Chapter 9, The Tangible Reality of War

Ouch, ouch, ouch... Zhang Songlan propped his head up and crawled out from under the seat. Without a seatbelt, his head struck the table heavily during the impact, and a large bump began to swell up.

As the scene shifts, the "invaders" kneeling in a row are similarly subjected to a frenzied barrage of gunfire. As if shooting were not enough, the executioners appear on screen wielding chainsaws, dismembering the already lifeless bodies into fragments and scattering them among the crowd

Kill them! Kill them! The angry crowd is shouting

"Deputy, isn't it a bit too stimulating to show these things to the captain right now? After all, he's just a recent graduate, and you're being quite cruel." The somewhat kind-hearted radar operator Chris peeked outside to glance at Zhang Songlan, who was vomiting, and smiled at Terenxier.

Suddenly, the camera lens turned to face a passionate crowd, consisting of men and women of all ages. Some waved the flags of the guerrilla government, some raised their rifles high, while others picked up stones from the ground, throwing them fiercely at an unknown target

"Has the Red Five been repaired, Telunxier?" Zhang Songlan asked as he took the water bottle that Telunxier handed him and rinsed his mouth.

To stop moving forward over such a trivial matter is still too immature..." Telunxi Er shook his head in disappointment and sent out Zhang Songlan's orders

Ah, oh... Zhang Songlan was pushed off balance by his subordinate but did not lose his temper. The busy mercenaries made him feel that his presence was quite superfluous, so he could only return to the command vehicle in disappointment

"The guerrillas are composed of individuals who resort to all means possible; they lack the capital for honorable combat and can only rely on these underhanded tactics to resist. Of course, we mercenaries are not much different." Terun Hill did not mind Zhang Songlan's silence; he turned on the video terminal in the vehicle and soon found a certain channel.

It is better to vomit now than to be halfway through a battle and then vomit; showing him the guerrilla program makes him feel that he is in the right. Terenkhil innocently shrugged his shoulders

"Captain, should we change our direction of travel? Continuing along the interstate highway will surely lead to other ambushes," Terenxier suggested without missing a beat.

The medical team members roughly pushed Zhang Songlan, who was in a daze, aside and quickly carried the two unconscious armored vehicle crew members on a stretcher towards the medical vehicle. A concussion, being a minor ailment, can be handled in a few minutes with emergency measures. The mercenary team, lacking personnel, had very few reserve drivers and could not afford to let lightly injured personnel enjoy the comforts of a field hospital.

These invaders, along with those traitors who have allied with them, never anticipated that we would rise again. Look at these people! The guerrilla fighter forcefully grabbed the one whose eyes reflected the strongest sense of resistance, saying, "They have no remorse for their crimes! Allowing them to live will only bring more suffering to our brothers, sisters, and fellow villagers. Their existence is built upon our pain!"

Heaven knows what that young rascal is thinking; perhaps he still considers us as pawns for strategizing in the graduation exam! As soon as Kid fired this shot, someone immediately chimed in. The one who responded was Francis, the third pilot, who is the most senior among the four pilots and is nicknamed 'Big Francis.' His words sometimes carry more weight than those of Mike, the squad leader of the first machine.

Rest assured. Those who graduate from prestigious military academies are individuals who believe that simply standing on the side of justice allows them to exert 120% of their capabilities. Trust me, you won't be wrong!" Terenhill smiled mysteriously, turned his head, and ceased to speak.

"Depart!" Zhang Songlan commanded in a low voice, his gaze returning to the topographic map near the Ninth City.

The city channel of the Ninth City is probably already occupied by the guerrillas. " Telun Hill's expression was indifferent, " I see you don't really understand the nature of guerrillas; watching their performance should help you grasp their thoughts.

"Boss Fu, watch your step!" Before Francis could complain about Zhang Songlan any further, a sudden exclamation from the pilot of Unit 4, Weber, echoed through the channel. Startled, Boss Fu quickly slammed on the brakes, causing the mecha's foot, which had yet to touch down, to awkwardly freeze in mid-air, resembling a clumsy golden rooster standing on one leg.

Upon hearing this from Telunxier, Zhang Songlan's interest was piqued. He directed his gaze towards the terminal, where a program of this nature was currently being broadcast.

What kind of motivation for combat is this? Just look, tsk tsk, even the bile has come out. You've scared the captain!" Chris shook his head in disagreement

You are called a potato simply because you lack courage! Look at me, I am not necessarily much taller than you, who would dare to criticize my height? Boss Fu is relentless when he is in the right

Telunxier has always been enigmatic, and no one can extract answers from him. Chris, who has been an old comrade with Telunxier for several years, understands this all too well. However, it is precisely Telunxier's baseless speculation that convinces him deeply, for when Zhang Songlan returned from outside the command vehicle, wiping the corner of his mouth, the look in his eyes was no longer the confusion he had displayed during his last return, but rather an indescribable feeling.

