September 30th.
13:56.
Over the barren wilderness three kilometers from Los Angeles, thick smoke billowed into the air.
An "Armored Legion" of over 200 vehicles advanced rapidly northward, maintaining a distance of thirty meters or more between each unit.
More than half of these were military off-road vehicles and wheeled or tracked armored personnel carriers.
The remaining 40% consisted of Titan main battle tanks and Slayers, heavy tanks equipped with magnetic levitation and Gauss rail technology—practically "land battleships."
And it wasn't just the ground that was filled with power.
In the sky, over a hundred aircraft formed a formation, consisting of V-44 Redhawks, RH-66 Swifts, and Samson helicopters, matching the speed of the ground armored units.
But five massive silhouettes stood out.
Four of them were familiar—Dragon assault boats equipped with air-to-air, air-to-ground missiles, and rockets. The fifth, however, was a larger, ghostly-looking craft:
The Agile Shadow air assault craft.
This assault craft served similar roles to the Dragon assault boats, acting as an airborne platform for tactical transport, command, and assault, though it featured more advanced technology.
Measuring 94 meters long, 70 meters wide, and 23 meters high, it could carry fully armed combat personnel or corresponding mechs and could even house two main battle tanks.
Its hidden vertical missile launch bays provided air-to-ground and air-to-air firepower support for allied forces.
Additionally, its fire control system was no longer disrupted by Pandora's magnetic field, and it was equipped with the latest optical camouflage modules and stealth coatings.
The craft was powered by two nuclear fusion engines, enabling it to break the first cosmic speed and easily achieve single-stage entry into low Earth orbit.
The other three magnetic levitation engines and two large jet engines ensured the Agile Shadow's agility and speed within the atmosphere.
As a result, the Agile Shadow could temporarily serve in roles similar to the Ernieo, conducting high-altitude reconnaissance, or tactical and strategic strikes in low Earth orbit. However, its orbital endurance was far inferior to the "space station"-like Ernieo, so its role remained closer to that of the Dragon assault boats.
Atlas had only produced one prototype so far, which had been manufactured at the underground base of the Akra facility. This very prototype, Agile Shadow 001, was now part of the assault operation.
——
...
Inside the command cabin of Agile Shadow 001;
"Boss, the Specter fighter squadron is in position and has completed the bomb drop. The main enemy defenses will be destroyed in approximately twenty-five seconds."
The observer, monitoring the holographic screen, reported the real-time situation to Samuel Young, who stood behind him.
Samuel simply nodded, saying nothing, as he and the observer continued to watch the content on the holographic screen.
"The main defenses have been neutralized. The Specter squadron is returning and is expected to complete resupply by 14:30. Ernieo 002 has also launched twenty tactical hydrogen bombs and four strategic hydrogen bombs, which will complete their targets in fifty seconds."
As the observer's report echoed once again, the northern view outside the porthole, where Minerva was located, showed no visible anomalies.
It seemed calm and peaceful.
But the reality was that Minerva, over seventy kilometers away, had its defense systems disrupted by EMP missiles fired by the Specter squadron.
With the support of intelligence, the Specter squadron had then launched a barrage of air-to-ground missiles, each exceeding Mach 8 in speed, successfully hitting all mid-range ground defense facilities.
This long-range operation had effectively obliterated Minerva's air defenses in a flash, throwing the UAC's command structure into disarray. This explained why Atlas's main force could boldly appear in the desert.
As for the Specter fighters, their official designation was "Atlas Multirole Fighter program - Model 006 (AMF-006)."
As a major shareholder in General Electric and a client of Boeing and Lockheed Martin, Atlas had secretly been researching fighter jets since the 1970s.
Combining UDF and RDA technology with Pandora's planet as a perfect testing ground, Atlas developed its first mass-produced model, the AMF-006 Specter.
As of today, the Akra base had produced 14 units.
Though the number might seem small, the Specter boasted a terrifying payload capacity and could conduct supersonic cruising at 60,000 meters, making it sufficient to collapse Minerva's defense system.
