"Look at those guys."
Chai Ran smiled and pointed at the kids.
"Don't they remind you of us back in the day?"
Shi Zhixin looked at the six students who were gradually sitting in a row. Even with such little break time, they still huddled together to browse the forums and discuss mechas...
"At least we had graduated back then. These kids don't rest for a single moment."
"They're probably the most outstanding mecha mechanics of this graduating class across all the major military academies. Come to think of it, they started serving the military even earlier than we did."
Hearing their conversation, more mecha mechanics turned to look at the kids.
"Let them rest a bit longer. Shall we get back to work?"
"Yeah, let's go."
"Back to work, back to work!"
Although everyone was on Planet Kashile, Wang Tianwei had seen very little of her teammates over the past half month.
Jian Jingyu and Zhang Lyra had both been assigned to the medical zone, taking care of severely wounded soldiers every day, while Huang Yan was still busy in the security zone.
She, on the other hand, was working around the clock, spending almost twenty-four hours a day in the mecha assembly and maintenance area.
She was either building mechas or brainstorming designs. At night, she would just find a moment to lie down in her clothes on an empty patch of ground nearby for a quick nap.
Sometimes it even felt like she was back to struggling for survival in the apocalypse...
Everyone had already looked disheveled enough during the competition, but right now, each person looked even more wretched than before.
Because there was no time to do laundry, all the eccentric outfits in Wang Tianwei's spatial button had been borrowed out!
Who cared about looking good or saving face now? As long as the clothes weren't stiff and crusted with salt, they were wearable.
In fact, more than half of the mecha mechanics were wearing the work uniforms she had bulk-ordered back on Planet Shuomo.
Because they were dirt-resistant, easy to rinse clean with just water, and quite comfortable, that store had earned a bookmark from every single mecha mechanic.
The only reason they hadn't placed orders yet was that even people couldn't travel to Planet Kashile right now, let alone express deliveries.
A quick glance around the tent made it look like a massive fan meet-and-greet. Wang Tianwei had secretly snapped who knows how many photos!
If she had known this day would come, she definitely would have bought dozens more sets!
After the students finished discussing their matters, they returned to their workstations and started working.
Wang Tianwei's hands didn't stop moving, but in her mind, she was thinking that next time she went shopping to stockpile, she absolutely could not listen to Sir Huang!
Of course, until she got her hands on a new spatial button, she still had to play along...
Jian Jingyu came looking for her and it took him a long time before he finally recognized his Sister Zebra by her height.
Mainly because, whether it was her proficiency in repairing mechas or her casual demeanor, she had perfectly blended in with the military's mecha mechanics.
What was most impressive was that she even gave off the exact same exhausted worker vibe!
A pair of semi-permanent dark circles under her eyes, lips that were constantly dry because she forgot to drink water, and a pen definitely tucked into any given pocket on her body.
It wasn't just her; the students from the other four military academies were gradually being assimilated too...
In just a dozen days, the number of top-tier parts they had produced and transforming mechas they had assembled had reached a terrifying figure for students who hadn't even graduated yet!
Wang Tianwei was terrified that her spiritual power might suddenly level up and delay the production schedule.
Lucas's baby face looked much more mature, and now he spoke without any hesitation or fluff.
Even the usually introverted Tabitha had gotten louder!
It couldn't be helped. Assembling mechas was assembly-line work; if she didn't speak loudly, no one would hear her!
Today, the transport route for the starships had finally been cleared.
The Federation immediately dispatched a large starship to transport weapons and supplies to the front lines.
Jian Jingyu was assigned by Ling Yingzhe to find Wang Tianwei.
"Sister Zebra, the military sent a starship over!"
"Goldfish?"
Wang Tianwei struggled to squeeze out of the mecha cockpit she was repairing.
"A starship came? Then the wounded soldiers can be sent back to Planet Tianshu? That's great!"
