Chapter 235 : Clash Between Mobile Warriors

Chapter 235: Clash Between Mobile Warriors

Li Ye immediately became excited.

“Really?”

The end of the conscription meant that the Tomorrow Alliance would receive its payment.

“The operation will begin in two days. Hurry back and prepare,” said Heath.

After returning to the Tomorrow, Li Ye gathered everyone to begin planning the operation.

This offensive would mainly involve naval and aerial combat.

The Tomorrow Alliance would be facing a Level 3 Mobile City Battle Cluster from the enemy.

This meant:

One Level 3 assault-type city capable of deploying land, sea, and air combat forces externally.

Several Level 1 Mobile Cities outfitted with Level 3 configurations of various types.

The first key point everyone discussed was air superiority.

Currently, Tomorrow's aerial units were relatively well-equipped, which brought some reassurance.

Both naval and ground forces already had their main combat vehicles, and they were capable of handling either naval or land engagements.

In fact, Tomorrow's "tech tree" had been somewhat skewed.

Compared to its land, sea, and air combat units, its special forces were actually the most comprehensively outfitted.

Assuming both sides’ air forces would cancel each other out, they began discussing naval warfare.

Naval warfare would involve the fleets and Mobile Cities of both sides and was considered the main battlefield.

Lin Wu then proposed his own plan.

To build a large number of Mechanical Squids to launch surprise attacks and destroy the enemy fleet.

As for the enemy’s Level 1 Mobile Cities, with Level 3 power engines, Level 3 thrusters, Level 3 propellers, and Level 3 hulls, they would be very hard for the Mechanical Squids to catch.

When the battle started, the Tomorrow Alliance’s fleet would draw enemy fire, while the Mechanical Squids would dive and launch surprise attacks.

Everyone nodded repeatedly in agreement.

As long as they could take down the enemy’s Level 3 fleet, the pressure of naval combat would be reduced by more than half.

As for the landing operations—

As long as the Human Forces could secure air and sea superiority, that Level 3 monstrous Mobile Island would be nothing more than a lamb to the slaughter.

Li Ye went to the Production Workshop to begin manufacturing.

Back when they were at the Tourism State of the Old Civilization District, the Tomorrow Alliance had harvested a huge amount of metal resources, so they now had more than enough steel.

So, in one go, he produced another ten Mechanical Squids, along with two Freezing Helicopters. Including the previous ones, the total number of Mechanical Squids had now reached fourteen.

The ten new Mechanical Squid pilots had already been arranged.

Since the population had expanded to fifty thousand, the Tomorrow no longer faced any manpower shortages.

Under Li Ye’s orders, the War Committee specifically selected and trained pilots for land, sea, and air vehicles aboard the Tomorrow.

Not only were the currently active land, sea, and air vehicles fully staffed, but a batch of reserve personnel had also been kept ready.

These Mechanical Squid pilots came from the reserves.

For this reason, Li Ye personally met with the ten of them for a discussion.

“This time, the impact you can have goes far beyond your imagination,” he said slowly. “Lurk underwater like ghosts, silently approach the enemy fleet, and destroy their ships. If you find their submarines, you may engage directly as well.”

One of the pilots thought for a moment and raised a question.

“My Lord, can the Mechanical Squids attack the enemy’s Mobile Cities?”

“That won’t work,” Li Ye shook his head gently.

Level 1 Mobile Cities were much larger than ships—Level 3 Mobile Cities were even more so.

Though Li Ye declined, the pilot was still unwilling to give up.

“I don’t mean to destroy the Mobile Cities,” he explained, “Just maneuver the Mechanical Squids to sneak close and use the tentacles to destroy their thrusters and propellers.”

Li Ye’s eyes lit up at once.

The suggestion expanded his tactical thinking.

Using the Mechanical Squids to launch surprise attacks and destroy the mobility of enemy Mobile Cities—this was indeed possible.

As long as the enemy Mobile City became immobilized, they could arrange for the Peacemaker to target it with its Electromagnetic Railgun.

In this way, the Mechanical Squids would become the Tomorrow Alliance’s secret weapon in naval warfare.

“If we include countering Mobile Cities in the plan, ten Mechanical Squids might not be enough. I’ll need to build a few more,” he thought.

Still, some concerns lingered in his mind.

First, the Mechanical Squids were ultimately naval vehicles and were useless on land or in the air. Allocating too many resources to them at once would be unwise.

However, they had one advantage: their small size and cross-sectional area made it easy to store them in the vehicle warehouse aboard the Tomorrow when not in use.

