Upon hearing Nana's prompt, Ye Fan's excitement surged. Having toiled diligently for an extended period, he had finally ascended to the rank of battalion commander.
A battalion and a company, he mused, were distinct concepts. The surge in the production capacity of red alert units and the bolstering of technological prowess were paramount differences. Ye Fan harbored great expectations for this significant milestone, marking his ascent to the highest authority within the physical barracks.
As the red alert page unfurled, a flashing gift package beckoned below. Eagerly, he clicked on the gift bag and retrieved its contents. The first item he laid eyes on was the uniform.
Distinct from the company commander's attire, the battalion commander's uniform boasted Red Alert high-tech technology. It could withstand rifle bullets and resist attacks from quasi-mutant zombies without sustaining damage.
Ye Fan meticulously examined the military uniforms, including both regular and camouflage variations. Adorning his shoulders were two horizontal bars and a star, symbolizing the rank of a major and officially signifying his separation from the junior officer ranks.
The uniforms were slightly weightier than usual, yet comfortable enough not to impede movement. Remarkably, the company commander-level uniform disappeared upon the introduction of this superior ensemble.
Wearing the camouflage uniform, Ye Fan marveled at its comfort and the bulletproof protection it offered. His concerns about sudden attacks were allayed, given that the entire outfit, including clothes, pants, hat, and shoes, could withstand rifle bullets.
Contemplating the possibility of a gunman highlighting their handsome face with a machine gun, Ye Fan humorously accepted fate if such a scenario ever unfolded.
Post-dressing, he discovered a transformation in his pockets' contents. The commander's bag, boasting eight cubic meters of space, housed various supplies with a long-term preservation effect. The commander's medical box contained an increased quantity of medicines and four anti-viral serums, essential for rescuing individuals before they succumbed to 70% zombification.
Additionally, the set included a commander's long-distance communication equipment, equivalent to a mobile phone. The newfound luggage space and elevated drug levels aligned with Ye Fan's expectations. Unexpectedly, the set also featured communication equipment, a practical addition that pleased him immensely.
Proceeding to the gun, Ye Fan, though acknowledging his infrequent need for battlefield engagements, was intrigued by the prospect of possessing a high-quality firearm. Upon sighting the micro submachine gun, smaller than a typical submachine gun but larger than a pistol, his shock was palpable.
The commander's gun, a Type 05 submachine gun (special version), was designed exclusively for battalion commanders. Its streamlined size, absence of superfluous parts, shortened silencer, and compatibility for one-handed or two-handed use enthralled Ye Fan. Equipped with silencer and laser aiming technology, along with a thermal night vision sight, the gun promised effectiveness in all weather conditions, with an impressive range of 500 meters. The gun boasted a magazine capacity of 50 rounds, complemented by five spare magazines refreshed daily.
Overjoyed by the prospect of improved marksmanship and daily practice, Ye Fan fastened the gun to his waist. The laser aiming technology fueled his excitement, offering a solution to his prior issues with inaccurate marksmanship.
The final addition to his arsenal was a commander's vehicle, the Dongfeng Iron Armor, an upgraded version of the Dongfeng Warrior. Crafted using red alert technology, the armored vehicle boasted a dead weight of 10 tons, armored protection, and a vehicle-mounted heavy machine gun with 3,000 rounds of ammunition. Its maximum crew capacity reached fifteen people.
As Ye Fan marveled at the vehicle's robustness, he realized its potential for ensuring safety during the impending trading conference. The recruits, having arrived with the vehicle, reported to Ye Fan, who instructed them to wait. He still had an important task—researching new arms for battalion-level units.
Recognizing that his true strength lay in the army, Ye Fan opened the soldiers page to explore new recruits at the battalion commander level. Engineers, anti-aircraft infantry, and heavy machine gun warriors (in groups of three) emerged as promising additions.
The heavy machine gun warriors addressed the lack of continuous heavy firepower in Ye Fan's troops, offering a solution that infantry units could deploy. Engineers proved versatile in various tasks, including road construction, bridge building, detection, mining, and mine clearance—a crucial addition during the base vehicle construction phase. Anti-aircraft infantry, equipped with man-portable air defense missiles, provided a countermeasure against low-altitude fighter jets and helicopters.
Though not in a hurry to produce, Ye Fan's promotion to battalion commander fueled his curiosity about potential new tanks.