I, the undead, save the world with the dolls

Furthermore, the firepower of the Iron Blood elite humanoids isn't particularly impressive; their commanding abilities are paramount. In a sense, Iron Blood's forces are comprised of these elite units, while the rest can be categorized as various controllable equipment.

While the fighting outside was intense, with the Iron Blood Troops and the Heavy Armored Squad seemingly doomed, the situation inside was much better. While the Iron Blood T-dolls were wreaking havoc inside the Pentagon, they were directing the troops outside to coordinate their operations.

As we all know, humanoid troops are several times more effective indoors than outdoors. Outdoors, they'd be blasted to pieces by artillery and missiles, while indoors, humans wouldn't typically fire bazookas. Confined, close-range firefights are the perfect environment for humanoid combat.

A large number of US military helicopters have taken off, but when they are about to approach the Pentagon and prepare to launch missiles and machine guns, they will be shot down directly by the four-legged self-propelled artillery of the human ADS.

Among other things, the heavy armored troops possessed exceptional accuracy. They had extensive experience being required to be accurate. After all, long ago, when supplies were scarce, commanders relied on their precision to stay alive.

The Titan tanks' built-in anti-explosion systems and smart missiles on both sides inflicted immense pain on the surrounding US troops. This also brought great suffering to the humanoids themselves. The clash quickly devolved into a situation where whoever had the last tank still operational would secure the victory.

But it was clear that the US military was certain to win. The disparity in tank numbers and supporting firepower between the two sides was too great. Even if the Iron Blood troops and the heavily armored squadrons outside the building fought with superhuman reflexes and precision, they still couldn't change the unequal power between the two sides.

[Ohhhhhhhhhhhhh!! Charge!!] A four-legged self-propelled gun, having run out of ammunition, transformed into tire mode and charged directly towards the armored forces supporting the US military.

Several shells hit the galloping self-propelled gun, and the wreckage of the Griffin self-propelled gun finally stopped at the intersection, turning into burning metal scraps.

[Iron Blood Force! Titan Squad! The self-propelled artillery squad has been completely wiped out! You're on your own!] The reborn members of the heavy armored squad at KENSHI Base report the situation to their allies.

[Received.] [Received.] The elite Iron Bloods, rapidly attacking from within, and the Titans, continuing their battle from outside, responded. The Iron Blood puppets quickly shifted positions. The Titans also retreated to the lower floors of the Pentagon.

Although the charging self-propelled artillery did not hit any enemy armored units, blocking the intersection did delay the enemy for a while.

At this time, Makarov and Negev's helicopters and humanoid support forces arrived nearby.

Unfortunately, the helicopter was targeted by anti-aircraft fire from the Pentagon as soon as it appeared. Previously, the US military could only use some of its anti-aircraft guns as flat as possible, but now that a proper helicopter was approaching, they would prioritize shooting down airborne units.

When the Pentagon command was attacked at the White House, they knew that the Griffin helicopter would return. They were well prepared and would immediately lock on and open fire as soon as the helicopter reached the optimal attack range.

[Makarov! We can't wait! All of you, get down!] Two stealth helicopters carrying supplies, ASTs, and humanoids were urgently dropped, dropping the two reinforcement teams near the Pentagon.

The next second, dozens of smart missiles and guided missiles struck two stealth helicopters that had come to support them. The pilots tried to jump out, but were still engulfed in flames.

The humanoid and the AST fell heavily to the ground. Alarms were heard from all sides. The helicopter's messy supplies and wreckage also fell nearby.

Makarov's system quickly performed a self-check and sent communications to the surrounding friendly forces.

The Palette team is in good condition, their mainframes are still in place. A few of the puppets were broken, but they'll be put aside to use as fixed turrets.

After they were thrown down from a high altitude, their respective conditions were checked. The overall injury was not serious. Although there was a problem with the knee joint, they would have to wear AST later, so it was not very life-threatening.

Makarov checked the signals from the remaining troops.

All of the Iron Blood's armored units were destroyed, leaving only fifty-four humanoid puppets.

There were five Titans left, no, only four now. The heavy tanks had been fighting fiercely the entire time, and the self-propelled artillery had just been destroyed. Now it was the Titans' turn, without the protection of other armored units or humanoids.

And just now it was hit by the enemy's heavy firepower.

[The Heavy and Iron Forces return to defend, tightening their lines and preparing to fight inside the building. {Channel switch.} Negev, you're short on manpower, do you need backup?] Makarov and her teammates gather whatever supplies they can, activate all remaining drones, and charge toward the Pentagon.

Three ASTs and seven puppets are enough. I didn't expect to be able to bring everyone in. The sound of a door being broken open came from the Negev. They had already entered the building.

[Understood.] Makarov commanded his humanoid squad to fire a barrage of EMP grenades at the surrounding area to disrupt the electromagnetic environment. However, the US military, from all directions, unleashed a barrage of deadly shells and bullets of varying calibers.

