Rescue Operation (2)
The advance speed of the soldiers marked on the map had slowed noticeably. They had to weave through and clear the rubble buried under layers of concrete and rebar to reach the shelters. The shelters blinking green on the display felt impossibly far away.
"Lieutenant Colonel Ignatz. Play the prepared broadcast."
> Understood, sir.
At my order, the lieutenant colonel directing the aircrafts relayed commands to his subordinates. The pre-recorded broadcast began transmitting above the ruins.
> This is the rescue unit from Ark No. 17. Survivors, ascend to higher ground and expose your location. I repeat—this is the rescue unit from Ark No. 17. Survivors, ascend to higher ground and expose your location. If that is not possible, follow the flight path of the helicopters. Our forces are currently engaged with the monsters, and they are falling back under our firepower.
The thunderous broadcast drew the monsters' attention. Tens of thousands surged toward the ground troops, yet the situation differed from before. In the confined spaces of the ruins, infantry anti-tank rockets functioned effectively as area weapons.
> They're coming through the alley!
> Prepare to fire rockets!
Shuuuung.... Kwaang!
> Kieeeek!
> Keep firing! Walker units, switch from armor-piercing to high-explosive rounds! Push forward! Infantry, clear paths for the trucks!
> Ground forces, be advised—gunship ammunition depleted. Repeating: gunship ammunition depleted. Returning for rearmament. Estimated time: twenty minutes.
> Air squadron, ground forces are running low on ammunition! Requesting aerial resupply and casualty evacuation!
> Request confirmed. Returning with rearmament and supplies. Prepare casualties for transport.
The monster count displayed by the AI still raged wildly, yet only a fraction stirred despite the noise. The rest remained dormant or asleep. Wasting time was not an option. The ground forces had yet to reach even the first shelter.
> Damn it! Some are crawling too!
> Protect the trucks! Infantry, watch the high-rises!
> Help! They're on me! Aaaagh!
> Walker down! Pilot dead! Repeat—pilot dead!
> Where the hell is air support?
The ground situation descended into chaos. Crawling monsters, walking ones, charging and leaping creatures were already enough trouble—now monsters scaling buildings? Each possessed the strength to pierce a walker's cockpit and kill the pilot inside.
"Goddamn it!"
> This is the 3rd Air Squadron. Rearmament and supply drop prepared. Proceeding to the city now.
> Hurry! We're pinned down here—can't advance!
As the transmissions grew more urgent, cold sweat trickled down my back. If only a fraction of that horde could cause this much trouble, the government forces' helplessness became easier to understand. I stared anxiously toward the city as the air squadron raced in.
> What is that?
> This is the air squadron. Did someone fire a flare?
> A flare? No one launched a flare...
> Wait... my God. Survivors! Survivors fired the flare. Headquarters, do you see them?
"I see them. Evacuate the survivors immediately."
> Understood! Dropping supplies then commencing evacuation.
The view from the remote camera left me and the officers stunned. Dozens of survivors stood on the roof of a collapsed high-rise, desperately waving flares. Though the glimpse was fleeting, they were armed, their clothes ragged. They had likely survived by scavenging from fallen soldiers.
> Supply drop zone secured!
> Drop complete. Beginning survivor evacuation.
Three helicopters veered toward the flickering flares—one for transport, two for escort. The terrain prevented landing, so they lowered folding ladders instead.
> Watch out! They're climbing up!
> Open fire. Mind the ricochets.
Pa-pa-pa-pa-pak—!
> Uwaaaagh!
> Move faster!
> Last passenger aboard. Returning to the Ark.
The helicopters continued pouring fire to hold back the monsters. The ground forces, now resupplied and relieved of casualties, pressed their attack with renewed ferocity. Only when an alley became so choked with corpses that passage was physically impossible did they reach the first shelter.
The shelter door was sealed tight, surrounded by the bodies of countless police officers and soldiers—proof they had fulfilled their duty to the end.
> Controller, we've reached the shelter. What are your orders?
"There should be a console near the door. Enter the code there."
> What's the code? The door says 14-8.
"If it's 14-8... input SVRT998."
> S...V...R...T...99...8... Done. Access granted. Opening the door.
Kuuuung!
As the door began to open, frantic noises erupted from within. The survivors were likely civilians, but the worst-case scenario remained possible—monsters filling the space. The soldiers raised their weapons despite their reluctance.
When the door fully opened, terrified citizens stood aiming an assortment of fire extinguishers outward. They must have assumed the shelter system had malfunctioned and opened the door on its own.
"Aaaagh!"
Tang! Ting!
The moment the door opened completely, tension snapped. Citizens with shotguns fired amid screams, but hunting shotguns were useless against soldiers in reinforced exoskeletons and body armor. One soldier staggered briefly, then ordered them to lower their weapons. Only then did the citizens realize the situation and drop their arms.
> We are the rescue unit. We'll take you to a safer place. Board the trucks. The Ark has ample space and resources for all of you.
> R-really?
> Thank God... we're saved!
> Escort the civilians safely to the trucks!
The battle raged on, yet the streets felt eerily desolate—perhaps because so many monsters had already been slain. Corpses of monsters lay everywhere, punctuated by distant shouts and roars. As long as one could endure the thunder of crossfire, that is.
"How many?"
> Roughly two hundred.
"I see."
Though it pained me to say it, we could not ferry these rescued civilians straight back to the Ark. We still had to visit every shelter to the west. Returning after each rescue would stretch the operation beyond a month. Watching the citizens board the medium trucks one after another, I ordered the ground forces to proceed to the next shelter.
Speed was everything in this operation. If the countless dormant monsters throughout the city began to awaken, even my best efforts would be futile. The core of the mission was saving as many people as possible in the shortest time. The anxiety of the rescued civilians was unfortunate, but it had to be set aside.
> Controller, this one's 19-43.
"Input TNCDP3002."
> Done! Opening the door.
I felt grateful once more for the Ark's absolute access rights to civilian shelters. Forcing the door open with noise could have driven panicked civilians to mass suicide—a possibility I could not ignore.
The second shelter held far more people than the first—nearly six hundred. Most appeared to be office workers who had rushed to the nearest shelter when the crisis began. This was encouraging; office workers meant a labor-capable population. Six hundred additional workers would be a significant boost.
"Keep moving. There are still over twenty shelters left."
> Understood. Requesting additional supplies.
> This is Communications. Additional supply request confirmed. Relaying orders to the 3rd Air Squadron.
Though delayed beyond expectations, progress remained steady so far. If we achieved this much in the western district, similar results could be expected elsewhere. That optimistic thought had barely formed when—
> Wh-what is that?
> Headquarters! We've encountered an unknown monster! It's... enormous!
> What are you standing around for? Fire rockets or autocannons—anything!
"Damn it! What the hell is that thing?"
A colossal monster, easily over a hundred meters long, appeared before the ground forces.