The firefight inside the fortress raged on, gunfire echoing without any sign of calm. After all, this Star Monument Fortress, codenamed 31, housed a large defensive force. The initial airborne deployment included only the 28th Orbital Paratrooper Brigade, which, despite successfully seizing four fire control towers and crippling the central command, couldn't eliminate the overwhelming enemy numbers. Such rough work was best left to the ground troops.
A single Eagle-class orbital transport could carry a full Marine company along with their equipment. A dozen of these could bring an entire regiment. Through the mech's high-powered optics, Lu Yuan could see countless azure dots in the night sky—these were the fleet's combat aircraft. Having participated in nearly a hundred battles, he understood that these dots indicated control of the moonlight skies.After transporting three Misaka magnetic railguns to the fortress's peak, the first wave of Marines trembled as they exited the drop pods, regrouping and engaging in combat to seize and hold the fortress."Set the target at three thousand meters, fire two rounds of scatter munitions, now!" Lu Yuan commanded as he programmed the Misaka. A magnetic kinetic wave erupted like fireworks, demonstrating the extravagance of using long-rod kinetic rounds against infantry.Illumination rounds never ceased, while thousands of drones swept over the designated strike zones, relaying real-time data back from temporary satellites. When enemy troops congregated beneath the fortress, the magnetic railguns and suicide drones would descend, showering the frost-covered wasteland with explosions, reminiscent of children squashing tomatoes.With the arrival of the second wave of Marines came an aggressive counterattack from the enemy. The Star Monument Fortress not only guided the fleet but also served as a logistics hub and assembly point. It was guarded by a mech infantry battalion and several elite units, making its capture akin to pouring hot water onto an ant hill. Worse, temporary satellites had detected signs of large-scale heavy mech mobilizations—heavy mechs from the Empire.The "Flood Demon" heavy assault mechs were standard for the Imperial forces, towering at about four meters and weighing several tons. Their beam cannons were no joke, and even the most robust infantry mechs could hardly withstand a single blow.Yet, compared to the "Ivan the Terrible" Titan-class mechs, the Flood Demon was almost child's play—standing forty meters tall, these mechanical giants dwarfed the fortress. Once activated, one had to tilt their neck to see the top.In this light, capturing the fortress seemed the simplest of tasks.Protected behind fortifications and within his mech, Lu Yuan wasn't worried about immediate danger. However, even his robust physique couldn't withstand the rigors of the mech's skeletal system; every step required considerable effort. Despite cooling systems, the engine's heat made him sweat in the snowy surroundings."Yu Xiaohu, gather the brothers at the Star Monument Plaza," he commanded, the paratrooper helmet doubling as a clever beacon for instant communication.Lu Yuan took his time descending, partially opening the cockpit to let the fresh, cold snowflakes fall onto his face. He closed his eyes for a moment, breathing deeply, suddenly recalling the dozens of paratroopers who had already perished in this corner. With Imperial reinforcements arriving at night, how many more would fall?As he rummaged through his battle-worn combat suit, he cursed himself for throwing away his last pack of cigarettes."Hey, buddy." A decorated Marine nearby offered him a cigarette. Lu Yuan glanced at the red star on the pack and took it without hesitation, leaving the Marine speechless. After all, they had no room for complaints.Lighting up, Lu Yuan took a deep drag, the strong taste filling his mouth. He glanced at the Marines, who seemed to be enjoying the spectacle.The Marine who had offered the cigarette gave a thumbs-up, saying, "You're tough, man. Even the fiery clouds of Poseidon Star can't take you down. No wonder you took out those Imperial scum below so quickly."Lu Yuan didn't respond. The glowing tip of the cigarette burned down, the harshness of the smoke matching the explosions illuminating the dark sky, resembling an apocalyptic scene."What a beautiful view," remarked the Marine, gazing at the countless fallen Imperial soldiers below. The cliffs surrounding the fortress made for a formidable challenge, especially with over a dozen Misaka railguns ready to fire.Lu Yuan closed the cockpit, muttering, "If we make it back, I'll take you surfing on Poseidon Star."The Marine, seemingly unaware of the gravity of the situation, merely nodded and continued to admire the "view."Star Monument Plaza was bustling, with slow-drop pods continuously