Counterfeit Hero

In the semicircular command room of the Gazalin Empire, Stephen stood respectfully behind Liebgoet. The small, thin old man before him transformed into a different person the moment he took his position to command the battle — from a genial and ordinary mentor to a decisive and ruthless general, making everyone who looked at the command post filled with awe. Stephen had followed Liebgoet for three years. He wasn’t afraid of this old man, but it was better to remain a bit respectful towards someone who could be such a powerful ally.

"Teacher, why did we let them come in through the Space Jump Port?" Stephen, though roughly understanding the reason, couldn’t help but ask for confirmation.

"Since we can’t block them, we should just let it go," Liebgoet said lightly, as if such a question didn’t even need to be answered.

"I don’t understand. Isn’t it more advantageous to occupy the Space Jump Port?" This was Stephen’s genuine thought. If he were in command, he would never voluntarily give up this position. Even if they had to give it up, he would retreat fully rather than leave some forces and create a vulnerability for the Federation Army to exploit.

Liebgoet sighed. He knew his student’s weakness, a fatal flaw rarely exposed. Even as his teacher, he took a long time to see through it. Habitually, he used a guiding tone: "No matter how formidable an intelligence department is, the only thing they can’t grasp is the whereabouts of the enemy fleet. A hundred fleets, hundreds of thousands of warships, are just a speck of dust in the universe. Since the enemy has mastered the secret Space Jump Points, they can launch attacks from there at any time. More fleets can bypass the Public Star Domain and directly strike into the heart of Galileo. In that case, what use is it to have a fleet stationed in space?"

"Yes, Teacher, I understand all that. But no matter how much the Leray Federation struggles, they still need to transport their ground forces and troops through the Space Jump Port of the Newton Star System. As long as they can’t clear this point, they can’t move. While bypassing the Public Star System could also deliver troops, it’s too risky. The supply line would be too long, hindering their assault and potentially leading to the campaign’s failure due to supply issues. Isn’t that right?" Stephen respectfully replied.

Liebgoet smiled slightly, "You need to think more long-term. Let me ask you a few questions."