"An attack?"
Lieutenant Colonel Smith was startled by Li Wei's words.
"Here? Who could... no, how do you know?"
"I guessed."
Li Wei looked at the small screen in front of him. Against its pitch-black background, hundreds upon hundreds of points of soul light were closing in on them from both sides.
"And there should be quite a few of them."
"But..."
Lieutenant Colonel Smith looked at Li Wei and decided not to ask how he knew for now.
"Do we have enough time to get back to Lexington?"
Looking around through the observation slit, Lieutenant Colonel Smith felt uneasy too. Forest surrounded them, making this an ideal place for an ambush. If they could get back to the town of Lexington and use its buildings to establish a defensive line, they might have a chance. But out here?
"I'm not sure. You can try."
Li Wei's answer left Lieutenant Colonel Smith wavering. It would have been one thing if they had only just arrived, but his troops had already spent so long on the road that men and mounts alike were exhausted. Lexington was still twenty minutes away. If they moved at full speed...
With that thought, Lieutenant Colonel Smith made his decision. He picked up his radio and immediately issued orders.
"All units, turn right into the forest immediately! Maximum alert! Husky, proceed at full speed to the fortress and request reinforcements from Governor Geller! Everyone else, prepare to defend your positions!"
"Yes, sir!"
At Lieutenant Colonel Smith's command, the soldiers marching along the road abruptly quickened their pace. At the same time, a Hound-Class Mech accelerated straight ahead, racing down the road!
"Damn it! They've spotted us!"
Captain Pike, who was preparing to act farther back, was shocked at the sight. He immediately understood the opposing commander's