[We need AST firepower. Minimize casualties.] Makarov grabbed one of his puppets and threw it onto a nearby rooftop. The puppet crouched on the rooftop, carrying an MDL and an IMR submachine gun. However, just as the puppet fired a round of smart grenades, a large-caliber anti-material weapon came out of nowhere and hit its head off, instantly shattering its shield.

[This is infuriating.] AAT52 instructed his puppets to fire at the approximate firing position, suppressing the enemy. The human soldiers didn't have the courage to continue firing under multiple machine gun fire.

Soon, Sten, Makarov, P7 and AAT52 arrived near the breach in the Pentagon.

The building now looked completely different from the one in the photo. Almost every room had been demolished by the figures, some even carrying large amounts of explosives for the demolition work.

The humanoid troops attacked from the outside, trying to compress the human troops inward. They had decided from the beginning not to let anyone inside escape.

In addition, some sniper figures who are good at lone wolf combat climbed to the roof of the Pentagon. They were wearing thermal optical camouflage cloaks and used the rail rifles in their hands to show some color to the armored units, helicopters, or humans who wanted to escape.

These rifled figures scattered across the Pentagon, along with the Iron Blood troops and heavy armored squads on the ground, formed a defensive line. The artillery couldn't bomb the Pentagon, and the precision shooters they sent out couldn't match the rifled figures.

In fact, if these rifle figures hadn't been constantly firing cans of American AST and self-propelled artillery, Griffin's defense would have been destroyed long ago. But the Titan tank was too tough, and the rifle figures couldn't move it.

The Palette Team didn't enter through the main entrance, but rather through a hole a humanoid had cut in the wall. Sun Yang had specially deployed many pistol-wielding humanoids armed with Jupiter cannons to assist in the demolition.

A simple pull of the trigger could create a path, and even Makarov couldn't complain about this weapon. If anything, the Jupiter Cannon was a bit too big. But compared to its power, this size was completely insignificant.

The Pentagon's internal structure was quite complex, and Sun Yang had also deployed a large number of shotgun humanoids. These powerful humanoids, who were extremely skilled in indoor siege operations, had already completely cleared the lower floors, leaving only the top two floors to be completely cleaned.

The last surviving human troops gathered here. They were numerous and armed with enough weapons. The humanoid troops' advance here suddenly slowed considerably. While still advancing steadily, the human armored forces outside might rush in before the humanoids could.

Ten shotgun dolls and ten machine gun dolls, together with their puppets, formed an impenetrable fire encirclement and assault team.

If they encountered a difficult path, the humanoids with Jupiter cannons or explosives would tear down the walls and advance. The rest of the Griffin team would follow these shotgun humanoids to fill the fire net.

A single humanoid puppet can often block a road. No matter how complex the structure of the Pentagon is, there are not so many passages that one person can guard each intersection and still leave a gap.

The remaining humans in the Pentagon's aboveground section had been squeezed into the last remaining building. Not only would the humanoids kill those in charge of command, but the various data records and command information they had kept there would also be destroyed in the battle.

US troops stationed in other cities gradually found that they could not contact their superiors, and support troops and some garrisons could not act privately without receiving orders from their superiors.

Although there were some troops that rushed to help upon hearing the friendly forces' call for help, generally speaking, most of the troops within the country remained on standby.

Using false and erroneous orders to confuse friendly forces is a common tactic in wartime. If you ignore every friendly signal for help and obey every friendly signal and command, the enemy will be very happy.

The importance of the ambush timing, or the inference of the route based on the intelligence at hand, were completely unimportant. I could simply make a phone call and send the enemy out, then find a spot to ambush at the right time and completely wipe out these marching troops.

However, because of this, if the headquarters is destroyed, these troops will be put in a passive position. There is no way around it.

Confirm that your headquarters has been taken down, and then, based on the existing situation and intelligence, establish connections with brother forces in the surrounding areas to form a large temporary integrated force - this kind of thing cannot be done so quickly.

No one was a superman, and even if they were well-trained, the chaotic troops would not be able to regroup and launch a new attack within two hours.

Arranging personnel and deploying supplies takes time. Time is the key to victory; a moment of hesitation could drastically alter the outcome of the battle.

So once the Pentagon is paralyzed, it means that within a few hours, all US troops in the country will be paralyzed and confused.

Naturally, this country will certainly take into account the possibility that even if the Pentagon is captured, it actually does have a backup Pentagon and Global Operations Communications Headquarters.

But even if the backup building is activated, it will still require troublesome work such as re-positioning personnel, contacting the troops, and activating the chain of command.

A reserve base doesn't necessarily mean the personnel are also in reserve. It would be foolish to have so many people waiting there every day to be activated. Reactivating it requires a series of complex tasks, which also takes time.

