Codegease: Air and Land Warfare 1946

So what is the second team in yellow suits responsible for? They carry all sorts of measuring instruments: temperature, humidity, air pressure, oxygen content, and so on. If these data meet the requirements, they can open the oxygen masks on their "spacesuits" and temporarily turn off the life support system.

Then comes the third team, dressed in green. They go last to survey the land's quality and study the chemical elements that make up that world, conducting the final tests for immigrants to the new world. Once they pass all three tests perfectly, Britannia can then send out its army of steel knights.

Of course, going back to the initial question, what would happen if the Red-Clad Assassins didn't return? There are essentially two options: First, if there's no further movement from inside the portal, simply close it; second, if a terrifying creature that has devoured the Assassins bursts out, the soldiers on guard around it are responsible for eliminating it, while another control room immediately detonates the explosives strapped to the portal—yes, otherwise what do you think those suitcase-like things are now on top of the "City of Cranes Gate"?

"Doctor! The test crew is ready!"

"start!--"

……

A fierce gust of wind rose from the center of Aizu-Wakamatsu and blew towards the fields far from the castle.

The red-clad assassin activated the portable camera on his head, slowly stepped forward, and walked towards the golden portal.

The Doctor watched as a cable extended from the assassin's clothing, stretching it longer and longer—it was the communication cable used by everyone traveling to the other world to establish contact with their home world; one end was on the clothing, and the other end was on the signal box. With it, the explorers could communicate with the Doctor anytime, anywhere.

Gradually, the red dress was bathed in golden light, growing dimmer and smaller...

Everyone waited silently for the assassin's reply...

……

"Doctor calling Red One to report on the situation in the other world."

"..."

No reply.

"Red Number One, please respond, please respond."

The doctor had a bad feeling. The suicide squad's communication cable was barely moving, only swaying slightly, and the transmitted video was still just static.

"..."

"Red Number One..."

"Red, Red One reporting, ah!..." The assassin's voice suddenly disappeared after a series of gunshot-like sounds!

"Oh no!" The doctor tried his best to remain calm. "Quick! Have the portal control team shut down the device! Hurry!"

"Ok!"

"All personnel at the testing range, listen up! Red alert! All armed personnel, prepare for combat!"

Just as the doctor was about to leave the control room, and while the scene was still in chaos, several humanoid creatures wearing green helmets, khaki clothing, and carrying long wooden rifles suddenly rushed out of the portal!

The black-clad infantrymen rushed forward and opened fire on the otherworldly guests, but to their surprise, the number of these "people" seemed to be increasing! They burst out of the door and slaughtered the personnel who were still operating the portal to close it.

"Quickly! Contact the final disposal room! Have them detonate the explosives!"

After saying that, the Doctor scrambled out of the back window of the command room to escape the hail of bullets. Just as the gunfire in the city intensified, a deafening explosion, but one that reassured the Doctor, finally came from the teleportation portal.

The "Aizu-Wakamatsu Gate," carrying the uninvited guests from another world who rushed out, along with the innocent researchers around them and a bunch of not-so-expensive experimental devices, was engulfed and overturned by a fireball of explosives, falling to pieces like a mountainside tree broken by a boulder.

"Oh my god..." The gunfire stopped, and the doctor was finally helped out by the other staff.

"Sigh, let's tell the recording team, the experiment result is... failure..."

The doctor watched as the soldiers and support staff walked toward the still-burning pile of wreckage and shook his head helplessly.

Suddenly, a shout drew everyone's attention.

"Hey! I feel like I've seen these otherworldly people's outfits before!..."

……

An hour later, outside Berlin, which was surrounded by artillery fire, several Soviet generals gathered in a house—where was this? This was Marshal Zhukov's headquarters of the Soviet forces stationed in Germany.

"I apologize to you all for calling you together so suddenly. I have something important to discuss with you." The Marshal paused. "Just recently, we received a message from the headquarters of the 1st Guards Tank Corps, located east of Berlin. The 8th Guards Mechanized Corps, at its base in Stolko, southeast of Berlin, suddenly discovered something that glows like a city gate."

"Appeared in the open area of ​​the military camp?" The generals were not overly surprised, but rather processed the news with some confusion in their minds.

"Yes, according to the reliable description provided by the soldiers, after the city gate appeared, a soldier wearing a red heavy diving suit, holding a submachine gun, and with a pipe attached to his back walked out. When the soldiers ordered him to drop his weapon and failed, they shot him dead, and some of them rushed into the city gate. But, unfortunately, just after about a platoon of lightly armed infantry rushed in, the city gate disappeared, and the soldiers who went in never came back."

