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Reporting entry: No. 22344
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Message:
The current strategic situation leaves much to be desired. At the moment, the entire 127th Army is fighting against creatures called “xorx”, holding back their onslaught to the west of the Pharaoh base. Over the past 24 hours, there have been deaths in various parts of the defense sector 663 people, these are some of the largest losses suffered in almost a month of hostilities. Total deaths 9876 people, casualties continue to mount.
We need to get out of such a difficult situation and fortunately we have found out a number of details that will help us in the future to solve this seemingly difficult task.
Firstly, we found out the details related to xorx communication and the special structure of their body and, in particular, the process of their consciousness. The Central Science Department conducted an experiment in which it was able to block communication with the “swarm queen” using electromagnetic waves from a distant emitter, which we use to communicate with ships within the planetary system. As a result of the experiment, the subject stopped showing any kind of conscious activity and turned into a practically non-aggressive animal. As it turned out, it did not even feel hungry and soon died due to a lack of necessary substances to maintain its own life.
Later, the experiment was repeated in the field, but in contrast to the controlled conditions, the maximum that could be achieved was only a temporary xorx delay, and after twenty minutes of stupor, communication with the “swarm queen” was restored, and they continued to attack the western positions of the 127th Army. Based on this, it was confirmed that xorx are not individual creatures and are controlled by the "swarm queen".
Secondly, we confirmed the existence of the “swarm queen,” a creature that plays the role of the center of the collective consciousness of these individuals. With the help of special synapses, various types of xorx-communicators and xorx-commanders, playing the role of intermediate command, the queen of the swarm gives the main orders to all millions of individuals. These creatures are completely absent of any kind of individuality.
Thirdly, we found out that xorx learned to block radio waves above the “swarm queen”, which created a situation in which it was impossible to attack with xorx guided missiles, as well as conduct reconnaissance using unmanned aerial vehicles.
The idea of firing a salvo of cruise missiles with nuclear warheads and destroying the queen of the swarm was proposed and used, but to our surprise, although the salvo was fired, it did not have the desired effect. «The Queen of the Swarm survived a nuclear strike.» (Information of particular importance!)
Based on the above information, we have developed an operation plan codenamed «Achilles». We have prepared six largbattalions and five shuttles for the final destruction of the “swarm queen” and all xorx in this region. I will reveal the details of the operation in the next report.
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Additional comment:
The operation will begin any minute, I really hope for a successful outcome since the chance of success of the operation during the simulation was only...
…18%...
...we have no other option. Executing Operation Achilles is the only way to survive on this planet...
(Appendix 1. “Operational data of operation «Achilles», plan, preparation, date of operation”)
(Appendix 2. “Summary of the composition of personnel, group of troops «Troy» and operational command”)
(Appendix 3. “Calculation of data on the chance of success of Operation «Achilles»”)
…
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End of entries…
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***
The details of the operation were vague, from which all I know is that it is very important to the survival of each of us on this damn planet. This was a very important mission, the failure of which would cost us everything. We all understood what awaited us. We were all afraid of this, but we people will not fall so easily in the face of death.
Our strength is in unity, in our principles, in our minds and of course, most importantly, in our weapons. Whatever these insectoids are, they are just beetles that can only press on us with their chitinous mass. Now they will lose this advantage when they lose their head, which makes all the decisions for them.
I was in combat gear. It was nice to feel the weight of a combat suit and powerful firearms in your hands. I like to feel so strong, as if I have become a real defender of humanity and the only state of our civilization. This gives me a lot of confidence in my abilities, which could come in handy at any moment.
Not only was I glad that we were now dressed in normal mobile combat suits of the "Panther" type, but so were the soldiers of my platoon.
“Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh~... yes-ah-ah~...! Now we'll show these damn beetles where the Athenians lick their balls! “Lewis rejoiced as he inspected his hand-held missile launcher, having previously loaded it with a guided missile filled with high-explosive fragmentation.
