From cannon fodder to sweeping across thousands of stars.

Chapter 256 Atlas’ Casualties

The sewage 'flood' quickly surged through the pipe.

When the water level dropped back to its previous height, the members of the special operations team who were huddled beside the inner wall of the pipe slowly stood up.

The first thing Baninger did after he regained consciousness was to double confirm that all team members were present through the terminal and counting.

In the emergency situation just now, the fixing bolts driven into everyone's feet were very stable, and there were safety ropes connected to teammates, so no one was swept away.

"Fuck, can I still wear this exoskeleton after I go out?"

One of the team members pushed aside the rotten vegetable leaves and some garbage hanging on the exoskeleton and said with some disgust.

Obviously, the sewage in the sewer is not a clean thing. All the urban garbage you can imagine is in this water.

At present, no one dares to turn off the closed internal circulation mode of the combat exoskeleton, let alone turn on the tactical visor.

Not to mention poisoning, the smell would probably kill someone.

He looked around and finally placed the mouse on a plank floating in the water.

While the team members were removing the fixing bolts, they chatted with each other. The tense atmosphere that was originally tense due to the 'flood' was quickly broken.

"When we get to checkpoint No. 6, we will find a fork. After entering, there is a large manhole cover leading to the ground that allows us to get out, and the location is also in a remote alley."

Beyond this distance, it was still pitch black.

Apparently, during the sewage impact just now, this lucky sewer rat managed to avoid being washed away by the sewage by grabbing Baninger's exoskeleton.

Baninger picked up the electromagnetic rifle again, and then looked around at his teammates behind him.

"Squeak, squeak, squeak, squeak."

Baninger smiled and caught the mouse, which struggled wildly in his hand and screamed even more fiercely.

After all, it is impossible to install lighting facilities in these pipes, and in order to ensure the stealth of the infiltration operation, you cannot leave with a light, so what everyone can see is the tactical visor, and the full-color night vision device captures the images within the range.

"Hey~ Lieutenant, do you have any extra gains?"

Baninger looked down at his right arm when he heard a burst of rodent noise picked up by the exoskeleton's pickup.

"A rat."

"I'm afraid that the disinfection team will be smoked to death."

"Brother, I'm worried right now that if we go out, the Empire guys will smell us and get caught."

Everyone laughed again, then checked their equipment and prepared to move on.

At the same time, since the silent mode has been maintained and real-time navigation is not possible, everyone can only use the traditional map + checkpoint mode to explore and move forward.

"Hahahaha, don't tell me it's really possible."

"These are things that were recently equipped. If they are not damaged, please ask someone from the chemical prevention and disinfection team to help clean them."

I saw a soaked rat clinging to the outer armor plate of its arm and shivering.

"Good luck, little one."

Exploring in a closed, dark underground sewage pipe is a task that takes psychological quality into consideration.

"Wish us good luck too."
-
While the special operations team of the Atlas Teaching Team continued to infiltrate into Ptolemaic City through the sewer network.

Amber was also in the forward camp, seeing off Sam, the administrative adjutant of the Rubian System Autonomous Government.

After watching the armored vehicle carrying the administrative adjutant leave the camp under the escort of Rubian garrison, Amber returned to his lounge.

"Lilith, where is the Hermes now?"

"Reporting to Master, Hermes has returned to geostationary orbit, right above our heads."

"Establish an encrypted communication line and pick up Isabel. Is she not sleeping at the moment?"

"No, Master, Ms. Isabel is currently learning "How to Please Your Partner 108 Styles"."

"."

When the encrypted communication was established, looking at Amber in the communication interface, Isabel's face instantly showed a hint of shyness.

"What are you looking at again?"

"Nothing! I was just reading the documents of the intelligence analysis team."

"What? What kind of gossip did your intelligence analysis team go to get? To make you look so red?"

Looking at Isabel's shy expression, Amber couldn't help but laugh. "No! I'm reading serious documents?"

"Oh?"

Amber smiled, and just as she was about to tease the Persian cat she hadn't seen for many days, she heard Lilith's voice ringing in her ears, with a hint of displeasure and jealousy in her tone.

"Master, you asked me to establish an encrypted communication just to flirt with Ms. Isabel?"

"Cough cough."

