Section 1, Despair

She is nine months pregnant and may give birth at any time

S12 is no longer merely a mining area; it has transformed into a fortress with exceptionally strong defensive capabilities. Even more alarming is that the automated tunneling machines hidden underground are frantically mining every day. The accompanying facilities, including weapon factories, assembly workshops, and ammunition production lines, are continuously producing brand new heavy assault vehicles, powerful heavy tanks, and lightly armed helicopters. These armed vehicles have significantly shortened the supply lines between the front lines and the rear cities. With S12 as support, the actual control line of the Earth Federation is rapidly extending outward.

The road leading to the S12 mining area is riddled with shell craters, and the black asphalt debris that has been turned up from the ground has softened, resembling a semi-melted solid formed when butter is heated and then cooled. On the surface, a thick layer of loose soil has accumulated. Occasionally, a gust of wind sweeps through, pushing the scattered empty shell casings on the ground forward, producing a metallic clinking sound.

According to the analysis by the Strategic Intelligence Bureau of the Pan-United Armed Forces, the ore output from the S12 mining area accounts for 6.43% of the total resource output of the Earth Federation each year. Due to the location of the mining area being near the border of two major powers, the Federation has stationed an entire special armored division here. Additionally, based on the hollowed-out abandoned mine pits, a vast and sturdy network of permanent fortifications has been constructed underground in the mine.

In the distance, the core of the explosion emitted a rumbling sound akin to distant thunder. The main mountain range forming S12 began to collapse southward under the immense destructive energy. A few minutes later, the scene remaining in the colonel's line of sight was filled only with thick dust soaring to the sky, and that column of cloud still shrouding the top of the mine, resembling a gigantic exclamation mark, lingering for a long time without dissipating

At the top of the tower on the eastern side of the mining area, black smoke mixed with intense flames is rising. A large light blue square iron plate, approximately two square meters in size, hangs at the top of the tower. In the center of the prominent Earth pattern, there are numerous large bullet holes left by the GUESS Gauss rifle.

The gunfire gradually diminished. Through the electronic surveillance cameras, the soldiers of the Earth Federation, who were steadfastly defending the fortress, clearly saw on the screen dozens of Pan-Union military vehicles surrounding various intersections changing direction, while six dual-rotor transport helicopters were gathering infantry in the open area. As for the direct-fire artillery positioned at the main passage bottlenecks, all operators had already evacuated.

Thinking of this, Colonel Krummer pressed his lips tightly together, coldly and unwillingly gazing at the "品" shaped building, a symbolic structure of the S12 fortress, which was now riddled with shell holes and bullet marks, gradually shrinking in his line of sight. He then slowly lowered his head to glance at the watch on his wrist. At the moment when the second hand, continuously rotating around the dial, finally overlapped with the top "12", he put on the goggles that were slanted in his chest pocket and raised his right hand, with the middle and index fingers together, high to his forehead, as if signaling to release.

Survivors are not only the soldiers who fight to the last breath. In addition to an expert inspection team dispatched by the Federal Academy, which had already entered the fortress in the mining area two weeks ago to conduct resource exploration and equipment production assessments, there are also several military families who have retreated into the fortress from the living quarters. Among them is the wife of a division commander who has already fallen in battle

... ...

The number of soldiers killed in the former exceeded 70,000, losing over 100,000 square kilometers of land on the eastern front as bait. Although the latter suffered relatively few casualties, it was unable to reactivate the S12 fortress. The intense nuclear explosion destroyed all surface structures, and all peripheral vacant tunnels in the deep underground were contaminated, making it impossible for even automatic tunneling machines to enter. The strong radiation environment directly interfered with the radio waves emitted from within the base, and with all facilities in the inner and outer layers destroyed, the distress signal sent out before the massive explosion became the last record in the archives of the Earth Federation Military regarding the information on the fortress guardians.

Gazing at the distant arch-shaped structure, fortified with titanium-steel protective barriers and a concrete layer that is fifty-five meters thick, which could withstand a direct hit from a three-hundred-millimeter super-heavy train shell without being penetrated, the colonel felt an uncontrollable rage welling up from deep within. He clenched his teeth fiercely, his hands gripping tightly before quickly releasing. The edges of his lips, pressed into a cold, hard line, slowly revealed a hint of cruel ferocity. He clenched his teeth fiercely, his hands gripping tightly before quickly releasing. The edges of his lips, pressed into a cold, hard line, slowly revealed a hint of cruel ferocity.

