Chapter 339: Adapting to the Battlefield - IV

Farther behind the northern formations, the Fires crews were also adjusting their targets.

"Southern Command, this is Battery One-Actual. Several demolition groups are inside the buildings. Saturation fire on those positions risks bringing down the remaining structures."

"Understood. Prioritize exposed concentrations and approaches where the strikes won’t block our routes. Air will handle the targets inside the buildings."

"Copy!"

The MLRS crews began receiving revised coordinates for several infected concentrations gathering around an open industrial yard farther from the threatened streets.

Some of the larger contacts were moving toward the surrounding buildings, accompanied by hundreds of ordinary infected.

"Targets confirmed. Preparing salvo!"

Several rocket launchers adjusted their firing positions, with the crews selecting their assigned fire groups rather than expending full salvos against every contact.

"Fire!"

WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH!

Rockets rose into the sky before descending toward the infected concentrations.

BOOOOOOM!

Explosions spread across the industrial yard, tearing through hundreds of infected before they could reach the surrounding structures.

Several larger markers disappeared beneath the impacts, while the surviving infected scattered toward nearby buildings.

Back at Vanguard Twelve-Six’s position, the squad leader watched the new strikes appear on the Radar.

"Good! They’re hitting those bastards before they reach the buildings!"

Another Army Soldier pointed toward a structure farther east.

"Chief, there’s another one!"

The squad leader enlarged the area.

Several larger signatures were attacking the lower sections of an apartment building, with hundreds of ordinary infected gathering throughout the ground floor.

"Southern Command, Twelve-Six. Another demolition group! Sending coordinates!"

"Received. Air is being redirected."

The squad leader watched the building while several Guardian APCs adjusted their positions to cover the nearby streets.

A few moments later, an Apache appeared above the surrounding rooftops.

"Griffon Five-One, target acquired. Engaging!"

Its cannon opened fire toward an exposed section of the building, killing several infected before concentrating on the larger contacts.

One of the heavy markers disappeared.

Another began retreating through the lower floors.

"Two heavies down. Third one withdrawing."

The squad leader watched the Radar as the remaining infected moved away from the damaged supports.

"Finally! Keep those fuckers away!"

However, the success didn’t last everywhere.

Farther toward the central Hive, another building suddenly began shaking.

Several larger contacts were moving around its foundations, although none were exposed to the aircraft circling above.

"Southern Command, Twelve-Six! We’ve got another building coming down!"

Before an aircraft could reach the location, the lower section gave way.

CRAAAAAAAAACK!

BOOOOOOOOM!

An enormous cloud of dust rose from the collapsing structure as several hundred infected markers disappeared.

The nearby streets were buried beneath the wreckage.

Across the district, the Golden Eagle Army’s aircraft continued attacking the exposed demolition groups, killing numerous Tanks, Throwers, and ordinary infected before they could destroy more buildings.

But the Hive was not stopping.

Whenever one group was eliminated, others continued moving toward the remaining structures. Some remained inside the lower floors, while others approached through the underground passages, where the aircraft could track them but had no clear firing path.

At Southern Command, the developing situation was becoming increasingly troublesome.

The Army could destroy the infected attempting to demolish the buildings, and the air strikes were already preventing several collapses.

However, the Hive appeared willing to sacrifice enormous numbers of its own infected, even if doing so only succeeded in burying another road beneath the rubble.

And the closer those collapses occurred to the central Hive, the fewer accessible approaches remained for the Golden Eagle Army’s ground formations.

...

Brandon watched the destruction spreading across the central part of Silverpeak.

Several more buildings had collapsed, while bridges, interchanges, and other structures were also being attacked by the infected. Even with the Raptors and Apaches responding to the larger concentrations, it was becoming increasingly difficult to stop the demolitions before the structures came down.

The enormous clouds of dust also made it harder for the aircraft to locate clear firing angles, especially against infected hiding inside the lower floors.

Although the Advanced Radar could still track their movements through the debris and underground passages, actually hitting them without bringing down the surrounding buildings was another problem.

And the more buildings that collapsed, the fewer routes remained available for the Golden Eagle Army to advance.

Brandon looked over the northern formations’ positions before turning toward one of the radio operators.

"Get me all ground commanders, Air, and Fires."

The operator immediately opened the command channel.

