From cannon fodder to sweeping across thousands of stars.

Chapter 435: Attack and Defense of A.Bawa.Ku Fortress (Part )

As soon as the special task force's communication channel finished speaking, a cargo hold at the rear of the four assault boats that had completed the intrusion opened. Amid the sound of mechanical operation, multiple red "spots of light" appeared in the spreading smoke.

Then, four beams of charged particles completely penetrated the smoke and shone towards the passage where the Atlas defense forces were located, and the true appearance of the "wolfhound" was revealed from behind the smoke.

This is a new medium-sized four-legged combat vehicle, which had been previously loaded in the cargo hold of the assault boat in a folded storage mode. It was only after the two-man crew boarded the vehicle during the assault team's attack that it was able to deploy into combat form.

The rapid development and optimization of combat-assisted AI technology during this year has enabled combat vehicles to possess intelligence far beyond their previous capabilities, and in theory, they do have the ability to fight independently.

However, in order to prevent the occurrence of an "intelligent machine crisis", the Federation has equipped various new vehicles developed recently with crews. With the help of combat-assisted AI, the crew's pressure in combat is much less. The information processed in advance by the combat-assisted AI allows the crew's decision-making to be more accurate, efficient and free from interference.

The front body and front mechanical feet of the "Wolfhound" have been reinforced with armor. The twin electromagnetic machine guns mounted on the two mechanical arms under the body are constantly firing long bursts, and the charged particle cannon on the rear turret is also constantly irradiating as the main output weapon.

However, unlike other medium-sized multi-legged tanks, this multi-legged tank designed by the Vulcan Power Research Institute is equipped with small attitude control nozzles in many places on the body. With the help of these nozzles and the electromagnetic adsorption units on the mechanical feet, the "Wolfhound" can be firmly attached to a plane in a zero-gravity environment without the help of additional fixing cables.

Moreover, for combat zones such as space stations, satellite cities, and celestial fortresses that have a large number of internal transportation pipelines, the cross-terrain capabilities of multi-legged tanks compared to traditional combat vehicles are further amplified.

The irradiation attack of four "Wolfhound" high-powered charged particle cannons forced the Atlas defense forces back into the passage.

However, under Van Fleet's arrangement, their original mission was to delay the enemy's attack and prolong the time as much as possible.

If you encounter an enemy unit that you cannot directly fight, you can temporarily retreat back into the passage and continue to block the enemy by relying on the intricate passages inside the A.Bava.Ku Asteroid Fortress.

Such an arrangement does ensure to a certain extent that the Roma Marines will not suffer too many casualties, and will not suffer the loss of all members due to defending a certain position, thereby further reducing the fortress's defense capabilities.

However, the retreat of the defense force also gave the federal assault team an opportunity. Almost at the moment when the motion detection unit and composite sensor discovered that the Atlas defense force was retreating into the passage, the four "Wolfhounds" launched a direct charge.

With the help of the attitude control nozzle, this four-legged vehicle successfully achieved high-speed maneuverability in a zero-gravity environment. It attacked the passage in a four-legged running posture like a real wolfhound, and could also make tactical moves such as emergency turns, seeking cover and lying low, and overcoming obstacles from time to time during the sprint.

The attack of the 'wolfhounds' immediately reduced the pressure on the assault team, and the two sides had obviously cooperated many times in similar combat environments. When the four 'wolfhounds' flew over the assault team's heads, they immediately rolled out of the bunker, and then used the individual thrusters on their backs to skillfully fly close to the ground towards the direction of the passage.

All these scenes were also seen by Van Fleet who was in another area.

The biggest difference between the Crazy Crocodile A3-C command-specific heavy power armor and other ordinary models is that it reduces the amount of ammunition and weapons it carries, and uses the saved space and load to install a high-performance joint command terminal.

Unlike ordinary command terminals that can only be used to command troops under one's command, this joint command terminal specially developed for senior commanders who like to be on the front line has higher command authority.

