Visitors from the Sky

Coming out to court death were a few light All-Terrain Vehicles.

These unarmored vehicles, dropped individually inside drop pods, were the earliest transport vehicles the orbital paratroopers could receive.

The sacrificed protective capabilities and self-defense firepower were traded for an ultra-long cruising range of nearly 900 kilometers.

And that was even with a full load of five Orbital Paratroopers.

The All-Terrain Vehicles speeding in a column through the wheat field, along with the Orbital Paratroopers aboard them, had no idea.

In the woods 900 meters to their left, the targeting fire-control systems of three 40 mm Chain Guns had already locked onto them firmly.

The all-electric turrets rotated slowly and steadily with the movement of the targets amid the buzzing sound of the motors.

Sir, targets locked, ready to open fire at any time!

The reports of each vehicle commander came through the communication channel.

Amber looked at the Tactical Map before him. Among the six All-Terrain Vehicles marked as enemies, three had already been tagged with red diamond squares.

This meant they were the three unlucky ones locked onto by the Chain Guns.

Open fire, free fire!

Following Amber's order, the gunners of the three vehicles excitedly pressed the buttons on the joysticks that controlled the Chain Guns' firing.

Thump thump thump thump thump!

A burst of dense gunfire immediately rang out in the woods, startling the birds resting in the tree crowns.

At a time when fire-control systems were highly intelligent and barrel manufacturing technology had improved dramatically.

Even 40 mm Chain Guns could achieve quite good results within 1,000 meters.

Through the commander's periscope of the communications relay vehicle, Amber only saw three streaks of orange-yellow ammunition belts flying toward the distant speeding Imperial forces.

And then, in an instant, they ignited three fireballs.

The negative impact brought by the high cruising range of the All-Terrain Vehicles was that their fuel tanks were extremely large.

With Amber's side entirely using High-Explosive Incendiary Antipersonnel Rounds, they caught fire almost instantly like lighters.

Woohoo! I hit one! I hit one!

Holy shit. Holy shit!

The communication channel instantly turned into a chorus of wild howls.

Keep firing! Keep firing!

Amber roared in the communication channel, suppressing the three vehicle crews who were in a state of extreme excitement.

He even suspected that the shooting just now might very well be the first time these gunners had destroyed a target in actual combat.

Thump thump thump thump thump!

The roar of the Chain Guns sounded once more.

The remaining three All-Terrain Vehicles locked by the fire-control system were now spinning around the wheat field like headless flies.

They frantically performed serpentine evasive maneuvers, attempting to disrupt the enemy's shooting.

But on the endless great plain, this was merely a futile struggle.

After two rounds of short bursts, three more wisps of black smoke rose from the wheat field.

Although the shooting of the 40 mm Chain Guns easily wiped out these six All-Terrain Vehicles.

Perhaps because the Exoskeleton protection of these Orbital Paratroopers was simply too good.

In the footage sent back by the drone, there were still surviving Imperial orbital paratroopers crawling out from the wreckage of the vehicles.

Watching them drag their heavily wounded bodies as they crawled out from the burning firelight of the wreckage, along with the scene of them lying on the ground and struggling incessantly.

Amber also felt a trace of unbearable pity.

To end the suffering of these survivors as quickly as possible, he issued firing orders to the two Indirect Fire Teams.

When the 120mm High-Explosive Shells whistled down and exploded, amidst the visible shockwave, the suffering of these survivors vanished along with them.

Vehicle 1, move out! Other vehicles and personnel, provide cover!

As the drone continuously flying figure-eight reconnaissances in the sky confirmed that there were no other approaching Imperial forces nearby for the moment.

Under Amber's command, Vehicle 1 rushed out of the woods and drove toward the escape pod.

Just when attacking the Imperial forces earlier, the communications officer had finally made contact with this escape pod via the distress signal sent out moments ago.

According to Major Randall, who claimed to be affiliated with the Lansford Port command center.

Inside this escape pod, besides him, there were two wounded soldiers.

However, one of the wounded soldiers had died from excessive blood loss due to wound ruptures caused by the violent collision when the escape pod landed.

As for the remaining wounded soldier, he also sustained gunshot wounds and urgently needed medical treatment.

Under these circumstances, Amber had the Major drag the wounded soldier out of the escape pod first, and then sent Vehicle 1 to rendezvous.

Amidst everyone's nervous gazes, Vehicle 1 sprinted frantically to the side of the escape pod.

The driver executed a sharp turn, positioning the vehicle body horizontally at the exit of the escape pod to serve as cover.

The armored vehicle's turret slowly rotated to secure the surrounding area, while several mobile infantrymen quickly jumped down from the vehicle.

They assisted Major Randall, who was already squatting at the escape pod's entrance, in carefully lifting the wounded soldier on the ground into the vehicle through the tail door.

Fall back! Fall back! Fall back!

As the rear-guard mobile infantrymen squeezed into the vehicle and closed the tail door.

The vehicle commander patted the driver heavily on the shoulder, and the latter, understanding instantly, slammed down on the accelerator.

The 25-ton Armored Vehicle emitted a muffled roar, accelerated swiftly, and once again sprinted back into the small woods.

Tom! Hang in there, we've made contact with friendly forces!

When Amber first saw this officer claiming to be Major Randall, he was working together with others to lift the remaining wounded soldier down from the Armored Vehicle.

Isabel quickly trotted up to meet them with the only two medics remaining in the squad.

After a quick inspection of the injuries, the female spy turned back to look at Amber, a rare hint of solemnity on her face.

"This wounded soldier's condition is not looking good. He needs emergency surgery right now!"

"Can't it be done in the vehicle?"

"No way, these are troop carriers, not professional medical vehicles. It's too bumpy to operate!"

Amber glanced sideways at Major Randall, who was looking at him anxiously.

“Tch.” Amber closed his eyes with a sense of helplessness beneath his faceplate.

"Don't drag it out too long; the Imperial Army should send other nearby troops over very soon."

"Understood, give me 20 minutes—no! 10 minutes will do. Let me handle the most critical parts first, and the rest can be treated slowly in the vehicle!"

Upon receiving Amber's reply, Isabel nodded.

Then she beckoned several mobile infantrymen to lift the wounded soldier named Tom onto a stretcher that had been rigged into a temporary operating table.

Time was pressing, and there was no time to deploy the Portable Sterile Room.

"Alright, the rest of you stop gawking and crowding around here for my benefit!"

Amber kicked one of the Mobile Infantry in the rear, driving them away.

He had just been about to praise these grunts for actually following orders, only for each of them to turn around and throw battlefield discipline to the winds.

Fire team! Pack the mortars back into the vehicle!

Vehicle 3 and Vehicle 4, maintain battlefield surveillance!

Everyone else, spread out at 10-meter intervals and maintain security! Be ready to board the vehicles at any time!

As soon as the doc finishes surgery, we move out!

After Amber issued a succession of orders, these soldiers remembered that their current commander was not someone to be trifled with.

Thinking of the rumors spread by the fire team after recovering the Imperial mortars earlier regarding Commander Amber possibly being a terrifying headhunter.

The movements of these soldiers grew a bit faster one by one.

And Amber finally had time to find Major Randall, who had been waiting nearby for quite a while.

When he walked over, the major officer wearing the Federal Navy uniform was looking at him with a face full of gratitude.