Rust - Chapter 977



Only Krnovel

RUST -977

Leon Bonnard, who was looking over the records of the Holy Kingdom’s engagements with the spiders, took out a stick of toxic tobacco. The tobacco, which was now hard to obtain, was turning red with ash.

‘Once the weather clears up, it’s uncontrollable.’

How did the Holy Kingdom guys catch this?

Like the video of the ant colony being destroyed, this one wasn’t recorded up close. However, even the footage taken from a distance was enough to show how picky the spiders are.

‘A huge structure made of spider webs. It acts as an airship and creates an EMP field.’

This means that missiles equipped with advanced semiconductors and control devices will have their orbits distorted or misfire, and that airships will shut down as soon as they approach.

If such structures were to cover the sky and the earth in thousands and tens of thousands, how long would humans who could not use semiconductors and electricity be able to endure?

Leon Bonnard blew a fuse. He had to catch the Philadelphia spider. Now that the giant ants had taken over New York, if the spiders were to expand their territory, they would come north through New York.

Even if the coastal city was completely destroyed by the earthquake and tsunami, the city that was now being restored had to be protected.

‘In the middle of winter, the temperature drops to -60 to -70 degrees Celsius. Even if we assume that Philadelphia is at a low latitude and is affected by the ocean waters, which are 4 to 5 degrees below zero, we should assume that the temperature drops below -50 degrees Celsius.’

The current temperature limit for armored units to operate is around -40 to -45 degrees Celsius. Even then, it was impossible to know what would happen if they were frozen solid for several days.

‘The military would know too···.’

That’s right.

[General Leon Bonnard. Your reply to the request for tactical nuclear weapons and airship supplies has arrived.]

His adjutant sent a reply to him, who had been promoted from lieutenant colonel to brigadier general by exhibition promotion.

‘Three tactical nuclear warheads, eight airships.’

There are three tactical nukes, but only two can actually be used. One of them would be used to shake off the spiders’ pursuit in the unlikely event that a retreat is necessary.

The same goes for airships transporting armored units. One airship could transport three 240mm self-propelled guns or two 400mm assault tanks.

The number of self-propelled guns that can be moved at once by 8 airships is 24. However, since it is not a typical self-propelled gun but a gunpowder + electric power hybrid self-propelled gun, it had to have a modular nuclear power plant. Considering the shells that weigh up to 100 kg, should we say that it can only be used for about 18 at a time?

‘Are you saying that even though you knew?’

It wasn’t a battle that was meant to win the war against the spiders. It was meant to be a fight that would only hold back the spiders from expanding their power.

Leon Bonnard’s eyes darkened as he became lost in thought.

‧

A deep wrinkle formed on Dan Brown’s forehead as he reviewed the documents.

“Are you in your right mind?”

The fact that he asked for all available tactical nukes and all airships showed that Leon Bonnard was fully aware of the dangers of the spiders.

Spiders were capable of tactical and strategic movements. The fact that spiders, who originally hunt alone, fought in groups was dangerous in itself.

The different types of spiders were essentially different types of soldiers. These spiders were creating structures with webs that had special effects.

If you look at the data sent from the Holy Kingdom, it seems like spiders are building fortresses and making weapons just like humans.

When I was stepping down from my position, I handed over all the data sent by the Holy Kingdom. Do you still do it like that knowing that?

‘If tactical nukes are difficult, you should have provided as much support as possible, even if it’s just airships. Only eight?’

No matter how much restraint there was, this was crossing the line. Direct trade was important, and even though abnormal temperatures were making winters colder and longer, this was not it.

‘Are these guys trying to provoke a backlash?’

So you only gave us 3 tactical nuclear weapons and 8 airships? Are you trying to disobey orders or induce a coup?

Or, are you trying to create a situation where you can only strike to a certain extent and then have no choice but to retreat, thereby creating a defeat?

Dan Brown’s face crumpled. It was understandable that a new regime would expect results.

