251: Chapter 251 Two thousand generals return to their posts, and the interstellar war machines roar!

The space behind the door was much larger than imagined.

It was divided into over a dozen independent zones, each equipped with a complete simulation system.

The text on the central instruction panel had been translated.

"Crew Training and Drill Center"

Simulated drills for extreme scenarios such as deep-space navigation, disaster response, enemy invasion, and hull damage.

Multi-type training for new crew members, professional skill assessments, and instruction in interstellar navigation, combat, and scientific research.

Equipped with full-sensory simulation training systems and full-simulation assessment systems.

Su Che asked Kayla to call Senior Colonel He over.

Ten minutes later, Senior Colonel He arrived.

He walked around the training center, from the full-sensory simulation training pods to the full-simulation assessment systems, missing nothing.

After looking around, Senior Colonel He's voice was twice as loud as usual.

"Chief Engineer Su, if we use this, our people will be combat-ready in three months!"

"Don't just stare at the flight training."

Su Che pointed to the disaster response and emergency drill area nearby, "There are all kinds of subjects here. You should organize the entire training system and come up with a plan."

"Yes!"

Su Che took out his communicator and dialed General Shen's private line.

"General Shen, two more areas have been unlocked."

"Speak."

"One is a dedicated dock for engineering and service boats, holding one hundred auxiliary spacecraft of various types. The other is the Crew Training and Drill Center, capable of flight training, emergency drills, and professional skill assessments."

He switched hands holding the communicator.

"We have enough spacecraft and a place for training. It's time to bring up the two thousand personnel you were asked to prepare."

"The people have already been arranged and are waiting at the training base next to Xishan Airport, ready to go at any time."

"The day after tomorrow, the Second Generation Luan Bird will go to pick them up and bring them all at once."

Su Che paused for a second.

"Also, have Commander-in-Chief Wang Xueshan lead the team, and bring Political Commissar Li, General Zhang, Captain Li Jun, and Instructor Han along."

There was silence on the other end of the line.

"They are all familiar faces, making them easier to work with. Commander-in-Chief Wang Xueshan will be responsible for leading the team, and he will serve as the commander-in-chief for all interstellar combat operations on the mothership later."

"I plan to select some from the scientists who work in the field of warfare to establish an Interstellar War General Staff. I need someone to lead it. I've arranged for Instructor Han to be responsible for the Crew Training and Drill Center."

General Shen coughed on the phone.

"Are you planning to empty out the Dragon Country's reserves?"

"What are you talking about? I've been very restrained. Not asking you to lead the team directly is me showing mercy."

"Do you want me to send Deputy Director Qin up to you as well? He's also an old acquaintance. Did you have this in mind when you treated them to dinner a few days ago?"

"Deputy Director Qin needs to be responsible for the safety of Su Family Village; that place is also very important. Otherwise, I would really have to transfer him up so that at least the father and daughter could be reunited."

Su Che laughed.

"Besides, our main battlefield will be in interstellar space in the future. Maybe you'll have to come up eventually."

General Shen hummed on the other end.

"I will report this to The Elder. Such a large mobilization, especially involving a Commander-in-Chief, requires his approval."

"Fine, I'll wait for your news."

The communication hung up.

Two days later.

At the docking point of the Genesis.

The hull of the Second Generation Luan Bird covered half of the hangar dome, and the repaired armor plates shimmered with a cold light under the lights.

The hatch opened, and a stream of people poured down the gangway.

A sea of black, two thousand people in identical starry camouflage training uniforms, marching in formation, their footsteps uniform and synchronized.

Commander-in-Chief Wang Xueshan walked at the very front, the rank of Commander-in-Chief heavy on his shoulders.

Behind him followed Political Commissar Li, General Zhang, Captain Li Jun, and Instructor Han, the four of them walking in a line.

Two thousand officers and soldiers gathered in the D-zone hall.

The hall was so quiet that one could hear breathing.

Su Che stood in the center of the hall, with Kayla, Lin Waner, Jiang Yingxue, Qin Lan, and Gao Jian behind him.

Commander-in-Chief Wang Xueshan stepped out of the formation and stood three meters in front of Su Che.

This Political Commissar of the Southern Theater Command, holding the rank of Commander-in-Chief, was one of the top veteran generals in the Dragon Country's military.

He raised his right hand, fingers together, and gave the most standard and formal military salute to the young man in front of him.

"Report to the Captain, subordinate Wang Xueshan has led two thousand officers and soldiers to board the ship. Please inspect them, Captain."

Su Che stood straight, raised his right hand, fingers together, and placed it to his temple.

He looked at the old general, who was of the same generation as his grandfather, and felt a bit uneasy.

A year ago, when they were eating stir-fried meat in the courtyard of Su Family Village, this old man had laughed and told him not to stand on ceremony.

Now, creating such a big scene, he felt a bit embarrassed.

But he had to maintain the atmosphere.

"At ease."

Two thousand pairs of training boots clicked against the metal floor, perfectly synchronized.

Su Che took two steps forward, his gaze sweeping over the formation.

"Welcome aboard."

"From today on, you are the first batch of seeds for the Interstellar Combat Legion."

"As the old saying goes, 'Sweat more in peacetime, bleed less in wartime.' Although it sounds rustic, it holds true in any era."

"The enemies you will face in the future are the fleets of interstellar civilizations, and the wars you will fight will be interstellar wars."

"Times have changed, and the rules must change as well. On the mothership, treat every second of training as real combat."