Second, while sabotaging the mobility of Mobile Cities was a viable idea, during combat, both sides’ Mobile Cities would be moving and firing at high speed.

Especially those Level 1 Mobile Cities with Level 3 configurations—they practically flew.

Trying to catch them with Mechanical Squids was like playing the lottery.

In the end, Li Ye made up his mind.

“Let’s stick with the current scale.”

While the Production Workshop and shipyard were in operation, Li Ye didn’t remain idle and went straight to the City Simulation Training Pod.

He input a series of parameters on the screen:

【Number of trainees: 1】

【Weapons: None】

【Target location: Ocean】

【Enemy Type: Standard Level 3 Mobile City Battle Cluster】

【Enemy Quantity:】

【Battle Difficulty: Hell】

Upon seeing the enemy quantity setting, Li Ye fell into thought.

“Generally speaking, how many people make up a standardized Level 3 Mobile City Battle Cluster?”

Previously, when they fought against the Hyenafolk Civilization’s city cluster in the Basin Region, the enemy had deployed ground troops.

But this time, it was naval.

“Let’s just set it to 3,000 people.”

Not only that, but Li Ye also entered the current strength of the Tomorrow Alliance.

Back when the Tomorrow was still Level 1 or Level 2, Li Ye could command battles with ease.

But battles involving Level 3 Mobile Cities were equivalent to modern warfare—possibly even more intense—so Li Ye also needed high-intensity simulation training.

After dozens of simulations, Li Ye came to a conclusion.

The Mechanical Squid tactic was indeed viable.

Launching surprise attacks and destroying enemy fleets was almost a sure bet. Occasionally, they even managed to "win the lottery" and catch enemy Level 1 Cities.

After summarizing the results, he continued his training.

After all, the higher the Mobile City level, the less they could afford to lose a single city battle.

Two days later, in the Southern Ocean—

Above the vast, boundless sea, a massive creature slowly sliced through the calm surface.

Looking closer, it was clearly a Monstrous Mobile Island.

Just like the human ones, it was fitted with a multi-kilometer-long massive hull, with hundreds of propellers and thrusters at the rear.

In addition, it had giant armor plate bases, retractable hydraulic pillars, and enormous power engines.

A total of seven Level 1–2 Monstrous Civilizations were stationed on the Mobile Island.

At this moment, the Mobile Island was on high alert.

The Monstrous Forces already knew that the Human Forces were about to launch their attack.

On the island, an entire squad of Mobile Warriors had been activated.

They were divided into two aerial units and two naval units.

The naval units were configured similarly to the Iron Oath Brotherhood's UM-K7.

The aerial units, however, were quite different.

Aside from the standard nuclear reactors used in Level 4 Mobile Warriors, the high-capacity capacitor batteries as backup energy, and the vector thrusters, the aerial Mobile Warriors also featured giant vector-control wings, plasma fluid control systems, and a transformable wing system.

Its weapon systems included high-energy pulse sniper rifles, multi-missile pods, high-frequency vibrating sabers, tactical shields, electronic warfare pods, rapid-fire wrist cannons, and bomb bays loaded with a variety of explosives.

The naval-type Mobile Warriors dived into the sea, while the sight of the aerial units in motion was far more majestic.

The massive vector wings on their backs unfolded with a thunderous roar, each wing panel resembling a dragon’s pair of wings.

Amid the roar of hydraulic systems, the wings completed a 90-degree elevation adjustment.

The nuclear reactor poured surging energy into the thrusters, and plasma violently erupted from the nozzles, the blue-white tail flames tearing twisted ripples in the air.

As the monstrous pilots slammed their control sticks forward, the ground beneath the Mobile Warriors cracked open, and twelve leg-mounted auxiliary thrusters ignited simultaneously, launching the units nearly vertically into the sky.

At the moment of launch, the plasma fluid system activated, spiderweb-like bluish light circuits appeared across the surface of the machine, and the Mobile Warriors shot toward the heavens like ghosts.

Upon reaching high altitude and hovering, their rear vector wings slowly converted into swept-back cruise mode.

Inside the cockpit, two monstrous pilots simultaneously looked at their screen.

Displayed on it were two blips.

These were the aerial Mobile Warriors from the Human Forces.

This time, the Iron Oath Brotherhood had also deployed a team of Mobile Warriors.

The aerial units were “AM-W2” and “AM-T5.”

The naval units were “UM-K7” and “UM-O8.”

The two sides’ Mobile Warriors began to clash in the skies and underwater.

AM-W2 took the lead, charging straight at the enemy’s first aerial unit.

