Chapter 929: Chapter 929: Landing at Evernight Harbor!
"Brothers! For the Managers! For the Alliance! Charge!!!"
"Awooo!!!"
The vast and boundless sea was engulfed in surging waves, and the sky above the blue waves echoed with cries.
Accompanied by the roar of propellers and Mosquito Brother’s explosive shout on the communication channel, planes swarmed like locusts towards Evernight Harbor.
The entire attack formation was composed of two parts.
The first formation, cruising above the clouds, mainly consisted of next-generation fighters equipped with plasma engines.
Primarily the L-10 "Thunder," followed by the P-2 "Lightning," their mission was to suppress the enemy’s airport and compete for air supremacy with today’s "Peidao" jets.
The second formation mainly comprised Goblin Corps’ W-4 fighter planes, tasked with ground support missions!
The "W-4" is the latest propeller fighter plane designed by the Goblin Corps based on the war situation in Poluo Province.
Its appearance closely resembles the La-11, equipped with two 20mm anti-aircraft cannons, and the wings can be equipped with guided and unguided rockets as well as bombs according to the combat mission.
Although the plane’s appearance is a classic retro style, its power components, weapon system, and onboard radar have been redesigned by Goblin Technology engineers, with the power source being the latest metallic hydrogen fuel cells produced by the Lister Group.
In fact, with a series of high-tech improvements, the combat efficiency of this contraption has risen by a tier, but its cost-effectiveness is far less than that of the "Flying Stick" W-2.
Not only that.
Due to higher speed and maneuverability, the W-4 also demands more from pilots.
For these reasons, this model is likely to become the last propeller plane designed and mass-produced by Goblin Technology.
Beyond that, it’s the era of plasma engines!
Perhaps to avoid regrets, Mosquito Brother allowed the vertical take-off "Thunder" and faster "Lightning" fighters to be piloted by other more skilled pilots in the Goblin Corps, while he himself took on the retro-styled old aircraft, leading the newbies and veterans of the corps in a signature charge.
Seeing the swarm of planes approaching like locusts, the Southern Legion officers tasked with guarding Evernight Harbor were all dumbfounded.
These guys appeared like water spiders, suddenly leaping out from the calm sea.
Before this, not even a slightly larger bird had been seen on their radar!
Many immediately thought of the Alliance’s submarine carriers, said to be able to bring aircraft up suddenly from the deep sea and have fought hand-to-hand battles in the civil war in the southern sea area.
However, completing all military and logistical deployment in such a short time was frighteningly efficient, leaving the insiders present deeply shocked.
The city defense commandant Stanford, who reacted first, decisively grabbed the communicator and shouted.
"All units, enter combat status! Second Air Formation, take off immediately and engage!"
"Yes!"
Hearing the crisp and decisive response from the communication channel, Stanford finally sighed with relief, wiping the sweat from his forehead with his arm.
However, seeing the rapidly approaching green dots on the radar screen, his heart couldn’t help but race.
So many planes...
It seems the Alliance has invested heavily in this strategic bombing!
Although most are propeller planes, with only a few more difficult plasma engines, it’s still somewhat challenging for Evernight Harbor’s air force and air defense forces to shoot them all down.
He now only hopes that Evernight Harbor’s strategic facilities suffer minimal damage, not affecting the logistics at the front lines.
At this moment, Stanford had not yet realized the seriousness of the situation, nor did he know that the fleet of the Southern Sea Union and the enterprise’s ocean landing ship were already en route, and even that their own fleet had been completely annihilated in the waters near Serek Island.
The Southern Legion General Headquarters had blocked all unfavorable information to Legion Leader Teil, so that departments at all levels were completely in the dark about the situation outside their own theater, and what they heard and saw was like a completely parallel world to what actually happened.
If at the front lines, this situation would be more apparent.
For instance, soldiers under Gibson commander clashing with Snake State Guerrilla Team might have heard versions that said—Legion Leader Teil’s army had already landed at Potato Harbor, capturing the Southern Sea Union’s president, who was drunk in a bar, while the Alliance Managers’ plea for mercy was rejected, and Poluo Country Leader Absek had already secretly fled.
Information warfare is also a part of war.
Similar situations were not limited to the Southern Legion; the Eastern expansion faction of the Eastern Legion also used this during the Battle of Falling Leaves.