Optical camouflage modules and stealth coatings were standard features, though the Specter did not possess space combat capabilities.
At this moment,
The observer reminded Samuel, "To ensure the safety of our comrades, enemy personnel will be maintained at 33% to 36%."
"Good." Samuel ordered, "Inform all units to proceed to their designated areas according to plan.
At 15:00, including Phantom 001, all aerial units and ground artillery positions will commence the first round of bombardment on the enemy's living forces.
After the first round of bombardment, airborne transport units will immediately deploy combat personnel into Minerva to ensure the safety of our comrades as much as possible.
The ground armor units will advance steadily from south to north, with the primary goal of eliminating remaining enemies. As for the Special Joint Task Force operating behind enemy lines, they may exercise some discretion.
Additionally, remind all units to stay vigilant. Although the enemy's defensive facilities have been destroyed, their individuals have been enhanced by the corruption.
Finally, report any special circumstances to me immediately."
"Yes, Boss."
"Mm."
Samuel turned and left the observer's side, stepping up the stairs to the "second floor" cockpit.
The space here was similar to that of the Ernieo, with three pilots responsible for operations. Samuel habitually clasped his hands behind his back.
Through the porthole, he could clearly overlook Atlas's ground forces. In the distance, on the northern horizon, faint mushroom clouds, several kilometers high, could be seen.
That was where Minerva was located.
Ernieo 002 had deployed twenty tactical hydrogen bombs, each with a TNT yield of approximately 300 kilotons, and four strategic ones, each around 3 megatons.
In fact, Atlas possessed even larger strategic weapons, but using them would have resulted in the deaths of countless human comrades within Minerva, with casualties from radiation, flames, and shockwaves reaching hundreds of thousands, if not millions. This would have gone against Samuel's original intent and contradicted the goals of the company and all its combat personnel.
——
...
Boom—Boom—…
The rumbling "thunder" gradually subsided, and the earth no longer shook violently.
Whoosh—Whoosh—!!
But the dust storm still raged.
Through the iron-barred windows, those who glimpsed the strange sight outside caused the previously silent cell to explode into a hubbub, like a boulder thrown into a calm lake:
"My God, is it the end of the world out there?"
"The end of the world? I doubt it. More like the aftermath of a nuclear explosion."
"Nuclear explosion… could it be the resistance?!"
"It must be the resistance!"
In an instant, a crowd of ragged, emaciated people gathered around the barred windows, jostling to get a glimpse outside.
Looking more closely at their living conditions…
The area was the size of three basketball courts, yet packed with two to three hundred people, leaving little room even to lie down.
It was a semi-basement structure, making the entire space feel cool and dim.
The men, women, and children crammed in here were filthy and malnourished. Some of the children's bodies were so frail that they seemed like they might break at the slightest touch.
This was a dungeon used by the UAC fallen to imprison their former comrades, just one of many such scenes within Minerva.
Although those imprisoned here began to stir in agitation due to the "nuclear explosion" outside, they didn't descend into chaos, nor did they trample one another.
"Grandpa..." At that moment, a boy of only six or seven was awakened by the noise and sat up in confusion, asking:
"Uh… what's happening?"
An old man sitting against the wall beside him glanced through the gaps between the people toward the barred window outside, replying with a hoarse laugh, "Who knows? Maybe it'll quiet down in a bit. Go back to sleep."
"Is it the resistance, Grandpa?" The boy perked up, hearing the talk around him.
"…"
Hearing this, the old man hesitated, seeing the hopeful look in the boy's eyes.
Bang!
Before the old man could figure out how to respond, the cell door was violently kicked open, instantly plunging the lively atmosphere into an icy abyss.
The crowd turned toward the door and saw two UAC fallen soldiers, clad in armor and armed with guns, rush into the cell.
The people instinctively stood up, gathering together and trying to shield the children as they slowly backed away toward the wall opposite the door, maintaining some distance from the UAC soldiers.
Most of their expressions were filled with fear and resignation, but more so with numbness and apathy. It seemed the UAC came to the cells regularly to take people away.
