Assault Silhouette Part 2
The two didn’t go in too deep to chase after the enemies. They matched their timing and cut down the enemy troops trying to flank them.
Of course, the two weren’t using their comms to coordinate. They simply matched their breaths and acted accordingly even though this was their first time fighting together.
For the two of them, predicting the enemy’s next movements and efficiently responding with their own was like second nature. They managed to ascertain each other’s skills immediately after the first swing of their swords.
So, they only needed to focus on dealing with the enemies before them. They moved while making sure not to get in each other’s way. With their skills, the Murders couldn’t serve as opponents at all.
Their allies also had their back as well. All of them were piloting similar machines. That’s why the two understood more than anyone what the machines can and can’t do. This was also one of the beneficial effects of standardizing the models of mass-produced machines.
The Lanius corps, with Kou and Jamie in the lead, tore down the Murder siege network that relied on their sheer numbers.
「The Lanius corps sure are amazing! We definitely can’t lose to them!」
The Dragoon tank unit was also awed by the combat strength displayed by the Lanius corps.
「So, that’s why Boss calls them Assault Silhouettes huh.」
「It looks like the definition of Assault Silhouette will change from now on.」
Due to the provision of new technology to the transferee companies, the circumstances surrounding Silhouettes had undergone drastic changes.
It seemed that it would be the same for the term Assault Silhouette that previously just referred to a Silhouette meant for combat.
The terms Battle Silhouette and Assault Silhouette Kou had used this day would eventually spread all over the world and become standard terms in the future.
The Lanius units that sported carefully selected and highly reliable weapons, a double layer of exterior electromagnetic armor and interior armor muscles, and were capable of pushing the battle lines embodied the term Assault Silhouette perfectly. The way they operated was similar to the Marine corps. They were all-rounders that can use a wide variety of weapons and were suited to be called Battle Silhouettes as well.
Even now, the Lanius corps were fighting even while taking hits from the enemy troops. The lasers and railguns employed by the Murders proved ineffective against them.
The purpose of the landing troops was to wear down the enemy troops before the Ate arrives.
The Murder troops along the coast were at the mercy of the Dragoon tank, Lanius, and Quattro corps.
「It looks like the Murders on the coast are struggling, Vasa. It’s just as you said.」
「I am aware that they are employing several spaceships. Given the limited number of weapons they can load onto them, it’s only natural for them to try and use their weapons and personnel in the best way possible. Though I didn’t expect them to have heavy attack aircraft at their disposal as well.」
The heavy attack aircraft was meant for an AirLand battle. It was as if it was a machine that was born specifically to disrupt simultaneous deep battle operations. They had been treated as unnecessary after the end of the Cold War but had seen a resurgence and displayed great results during the Gulf War in the 20th century.
The ones that had their value lowered were attack helicopters instead. Due to the spread of portable anti-aircraft weapons that could even be used by someone with relatively poor skills, attack helicopters had come to be recognized as ineffective weapons.
「The main force that was sent along the mountain range will engage the enemy tank units in a head-on clash huh.」
「They are a tough opponent for sure. We’ve sent out 70,000 Murders along with the Ate over there. The simultaneous deep battle operations have already collapsed. They’ve concentrated the bulk of their forces there.」
Vasa originally planned to have three forces composed of 40,000 Murders each advance through the mountain range, the sea, and the plains in the center, for a combined total of 120,000 troops. But he changed their composition to 70,000 in the mountain range, 30,000 along the sea, and 20,000 in the center.
However, in the current situation where air superiority can’t be secured, it can be expected that those troops would be crushed by the enemy’s air power.
So, Vasa opted to employ two layers of defense. First was the artificial sun prepared by Castor. Using that, they were able to avoid engaging in aerial battles in order to protect the Murder troops.
The Murders were merely expendable weapons. In anticipation of future battles, they couldn’t afford to lose their other forces in order to cover for mere expendables.
The other was the invasion force advancing on the mountain range. There was a very high chance that the enemy still had another base in the area, but they can deal with anything unexpected by advancing across mountains that were thousands of meters high.
The mountains served as a natural defensive barrier for Fortress Area P336, but it can also serve as effective cover for their troop’s advance. Once they get into position, there would only be a little distance between the troops in the mountains and Fortress Area P336. And they would be able to surround it with Murders from three directions.
「The Murders and the Ate advancing through the mountain range are about to engage the enemy tank corps. Now then, how exactly do they plan on fighting an Ate that possesses a shell several times tougher than a Fortress Area’s shelter? I’m looking forward to seeing exactly what they’ll do.」
Vasa was acting very interested.
「Do you think they have a way to break through that thing’s armor?」
「They should have a way. They have someone formidable among their ranks after all. They were able to defend themselves from the assault of 5,000 fighters. There is no way they haven’t prepared a trump card for themselves.」
「I see. Well then, I shall watch with anticipation and wait for the reveal of that so-called trump card. In any case, this is nothing but a mere prelude. Isn’t that right?」
「Exactly, Castor-sama.」
Alberto was overcome with fear while listening to the two who had seriously thrown away such a large Murder force to conduct a mere prelude.
However, he himself was quite interested in what the other party had prepared.
If they really had such a method to destroy such a monstrous weapon without infringing on the regulations imposed by Okeanos, he would really like to witness it.
The use of weapons of mass destruction other than nuclear ones was also prohibited after all.
He expected that they would employ things like creating a temporary base in the outskirts that would send out bombers to continuously fire supersonic anti-ship ballistic missiles at the Ate.
However, his expectations were greatly betrayed by what he actually ended up witnessing.
The Ate advancing along the mountain range buckled from a powerful impact which caused some parts of its gigantic frame to explode.
「What?!」
All three men were left speechless.
「Ate 1 has been partially damaged!」
「Just what happened?!」
「We can’t confirm, sir!」
「Argh. Have the Ate itself conduct an analysis and find the source!」
At Castor’s yell, the operators began to send in commands to the Murder troops and the Ate.
The performance of the Ate’s radar and various sensors was very outstanding.
「The Ate has found the source of the enemy attack. I will display it on the screen immediately!」
And the image that got displayed on the screen was–
「D-Damn you! It’s you again, isn’t it?!」
Alberto fumed in indignation. He was fully convinced that what was shown on the screen was the work of that Development Engineer who created the drill tank that riled him up so much.
「I guess it’s now time for you to give up your title of Bombardment Lord, Alberto.」
「It’s not a nickname I gave myself in the first place! But having that title get robbed right under my nose still feels utterly repulsive!」
Alberto, who usually acted as a mere onlooker among the three, was seething in frustration and rage.
「Vasa, what is that thing anyway?」
Vasa gazed intensely at the image of the weapon displayed on the screen.
The image displayed was that of a veritable mass of solid armor carrying an extremely huge gun barrel on top of it.
Even Vasa could offer nothing but praise after seeing such a thing. It was a truly unexpected method to deal with the Ate.
「It’s an over 100 cm ultra-large caliber railway gun mounted on an armored train car. It’s something no tank can achieve.」
The entire picture of the railway plan that Metal Iris had been continuously working on has finally been revealed!
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