In response to these words, I warned Lewis by answering him on the local air:
"Sergeant, be less enthusiastic, this is an important and responsible mission. We need to be ready."
In response, he simply waved it off.
“Come on, Ted, fighting spirit is very useful now. The main thing for us is to gather our strength, and we’ll think about survival on the battlefield when the shooting starts.”
What a moron.
I thought smiling.
Life doesn't seem to teach him anything.
“I see, Lewis, you are happily ready to become a seven. Survive at least until the end of the day, and I promise that I will bury you on Earth with my own hands.”
I said, making all the platoon soldiers laugh with my words, however, not for long.
“That’s enough! Get ready, the landing will be any minute now. We will have an almost continuous battle with the beetles, which will last at least about six hours, if not longer. There will be a rotation every half hour. Does everyone remember the briefing?”
"Yes sir!"
The platoon shouted in unison, and I began to look at the tactical map on the display displayed in the helmet of my combat suit.
"Great. Everyone get ready to disembark."
I answered, starting to analyze the data displayed in front of my eyes.
The tactical map on the display showed five shuttles moving west in a wedge formation, flying over the xorx horde. To be honest, I didn't like all of this. On board our shuttle there was a powerful weapon that at any other moment could have served us for the purpose of evacuating us from the planet, but instead we are using it as a bomb. And it’s not a fact that it will work at all or, on the contrary, will work ahead of time. For this operation, we assembled a rather large platoon of engineers who would have to tinker with this “bomb” while we defended our positions from the endless influx of enemies.
It would be much easier if we just dropped it over the hive and that’s it, but it looks like we can’t do it.
I regretted to myself as I waited for the moment when the bloody routine would begin.
Moreover, we were flying straight into the heart of the xorx hive, where the number of these creatures will reach tens of thousands, if not hundreds or even millions. And although we were allocated the most powerful and advanced weapons for this operation, they, unfortunately, do not guarantee the survival of each of us during the implementation of the assigned tasks.
This operation, in principle, does not guarantee a positive outcome for us, and yet General Zeonid approved it because there was simply no other course of action left. If everything goes smoothly, then more than a hundred thousand soldiers of the 127th Army will survive, and if not, then practically none of us.
Based on this, I could only pray to the Gods unknown to me so that at least one of us would save our lives until the end of this day and could someday see the Moon, Sun and Earth with our own eyes again.
Meanwhile, the display showed an inactive timer showing the time.
Six o'clock.
This is how long this operation will take. The timer will start counting down as soon as we jump from the shuttles onto the sand, and during this time we will need to hold back a real wave of giant creatures dressed in chitin and crawling on their limbs with sharp claws.
To be honest, I get excited when I think about it. The battle promised to be not just difficult, but truly apocalyptic. Its scale simply defies imagination. Since the end of the Pantora War, never before have the Republic Armed Forces of Man fought such large-scale battles. You could say that Hydra is smoking on the sidelines.
He's right.
This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.
I thought, looking at Lewis.
Fighting spirit is very useful right now.
At that moment, a series of booming sounds sounded throughout the shuttle. We were well aware of what we had just heard. This is the sound of xorx fire from the shuttle's onboard guns. In the general air, one could hear how orders were transmitted, and the pilots reported on what they saw. Everyone listened attentively to the broadcast, waiting for the moment when the shuttle pilot would command the landing.
"Says: «Phobos». Do you see this?"
"Says: «Apostle». Are you talking about this huge mountain?"
"Says: «Phobos». I confirm."
"Says: «Edward Levsky». This is our goal, the queen of the swarm."
Five thousand people are ready to join the battle at any moment. Under the dim light of red LEDs, even rows of soldiers, dressed in black massive combat suits, stood waiting for this hour, held in place by ceiling clamps and even in this position, they could not wait to release their first clip at the damn insectoids. The clamps themselves will disappear as soon as the shuttle lands and we finally become mobile.
I, along with all the soldiers, stood closest to the landing hatch of the shuttle and will be one of the first to parachute to the landing site. Most likely, I will be the very first to die in battle. How unpleasant and scary it is to realize this.