So I thought it was possible to carry out the operation hastily and even create a war hero to blind the eyes and ears of the citizens.

But isn’t that wrong? Isn’t restraint only restraint to a certain extent, and isn’t shaking someone by a leash only control to a certain extent?

Dan Brown, who felt something ominous, immediately checked the situation.

“What about Leon Bonnard?”

[We are struggling with the Philadelphia invasion operation.]

Are you concentrating on the operation? Was it a needless worry?

“Isn’t there a strange atmosphere?”

[There was nothing particularly unusual.]

“Watch closely.”

[All right.]

Dan Brown closed his eyes.

What if Leon Bonnard staged a coup? What if he staged a military coup, exposing the corruption of the military and the incompetence of the new government?

Will the citizens of the Empire take up arms and resist the coup? Or will they welcome Leon Bonnard’s coup?

Will he, who staged a coup and dismantled the current government, parliament, and military, return to democracy through new elections? Or will he completely overhaul the political system like the Holy Kingdom or the Confederacy?

‘I hope the worst doesn’t happen…’

It was Dan Brown who hoped that the Empire’s outstanding general would not defect.

======

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Imperial forces began engaging the Philadelphia Spiders.

[Leon Bonnard. Want some?]

Maru also agreed with Ki-sun, who was sticking out his tongue after seeing the first engagement information.

“It definitely hits hard.”

In winter, it was difficult to fly structures using spider webs. It was also difficult to make and use paragliders using spider webs.

In other words, it was difficult for the spiders to defend against air attacks. The Imperial Army’s special forces actively exploited the spiders’ weak points.

[I thought you were going to use napalm, but you’re spraying seawater.]

What was impressive was that water, not fire, was used to neutralize the spider web. And it was seawater, not fresh water.

“Saltwater is definitely more effective than freshwater. We learned this while catching sinkhole monsters. How did you know that?”

[I gave the information to Mr. Dan Brown that salt and seawater were effective against sinkhole monsters, so if he had passed on all the information he had received, then that might have been possible.]

As a result of bringing in seawater filled with 8 airships and spraying it, the salty seawater froze and the spider web became less viscous and strong. After repeating the spraying several times and neutralizing the spider web, the offensive began.

“It seems like you’re using spider sense. You’re good at it.”

[Looking at the situation, it seems like they definitely calculated it and went in.]

Not only did the frozen spider webs break easily, but the distance over which the vibrations could be transmitted was also limited. The spiders who were using their webs as radars by spreading them far away were beaten without any warning signs.

“We deliberately concentrated our firepower on one side to lure the spiders, and then reduced that to bombing, exposing our air power.”

The way he guided the spider’s actions by making it seem like he was going to bomb the base was like playing chess.

[No matter how smart the spiders have become, they’ve never fought this tactically before, so it seems like they’ve been hit hard.]

Even if the surviving spiders from the fight against the Holy Kingdom had joined Philadelphia, it would have been the same. This was because their tactics were completely different from those of the Holy Kingdom.

An attack pouring down from a distance. If it had been a missile, the guidance system would have been disrupted by the spider web effect. But since it was an artillery attack that blew up an area with a stupid shell, there was no way.

The battered spiders were forced to choose between two options: retreat into Philadelphia’s underground, or attack the Imperial forces who were bombarding them with massive force.

Although their firepower was formidable, the number of cannons did not seem to be high, so the spiders chose to wipe them out with large numbers of troops.

A tactical nuclear weapon was dropped on the spiders gathered like that. That one shot ended the first engagement.

[Looking at this, really. What kind of hardships have we had?]

“······.”

No matter how you look at it, the spider wasn’t weak. If they had gone into urban combat or close combat, it would have been a different story. However, the Imperial Army’s special forces insisted on long-range artillery battles from start to finish.

Eventually, the Spiders turned to a defensive strategy using Philadelphia, and the Imperial Army began to destroy it from the outskirts, without entering.

“It’ll be difficult to take it easy and go step by step.”

