Chapter 218 – Command and Inspection of Combat Equipment
[I desperately need help. Please save us. There are still many survivors here.]
Letters of earnest appeal appeared one after another on the external laboratory control screen.
But there would be no survivors. I can say it clearly.
“Mechanically eroded variant. “It must be the devil you mentioned.”
A mutant infectious agent that resembles a cephalopod with five legs.
He is the one who put me in danger by assimilating with the security robot during the past shelter restoration operation. If I hadn’t worn a neck brace as Artemis advised, I would have died there.
Even when infiltrating Terracorp, I had to sweat it out because the helicopter he assimilated sounded an alarm. I can still see the sight of thousands of infectious agents coming to catch me.
Since ancient times, it has been said that what makes a devil the true embodiment of evil is not his horns, tail, or hooves, but his tongue.
That communication that tells endless lies is uglier than a walker with flaky skin.
Pure malice towards the living. It is an evil word that uses sympathy and good intentions.
[If you save me, I will definitely repay your favor.]
“Do you want to take revenge?”
Beep.
I waved my hand and Artemis cut off the communication. It was a lie that wasn’t worth hearing anymore, and Solaver looked pained the whole time he was listening.
“That communication is just a request for help that can be received from any terminal on the ship. The bridge that controls the entire ship did not fall into their hands. “When the infection spread, the first priority was to contain it.”
Well, if it had fallen into their hands, the ship itself would have slowly rushed toward Earth.
“When the infection was discovered, the captain shut down the warp engines, sealed off the bridge, and implemented purification protocols. It’s a regulation to prevent other planetary systems from being harmed. Although not much was observed throughout the war. It was a noble sacrifice.”
He placed his fist against his chest and bowed his head slightly. This type of ritual is similar wherever you go.
“Can’t you unlock it here?”
“It’s impossible. That must be handled manually within the ship. Even if I have great authority, if I make a remote call, it has to be a regular flight using a conventional propulsion device. It will take at least 5 days.”
“It takes 5 days to travel from Mars to Earth… The expression ‘conventional’ really doesn’t fit.”
It took 9 months for Earth’s manned exploration team to reach Mars.
“Then let’s begin the salvage work. “I will tear that liar down and burn him as soon as he arrives at Earth.”
“Thank you.”
“Then please keep working hard. “I have to prepare to receive guests.”
Artemis quietly followed me as I left the lab.
* * *
Jiyiing.
Welders emit flashes of light from all directions.
Sometimes white flashes, sometimes yellow flames, erupted from the joints of the security robots in an immobile posture. Most of them are first-generation insomniacs and second-generation marauders.
We stopped external exploration and began a detailed inspection of all available combat forces.
Boom!
A large turret was lowered and placed on top of the APC (Armored Personnel Carrier) by a crane. The gun barrel consists of two parallel bars.
Since it was developed in a modular form from the beginning with the possibility of modification in mind, it could be easily transformed into a self-propelled howitzer.
On the other side, dozens of rats lined up like trained military dogs. The sleek metallic tails of the poison gas-spreading robot rats used in chemical, biological, and biological combat stand up all at once.
Pororororong.
As the equipment was being inspected, volatile gases similar to soap bubbles came out from the nozzle for spraying poisonous gas, creating a quite cute sight.
However, when the battle begins, they will become evil spirits that cannot be compared to the plague rats that carried the plague.
There are a lot of stationary sentry guns lined up next to it. Maintenance robots are busy replacing cameras for identification of enemies with better ones than existing ones for external operations.
“It reminds me of the old days.”
“Which one?”
Artemis asked.
“Command and inspection of combat equipment.”
A nightmare for soldiers that comes once a year. It is an especially terrible event in the engineering corps, which uses a lot of equipment.
“Oh, that.”
Although she is untrained, she knows better than most soldiers.
This is because the current maintenance system is based on the military’s command and inspection guidelines for combat equipment.
“I don’t think Earth’s condition will get worse if materials inside the spacecraft leak out, but there’s no harm in being careful anyway.”
Artemis said.
Crash. Crash.
In one place, the Stalker series are checking newly issued weapons.
It was a feast of heavy weapons such as anti-materiel sniper rifles, grenade machine guns, and rocket launchers.
