Battle Preparations

The Imperial Army was still attacking the village where the friendly Mobile Infantry platoon was holding out.

Amber had to launch his attack as soon as possible.

He had no choice but to skip the close reconnaissance he would normally have conducted first.

That left him to plan the attack using only the intelligence sent back by the Reconnaissance Drone.

Amber climbed out of the Communications Relay Vehicle.

The Mobile Infantry had already dismounted and were gathered around their vehicles.

Some were checking their weapons, ammunition, and the power remaining in their exoskeletons.

Others were taking the chance to wolf down an energy bar and a few swallows of water.

A few had gone off to a corner, lifted the armor plates over their crotches, undone their pants, and started relieving themselves.

Once the attack began, there would be no time for any of that.

Amber checked his watch and gave the soldiers three minutes to get ready.

When the countdown reached zero, he stepped forward and clapped his hands, drawing everyone's attention.

"Had your food, your water, and your piss?" Amber asked with a grin.

The soldiers around him chuckled.

Then his tone changed.

"If you're done, get your heads back in the fight and stay sharp!"

He removed his Tactical Visor and slowly swept his gaze over the group.

Anyone he looked at remembered the stories about the "Terrifying Headhunter" and felt a chill run down his spine.

"I know a lot of you have gotten cocky after ambushing Imperial troops twice."

"You think they're a lot weaker than you expected."

"But don't forget! The first time I saw you, a whole damn platoon was pinned down in that valley by fewer than twenty Imperial soldiers. You couldn't even raise your heads!"

Amber's words hit the soldiers like a hammer blow.

Some who had looked relaxed remembered that hellish valley, and their expressions grew uneasy.

"I'm not saying this to chew you out!"

"I'm telling you never to underestimate your enemy!"

"The Imperial soldiers you're fighting come from a country stronger than the Federation. They've been preparing for this war for a long time!"

"And you've spent more than ten years on this planet, wearing your gear and throwing rocks with rioters!"

The Mobile Infantry's eyes were growing serious. Amber paused, then went on.

"The last two fights were just appetizers. They only gave you a chance to warm up."

"The force we're about to attack has more than fifty infantry, two mortars, and two Multi-legged Combat Vehicles!"

"And from this fight onward, every battle will be harder than the last. A lot of you may fall."

"But I want you to remember who you are. You're soldiers."

"Soldiers need backbone!"

"As long as you're breathing, you keep fighting."

"I took command of you in that valley, and I'm not going to abandon you and run."

"As long as you're willing to fight beside me, I'll do everything I can to see you through to the end."

After that last sentence, Amber let out a long breath.

He had never been much good at rallying people. Back in the guild, someone else had handled the pre-battle speeches; he had only needed to command the fight.

But circumstances had forced him to do both.

He was glad he'd watched a war drama as a child. It had given him plenty of classic lines to borrow.

He figured he'd managed to capture at least seventy percent of Brother Yunfei's spirit.

Clap, clap, clap, clap!

After a brief silence, the soldiers began applauding together. A few of the younger ones even had red-rimmed eyes.

The sight made Amber storm forward and slap the helmet of the soldier at the front.

"We're going into battle! What are you clapping for?"

"Just take the point!"

The soldiers were struggling not to laugh, and Amber finally broke into a grin himself.

"All right. If you've got this much energy, I'd say you're ready."

Amber's smile faded, and he grew serious again.

"Get aboard. We're moving to the attack position!"

"Yes, sir!"

As the soldiers turned to board their vehicles, Amber looked back over his shoulder.

The only other two officers still on their feet—Major Randall and Lieutenant Margaret—were standing there.

"We're so short-handed I've had to ask you two for help, even though neither of you knows much about ground combat."

D Platoon's platoon leader and platoon sergeant had both been in the command vehicle destroyed by the Imperial troops.

That meant D Platoon's headquarters was gone.

Amber had taken command and was serving as acting platoon leader.

But he still lacked an experienced platoon sergeant to help him direct the troops. A platoon sergeant was generally a sergeant major third class with fifteen to eighteen years of service.

The coming attack would require him to split his force, so he had to call on the two officers for help.

Amber had already sent Randall and Isabel their assignments and the details of the operation.

Both career officers knew they were about to enter combat. Neither said much; they saluted Amber and boarded their respective vehicles.

Amber now had five Mongoose 4 Wheeled Armored Vehicles in total.

Only the three standard models could provide supporting fire with their 40 mm Chain Guns and coaxial 12 mm machine guns.

As for personnel, he had thirty-four soldiers, excluding the wounded and the two officers, Randall and Isabel.

They included five drivers, three gunners who also served as vehicle commanders, three electronic-warfare technicians, and one communications soldier.

Those twelve would stay with their vehicles and fight from them unless the vehicles were about to blow up.

That left only twenty-two infantry who could dismount and fight.

Amber reorganized them into two nine-person Mobile Infantry squads and two Indirect Fire Teams equipped with 120 mm mortars.

In other words, only eighteen could actually fight as Mobile Infantry.

They would have substantial electronic-warfare support and more fire support than they needed.

Even so, the shortage of infantry made planning the operation awkward for Amber.

Another half squad would have given him much more room to maneuver.

Unfortunately, Amber couldn't conjure soldiers out of thin air.

He would have to make do with what he had.

Soon, local time reached 13:30.

That was the H-Hour Amber had agreed on with the two officers and the two Mobile Infantry squad leaders: the moment the operation would begin, just as D-Day marked its date.

The Ultrashort-Wave Reconnaissance and Jamming Vehicle and the Communications Relay Vehicle remained at the concealed position, ready to conduct electronic warfare.

The other three Armored Vehicles, their engines already running, released their brakes one after another and drove out of the woods at fifty-meter intervals.

Under their drivers' control, they quickly formed a wedge and advanced toward the attack zone Amber had designated.