After setting up permissions in advance, it is possible to conduct joint command of multiple arms, and even directly call on warships to conduct orbital strikes. In the past, this strike operation was initiated by the front-line troops, and the coordinates were provided. The rear command would confirm the needs and then contact the fleet.

At present, Van Fleet relies on this joint command terminal to obtain senior command authority within the A. Bawa. Ku Fortress. This authority not only allows him to directly intervene in the command of any troop, but also allows him to mobilize the defense weapons within the fortress at will.

The images from the front-line troops' sensors plus the images from cameras in various locations within the fortress were synthesized to present a real-time 3D battlefield situation, allowing Van Fleet to obtain the information he wanted more clearly and quickly.
The command assistance AI can also efficiently assist Van Fleet in issuing command orders. He often only needs to state a general battle plan, and the command assistance AI will generate more detailed and specific command information based on his plan and the current battlefield situation. If Van Fleet confirms that it is correct, it will be immediately transmitted to the relevant combat units.

"Attention, troops near the A27 deployment bay, withdraw to the passage and lower the isolation gate, then re-establish the defense line in the connection area. The enemy in front of you is a combat unit of the Federal Special Task Force. This unit is very proficient in breakthrough operations in a zero-gravity environment!"

While listening to the instructions given by the command assistance AI to the troops near the A27 deployment bay, Van Fleet also simultaneously activated the defense weapons in the channel near the A27 deployment bay, and then gave control to the defense forces there.

"The command of the nearby defense weapons has been handed over to you. You can deploy them according to your needs. Remember one thing: the core goal of the operation is to delay time!" Van Fleet added after the command assistance AI gave the order.

"Received, thank you for your support! Commander Van Fleet!"

The voice of the commander of this defense force was heard in the communication channel, and on the three-dimensional image in front of Van Fleet, the icon representing this team began to retreat into the depths of the passage, and then the nearby basic autonomous defense weapon station also showed 'activated'.

Van Fleet has performed such operations many times since the battle began. Although he used to command large-scale battles in the rear in the command vehicle, in the process of commanding the defense forces, he was deeply aware of how much this command terminal and power armor can improve the front-line command personnel.

At this moment in the command interface, there is a number marked next to the two enemy and our combat forces near the A27 deployment bay. This is the combat effectiveness ratio calculated using an algorithm based on information such as the strength of the warring parties, infantry weapons, suppression weapons, air defense weapons, anti-tank weapons, combat vehicles, etc.

All information of one's own units can be directly obtained through the joint command terminal, while the specific information of the enemy units is integrated through pre-war intelligence and the actual situation captured in the battle.

This kind of "combat effectiveness ratio" is actually nothing new. The Federation and the Empire are currently using it, but it is integrated into the brigade and battalion-level command system, and can only be calculated to the company and platoon level, and requires several specialized combat staff to be responsible for its operation.

But Atlas has directly calculated the ratio to the individual infantry unit, and does not require special staff to maintain it. It is completely automatically operated by the joint command terminal.
For example, now, the combat power ratio of the enemy and our side in the A27 deployment bay is around 200, which seems to be not much of a difference. However, in addition to the combat power ratio number, there is an extra symbol next to the federal combat force.

Van Fleet, who had taken advantage of the past two days to quickly learn about the system, knew that this meant that the enemy units had an "armor advantage", which was why he asked the defense forces in the A27 deployment bay to retreat. The combined command terminal and this set of command-specific heavy power armor played a role in actual combat that far exceeded Van Fleet's expectations.

In his opinion, this was because there were not many senior commanders in A.Bava Kuli and he could only rely on himself to temporarily take over and command the battle.

If there were a few more commanders, more flexible troop movements and more information on the battlefield, the federal troops that had broken into the fortress might be able to be repelled.

Unfortunately, although Atlas has added more guards to this asteroid fortress, it is hard to find a few people who are proficient in commanding the fortress's attack and defense in this environment for the time being.

Therefore, Van Fleet could only do his best to command the troops to fight near various "enemy invasion points" and implement the policy of "flexible defense" to the end. He constantly deployed troops to form troop advantages in some areas, directly annihilate the federal troops that broke into the fortress, or force them to retreat to the vicinity of the assault boat.