The auxiliary building to the left of the central building has collapsed. A middle-aged colonel, with graying hair and standing as straight as a flagpole, is on the rooftop, holding a tactical binoculars in both hands, gazing towards the direction from which gunfire and explosions continue to emanate. In the square below, several medium tanks with 150MM main guns are continuously belching flames and roaring; each time a dazzling red light flashes at the impact point of the shells, a subtle tremor can be felt beneath his feet.

The contingency plan involves detonating the tactical nuclear bombs that have been pre-installed at various entrances, ventilation ducts, excavation shafts, and production workshops of the S12 fortress

The campaign came to a disheartening close without a clear victor. Neither the Coalition of the Offensive Forces nor the Earth Federation, as the defenders, achieved the expected results.

The collapse is merely a matter of time

In order to capture S12, the Pan-United Army dispatched raiding forces that completely disregarded their flanks. By entirely abandoning logistical support and charging forward with a fierce momentum, backed by absolute air superiority, they launched a vigorous assault towards the mining area. As the core of this joint operation, all troops gathered in the surrounding area simultaneously attacked the Earth Federation's garrison, launching a multi-faceted engagement. After seventy-six hours of intense assault, the number of soldiers killed and wounded exceeded thirty thousand, and they finally cleared all armed strongholds around the S12 fortress, driving the spearhead directly into its interior. Regrettably, the Pan-United Army, which had broken through numerous obstacles to enter, came to a halt before the fortified core area of the fortress.

Gently lowering the telescope in his hand, the colonel's tightly furrowed brow remained firmly knitted together. He reached out to brush off the dust that had settled on the silver knight's sword, the emblem of the Pan-Union Army, on his chest, and with a barely perceptible sigh, he shook his head.

The nuclear bomb set off by the Pan-United Army directly obliterated the entire mountain. Even the underground section, which boasts superior protective capabilities, could not allow anyone to survive the explosion, even if it could withstand it according to the specifications. Moreover, the outside world is filled with terrifying radiation that is invisible to the naked eye

At the top of the central building in the mining area, a light helicopter fully loaded with passengers has taken off from the ground. A middle-aged colonel sits beside the open cabin door, gazing with a complex expression at the magnificent structure that merges with the distant mountains.

With the final declaration resonating with a pronounced nasal tone filled with hatred, a blindingly bright sphere of heat, even more intense than the sun, suddenly erupted in the direction of Fort S12. In an instant, the shockwave from the explosion enveloped an area spanning several dozen kilometers. Everything was completely shrouded by a circularly expanding energy field. Nearly half a minute later, a strong tremor violently dispersed, and beneath the dark goggles, flames of red and black intertwined to form bizarrely colored smoke, crowding and entwining as they ascended into the sky. Ultimately, this evolved into a brilliantly radiant yet terrifying small mushroom cloud. Nearly half a minute later, a strong tremor violently dispersed, and beneath the dark goggles, flames of red and black intertwined to form bizarrely colored smoke, crowding and entwining as they ascended into the sky. Ultimately, this evolved into a brilliantly radiant yet terrifying small mushroom cloud

The Pan-United Forces could not tolerate this situation at all. Under the meticulous planning of the General Staff, they mobilized five elite divisions to launch a flanking assault, sacrificing a frontline defense line of over 130 kilometers in width, and successfully breached the defenses to penetrate directly into the interior of S12. In the face of this sudden upheaval, despite the Earth Federation's rapid mobilization of reserves to engage in battle, the S12 fortress still suffered heavy losses against an absolute disadvantage where enemy and friendly forces were over sixteen times greater.

In the depths of winter, the wind carries an unbearable chill. However, above the S12 mining area, a heatwave envelops the surroundings, intense enough to drive a person to madness.

As a fortress that integrates combat and production, S12 indeed possesses a solidity and toughness that astonishes any opponent. Even precision-guided penetrating bombs carried by heavy bombers cannot breach the underground protective layer composed of stacked titanium steel and reinforced concrete. After suffering nearly thirty percent heavy casualties, the 63rd Armored Division of the Pan-Union Army, tasked with the main assault, finally penetrated the interior of the mine. However, at that moment, the advance support forces of the Earth Federation had already arrived at the periphery of S12, engaging in combat with the 190th Infantry Division responsible for defense. In desperation, Colonel Krummer, leading the special forces in a desperate assault, was forced to retreat.