Comrades, warriors! We have been oppressed for a full twenty-two years. Our parents were forced to surrender the last grain of food in their mouths, and our children were sent into dark, sweat-soaked factories by those demons in human guise. We have witnessed our friends and relatives being slaughtered, our wives and daughters being abused, and our homes being stripped away! In the face of this, we could only endure, for as soon as we resist even slightly, those warlords would turn their guns on us. They have never regarded us as human beings, but merely as livestock raised by the army!" The guerrilla fighter spoke with a heavy heart, and Zhang Songlan could see that his emotions were genuine.

But we have never given up the struggle, our sacrifices have not been in vain, and now the struggle has finally yielded results! Those who once exploited us, along with the scoundrels who assisted the exploiters! They kneel here, and they will pay for their actions! We seek revenge, we demand retribution! An eye for an eye! A grievance for a grievance!" The fervent cries of the guerrillas rose again

"Potato, what happened?" asked the startled Big Brother Fu.

The gunshot rang out, and the target fell, with every shot hitting its mark. The blazing white flames leaped high from the suspicious location, accompanied by the faint sound of an air explosion, bursting open at a height of several meters and transforming the area below into a sea of fire—just as Potato described it, a wide-area aerial thunder. If Big Brother Fu were to advance another two hundred meters, his mech would become the first damaged mech reported since the beginning of this operation.

"How could it explode right in the center of the formation?" Zhang Songlan was puzzled. The command vehicle was positioned in the center of the formation, so the ambush mine should have detonated in the vanguard troops.

Zhang Songlan felt a wave of nausea and rushed out of the command vehicle, while the others inside seemed unresponsive, as if they had witnessed this many times before

"Warning from the reconnaissance vehicle: There is a suspicious metallic object 1,800 meters underground ahead of you." The response to Captain Frank came from a weak and stuttering voice. Weber, who had just joined the mercenary group after the last battle, was a small-statured man with an even smaller courage, which is why everyone gave him the nickname "Potato".

What does justice have to do with it? Chris did not understand the intention of Terunxi

"Perhaps it was the wide-area high-altitude jump thunder..." The potato, having received criticism, anxiously defended itself, its voice so soft that it was almost inaudible

The camera shifts once again, this time focusing on a group of individuals whose clothing and fabric are several times more luxurious than those of the crowd below. They are awkwardly kneeling on the stage, their heads and faces battered and bleeding from stones thrown at them, their suits, stained with filthy blood, are tattered and ragged like worn-out rags. Fear seeps from their eyes—perhaps some still harbor a trace of anger and hatred. The complex intertwining of these emotions renders their faces repugnant. They are awkwardly kneeling on the stage, their heads and faces battered and bleeding from stones thrown at them, their suits, stained with filthy blood, are tattered and ragged like worn-out rags. Fear seeps from their eyes—perhaps some still harbor a trace of anger and hatred. The complex intertwining of these emotions renders their faces repugnant.

"Indeed, kill them!" The guerrilla fighter struck the man's chin fiercely with the butt of his gun, "Their deaths are just the beginning. We will continue to settle the score until the invaders disgracefully roll out of New Belfast, roll out of Five Star Pass! Their blood will saturate the earth, and our land will become more fertile as a result. This is the only way for them to atone for their sins!"

Several mecha pilots worked diligently to clear a significant amount of explosives, but unfortunately, some were ultimately overlooked. As a tank passed by the roadside trees, a seemingly harmless branch suddenly exploded. The shockwave from the explosion lifted one side of the thirty-ton tank nearly to a forty-five-degree angle before it crashed heavily back to the ground. The immense force caused the drive wheel to twist and deform, flying off into the distance. It is easy to imagine that the occupants inside would not fare well. More critically, this tank was situated very close to Zhang Songlan's command vehicle. If the tank were to be overturned by the bomb, it could potentially crash directly onto the command vehicle. The shockwave from the explosion lifted one side of the thirty-ton tank nearly to a forty-five-degree angle before it crashed heavily back to the ground. The immense force caused the drive wheel to twist and deform, flying off into the distance. It is easy to imagine that the occupants inside would not fare well. More critically, this tank was situated very close to Zhang Songlan's command vehicle. If the tank were to be overturned by the bomb, it could potentially crash directly onto the command vehicle.

Unclear. This precise profile appears to be a wireless remote detonation, but the possibility of a delay fuse cannot be ruled out. Terunxier shrugged, "The explosion has already occurred; it is meaningless to investigate further now. You should consider whether we should continue moving forward or pause to regroup.

"The tank will take at least half an hour to repair. Come take a look at this; consider it a distraction," Terun Hill called out to Zhang Songlan.

"How is it, Captain? Is this your first time seeing such a scene?" Seeing his immediate superior return to the vehicle with a strange expression, Terunxier understood what was happening; most new recruits display this demeanor during their first battle.

Having traveled only a few dozen kilometers, we are met with such a warm welcome; the local guerrillas are indeed very hospitable. Zhang Songlan, with a throbbing headache, stood up from his seat and said, "The entire team will temporarily halt progress and wait for the repair of Red Number 5. Inform the vanguard to take this time to carefully search for any enemy activities and documents in the vicinity. I refuse to believe that a delayed fuse can be so precise in its detonation."