They are seen throwing away tripods and stands and holding dozens of kilograms of heavy weapons alone.
Each one was overflowing with courage, as if they could do a hundred against the infectious agents.
There is also a Hercules series that carries an auxiliary battery backpack on its back.
Rather than direct combat, they play an engineer support role that may arise unexpectedly. Things like opening a road or removing obstacles.
Equipment inspection is also underway in the upper flight unit hangar area. Numerous drones and helicopters are gathered together.
[Administrator, here’s a report.]
Rose contacted me through a brain implant.
[The situation has been communicated to all security forces and residents. As instructed, starting five days later, on the day of the salvage operation, all routine tasks will be halted, and the city will be placed on highest alert. The security forces completed training in high-intensity suppression operations against possible discord during this period.]
“Good job.”
All available power will be mobilized to salvage the spacecraft. Most of the first-generation sleepless robots that were normally used for shelter security will be deployed.
Every possible situation, no matter how unlikely, must be assumed. You will have to form a solid, water-tight siege and destroy them without missing a single one.
The place where the spaceship will land is the former Metacraft Cybernetics Laboratory.
It is a monumental place where we first took on the challenge of securing technology.
“It’s 3 km from our city. “It’s the right distance, not too far or too short.”
Artemis said, pointing to the route on the map.
It is definitely a place that attracts less attention because it is built in a field outside the city. Whether it was a group of other infected organisms or an explorer who might be drawn to this place in the future.
“Plus, we can utilize the laboratory buildings and facilities. Of course, major repairs will be needed.”
Her fingers pointed at each research building in turn.
There is a laser pointer and pen in his jacket pocket, but he doesn’t seem to have any intention of using them.
Because every movement using her appendages was a fun game for her.
“I’ll borrow some.”
She took out a pen from her chest.
Water!
I felt the ultimate softness with the inorganic tip of the pen.
“Ugh!”
“Oh, sorry.”
Artemis stroked her chest with a red face.
Because her breasts were so large, the pockets of her top were cramped and the strength to hold her pen was beyond imagination.
“Does it hurt a lot?”
“It’s a bitch.”
When she reached her hand to her chest, she was cut off with a single snatch of her hand.
I grinned and held my pen over the city. It was drawn as if to summarize how the troops would be positioned that day.
Since I have already thought about it in my head several times, I can continue it smoothly like water.
While protecting the huge spaceship with limited troops, you must also prepare for the hordes of infectious agents that will be attracted by the commotion. You can’t miss the guys jumping out of the spaceship.
A siege group surrounding the spaceship, a mobile team to repel the hordes of infected organisms approaching from the outside, a chase team to catch up with excellent mobility to those who might escape from the spaceship, and finally, a special force to infiltrate the ship.
A total of 4 types of units must be organized according to their respective roles.
In the end, even if it is for the greater good, it is something we do on our own. Sparks should not fly to the survivors below.
As I was busy checking my plans, it was already night.
The sky is pitch black and filled with stars that look like they are about to fall.
This is thanks to the disappearance of pollution after the infection war, and the smoke that had been blocking the sky for a long time has been completely cleared.
“That place.”
Artemis must have noticed my gaze and extended her beautiful index finger in one direction.
“It must be flying toward Earth from that direction.”
“I can’t see anything.”
“Isn’t it obvious? It’s still a long way away. “This is also the time when Earth and Mars are the furthest away.”
The relationship between Earth and Mars is different from that of the Moon. In the process of revolving around the center of the sun, the distance between each other increases and the distance becomes closer and closer.
“But it’s still 5 days.”
Artemis didn’t say anything, but his desire for this wondrous technology was evident on his face.
Since you’ve never had to or need to manage your facial expressions in front of anyone in your life, is it natural?
In general, a greedy face is ugly, but this girl just looks cute.
“It seems like just yesterday I was begging around with a shotgun, but I’ve come so far.”
I don’t know where I went astray. I came a very long way while holding the hand of the innocent girl in front of me.
“If you look at the person I was when I first took office and the person I am now, you will be speechless.”
“That’s not necessarily true.”
Artemis came to my side and carefully hugged me with one arm.
“What would you think if you saw your past self like this?”
Her eyes are staring at me.
“… Maybe they will jump up and cheer.”
“Right?”
The golden full moon turned into a crescent moon.