Mom... dad... I... I don’t know if I’ll come home. I promise that I will do everything possible on my own not to die here. Natiana, love of my life, I will definitely return to you. I swear I will not die in the sands of this damned planet. I will definitely live to see the day of our reunion. I swear.
Praying to myself, I soon heard the main order on the air:
"Landing in three... two... one..."
The boarding ramp instantly fell down and a blinding light hit my eyes. And the first person I saw was a two-meter xorx warrior rushing towards us through a sandstorm. At that moment, the clamps retracted into the ceiling and now I felt complete freedom of movement. I pointed the barrel of my machine gun towards the xorx and immediately pulled the trigger and opened fire.
With a short burst of large-caliber shells, I tore this creature into pieces, emitting liters of yellow blood, and taking massive heavy steps, I moved forward, simultaneously giving the order:
"To all members of platoon D1-1-1A2, we are disembarking and taking the designated position!"
"Yes, sir!"
The platoon shouted in unison on our local broadcast.
More xorx appeared ahead and, without my order, the fighters fired at them with all the weapons we had, mainly machine guns and flamethrowers. At the moment there were few beetles, there were dozens of them somewhere in the entire visible area, and it seemed they were disoriented.
In the distance, the silhouettes of other shuttles could be seen from which entire regiments of soldiers disembarked, followed by equipment, be it anti-aircraft guns, missile launchers, tanks, armored vehicles, trucks and mobile communication and coordination systems. Immediately, in parallel with the clearing of the territory, fortifications began to be built.
At that moment I looked at the tactical map and gave the order to the platoon to move to the defense point, which we must defend for six hours. That place was nothing more than just a flat and flat sandy surface that would later be fortified with barricades, artificial hills and ramparts, and it would also have to be mined in case these xorx positions were captured.
"All members of Platoon D1-1-1A2, move to sector S-34, enemy direction north."
We began to move towards the sector, shooting at the beetles along the way. It seems that after a minute they finally woke up and began to attack us in whole flocks, if not waves. This created difficulties for us because we had to focus most of our attention on them.
Their movements became more organized. And although the terrain was flat and they had nowhere to hide, they could burrow underground and therefore we also monitored the activity below the surface, scanning the sands with everything we could, hoping to avoid unexpected attacks. These actions should not have been necessary since the soil under the sand here seemed solid and yet you never know when to expect unpleasant surprises.
"Radaper, Antonio, install the turret. Lewis fire only at individuals above twenty meters. Armen, prepare ammunition..."
I continued to give various kinds of orders. Our platoon D1-1-1A2, like the others, carried out the assigned combat mission. We were preparing one of three lines of defense, the first we had to defend, and the rest we would have to use for temporary rotations. The current ammunition should have been enough to destroy thousands of these monsters, but we knew for sure that this would not be enough.
Meanwhile, the shuttles, having dropped off everyone and unloaded all available luggage, raising clouds of sand, rose up on accelerators and flew back to the Pharaoh base to load more ammunition. We, in turn, must hold our positions while the engineers tinker with that “bomb”. I aimed my machine gun into the distance, but due to the sandstorm I did not see the enemy in front of me, but I saw something else.
What the...
A huge lonely mountain, a living mountain of chitin from which some gigantic pulsating arteries led underground. The mountain was dotted with tens of thousands of insectoids and was nothing more than a giant living anthill. Most likely, this was the same xorx hive that, by some miracle, survived a series of nuclear strikes. I was convinced of this by looking at the bisocanner data, which confirmed the presence of a huge number of individual individuals that were heading straight towards us.
Having activated the tactical map on the helmet display, I was also convinced that we were in complete ass, that is, completely surrounded. Xorx were not yet organized, but were already beginning to compress the ring with their movement towards the outer sectors of the defense perimeter. Thousands of soldiers and dozens of pieces of military equipment were swarming in their positions, preparing to fight off one huge endless wave of xorx.
