Chapter 6

"Thank you for your trouble today." The girl, as she entered her home, thanked He Moming profusely. After He Moming repeatedly assured her that it was nothing, the two made a decision after Lin Mingmei's decision and went to the place where Kaier signed the contract. Then, He Moming boarded the bus to the base. He still had a lot of things to do, and if it weren't for his team leader being more understanding, this time of running around with the girl would have been a real headache for He Moming.

When He Moming was dozing off in his seat, the bus arrived at the station. Dazed, he got off and tried to open his eyes, but unexpectedly, a huge black shadow flashed before his eyes, accompanied by a deafening roar. The heavy sleepiness that had been weighing on He Moming was instantly shaken away by the roar. Looking back, he strained his eyes and saw only the nozzles spewing orange-yellow flames.

"Is that a VF-1?" He Moming strained to see.

"Hey! Looks like the captain was right. This new guy will definitely be standing here in a daze." As a voice sounded, He Moming's shoulder was hit by a heavy blow.

Startled like a bird, He Moming sprang up, assuming several defensive stances to face the attacker.

"Hey, hey. Is this how newbies treat their seniors?" Before He Moming could see who the attacker was, another voice sounded from his side. He Moming bounced in place a few times, assuming a defiant pose.

After this back-and-forth, He Moming finally saw who had come. It was Su Xiong and Mark. Once he confirmed their identities, He Moming relaxed. Seeing this, Su Xiong immediately grabbed He Moming's shoulder and locked him in a tight hold.

"Spill it! Where did you and Lin Mingmei go on a date? You left those reporters at the base without a word. They were going crazy because they didn't see Lin Mingmei."

"I think you're using too much force. Look, He Moming's face is red." Mark noticed He Moming's face turning red from lack of oxygen.

"Ah, sorry. Got a bit carried away." Su Xiong realized his actions and quickly apologized.

"Phew... almost died. Did the captain send you to pick me up?" He Moming took a few deep breaths, waved his hand to indicate it was fine, and asked Mark.

"Yeah. Let's go. Time is running out. If we're late, the captain will be furious." Mark's sunglasses flashed as he teased.

He Moming nodded and followed Mark into the base. After passing through the checkpoint at the entrance, Mark flagged down a ride, allowing the three of them to avoid walking the seemingly short but actually long distance. As the light breeze carried a hint of oil, He Moming looked around the military base he had seen countless times in anime. VF-1s were being adjusted and inspected at their stations, ground crew ran back and forth, and military trucks roared past. All of this formed a vast, bustling military base.

After thanking the driver, Mark led the two into a large hangar. In the center of the hangar stood a figure with a very standard posture. It was Roy, the captain of the Skull Squadron and He Moming's superior. Mark and Su Xiong saluted Roy and stood to the side.

"He Moming, report." He Moming stood at attention in front of Captain Roy and said loudly.

"Understood. Starting today, you will undergo simulation training. You must pass the simulation training to qualify for real combat missions. Do you understand?" Roy nodded and said sternly.

"Understood. I will complete the task." He Moming almost shouted.

"Mark, you will be responsible for He Moming's simulation training. It will last one week." Roy called out Mark's name.

"One week?! Report! I believe this is an impossible task. No matter how talented, it takes at least six months to learn to operate a VF-1." Mark was stunned for a moment and then replied loudly.

"Objection denied. Execute the mission." Roy left after saying this.

"Wow! One week. Mark, how long did it take you to learn to operate a VF-1?" Su Xiong exclaimed as Captain Roy walked away.

"Regardless of how long it took me, it's impossible to learn in a week. Especially for real combat. Isn't that just asking for death?" Mark pushed his sunglasses back up and said.

"Let's not worry about whether I can learn it or not. At least I have to undergo the simulation training, right?" He Moming didn't care about what would happen after a week; he was focused on the simulation training. In his estimation, this was the only way to improve his initial driving skills to a D-level. So He Moming had to seize this opportunity.

"Alright. Since you insist on the simulation training, meet at the simulation training ground at 0700 tomorrow morning. I'll be ruthless to ensure you don't die in real combat." After staring at He Moming for a while, Mark finally agreed.

