Zeus -1 picked up speed, followed by the capital ships.
The two ships were moving at almost the same speed.
Both were headed for Lyr at superluminal speed.
Planet Lyr!
"Those in the mecha department who wish to stay will be given weapons.
Those who don't are to board the transports and leave the planet. "Hailing College Dean Han Ruchao's voice was hoarse.
But his eyes were filled with determination.
Hailing College was the most prestigious institution on Lyr, a famous military school in the Eastern Alliance. It was famous for its mecha department.
The appearance of the aliens had been too sudden. The entire planet was in a state of war.
Hailing College's orders were to retreat.
The students were the future of the Alliance. They were to be taken with the elderly, women, and children.
Planet Lyr's military had sent four transport ships to help them leave as soon as possible.
However, Hailing College was too large. The transports could only carry six thousand people, but Hailing College had fifteen thousand students and teachers.
In other words, one batch couldn't carry all of them.
There was nothing the military could do about this problem.
More transports had to take the elderly, women, and children away first.
It was the first time since the East had taken control of Lir that they'd encountered a crisis of this magnitude.
By this time, Lir University's vast field was packed with students and teachers alike.
Their homeroom teachers stood at the front of their class.
This was the moment when the excellence of a school was on display. In the face of a life-threatening crisis, the students of Hailing College were able to maintain a calm demeanor. At the very least, there were no riots. This was a rare sight.
The common folk were already panicking.
The walls around Hailing College had been fortified, ready to defend against the aliens at a moment's notice.
As a military school it was well equipped. The only thing it lacked was weapons of war.
The military had also sent a batch of weapons.
After all, the students and teachers of the school were capable of fighting.
If necessary, they could defend themselves.
Lyr's military was at the front lines, and there was no way to save them.
What they could do now was to retreat as quickly as possible.
No one knew when the aliens would attack.
"Dean, all of us teachers will stay behind to live and die with the academy." A handsome teacher walked out and said in a clear voice.
It was the Bookworm's disciple, Su He!
After Su He finished his travels, he returned to Hailing College and continued to teach there.
He had changed from being arrogant when he first came to this academy to being gentle now.
His entire being was changing.
And the thing that changed everything was actually his encounter with Lan Jue.
And then there was the Bookworm's advancement.
Han Ruchao stared intently at Su He. Su He was the strongest mecha pilot in Hailing College and a ninth-level adept. His words were like a shot in the arm for Han Ruchao.
"I'll stay too!" Among the students, a student raised his right hand high.
Han Ruchao didn't hide anything from the students. He'd just announced that only six thousand would be able to leave. The rest would have to stay for the next wave.
Whether or not they'd be able to leave, no one knew.
It would take a long time for the transport ships to reach the nearest planet.
The student who raised his hand was none other than Xiao Han, the student who'd followed Hailing College to the National Eastern University for the exchange competition.
Xiao Han was now much more composed and reserved than he had been during the competition.
That setback hadn't truly crushed him. Instead, it had given him a purpose and motivation to move forward.
Over the past year, he'd made rapid progress and was now formally apprenticed to Su He.
"We'll stay too!" Many students raised their hands. The crowd was in an uproar.
The entire Hailing College field had become a world of excitement.
Seeing the excited faces of the students, Han Ruchao's eyes welled up with tears.
He was a renowned scholar who'd been the dean of Hailing College for many years. His entire life's energy had been devoted to the college.
He knew he had many problems. He was headstrong, arrogant, proud, and especially competitive.
But today, he'd truly been proud once again. This pride allowed him to puff out his chest.
No matter how many flaws he'd had, the college he'd led had produced so many adorable students.
At the juncture of life and death on this planet, they hadn't retreated. They'd raised their arms fearlessly, determined to live and die with the college.
It wasn't just the Mecha Department that had raised their hands. The students from the Warship Command Department and even some of the Auxiliary Department had raised their arms.
At this moment, no one wanted to be seen as cowards by their classmates. The blood in their chests was boiling and burning.
Han Ruchao's voice was choked with emotion. Through the loudspeaker in front of him, he shouted, "Thank you, thank you all.