Machine guns, rocket launchers, turrets, anti-aircraft guns, minefields between the three lines of defense and remote fuses were installed directly at the positions. With the help of machines, we dug trenches, installed barbed wire and steel stakes, everything that would help us in the upcoming battle. They erected artificial hills and placed large-caliber guns on them, and also did not forget about air defense systems. We were preparing to meet a monstrous tsunami here, which at any moment would be ready to wipe us off the face of the planet.
However, with the weapons that we had with us, we were not preparing to simply surrender. This mission is extremely important for our continued survival on this planet. If we fail, then none of us will ever leave this planet, alive or inanimate.
"Oh shit!"
Someone swore on air, looking at the approaching sandstorm within which a chitinous horde was hiding.
"They're already attacking!"
"Get ready!"
I gave the order, aiming my machine gun.
"Fire when ready!"
After these words, the shooting immediately began. Xorx were still a kilometer away from us, but we had already begun to conduct aimed fire at them. In the rear, artillery began to actively work, rockets were continuously launched, machine guns were chattering, pouring a barrage of lead on the insane creatures that seemed to be completely devoid of any instinct of self-preservation and continued to move ahead towards their certain death. It seemed that they were not alive, they were nothing more than puppets that they did not mind sacrificing. Even the Cemptzens were more individual than this collective swarm of giant insectoids.
Apparently because of this, a unanimous decision was made to completely destroy these creatures, even if this would disrupt the ecosystem of this planet. For our survival, it does not matter whether life develops on this planet or not. After the crash of Zeus, this planet is like a corpse. Sooner or later, its entire surface will be completely and completely poisoned by toxins released from fuel tanks. What is unknown is how long it will take to stay safely on the surface of the planet, although in theory the problems should have started now, a month after the crash.
"The artillery has used up a salvo! One minute to reload!"
A man's voice sounded on the air.
Silently accepting this message and seeing flashes of distant explosions for the last time, we were preparing to let the xorx closer and start firing without aiming. Meanwhile, among the xorx, large individuals began to stand out, like xorx-tanks, which could release the most dangerous acid, which could corrode even the strongest alloy.
The scientific department confirmed that the acid of xorx-tanks, although it had a temporary effect and could evaporate, could easily deoxidize the Kaingrain alloy, the most durable and refractory material known to human civilization, used on the lining of warships. This meant only one thing: under no circumstances should they be allowed closer, otherwise they would simply wipe out all our defenses to the Cemptzen devils. That is why xorx-tanks became a priority target for our military equipment.
A barrage of tank fire hit the first xorx-tank that came across. Various shells from armor-piercing to incendiary and fragmentation had virtually no effect. Seeing the shooting, these huge creatures quickly reacted, starting to stick out their durable shell from the back forward, as if they were putting up a shield in front of them that could withstand even a small tactical nuclear strike.
The only way to kill them is plasma, which fortunately was at our disposal.
"Plasma fire!"
A new order sounded on the air and the screen in the helmet was instantly illuminated with a blinding light by a dozen white rays.
One of the streams of plasma struck the shell of the xorx-tank, instantly evaporating it and at the same time hundreds of small xorx that were nearby at that moment. If we had not been dressed in combat suits, we would probably have felt the monstrous heat from the plasma fire and the loud, disgusting screech of xorx being burned alive.
Nevertheless, the battle did not end, but rather intensified. From time to time, we encountered even more unique individuals ahead, one of which was the flying xorx, which looked more like giant mosquitoes with saber-shaped limbs. They were fragile, one machine gun fire was enough to kill them, but they were nimble, and their movements were chaotic. Suppressing xorx mosquitoes was difficult, and the chance of hitting them was approximately 20%.
We used one unique weapon against them, which, unfortunately, did not find its use on the battlefields of past wars. This is a noise weapon, a device that sends sound at certain frequencies and disorients everyone who hears this noise, including people. The scientific department identified the necessary frequencies at which xorx lost attention and orientation in space. To be more precise, they simply stopped dodging the projectiles and flew straight as if they had lost touch with reality, thanks to which they became a simple target, which despite this still remained quite difficult to destroy since they still continued their flight. Nevertheless, noise weapons helped us a lot in suppressing them. Thanks to him, there is no hurricane of xorx mosquitoes circling above us, which could destroy us in an instant.
