Naval Gacha System: It's Time To Monopolize The Seven Seas!-Chapter 282: | | Operation Retribution Freedom: Landfall

Above the fortress island of Citrus, over a dozen steel behemoths soared like a guillotine awaiting to descend upon its sinner. The bombardment had long ended, yet there was nothing but rubble that filled the expanse of what was supposed to be the town of Citrus. The bombing brought decimation, but unfortunately, it wasn't the end of the onslaught.

Steel Walkers.

It was the name given by the soldiers and guards that had survived the bombardment. These angels of death had descended from the behemoths that drifted across the blue skies. They stood like giants and wielded weapons of ruthless destruction. Whether it'd be cannons, artillery, or guns. Fighting against these abominations of steel was all for naught.

"Take cover!"

*BOOM!!!*

An explosion resounded as the ground shook and the fog of dust covered the area. Somewhere in the south of the ruined town of Citrus, leftovers of the armies and the garrison that resided within the island fortress fought against the assault of the steel walkers. They fought bravely, hidden beneath bunkers as they utilized every arsenal they had to survive and struggle.

"H-How can we stop them? They are monsters!" Another soldier anxiously mumbled under his breath as his body shook and cold sweat dripped from his forehead. His comrades had the same thoughts as him, yet they couldn't run away. After all, where would they escape towards? They were trapped within an island that had become a cage for them.

And now, instead of hunters, they had become the hunted.

*BAM!*

A cannon emplacement nearby exploded as bits of the cannoneers fell alongside the rain of blood. The surviving soldiers froze as despair consumed their hearts. This wasn't a battle, but a massacre. They were akin to a flock of sheep waiting to be butchered alive by their adversaries. With this, it didn't take long before the lines of defense collapsed.

"I- I don't want to die! I can't die!" A soldier left his defensive position and ran away without daring to look back. His comrades were barely ever to call him as they could only reach out their arms as he disappeared into the outskirts of the island. They clenched their teeth, but their eyes returned to the steel walkers that encroached upon their position.

*BOOM!!!*

Another explosion deafeningly blasted nearby as the group of soldiers heard the whistles of their commanders. An order has finally been given from above. It brought about astounded expressions from the soldiers defending the south. After all, they had thought that the high command had long died due to the bombardment of the ships that drifted above them.

Fortunately, they were far from headless soldiers.

"Retreat! We must reposition ourselves!" Their leader yelled, earning the smiles of the soldiers within the defensive front. Without a tinge of hesitation or delay, the soldiers retreated while firing whatever their cannons could pound at the steel walkers that were nearby them. Explosions echoed from behind, though none of them looked back.

The situation of what remained of the Colonial Dominion Armies was the same as the south. Under the relentless assault of the steel walkers that pierced through their defenses like hot knife into butter, there was little to no choice but withdrawal. There was nothing for them to buy time, so it was better to regroup instead of fighting in whatever remnants the armies could be.

"Can we even win this battle?" In the outskirts of the ruined town, an officer observed the disastrous circumstance of the south. They weren't different than a flock of cattle, and it brought him dread. It made him question their survival, and most importantly, it made him ask of humanity's destinies. Their adversary wasn't to be underestimated. Such information must return to the mainland.

But how?

"Is spatial transmission really inoperable?" The officer questioned to the person beside him. It was a Magus from the Magus Tower. He was supposed to be maintaining the Arcanum Engines and the Spatial Gates to ensure victory against the heretical nation called the United World Government. The Magus glanced at the officer and responded. "The spatial plane has been grounded."

"There is no doubt about it. None would be able to conjure spatial transmission spells. We are trapped here." The answer of the Magus brought nothing but chills to the officer's spine. The fortress island, what was supposed to be the spear of humanity towards the heretical nation, had become a deathtrap. They were trampled like ants, which gave his stomach a disgusting feeling.

"Even information cannot be sent out from the island of Citrus. Perhaps, the island has become its own world, disconnected from everything else." The Magus continued, earning the wry smile of the officer. Information... A weapon that brought the conclusion of battles before they could even start. Yet, it was of no used if their allies couldn't even receive or retrieve it.