Time determines many things. The faster the better, the slower the better. This is the absolute truth.

Makarov, one of the few humanoids in Griffin who was prone to overthinking, naturally understood this. She immediately split her team and the Negev's forces into two groups. She would support the upper attack, while the Negev would break through the underground defenses.

[Roger that, Makarov.] Negev jumped through the hole in the ground blasted by the vanguard. Joined by the firepower of the three ASTs, the already precarious human defenses collapsed in an instant.

The human defenders of the Pentagon were actually retreating continuously, using their only automatic defense equipment and automatic firepower to destroy the puppets' position shields, forcing the puppets to hold up their bulletproof shields and switch defenses with other puppets behind them.

But this can only delay the enemy for a short time. As long as the AST host is used to break through a certain line of defense, the troops that have not retreated in time can be annihilated. The defenders have been able to hold out until now purely because the Pentagon is large enough.

Negev's style was more aggressive. She led her team in a relentless charge, tearing the dynamic defenses set up by the humans into pieces. Soon, she knocked out the human ASTs guarding the elevator and the passageway, and jumped directly from the elevator shaft to the second underground floor.

The chaotic communications situation on the underground floor and the electronic interference of the humanoid team prevented the human defenders there from reacting at all. However, the humanoids could form a humanoid local area network through more advanced communication technology, completely unaffected by interference.

The Negev team had already used up all the ammunition in their power armor. They set booby traps for the AST and left them there to prevent subsequent human troops from picking them up and using them directly.

The Negev, armed with their machine guns and explosives, fought guerrilla warfare in underground environments. Without the influence of the AST's bulk, they were faster and more deadly in combat.

Makarov and P7 in the team took turns firing, annihilating the last bit of defenders in front of them. She pulled the trigger of the Jupiter cannon against the wall of the last room.

The reinforced concrete walls were shattered, and the last remaining person inside raised his gun and fired non-stop.

But what they got in return was even more intense firepower. The last few ASTs emptied their machine guns and howitzer barrels.

In this last room, there was nothing left except the dilapidated office and blood on the floor.

"Mission accomplished." Makarov nodded. The Iron Blood troops outside had already returned to the Pentagon, fighting their way back.

104 Multi-Front Operation: Palm Beach

Same time, a little earlier. Near Palm Beach.

The early July heatwave has reached Palm Beach. Summer activities are about to begin, and idle dignitaries and wealthy tycoons from all over the world will gather here to enjoy traditional vacation activities.

At a cargo hold on the outskirts of the beach, two stealth helicopters were on standby, and several cars were parked around the beach. Humanoids were hunkered down in the rooms Sun Yang had rented at great expense, ready to strike at any moment.

I didn't expect the Commander to give us such an easy mission. UMP45 lay in bed, yawning in boredom. They'd been waiting for so long, she felt like her parts were rusting.

"I guess they think we did a good job stalling before, so they've arranged a relaxing activity this time. Look, when Makarov heard about the Pentagon attack, she almost cried," UMP9 said.

"I thought the AR team or the Disobedient team would handle this. Honestly, it's quite unexpected." HK416, lying on the other bed, joined in the conversation.

UMP12 said, "The AR team was assigned by the commander to carry out a special mission. Regarding the rebellious side, I doubt that someone with a military background like AK45 can get along well with Griffin and the Iron-Blooded Dolls."

"That's tough. Despite her ever-present smile, she's actually quite arrogant. She might be in trouble if she were to lead a T-doll operation. She won't change unless she's forced to live on the streets and suffers a few setbacks." HK416 expressed her opinion.

"You sound like yourself, 416. The pride of a former military T-doll?" UMP45 teased.

"Some people don't grow without going through hardships. But I don't think AK12 will have to go through something like this again. If anything goes wrong, she can just destroy the core and get back to base. And I've led Griffin's humanoid defense before, so I'm quite experienced in that regard." HK416 grumbled seriously.

"Then why not us, but Makarov? Wouldn't it be better if 416 led the team?" UMP9 asked.

[Idiot! Can't you see that?] G11 scrambled up from beside 416.

[Huh? Was that what just came out of this mouth?] 416 pinched G11's cheek.

"This, this is just a line from the game! I'm 416 wrong! I won't say that again! Forgive me!" G11 quickly apologized.

"So, what unique insights does our insightful G11 have?" UMP45 asked.

"You need to look at this from a gaming perspective. Look, there are plenty of people in our base who can fight, right? Some command a single squad, for example. But how many command multiple squads in coordinated combat?" G11 said.

Everyone in the AR team has some command ability. The AK-12 barely counts, so I guess I count as one too. And the Makarov? Hmm, that seems to be the end? The 45 definitely doesn't count.] 416 said seriously.

"I'm so sorry I can't command so many people." UMP45 retorted.

