novelden Chapter 226 Insect Swarm Attack
Chapter 226 Insect Swarm Attack
"Phew~"
The propulsion system at the waist was activated, propelling Platinum rapidly toward the infantry fighting vehicle convoy that had returned to its deployed state.
Then, a 5-meter-diameter pit appeared where she had just been standing, and several large insects resembling mantises emerged from the pit.
[Exercise mode is off, live ammunition loading complete, data link deployment complete.]
At the same time, a dark red light instantly illuminated the cockpit of the flagship, followed by a piercing alarm.
[Warning! Warning! Unknown enemy unit detected! Unknown unit detected!]
"Activate emergency procedures and mobilize rapid reaction forces!"
"Bang bang bang"
The lead six infantry fighting vehicles and mechs suppressed the entrance, while the remaining 22 infantry fighting vehicles were maneuvering, preparing to deploy around the entrance.
But the situation deteriorated rapidly. As a barrage of high-explosive shells exploded near the entrance, a large crater, 10 meters in diameter, appeared before Platinum. Then, a beetle the same size as an infantry fighting vehicle crawled out of the crater.
While Platinum bombarded it with its large-caliber electromagnetic cannon on its back, it also connected with the flagship via data link.
"Tsk, Commander, requesting heavy fire support. Also, have air support forces armed and ready to go."
Lorraine kept an eye on the movements of our combat units on the holographic sand table, while clearly and quickly relaying the information to Platinum.
"The 120mm self-propelled mortars have been deployed, and the first wave of attacks is expected to arrive in 28 seconds."
「轮式突击炮已展开，预计1分17秒后就位，重装坦克排预计3分23秒后就位，车载电磁炮群预计3分32秒后就位。」
Then Lorraine shrunk the holographic sand table and glanced at the signals around the flagship.
「机械犬小队预计5分42秒后就位，特种作战连预计2分12秒后到达，快反部队预计3分38秒后到达。」
"The armed helicopter group is loading ammunition and is expected to be in position in 7 minutes and 54 seconds; the heavy troops are assembling and are expected to arrive at the perimeter of the combat area in 8 minutes and 34 seconds."
"All of the fleet's artillery is now pointed at the coordinates, the airborne command post has departed with the airborne geophysical pod, and the fighter squadron is expected to complete its loading in 13 minutes."
"If the situation worsens, evacuate immediately. I will have the fleet bombard this crater with fire."
"receive!"
Just as Platinum was killing the second large beetle that emerged from the crater, a barrage of 120mm grenades exploded at the entrance.
Meanwhile, the second batch of infantry fighting vehicles was bombarding the trees on the side with artillery, trying to widen the battlefield as much as possible.
By the time the wheeled assault guns reached the vicinity of the crater, the infantry fighting vehicle convoy had already cleared a considerable area of flat ground in the woods.
Subsequently, the assault artillery group split into two parts: one team took position on the hilltop where the pit was located, while the other team joined the infantry fighting vehicle team to launch an attack from the front of the pit.
Faced with the intense firepower at the cave entrance, these insects dispatched larger, more resilient beetles.
面对这些长9.2米、高6米、宽6米造型圆润、外表光滑的甲虫，突击炮的105毫米电磁炮都显得有些乏力，只有机甲装备的180毫米电磁炮能够对其进行有效杀伤。
Three seconds later, the front half of the beetle was smashed into pieces, while the back half remained in the tunnel.
Seeing the swarm of insects emerging from the narrow space beneath the beetles, Platinum activated the spider-shaped smart mines he had previously released, sending them into the tunnel through the narrow space above.
Not long after, 27 faint explosions came from the tunnel.
The subsequent swarms of insects also experienced generational gaps.
At this moment, the heavy tank platoon and vehicle-mounted howitzers were already in position on the opposite hillside, with their muzzles pointing at the crater 1 kilometer away.
Platinum then moved to the side of the battlefield closest to the flagship, thus avoiding the artillery fire.
Immediately afterwards, a barrage of shells traveled a distance of 1 kilometer and struck the hole, exploding deep inside.
Faced with the remaining sparse swarm of insects, the infantry fighting vehicle convoy ceased firing, and the Guardian III robots of the Special Operations Company raised their weapons and wiped out the entire swarm.
The infantry fighting vehicle convoy then swapped positions with the newly arrived rapid reaction force and withdrew to the rear, making room for the troops that would arrive later.
With the change of combat troops completed, the tanks and vehicle-mounted howitzers in the distance slowed their firing rate, leaving the main battlefield to the rapid reaction force.
Faced with the increasingly dense swarm of insects, the mechanical dog squad has also arrived on the battlefield, ready to take over the positions of the heavy tank platoon.
Seeing that reinforcements had arrived, Platinum breathed a sigh of relief and slowly controlled the mech to withdraw from the front line of the battlefield, preparing to head to the opposite hillside to meet up with the mechanical dog squad.
Based on the situation on the battlefield, the tank platoon is constantly adjusting the rate of fire of its main guns to ensure that the insects gushing out of the craters remain within the handling capabilities of the special operations company and the rapid reaction force.
When Platinum reunited with the mechanical dog team, Lorraine called her.
"To make a long story short, there should be a burrowing worm hiding behind this pit. In the two days before the blood moon erupted, the command aircraft had already completed a scan of the surrounding area and did not find any underground tunnels."
"The fighter squadron has completed its loading and is ready to take off once the airborne command post completes its scan."
"All the supplies needed for the mechs have been delivered by helicopter. Replenish your ammunition and prepare to lead the heavy infantry and mechanical dog squad forward."
"clear."
"The information about these insects is being analyzed and is expected to be completed in 3 minutes."
Time passed second by second, and the battlefield had reached a stalemate, with the 7-meter-long beetles no longer appearing.
The small scarab is similar in size to an infantry fighting vehicle, but shorter. Its bulletproof capability is primarily provided by its outer shell, which, judging from its color, appears to be composed of minerals.
With his doubts in mind, Lorraine sent pictures and videos of the small scarab beetle to Lin Shu and Ouyang Nian.
"Look at this, I don't think it's something that was produced by the zombie virus."
Looking at the small scarab beetle in the picture, Lin Shu, standing next to the holographic sand table, frowned.
"Judging from its shell, it doesn't really look like it was created by a zombie virus, but its appearance isn't much different from a common dung beetle."
Ouyang Nian stroked his chin, looked at the picture and pondered for a moment before finally offering his own idea.
"I can't quite tell what material it's made of, Lorraine. Could you shine a strong beam of light on it up close?"
"Can."
Subsequently, the vehicle-mounted electromagnetic gun group located on the hillside opposite the pit reduced its rate of fire, while the self-propelled mortars waiting nearby prepared to fire.
When the small scarab reappeared in front of the pit, a beam of 1500 lumens of light emanated from the shoulder of a robot from the special operations company.
"This doesn't look like the shell a normal living thing should have." / "It looks like a shell made of minerals."
Lorraine then glanced at the analysis progress again.
[Sharp Blade Bug - Analysis Progress 98.2%]
[Small Scarab Beetle - Analysis Progress 95.5%]
[Medium-sized scarab beetle - Analysis progress 93.1%]