Meanwhile, in the depths of the underground where Colonel Krummer's eyes could not penetrate, a pregnant woman in labor lay in the corridor outside the core control room, continuously emitting inhuman screams as she was assisted in a flurry of activity by several soldiers

The tremendous shockwave from the explosion caused a captain, who was half-kneeling nearby, to suddenly lose his balance. His body tilted, and he involuntarily fell onto the protruding abdomen of a pregnant woman. The sudden collision and pressure tore at her nerves, and the pale-faced woman widened her eyes in shock, letting out a terrifying scream that seemed capable of piercing eardrums. This violent action appeared to drain all the energy she had stored within her, and her piercing cries abruptly ceased with the violent tremors of the ground. When the captain pushed himself off the ground and stood up again, the woman had already stopped breathing, and from between her legs slid out a mass wrapped in blood, amniotic fluid, and mucus. This violent action seemed to have exhausted all her energy, and her piercing cries ceased with the violent shaking of the ground. When the captain pushed himself off the ground and stood up again, the woman had already stopped breathing, and from between her legs slid out a mass wrapped in blood, amniotic fluid, and mucus, connected by the umbilical cord to a red mass that suddenly erupted with the first cry of a newborn entering this unfamiliar world.

... ...

The vast majority of the TR defense personnel in S12 have already perished, and the actual functional area of the entire mining zone has been breached to an extent exceeding 74%. However, there are still over 500 remnants of the Earth Federation fighting to the last. They rely on the most fortified core area of the mining control zone to mount a desperate counterattack. Although the Pan-United Army's assault troops continuously attempt to persuade them to surrender, calling for negotiations, and even resorting to various means of heavy financial inducements, the response they receive... is merely a crude retort from the opposing commander: "Bastards of the United Army, I f*** your mother’s filthy c***!" Although the Pan-United Army's assault troops continuously attempt to persuade them to surrender, calling for negotiations, and even resorting to various means of heavy financial inducements, the response they receive... is merely a crude retort from the opposing commander: "Bastards of the United Army, I f*** your mother’s filthy c***!"

In order to achieve the desired effect, the joint military demolition personnel did not spare even the abandoned mines. Regardless of whether this massive explosion can destroy the fortress, the area within a radius of over 100 kilometers will be contaminated by radiation. No one will be able to enter or exit, let alone serve as a reserve base necessary to support the war

What we cannot obtain, you will never be able to possess. Hmph ... ...

Some believe that there are still survivors inside S12.

There are many factors that determine the outcome of a war, including logistics, economy, manpower, and weaponry. Among these, the most important component is resources

Did the allied forces retreat

Delicate, thread-like white clouds gently float across the vast surface of the azure planet. The boundless ocean, interspersed with black and faintly green land, tightly connects, creating a curving, twisted, and rugged line. Sunlight slanting down from the depths of space divides the enormous planet into two parts, shrouded in light and darkness; however, the boundary is very indistinct, marked only by a highly regular isolation zone that exists in a gradient manner

What do they want to do

... ...

Execute the contingency plan, all combat personnel to evacuate S12 within fifteen minutes

Reinforcements! It must be our reinforcements that have arrived

According to the operational plan established by the General Staff Headquarters, in the event that S12 cannot be captured, the battle can be sustained for a maximum of twenty-six hours. This area falls within the sensitive zone of the Earth Federation's sphere of influence, and various reinforcement units are rapidly advancing from the eastern direction towards this location. A stalemate will only waste time. Once the reinforcements arrive, the joint assault troops will have no further retreat options.

Cheers, doubts, and unease... Various unconfirmed speculations rapidly spread among the survivors. Due to the persistent effects of the unified remote communication barrier, the remnants have been unable to establish contact with the Earth Federation headquarters. Whether facing an attack or a retreat, their only course of action is to remain here and hold their ground

Even when departing, one must leave enough "gifts" for the Earth Federation

After the war, the Earth Federation Military Joint Conference imposed severe punishments on a series of commanders and related personnel who performed poorly in operations. In particular, the commanding officers of the units that failed to provide timely rescue were subjected to the cruel punishment of being sent to the gallows. The delays resulted in immeasurable and enormous losses—researchers conducting investigation missions at Fort S12 were all top authorities in astrophysics, quantum mechanics, and warp drive from the National Academy of Sciences. Their collective deaths directly delayed the Earth Federation's technological advantage in certain areas by at least ten years, if not more. The delays resulted in immeasurable and enormous losses—researchers conducting investigation missions at Fort S12 were all top authorities in astrophysics, quantum mechanics, and warp drive from the National Academy of Sciences. Their collective deaths directly delayed the Earth Federation's technological advantage in certain areas by at least ten years, if not more.