Red Five was ambushed by explosives buried among the trees, and the maintenance team is currently assessing the damage. Their armor was not penetrated, so the personnel should be fine. Terun Hill reported with an expressionless face; such minor incidents were routine for him.

Having finished speaking, Zhang Songlan opened the car door and went out to inspect the condition of the damaged vehicle

Captain, excuse me!

"Let's go! We are on enemy territory, so it's wise to be cautious." It was still Captain Mike, who couldn't stand by, coming to Potato Weber's aid. His words were few; without hesitation, he raised the electromagnetic sniper rifle of the mech and fired a shot at that patch of grass.

"Cut it out, isn't he just a little squad leader? What's there to be so arrogant about?" The self-aware and guilty Big Brother Fu pouted and fell silent.

Zhang Songlan lowered his head and remained silent, directly returning to his seat

"Telunxier, what is going on? Report the situation!" Zhang Songlan, feeling dizzy, directed his gaze towards Telunxier, who was contacting the team. Fortunately, he was the only one in the vehicle who had been impacted; the others, unlike Zhang Songlan, a novice on the battlefield, were well aware of the benefits of seat belts.

It is no longer a problem

The four individuals, caught in an awkward silence and planning to move forward, were suddenly startled by a loud explosion. They looked at each other in surprise as they checked their scanning devices, realizing that the explosion originated from behind them

"What the heck! There's still 1,800 meters to go, why the rush? You made me think there was a landmine right under my feet!" The flustered Mr. Fu, drenched in cold sweat from the false alarm, was jumping up and down in the driver's seat.

Revenge for grievances! Retribution for wrongs! The agitated crowd became even more enraged, firing shots into the sky, pressing forward in a chaotic surge, and the situation had spiraled out of control

"What is it?" Zhang Songlan asked, looking up.

The engineers of the maintenance team outside the command vehicle are urgently repairing a tank that has had half of its tracks blown off. The crew inside the tank has been dragged out and laid on the ground to rest; the recent shock has left them disoriented, and their disheveled appearance suggests at least a concussion or something similar. A deep pit has been created in the ground on one side of the tank by high-explosive ordnance, with sharp metal strips buried in the explosives and shattered wooden stakes densely embedded in the ground and on the armor of the blasted side.

It is unclear whether this cameraman is unprofessional or under duress, as the image occasionally shakes due to the camera's instability. A guerrilla fighter, dressed in camouflage and with a triangular scarf covering his face, is passionately addressing the camera, his demeanor exuding a fervent and fierce spirit, complemented by the imposing Gauss rifle he wields. Behind him is a spread blue flag, likely a symbol of the "Planetary Revolutionary Government" formed by the guerrillas and rebels.

Long live New Belfast! Long live the revolutionary government! Let the blood of the invaders stain the earth! In the face of this brutal scene, the audience reacted by frantically scrambling for the pieces of flesh, with a glint of bloodlust seemingly shining in everyone's eyes

Long live the new Belfast! Long live the revolutionary government!" The guerrillas shouted slogans, firing their rifles at the fallen "invaders." The body of the man trembled violently until the bullets in the guerrillas' chambers were exhausted, and the form of the body was no longer recognizable.

"Hey, what on earth is our closed-door captain doing? I've never seen a captain so brazenly display our team like this, despite the numerous changes in leadership." Kid, the second pilot of the mech team, nervously scanned the surroundings for any signs of movement while complaining to his colleagues over the channel. On the battlefield, the optical camouflage of the 'Slingshot' felt like his second skin; having grown accustomed to hiding, he now felt uncomfortable no matter how he moved.

No need, I have my own plans. Zhang Songlan waved his hand to reject Telunxier's suggestion

Boom

Our lives are in the captain's hands; it is my duty as the deputy to stimulate his fighting spirit. " Terenhill replied evasively

Although it is unclear why Zhang Songlan chose to set the operational target at the Ninth City, a settlement that is neither a strategic objective nor a tactical stronghold, the soldiers of the First Mecha Hunter-Killer Team reluctantly accepted Zhang Songlan's orders. They advanced along the intercity highway leading directly to the Ninth City, spreading out in formation as designed by Zhang Songlan on both sides of the road. Over a hundred armored vehicles and supply trucks moved along the not-so-spacious highway like a herd of elephants relocating, creating an effect that, while not earth-shattering, startled birds and beasts within a radius of several dozen kilometers. For mercenaries accustomed to years of ambush tactics, such a bold approach to the battlefield felt extremely uncomfortable. This was especially true for the drivers of several sniper mechas, which prioritized stealth above all else. Due to the captain's demand for a grand display, these drivers had no choice but to remove the cold optical camouflage from the surface of their mechas, revealing their slender and somewhat frail steel exteriors painted in a red and black pattern.

This is ... ... those metal strips that are as long as a finger made Zhang Songlan feel somewhat apprehensive, and for the first time, he experienced a tangible sense of going to the battlefield

"Cutting and creating a mystery." Chris also did not intend to pursue the matter further