In such a battle, the Atlas troops, who were familiar with the internal environment of the fortress, fast lanes, transport tracks and other equipment, obviously had a natural advantage. From another level, they assisted Van Fleet in successfully applying the "elastic defense" strategy that was supposed to be used in large-scale land battles.

After temporarily stopping his command near the A27 deployment bay, the Army Lieutenant General zoomed in and out of the three-dimensional image in front of him until he saw the entire fortress and the jagged battle situation map on it.

At this moment, the federal assault force had created a total of 32 breakthroughs. In Van Fleet's view, the effect presented in the three-dimensional image was like a virus invading a living organism, constantly testing in the hope of finding new weak points.

Although the number of attackers at each of the 32 breakthrough points was about the same as the A27 deployment bay just now, with more than 100 people plus some multi-legged tanks, the emergence of so many breakthrough points at the same time still caused some confusion among the defending forces at the beginning.

Fortunately, Van Vleet intervened in the command in time, which managed to stabilize the defense.

As an asteroid fortress with a long axis of 180 kilometers, the defense force inside A.Bava.Ku is naturally not too weak. However, it is precisely because of the large size of the fortress that these defense forces are forced to be distributed to avoid loopholes that cannot be remedied in time.

Therefore, Van Fleet did not dare to easily mobilize the defenders in several other areas that had not been invaded. If the defense line was left empty due to rash troop movements, he would really become a sinner.

He glanced at the countdown on the upper right side of his field of vision. It was only 1 minutes since the '30 hour and 20 minutes' re-equipment time for the decomposition ray reported by the Mining Operations Department.

"How come such a short time has passed?"

Just as Van Fleet was frowning and thinking about how to survive the next hour or so, a highlighted and starred friendly unit suddenly appeared near the A Bava Ku Fortress in the three-dimensional image.

In Atlas's command system, there is only one friendly unit that can be marked in this way.

"General Van Fleet, please hold on for a while longer. If the enemy's attack momentum is too strong, don't resist regardless of casualties. The ultimate goal of the federal assault force is the fortress's data center. You can consider using the method of 'luring the enemy into a trap' to 'guide' these assault forces over there!"

Amber's voice rang out in the communication channel at the same time as the specially marked friendly units appeared. After hearing his voice, Van Fleet first felt an inexplicable sense of relief, and then he asked with some doubt:
"Mr. Amber, since we already know the other party's goal, shouldn't we stop them?"

"There are other secret defense units set up in advance near the data center. I will synchronize the relevant information to you later. If we can directly thwart the opponent's offensive intention, then the federal fleet will not continue to waste time here!

I will find a way to disrupt the deployment of the federal assault force. I will leave the command inside the fortress to you, General Van Fleet."

Amber replied quickly, and at the same time couldn't help but glance at the Q version of Lilith projected by the holographic device in the cockpit. The latter looked like she was caught doing something bad, and she showed an embarrassed smile.

After quickly communicating with Van Fleet, Amber, who had already crossed the entire battlefield at high speed and reached the A-Bava-Ku asteroid fortress, flew towards a deployment bay at the bottom of the fortress that had not yet been invaded, guided by a dynamic icon on the all-around screen.

"Lilith, prepare to resupply and replace the combat module!"

"Yes! Master! Start port guidance now."

After Amber started the port entry procedure in the Titan, several nearby Aegis aircraft responsible for defense noticed Amber's movements and quickly approached to escort her. At the same time, the deployment bay numbered G14 slowly opened its door.

"Master, what module do you need to replace?"

"Giant magic."

"Received. The Giant God Soldier module is being transferred and loaded."

As the machine approached the G14 deployment bay after decelerating, and finally slowly parked in the form of "reversing into the garage", a circle of robotic arms responsible for automatic maintenance immediately surrounded it, flexibly opened several maintenance ports on the outside of the machine, and began to replenish basic ammunition and energy.

Amber also saw from a small window on the full-circle screen a pair of "giant hands" fixed by mechanical arms, slowly moving towards the body of the machine.

(End of this chapter)