Chapter Eighty-Six: Pursued Once Again

According to the plan, Zhang Desen set off for the far side of the moon. Time slipped by, and soon it was night on Earth.

At the same moment, on the flagship "Conquest" of the Atlantis Space Fleet, stationed near lunar orbit, the squadron leader Jeff Cole, who had previously led the pursuit of Zhang Desen and Li Longfang, was being received by the fleet commander and captain of the "Conquest," Gergin Gulo.

However, this meeting was far from an honor. Gergin Gulo asked, “Are you kidding me? The enemy really had only a single space fighter?”

Jeff Cole bowed his head and replied, “Yes, sir. I apologize.”

Gergin Gulo said, “Cole, even though you’re only a squadron leader for now, your combat experience shouldn’t be lacking. You’ve served for quite some time, haven’t you?”

Jeff Cole lowered his head even further. “I am ashamed, sir, but I request another chance. I want to personally avenge my fallen comrades. That enemy fighter must still be on the moon…”

Gergin Gulo interrupted him, “Are you certain that fighter is still hiding on the moon?”

Jeff Cole replied, “Yes, sir. I must destroy it with my own hands. I won’t let him escape.”

Gergin Gulo said, “That resolve is admirable, but I want results. You have rendered Atlantis many services in battles against the eastern Atlantis Empire before. I hope you can live up to your former glory. Do you understand?”

Jeff Cole snapped to attention. “Yes, sir! Understood!”

Gergin Gulo pondered for a moment, then said, “Very well, I’ll give you another chance. There’s a combat wing with three squadrons and thirty fighters, but it’s missing a wing commander. You’ll act as wing commander. Prepare for departure within one hour. Are you confident you can achieve victory?”

Jeff Cole answered resolutely, “Absolutely.”

Gergin Gulo said, “Good. Go prepare at once.”

“Yes, sir!”

Soon, Jeff Cole was preparing with his new wing. An hour later, he led his squadron back to the moon, heading again toward the far side.

...

Meanwhile, Zhang Desen, unaware that Jeff Cole had rallied so quickly and was already on his trail, was venturing across the far side of the moon under the sunlight, his solar energy reserves full. Emboldened by the ample sunlight, he had begun a grand tour of the lunar far side.

Li Longfang remained at the tail gun, ever vigilant for enemies.

Zhang Desen piloted the ship past the lunar north pole, first reaching the Zmorfold Crater, then on to Parkhof Crater, followed by Roland—D'Alembert—Campbell—H.G. Wells—Mare Moscoviense—Komarov—Drumplar—Fitzgerald—Mach—Poynting—Hertzsprung—Korolev—Doppler—Icarus—Aitken—Hebosede—Kira—Gagarin—Bandekraf—Oppenheimer—Apollo—Ninco—von Karman, and finally Poincaré Crater.

Thus, Zhang Desen’s flight path across the far side traced a near Z-shape. Along the way, he introduced Li Longfang to all he knew about the moon—its origins, gravity, resources—broadening Li Longfang’s understanding as if pouring a flood of knowledge straight into his mind.

Once they reached Poincaré Crater, Zhang Desen checked the energy levels and time, then said to Li Longfang after some thought, “Longfang, let’s head straight for the south pole now. Our energy reserves are full. Do you think that’s feasible?”

Li Longfang replied, “I agree. We’ve been away too long, and with energy sufficient, it’s best to go straight to the south pole.”

“Alright, let’s depart!”

Zhang Desen promptly piloted the ship towards the lunar south pole.

Unbeknownst to him, as his ship swept past Poincaré Crater, Jeff Cole, acting commander of Atlantis’s 5th Space Fighter Wing, was leading his new squadron past the lunar north pole, commencing the pursuit.

Indeed, experience triumphs with age. In the previous battle, Jeff Cole deduced that Zhang Desen’s ship used a pulse plasma engine. No matter how far it fled, the residual plasma from the engine would linger in its wake for some time. So, by using plasma-tracking technology, Cole’s squadron began following the plasma trail, vowing to exact vengeance.

