From cannon fodder to sweeping across thousands of stars.

Chapter 24 Survivor

The federal army on Robert IV had less than 12 troops that could actually be put into combat.

And they are also distributed in multiple bases on the planet.

For a huge Earth-like planet, these people are just a drop in the ocean.

But on weekdays, as an 'existence force' symbolizing the Federation's jurisdiction over this planet, it is still completely enough.

After all, there are only farmers on this planet.

The few rebellions that occurred occasionally failed to stir up trouble at all.

Even if some areas where rebellions occur are far away from the various federal army bases on the planet, it will take a long time for the ground troops to get there.

But don't forget that there is a garrison fleet outside Robert IV's atmosphere.

The marines attached to the fleet can land around the world within an hour through orbital airdrop.

Some people may think that the number of troops stationed on this planet is still too small.

But don't forget, this is just an agricultural planet.

Even if it is in a border galaxy, it is just an agricultural planet.

The Federation controls more than 400 such planets.

Even based on the size of the troops currently deployed, that is a huge number.

Moreover, in the era of interstellar war, it is very foolish to station a large number of troops on certain border planets.

The vast universe is the best stage for surprise attacks and leapfrog tactics.

If all the troops are stationed on various planets, it will even be difficult to assemble a large number of troops in a short period of time.

Therefore, both the Federation and the Star Dragon Empire have now deployed a small number of 'existence troops' on various inhabited planets.

The main fleet and the main ground forces are concentrated on a dozen military planets in strategic and deep positions.

When a war breaks out, these main forces can quickly assemble and flexibly go to various battlefields.

From another perspective, the 'existence troops' on various border planets are actually tools used to sacrifice and delay time.

After encountering an enemy invasion, those with good luck can persist until reinforcements arrive, and then make newspaper headlines and become a new heroic unit.

Those who are unlucky can only become part of the dead list.

Coupled with the various issues in training and organization mentioned before.

It directly led to the defenders on Robert IV, after experiencing attacks from tactical hydrogen bombs and various tactical missiles.

The surviving soldiers were almost powerless to fight back when faced with the orbital paratroopers dropped by the Empire.

The federal soldiers trapped in a valley in front of Amber are a very good example.

"Tsk tsk tsk tsk, this beating is too stinky."

What made Amber make such complaints was a light mechanized force.

About a platoon of motorized infantry, and 7 light armored vehicles.

And the Imperial orbital paratroopers took advantage of the darkness to ambush them.

Just below Amber's slope and across the valley.

Amber counted probably less than 20 people.

But the training level of these 20 people was obviously several levels higher than that of federal soldiers.

When Amber was attracted by the sound of crossfire, the Imperial orbital paratroopers had already used individual anti-vehicle missiles to destroy the leading and trailing vehicles.

The so-called "cut off the head and tail and hit the middle" tactic is still so useful in this era.

The federal soldiers who were ambushed almost panicked and followed the combat regulations and got out of the car to fight back on the spot.

But under the intensive fire suppression, the federal motorized infantry could not disperse at all.

They were completely suppressed near the vehicle, and many of them couldn't even lift their heads in the flames swept out by the chain cannon. Let alone let them fight back.

"These soldiers from your federation are not very good at technical and tactical skills."

Isabel, who was lying side by side with Amber on the slope, looked at the federal soldiers who were suppressed and could not lift their heads, and said slowly.

Amber really couldn't find any reason to refute this statement.

After all, these ‘frontier’ soldiers have both technical and tactical skills and practical combat experience.

There is no way to compare with the orbital paratroopers that the empire went into battle this time.

In the previous 'actual combat' these mobile infantrymen had experienced, the highest intensity of firepower was probably the stones thrown by hundreds of mobs.
  On the Empire's side, Amber doesn't say how strong they are.

But at least the firepower distribution and attack sequence during the ambush were done well.

And thanks to the exoskeleton system equipped on each infantryman, their equipment carrying capabilities are greatly enhanced.

Therefore, the firepower density of infantry squads in this era has also been greatly increased.

Although there is only a team of 20 people, in addition to the conventional Gauss rifle and 40mm automatic grenade launcher.

There are also two 25mm chain guns, a portable electromagnetic gun, and an unknown number of individual anti-vehicle missiles.

"boom!"

Several mobile infantrymen gathered together were hit by a cannonball falling from the sky.

After the smoke and dust dissipated, only a huge crater, some body parts and pieces of equipment were left on the ground.

"Good guy, there are so many people with mortars."

Amber clicked a few times on the terminal on her wrist, and the ballistic detection program built into the tactical visor began to operate.

And quickly marked several possible launch positions on the HUD.

Amber adjusted the zoom of the visor's optical lens, turned on the infrared detection mode, and scanned them one by one.

Finally, I saw a heat source and a moving figure behind a bush about 3 meters away in my 500 o'clock direction.

"I'm going to help. If we don't take action, all these big soldiers will die. I still want to get off their car!"

"Are you coming to help me together, or are you just here to watch?"

Amber retracted behind the slope, checked the weapon in her hand again, and glanced at Isabel who also retracted.

"I didn't stop you from attacking the imperial soldiers. It was the limit of what I could do."

The female spy who was labeled as ‘treason’ said angrily:
  "I would never open fire on soldiers of my own country."

"No problem, I respect your choice~"

Amber didn't talk nonsense to her and ran out with a sniper rifle.

"Just stay here."

As the words fell, Amber's figure blurred for a while, and then completely disappeared into the air.

He turned on the optical stealth mode and started running at high speed.

The fierce exchange of fire on the battlefield at this moment can completely cover up the movement caused by his running.

And his first target now is the mortar position he just discovered.

This thing is still too much of a threat to infantry.

If it fires a few more times, the federal mobile infantry in the valley will probably collapse.

The distance of 500 meters is only more than 30 seconds for Amber, who is sprinting with all his strength with the support of his exoskeleton.

He quickly rushed to the edge of the bush and saw his target.

A 120mm portable mortar, and two Imperial Orbital Paratroopers conducting bombardment operations.

(End of this chapter)