Rust - Chapter 584



Only Krnovel

RUST [RUST]-584

Maru stood up abruptly and said.

The scabbard hanging from his waist was swinging, not knowing when he had taken it.

“What about the airship?”

“The medium-sized high-speed ship is the only one that can be used right away. The other airships are transporting supplies, so it will take at least 4 more hours.”

It took about five hours by medium-sized high-speed airship to reach the northern front lines of Ottawa, where the incident occurred in Detroit, a distance of approximately 820 km.

Because the communication network was unstable due to radio interference, each stronghold sent a crow messenger to the supply base in the rear to report the situation.

At the supply base, reports from the crow messengers were collected and transmitted via airship, so emergency signals came up all at once.

Even so, it was still a fact that the stronghold was in danger, and there was a possibility that there was a delay before it was reported.

Considering the circumstances, assuming that the first raid had occurred 6-7 hours earlier, it would have taken a similar amount of time to get from Detroit to the scene.

This means that the stronghold must last for more than 12 hours.

‘There is no exact information about which monster attacked.’

Maru analyzed the situation calmly.

‘It wouldn’t be good if the wolf unit was completely annihilated.’

Given the nature of the wolf pack, they would have tried to fight to protect their territory at first, so there would have been no harm done, but if they felt that it was not right, they would immediately retreat. Those wolves couldn’t escape and were wiped out?

It wasn’t very good.

Rather than the problem of researchers becoming corrupt or the uncontrolled runaway development of science and technology, I feel that a monster situation could ensue.

then-

It is best to use all the power we have now to bring an early end to the monster situation.

“How many armored personnel carriers can be operated around Roy Stern?”

“Three planes. There are two more planes, but no pilots.”

Roy Stern and his men were veterans of the war against monsters. Even though they were still shocked by the loss of their men and comrades, they were not the type of people who would shy away from a fight to protect humanity from monsters.

“Would it be possible to install an AI in a pilotless tank and link it up with Roy Stern?”

“I’ll check with researchers in that field.”

Ki-soon conveyed the information to the researchers using a tablet.

“You can think of it as an experiment with an AI armored soldier that learned Roy Stern’s combat data, so just let it roll. I’m sorry to lose even one armored soldier.”

Tiring-tiring-

I received a reply less than 10 seconds after sending the message.

“The researchers say it is possible.”

“Okay. Then tell them to start preparing right away.”

The armored personnel carrier secured five units, three manned and two AI-powered.

“Assemble all the returning soldiers and prepare for emergency dispatch, fully armed with armored exosuits, heavy machine guns, and javelins. And prepare our children as well.”

“Who are you going to take?”

“Miss Kim and her guard. All the clones that Hee-yeon can control. The nurse and half the crows. And Erica the psychometric.”

If we could trace back where the monsters came from through Psychometric Erica, it would be easy to figure out the cause.

“Psychometry. Good idea. But here? Isn’t it a bit dangerous to defend the main base with only AI autoturrets? The monsters were quiet last year, but now they’re acting like this. You never know.”

What if the monsters’ attack was the result of something artificial? After taking out Detroit’s main force with monsters, what would they do if this was their real target? Maru, who had been planning to wipe them out with all his might, changed his mind when Ki-soon said.

“Leave Hee-yeon and the clone behind.”

Ki-soon nodded at Maru’s quick decision.

“They’re numbers and can respond to radio interference… Even if the worst happens, they’ll be an effective defense. If half the crows remain, that’s enough. Certainly, if something happens, they’ll be able to last for 6~7 hours.”

Ki-soon said, slightly raising one shoulder.

“It’s a strange coincidence, isn’t it? We beat up a werewolf and a vampire in San Francisco, and then suddenly monsters start swarming us. It might not be true, but it could be true.”

“Yeah. You’ll find out when you go. Whether this is an artificial situation or not.”

If they had led the Confederacy or whatever, they would have paid the price. This side had fire rats and acid rats. I was confident that they would make for a very harsh winter.

A monster invasion from Canada has put all of Detroit on high alert.

[All soldiers who received the text message are requested to gather at the parade ground.]

[I repeat once again, all subjects are requested to assemble at the parade ground.]

“Didn’t you say you were going to train this winter?”

“I heard there was chaos in Canada.”

“You’re fighting monsters?”

