Chapter 464: Shang’s Reasoning (1/2)
Chapter 464: Shang’s Reasoning
Translator: EndlessFantasy TranslationEditor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Ye Chong hid behind a damaged part of the wall and peeked out from behind to look outside.
About a dozen golden colored mechs whizzed past the sky. The sound was from their speedy flight across the air. Their velocity slightly surprised Ye Chong. The mechs must be flying at no less than Mach 17 or 18. After all, they were now within the atmosphere. It it was in outer space, even reaching up to Mach 20 was not particularly difficult.
To think that he was lucky enough to see their advanced mechs just as he arrived in Gray Valley! They mechs were now vanishing dots in the sky. Ye Chong watched them in a daze. It was a pity that they flew so fast that he could not make out what they looked like. However, their dazzling gold left a deep impression in him.
Ye Chong returned to Mu and Han Jia's side still thinking about the golden mechs. However, he quickly composed himself and began to work on the technical issues that he was facing.
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The atmosphere in the control room was tense. They had just received news from Scholes, informing them of a very powerful red-tailed beast in the Calamitous Asteroid Belt. The situation was dangerous for them.
After receiving the report, Arwa sent out a squad of 300 mechs as reinforcement.
However, they received no word from them until now. Arwa had a bad feeling about it, and he began to feel nervous.
The red-tailed beast had appeared at the border between the asteroids and Gray Valley. What would this mean for them? All this while, he was worried that the creatures would manage to go around their defenses and attack them. That would be a problem. Now that all the powers within Gray Valley were coordinated by the Research Consortium, they had managed to set up an effective defense. Recently, the attacks from the red-tailed beasts were beginning to falter.
Even though they had not begun to launch their attacks into the purple gas cloud that first appeared and started it all, people were beginning to feel hope. Indeed, what was there to worry about? Morale was high; resources were stocked up; the military was sufficiently manned; the Research Consortium was offering all kinds of technical support. The combatants were also the best of their community. So far, they were doing quite well.
The situation had been quiet so far, except for the daily mech troops deployed by the United Army to engage the legion of mysterious creatures.
Despite all this, Arwa sensed a dangerous undercurrent through it all. He would mention it occasionally during meetings with the commanding officers, but helpless against the indifference that he would receive. In fact, he lacked evidence to prove his suspicions. As the war progressed, the red-tailed beasts received substantial damage. That was certain. They were not like humans, who could resupply themselves almost indefinitely. It was only natural that they were faltering now.
Still, Arwa had sent many scouting squads at their flanks out of wariness. To think that he would receive news of a red-tailed beast sighting today!
What surprised him more was the fact that the scouting squad had been greatly overwhelmed by the creature! Scholes was one of the better mech pilots under him, and his abilities were undoubted. Arwa was very surprised to learn that the scouting squad led by the man would be forced into a desperate situation.
”Sir, reinforcements have reached the 13th scouting squad. They will be back to base in five hours,” the operator's report interrupted Arwa's thoughts.
”However …” The operator hesitated.
Arwa knitted his brows together. ”What is it?”
”According to reports from our reinforcement troops, only three mechs survived,” the operator forced the words out of his mouth.
Suddenly, the control room went silent.
Only three survived out of the 30 mechs. It was a fatality rate of 90 percent! What in the world happened?
Everyone in the control room exchanged looks of fear and distress.
Five hours later, the reinforcement troops were back. When the three surviving mechs landed in the base, people finally realized how devastating the fight had been!
Scholes and his two surviving comrades were called to the Commander's Office immediately after they exited their mechs.
Arwa was shaken by the tired, pitiful and scared looks of the three faces he greeted.
”You must be tired! Please have a seat,” Arwa spoke gently to the three subordinates. According to protocol, they should have reported to their superiors while standing. Arwa activated his comms and said, ”Bring three meals in here. Make sure they're warm.” After that, he returned to his own seat.
The three mech pilots looked gratefully at their superior. Half a minute later, food arrived.
Arwa made a gesture. ”Please eat first. Your reports can wait.”
The trio was ravenous, and ate quickly. Soon, nothing was left on their plates, and they looked much better. The three of them abandoned their empty plates and waited for Arwa to ask his questions.
”Alright, now tell me exactly what happened.” Arwa nodded towards Scholes, signaling for him to speak.