From cannon fodder to sweeping across thousands of stars

Chapter 62 Fierce Fighting in the Forest 2
  Although the armored vehicle was burning, Amber could barely make out the shape of the turret and could tell that it was a standard Mongoose 4.

Amber carefully touched it and found that there were no fallen motorized infantry on the ground near the wreckage of the armored vehicle.

In other words, this armored vehicle was acting alone when it was attacked.

"Are you using yourself as bait?"

Since the data link and communication channel were still under attack at this time, Amber's tactical map and command module still did not refresh the data.

He also couldn't judge the status of the personnel in this armored vehicle.

Of course, under the attack of a large-caliber Gauss rifle, there would be no survivors in this 'Mongoose 4'.

"Lilith, is there a way to reduce the impact of electronic attacks?"

"No, the power of the individual electronic warfare module you are equipped with is too low, and I haven't read the information on electronic warfare yet."

"tsk"

Amber only felt dizzy for a moment as the 'most powerful artificial intelligence in history' was useless at this critical moment.

"Amber, what do you mean! The power of your equipment is too low. What can I do? Although I haven't fully learned electronic warfare, I also know that the confrontation in this area is basically whoever has more power wins!"

Feeling Amber's disdain for her, Lilith suddenly felt offended.

"If you could find a more powerful device, I would have hacked this HCP long ago."

Lilith's incompetent rage reminded Amber.

He immediately crossed over the destroyed armored vehicle and moved toward the location of the empire's HCP.

Over there, the sound of Gauss rifle firing has been heard continuously since the HCP landed.

Although the heavy particle cannon equipped by HCP is powerful, it is not a flexible weapon on the ground.

Due to their heavy weight, they are usually folded on the weapon rack behind the HCP's shoulder and then deployed before the attack.

In addition, there are no heavy armored units in Amber's team, so they don't have much use for this big weapon.

Just relying on the Gauss rifle with a caliber of at least 40 mm in the hands of the HCP and the close-range laser gun towers on both sides of the main monitor on the head are enough for Amber and the others to drink.

Amber carefully covered her figure and walked through the forest. It didn't take long before she saw the raging steel giant.

The standard paint of silver-white imperial military units, with golden edging on the corners, and the imperial golden dragon logo on the main armor on the chest.

In addition, compared to the angular shape of federal equipment, the outer armor is full of curvature and is more rounded.

And the iconic ‘knight helmet’ shaped main monitor.

They are all awakening the memory of this HCP in Amber's mind.

GAX-A9, ‘Enthusiast’.

This is the last "humanoid universal combat platform" installed by the Star Dragon Empire before its split.

It is also the last HCP to be launched in the GAX family of HCPs, nicknamed the "Century Series" by players.

After the Star Dragon Empire split, the Empire's Royal Equipment Research Institute, which was originally responsible for designing and developing new HCPs, also had its personnel and technical data divided among various forces in the melee.

The consequence is that the principalities after the split have never developed newer HCPs, but have been adding and subtracting on the basis of GAX-A9.

Even in the era when players appear on the scene, GAX-A9 block55 is active in various battlefields in the universe.

The 'Zhuang' in front of Amber was just an early model that had just been installed.

In addition to the heavy particle cannon in the folded state on the weapon rack behind the left shoulder, this 'Zealot' is also equipped with an HCP-specific Gauss rifle, a close-range defense laser gun tower, and a multi-functional short-range missile launcher. There is even a heavily decorated solid heavy sword hanging on the weapon rack behind the right shoulder.

It is not equipped with a heavy shield, but has full offensive capabilities. This is a standard "assault mission" equipment.

With a basic combat weight of 98 tons, the Zealot became the heaviest model among the common HCPs at the same time.

Although its higher combat weight makes it a bit clumsy in terms of maneuverability, it can bring better protection and stronger firepower.

Moreover, the so-called "clumsy" is only compared to other models of HCP.

The plasma propulsion array equipped on this behemoth of nearly a hundred tons can achieve a thrust-to-weight ratio of more than 1 in the direction of relative gravity.

Coupled with the high-power jet components attached to the feet in the land combat kit, the maneuverability of the 'Zealot' far exceeds that of other non-HCP ground units.

In the open plains, this steel giant can even charge to the ground at supersonic speeds in a short period of time.
  On the tactical visor, the frame surrounding the HCP has turned into a high-threat purple mark.

However, when the data link is blocked, this is just Amber's local mark.

The main monitor of the 'Zealot' is constantly scanning the surroundings, and the Gauss rifle in its hand is constantly firing. In addition to its head, there are a large number of sensors distributed all over its body.

In terms of situational awareness alone, HCP is basically ranked first among land combat units.

So Amber didn't dare to act rashly at this time.

He carefully observed the battlefield and discovered that the reaction of the rest of the team after the attack was not too slow.

Although two armored vehicles had been destroyed, other personnel and vehicles seemed to have dispersed and hid in the forest. Even the 10 transport trucks were forcibly driven into the forest.

This makes this empire's 'fanatic', although it has continuously discovered one 'gopher' after another through comprehensive sensing equipment, it has never been able to catch them all.

But Amber knew that procrastinating like this was not the answer.

Because this ‘zealot’ can never fight alone.

It was just acting as a surprise attack, taking the lead in attacking, with the intention of catching Amber and the others off guard.

And judging from the results, its tactical purpose was indeed achieved.

Amber was thinking of countermeasures in her mind quickly. The only chance at the moment was to defeat the HCP and run away before the empire's follow-up troops followed up.

Although this seemed no different from committing suicide, Amber and the others had no other choice at this time.

Just when Amber was about to think of a way to join the others, the movement of the 'Zealot' in front stopped for a moment.

Then it 'raised its head' and looked towards the horizon, and the laser close-in defense gun towers on both sides of the main monitor on its head flashed several times in succession.

Amber looked in the direction where the 'zealot' fired the laser, and saw a small fireball bursting out in the sky.

Judging from the falling debris, it appears to be a surveillance drone.

"Friends?"

This thought flashed through Amber's mind. He looked at the enemy-friendly situation map that had not been updated for a while. From the above, it seemed that the nearest force was still the main breakout force from Yassin Base led by Lieutenant Colonel Dallas.

Although they have been approaching here, and they don't know exactly where they are now, Amber calculated from the normal marching speed that they should still be some distance away.

Even if the situation here is discovered, it is estimated that the distant water will not be able to save the nearby fire for a while.

"You still have to rely on yourself"

(End of this chapter)