landing and unloading personnel and equipment, while groups of prisoners were ushered in and out. Paratroopers, under the envious eyes of the Marines, casually chatted and smoked until Lu Yuan's loud command snapped them into formation."Attention! Officer on deck!" shouted Lieutenant Yue Dong. The paratroopers snapped to attention, respectfully watching Lu Yuan step out of his mech."At ease." Lu Yuan noticed the thinned ranks and sighed, looking down at his boots before raising his head to shout, "Paratroopers! Where are we?""In the Imperial den!""Eagle Valley Star?""At the fortress!" the paratroopers shouted in unison."All correct, but I told you before we arrived," Lu Yuan paced, pointing to the ground beneath them."We are in hell!""Right! A few hours ago, we were in paradise, and in a few more, we'll storm into hell. I must say, well done! This is our sword, with twelve white circles!" Lu Yuan drew his ever-present honor blade from his waist."Let's draw another circle! This is our thirteenth conquered planet!""Long live!" Lieutenant Yue Dong shouted, raising his arm."Long live!!!" The paratroopers erupted into thunderous cheers. Someone, overly excited, fired their weapon into the sky, prompting others to follow suit, startling the Marines, who feared another outbreak of gunfire.As the cheers subsided, Lu Yuan gripped the sword's hilt, stating, "I know you're all waiting for the 'but.' Yes! Before the 'but,' everything else is just talk!"The seasoned paratroopers laughed, knowing Lu Yuan's pattern—praise always led to a harsh reprimand, a 'but' followed by a scolding that brought them back to reality. The new recruits from the Marines were left awestruck."But! The Imperial scum won't sit idly by while we plunder their teeth, letting us hold a party with their girls! No! Those damn bastards won't allow that!""They'll fight tooth and nail to reclaim the fortress, pressing us back tenfold, chopping us to pieces, our heads on poles atop the fortress. That's what the Empire will do!""See that girl?" Lu Yuan pointed his sword at a pretty Imperial female soldier among the captives, causing her to pale in fright."We've won, and this Imperial girl is a quail! If we lose, she'll be the one urinating on our heads, and we must protect our fleet's female officers, no matter what they think. It's our duty to keep them safe up there!"His words ignited not only the paratroopers but even the nearby Marines, who were well aware that the expedition fleet was filled with female soldiers, many of whom were the dreams of the fleet's men. They wouldn't allow the Empire to humiliate them."Tell me, are you Coalition soldiers?" Lu Yuan slammed the sword's hilt down."Yes!""What's the last line of your enlistment oath?""I serve the Coalition of the Gods, with eternal loyalty!""Eternal loyalty!!!" Lu Yuan shouted, his fist raised. Seizing Eagle Valley Star's Star Monument Fortress was just one of many battles for him, but it could very well be the last for all the paratroopers present. Soldiers didn't need to know the outcome, nor did Lu Yuan; they just needed to understand their honor in this uniform!"All personnel to mech armament! Grab your swords, grab your guns! We gather at the fortress walls in fifteen minutes! Our new mission is to hold the fortress until the main fleet arrives! Now disperse!"It had only been a little over an hour since Lu Yuan's drop, but the vast Star Monument Plaza was already piled high with weapon drop boxes. This was just part of the individual equipment; engineering mechs continued to haul ammunition into the fortress's underground stores, while the sky was crisscrossed with jet trails, creating a bizarrely modern artwork against the night.To reduce weight during the drop, the "Inferno" paratrooper mechs carried only basic gear. Lu Yuan passed up powerful firearms, instead opting for a battle blade about half the height of his mech. The blade gleamed as he slung it over his shoulder, his fists colliding with renewed resolve!The fortress's long-range defenses were managed by attack drones and fleet fighter groups. Although Lu Yuan observed for a while, he didn't see the expected large-scale aerial assaults, and the defensive barrage from weapon-grade satellites was sparse. Air support seemed less plentiful than anticipated, but Lu Yuan wasn't too concerned; tough battles weren't new, and focusing on the fortress's close-range support was enough.As the prepared mechs advanced toward the fortress perimeter, the ground suddenly trembled. Though Lu Yuan typically had steady hands, the continuous shaking caused the bullets in his chest pouch to jingle."Is there an earthquake?" Lieutenant Yue Dong wondered aloud.Lu Yuan's expression turned serious as he patted his old friend's shoulder, gesturing him to look toward the sky's depths. "No, the Titans are coming."