Su Che roared at the end, "Do you understand?"

"Understood!" The roar of two thousand people echoed in the D-zone hall, shaking the light guide tubes overhead.

Su Che lowered his hand.

"Lin Waner, Jiang Yingxue, take them to the D-zone living quarters to get settled, one room per person."

The two stepped forward to accept the order.

Under their guidance, the two thousand officers and soldiers exited in an orderly fashion.

Only Commander-in-Chief Wang Xueshan, Political Commissar Li, General Zhang, Captain Li Jun, Instructor Han, Qin Lan, and Gao Jian remained in the hall.

Su Che looked at Instructor Han.

"Instructor Han Tiefeng, from now on you will serve as the instructor for the Crew Training and Drill Center. Qin Lan, Gao Jian, take Instructor Han to familiarize himself with the place first."

Instructor Han Tiefeng nodded and followed the two away.

Su Che turned to face Kayla and handed her a list.

"Call these seventeen people over, and also Senior Colonel He."

Kayla took the list and turned to leave.

Twelve minutes later, all eighteen people arrived.

Su Che stood in the center of the hall.

"Effective immediately, the Interstellar War Command is established."

"Commander-in-Chief Wang Xueshan will serve as the commander-in-chief, and Political Commissar Li Chengwen will serve as the deputy commander-in-chief, overseeing the Interstellar Combat Legion and the Interstellar War General Staff."

Li Chengwen straightened his back.

"Effective immediately, the Interstellar Combat Legion is established. Senior Colonel He Zhiyuan will serve as the Legion Commander, and Captain Li Jun will serve as the Deputy Legion Commander. The previous pilots and the two thousand officers and soldiers who came up today will all be incorporated into the Legion."

Senior Colonel He Zhiyuan and Captain Li Jun looked at each other and answered in unison.

"Effective immediately, the Interstellar War General Staff is established. General Zhang Zhiyue will serve as the Chief of General Staff, and strategic and tactical expert Xiao Jingrong will serve as the Deputy Chief, responsible for strategic and tactical deduction."

General Zhang Zhiyue and Xiao Jingrong nodded.

Su Che began to call out names.

"Directed energy weapons expert Sun Jingyuan, plasma physics expert Chu Yan, guidance and control expert Ma Yuanfeng, nuclear physics experts Frick and Zhao Zhaoyang, demolition engineering expert Feng Lie, nuclear engineering expert Scott."

Seven people stepped out.

Su Che held up a finger.

"The seven of you will form the Wartime Weapons Group."

"Electronic warfare expert Lu Zheng, sonar and acoustic technology expert Li Haitao, stealth technology expert Xie Yunzheng, radar technology expert Chen Jingzhou, network attack and defense expert Cohen."

Five people stepped out.

A second finger went up.

"The five of you will form the Wartime Countermeasures Group."

"Bionics expert Ji Fengxing, experimental physics expert Wang Haoyu, intelligence analysis expert Ruth, Artificial Intelligence expert Li Fei, algorithm scientist Hinton."

Five people stepped out.

A third finger went up.

"The five of you will form the Wartime Support Group."

Su Che's gaze swept over everyone present.

"You seventeen people will all join the General Staff. Perform your respective duties in peacetime, but once in a wartime state, you will immediately transition into members of the General Staff to assist the Chief of General Staff in making operational decisions."

"Is that clear?"

"Clear!"

"Dismissed. Everyone to your posts. Commander-in-Chief Wang, please wait a moment."

Everyone left one after another.

Su Che walked up to Commander-in-Chief Wang Xueshan.

"Grandpa Wang."

Commander-in-Chief Wang Xueshan was stunned for a moment.

"When I invited you to dinner in the capital a few days ago, I felt terrible about it."

Su Che scratched the back of his head.

"At that time, my mind was full of how to transfer you up and how to use you. My attitude was a bit distant. You are an old friend of my grandfather's and have always helped me, but I really didn't do things right."

Commander-in-Chief Wang Xueshan patted Su Che on the shoulder.

"Little Su, what are you saying? In one year, you went from a dropped-out college student to this position. Anyone's mentality would change."

"I'm more than happy for you to call me Grandpa in private. I also wish I had a grandson as accomplished as you. I am envious of Changshan brother."

Commander-in-Chief Wang Xueshan stopped smiling.

"But as a soldier, whether in private or in an official capacity, I must call you Captain or Chief Engineer. I must set a good example."

He looked into Su Che's eyes and continued.

"Honestly, I have to thank you. I never dreamed in my life that I would have the chance to command an interstellar war."

"So don't be all mushy. The two thousand people I brought up, as well as Chengwen, Zhiyue, and the others, all wish they could worship you like an ancestor."

"It was you who gave them an opportunity they never dared to imagine. In the future, whatever you say, no one will disagree, including me."

Commander-in-Chief Wang Xueshan paused.

"Of course, except for combat command, after all, you are a layman."

Su Che laughed.

"That is natural. Professional matters must be left to professional people."

He changed the subject. "By the way, Grandpa Wang, I'll arrange for you to stay in the high-tier area. The conditions there are the best."

Commander-in-Chief Wang Xueshan shook his head.

"No need," he said. "Living and eating with the soldiers is the only way to lead them well. I've slept in worse conditions in my life."

Commander-in-Chief Wang Xueshan saluted and turned to walk out.

Su Che watched his back.

"This is our most beloved person."