Outside Prison No. 12.
Whizz—whizz—!
The sound of bullets tearing through the air at high speed echoed all around, particularly concentrated on the western side.
Soldiers dressed in earth-brown cold-weather gear, armed with 5.56 or 7.62 caliber firearms, were positioned behind alleyway corners and low walls. They were engaging in a standoff with the remaining diesel-powered mechs and the AECS guarding the prison.
Boom—boom—!
At that moment, large-caliber anti-materiel rounds fired from the prison blasted holes in the waists of several mechs, rendering them inoperable.
The burning troop transports, helicopter wreckage scattered across the road, and the mangled bodies of the dead and injured were all evidence that these soldiers had attempted to launch an assault on the prison, but had suffered heavy losses in the process.
At the mouth of the alley:
"This is the 3rd Battalion! The mission has failed, I repeat, the mission has failed! We can't take back the prison on our own, requesting immediate support!"
A colonel, wearing a breathing mask and a black thermal cap, was loudly reporting the situation via a personal communication device.
Suddenly, after hearing the response from the other end of the communication, the colonel's voice escalated several notches: "What do you mean a thousand of us can't defeat a few hundred?! Why don't you guys who've never seen the front lines come and try for yourselves?! These people aren't PPDC (Pan Pacific Defense Corps), get that straight! They aren't PPDC! And they've got heavy weapons support! Can't you understand? If you want to keep broadcasting the execution, send armored support immediately! Our infantry can't handle this! Stop giving us that crap!"
The colonel, seething with anger, ended the communication, clearly frustrated by the chaotic state of the command structure.
As a conservative Federal colonel, he was baffled as to where the PPDC had found reinforcements. The enemy was overpowering them on all fronts, and with the prison's defensible terrain, it was almost certain death to attack without heavy armor support.
The best solution was to deploy heavy artillery, which would eliminate the enemy while preventing further casualties. However, the command insisted on continuing the live execution broadcast to intimidate any remaining radical factions and further weaken public resistance against the Precursors.
The colonel wasn't a puppet cloned and controlled by the Precursors; he was a real human. He was willing to fight for the Conservatives to maintain his military power and enjoy the privileges that came with it, making him one of the few beneficiaries in the post-apocalyptic world.
If the Federation adopted the PPDC's Jaeger construction plans, the stability maintained for the past twenty years would be shattered—a situation that the colonel and other beneficiaries of the apocalypse could not tolerate.
For the sake of appearances, they had rejected the artillery option, necessitating the deployment of an armored battalion to support an infantry-tank coordinated assault on the prison.
As for air support, the tall buildings surrounding the area, combined with the AECS's excellent anti-aircraft capabilities, meant that any helicopters entering this zone would be sitting ducks.
But the command's response to this was nothing but mockery: "Your battalion of 1,600 men can't handle a few hundred of these so-called 'ragtag' enemies? What have you been spending your money and resources on all these years? Gambling and whoring?"
The thinly-veiled criticism infuriated the colonel, but it was also the cold truth. They simply couldn't defeat the well-equipped, battle-hardened AECS on their own, and he couldn't bear to lose all his men.
Fortunately, there were still some reasonable officers within the command who, upon learning of the colonel's struggle, immediately mobilized the nearest armored battalion to assist.
It wasn't long before nearly thirty main battle tanks, equipped with 120mm smoothbore guns, and additional armored vehicles appeared on the main road, turning a corner and coming into the colonel's view.
Seeing this, the colonel immediately ordered via communication: "Prepare for an infantry-tank coordinated assault! Whoever breaches the prison first, I'll increase the promised bonus fivefold! That's a total of fifty thousand! Plus, I'll personally reward the winner with a high-rise apartment in the Harbor Tower!"
"Oh!!! Yes, sir!"
The Federation soldiers, their morale surging, charged out of their cover with red eyes, coordinating with the arriving armored convoy to launch a fierce assault on the prison.
While the fifty-thousand-dollar bonus was attractive, the offer of a high-rise apartment in the Harbor Tower was a life-changing opportunity!
Boom—boom—!
A few main battle tanks used their 120mm smoothbore guns to blow open the main gate and parts of the walls of the prison.