Both nuclear reactors roared deafeningly as the massive vector wings on their backs deflected in sync, the machines sharply climbing at near-vertical angles, blue electric light from the plasma fluid control systems shimmering across their bodies.

As the monstrous pilot of Unit One pushed the control stick, the twelve leg thrusters erupted in unison, propelling the unit like lightning across the sky. Its missile pod opened instantly, releasing dozens of missiles in a swarm-like barrage.

AM-W2 immediately activated its electronic warfare pod to intercept the missile cluster, while its main thrusters entered overdrive. The blue-white exhaust trail extended a hundred meters as it executed an almost perfect cobra maneuver mid-air, and the high-frequency vibrating saber deployed from its right arm snapped into place.

AM-W2 raised its vibrating saber, slicing toward the enemy unit with a screeching hum. The enemy also drew its saber to parry.

The two Mobile Warriors collided with a thunderous crash among the clouds, their sabers clashing in a shower of brilliant sparks.

At that instant, AM-W2 twisted its right wrist at a strange angle, and the rapid-fire cannon mounted on it opened fire.

But the enemy had already anticipated this move, quickly retreating to evade the incoming crimson bullet chain.

At the same time, it swiftly raised its pulse sniper rifle, aiming for a point-blank shot.

AM-W2 immediately performed evasive maneuvers.

Meanwhile, AM-T5 had also engaged with the enemy's Unit Two.

Four Mobile Warriors fiercely engaged in aerial combat, the roar of their nuclear reactors intertwining as their thrusters traced complex, dazzling trajectories in the sky.

Above the firmament, these steel giants began to write the most violent of poems.

Below, under the sea, the naval-type Mobile Warriors had also begun to clash.

Compared to the skies, the underwater environment was dark and deep, with limited visibility, making it harder to spot enemies.

The first step for both sides was to hide themselves while locating the opponent.

The monsters’ Units One and Two of their naval-type Mobile Warriors advanced slowly underwater.

Their pilots switched to silent mode, suppressing the hum of the hydraulic systems to the limit.

Their nuclear reactors operated at minimal output, and the thrusters released fine streams of bubbles, leaving behind fleeting trails in the dark sea.

The sonar system continuously scanned the surroundings, the ripples on the screen outlining the terrain of the seafloor.

While searching, the Mobile Warriors' weapons were fully readied.

The supercavitating torpedo launchers had finished charging, the torpedoes’ tail propellers spinning silently.

The plasma pulse guns glowed with a faint blue shimmer.

The net launchers stood by, ready to unleash lethal webs of alloy wires at any moment.

Just then, the system suddenly detected two fast-moving blips in the distance.

The monstrous pilots immediately grew alert.

Enemy Mobile Warriors spotted!

From which direction would they attack?

But to their surprise, the two enemy machines didn’t even acknowledge them—they simply charged toward one specific direction.

Following the path of the blips, the monstrous pilots identified their target.

The Level 3 Mobile Island.

Their hearts sank. They quickly gave chase.

After calculating the numbers, the monstrous pilots’ hearts turned cold.

Before they could intercept, the enemy units had a full minute to act.

At that very moment, alarms were blaring across the island.

The island’s torpedo launch system activated, dozens of torpedo launchers raised to firing angle amid mechanical roars, and the island’s central power engine furiously poured energy into the torpedo propulsion system.

As the firing sequence completed, over a hundred torpedoes were launched simultaneously. These deadly weapons ripped through the sea at a speed of 200 knots, forming a death barrage in front of the two Human Mobile Warriors.

UM-K7 and UM-O8 immediately began evasive maneuvers.

Both the monstrous defenders and the pilots stared nervously at their screens.

Before their eyes, one unit broke through the torpedo net and slipped behind the Mobile Island!

It was UM-K7—this Mobile Warrior launched the first attack.

Its supercavitating torpedo launcher activated instantly, firing multiple specialized armor-piercing torpedoes at 200 knots. The Mobile Island quickly activated its energy shield system in response.

But the system wasn’t Level 3—it was Level 4!

The torpedoes were intercepted, and the resulting shockwave from the explosions caused the seawater to churn violently.

But UM-K7 had already anticipated this.

Its arm-mounted high-frequency vibrating cutting blade suddenly extended, the blade oscillating at tens of thousands of times per second, and it slashed directly at the energy shield!

Upon impact, a breach formed in the shield.

As UM-K7 accelerated, the breach widened—until the shield collapsed entirely!

Inside the cockpit, the pilot spoke in a deep voice.

“UM-K7, commencing destruction of target mobility systems!”