However, even people above the commander level being cocooned was rare, but it was enough to show that the Southern Legion had reached the end of its tether, and even those at the commander level could no longer decide the outcome of this war.
In such a situation, being informed or not was indeed no longer important, and might instead add unnecessary worry.
After all, if Stanford knew that his main fleet had been annihilated, and that the enterprise’s army had followed the Southern Sea Union’s navy to his doorstep and was ready to land, it would be hard to say whether he could muster the courage to resist or would simply defect and surrender...
As the battle orders were given, planes quickly took off from Evernight Harbor’s airfield.
Meanwhile, jets already deployed to West Sail Port also took off one after another, heading towards Evernight Harbor.
The roar of machine guns and the air raid sirens at Evernight Harbor sounded almost simultaneously, as streaks of tracer rounds crisscrossed the sky, turning its clear blue expanse into a rain of death!
Although both sides deliberately avoided the populated streets, stray bullets occasionally fell onto the streets.
These were 20mm aircraft cannons!
Not to mention being grazed, even the fragments splashed by cannon impacts on the ground were enough to cut through defenseless civilians.
For the survivors of Poluo Country’s Tiandu, used to air raids, it was a common sight, but for the residents of Evernight Harbor, this scene was a first.
The flames blossoming in the sky and the plumes of black smoke falling down were like hell descending.
People in the streets screamed and ran, some heading home, others to the nearest air raid shelters.
It’s not only the civilians who are in panic; the officials at Evernight Harbor are equally dumbfounded by the sudden outbreak of war.
Compared to the real situation at the front line, they know even less than the ten thousand leaders in the military system.
For example, Ya Hui.
Until a few minutes ago, he was still agonizing over the personnel arrangements at the city hall and the pressure from the logistics department, when suddenly the air raid sirens went off.
At first, he thought it was some exercise, until a series of distant black dots reflected on the windows of his office, awakening him from his dream-like state.
"Damn it... Where the hell did this bunch come from?!"
He shouted in panic, leaving the window with a look of fear and disbelief on his face, his voice distorted due to his anxiety.
At this moment, hurried footsteps rushed into the office.
The secretary appeared at the door, panting heavily, his face pale and trembling as he spoke breathlessly.
"Governor, it’s no longer safe here... We better hurry and take shelter!"
Administrative units like the Governor’s Mansion have always been prime targets for air strikes.
If it were just bombing, it wouldn’t be too bad.
But with this "lightning and thunder" setup, he felt it wasn’t just an air raid, but there might be more to come.
Hearing the secretary’s words, Ya Hui managed to calm down a little and quickly moved to the door.
The two of them hurriedly left the office, heading to the nearest underground bunker from the Governor’s Mansion.
The aerial warfare had already reached its peak, with planes engaging in fierce battles like cavalry chasing each other, clashing in close combat over the azure wilderness!
Initially, with the support of ground anti-aircraft firepower, the air force at Evernight Harbor managed to gain some advantage.
However, several tactical cruise missiles fired from afar breached the anti-missile system and landed in the city, blowing some anti-aircraft cannons and missile racks into rubble, instantly silencing the ground anti-aircraft firepower that was previously in full swing.
While the aerial fight was yet undecided, another battle unfolded.
As the city defense forces were caught off guard by the unexpected aircraft, busy maintaining order and evacuating the populace, helmets suddenly appeared sparsely on the dockside at the harbor.
They rose like ghosts lurking in the tides, as if a wave pushed them ashore.
Along with several K-10 "Iron Wall" exoskeletons fully modified came dozens of four-meter-high "King Crab" amphibious all-terrain infantry armors with the Jungle Corps!
Standing on the harbor, the guards stared in horror at these gigantic figures, feeling their limbs turn stiff as if filled with lead, unable to move.
Shaking off the damp seaweed hanging on his arm, Midnight Chicken Killing strode briskly to the nearest guard, smiled brightly at him, and then tossed aside the trembling "small hose" in his hand.
"This thing is useless to me, take shelter."
Seeing the cannon and chainsaw welded on his arm, the guard was too pale-faced to utter a word, standing there as if dumbfounded.
Midnight Chicken Killing ignored him and just waved to the players behind him.
Faced with these fearsome regular troops, the guards in the harbor area had no resistance at all.