"So, the AR team won't be split up unless absolutely necessary, and there are only a few of them left. We're lacking qualified field commanders here," G11 said logically.

"It's true that the commander's command ability hasn't recovered to its original level yet. It's normal for him to consider other ideas." 416 agreed with this statement.

"The Commander can't command so many areas at once, so doesn't that mean we need to train T-dolls with command capabilities? Makarov and 416 are the ones we plan to train. But Makarov will be the main focus, as she'll need more experience points," G11 said.

[Why? Makarov is more popular with the humanoids? I feel like she and I are about the same level of popularity?] 416 looked at himself.

"Perhaps she's more stable. A skilled warrior doesn't always have a grand record of achievements. We've been playing extreme games for too long, and when we're undecided, we tend to rush in. The commander might need a steady, steady T-Doll." UMP45 said.

"I'm pretty stable too. Before, if I wasn't reckless in a crisis, I'd be dead." 416 retorted.

"What's the point of being stable? 416, why are you acting like, 'I'm so angry and hurt, Commander, why didn't you choose me?' The Commander needs more reliable personnel, and Makarov needs training. You're strong enough, so you don't need training. That's just the way it is. Hey, I wasted my rest after all this rant." UMP45 slumped down in her seat.

"If Makarov goes, he'll get the extra experience bonus from fighting against a higher-level opponent, but if you go, you'll only get the experience penalty from being level-reduced." G11 explained using game terms.

[Could it be that Makarov sacrificed his life for justice...] 416 expands the association.

[Ah, stop, stop, stop. Can you please stop thinking about this? What happened to Centauri Makarov, a perfectly good humanoid, in your mouth? Just be more polite. 416] UMP45 interrupted immediately.

[I've also heard you complain about the AK-12 a lot.] 416 was a little annoyed by the interruption.

"That's just the way she is. I'm just stating the reality of the situation." UMP45 immediately started to act hypocritically.

[Everyone, pause for a moment. It seems the Commander is giving a speech.] UMP9's own window appeared. On the livestream, Irons had just finished delivering a radical speech. Then, an ordinary-looking Asian youth approached.

"Time to go, friends. I estimate we'll kill more people today than I do in a year." UMP45 leaped from the window, carrying various bags of equipment. Parked at the entrance of the inn were two electric vehicles, the replicas Sun Yang had brought from Griffin. These electric vehicles resembled small trucks, the backs filled with puppets, ASTs, and spare equipment. The fronts were strangely designed to seat five people.

G11 loaded everything into the carriage and climbed inside. 416 quickly assigned tasks to the surrounding teams. She was in overall command this time, while UMP45 was responsible for the tactical arrangements for Team 404.

It might seem strange, but 416 is used to following UMP45's orders, and the other dolls have also survived following 416's orders. So this strange command system works pretty well.

Their mission was simple: mark an area and kill all the marked people within. However, some places, like meeting places, could be bombarded with grenades, as there were probably too many marked people to kill. Using automatic weapons was too slow.

416 quickly defined the scope, and each team had a high degree of authority to act independently. Only when helicopter firepower was needed in certain special circumstances would 416 decide which side of the battle the helicopter would assist.

Palm Beach is bustling with activity. It's summertime, after all, and there are already quite a few people living here. It's packed with people, not to mention the holidays. There are also many foreign tourists who come here to spend money and be taken advantage of.

Under the orders of the 416, two helicopters began circling over the town. Passersby paid no attention. With so many private planes and helicopters arriving daily, the sight of two military helicopters nearby wasn't all that surprising. Perhaps it was the son of a wealthy arms dealer showing off.

But the local garrison felt something was amiss. This helicopter looked like an Atlas model. Had they registered it here?

In a vehicle not far away, after confirming that all friendly forces were in place, 416 issued the order to attack.

Before the defenders could even ask, a helicopter fired two missiles at the gathering place of the wealthy people, and the machine guns quickly destroyed the surrounding defenses.

Accompanied by a violent explosion, the people in the venue were instantly blown into the air. The deadly shock wave and fragments blew the people in the center into pieces, and those who were a little further away also suffered internal bleeding.

Tourists everywhere heard the explosion, and those who were nearby immediately drove away. Meanwhile, the Griffin team, standing by near the venue, immediately dismounted and quickly finished off the remaining human remains, pulling the trigger.

The entire Palm Beach was in panic. Some people chose to flee the city, while others planned to return to their homes and arm themselves and their bodyguards.

However, the weapons used by these hiding people were not enough to threaten the humanoid troops coming to kill them.

How many people would prepare for being hunted by a T-800? Even military enthusiasts wouldn't keep an AST at home. Without armor and sufficient firepower, there's no way they can defeat a humanoid.

In addition to Palm Beach, several other top wealthy areas were under attack by the Griffin elite team. These teams took away Sun Yang's remaining stealth helicopters for use in raids.