TFA2 13.2 – The Last Check
A few hundred meters from the north entrance, a 5-ton MTV Driller was busy making some holes. Each hole was 10 cm in diameter and as deep as 20 meters. These holes would be used to insert the sleeping gas's pipe into underground tunnel.
Next to the MTV Driller Sergeant Lucy oversees the work. When Colonel Maddox and other officers from MCG approached her, she immediately handed over her tablet.
"Colonel, this is the sensing result from portable seismic detector. The underground tunnel splits into two branches here."
After studying the pictures on the tablet Colonel Maddox said, “The tunnel really split into two."
“Yes, Sir. One goes to Levsait, while the other goes to Raisait."
A smile immediately bloomed on Major Cullum’s lips. "Then, this place is the most ideal location to cut the flow of opposing combatant.”
Sergeant Lucy firmly nodded. “Exactly, Sir.”
“Sergeant, how many holes have been made by your crew?"
"So far, three holes. We drilled it as gently as possible, exactly up to two meters before penetrating the underground tunnel's ceiling."
"We need more." Colonel Maddox paused for a moment before continuing, "Make it into a pattern so we can insert explosives and create a four-meter-wide hole. Also, you don’t need to do it in silence anymore."
"Do we cancel the sleeping gas, Sir?"
"We replace it with the plan to flood the tunnel, followed by a touch of electricity."
"Understood, Sir."
Wasting no time, Sergeant Lucy led her crew to carry out their new task. Meanwhile, Lieutenant Juan led his men to prepare the explosives. As for Major Callum, he and his men prepared the water and electricity.
---
Marine Industrial Area, Center of Levsait.
In one corner of Marine Industrial Area, Energy Storage Station Levi-01 stood peacefully. It was a facility used to store giga-power bank, a device invented by Tesla USA in 2024.
As the name suggested, giga-power bank was used to store electricity on a massive scale. It had the size of a 40-feet shipping container, could store electricity up to 800 MW, and initially it would be used to support the power station to recharge electric vehicles. It was also durable, free of inflation, and environmentally friendly.
However, when you compared it to other present energy sources, giga-power bank was too expensive to support a large-scale industrial complex. Therefore, for now only TF Amethyst had the interest in adopting giga-power bank, because it was the easiest and fastest option that could be paired with any environmentally friendly power plant.
Tonight, even though Levsait was under attack, all activities in the center of Levsait were running as usual, including daily operations at ESS LEVI-01. Of course, in order to anticipate the worst scenario, Nate had deployed 1200 combatants to form a final protection line and defend it at any cost. The defender also had Attack Hello and other heavy assets to support their mission.
Therefore, Site Manager Russell could calmly start his late-night shift. And as usual, once he entered his office, he immediately checked the daily report.
Every day, some electricity that was generated by wind power plants and solar power plants in Levsait would be stored to giga-power banks in ESS Levi-01. So far, of the 480 units of giga-power banks, 297 units had been fully charged and ready to be used in winter, when the solar power plant couldn't generate electricity at its maximum output.
A smile bloomed on Site Manager Russell's lips as he found that three additional giga-power bank would be ready to be used. Then, with hasty steps Engineer Emerson suddenly entered the room.
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As he handed over a piece of emergency request Engineer Emerson said, "MCG asks us to provide electricity up to 700,000 kWh, through a substation near the northern entrance."
As a black question mark appeared on his face, Site Manager Russell asked, “Why do they need such big electricity?”
"Dunno, they didn't say the details."
“What a strange request.”
"Yeah, but Chief Nate has just contacted us and requested that we put MCG's request as top priority."
In an instant, the question mark on Site Manager Russell's face thickened. Providing 700,000 kWh of electricity was not trivial matter. In some countries on earth, it could be used to power a city with 60.000 populations.
However, as Chief Nate already gave his consent, in the end Site Manager Russell could only comply with the request. “Use the giga-power banks on the 6th floor.”
“Understood,” Wasting no time, Engineer Emerson carried out the order.
