...
At the planetary defense force's frontline, stationed at the 87th and 31st regiments, a lull in hostilities had settled following Qin Mo's arrival and the establishment of a small fortress. For some time, the insurgents had refrained from launching an attack, yet vigilance remained high among the troops, who stood ready to heed any command from Qin Mo and rush to the required location.
On this tranquil day, Commanders Duncan and Albert, along with their soldiers, gathered outside the fortress, observing the incessant movement of logistics machinery traveling back and forth from the frontlines.
These black spherical machines, previously responsible for delivering food and ammunition, were now transporting weapons.
Giant black metal crates were lowered onto the ground by the logistics machines, which then began to recycle the metal, unveiling a series of enhanced laser rifles before the astonished onlookers.
"Are these laser rifles equipped with scopes?"
"Only one way to find out."
The soldiers, brimming with excitement, seized the laser rifles and made their way to the shooting range outside the small fortress, aiming at targets constructed from insurgent gear and wooden dummies.
They were taken aback to discover that the laser rifles boasted a faster firing rate, and the battery capacity had markedly increased, allowing them to fire more beams before running out of energy.
This was merely the tip of the iceberg regarding the weaponry being introduced.
It had been half a month since the stabilization of Kato City, and an array of weaponry had been steadily delivered to the frontline.
This included, but was not limited to, a Riemann Lustran tank, several standard power suits, unmanned transporters, and even remotely operated self-propelled artillery.
The self-propelled artillery was mounted on anti-gravity floating platforms, requiring no human operator and leaving no space for one.
Once lowered onto the frontline by logistics machines, these artillery pieces would automatically cluster together.
"A Riemann Lustran tank. By the Emperor!" Albert, a former armored soldier, exclaimed as he gazed at the tank parked alongside the unmanned artillery outside the fortress. "The exit to the nest has been destroyed; I have no idea how this tank was manufactured."
The Riemann Lustran tank was a heavy war machine used by the Imperial Star Corps, not something that could be fabricated at just any nest or industrial world.
If the Talon Nest possessed the capability to produce Riemann Lustran tanks, the Empire would have long since dispatched troops to eliminate the insurgents.
"Much like this fortress," Duncan remarked, glancing at the small stronghold. "It must be a product of creation magic."
As one of the outposts personally saved by Qin Mo, everyone present had witnessed his miraculous creation magic, capable of conjuring a fortress from thin air in mere minutes.
They had also seen Qin Mo and the survivors of the 44th regiment clad in power suits, making the emergence of the Riemann Lustran tank seem hardly extraordinary.
"Did you notice those artillery pieces are unmanned? Just like those black eggs," Albert suddenly whispered, his expression shrouded in mystery.
Duncan understood the implication of Albert's words.
Since the appearance of the black eggs—the logistics machines—rumors had circulated around the outpost suggesting that the black eggs contained hostile intelligence, for they operated autonomously without any guidance.
Now, the existence of unmanned artillery lent credence to those rumors.
"Perhaps, but we need them now; otherwise, we can't even ensure our logistics, can we?"
"That's true..."
"Let's keep silent on this matter. Sometimes knowing too much or speaking too freely can lead to trouble."
"Agreed."
After a few exchanges, Duncan and Albert instinctively ended the conversation and shifted topics.
"What do you think these weapons are meant for?" Albert inquired.
"Clearly, to form a combined arms unit," Duncan asserted, sharing his analysis. "Our entire regiment consists of infantry, and the armored divisions have already suffered heavy losses in the offensive plans. We need weaponry suited for siege warfare."
"A combined arms unit..." Albert concurred wholeheartedly with Duncan.
"I can already envision what it will look like once all the weaponry is allocated," Duncan said, gesturing towards the Riemann Lustran tank. "Each regiment will center around the Riemann Lustran tank, with a select few elite infantry wearing power suits, advancing under the cover of unmanned artillery. Perhaps warriors clad in even more formidable power suits will arrive to lead our counterattack."
"You mentioned a counterattack?" Albert queried, a hint of surprise in his voice.
"Indeed. Otherwise, what purpose does a combined arms unit serve? To remain cooped up in the fortress?" Duncan replied nonchalantly.
At this moment, Albert felt an overwhelming sense that Qin Mo was orchestrating a grand counteroffensive—a battle for retaliation.
Now that the defense lines had been consolidated, and news had come in that the Kato settlement had also been relieved, the troops had firmly established their foothold and it was time to strike back.
Though their numbers were limited and their forces far from elite, the mere notion of a counteroffensive, after enduring passivity, was enough to ignite a fire within their hearts.
"But we are outnumbered; do you think a counterattack is realistic?" Albert asked.
"Compared to merely enduring assaults, we should indeed counterattack," Duncan said, lowering his gaze to the charred metallic ground beneath his feet. "Thus far, we have been like cornered beasts, fighting for survival. If we must face death, why not bite fiercely at the insurgents before we go? Perhaps someone will record our heroic deeds in the future."
This sentiment echoed a profound pessimism. Albert furrowed his brow and lowered his head in contemplation, yet his conclusion mirrored Duncan's precisely.
In truth, they were indeed cornered beasts, unwilling to simply wait for death; no one genuinely believed they could win.
If death were inevitable, then striking a decisive blow against the insurgents before perishing seemed a wise choice.
Weighing all factors, despite the absence of any orders regarding a counterattack or other military maneuvers from the communication devices, the conclusion was apparent: a counterattack was inevitable.
"We shall blaze across the night sky like meteors, shining with the brightest light, even if that brilliance lasts but a fleeting moment," Duncan proclaimed poetically.
"What is a meteor?" Albert asked, "I'm a surface dweller, mate. If whatever this 'star' is resides in the heavens, I've never seen one."
"A meteor is an astronomical phenomenon; it bursts forth from the lowest point of the nest into the sky, tracing a graceful arc as if shot from a slingshot," Duncan replied earnestly.
Albert's expression brightened with understanding, and he nodded. "I've never seen a meteor, but I know if we bombard the insurgents with tanks, the effect of their bodies being blown skyward would likely resemble the meteors you're describing."
Duncan nodded in agreement, considering it likely that the outcomes would indeed be similar, as he too had only heard of meteors without having witnessed one.
The two friends fell into silence for a moment.
Duncan suddenly remarked, "The effect of us being blown to bits by the insurgents would probably be the same."