“Yeah, that’s better, it’s much better than fighting people…”

The returning soldiers who had just joined the Holy Kingdom were immediately reassembled and prepared to leave for the Northern Front.

“They say that Prince Vladimir Kalin will also go with them.”

“Fuck, so you can watch that awesome thing from the side?”

“Come on. The Canadian front is so wide.”

“I don’t know. He might show up like that.”

The morale of the soldiers was high when they heard that Maru was also going to join them. Even in the midst of the hustle and bustle of Detroit, Roy Stern was drunk.

“It was inevitable.”

“······.”

“I’m glad you’re still alive, Major.”

“I’m sure they think so too.”

“······.”

I killed all the guys who murdered my subordinates.

Roy Stern was tormented by conflicting emotions, having wiped them all out with his own hands. The pleasure of revenge clashed with the guilt he felt as a soldier for having massacred civilians.

At that time, when he fired the 30mm Avenger Vulcan, he aimed at the place where he could detect bio-signals and movement. He didn’t distinguish between the size and shape. He just swept away anything that caught his eye with its deep red or orange color.

Now that I think about it, that’s what it was.

Were all those people militia? They might have had families, relatives, or friends. Maybe···.

The speaker on the ceiling rang as if to wake him from his thoughts.

[Armored pilots, please assemble in the operations conference room.]

[I’ll give you another update. All tank pilots are requested to assemble in the operations conference room.]

Roy Stern, who had downed the whiskey straight, stopped by a convenience store on the way and drank a green hangover cure. The strong-smelling hangover cure dragged down even the lingering scent of whiskey stuck to his esophagus.

“What the···.”

Roy Stern, who suddenly came to his senses, passed around the bottle of hangover cure.

[For a hangover, Ojin 888]

[I’ll wake you up in one go.]

[Ojin Group guarantees quality.]

If it was a misdiagnosis, wasn’t it a place that made drugs to treat intermittent explosive disorder and suppress cannibalistic instincts? What kind of drug just blows away drunkenness? It wasn’t something to laugh about because it was so effective.

Doesn’t any medicine take effect after it’s absorbed, broken down, and acted on? But what’s this about it taking effect as soon as it goes down your throat?

“If it works well, that’s fine.”

“Yes. Isn’t it weird to walk around smelling like alcohol?”

You’re about to receive your first mission in the Holy Kingdom, and you look drunk. But what does the text below say?

[Have you not gotten rid of your hangover? Are you saying that the medicine is not working? If so, please visit room 4422 in the research building and we will research for you.]

Roy Stern headed to the armored personnel carrier’s operations conference room with a complicated expression on his face.

In the operational conference room, there were Bernard Green (Kim Ki-soon) and researchers. Roy Stern and his subordinates’ faces stiffened slightly. There were no soldiers in uniforms at the operational briefing.

‘I don’t feel good about this?’

‘Just sit down for a moment.’

Ki-soon began her briefing, not knowing whether she knew what they were thinking as they sat down in silence.

“···The northern part of Canada is currently under attack by monsters.”

A brief description of the situation and analysis of the situation followed.

“···Therefore, in order to effectively carry out rescue operations and attack monsters, it is better to operate the armored personnel carriers independently, but I would like to ask an expert on armored personnel carrier operation directly. In the current situation, would it be better to operate the armored personnel carriers individually, or to operate them in teams of 2-3? Please give me your opinion.”

Roy Stern nodded slightly. It was less common than you might think to ask questions without really knowing the answer.

How many authors order tanks to charge unconditionally without any professional knowledge or experience in tank warfare?

The same was true for the operation of the armored units. There were many who thought of them as steel giants carrying 30mm Vulcans instead of machine guns and ran their operations, but the Holy Kingdom leadership at least did not do that.

“If there are humans among the enemies, it is stable to form a team of at least 3 units.”

Two units advance while supporting each other, while the remaining unit provides medium- to long-range backup fire support.

“If the enemy is a monster, it is possible to operate alone if it is small or has low intelligence, but if it is a large monster or has high intelligence, you must operate as if it were a human.”

“I see. I understand. Then, Major Roy Stern and you two will work as a team. The operation will begin with cutting down the monsters.”

A scene unfolded on the monitor screen, showing a red wave being cut in two.