---
Throughout his long and dark carrier in the military, Captain Norrak had seen every single of horror that could only be found on the battlefield. Therefore, he was sure there were no battlefield horror that could make him flinched, let alone the one that could shock his heart to the core.
However, battlefield was a place full of sneaky surprises. When an overconfident fellow thought he already saw it all, something new would kick his balls from the direction he least expected.
Long short story, Captain Norrak instantly lost his composure when Brigadier Zommat and three other captains, who were standing right in front of him, suddenly became meat paste after a head of giant iron carriage fell on them without prior warning.
At that time, Captain Norrak even screamed hysterically on reflex, as if he was an innocent virgin who for the first time in her life encountered a butt groping from a thug.
After that, Captain Norrak felt the urge to exit the underground tunnel as fast as possible. Without delay, he climbed the side of the giant iron carriage and arrived on the surface through a tiny gap on the half-opened entry point. And his men followed his lead while bloodlust and desire to revenge the death of their officers filled their hearts to the brim.
As soon as they reached the surface, Captain Norrak and his men were greeted by dozens of giant iron carriage. On its head, it had a pair of bright lights that staring at them like a starving devil. As soon as Captain Norrak's men drew their swords, the iron carriage immediately ran towards their position at full speed. With ease, they hit and crushed Captain Norak’s men mercilessly.
Up to this moment, he still could hear the ‘Crunch crunch crunch!!’ sound as his men were run over by the giant iron carriage's wheel. He could also clearly remember the horror and despair in their eyes just before their bodies became meat paste.
And somehow, Captain Norrak who just stood in place while trembling in fear, was survived and ended up as a prisoner of war. After that, two friendly people gave him a drink that made his head feel very light, but at the same time his memory became very vivid. And every time they asked him a question, Captain Norrak would voluntarily answer it in detail.
"What drinks do you give me?" Captain Norrak weakly asked.
“Don’t worry. The med is not dangerous as long as you don't over consume it."
One of the friendly people calmly replied, and Captain Norrak lightly nodded.
“I see.”
The second friendly person then asked, "The details about the underground tunnel, have you said everything you know?"
"I have."
“About Prince Makar's location, are you sure his command post is in the third largest building in Battle Group A's first camp?"
“Yeah, I enter the building several times to receive a brief from Prince Makar directly."
“Thank you for your cooperation.”
“You’re welcome.”
Captain Norrak casually answered, without realizing that he had just helped the operation to eliminate thousands of Battle Group A's personnel in the underground tunnel.
---
By using the intel from IDG, Colonel Maddox calculated the size of the underground tunnel, along with the amount of water needed to flood it. After an hour of hard work, he got the final estimation. Wasting no time, he then gathered his men for the final check.
Colonel Maddox calmly opened the meeting. “Juan, let’s start with you.”
Wasting no time Lieutenant Juan reported, “Explosives are already inserted and ready to be detonated at any second. I make the last confirmation myself.”
“Good,” Colonel Maddox then turned his gaze to Major Callum. “Callum, your turn.”
"We have adequate water and electricity," Major Callum calmly replied. “As soon as the hole to access the underground tunnel forms and Captain Murphy's company secures it, we will immediately throw the hoses into it.
In total, we use ten 8-inch hoses to flow the water from the nearest water reservoir. Once the water reaches the desired volume, we will expose it to electricity."
Captain Murphy who was tasked with securing MCG's operation immediately added, "My men will secure and make sure no hostiles coming out of the underground tunnel."
Colonel Maddox immediately nodded three times before asking, “Is there any question?"
Captain Murphy immediately raised his hand, and waited until Colonel Maddox nodded his head before asking, “How do we know how much electricity is needed to eliminate every hostile at the underground tunnel?"
“We have our method. It’s a simple and effective, but it's hard to explain how it works. So, please just believe in our judgment, Captain,” replied Colonel Maddox.
“Understood, Sir.”
“Is there any other question?” Colonel Maddox looked at other officers for a moment before continuing, “No, then let’s start the party.”
*****