Chapter 465.2: Things Are Different Now

On the bridge of the Heart of Steel,

Standing by the floor-to-ceiling window, Chu Guang silently observed the smoke-covered battlefield.

This was the best vantage point. From where he stood, both enemy and allied positions were visible in full.

“They surrendered,” said Vanus, a faint surprise flickering on his face as he watched the white flag rise over the enemy command post.

He had expected the New Alliance’s firepower to be effective, but not this effective.

Their newly deployed Clone Corps couldn’t compare to the expeditionary forces from the Great Rift Valley’s campaign.

“Everything’s going smoother than planned.” Glancing at the time displayed on the VM, Chu Guang smiled faintly. “Our soldiers achieved their objective an hour ahead of schedule.”

According to the plan, the Burning Corps would attack the command post under cover from the Goblin Corps, while the Skeleton Corps smashed through the front lines to wipe out the entire force.

But clearly, their plan had been too conservative.

Well... That made sense.

Most veteran players still remembered the Army's Clone Corps from the campaign the previous year. They were fanatical, brutal, and unstoppable.

Even with exoskeletons and exoframes, the crew from the Pioneer had struggled against their overwhelming numbers and firepower.

If not for the tactical nuke they deployed, the outcome might’ve gone the other way.

The current Corps Commander, Spring Water Commander, Escaping Mole, and Old White... They were all from that era. Naturally, they drafted plans with caution, including contingencies like redeploying the Death Corps’ Wolf Cavalry if their surprise attack failed.

But they had forgotten something important.

Back then, the New Alliance didn’t even have rifles. They had to borrow bolt-actions from friendly factions and treat all loot like gold.

And those friendly factions...?

They were the Enterprise’s employees from the Silver Wing Corporate Group’s exploration faction. They weren’t exactly hardened soldiers.

But now...

The New Alliance fielded troops where every soldier had an automatic rifle, most were awakeners, and every squad leader was a veteran of multiple battles.

The Army’s Clone Corps remained the same, but the New Alliance had evolved into a monster with a dozen Corps.

The 40th Battalion surrendered before the Burning Corps even deployed.

The Skeleton Corps hadn’t even arrived and were still four kilometers away.

There was no point parachuting. All they would have to do was to find a way to get back to the airfield again.

In the end, Chu Guang called off the drop, ordering the Goblin Corps’ Bravo team to escort the transport planes home.

Standing beside Chu Guang, Vanus pondered a moment before speaking. “If we’ve caught them this off-guard... Maybe we should go further. Push the armored corps another 100 kilometers. Hit the division command post with another airborne strike.”

Chu Guang’s lips curled into a smile. “I was thinking the same thing.”

He tapped the side of his helmet. “Notify the Death Corps. They’re cleared to move.”

Little Seven’s eager voice came through at once. “Alrighty!”

Watching Vanus calmly discussing strategy beside Chu Guang, Finod, who was lurking in the corner, swallowed hard.

He had thought Vanus, like him, only cooperated with the New Alliance out of necessity.

He was the only one playing along... Vanus was really working for them!

Was he even still a true Wislander?

...

At the exact moment the 40th Battalion was collapsing across the board, chaos reigned at the rear headquarters of the 4th Division.

Staring at the red arrow drawn on the strategic map, Swofte furrowed his brow, his expression shifting between disbelief and deepening concern.

He was the commander of the 4th Division, having arrived in the Sunset Province only a month earlier. His epaulets bore no stars. His rank was lower than McClennan’s and roughly two levels below Griffin’s.

Although unfamiliar with the situation, he had fought enough wars to read a map.

That the New Alliance would attack sector G40... With their main force, no less, was something he had never considered.

It meant the New Alliance had exposed their own supply lines to the threat range of sectors G41 through G49.

And he wouldn’t even need the neighboring 3rd or 5th Divisions to act. With just two battalions redeployed, he could trap the New Alliance’s spearhead in a logistical dead end.

Still... He had a better idea.

Just then, a messenger ran into the command tent and saluted sharply. "Urgent report from the 40th Battalion! Their forward command post is under fire from the New Alliance, they’re requesting immediate air support!"