"All formations, this is Southern Command. Ground troops are to halt their advance and establish defensive perimeters around their current positions. Do not enter the unstable areas. PCVs are being dispatched to your locations."

He paused briefly before continuing.

"Air units, cease strike operations against the central buildings. Maintain regular patrols around our perimeter and engage any infected attempting to approach our positions."

"Fires Companies, cease bombardment and stand down for now. Let your crews rest and replenish your ammunition. Remain on standby in case of emergency fire support."

The orders were soon distributed throughout the northern formations.

The Army Soldiers and Riflemen began securing their assigned positions while Guardian APCs and Vanguard MBTs covered the surrounding roads. Engineers were instructed to mark the blocked approaches and unstable structures without advancing into the affected areas.

Above Silverpeak, the Raptors and Apaches began transitioning to their assigned patrol rotations, watching the approaches around the Golden Eagle Army’s perimeter rather than continuing their attacks against the collapsing buildings.

Farther behind the front lines, the MLRS, Precision Strike Missile Launchers, and Hellhammer crews began standing down from their firing missions.

Their vehicles were checked and replenished where necessary, while the crews finally had an opportunity to rest after the bombardment.

Back at Southern Command, Brandon was reviewing the latest reports when another transmission arrived from the Mountain Defense Command.

"Commander, Major Federick is on the line. Colonel Voroltz would like an update on the central operation."

"Put him through."

A moment later, the Colonel’s voice came over the radio.

"Commander Brandon, we’ve been receiving reports of buildings collapsing across the central districts. Some of our observation posts could even feel the vibrations from here. What the hell is happening over there?"

Brandon looked toward the map, where several previously accessible roads were now marked as blocked or hazardous.

"The Hive is bringing down the buildings, Colonel. It has been confirmed that the infected are being sent into attacking the structures."

"They’re destroying the buildings themselves?"

"My troops killed quite a number of them, but they’re still doing it. Some of the infected are even dying when the buildings collapse."

For several seconds, Voroltz didn’t answer.

"It’s desperation..."

Brandon continued.

"Our advance is suspended for now. Our aircraft managed to prevent several collapses, but the infected are attacking too many buildings at once, including those we can’t reach without damaging the structures ourselves."

"That explains the destruction we’ve been seeing."

Voroltz looked over the reports his officers had gathered from the surrounding districts.

"Commander Brandon, I hope you understand that we can’t afford to lose more of Silverpeak’s infrastructure. Even if the Hive is eventually destroyed, we’ll still have to live with whatever is left of the city."

Brandon glanced toward the enormous piles of rubble displayed across the northern districts.

"I understand, Colonel."

The communication ended shortly afterward, with the MDC beginning its own assessment of the remaining routes and damaged infrastructure.

Brandon remained inside the BACV while the Southern Command staff continued consolidating reports from the different formations.

The northern advance had inflicted enormous losses on the infected, destroying enormous special infected and large concentrations occupying the buildings. However, the operation had also revealed how far the central Hive was willing to go to defend itself.

Brandon turned toward his communications officer.

"Prepare a report for High Command."

"Yes, sir."

The officer began compiling the information while Brandon continued reviewing the map.

"Also include the MDC’s concerns about the infrastructure. It might prove useful."

"Understood, Commander."

The officer entered the final details before forwarding the report through the secure command network.

After the report was being prepared, Brandon returned his attention to the map.

The Golden Eagle Army had sufficient firepower to destroy the infected gathering around the central Hive, but doing so was becoming increasingly troublesome when the enemy was using the surrounding city against them.

For now, his priority was maintaining the secured positions and making sure the Hive couldn’t exploit the halted advance to attack the recovering formations.

He left the larger decision to High Command.

...

At Vanguard Twelve-Six’s position, the soldiers watched another enormous cloud of dust rise from the direction of the central Hive.

"Another one went down," an Army Soldier muttered.

The squad leader checked the Radar before looking toward the ruined streets.

"Yeah. Let those fuckers bury themselves for now. We’ve got orders to hold."

With the advance suspended, the Golden Eagle Army concentrated on securing its current positions, evacuating the remaining wounded, and preventing infected from approaching the perimeter.

Farther toward the central Hive, more buildings continued collapsing as the infected worked through their lower floors and underground passages.

The Advanced Radar could still see everything happening beneath the rubble, but for now, the Golden Eagle Army would not be advancing any farther.