"So far, we haven't received any reports of a second similar incident. The soldiers also examined the unidentified red-clad soldier from head to toe, but there were no identification documents to confirm his identity. However, everyone should understand that the giant beam gate that the air force witnessed in downtown Berlin is highly similar to this one, and it must be closely related to today's incident. Simply put, the creator of this new gate must be a troublemaker in Berlin. So, before I issue any new orders, what are your thoughts?"

Soviet generals began to discuss the matter, some inquiring about intelligence, others about the reason for the gate's appearance, and some even suspected that there was a traitor within the Red Army. Various doubts mingled in Marshal Zhukov's command center.

But the Marshal noticed that General Chuikov, who had come to the meeting and was the commander of the Eighth Guards Army, which was responsible for the main attack from the east of Berlin, remained silent. He stared at the map and watched the Soviet Red Army's encirclement of Berlin.

"So, what are your thoughts, Comrade Chuikov?" the Marshal preemptively asked.

Chuikov remained facing the map, his eyes closed, as if deep in thought.

"Comrade?" The two generals beside him looked at him strangely.

At this moment, Chuikov slightly opened his eyes and said something that sent a chill down everyone's spine.

……

"Comrade Zhukov, do you still remember Operation Uranus...?"

"Your Majesty...you mean Stalingrad?"

Two sentences brought everyone's memories back to 1942...

"Comrade Zhukov, I remember that in September of that year, as the commander of the 62nd Army, I received an order that included this," Chuikov paused, "'Hold Stalingrad and keep the German Sixth Army pinned down in the city until Operation Uranus begins.' Back then, our army's reinforcements and supplies were all delivered to the city via the Volga River. The Germans couldn't cross this formidable barrier, nor could they seize the land east of the river, which allowed us to hold out against the Germans in the city for two months."

"So, you mean," the marshal suddenly realized, "that the two gates that appeared inside Berlin and outside the city are respectively the Volga River and 'Uranus' for these bandits inside the city?"

"There will be no other reason, Comrade Zhukov. If they only want Berlin, they can simply declare it; but if what they want is for us to disappear from Germany, then they will find another way."

The entire command center fell into complete silence...

"The first one was Berlin, now it's Stolko, and the next one might be Kosteni..."

"Perhaps Prague?"

"Then Poznan..."

"Next is Warsaw?"

"Kyiv?"

"Minsk?"

"In the end, Moscow..."

It was terrifying. Every Soviet general who had experienced the Great Patriotic War understood the immense threat that would be to a nation in dire need of rebuilding if, less than a year after the war in Europe had ended, a powerful and elusive enemy were to invade.

"In that case, comrades, I now issue an order." Zhukov took a breath and said solemnly, "All troops currently attacking Berlin shall withdraw a portion of their forces from the siege and deploy them outside Berlin. They shall establish positions and heavy patrols in open areas and along major roads. At the same time, the air force shall be ordered to increase its aerial reconnaissance capabilities within Germany, and to be on alert for any new 'light gates' appearing near Berlin, and to prepare for a possible large-scale enemy invasion."

"Storko, where the 'gate' has appeared, immediately deployed its troops to locations near where the gate appeared, ready to prepare for the gate to reopen and for a possible large-scale raid."

"Alright then, comrades, begin your tasks." The Marshal looked at the generals. "Now, I'm going to report to Moscow that the Soviet troops in Poland and Czechoslovakia will likely be ready soon."

"The meeting is adjourned..."

……

By 8 o'clock, the German sky was completely dark. In the eastern part of central Berlin, a group of Soviet soldiers were eating their rations and resting in a building on the street.

“Comrade Petrovsky,” a soldier asked the lieutenant beside him, “do you know what the higher-ups are thinking?”

"Who knows?" The lieutenant shook his head and took a big gulp of his drink. "We're still struggling in Berlin, what's the point of suddenly transferring a whole bunch of comrades out of the city?"

"Has something happened to our rear?"

"Oh my god, don't say such unlucky things..." the lieutenant's eyes widened. "I still want to get out of the city alive and go home to live a peaceful life."

Just as the lieutenant was about to take another sip of his drink, he suddenly heard some strange noises coming from the street to the west—it sounded like a gunfight!

He and his comrades quickly ran downstairs, and just then, the T-34 tank parked on the street started up.

"Comrade!" a panting young man shouted from in front of the tank, "Breaking news: there's a 'street wall' ahead, and those enemy dolls are crawling up from behind!"