Although some brave Weilante People fired at them, the outcome was obvious. They couldn’t even scratch the paint on the "King Crab" armor, and were blown to pieces along with the wall by the 20mm machine guns mounted on the crab’s pincers.
The surrendering guards were driven by the players to collect the bodies of those reckless fellows.
Seeing the shredded flesh pulled from the rubble, even the old soldiers who had been on the battlefield felt their stomachs churn.
As for the young ones who hadn’t been to the battlefield, some even vomited messily.
Although most of the Weilante People were brave, not everyone was.
After all, not everyone is truly brave.
Besides, those who were truly brave had already tasted the iron fist of the Southern Legion. Those who remained were either silent, enduring, or completely ignorant.
Expecting them to sacrifice their lives for the Teil Legion Leader who had suppressed them is as futile as hoping they won’t cause trouble at a critical moment.
After a fierce internal struggle, most of the guards in the harbor area relinquished their resistance.
Within less than a minute, a thousand heavily armed steel muscle men successfully landed at the harbor.
Just like when the Burning Corps attacked Jinjaron Harbor, they first seized the police station, then captured the nearest armory, repelled the militia heading there, and effortlessly crippled the defense of the entire harbor area.
As for how they knew the location of the armory, it’s actually quite simple.
Many good brothers in the Weilante People Expeditionary Army were once residents of Evernight Harbor.
And not just residents.
Among them were also personnel from the customs system, logistics system, and retired veterans from the front line.
They provided not only intelligence but also chose to fight alongside the Jungle Corps players!
Shortly after the Jungle Corps players landed, they disembarked from landing boats at the harbor, using battalions as their operational units, quickly filling in the gaps in the defense sectors overlooked by the Jungle Corps.
It was only by this time that Stanford Ten Thousand Leader suddenly realized that this wasn’t some retaliatory air raid, but an amphibious assault under aerial cover!
However, by the time he understood this, it was already too late; the docks in the harbor area had completely fallen into the hands of the Alliance.
For the defenders of Evernight Harbor, this did not only mean their sea supplies were cut off, but also that the Alliance’s troops would continue to land in waves!
Realizing the gravity of the situation, Stanford panicked completely, immediately dispatching the first ten thousand troops of the city defense forces to the urban area near the harbor, ordering the front line commanders to reclaim the harbor at all costs.
Although until now he hadn’t heard a word regarding his main fleet and the Western Legion fleet, but with the Alliance’s ground forces already at their doorstep, even if he were foolish, he would realize something serious was happening.
As one order after another was given, the soldiers of the city defense forces quickly gathered from various parts of the city towards the harbor.
On those ashen faces, expressions varied, some angry, and some terrified.
However, regardless of the expression, this time they were no longer facing unarmed compatriots.
On the other side, the Alliance Army that landed at the port had already formulated the next stage of attack plans.
Midnight Chicken Killing planned to leave some people at the port to hold critical docks, cover the company’s allies landing, while sending part of the troops to attack the broadcast station located in the northwestern urban area.
According to the soldiers of the Vellante Expeditionary Army, the signal tower there could cover the entire Evernight Harbor.
One of the officers named Kuran stated to him that as long as they seized the broadcast station, he could manage to gain support from the majority of survivors in the settlement and dismantle the remaining garrison’s resistance forces.
After discussing with several other players, Midnight Chicken Killing felt this plan was worth a try and dispatched the Ground Model from the group, giving him a company of brothers.
Considering the strength of the Jungle Corps, this company’s military power was enough to be used as a reinforced battalion.
In addition, a battalion-level combat unit from the Vellante Expeditionary Army that landed with the Jungle Corps was also split to act as guides and provide fire support at moderate distances.
The Ground Model, upon receiving the task, perked up immediately and urgently rallied his brothers into action.
He was relatively passive in the corps, but that was compared to the other brothers who liked to fight hand-to-hand.
Unlike the Storm Corps which was proficient in defense, the muscle-bound Strength Type in the Jungle Corps were all valiant, second only to the Death Legion who didn’t even care for experience points.
Rather than shrinking in a Turtle Shell for defense, of course, the tense and exhilarating urban warfare attack got him fired up!
"Brothers, follow me! We’ll take down this settlement before Mosquito can settle the score over there!"