Also among the xorx there appeared something like artillery. Huge creatures almost the same size as xorx-tanks, with a large inflated abdomen from which they launched a long stream of acid into space. Until this day, we had met only a few of them, but now thousands of such creatures surrounded our positions and were ready to pour acid rain on us, which would devour all our weapons to hell and make us powerless and, of course, dead.
Our aviation immediately began to operate, some of the drones circling above our heads, which were controlled by operators inside our defensive perimeter. They fired rockets and dropped bombs at xorx. Meanwhile, we ordinary soldiers were only minor participants in the battle, or so it seemed to us. Yet our strength lay in the fact that each of us, doing small work separately, did a huge job together, this was the significance for us.
I felt like I was caught in a stormy open sea, without a boat or a life preserver. There was heavy fire all around, the display barely identified the targets for attack, then some red dots appeared, then others disappeared. Shaking and vibration were constantly felt through the combat suits. Often it was necessary to change the barrel of the machine gun due to overheating. Explosions thundered in the distance, yellow blood splashed, a wave of dead carcasses rose high, and we continued, seemingly in vain, to stand against the rushing inevitable death.
And although at first glance it seemed that we were successfully holding back the endless wave of xorx, the tactical map clearly showed how the xorx continued to squeeze the encirclement ring deeper and deeper. Even when the artillery successfully reloaded and cleared the xorx positions with a barrage of fire and rockets, they were still quickly filled with new creatures as if they had not died there at all.
The all-round defense was rapidly turning into a crater, the xorx began to press on us from the heights of their own corpses. The sky was filled with mindlessly flying xorx mosquitoes. There were so many of them that they darkened the skies and dispersed even the already raging sandstorm. Considering how much we fired, we began to increasingly understand that our chances of winning were far from 18%, but rather 0.18%. They compressed the surrounded ring three times faster than calculated. Our resources for defense were insufficient, and the next supply of ammunition would clearly be late.
And then, at the sight of an emerging unfavorable situation, the head of defense, Hort Umika, orders a series of tactical nuclear strikes. Six bright flashes appear around the circular perimeter, which, like a shock wave, swept away all the hundreds of thousands of xorx that had been pressing on us all these tens of minutes, and yet we still need to hold out for more than five hours.
"Rotation!"
Having heard the main order on the air, our positions were taken by the fighters from the second line, meanwhile the fighters from the third line took the positions of the second line, and we, in turn, retreated from the first to the third. We have successfully passed the baton to the heroes ahead, who will also have to wait in the wings for rotation.
At the moment when we retreated back to the prepared camp, I gave orders to my platoon:
"Let's get some rest, guys. Reload, check your weapons, and eat something while you can."
The fighters were tense. Looking at the health data of my fighters on the display, I saw indicators of a high heart rate. Adrenaline was surging inside their bodies, however, I was no better. I did not lose attention for a second, constantly firing aimed fire half a kilometer ahead. Often my machine gun overheated and I had to quickly replace even the whole barrel with another one that was not yet overheated.
"Sir,"
Suddenly Radeper turned to me.
"May I speak?"
"Speak."
"When I die and the army returns to Earth, bury me on Mimas."
"I listened to you, private. Your request was denied."
"What if I say «please»?"
"Radaper, you won't die here, okay?"
"Damn... I want to go to Mimas. Maybe if I die, then still fulfill my request."
"Only if I myself survive."
"You don't have to be afraid. Out of all of us, you're sure to survive."
A small dialogue blew away all the tension that we had accumulated during this miserable half hour, however, the battle was still far from over. Looking back at the nightmare that we were holding back and would continue to hold back later, I wanted to believe that it was all just one very terrible nightmare that would soon pass.
But the nightmare will not pass.