[Yes. The number of self-propelled guns doesn’t seem that high.]

As time goes by and the temperature drops, the self-propelled guns will become useless. Judging from what they’ve been doing so far, there must be a reason why they’re slowly breaking them down like that.

Maru, who was carefully checking the data, frowned.

“It’s definitely weird.”

[what?]

“Tactical nukes, you say? Why did you only fire one? You fired several in the New York giant ant extermination?”

[······.]

Although there are probably not many strategic nuclear weapons left after being used up in the Central and South American situations, it is estimated that there are at least 30 tactical nuclear weapons. This is because they have absorbed American troops stationed overseas.

So, when attacking the New York Giant Ants, it was possible to use tactical nukes without sparing them, and even if they had used them, it is estimated that there would have been a considerable number of tactical nukes left over.

But why do you only use one shot when attacking the Philadelphia Spider and save it? Why do you only pound the outskirts with a few self-propelled guns?

“It would be effective to hit the spiders with tactical nukes before they escape underground, scorching them, and then move in with armored units and exosuits. I don’t think they don’t know that.”

Ki-soon nodded.

[That’s right. Even if you blow up the spider’s main force, it won’t mean anything if the Philadelphia base remains intact. That’s strange.”

If the eggs laid this winter were to grow, next spring would be a disaster. The Philadelphia spider nest had to be destroyed, no matter what.

“That’s true. They can control spiders. Do you think they’ll just sit back and let their power go to waste?”

There were those who extracted those with the ability to control spiders. They had agreed to a non-aggression relationship with the Holy Kingdom due to Gisun’s interference, but now it was the Empire that was interfering.

[That’s right. It wasn’t a group with a unified command system to begin with. If there was a faction that had invested heavily in the spider, they wouldn’t have stayed still.]

The news that Maru would be dispatched if the Holy Kingdom was touched must have spread, but now it was the Empire that was setting it on fire.

It is also an empire that the Holy Kingdom has declared non-intervention and non-obstruction.

Should we just leave them alone?

‧

And within a day the empire was in chaos.

(Victory! Armored units led by General Leon Bonnard. A major battle against the spider horde that has taken over Philadelphia!)

(A genius operation that led to the spider. Overwhelming tactics from the beginning to the end of the engagement!)

(Guide the enemy’s main force to gather together. Burn the spiders with one tactical nuke!)

(Is it true that the government, parliament, and military are keeping heroes in check?)

(I requested tactical nukes and airships, but all I got was 3 tactical nukes and 8 airships. Why?)

(David White, a former presidential candidate. Current President Roger Eden is shameless and claims he is holding back a hero.)

Ki-soon shook her head.

[Things are going weird here?]

It seems that the losing candidate in the last presidential election was supporting Leon Bonnard.

And if by any chance they are connected to those guys…

“It’s going to get even more messy from now on.”

If that were true, it would be funny.

That’s what those who are supported by the spider-handling guys are saying. They could have wiped out the spiders in Philadelphia, but they’re criticizing the current government for failing to keep the heroes in check.

======

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Non-stop shelling all night long.

It may not have been the case that the number of cannons was large, but it was actually difficult to destroy a huge city like Philadelphia with only 20 cannons.

However, the reason for not stopping the bombardment was more practical than worrying about the spiders being lured back in if they couldn’t withstand the bombardment.

“What about tactical nukes and airships? Any additional support?”

[They say it’s impossible.]

Leon Bonnard’s face became expressionless.

“Okay, I understand.”

“······.”

“······.”

“······.”

A gloomy atmosphere hung over the conference room.

“As you have just heard, the government and the military do not want the Philadelphia Spider Extermination Operation to succeed.”

“······.”

“······.”

“······.”

“You all know this. If we fail to subdue the spiders this time, we will have to shed unimaginable blood next year. In this urgent situation, the government and the military are ignoring the call from the battlefield because of their meager power. Is that right?”

Leon Bonnard’s blue gaze swept over the officers.