Chapter 23
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 23
I felt the tight constriction of my combat suit, zipped all the way up to my throat. The chest plate was a mix of dull silver and black, the section over my sternum slightly thicker than the rest.
'The head and the chest are what matter.'
I ran my hands over my helmet and chest plate in turn.
As long as those two areas stayed intact, an Imperial soldier didn't die. So long as they were breathing and blood still reached the brain, the Empire would find some way to keep them alive with cybernetic technology.
Because of that, even the poorest low-ranking Imperial soldiers crept closer to full-body prosthetics the longer they served. It was rare, but some had started as nothing but cannon fodder, survived one warzone after another, and eventually climbed the ranks all the way to high command.
Clack.
I checked my gun and blade. Both were pristine. The gun had been polished clean of any residue, and the ring of the blade was so sharp it practically sent a chill through my ears.
"We're moving, Kodrak."
I checked the time and stood. The platoon members who'd been resting were on their feet in an instant.
Crunch, crunch.
I stepped out of the barracks into a camp bustling with soldiers on the move.
At the vanguard stood the Armored Brigade, clad in black full-armor prosthetics. Excluding special forces like the Imperial Guard, they boasted the highest combat capability in the entire military.
Creak.
We boarded the heavy assault vehicle. Its official capacity was fifty, but it could easily fit two infantry platoons—three if we crammed in tight.
Clack-clack, clack-clack.
The vehicle's tracks ground against the dirt, spinning aggressively.
Whir.
The internal displays flickered to life. Eight cameras mounted around the hull fed us a seamless 360-degree view of the outside.
The atmosphere inside was suffocating. The other platoon sharing the ride was just as silent.
"Platoon Leader Luka." Kodrak spoke from the seat beside me. I turned to look at him.
"If you've got something to say, spit it out," I replied curtly.
Kodrak let out a soft sigh before speaking.
"I know better than anyone how outstanding you are, Platoon Leader. I make it a point to thoroughly review my superiors' records, after all."
His tone was conciliatory. He was no ordinary soldier either—despite the hostility I'd shown him, he stayed calm and kept his manners.
At this point, even I found it hard to be harsh with him. It's difficult to spit on a smiling face.
"...And?"
"Once we're in actual combat, I'd appreciate it if you kept my advice in mind. I've served in the Imperial Army for ten years. I might not be on your level, Platoon Leader, but I'm far from incompetent."
"You don't have to worry about that. If the situation calls for it, I'll listen to anyone's advice."
I gave a slight nod. Only then did Kodrak seem to relax, a faint smile touching his lips.
Clank, clank.
The assault vehicle pressed on toward the front lines. We were to stand by just outside the firing range of the Arcane Fortress's turrets.
'Once the Armored Brigade neutralizes the turrets... we breach the fortress.'
That was the shape of the operation. We'd encircle the fortress and wage a war of absolute annihilation. Command's determination not to let a single rat escape was unmistakable.
Screech!
The heavy assault vehicle ground to a halt. Dozens of other vehicles lined up in unison alongside ours. Through the gaps between the stationary transports, the soldiers of the Armored Brigade marched forward.
Clad in agile full-armor prosthetics, the Armored Brigade charged toward the Arcane Fortress. Their armor of choice was the mass-produced Myrmidon model. Painted pitch-black, the force was a mix of second- and third-generation units. From a distance, they looked like a swarm of black army ants rushing forward.
Over a hundred Myrmidons crossed into the effective range of the fortress's turrets.
Inside the transport, we held our breath, eyes fixed on the tactical displays.
The Arcane Fortress, half-ruined by the ravages of time, relied on its Force Shield to make up for its compromised structural defenses.
A section of the bluish barrier began to part, peeling back like a curtain.
'The bombardment's starting.'
The translucent shimmer of the Force Shield made it impossible to pinpoint the exact locations of the turrets.
Whirrrr!
Inside the barrier, light particles condensed and flared with blinding intensity. A moment later, a beam of pure energy erupted from the Arcane Fortress, carving a long, destructive line across the earth.
Rumble!
The shockwave rippled all the way through our heavy assault vehicle.
Hiss, hiss.
Blue smoke billowed from the scorched ground. The Myrmidons scattered left and right, dodging the beam. Without losing a shred of momentum, they continued their relentless charge toward the fortress.
Whir!
Another beam of energy erupted from a different angle.
Full-armor prosthetics might be massive, but they were still humanoid—ridiculously small targets compared to vehicles or starships. Blessed with high mobility and erratic movement, they were nearly impossible for stationary turrets to lock onto.
The Myrmidons dispersed further, weaving through the incoming fire. A few got caught in the destructive paths of the beams, but their losses amounted to a mere four or five units.
At last, the vanguard of the Myrmidons slammed into the dome-shaped Force Shield. As one, they drew the spears mounted on their backs and swung.
The tips of those spears were blades forged from a specialized mineral known as Holystone. When Holystone made contact with Force energy, it triggered a neutralizing reaction, tearing the barrier open for a brief moment. The weapons had been specially commissioned for this very operation.
