Chapter 30: Maglev Train

The Vostroyan First Regiment followed Thierry's forces through an abandoned mining tunnel, infiltrating the underhive.

Thierry Vieira approached Nareth and offered a suggestion:

"My lord, we number nearly four thousand, and your body is massive. To reach the Upper Hive before the Mad King reacts, we must seize a maglev train station and hijack a train."

"Lukevo Hive City possesses a unique transportation system unmatched by other hives.

Each maglev train spans 1.6093 kilometers and can rapidly transport troops, vehicles, or supplies."

With hatred in his voice, Thierry continued:

"It is precisely this technology that allows the Mad King to maintain control. During my guerrilla campaigns, his greatest threat was mobility. Puhachi could deploy from the Hive Spire and reach any part of the Hive City in just three standard hours."

"Fortunately, the trains' extreme speed works against them. Once a car detaches, it takes hours, or even several work cycles, to come to a stop through friction alone. I plan to hijack the cars at a track junction."

"This maglev technology was uncovered from ancient ruins by the ancestors of the Piontkowski family. They acquired sacred blueprints for constructing these trains, a legacy that became the foundation of their power."

Nareth nodded in agreement.

"Where's the nearest station?"

Thierry pulled out a datapad and input some commands. Two routes arced upward on the display.

"My lord, the closest is Station D-404. This route is 20.5 kilometers long. However, it involves passing through narrow ventilation shafts that you cannot fit through. You would have to take a detour, 31.4 kilometers long."

Nareth fell into deep thought, calculating rapidly in his mind and formulating a plan.

Moments later, he spoke.

"Send a small squad to lead the way."

He looked past the eager company captains and set his eyes on Szczesny.

"Seventh Company, you are honored with this mission. Seize the maglev train station."

"By your command, my king!"

The Seventh Company captain responded loudly, drawing envy from the others. Thierry observed in silence, deeply impressed:

'These soldiers of King Nareth revere him with extraordinary devotion. He's risen to power recently—how did he inspire such loyalty?'

Looking at the giant, Thierry understood.

Nareth was like a god of war, worthy of awe and admiration.

Szczesny gripped his las rifle tightly, eyes burning with determination, this was his chance.

He noticed Roslov pulling their captain aside and whispering something to him. The captain, who had lost his right eye but never replaced it with a prosthetic, turned and looked back.

With surgical thread still stitched across his blind eye, the captain returned and bellowed:

"Move out!"

Szczesny followed behind his captain and guide. They trudged past filthy sewage pits and crawled through narrow ducts.

They stopped 1.4 kilometers short of Station D-404.

The guide Thierry sent leaned in and whispered to the Seventh Company captain:

"Station D-404 has five operational teams, two of which rotate guard duty. Each guard team has 125 soldiers."

He then pulled out his datapad and showed the station's layout.

"All Lower Hive stations are built with the D-Standard design—identical in structure: guard rooms, platforms, entrances, and exits."

The captain nodded, his single eye shifting between the station and the screen.

He finally issued orders:

"Fourth Squad, you attack the guard room. Szczesny, your team leads the assault."

Under envious stares, Szczesny struck his chest with a clenched fist.

The captain finished assigning tasks and addressed his officers:

"Sync your timers, we attack in ten minutes. Now, move into your tactical assault positions just like we trained."

He watched them all perform the same motion:

Arms extended to the side, elbows bent, fists raised to cheek height, palms facing the one giving the command.

The Seventh Company captain whispered:

"Execute."

Szczesny returned to his squad, stealthily advancing using pillars and terrain for cover to reach their attack points.

At the set time, the Seventh Company launched its assault.

Szczesny's las rifle fired a beam, striking the head of a guard near the door. Another sharpshooter took out the second one.

Szczesny pulled out a flash grenade, dashed to the door, kicked it open, hurled the grenade inside, and rolled to the wall.

A blinding flash lit the guard room. The assault team, wearing protective goggles, rushed in. Szczesny led the charge, pulling the trigger.

The blinded guards flailed with weapons, but their resistance was futile.

Fourteen minutes later, the Seventh Company secured the station—only two soldiers were lost to stray fire.

Nareth's main force soon arrived. He walked up to the Seventh Company.

"Well done. Mission accomplished."

His praise made the warriors stand tall with pride.

They moved to the platform. When inactive, maglev trains sit flush with the rails.

From the outside, the trains looked normal, but inside, they were special.

The carriages were connected by couplings to the engine and to each other, driven by a control panel.

"Board the train!"

Nareth commanded.

Three of the cars were taller to accommodate vehicles.

He pulled open the car door connected to the engine and entered, it was just tall enough for him to stand.

Bukayo, Roslov, the Seventh Company captain, and Thierry joined him. The rest boarded the other cars.

Thierry's engineers climbed into the engine. One brought up the control panel.

It was composed of levers, dials, and intricate displays.

The engineer pulled a lever while chanting a prayer.

The slumbering Machine Spirit awakened.

Maglev technology activated the groove-fitted levitation plates, raising the train 2.54 cm above the tracks.

"My lord, we await your command."

Thierry sought Nareth's approval, then gave the order:

"Depart."

The engineer pushed the lever forward.

The propulsion unit spun up with astonishing speed, launching the maglev train.

Along the way, Nareth received a debriefing, focusing especially on Szczesny's performance.

Upper Hive, Station B-19.

The station master sipped water leisurely when an alarm suddenly blared.

Frowning, he grabbed the radio.

"Station master, urgent! A train is approaching at high speed, it's not on the schedule!"

"Initiate emergency intercept procedures!"

Sirens echoed throughout the station.

Defense troops scrambled to the platform and raised a wire barricade.

But the speeding train shattered it in an instant.

The defense captain knew the wire wouldn't stop a steel monster at that speed.

When the train finally stopped, he breathed a sigh of relief—then shouted:

"Prepare to engage!"

The next moment, his eyes widened in shock. A giant had leapt from the train.