Children, you're all good.
Hailing College is proud to have students like you.
I, Han Ruchao, have been able to teach children like you. It's worth it.
No matter how strong the enemy is, no matter how cruel.
As the dean, I'll be the last to evacuate.
Now, please listen to my orders.
All students from the Mecha Department, collect your mechas, weapons, and gear up.
Under the leadership of the teachers, they formed up and prepared to face the enemy.
Command Department, Mecha Maintenance Department, as well as the female students and teachers, are to evacuate first.
This is an order.
Teachers, please carry it out immediately. "
"In times of crisis, we need order.
I hereby announce that the college will be militarized. Everyone must listen to my orders.
Carry it out immediately! "Han Ruchao's voice rang out.
The excited voices of the students were silenced.
Su He stood below, nodding to himself. This Dean Han hadn't been careless in the heat of the moment. Despite his emotional outbursts, he hadn't made any rash decisions.
The students were the future of the Alliance. They were the future of Planet Lir, and Hailing College.
Since there were transport ships, it was only natural that some of them would be sent away.
The students from the Mecha Department immediately headed to the Mecha Warehouse to collect their mechas. Although most of them were instructional mechas, it was better than nothing.
Add to that the weapons they received from the military, and they had a certain level of combat prowess.
As the largest college on Planet Lir, Hailing College was equipped with a thousand instructional mechas. Most of them had two cabins, making it easy for the teachers to use.
Thus, it could accommodate two thousand people.
Many of the students and teachers were armed, occupying the highest points of the campus. Using the walls as a shield, they prepared for battle.
Han Ruchao's breathing was ragged. He'd never faced a situation like this before.
But as a scholar, he knew how to deal with problems during a war.
He was the backbone of the college, and he couldn't afford to panic.
If he panicked, it would be a disaster.
Communication was cut off, and communication with the outside world was difficult. There was no telling when reinforcements would arrive.
The only thing he knew from the military was that the aliens were ferocious.
Just then, there was an explosion in the distance. Smoke billowed into the air.
Han Ruchao's eyes narrowed. He knew that was the direction of the military's defensive perimeter. Had it collapsed?
"Hurry!
Get the transport ships to leave as soon as possible.
Professor Su He, where are you? "Han Ruchao used the public channel of his communicator to call out to him.
Su He's calm voice answered. "I'm in the field. I'll be right there."
A moment later, a mecha descended from the sky. It was Su He.
"Professor Su He, could I trouble you to scout out the situation outside? If there are any aliens, please lead the students into battle." Han Ruchao knew he wasn't a good leader.
Under the circumstances, Su He would be a better leader than he was.
Su He's voice was low. "I just went to take a look. The perimeter outside the city has been breached.
The aliens are making their way into the city.
Our perimeter must be ready for battle.
The military has already begun to guide those who haven't been able to evacuate to the school. "
Han Ruchao's heart skipped a beat. The school's defenses were the strongest in the city. It was the best place to draw people in.
But if they did that, the school would be in a state of disarray. With enemies on the outside, the situation would worsen.
"Do you have any suggestions, Professor Su He?" Han Ruchao's voice was low.
Su He nodded. "Militarize.
When necessary, he had to be decisive in killing.
Don't mess up.
If you do, things will get out of hand.
Please give the order. Have all the classes listen to me.
I will do everything in my power to protect the school. "
"Good!
From now on, everyone will listen to you, including me. "Han Ruchao spoke without hesitation.
Su He immediately began to mobilize.
When it came to military matters, he was far more skilled than Han Ruchao. Add to that the fact that he was a God-ranked pilot, and his reputation among the students was even higher than Han Ruchao's.
He was the one who taught the best of the best.
Under his command, the school's first line of defense was quickly completed.
Laser cannons were the main attack force, mecha pilots were the support.
Other defensive weapons were also in place.
In the distance, crowds of people swarmed toward Hailing College.
The gates weren't fully open, only half open.
Under Su He's command, six classes of three hundred students, including fifty mechas, were tasked with maintaining order.
They led them into the buildings or to the field to rest.
With the help of the city's police, order was maintained.