Chapter 88 Orbital Assault—Our Boots Hit the Battlefield!

After Obadiah used the armed satellite to attack Earth for the third time, every passing second filled the nations of the world with dread.

The satellite hanging in low Earth orbit was like the Sword of Damocles suspended above humanity.

S.H.I.E.L.D. and the American military predicted that its fourth attack would begin after another eight hours.

New York stood on the verge of destruction.

Yet when the final second passed, the anticipated attack never came.

Based on intelligence provided by S.H.I.E.L.D., the Joint Task Force had determined that Group 935’s armed satellite required at least eight hours to recharge after every attack.

Several hours earlier, shortly after the satellite’s third strike, the Foundation had suddenly announced its intention to intervene with its full military strength.

The announcement gave hope to the JTF units still fighting and the civilians trapped inside the city.

Perhaps the tide was finally about to turn.

Yet every minute that followed felt like an eternity.

The Foundation made no visible move, while endless mutated creatures continued launching wave after wave of attacks against the defenders.

New York had already been brought to the brink of collapse by the nationwide lockdown.

Now it was barely holding together.

Countless terrified civilians waited for the end, believing the fourth strike would transform New York into the largest biochemical hive in the United States.

Then the eighth hour passed in silence.

Nothing happened.

In low Earth orbit, eight white-painted HO-229 tactical mechs had seized control of the satellite.

They transmitted a signal to the fleet stationed in the distance.

“This is YoRHa assault-force captain 2B. We have secured control of the target.”

“1D and 11E, transport the captured target back to the fleet.”

“Everyone else, follow me directly into the atmosphere.”

Once the Retribution received confirmation of 2B’s success, the orbital-assault operation finally began.

“All units, attention!”

“Operation commencing!”

“Orbital drop begins in five minutes!”

Inside the Retribution’s hangar, fully prepared Jackal space fighters moved toward the launch rails one after another.

“Tower, this is Jackal Squadron. All fighters are ready for launch.”

“Tower copies. Airspace is clear. You are authorized to launch.”

The catapults activated.

Jackal fighters shot from the Retribution’s flight deck one after another and accelerated toward Earth’s atmosphere.

Elsewhere aboard the space carrier, a regiment-sized Helljumpers MTF and a regiment-sized Nine-Tailed Fox MTF had assembled before their orbital-drop pods.

Both were elite Mobile Task Forces.

Every operator wore an MTF-I powered exoskeleton and was supported by stealth combat mechs and unmanned vehicles.

Their equipment also incorporated orbital communication systems, allowing them to request support from the fleet at any time.

The operators stood organized by companies and platoons, their ranks arranged into perfectly aligned blocks before their assigned drop pods.

Alarms sounded throughout the deployment area.

Green lights flashed.

Every operator immediately entered their orbital-assault pod.

Meanwhile, the three Dauntless-class light cruisers from the Imperium of Man adjusted their cannons toward the planet below.

“Guns ready.”

“Commence landing-zone clearance!”

Hundreds of brilliant flashes erupted from the three warships.

Glowing shells resembling fiery meteors streaked across the heavens and plunged toward Earth.

A new salvo followed approximately every ten seconds.

Volley after volley of orbital fire descended upon the target area.

The two Goliath-class aerospace assault carriers began entering the atmosphere.

These vessels had been purpose-built for ground suppression.

Although they could not conduct orbital bombardments, their atmospheric fire-support capabilities were extraordinary. They would serve as the primary source of close support during the coming battle.

While the Goliaths entered the atmosphere, countless heavily armed Foundation soldiers aboard the orbital fleet entered fully sealed drop pods.

Every combatant belonging to the previously silent Krieg army did the same.

Ethan’s voice sounded across the public channel.

“It is my honor to participate in this unprecedented airborne operation alongside so many brave warriors.”

“Today, we will strike from orbit and descend directly onto the battlefield.”

“SCP-008’s containment breach has produced countless abominations.”

“They have contaminated our land and threaten the survival of all humanity.”

“As a member of the Foundation, I will never stand aside and allow these creatures to ravage our planet.”

“I will fight alongside you as one of your own and personally participate in this orbital drop.”

“Are you ready to save the world?”

“We control! We contain! Until death!”

Roars erupted from countless drop pods.

“We control! We contain! Until death!”

“Hooah! Long live humanity!”

“Today is a good day to die!”

“Operation commencing!”

At the command, countless orbital-drop pods launched simultaneously.

Viewed from space, the scene was magnificent.

Orbital artillery descended like blazing fireworks while innumerable drop pods rapidly fell toward Earth.

The pods were soon captured by the planet’s gravity.

They pierced the atmosphere and became a dazzling meteor shower descending upon the mortal world.

In the freezing winter streets of New York, JTF soldiers had already fought for an entire day.

They were isolated, exhausted, and without reinforcements.

Countless Division agents had also been pushed to their limits by the seemingly endless fighting.

At that moment, a resting JTF soldier looked up and stared at the streaks of light appearing across the sky.

“Meteors?”

“Why would there be a meteor shower now?”

He narrowed his eyes.

“Wait… there are far too many of them.”

Then he remembered something.

JTF command had recently informed them that a reinforcement force would arrive by airborne deployment.

The orbital bombardment struck moments later.

Explosions erupted throughout the advancing zombie horde, like enormous stones crashing into the surface of a calm lake.

Countless zombies and mutated creatures were hurled into the air.

Terrifying shock waves and waves of heat swept across the battlefield, clearing hundreds of square meters in an instant.

Then the second shell landed.

The third followed.

Countless points of light descended into the horde.

The defensive line that had been on the verge of collapse stabilized immediately.

The JTF soldier stared at the burning sky.

“Our reinforcements…”

“Our reinforcements are coming down from the heavens!”