"What do you think should be done?" The officer asked, wondering what they could do in this precarious situation of theirs. The Magus sighed and answered with a saddened smile. "Other than dying, the only thing we can do is survive as long as possible. Hide, fight, and survive. Akin to cockroaches beneath the earth. We must do everything we can."

"How about surrender? Can we not surrender to them?" The officer suggested to the Magus, who merely placed his finger beneath his chin. "Perhaps, we can surrender to our adversaries. But our fate remained in questioned whether or not we would really survive if we did surrender. After all, look at how they fight. I doubt they see us as fellow humans."

Hearing the response of the Magus, the officer's shoulder slumped downward. The war had already begun, and there would be nothing other than escalation afterward. The invasion of the Colonial Dominions have brought the United World Government the ability to declare total war towards the Colonial Dominions within the Ferus Sea. And there was no doubt that they would utilized it.

For afterward, they would remain as the supreme sovereign of the Ferus Sea, becoming a world power rivalling the League of Humanity within Europa.

Above the rubble-filled expanse, wyvern riders filled the heavens as they fought against the steel behemoths that had consumed the skies. But their spells were useless against the intricate runic shielding of the strategic ships, and the anti-aircraft batteries quickly mowed them down in mere moments. One after another, wyverns fell as corpses, crashing to the ground as splattered blood.

Fireballs flickered, yet it couldn't even do anything other than be a hindrance. At any rate, the battle of dominance wasn't long. A minute later, the hundreds of wyvern riders that filled the skies had long disappeared as squashed corpses. Silence consumed the heavens as the steel behemoths continued to drifts like executioners of retribution.

Within the ruined town of Citrus, the same silence that consumed the skies, dreaded the decimated settlement. The steel walkers roamed, wielding electro-magnetic rifles that were equipped with smart shells capable of exploding or blasting shrapnel. These so-called EM rifles were the same size as tank barrels, so a blow from it would be one's body becoming a bloody mist.

*Commander, the town has been captured.* Inside the cockpit of the steel walkers, or the formally called MECHs, were the sentinel operators. These personnel were established under the codename Mechas from the United Bureau of Intelligence. Moments later, a response from above came in. *Good, prepare to established a forward-point. More Assault MECHs will be deployed.*

After the response from the commander, multiple MECHs descended from the skies like a meteorite, burning yet also slowing down from the drag inducers. The propulsion from their back quickly activated, making them land gently unto the ground. The deployment merely took half a minute, which made one realized about the newly-acquired logistics capability of the UWG.

*Sir, we are Delta Squadron of the SS-24 Unit.* The Assault MECHs saluted at their captain, who nodded at them. It was peculiar to see giants that resembled robots to be acting like the usual soldiers. But it was something that others should become used to as the United Military would soon be filled with these operatives once they have proven themselves in the battlefield.

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*Delta Squadron of the SS-24 Unit, prepare for deployment towards the northern port of the island alongside the Alpha Squadron of the SS-15 Unit. Your Overseer will be in the northern gates of the town to debrief you of your task.* The captain uttered towards the Delta Squadron through the comms within their cockpits. The Assault MECHs of the Delta Squadron nodded and responded.

*Affirmative, Sir.* There was no hesitation or delay as they made their way towards the northern gate. Anyhow, after the Delta Squadron disappeared, the captain observed the ruined town of Citrus. It was peculiar to fight against humans that appeared as nothing more but tiny bodies through the surveillance cam of the MECH, though it was something he had been trained for.

He was already somewhat used to operating in such a state. Especially when it wasn't that different from utilizing an attack helicopter, a gunship, a drone, or a military aircraft. Nevertheless, there was some difference, especially when the MECH acted not as a mere vehicle but also as an extension of himself. The captain calmly shook his head and returned his attention to the battle.

Meanwhile, within the northern port of the fortress island, most of their battleships had sunk from the onslaught of bombardment that devastated the entirety of the port. The high command had no choice but to hide within underground bunkers while the above shook and rumbled from the explosions that pummeled it.

It was an unfortunate situation, especially when 65% of them had already perished from the initial bombardment.