“From west to east, starting from here, point 36 of Sector B, we will break through to point 72 of Sector B.”

Use your armored personnel carriers to rescue and recapture the strongholds in between, and open a path through the middle. Then, your troops wearing armored exosuits will fill in the gaps to form a front line.

“Then what happens to the monsters that have already gone down?”

“His Majesty the King will personally take care of it.”

Ki-sun’s thin, squinty eyes sparkled as if he had no need to worry.

“Once the rear is cleared, we will push up the western front with the armored cavalry as the center, and lure the monsters. Then, His Majesty the King and the elite troops will counterattack on the right, crush the monsters on the right with overwhelming firepower, and then strike from behind those who have been cornered on the western front.”

A variation of Operation Sickle?

The operation involves luring, controlling, attacking, and then surrounding again, and finally destroying them.

The leaders of the Holy Kingdom did not view the monsters as animals or as slightly more intelligent animals, but rather as humans. A proper military operation.

“Any questions about the operation?”

“······.”

“······.”

“Well, good luck to you all. Major Roy Stern, please stay behind for a moment.”

Ki-soon handed over the information to Roy Stern, who had sent his men first.

“Two additional armored personnel carriers will be deployed for this operation.”

“Do you plan to run it as a separate unit?”

“Yes. Can you also take command of that special force?”

“Who is the pilot? If he is a tank pilot···.”

All of his direct subordinates were killed. The armored personnel carrier itself was an experimental unit that had just been created before the incident, so there were only a few drivers, and they were all familiar faces. But two more people survived.

‘Who survived?’

Apart from those who went missing during operations in Japan, no one came to mind.

“I am an AI pilot.”

“yes?”

The researcher next to me began to explain further.

“We created an autonomous piloting system based on the combat records of Major Roy Stern.”

“You mean my combat records?”

“Yes. Based on combat records from Japan to the present. So, in similar situations, 70% to 80% of people would behave similarly.”

The researcher and Ki-soon took turns talking.

“Sir, you only need to specify one of the three options: attack, wait, or retreat.”

“Then the rest will be handled by the artificial intelligence by referring to the Major’s records.”

After a moment of confusion, Roy Stern shook his head.

“It will be difficult for me, because I also have to carry out the operation.”

It was dangerous to give orders to the AI ​​while it was in combat, as if it had known that would happen. Ki-sun nodded calmly.

“Then how about practicing in virtual reality?”

“Virtual reality? Is this the virtual reality I know?”

Researchers asked Roy Stern a question.

“Yes. It’s a perfect virtual reality. It’s a very realistic simulation.”

======

======

The core force, centered around Maru and Kim Yang, the Royal Guard, Psychometry, and the Armored Troops, departed first in a medium-sized high-speed airship. Then, a force of 100,000 men, armed one by one, headed north.

As we got closer to the north, emergency reports came in quicker.

[There are 32 fortresses with collapsed outer walls. It seems that the inner walls will not last long either.]

[Most of the wolf unit has lost contact.]

[Bombing a small number of crows is ineffective. You need to either recruit more crows for the bombing, or use a larger bomb.]

As we approached Ottawa, flames and flames could be seen shooting up through the darkened ground.

More than 12 hours have passed since the first report of the situation.

There were many fortresses whose outer walls collapsed, but none were completely destroyed. This was because even if the outer walls collapsed, there were inner walls, and in the end, they were built with structures that could withstand the collapse with underground bunkers.

The airship slowly lowered its altitude toward the empty field stained with flames.

[Everyone, let’s warm up before we start the operation.]

Maru said as he looked at Roy Stern and his men.

[Then shall we take a look at your skills?]

In order to break the waist and get rid of the things stuck in the middle, it was necessary to organize the things that were coming down sharply now.

The airship landed in the open space with a small vibration.

The airship’s hangar slowly opened as the warning lights flashed.

Doo-doo-doo-doo-

Not far ahead, in a field that had become a sea of ​​fire, a gigantic monster was seen ramming into the thick outer walls of the supply fort.

■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■!!!!

Kuuuuuung!!!

■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■!!!!

Kuuuuuung!!!

A scene like a scene from a monster movie.

A heavy sound that digs into a chapter of the apocalypse.

Wheeeeeeeeing-

The steel giants rushed out of the airship, driving away fear.