Starting from the Planetary Governor

"Who are you? Which unit are you from?"

"Gorky Dimitrov, Sergeant, from the 2nd Group 3rd Company of the 3rd Brigade."

"Shouldn't this be the position of the 9th Company? Where are the others from your 3rd Company?"

"These are all people from the 9th Company... Those from our 3rd Company, they are dead over there."

"...I'm sorry, we came late, but we will avenge you."

"If possible, please take me with you."

...

Faced with the request from the comrade in front of him, Major Rol DeLiu felt somewhat troubled.

He was the commanding officer of the 47th Brigade 5th Composite Battalion, and the troops he led were carrying out an encirclement mission.

Compared to the previously engaged units, the intelligence he now had was relatively complete.

The Mechanical Legion of the Alliance Army, which had broken through from the south, bypassed the defense line of the 47th Brigade and attacked the Alliance troops advancing along Western Desert Avenue, with a possible total number of about fifteen thousand.

They were fully equipped with various types of gear, ample armored force, and a large amount of accompanying mechanized self-propelled artillery.

Their attack brought significant losses to the Alliance units advancing along the avenue.

But the Alliance Army swiftly responded, not only launching a counterattack but also planning to move troops and set up an encirclement to trap the enemy.

If you dare to attack us, then don't expect a single one of you to escape.

The troops of Wind-Extinguishing Brigade and Beast Slaughter Brigade carried out the first wave of strategy. Heavy artillery and armored units were thrown into the front lines, while the 2nd Infantry Regiment of Beast Slaughter Brigade split off many companies to outflank the Mechanical Legion to the south, intending to completely enclose them.

But soon, the situation took a turn for the worse.

The companies of the 2nd Regiment were supposed to establish numerous point defense positions, not too far from each other. The orders received by all units were commonly to reach the designated targets within two hours to start constructing defenses. Beyond those two hours, the Alliance Staff Department estimated they would have at least half a day to a full day to reinforce their positions.

The forces under Major Deliu's command were there to participate in the encirclement.

If the encirclement plan went smoothly, they would launch a fierce attack on the Mechanical Legion from the south, forming a pincer attack with the Wind-Extinguishing Brigade in the north; if not, they could also help the Beast Slaughter Brigade's 2nd Regiment to block the southern escape route of the Mechanical Legion.

But this elite Mechanical Legion reacted much faster than anticipated.

Those iron beings, realizing the danger, quickly dispatched vanguard units to ensure that their path of retreat to the south was secure.

This was normal, but what was not normal was the number of troops they sent out as the vanguard, far exceeding the original estimates of the Staff Department. They even moved a considerable part of the heavy artillery originally supporting the frontal battlefield to attack the infantry companies that were encircling them from behind.

Now, the troops of the 2nd Regiment of the Beast Slaughter Brigade were suffering.

The fates of the 3rd and 9th Companies were a microcosm of this problem.

They weren't the only ones with problems; several other companies' positions were subjected to fierce attacks, each with various degrees of casualties.

However, the 3rd and 9th Companies were the worst hit, nearly wiped out.

Major Deliu was filled with a deep sense of shame.

His unit arrived just as those mechanical monstrosities launched their final assault. They had already conducted reconnaissance in advance and found out about the battle situation here; the artillery companies within the Composite Battalion deployed their artillery positions and opened fire on the enemy; the two quickest mechanized infantry companies came speeding through the wilderness,

But they were still one step too late. By the time their artillery show their might, the enemy had already started their final assault; by the time the Strider Armored Vehicles were in position, the enemies, realizing they couldn't break through, retreated like the tide.

And in the positions, they found only one survivor — a sergeant from the 2nd Regiment of the Beast Slaughter Brigade's 3rd Company, who had fought at the position of the 9th Company.

Faced with the sergeant who wanted to join their operations, Major Deliu, after much hesitation, still chose to refuse.

Officially, the refusal was that it was against the rules, and Sergeant Dimitrov should report to his own unit and convey the events that happened here to his superiors.

But... in truth, a more significant reason was...

Guilt.

Apart from feeling guilty for arriving late, there was another core element: the 47th Brigade, supposed to be guarding the south and blocking the southern enemy, had allowed such a large wave of the Mechanical Legion in, clearly indicating a major mistake.

Whether it was a mishap or a question of capability, ultimately, it was their failure that led the brother units in the middle to be suddenly attacked and to have to defend their positions against such a large numerical difference.

The forces belonging to Major Deliu, heading north to participate in the encirclement, were merely closing the stable door after the horse had bolted.

Perhaps, for the overall state of the war, their northward action was 'not too late'; but for the 3rd and 9th Companies, it was 'already too late'.

Under these circumstances, how could he have the heart to let Dimitrov follow along?

If the only remaining survivor of these two companies were to also perish in subsequent combat, he would feel guilty unto death.

The warriors of the 475th Battalion, upon seeing the condition of the 9th Company's position, felt much the same as their commanding officer.

In their shame, they kindled raging fury.

To wash away the dishonor, only the enemy's remains would suffice!

After bidding farewell to Dimitrov, the nine hundred warriors of the 475th Battalion continued northward.
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Three hours later, they received orders from the command, requesting them to launch an attack on the enemy.