Chapter 1166: The Battle of Fengkao Shield (5)

The driver Hartmann pushed the control stick hard, and the tank narrowly dodged behind a giant boulder.

A missile struck the boulder, and the shockwave of the explosion still shook the tank violently.

A Leman Russ Tank attempted to maneuver and evade, but its tracks had been damaged by previous artillery fire, and its speed was insufficient.

Two missiles hit the top of the turret directly, piercing the relatively thin armor.

A brief scream came from inside the vehicle, and then everything fell into silence.

Keman reported over the communication channel.

"We have lost one Leman Russ Tank. And one Gorgon."

"Continue the fight."

Colonel Sitelake's voice sounded over the channel.

"Our artillery is about to provide support."

Artillery position.

At the last heavy artillery position of the Mordians, Colonel Hans Klaus looked at the tactical screen with a grave expression.

His artillery regiment originally had 72 Basilisk Self-Propelled Artillery, but now only 24 remained operational, along with two Hydra Anti-Air Cannon.

Ammunition reserves were also down to only 31%.

"Anti-Air Cannon, target: enemy attack aircraft flight airspace. Fire!"

The artillerymen operated quickly.

The muzzles of the Hydra Anti-Air Cannon elevated to a nearly vertical angle.

"Target data input complete. Direction: southeast by east."

"Fire!"

Two Hydra Anti-Air Cannon roared simultaneously.

The first "Razor" attack aircraft flew right into this area.

The pilot attempted to evade, but the fire density was too high, and dozens of holes were punched into the wings and fuselage.

The engine caught fire, and the attack aircraft spiraled toward the ground.

The second one was also hit by a Rune Bullet; the damage was lighter, but it was still destroyed by subsequent fire.

The third and fourth changed course in time, avoiding the airspace covered by the Hydra Anti-Air Cannon fire.

"One shot down, one damaged."

The observation point reported.

"The remaining two are climbing, likely preparing for a second round of attacks."

"Reload! Prepare for the second round!"

Hans ordered.

"Colonel! Orbital energy accumulation detected!"

The Communications Officer reported loudly.

"The enemy warship's main cannon is charging! The target... is our artillery position!"

"All units, emergency relocation! Follow Plan C, disperse and retreat!"

The order was given, but there was too little time.

The engines of the Self-propelled Artillery started, and they began to reverse out of the position.

But the speed of an orbital strike is the speed of light; from charging to impact, there was less than twenty seconds of warning time.

When the first orbital bombardment fell, Hans was in the command vehicle.

A thirty-meter-diameter area was instantly vaporized, including three Self-propelled Artillery that were in the process of relocating and everything around them.

The second, the third... fortunately, many of the orbital bombardments did not hit the artillery regiment, but they still caused significant losses.

When the shelling stopped, the 8th Artillery Regiment of the Mordians had only six Basilisk Self-propelled Artillery left, and all of them were damaged.

Hans crawled out of the overturned command vehicle, his left arm twisted unnaturally.

He looked toward the former artillery position, where now only melted craters and twisted metal wreckage remained.

"Artillery position... 75% loss."

Hans said with difficulty into the Communication Device.

"Remaining firepower is insufficient to support the front line. Repeat, artillery support capability is basically lost."

There was a brief silence on the other end of the communication, and then Colonel Sitelake's voice came through.

"Received. You have done well. Now, gather the weapons that are still usable and fire again!"

"Yes!"

Rift surface, Krieg infantry defensive line.

After the brutal exchange of armored units, the initiative of the battlefield returned to the infantry.

The Death Korps of Krieg surged out of the underground fortifications, reoccupying the surface positions that had been blown to pieces.

123-7-379 lay on the edge of a crater, his Lucius Pattern 98 Lasgun resting on the scorched soil.

His squad now had only two people left: himself, and a soldier with a leg injury who could still fire.

Ahead, the "Mammoth" mechs and "Thunder Beast" tanks of Fengqi were advancing slowly.

With scattered artillery support and no armored counterattack, the infantry was almost powerless against these Steel behemoths.

But the Krieger never admit to being "powerless."

"Are the anti-tank teams in position?"

123-7-379 asked into the backup Communication Device.

"In position."

A dull voice replied.

"Three Plasma Guns, five Meltaguns. But the range is insufficient; we need to get within firing range."

Getting close, under the fire coverage of mechs and tanks, that is equivalent to suicide distance.

"Covering team, prepare."

"Received."

"Anti-tank team, wait for my signal."

123-7-379 took a deep breath.

On this position, he had unexpectedly become the soldier with the highest military rank, so command temporarily fell into his hands.

He looked at the young soldier beside him: "Can you still move?"

"I can crawl."

"Then crawl. Follow me. We need a better observation position."

They left the shell crater and advanced among the ruins and corpses.

123-7-379's eyes scanned the front.

A "Mammoth" mech was strafing the position with its secondary weapons, and another "Thunder Beast" tank was providing fire support from further back.

It was that "Mammoth".

Its attention was drawn by the frontal fire, leaving its flank relatively exposed.

"Anti-tank team, target: left side, coordinate A-9. Covering team, open fire with full force in ten seconds to draw attention."

"Received."

The Krieg soldier beside him set up his Laser Gun and aimed at the head of the "Mammoth" mech.

"Fire!"