The six mecha engineers followed Jian Jingyu to the location Ling Yingzhe had mentioned.
By the time they arrived, the students from the various military academies had already lined up in formation inside the tent.
Upon seeing the figure in the very center—a person with a mechanical arm and a head of gray hair—they reflexively straightened their backs.
"Chief Meng!?"
Jian Jingyu couldn't help but exclaim. Why would Chief Meng come to Planet Kashile!?
Shouldn't he be holding the fort at the military command center on Planet Tianshu?
Meng Chongyun's mechanical eye quickly locked onto Wang Tianwei from the Qilin Military Academy in the crowd, and he took large strides to stand before her.
"Student Wang Tianwei."
"Ch-Ch-Ch-Chief Meng!"
Wang Tianwei's eyes widened, and she looked toward the command team as if pleading for help.
"Pfft."
A soft chuckle came from behind; it was Mu Ning, who had just been standing next to Meng Chongyun.
The genius leap-frog super-grade mecha engineer of Qilin—she had finally met her in person.
Meng Chongyun's tone was gentle.
"Thank you for the transforming mecha design drafts you donated to the Federation. They have been a great help in this war. I heard from Shi Zhixin that the Federation's mecha iteration already has a new direction."
Meng Chongyun extended his hand. Wang Tianwei froze for a moment before hurriedly grasping it with both of hers.
"Not at all!? It's what I ought to do... Thank you for your trust in me!"
"You are worthy of trust."
Wang Tianwei could feel just how powerful that hand was!
Just a single handshake made her feel instantly filled with strength. She could go assemble another mecha right now!
Meng Chongyun stepped back to the center and swept his gaze equally over every military academy. The students puffed their chests out even higher.
Jian Jingyu even thought to himself that this was already his second time seeing Chief Meng.
His dad probably hadn't even seen Chief Meng from this close, right? He had really made it!
"The simultaneous eruption of black holes M18, M19, and M20 in the Third Military Region caused you to be stranded on Planet Kashile. The military region is deeply sorry for this.
However, your performance during this time has exceeded the expectations of everyone in the schools and the military!
You have completed every assigned task exceptionally well.
Without you, the screening and quarantine wouldn't have been so successful; the wounded wouldn't have received such proper care; and the frontline soldiers wouldn't have received the support of transforming mechas and biological weapons in time."
With every sentence Meng Chongyun spoke, he looked at a different team.
He had been paying attention to these children's situations every day, and the feedback he received never disappointed.
If it hadn't been for them during this period, the soldiers would only have been more exhausted and faced greater hardships.
Hearing these words, the students' eyes shone with unconcealable brightness.
They were praised by the Military Chief! Hehe!
Mu Ning looked at them one by one, feeling nothing but reassurance and pride in her heart.
"On behalf of the Federation Military Region, I thank you."
Meng Chongyun stood firmly in the center and bowed his head slightly to the students of the five military academies.
"Thank you all."
Mu Ning did the same from behind.
The twenty-four students immediately stood at attention and said in unison,
"To serve the people!!"
Hearing this, Meng Chongyun's Adam's apple bobbed. It took him a long while before he continued,
"First Military Academy, Qilin Military Academy, Santorini Military Academy, Walke Military Academy, and Yuying Military Academy, all members."
"Here!"
"Now, return to your tents and pack your luggage. Assemble back here in 10 minutes."
Confusion filled everyone's eyes. Pack their luggage to go where? They still had work to do later...
It was Mu Ning who couldn't bear to watch their confusion,
"The space routes have been cleared. It's time to send you back today."
Only then did the crowd realize,
Oh, right! If starships could transport things, then they could go home too...
He Siyu was the first to step forward.
"Sir, we are willing to stay on Planet Kashile to help."
"Yes, Sir. We are willing to stay until this war is over."
More than half a month had passed, and the star beast tide wasn't completely over yet. Coupled with the Zerg joining the war, how could they go back at a time like this?
Mu Ning stepped forward,
"Commander He Siyu of the First Military Academy? What is a soldier's primary duty?"
"...To obey orders and strictly observe discipline."
"Mhm."
Mu Ning nodded.
"It's good that you know. The competition is already over, and you should have returned to Planet Tianshu to begin with.
In the last rainforest battle, I saw that all of you couldn't wait to leave.
What's the matter? Have you taken a liking to Planet Kashile and can't bear to leave?"
After saying this, she cast a pointed glance toward the Qilin team; those two mud monkeys had scurried off quite fast at the end of the last match.
"..."
Meng Chongyun finally remembered that he hadn't introduced her just now.
"Apologies, I forgot to introduce her to you. This is the Commander-in-Chief of the Third Military Region, Mu Ning."
"!!!"
Everyone's adoring gazes converged on the silver-haired female officer. The legendary female Commander-in-Chief of the Third Military Region, Mu Ning!?
After her awe subsided, Wang Tianwei tried to negotiate,
"Since the space routes are clear, there's no rush for this exact moment, right?
Commander, we still have unfinished work on our hands! That mecha of mine..."
Mu Ning chuckled lightly,
"We active-duty officers aren't just slacking off. Look outside."
Wang Tianwei turned her head as instructed, only to see a group of people in mecha engineer uniforms marching past the entrance. The direction they were heading seemed to be the exact mecha assembly and maintenance area they had just come from.
"When you were stranded here, having you help exterminate the star beasts was a measure of last resort.
Now that there is a chance to evacuate, Federation soldiers will never leave students here. This is our mission."
Ye Yingxuan couldn't help but speak up,
"Sir, from the day I entered the First Military Academy, I swore to be forever loyal to the Federation and loyal to the people! This is what we should do."
Meng Chongyun nodded.
"Mhm, leaving Planet Kashile right now is being loyal to the Federation."
"...Chief."
He Siyu wanted to say something more, but Meng Chongyun shook his head at her,
"You have things you ought to be doing right now. Study hard, improve yourselves, and hone your skills.
Instead of going to the battlefield before you even graduate. The military's situation hasn't gotten that desperate yet.
Only if you live well will the Federation have a future."
"Now, about-face! Everyone go pack your luggage. You have seven minutes left."
"..."
The students had nothing more to say. They looked at each other and finally ran back to their tents in an orderly manner.
Wang Tianwei's toolbox was still in the maintenance shed, so she simply released her mecha and transformed it into a flying car.
Leola, Wu Fangyu, Lucas, and Tabitha immediately got in the car. Lian Sheng from Santorini was a step behind because he was further away.
Wang Tianwei took a look,
"Everyone squeeze in! Lian Sheng, sit on Lucas's lap! Hurry up, there are only six minutes left, we're running out of time!"
"We're seated! Let's go, Sister Ma!"
Meng Chongyun and Mu Ning both smiled and shook their heads upon seeing this.
"It seems the relationships between their military academies have improved as well."
"That's a good thing. There was never any need for them to be at each other's throats."
"Qilin's 'Sister Ma' has ultimately become the 'Sister Ma' for all the military academies. Her title has risen much faster than ours."
"Hahaha."
