Chapter 10: Into the Fire Again

The hangar buzzed with the steady hum of activity as mechanics worked tirelessly on the KPAs. The 299th was gearing up for their next mission, but this time, the stakes felt different. The Germanicans were adapting. They had seen the Commonwealth's tactics during the Northern Pacification, supply bases would most likely be reinforced.

Caius stood at the base of the Death Knight, tightening the last bolts on the enhanced shielding system he had installed. His mind was clear and focused, the ritual of fine-tuning his KPA a necessary distraction from the weight of command. He had done all he could to prepare, but the loss of the Vulture pilot lingered, a reminder of how unpredictable war could be.

He climbed into the Death Knight's cockpit, settling into the familiar hum of its systems powering up. Across the hangar, his squad was preparing, the Sky Walker standing ready for aerial support.

"We might be hitting their supply depot, but don't expect it to be undefended," Caius said over the comms as his team finished their final checks. "Germanicans are adapting to our tactics. They'll likely have a KPA squad and infantry defending the base."

Victor's voice crackled through the comms, his usual cocky grin evident even without seeing his face. "Oh, I'm counting on it, Commander. It wouldn't be fun if they just rolled over and let us take it."

"Let's not get overconfident," Linik added, his tone as sharp as ever. "We might have air support, but if we get sloppy, we'll pay for it."

"Exactly," Caius said, his voice firm. "We've overwhelmed them before, but this time they'll be prepared. Stick to the plan and watch each other's backs."

The 299th squad's KPAs stood ready for deployment. Linik's Retina class sniper KPA was already in position, while Victor's golden Sun Chaser shimmered in the light, a beacon of flamboyance amidst the battle-worn frames of the other machines. Above them, the Sky Walker, piloted by one of the squad's remaining aerial specialists, hovered steadily, prepared to offer air support.

The mission was straightforward: disrupt the Germanican supply depot and force the enemy to retreat. But straightforward didn't mean easy, especially now that the enemy had learned from past mistakes.

"299th, move out," Caius ordered, his voice steady as the squad deployed from the Basilisk and descended into Sector Seven.

This wasn't just another cleanup operation. This was an assault on a key supply line, and the Germanicans weren't about to let it fall without a fight.

As the 299th moved into position, Caius scanned the terrain ahead. The Germanican supply depot was nestled in a reinforced position, surrounded by infantry barricades and the unmistakable forms of defensive KPAs.

"They've got a squad ready for us," Linik reported from his elevated sniper position. "Looks like a mix of infantry and KPAs, just like we thought."

"Sky Walker, give us a scan of their positions," Caius ordered.

The Sky Walker hovered above, its sensors scanning the area. A detailed layout of the depot flashed on Caius's HUD, highlighting the defensive positions and the enemy KPA units stationed around the perimeter. There were five Germanican KPAs, along with several groups of infantry dug in behind fortified barriers.

"They're dug in deep," Victor commented. "Looks like they're taking our tactics seriously for once."

"Good," Caius replied. "Let's show them we can still hit harder."

"Sky Walker, stay on standby for aerial support. Linik, take out any stragglers. Victor, you and I will engage the KPAs directly. We move fast, we hit hard, and we don't give them time to regroup."

The squad moved into action, their KPAs fanning out to avoid concentrated fire. The Sky Walker circled overhead, ready to provide cover if needed, while Linik's Retina class picked off key targets from a distance. Caius and Victor moved together, their KPAs charging into the fray as the Germanican defenses opened fire.

The Death Knight's upgraded shield flared as enemy rounds slammed into it, absorbing the brunt of the attack. Caius fired back with his rifle, sending ESRs ripping through enemy lines.

Victor's Sun Chaser darted ahead, its golden form moving with a dancer's grace as it weaved through enemy fire, picking off infantry and engaging the nearest KPA in close combat.

"I've got one pinned!" Victor called out, his voice crackling with the thrill of battle. "Taking him down."

"Keep pushing!" Caius ordered, the Death Knight powering forward to engage the enemy KPAs head-on.

The Germanican KPAs were well-armored, but the 299th had faced tougher opponents. Caius's targeting systems locked onto the nearest enemy KPA, a Griten class, known for its heavy armor but sluggish speed. With a quick burst from his bolt-thrower, he disabled its leg joint, sending the machine crashing to the ground.

"One down," Caius reported, already moving to engage the next target.

The battle was fierce, but the 299th was holding their own. Linik's sniper fire kept the Germanican infantry from advancing, while the Sky Walker occasionally swooped down to provide cover for Caius and Victor as they tore through the remaining enemy KPAs.

"Two left," Linik said, his voice calm despite the chaos. "They're falling back."

"Don't let them escape," Caius ordered. "We need to secure this depot."

The final two Germanican KPAs attempted to retreat, but Victor and Caius were already on them. The Sun Chaser lunged forward, slicing through one of the retreating KPAs with its longsword, while Caius fired another round from his bolt-thrower, finishing off the last enemy machine.

"All enemy KPAs neutralized," Victor reported, his voice steady now that the battle was over. "Infantry's retreating."

"Let them go," Caius replied. "We've got what we came for."

The squad regrouped at the supply depot, the once-formidable Germanican defenses now a smoldering wreck. The 299th had struck hard and fast, overwhelming the enemy before they had a chance to regroup. But Caius knew that the Germanicans wouldn't make the same mistake again. They were adapting, learning from each engagement. The next time would be tougher.

As the squad began securing the depot, Caius looked up at the Sky Walker circling overhead. They had managed to keep air support this time, but without the Vulture pilot, their aerial capabilities had been limited. The replacement pilot was still days away, and they would need them sooner rather than later.

"Mission accomplished," Caius said over the comms, but the satisfaction in his voice was tempered by the knowledge that this was only the beginning. The Germanicans were adapting, and the war was far from over.