Without saying a word, the lieutenant simply waved his hand and climbed onto the tank with his comrades.

"Assemble quickly, comrades! We're needed at the front!"

Chapter 88, Section 139: Punching Honshu Island and Kicking Tokyo Bay?

How many early mornings have passed in the Tokyo concessions? I've forgotten.

The city is currently quite peaceful. Apart from the occasional formation of mechs and massive transport planes flying overhead, the word "peace" still carries a genuine sense of tranquility.

Pedestrians on the street are relaxed and happy, so what about the patrolling police officers and soldiers? Naturally, they don't have as many worries either.

That's right, look at those five guys in white shirts who just walked past the newsstand. They have armbands with police badges on their sleeves, looking like they've been holding back for several classes and are finally getting out of school.

Do they look familiar? Yes, they are those five American soldiers who came here to do hard labor.

"Roar! This is awesome!" That strange shout must have come from Taylor. "Now we don't have to follow behind that black monkey and grovel anymore!"

"God bless, freedom has come to mankind!" Philip chimed in.

Davis looked at the two little rascals and smiled as he turned to look at Garcia, who was taking care of Clark—the former's mechanical leg seemed to have a small stone stuck in it, and he planned to shake it out while moving around.

……

This freedom all came about an hour ago.

Five soldiers stood respectfully in a room, and then they waited for the arrival of the handsome lieutenant colonel.

"Soldiers, I have good news for you. Because of your excellent performance in patrols these past few days, starting today, your patrols will no longer be led by regular soldiers. Of course, the workload will remain the same, but if there are any unforeseen events, we may have to work overtime."

"Ha!" Taylor exclaimed happily first.

"Of course, there is some bad news, gentlemen. Please don't forget that the punishment for your 'gentleman' Taylor assaulting a civilian five days ago is still in effect. So unfortunately, you still don't have time or space to go out for fresh air. As for your small allowance, it will still be withheld, and the benefits in the military camp are not for you for the time being."

"Tch, tsk..." Except for Davis, all five of them made disdainful sounds.

"Do your best, everyone, and hopefully you can make amends. Now, get ready to go on patrol."

"Yes, sir."

The lieutenant colonel glanced at them, seemed about to say something, but silently left.

"Wait a minute, Lieutenant Colonel."

"Hmm?" Davis called out to him, turning around to see if he had something to ask.

"Sir, may we carry our weapons?"

"Heh..." The lieutenant colonel rolled his eyes at him. "So, tell me, is it for desertion or for rioting?"

“No, you misunderstood me.” Davis shook his head. “I would like to ask you, sir, the crime rate in this big city we are in now is not low, is it?”

"Oh?" Caronville became interested. "Go on."

"Before I joined the army, I was a policeman. Our veteran officers often told us, 'It's lucky you're in a small town. If you went to a big city, all your heads wouldn't even equal the bullets in a thief's magazine.' At least in my country, the bigger the city, the higher the crime rate, and the more serious the crimes are. So, can the five of us request to be armed with pistols for patrol? After all, we don't want to be riddled with bullets by submachine guns and have to resort to our fists to maintain order."

“Oh, of course, all you need is one gun and two spare magazines,” Davis added at the end.

Caronville stared at him for quite a while, observing his gaze.

“Very good! A very good reason! It makes me suspect you’ve been secretly gathering information!” The lieutenant colonel chuckled. “Alright, Private Davis, oh no, for now, I’ll verbally confer upon you the rank of sergeant. I’ll have a soldier take you to collect your rifle later.”

Thank you, Sir.

……

Shortly after the lieutenant colonel left, he summoned his adjutant—yes, the same older woman who had punished the soldiers.

"Major Lefel, I have a task for you. Those guys from Sector 45A are going on patrol alone. I'll have you keep an eye on them today, but keep your distance. They should recognize your face."

"Tracking, is that it? Okay, I'll handle it."

……

Back to the street now, that lively group of people, moving forward in a line, looked like a bunch of rabbits.

"Hey! Dude!" Taylor called out to Davis, "Thinking back to those police officer hoops from before you enlisted?"

“Heh.” Davis didn’t speak, but simply smiled and raised his chin.

"Oh? So, Sergeant." Philip leaned closer curiously, inquiring about Davis's new rank, "Can you tell me about your life before you joined the army?"

"Me? Ah, I just stay in town, managing public order, checking for thugs, catching petty thieves. Although I haven't solved any murder cases, I'm quite efficient at it."

"For example?"

"For example, it's quite easy for me to tell whether someone is planning to do something petty or despicable."