From cannon fodder to sweeping across thousands of stars.

Chapter 346: War Zones Do Not Observe International Conventions
"Sir, we are civilians! Please let us go!"

"Civilians? Okay. What kind of civilians are you?"

The federal soldier wearing a combat exoskeleton carried another group of civilians to the wall like chickens, and asked one of the civilians who kept begging.

The other party was obviously confused by this question. Aren't they all civilians? Why are they divided into "which kind"?
"I don't know. Let me give you a few options. An honest citizen who did nothing? A hostile element who assisted in hiding the imperial soldiers? Or a mob that tried to attack the federal army?"

As he spoke, the federal soldier raised the electromagnetic rifle in his hand.

"Good citizens! We are good citizens. We really don't know where the imperial army has gone."

"Oh, but I don't look like it."

"Bang bang bang!"

The high-speed piercing rod fired by the electromagnetic rifle shattered the fragile human body and penetrated the wall behind.

With a look of panic and disbelief on their faces, another batch of broken bodies of imperial civilians fell on the almost covered ground.
-
After hearing the news sent back by the reconnaissance team, the platoon leader and the platoon sergeant were stunned.

"Are you sure it's an execution?"

"Yes, all the civilians were gathered together and knelt here. The surrounding federal soldiers were pulling groups of civilians aside. After questioning, all the civilians except the women were shot."

At this point, the communicator of the Totoro reconnaissance team paused, as if he was confirming the news with his teammates next to him. After a moment, he continued:

"The federal army we detected is probably a reinforced company, but we don't know if there are any more troops hiding around.

Now they have sent people here, and we are negotiating with them. The current situation is probably that the Federation Army believes that these civilians are helping to hide the Imperial Army, so they are "interrogating" these civilians in batches for this reason."

"Hmph, interrogation."

After hearing the report from the reconnaissance team, the platoon leader who was leading the search mission couldn't help but snort coldly.

"I'm afraid it's an excuse to commit violence, and they deliberately left the female survivor behind. What they want to do next is too obvious."

However, although he was angry, the platoon leader also knew that it would be best for them not to clash with the federal army at this moment, and if the problem could be resolved through negotiation, they would try not to resort to force.

"I'll have the communications squad and the company report the situation, and then we'll press on and stabilize the situation first. If there's only one reinforced company, we have reinforced units and firepower support, so we can still fight."

The platoon sergeant nearby asked.

"Well, let's do it this way, but try not to use violence to solve the problem, otherwise it will go against Boss's original intention."

The platoon leader nodded and replied, then he gave new instructions to the reconnaissance team on the communication channel.

"Attention, Totoro. Keep negotiating with the federal army. Tell them that a large force is approaching. Ask them to pay attention to armed control."
-
"We are searching for people who helped hide the Imperial Army. I advise you not to meddle in our business."

The Federation soldier who was negotiating with the Totoro Group emitted a muffled sound from the loudspeaker on his tactical visor.

After the soldiers on guard at the periphery spotted the approaching white-painted infantry fighting vehicle, the company sergeant major from the headquarters approached with the guard squad.

They did not take Atlas' "humanitarian aid" force lightly, and at this moment, the weapons in their hands were intentionally or unintentionally pointed at the Totoro reconnaissance team.

"Hey, my friend from the Federation, we don't mean to interfere with your combat operations."

The leader of the investigation team, a tall lion-headed man, hung his weapon under his ribs to indicate "harmless", and said:
"We just hope that you will not treat these civilians in such a bloody way. According to the Treaty of Telares, the warring parties should..."

"No, no, no. Don't talk to me about international conventions in a war zone." The federal soldier rudely interrupted the lion-headed man.

"These Imperials have it all their own fault. We told them at the beginning of the war that as long as they don't get involved in the battle, we won't harm civilians.

But they didn't take us seriously at all, and have been helping to hide the remnants of the Empire in this town and tipping them off so that these remnants of the Empire could attack our patrols."

Having said that, the federal sergeant glanced angrily at the group of civilians being escorted to the wall, and then continued:

"We have lost a lot of brothers in this town during this period, so we are just trying to catch those who are hiding the remnants of the empire."

"But from what I saw, the civilians you dragged to the wall for 'interrogation' were all shot by you. Not all of them were shot, but the female civilians were left behind."

The lion-headed man still maintained normal communication, but this time there was a hint of something else in his tone.

"Sirating me?"

The federal sergeant tilted his head and took a step forward, approaching the lion-headed man.

Although after wearing a combat exoskeleton, his height is still not as tall as the sturdy Roma man in front of him, but as his side has the advantage in numbers, the federal army sergeant is not afraid at all.

"Who asked them to face the guns one by one and refuse to reveal the movements of the remaining imperial soldiers? They are quite courageous.
As for the women? We are kind to them and don’t want to hurt them, so we plan to take them back and take good care of them.”

At this point, the surrounding federal soldiers also laughed, and their laughter also conveyed a new message - 'We did it this way, what can you do? '

The members of the Totoro team could not see any trace of "soldiers" in them due to their arrogant and vulgar appearance.

"Brother, you should take your men back and stop wasting our time. There are some things that you stuffed toys can't control."

The federal sergeant felt that enough had been said, so he waved his hand, signaling the Totoro team to leave, so that they could go back to "observe" the interrogations by the wall.

"Fuck you scum"

Even though the lion-headed captain of the Totoro team usually has a very good personality, he finally couldn't control his temper at this moment.

Hearing this, the federal army sergeant on the opposite side raised his electromagnetic rifle and aimed at the lion-headed man. The soldiers around him raised their weapons in unison.

"Go back to your nest and don't make me say it again."

As the federal sergeant spoke, their actions triggered a chain reaction.

The members of the Totoro team soon discovered that there were also federal troops running between the buildings in the distance. Judging from the outlines of the weapons loaded on the racks behind their exoskeletons, they should be several anti-vehicle teams.

However, although the Totoro group was outnumbered, they did not show weakness at this moment. With the lion-headed captain raising his gun as a signal, the others also raised their weapons, and the miniature rocket capsule behind a team member also rose up.

The armored infantry fighting vehicle responsible for transporting the team also drove up. Its low prismatic turret, equipped with a 50mm chain gun and a coaxial electromagnetic machine gun, aimed directly at the federal army non-commissioned officer.

"With just a few of you and a crappy armored vehicle, you think you can confront us head-on."

The sergeant's originally disdainful words gradually became smaller and smaller amid a rumbling sound that came from far away, and finally he shut his mouth.

Because three medium-sized multi-legged tanks that could maneuver quickly with the help of auxiliary wheels slid out from the street corner behind the Totoro Squad, and blue lights were flashing continuously on the lightweight electromagnetic reconnection guns on their rear turrets.

(End of this chapter)