Swofte didn’t look up.

His calloused index finger traced the road network across the map, pausing over a dense cluster of contour lines nestled in a mountain pass. He tapped the spot firmly. "Tell Pelein he doesn’t need to hold the line. Conduct a strategic retreat to Hill 330. Draw the New Alliance forces deeper into our rear!"

"Also, send urgent telegrams to the 43rd, 45th, 47th, and 49th Battalions. Order them to reposition near Hill 330 and prepare to strike the New Alliance from both flanks!"

"Their vacated sectors will be taken over by the 42nd, 44th, 46th, and 48th Battalions. Make sure they’re ready to intercept any New Alliance reinforcements from alternate routes!"

As he spoke, a flash of excitement crossed Swofte’s face. He clenched his right hand into a fist and slammed it down on the red arrow marked on the map. "I want that encroaching dagger snapped in half right here, right on this hill!"

Hill 330 lay roughly 11 kilometers from Oasis No.3. Its terrain was hilly with dense contour fluctuations. Major roads ran along the slopes.

Thanks to its proximity to the oasis, the surrounding vegetation was thicker than usual, and natural terrain features offered excellent concealment from airborne surveillance. It was a perfect ambush site.

Surely the New Alliance commander could see what it was.

But even knowing it, they had no choice. The road, broken as it was, was still the only path that was available.

If their forward forces lost their ability to move about freely in enemy territory, that would be a complete disaster.

Satisfied with his plan, Swofte allowed himself a pleased smile.

The New Alliance might be coming in strong, focusing all their strength on a single breach, but he didn’t see anything to panic over.

After all, these savages had once thrown away 3,000 lives just to capture a dirt mound. Now they faced an entire division.

He would let them go crazy... After all, it would only hasten their deaths.

After this battle, the New Alliance will be crippled!

Swofte could almost feel the extra star about to be pinned on his shoulder.

“Yes, sir!” The messenger saluted and ran out of the tent.

One of Swofte’s staff officers frowned slightly. After studying the map for a while, he finally spoke. “The 40th Battalion is dangerously low on ammo. And now that the New Alliance has committed the Heart of Steel, I doubt they’ll be able to pull back.”

𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

“No matter,” said Swofte dismissively. “The 40th Battalion isn’t part of the core plan anyway. If they can’t retreat, so be it. As long as they delay the New Alliance, they’ll have done their part.”

“If Pelein succeeds, great, we’ll hammer the New Alliance from both sides as they climb the hill.”

“If not, we let them take Hill 330, and turn it into a meat grinder.”

The staff officer raised an eyebrow.

It was a sound strategy, but he couldn’t shake a sense of unease.

“What if the Alliance reaches the high ground before our ambush does?”

Swofte blinked in surprise, then scoffed. "Impossible!"

"Even if Pelein buys us zero time, the road from sector G40 to Hill 330 is 30 kilometers longer than the one from sector G43."

"Even if their tanks are fast, there’s no way they outrun our trucks!"

But the staff officer’s face remained serious. “That’s true if they’re traveling on the ground... But the straight-line distance from sector G40 to Hill 330 is less than 150 kilometers.”

“I heard the New Alliance is equipped with a large number of exoskeletons from the Enterprise. If they detach some infantry to rush as quickly as possible, they could reach the hill in just a day.”

“Splitting off infantry to move through enemy territory? On foot?” Swofte looked like he’d heard a bad joke. His smirk returned. “What, do their exoskeletons never run out of battery? Why not say they’ll float in on their airship?”

Admittedly, transporting troops by airship was annoying, anti-air guns couldn’t break their shields.

But that was the only issue.

EMP warheads could disable external systems like side-mounted rotors. A disabled Heart of Steel would drift or stall.

And if they thought they could lower an elevator platform right under enemy noses... They could dream on.

Their guns might not reach the airship, but they could still blast the ladder.

Before the staff officer could reply, Swofte continued, “And don’t forget, that straight-line path crosses 10 ridges, not to mention our sentry posts and anti-air sites.”

“Even if those soldiers are all Mutant Humans, there’s no way they get to Hill 330 before our reinforcements.”

“There’s just no damn way.”