The Ground Model was shouting loudly in the communication channel, and a group of new members, unaware of the situation, shouted.
"Bro, the company hasn’t landed yet!"
"Aren’t we heading for the northwestern urban area?"
The Ground Model laughed heartily.
"It doesn’t matter! It’s all the same! Let’s just go for it! By the way, remember not to harm civilians!"
"Got it!" Came the high-spirited echo from the communication channel, and each squad distributed individual tasks, quickly breaking from cover under the protection of friendly fire.
Two "King Crab" amphibious armors first stormed onto the broad main avenue, nimbly dodging incoming rockets with a quick maneuver.
Before the Southern Legion soldiers guarding the other end of the street could react, one "King Crab" decisively stepped forward, charging straight into the safety range of the anti-tank soldier bearing a rocket launcher, then sent him flying several meters away with a claw.
Soldiers hiding behind cover were terrified by the sudden appearance of the monster. No one had expected such agility, nor that it would dash directly into their faces.
The reconnaissance vehicle guarding nearby retreated frantically as the 20mm heavy machine gun welded to the rooftop started firing incessantly, attempting to cripple the mech crab’s legs through concentrated fire.
However, this maneuver clearly did not evade the keen eye of the battle-hardened driver.
The player operating the "King Crab" did not give him the chance, catching up with the frantically reversing reconnaissance vehicle in a few strides, and another claw swung out, flipping the several-ton reconnaissance vehicle over.
Facing this overwhelming offensive, the city defense soldiers behind cover were all stupefied.
Not that they were front-line combat troops to begin with, but even front-line troops might not have seen such a scene.
Nevertheless, their fighting spirit and quality were much stronger than the West Winds Empire’s city defense soldiers, and the combat power and fighting spirit of the Vellante people were indeed stronger than most ordinary Waste Land Wanderers, not so much that they would flee at the first setback.
A Southern Legion soldier took out the dynamite pack and detonator from the ammo box, dispelling fear with a yell, risking everything to charge at the "King Crab" armor causing havoc.
With a deafening explosion, the scorching shockwave blew him into a rain of blood but simultaneously blasted off two crab legs of that "King Crab" armor.
The "King Crab," struck by a hit, slumped, its forelimbs creaking as the joint hit the ground.
The violent tremor left the player inside the cockpit dizzy, taking two seconds to recover.
Seeing the Southern Legion soldiers concentrating fire around him, he raised a crab claw to protect the power components while setting up the 20mm auto-cannon welded on the claw for a burst of fire.
The house on the roadside was shot, losing half a wall, and a soldier bearing a rocket launcher aiming at him was crushed into mincemeat!
The close-quarter battle was truly exhilarating, the adrenaline pumping for the player in the cockpit, not feeling fear despite being encircled, rather he was excitedly shouting.
Yet the excitement waned as he was finally surrounded by a whole hundred-member team, with his dual claws no match for hundreds of hands.
Faced with bullets shot from all directions and rockets occasionally mixed in, the red lights on the operation panel flashed like lanterns.
It was only then that he finally felt a bit panicked, shouting into the communication channel.
"Damn... I’ve been hit! Someone pull me out!"
A teammate’s voice quickly responded from the communication channel.
"Crap! Who told you to go so forward! Hold on!"
"Hurry, stop talking——"
Before he could finish his words, an anti-armor rocket slammed into the top of the cockpit.
The hot metal jet instantly poured in, taking half of his body away.
Seeing the now-motionless iron lump, the Southern Legion soldiers cheered with relief from a narrowly escaped disaster.
However, before they could count their casualties, another identical "King Crab," accompanied by more than ten exoskeletons, stormed in front of them.
Looking at the murderous bunch, almost everyone felt a shiver run down their spine.
And the ensuing battle held no suspense, the hundred-member team guarding the street entrance was almost crushed one-sidedly.
However, it is commendable that these lunatics, like the players, fought with bloodshot eyes, and not a single one surrendered until the end.
Upon realizing the Alliance Army’s intention to attack the Northwestern city area, Legion Thousands Leader Finan grabbed the communicator at hand and shouted loudly into it.
"This is the 11th thousand team! The enemy is advancing towards the Northwestern city area, and we are being suppressed by the Alliance’s amphibious armor... The front needs tank reinforcements!"