The tears were narrow and sealed almost instantly, but they gave the Myrmidons more than enough time and space to slip inside.
"They've breached it..." one of the previously silent platoon members murmured.
The success of the entire battle rested on the Myrmidons' shoulders. If they failed, our prospects would turn grim.
We had no way of knowing what was happening inside the Force Shield. All we could do was wait for the Myrmidons to neutralize the turrets and report back.
A minute crawled by. According to the tactical computer's projections, that was more than enough time to disable the defenses.
We watched, counting every passing second. Even if the Myrmidons failed to silence the turrets, the suppression force would still be ordered forward. If that happened, we'd suffer catastrophic casualties.
As the deadline drew near, the faces of my platoon stiffened with dread. Some, unable to master their nerves, started to tremble.
Static.
Static crackled through the communicator. We stared at the display. A single Myrmidon tore through the Force Shield from the inside and stepped out.
— Turrets neutralized. Proceed to the next phase.
Sighs of relief rippled through the cabin.
I felt the corners of my mouth twitch into a faint, involuntary smile. The battlefield is a horrific place. Losing your life is a tragedy. Yes, I knew that all too well.
But so what? I was the kind of person who found a twisted joy and satisfaction in that terrible tragedy. If I weren't, I'd have lost my mind a long time ago.
Now, at last, it was time to put my abilities to the test.
* * *
The Arcane Fortress was built on a highly conventional design.
A Force Shield and a double-layered metal wall protected its interior. But the outer wall was currently half-demolished, its defensive value practically nonexistent.
Whir!
With the Myrmidons having neutralized the barrier, our heavy assault vehicle punched through the Force Shield and pulled up right in front of the wall. The moment the hatch hissed open, we vaulted over the ruined ramparts and pushed inside.
Within, the Myrmidons were already busy sweeping the ground level.
'Our job is to clear the underground facility.'
That was the objective handed to the infantry—myself included.
The rebels had retrofitted the fortress's subterranean levels into a base of operations. The entrances leading down had been deliberately kept narrow to keep full-armor prosthetics from squeezing through. This was as far as the Myrmidons could take us.
Beep.
I checked the tactical map projected onto my retinal display. The entry routes provided by command flickered into view. Every infantry platoon would breach the facility at the same moment through different points. We wouldn't leave the rebels a single avenue of escape.
"Once we're inside, anti-personnel weapons only. No unauthorized heavy ordnance," I ordered, watching the heavy blast doors to the underground grind open.
The Empire had surveyed this site thoroughly in the past. We had the schematics from that survey, but the rebels had almost certainly remodeled the layout since, which meant the old maps wouldn't be entirely accurate.
'In fact, blindly trusting outdated schematics is a surefire way to walk straight into a trap.'
The subterranean levels of the Arcane Fortress were a labyrinth. Wandering in without a reliable map would be like getting lost in a maze. The known depth of the facility alone exceeded a hundred meters.
The entrance was barely wide enough for a single soldier to squeeze through. We sent a recon drone ahead to sweep for immediate threats before making our descent.
As we headed down the stairs, the corridor widened slightly—still barely enough for two or three men abreast. The ceiling hung low, forcing us to hunch our shoulders and bend our backs to keep our helmets from scraping the concrete.
Just getting inside ate up a considerable amount of time. Whatever the rebels had planned, this layout was perfect for buying them time.
"Luka, we're taking this route," another cadet platoon leader who'd entered through the same breach called out when we reached a fork in the path.
I wished him luck and led my squad down the opposite corridor.
"From here on, I'll take point," I announced.
My deputy, Kodrak, flinched.
"...Taking point in a place like this is suicide, Platoon Leader."
The odds of traps and ambushes ahead were astronomical. In these cramped corridors, the point man was all but guaranteed to die first.
"Are you worried you'll face disciplinary action if I get killed?"
A deputy platoon leader was, in essence, a babysitter for a greenhorn officer. I understood that dynamic perfectly well.
"To be completely honest, yes," Kodrak admitted without pretense.
Frankly... I was starting to like the guy. He handled my erratic behavior remarkably well. He was a seasoned veteran, experienced in more ways than one.
"Hmm. I suppose you have a point. Even if I'm just an Irregular, I'm still technically an Imperial Guard Cadet." I drawled, pretending to weigh his words.
A flicker of relief crossed Kodrak's eyes.
"I'm glad you understand—"
I didn't let him finish.
"But here's the thing, Kodrak. I couldn't care less what happens after I'm dead. Whether you and the rest of the squad get demoted or have your pay docked is none of my concern."
I flashed him a savage grin. Reaching out, I grabbed the shoulder of the soldier currently at the front and shoved him back.
"I'll say it one more time. I'm taking point. Just keep your eyes glued to the back of my head and follow me, you morons."
I felt a sudden chill, as if the barrels of my men's rifles were already trained on the nape of my neck. I wouldn't be surprised if a few of them were fantasizing about a thrilling little episode of fragging right about now.
But they wouldn't dare turn those fantasies into reality. At the end of the day, they were still loyal soldiers of the Empire—just like me.