Chapter 798: Chapter 571: I’m Here
Boom!
The intense explosion, the flames rising from the tall mecha body, were so eye-catching under the grey sky.
“Jaris!”
Jerome Major watched this scene with eyes wide open.
Jaris Como, compared to others who were used to calling him Captain Jaris, preferred the name Como Brother. The two were comrades who fought together from the day they arrived on Planet E75. In these two years, some have died, others have left, and Como was one of the few remaining old comrades.
However now, right in front of him, the cockpit was directly penetrated by five Gauss Rifles.
The blood mist mixed with fragments sprayed directly outward.
“Damn it!”
Jerome in the cockpit was almost about to grind his teeth to pieces.
The five mechas were linked for action, yet unexpectedly fell right into the opponent’s ambush at the start.
Moreover, under such circumstances, Jerome’s initial aggregation tactics were immediately cut off.
If they continue to attack according to the established plan, they’re likely to be defeated by the opponent’s mechas one by one.
“Gardot Empire’s sixth-generation Stinger Mecha…this isn’t supposed to be the mecha of the Empire’s Army from the 33rd War Zone. Their mechas should be the close-combat Twilight Mechas!”
Beside Mu Fan, Bench, who adjusted his eyepiece, mumbled.
As the team’s part-time mechanical maintenance expert, he knew exactly what model the opponent’s mechas were. However, the five pale red shooting-type mechas that just emerged contradicted his understanding.
“Clearly, this time the attackers aren’t solely from the 33rd War Zone Empire Army anymore.” Mu Fan, standing next to him, silently said.
Hearing Mu Fan’s words, Bench looked over in shock, the implications of that statement were frightening enough.
“Are you saying other Empire War Zones have combined forces to break through from our position!? Yes, that’s the only plausible explanation. But then our platoon’s strength…” He couldn’t finish because the outcome could head in a terrible direction.
Strictly speaking, it should be “counter-breakthrough,” because the opponent acted on false intelligence, mistakenly thinking that a preemptive strike was key.
Mu Fan lay on the rock without speaking, his calm gaze fixed on the distant battlefield.
“Be careful, I’m stepping away for a moment.”
After a moment of thought, Mu Fan patted Bench beside him, saying in a deep voice.
“No, the officer specifically instructed me to stay with you. Don’t make Joe angry, he’s terrifying when he explodes.” Bench looked at Mu Fan, shook his head vigorously.
“Trust me.”
Mu Fan’s hand gripped Bench’s shoulder firmly, and finally, the young Junior Sergeant, only slightly older than himself, nodded.
“Don’t be a deserter.”
“Mm.”
Mu Fan walked to the edge of the offset, now looking at the nearly ten-meter vertical drop below.
Below was another offset rock platform just less than three meters wide.
Scanning below, Mu Fan took a deep breath and closed his eyes.
Next… it was time to save himself.
He then spread his arms, like a pilgrim in reverent embrace of the rising sunrise, standing cross-wise, facing the wind.
“Private, what are you doing!?”
Then, in the shocked gaze of Bench behind him, Mu Fan tiptoed, then fell forward straightly.
The intense airflow brushed past his ears as Mu Fan’s straight figure fell from the air, the sound of wind, gunfire, explosions seemed to freeze at this moment.
At this moment, Mu Fan’s heart settled completely, all his thoughts organized clearly in his mind.
Then, those extremely calm eyes opened.
“I’m coming…”
His body starts to press down, turning, as all his muscles activate.
Five meters, three meters, one meter…
Boom!
An instant web of cracks appeared on the rough rock layer, a circle of smoke rose.
When the dust settled, there appeared a silhouette propped by a single hand and knee on the ground.
“Mu Fan!!”
When Bench scrambled to the edge of the offset, this was the scene he saw.
Mu Fan’s back arched like a hunting leopard, feet heavily hit the ground, his whole body shot out like an arrow from a bow.
“…It’s not nighttime,”
Bench murmured, as the final word fell, Mu Fan had already rushed into the dark path dozens of meters away.
…
When the Federation’s remaining four mechas scattered like startled birds.
Empire Army 33rd War Zone’s Lieutenant Colonel Nimaiya smiled coldly, “If we’re playing as bait, let’s do it thoroughly. Is one Gun Knight enough? To greet your blade-strike, I’ve applied for three Mecha Battalions.”
Six-generation B-class shooting-type mecha—Stinger!
Six-generation B-class close-combat assault-type mecha—Twilight!
Six-generation B-class heavy defense mecha—Fire Lizard!
Three different types of mecha battalion structures, a total of 60 mechas.
Now, the lone squad of five Stinger mechas has terrified the Federation into a panic.
“Mecha groups of five, mixed formation, 180-degree fan-shaped area search, infantry team coordinated attack. Pay special attention to the escape direction of those four mechas.”
“Yes, Lieutenant Colonel!”
Once the Empire Army’s orders were issued, those troops on the intricate hill rock layers swiftly began tactical assembly guided by the towering mechas that appeared disorganized.
Two Federation mechas retreated to the southeast and southwest directions respectively.
Thus, small factions instantly started converging heavily toward these two directions.
The Empire Frontier Army, no longer concealing its strength, would hit a nearly devastating blow to the Fire Hills district’s stationed troops when those 12 mecha teams appeared.
Federation troops battling against five war zones simultaneously, retreating step by step, frantically tried contacting the 104th Division headquarters.
However, the result was the 104th Division’s main force was held up at the Grey Ridge War Zone and couldn’t make it.
So now, within the internal team communications channel, officers from the other four war zones were relentlessly quarreling with Jerome Major.
“Combat personnel remaining in Zone A: 43.”
“Zone B remaining: 36.”
“Zone C…”
Listening to the anxious voices reporting the situation in his ear, Jerome looked at the communication numbers displayed on the left screen… 27.
He couldn’t help but close his eyes in pain, but then he roared, eyes red, “D Zone personnel 27!”
“Jerome, damn it when are those reinforcements coming, our warriors will be dead before they’ve all arrived!”
“48 hours! They’ll definitely arrive within 48 hours, before they come holding out is victory.”
“Spit! It’s only been less than 6 hours now, and you tell me 48 hours. Our divisional order is to act as circumstances warrant, but definitely not use this place as a meat grinder to consume manpower!”
“Trust me!” Jerome’s tousled hair lifted high like his master’s emotions.
Jerome was under unimaginable psychological pressure at the moment, with comrades sacrificing and soldiers rapidly decreasing.
“Just wait a bit more…”
“No, can’t wait. Fight any longer and there’ll be nobody left. I’m down to three mechas here, our E Zone needs to extend the line. Goodbye!” an officer’s annoyed voice sounded, and then the squad channel lost one participant.
The atmosphere was somewhat oppressed, or rather the commanders across the remaining four war zones didn’t share unified thoughts.
104th Division headquarters had already indicated they could act upon circumstances, yet now the nearest 149th Division said they would come to the rescue.
On the radio channel, rare silence emerged, but the mecha’s running footsteps didn’t cease.
Utilizing the complex mountainous terrain for guerrilla play was currently the only way out.
Under an overhanging rock lay a tightly pressed silhouette.