On the AECS side:
Boom—! Boom—!
Deafening explosions echoed everywhere.
Whizz—whizz—!
Accompanied by the dense whistling of incoming projectiles, the AECS stationed on the high walls found themselves facing a literal "hail of bullets."
Without needing orders from their squad leader, several demolitionists removed the disposable anti-tank "rocket launchers" from their backs, shouldering them and loudly calling out:
"Safety confirmed!"
"Confirmed!"
Upon hearing their teammates' confirmations, the demolitionists pulled the triggers.
Ri~whizz—!
With a brief charging sound, the "rocket launchers" fired plasma projectiles glowing with a brilliant blue light. The extremely high-temperature projectiles were far more effective than traditional rockets, melting through the composite armor of the main battle tanks with ease.
Boom. Boom—!
One of the plasma projectiles even struck the ammunition compartment inside a tank, triggering a chain reaction that blew the turret several meters into the air.
Sizzle.
The plasma launchers, now deformed and twisted from the heat, were discarded by the demolitionists.
For the demolitionists, this was just routine; they showed little expression as they picked up their AMWS rifles equipped with 40mm grenade launchers and rejoined the battle.
As elite members of the AECS, their mental fortitude and combat experience far surpassed that of the Federation soldiers outside.
Moreover, their weapons and equipment were among the most advanced, such as the improved BFG used by the special operations squad leader, which posed a lethal threat to tanks with conventional armor.
Rat-a-tat-tat!
Meanwhile, inside the guard tower on the right side of the west gate, Jens Thomson was operating his .30cal smart machine gun, delivering precise, controlled bursts of suppressive fire.
His expression, visible beneath his helmet screen, was tense and solemn due to the intense battle, but there was no panic. Jens was a seasoned veteran who had survived the wars of Universes 04 and 05 and had been responsible for building and protecting front-line bases.
However, under the comprehensive assault of two battalions and nearly 4,000 soldiers, they were beginning to feel overwhelmed. They had already used up more than half their ammunition, and the enemy outnumbered them by more than tenfold, creating immense pressure.
But since their orders were to act as bait, hold the prison, and ensure the safety of the PPDC generals, they would execute those orders without hesitation.
After all, Magnus had led the Hunters to the central control center of Steel City, while the main force was still en route.
!
Suddenly, Jens and his comrades noticed two tanks breaking line of sight, then swiveling their turrets to aim directly at their watchtower.
"Retreat!"
The group quickly turned and jumped towards the exercise yard inside the prison.
Boom! Boom!
They had barely escaped when the watchtower was blown to pieces by two 120mm high-explosive rounds.
After jumping out of the watchtower, Jens and his comrades used their mechanical exoskeletons to cushion their fall and then rolled forward, successfully dissipating the impact.
"Whew!" Lying on the ground, Jens checked the status of his comrades through his helmet screen. Seeing that their statuses were all marked green or yellow, he finally relaxed and chuckled, "That was close! We're all still alive, right? Hahaha."
"Yeah, we're alive. Now shut up," replied Comrade No. 3, an old friend with a son and a daughter. "The squad leader has marked a new defensive position. We've got to go help the second squad, things aren't looking good over there."
"Right, let's move," Jens agreed, knowing this was no time for jokes. He prepared to head to the east side of the prison.
"This is ODST. Ground units, please note the danger radius. Over."
?
!
The brief warning on the communication channel left Jens and his comrades momentarily stunned, but they quickly realized it was a prelude to the arrival of the main force!
Looking up, they saw a "meteor shower" filling the night sky.
However, through the friendly identification system on their helmet screens, they noted that only ten of the descending objects were medium drop pods carrying ODSTs, Tyrants, and combat mechs.
Boom. Boom.!
The faint sounds of explosions echoed from various parts of the city, indicating that stealth fighters were conducting long-range strikes on Steel City's internal defenses and the Federal forces loyal to the Conservatives.
Suddenly!
Two loud explosions reverberated around the prison, abruptly halting the intense gunfire.
"This is Phantom Squad. Bombing run complete. We are now accelerating towards Steel City to provide support with our cannons. If there are any tricky targets, please mark them for us. Over."