"Roar… buddy, the command center's gone, who's going to care about us? Heh heh…"
"Before we run, let's enjoy ourselves. You didn't need to tell me—I've been holding back for too long."
??
However, hearing the UAC fallen soldiers' exchange, seeing their increasingly deranged and twisted appearances, and witnessing the "nuclear-flattened" scene in Minerva…
The people began to hesitate. They couldn't easily believe it, but the truth was right before them—the resistance had indeed
breached Minerva!
"These bastards are scared!" The old man was the first to react, his eyes bloodshot, as he clenched his fists and shouted at the top of his lungs:
"They're scared!! They're actually scared!!"
Immediately…
Bang! The sound of a fist striking.
Splurt! Blood sprayed from a mouth.
The frail old man was no match for a UAC soldier, who had been enhanced with superhuman strength, speed, and reflexes. He was knocked down in an instant.
But before the UAC soldier could finish him off, a large group of men and women, frenzied and unafraid, swarmed over the soldier and his comrade.
"Back off! Back off!"
Rat-a-tat-tat!
Their shouts and gunfire echoed, but they failed to stop the "madness" of the people.
"Kill them! We outnumber them!"
"Grab their guns! Take their guns!"
Though the UAC soldiers' strength far exceeded that of any human prisoner, the old adage "two fists cannot defeat four hands" proved true.
Those who had never given up hope now unleashed their long-suppressed rage in a "mad" outburst. Soon, the two UAC soldiers were silenced.
During this time, the boy cautiously crawled to the old man's side, sobbing as he asked, "Grandpa… are you okay…?"
"I'm fine…" The old man, whose left shoulder had collapsed, exposing bone and muscle, ignored the pain and smiled weakly but with a sense of relief:
"Whether it's the resistance or not… child, you'll soon bask in the true sunrise and sunset…"
——
...
At the same time.
In Minerva's southern outskirts;
"Guys! Charge! Run out of the city!"
"Hahaha! It's the sun!"
"Stop laughing and run!"
Countless human prisoners took advantage of the chaos to break free, seizing the guards' weapons and flooding out like a tide. Among them were former professional soldiers and police leading the way.
What the human prisoners didn't realize was that a barrage of long-range artillery and missiles had precisely targeted the fallen soldiers and UAC armored units around them, indirectly providing fire support and making their escape smoother.
It wasn't until they had passed through the chaotic outskirts and reached the ruins of the high walls that they suddenly came to a halt.
"Roar!!"
A large group of heavily armored, nearly three-meter-tall Corrupt Knights began emerging from the debris, having survived the recent bombardment.
These hulking figures roared at the sky, momentarily overwhelming the fleeing prisoners with fear.
But they had come this far—what was there to be afraid of now?!
"Everyone, follow me…"
"Riii~ Whirr!!"
The prisoner leading the charge, just about to make a sacrificial run, was interrupted by the crisp sound of gunfire.
Bang!
Splurt!
The Corrupt Knights that had survived the bombardment were shredded by a volley of blue-tracer machine-gun fire, their bodies exploding and shattering.
Looking southward, a formation led by V-44 transport helicopters quickly transformed from tiny black dots into clear aircraft, hovering above the fleeing prisoners.
The doors of the helicopters opened.
"Hooah!"
"Die, heretics!"
The AECS troops, clad in dark green combat uniforms, had been waiting for this moment. To avoid excessive wear on their mechanical exoskeletons and AMP mechs, they rappelled down using stable, convenient cables.
But one of them chose to land directly on his feet.
As soon as he was stable, this individual aimed a 1911 at a Corrupt Knight still struggling to rise from the rubble and pulled the trigger.
Bang!!
The deafening gunshot echoed.
Splurt!!
Half of the Corrupt Knight's body was blown apart.
"…"
The prisoner who had been ready to sacrifice himself for the charge could hardly believe what he was witnessing up close…
The "resistance" having equipment more advanced than the UAC was one thing, but a "teenager" barely five-foot-three using a 1911 with more power than an anti-materiel sniper rifle? What was going on???
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