

Chikov didn't look back, waving his hand irresponsibly and running away, impossible to call back.

Ha, scumbag!

In the upcoming air battle, the jet aircraft clearly had an advantage.

"Rookie, you'll have to fly the 211 alone."

In the cockpit of the nearby 212, the deputy squadron leader 'Devil Pepper' Ilyana Rusev, who was about to start the engine, shouted, "From now on, I'm the lead, and you're the wingman. Follow me closely!"

The two-seat 'Big Mouth' could be flown by one person in combat, it seemed.

To ensure the combat readiness of the 212, Ilyana Rusev did not rashly make Chen Fei her co-pilot. After all, the 212's fire control operator 'Nutmeg' Salaman Francis was more in sync with her, allowing for the use of some powerful tactics.

Moreover, everything that needed to be taught had been taught, leaving only the final step of takeoff.

As for actual combat, you'll have to learn with your life!

This was a helpless situation.

At this critical moment, no one would let go of any available combat power, even a rookie had to tough it out.

"Huh? Me???"

Chen Fei pointed at himself, lacking confidence.

He had only flown in games, crashing eight out of ten times. Can you believe it?

"Stop daydreaming, take off quickly!"

The Z-9 helicopter pilot 'Miso' Yamada Yutaka, along with other Z-9 pilots, forcibly pushed the young man into the front seat of the 211 'Big Mouth,' even closing the cockpit canopy for him, almost welding him in place.