"Support is finally here!"
"Don't forget the mission. We've got to help the brothers in the second squad."
"Right, let's go."
Jens and his comrades only cheered briefly before quickly heading to the east wall of the prison.
However, the second AECS special operations squad inside the prison didn't need assistance. In fact, the entire AECS force stationed in the prison suddenly found themselves under no pressure at all.
From a bird's-eye view:
The Conservative Federation forces, which had posed a severe threat to the AECS, were directly hit by two precise missile strikes, killing the colonel on the spot.
This caused the morale of the Federation soldiers to plummet. Their desire for the fifty-thousand-dollar bonus and a high-end apartment drastically diminished, and more than half of them were now only concerned with escaping.
Once the ten drop pods had landed, the situation at the prison was completely under Atlas' control.
From a higher altitude, one could see a large transport fleet, primarily composed of Silvergull and Luna transport ships, had arrived over Steel City.
After two months of infiltration and reconnaissance, the transport fleet was delivering fully armed ARS, AECS, and clones to the locations of Federation representatives, officials, and generals, launching swift and aggressive assaults.
The clones, under the command of AECS squads, employed an "aggressive" combat style, advancing quickly with alternating fire and cover tactics, giving the defenders no time to react.
Of course, if the situation allowed, AECS squad leaders would issue orders to the clones to "prioritize disabling enemy combatants." The clones, upon receiving the order, would aim for the shoulders, legs, and abdomens of the Federation soldiers, leaving their survival to chance.
The ARS and AECS continued to perform steadily, while Titan and Slayer main battle tanks formed small-scale armored formations.
Facing such an overwhelming assault, the Federation forces, lacking mechanical exoskeletons and automatic targeting systems, were rapidly retreating. Moreover, the Federation high command was preoccupied with the crisis at Prison No. 12 in the southern district and the hydrogen bomb explosion in North America, leaving them unable to respond to Atlas' main force's surprise attack.
Additionally, Magnus and the Hunters had taken control of Steel City's central command center, crippling internal communications and command systems. The arrival of two visually imposing Shadow Strike craft, which the locals regarded as "sky beasts," was the final straw that broke the Federation army's back.
With internal chaos and external threats, the Federation soldiers completely collapsed. Those who didn't surrender chose to flee to the chaotic buffer zones.
However, before the Federation forces fully crumbled, Atlas had already achieved its primary objective—
Capturing the Federal high command.
Forty hours later.
Oak Tower.
Inside a residential unit on the twenty-eighth floor:
"Uwaa..." A young girl of about thirteen or fourteen sleepily walked out of her bedroom.
She went straight to the living room, flopped onto the sofa, grabbed the remote, and turned on the TV, only to find that the screen was still showing static. She grumbled,
"When can we watch TV again?"
"When you've brushed your teeth and washed your face, the signal will be back," her mother, who was preparing breakfast in the kitchen, reminded her with a smile.
"You still treat me like a little kid, huh?" The girl didn't believe her.
Despite her words, the girl obediently got up and started her morning routine.
This family's home didn't seem much different from those on the lower floors of other towers. But stepping into the kitchen revealed an array of seasonings and sauces, and breakfast was made from fresh vegetables, fruits, luncheon meat, and bread, even including milk made from powdered milk.
In contrast, most lower-floor residents usually ate black protein blocks paired with instant noodles made from synthetic or rat meat. Compared to that, this girl's family's breakfast was practically "luxurious."
The cost of this sandwich breakfast alone could match the cost of two lunches in the high-rise areas.
Suddenly;
"Ladies and gentlemen! I am Samuel Young, founder of Atlas. From now on, everything in Steel City will be under Atlas' control."
?!!
The girl, who had just finished brushing her teeth, was startled by the powerful voice coming from the TV. She rushed out of the bathroom.
Back in the living room, she saw that the TV screen was no longer showing static but was now broadcasting live from the Federal Parliament Hall. The man who had declared himself the founder of Atlas was standing in the center of the hall.
What shocked the girl even more was that standing beside him was Magnus, the leader of the Titan Gang who managed their building.
What on earth is going on??
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