Even though she hadn't left the repair tent, she knew that many wounded soldiers had been on Planet Kashile for a long time...
The medical conditions on the front lines were limited. Back on Planet Tianshu, they would definitely receive better treatment!
And then there were the soldiers who had been confirmed as parasitized by the Zerg...
But what would be waiting for them when they returned? When would the Federation be able to develop a potion to clear the parasites?
Wang Tianwei shook her aching head and changed the subject.
"Then did the Incineration Shells we asked for arrive too?"
The frontline soldiers' multi-purpose cannon barrels were already prepared, and the Incineration Shells were weapons specifically designed to deal with the Zerg!
The mecha mechanics had been waiting for this batch of supplies for a long time. As soon as the ammunition arrived, they could immediately start installing it.
"I don't know, maybe? I just saw a lot of boxes being put into storage, but the medicines we needed over in our area have arrived! By the way, Second Lieutenant Ling called for you guys to go over!"
"Just us? Are the commanders going?"
"Yes, the individual soldiers are going too!"
"...I'm still busy here. Is there anything that can't be announced over the optical computer? Or you guys can just tell me after you hear it?"
Shi Zhixin, who was standing to the side, shook his head as he listened to their conversation that sounded just like seasoned military veterans, and took the tools from Wang Tianwei's hands.
"Hey!? Teacher!"
"Hurry up and go over there. Are you still thinking about assembling mechas?"
Hadn't they considered that now that the starship had arrived, it was also time for them to return to Planet Tianshu?
Did they really consider themselves active-duty soldiers? None of them had even gotten their graduation certificates yet!
"And the rest of you, didn't you hear me talking? Stop working, put down what's in your hands immediately, and report to the place Second Lieutenant Ling mentioned!"
Unexpectedly, this shout drew out even more rebellious spirits.
"Don't rush, Teacher Shi. Wait until I finish assembling this one!"
"Let them go. I'm smelting parts right now, I can't walk away."
Leola was huddled behind a mecha, busily working, and didn't respond at all.
Lian Sheng, who was sitting to the side resting because he had just overdrawn his spiritual power, propped up his body and tried to get up to work after hearing Shi Zhixin's words.
Sister Zebra's cockpit had just made some progress, and he absolutely did not want to be called away for a meeting right now.
It made Shi Zhixin laugh out of sheer anger!
These brats, once they started assembling mechas, they became ruthless and forgot everything else.
Lately, they didn't even return to their tents. They just lived here, as if the repair tent was their home!
Kids their age usually had some other hobbies... But these six were something else. When they got together, their academic atmosphere was even thicker than that of the old folks!
Every day, they opened their mouths to talk about mechas, and closed their mouths to talk about mechas. They worked so intensely that even the old folks didn't dare slack off in the slightest.
For the past two days, early in the morning, his optical computer would start alarming, reminding him that his blood pressure was a bit high...
And looking at them now, they had truly grasped the essence of military mecha mechanics! Escaping any meeting that had nothing to do with mechas whenever possible?
Wang Tianwei quietly slipped backward.
Teacher Chai from the First Military Region had said it: if the commanders were all present, how important could a meeting that required his attendance really be!?
It was better to put more effort into the mechas!
Shi Zhixin slapped Wang Tianwei on the back.
"Stand up straight! Walk properly. Why are you acting so sneaky?"
"..."
"When I tell you to go, just hurry up and go. Don't give me any nonsense!"
Another mecha mechanic also smiled and shooed the kids out.
"There are so many people here. Do you really think the repair tent will stop functioning without you little brats? Go, go, go, hurry up and leave!"
"Mr. Shi! You're burning bridges!"
"Throwing us under the bus!"
"Turning your back on us!"
"...Sheesh, casting the bow aside once the birds are shot!!"
Shi Zhixin couldn't hold back and kicked Lucas, the last one to speak, right in the backside.
"Are you really trying to show off your idioms to me?"