After a brief static noise, a response quickly came through the communication channel.
"... Command has received your message, the 27th Armored Team is on their way to support you! We’ll transfer their communication to you, hold your positions!"
Hearing that the armored troops were heading to the front lines, Finan finally felt a bit relieved.
The "Iron Crabs" with six legs looked intimidating, but they merely took advantage of the complex city terrain.
Even the armor-piercing bullets carried by individual soldiers could penetrate these things, let alone when faced with a real tank, it would only take one cannon shot.
He had no doubt about the penetration depth of the "Conqueror" number five tank.
Even if it’s just a light tank, it definitely couldn’t be stopped by so-called individual armor.
However, as he thought this, a sharp wail suddenly came from the sky.
The sound was like a prolonged air raid siren, or perhaps the scream of the grim reaper.
"Woo—!"
He abruptly lifted his head and saw dozens of planes diving towards the city area.
The anti-aircraft machine guns on the ground fired hastily, but the tracers flying into the sky were as scattered as feathers in the wind, not even brushing the shadow of the planes.
Finan watched helplessly as those dozens of planes dropped bombs, and soon, the streets not far away reverberated with deafening explosions.
"Boom—!"
A gun tower was seen flying across the sky from the explosion, and Finan’s face was simultaneously filled with despair.
After a moment’s wait, a barely alive breath came through the communication channel.
"... This is the 27th team... We encountered an airstrike, the armored unit suffered heavy losses, we can’t come to help you."
How could the Alliance bomb so accurately?!
Could their troops have already infiltrated behind the defenses?
Finan’s expression changed from despair to collapse.
Of course, he couldn’t have known that the Alliance people had long infiltrated the city, even before these troops landed, they were already embroiled in an unseen war.
And those who launched this war are the ones they’ve ignored for so long.
Facing the fierce assault of the Jungle Corps, his troops were suffering increasing casualties without armored support, and finally, signs of a collapsing defense began to appear...
Though the battle on the ground was still intense, the fight in the sky had already been decided.
With the Southern Sea Alliance destroyers entering the battlefield, the few remaining planes of the Southern Legion were dropping like dumplings.
At this point, the Town Defense Commander Stanford finally recognized reality.
His subordinates were not prepared at all for anti-landing operations, whereas the Alliance’s offensive was well-planned.
Now that the aerial battle has been decided, and the Southern Sea Union’s ship cannons were at the harbor’s edge, if he continued to engage in a deadlock at the harbor, soon his twenty thousand brothers would be all wiped out on the shore.
After much struggle, he ultimately ordered all units to retreat toward the northern urban area.
That is where military facilities at Evernight Harbor are most concentrated, constructed with numerous concrete structures which can not only provide ample supplies but effectively resist aerial bombs and gunship bombardments.
Of course, the most important thing is to regroup.
Though the Town Defense Army at Evernight Harbor only numbers over twenty thousand, there are nearly a hundred thousand in registered military personnel.
These people are not local residents of Evernight Harbor, most are from other colonies and the Southern Legion’s homeland.
Although they are not organized here, if assembled, they can form a considerable combat force.
Upon receiving the retreat order, the town defense soldiers engaged in a firefight with the Alliance at the front line finally breathed a sigh of relief, and orderly withdrew from the battlefield under the cover of supporting fire.
After two hours of battle, the Alliance had basically taken control of the major city areas near the coastline at Evernight Harbor, squeezing the Legion’s resistance forces into the northern urban area and a large slum zone known as "Blackwater Alley" north of Carter Nord Prison.
Meanwhile, on the other side, the enterprise’s landing craft finally approached the dock.
A group of eager young men, having endured the endless blabber of their commanders, finally stepped onto solid ground.
However, upon disembarking, they were all dumbfounded without exception.
Let alone talk of a "five-division counterattack," they didn’t even see the shadow of a single Southern Legion soldier.
Looking at these dumbfounded young men, Midnight Chicken Killing, carrying a chainsaw, walked up to them, laughed heartily, and said.
"You arrived quite timely, just not too luckily."
Tang Feng’s corner of the mouth twitched, and he couldn’t help but ask.
"Where are the five divisions of the Southern Legion?"
Midnight Chicken Killing lightly patted his arm and laughed sheepishly.
"Next time, we’ll definitely leave some for you."