Amber, who was complained by the strong artificial intelligence, coughed to hide her embarrassment, and then continued:
"To get down to business, Rubion's administrative adjutant just left the forward camp."

"Oh? So why did he come here to find trouble?" Isabel also managed her expression again, and her whole person returned to a serious state.

"First, let's talk about Benjamin and Ralph, but the main thing is that we want Atlas to invest more in Rubian 5."

"Increase investment? It seems that they have no confidence in their own garrison, as well as other private military companies and defense contractors that have won the bid."

"If you were looking at these people, I wouldn't have confidence either." Thinking of the performance of these friendly forces on the battlefield, Amber couldn't help but shake her head.

"So you agreed?"

"Of course, why not make money if you have money? The ATT squadron is going to be put into combat testing anyway, so I took the opportunity to increase the price.

Then I divided two combat control teams to go to the other two continents to help the troops there guide orbital strikes, so the Hermes should be busy next. "

"That's something that should give Cliffs a headache~" Isabel chuckled.

Amber was also amused by her appearance, shook her head and continued:

"Increased investment also means that we will have more opportunities to deal with the Lubyon system government in the future, so I hope that the intelligence analysis team will focus on the direction of intelligence collection in the near future, and put it on the Lubyon system autonomous government. It is best to collect more Some black materials and the like for easy operation later.”

"So, Amber, are you planning to operate in the Rubian system for a long time?"

"Yes, this galaxy is very suitable for the development of Atlas in terms of location and political ecology. And after the battle of Rubion 5 is over, we can naturally carry out the next step of infiltration in the post-war reconstruction."

"Understood, I will let the intelligence analysis team start working on this. Is there anything else you need my help with?"

Isabel added a new item to her to-do list and then asked.

"There is really something about the casualties of the ground troops in this battle."

Amber asked Lilith to call up the casualty report compiled by the brigade headquarters, and while transmitting it to Isabel, she said:
"We will skip the losses of equipment and vehicles for the time being. Anyway, after Atlas Industries starts mass production of several new equipment, they will start to replace them one after another, so the main casualties are casualties."

At this point, Amber's tone began to become a little distressed.

“So far, a total of 28 of our ground troops on Rubian 21 have been killed, including 6 motorized infantry, 1 vehicle crew members, and HCP pilot.

More than 200 people were injured in the battle, but most of them were minor injuries. Three seriously injured people were lying in the life-support cabin. Fortunately, the Roma people had better physical fitness and recovery ability. The military doctor said that they were in the life-support cabin. You can go to the ground after lying down for a week.”

In a real war, no matter how great the advantages of personnel and equipment are, as long as it reaches the scale of a 'war' and the level of force between the two sides is not that of a 'village brawl', then casualties are inevitable.

Although Amber knew that "clearing the level without taking any damage" could only happen in the game, he was like most RTS players, and felt distressed for a long time if one of his soldiers died.

Not to mention a living life in reality.

Among the 28 people killed in action, except for the HCP pilot and two crew members, the remaining 2 were recruited Roma.

Being able to mow the grass among enemies without any psychological burden at all did not affect Amber's sadness because her soldiers were killed in battle.

Of course, he also knew the principle of "kindness does not command troops", so this sadness did not last long, and it would not affect Amber's determination to fight the next tough battle in the city.

Maybe after a while, when I look at the death list again, I might scroll to the bottom to see the total number of casualties?

"The casualty situation is probably like this. Isa, please inform the staff at the Tower of Babel to start the pension process for the fallen soldiers. Strictly follow the regulations and show more care to the families of these Roma people.

This work must not be sloppy, whether it is Roma or human beings.

Since they are willing to join Atlas and work hard, we cannot let them have any worries in this regard.

If anyone dares to make trouble for me in this link, or even commits pension theft or corruption, I will kill them all. Well, let me convey this last sentence in its original words. "

"Don't worry Amber, I will take care of this."

Isabel also felt Amber's emotional changes, so she replied seriously.

Then, as if she suddenly remembered something, she said:
"By the way, there is one more thing I want to inform you. Mr. Perseus will arrive at Lubion 10 in almost standard days. Do you have time to meet him then?"

"Ten days? That's about it. Eighty percent of the battle in Ptolemy City will be over by that time. Maybe we can give him some 'gifts' after Mr. Perseus comes over."

(End of this chapter)