Jeff Cole’s assumption was correct: Zhang Desen’s ship was powered mainly by a pulse plasma engine. To facilitate long-range voyages, the ship was equipped not only with a reserve of solid PTFE fuel but also systems to harvest plasma from the solar wind, the ionosphere, or even comet tails—anywhere plasma was abundant—to replenish its needs. It could even use onboard equipment to break down water or other decomposable materials into plasma to refuel.

Yet Zhang Desen was oblivious to the fact that his plasma trail was being tracked. Upon reaching the vicinity of the lunar south pole, he reconnected to the Terran surveillance satellite to observe the current situation.

Surprisingly, the two sides were at a stalemate. Zhang Desen could not tell which side, Terrans or Atlanteans, had more reinforcements. From the Terran network, he had some idea of their war potential, but he had no way to gauge Atlantis’s strength, nor did the Terrans know much about it.

But these concerns were secondary now. Zhang Desen needed a plan to return home, though for the moment, all he could do was wait. Fortunately, the ship’s oxygen and other supplies were plentiful.

Zhang Desen asked, “Longfang, is everything clear behind us?”

Li Longfang replied, “No anomalies. Just endless space and sunlit craters.”

“Alright,” said Zhang Desen, “we may have to wait here for a while.”

Li Longfang asked, “Are they still fighting?”

Zhang Desen replied, “Yes. We’ve already toured the far side of the moon and they’re still locked in battle.”

Li Longfang said, “That’s good—the distraction means we’re less likely to be discovered.”

Zhang Desen said, “Still, I think we should head to Tycho Crater.”

Li Longfang asked, “Why?”

Zhang Desen explained, “From a distance, the glare there is strong, making observation difficult. Going there will reduce our chances of being spotted. Also, it’s on the near side, allowing us to contact Earth and secretly use Terran satellites to monitor the enemy via our data collection devices, since we have no Sun satellites to relay our signals in lunar orbit…”

He continued, changing his tone, “There’s one more crucial reason: when we first entered lunar orbit, we received a mysterious signal directing us to Tycho Crater.”

Li Longfang, worried, asked, “Desen, could this be a trap set to lure us in?”

Zhang Desen replied, “I don’t think so. Otherwise, those enemy fighters wouldn’t have tailed us at that moment. Still, whatever the case, we won’t know unless we take a look. Even if it’s a dragon’s den or a tiger’s lair, we must see it for ourselves.”

“In that case, let’s go,” said Li Longfang.

“Alright, wait—” Zhang Desen cut himself off as the radar display showed thirty-one unidentified craft in pursuit—the very squadron led by Jeff Cole, though Zhang Desen did not know this.

“Someone’s tailing us,” he muttered, cursing under his breath.

Li Longfang exclaimed, “What? How did they find our position?”

“Doesn’t matter,” Zhang Desen said. “I’ll activate the plasma stealth and head straight for Tycho. Hang on!”

“Yes, sir!” Li Longfang replied.

Without delay, Zhang Desen engaged the plasma stealth system, fired up the engines, and sped toward Tycho Crater.

Meanwhile, Jeff Cole finally spotted Zhang Desen’s ship on radar and exclaimed in triumph, “Ha! I’ve finally found you—let’s see where you run now!”

He ordered his squadrons, “The enemy’s ahead! Full speed, don’t let them escape!”

All the pilots responded in unison, “Yes, sir!”

Though Zhang Desen’s plasma stealth system caused Cole’s radar to lose his ship, Cole thought to himself, “Stealth engaged, eh? No matter what you use, I know you’re right ahead. As long as your plasma engines are running, I’ll find you! Hahaha!”

As Zhang Desen continued flying toward Tycho, Jeff Cole regrouped the remaining squadrons to pursue.

After some distance, Zhang Desen stopped the evasive maneuvers and rose above the peaks. Since they had been exposed, he might as well fly openly and gain speed.

Yet the Atlantis fighters, perhaps too advanced or overpowered, often flew so fast during combat that they struggled to turn in time. Nevertheless, they quickly closed in on Zhang Desen’s ship and opened fire.