"Yes! I will complete the task."

"Where did you learn that slogan?" Mark felt a sense of helplessness.

"From TV!"

"Alright. Su Xiong, take this rookie to eat."

In the captain's office.

"Report."

"Come in. The door is not locked." Gorbal, holding a file in one hand and his beloved pipe in the other, said without looking up.

"Captain. Pardon my boldness, but what is your intention?" Roy stood at attention, but his tone was aggressive.

"Intention? You mean the new guy?" Gorbal put down the file, took a puff of his pipe, and spoke slowly.

"Yes."

"What do you think our combat strength is? Against that overwhelmingly large fleet of alien warships." Gorbal's face was gradually covered by the rising smoke.

"..."

"Even you can't answer, right? Even veterans who have experienced the hardships of the Unified War are powerless in the face of the current situation." The smoke enveloped Gorbal, making it impossible for Roy to see his expression.

"Now, our combat strength is just the SDF-1 Macross and you and your team of VF-1 pilots. Any increase in combat strength is good, isn't it?" Gorbal put down his pipe, stood up, and looked at Roy.

"Even if he is of unknown origin?" This time, Roy clearly saw Gorbal's determined and resolute expression.

"Isn't there still you to watch over him?" Gorbal raised his hand and pointed at Roy.

"Yes, sir. Understood." Roy thought for a moment, saluted, and left the captain's office without hesitation.

After seeing Roy off, Gorbal picked up his pipe again and buried himself in the smoke.

From the cafeteria to the dormitory, He Moming said goodbye to Mark and Su Xiong and finally had some personal time. Looking at the communicator by his bed, He Moming hesitated for a moment, then pressed a series of numbers. After a few beeps, the call connected.

"Hello. This is Lin Mingmei. Who is this?"

"It's me, He Moming." He Moming cleared his throat and said.

"Oh, it's Moming. Are you at the base now?" Lin Mingmei's voice was filled with surprise.

"Yes. I'm about to start the simulation training. How about you?"

"Oh, I still need to think about it. After all, I'm alone now." Lin Mingmei said after a pause.

"Aren't I still here? I'll help you." He Moming's voice was firm.

"How can I... I... Thank you very much. Good luck with your training! I'll let you know when I've made up my mind." Lin Mingmei hung up hurriedly.

He Moming tried to call back several times but couldn't get through. It seemed that his words had startled Lin Mingmei. He Moming scratched his head in frustration, a sense of confusion lingering in his mind, preventing him from falling asleep.

The next day, He Moming's puffy eyes were the subject of much teasing by Su Xiong, and then he was forced into the simulator by Mark and thoroughly beaten. During the beating, He Moming gradually forgot his frustration and immersed himself in the simulation training. Unconsciously, six days had passed, during which the original protagonist, Hikaru Ichijyo, also joined the ranks of those tormenting He Moming.

Watching He Moming's tired figure walk away, Mark was shocked by the report in his hand. The data on the report was far from what a new recruit or a rookie should have. It was more like the data of a veteran, or even a veteran-level fighter. Was this possible? Mark couldn't help but ask himself.

"Mark, how is the training going?" Roy walked into the hangar and asked. Without a word, Mark handed the report to Roy.

"This... Impossible? Genius? Super genius?" Roy was unsurprisingly shocked by the combat data on the report.

"Captain, what do you know about He Moming?" Mark asked.

"Not much. I only know that He Moming was personally assigned to me by the captain. I've seen the footage of him piloting a VF-1 and fighting the aliens during the last attack. Although the footage is limited, it's clear that He Moming is a complete novice, barely able to move the VF-1 forward and backward. As for combat maneuvers, it's impossible." Roy closed the report and recalled.

"Is he really a genius?" Mark asked again.

"No, I don't know. I only know that we might have gained a powerful combatant. This gives us more confidence in our mission to return to Earth. Inform He Moming that he will undergo a training assessment at 1400 tomorrow. The content is confidential." Roy thought for a moment and made his decision.

"Yes, sir!" Mark saluted and left the hangar.

Roy thought for a while and decided to see Captain Gorbal again.

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