Behemoth Incoming

"Incoming fire! Take cover!" a veteran soldier screamed hoarsely from the front lines.

Swish! Ryan instinctively rolled to the side and dove behind cover. A few nearby mess soldiers, though confused, followed suit—after all, if the squad leader had taken cover, it couldn't be a bad idea.

BOOM! Just then, a plasma burst struck. A dense mass of ionized energy engulfed a Gauss defense turret, vaporizing it instantly. The ensuing explosion sent plasma shrapnel flying in all directions, and several mobile infantrymen who hadn't made it to cover were hit. They were instantly reduced to charred husks.

Mobile infantry were the cheapest cannon fodder on the battlefield. They wore no armor capable of withstanding a direct enemy assault. While powered exoskeletons enhanced their strength and agility, they offered virtually no protection.

"This place is too dangerous, man—we should fall back," someone said, panicked.

"B*llsh*t. Where exactly do you think you're going to run to? The whole d*mn Isis Beach is a war zone."

"And even if you do make it out, that battle recorder on your shoulder will tag you as a deserter. You know what that means under wartime law? That's a death sentence!"

…

A few mess soldiers were on the verge of wetting themselves. Nearby rookies in mobile infantry suits were trembling just as hard—you could tell they'd never seen combat before.

Ryan, crouched behind the barrier, carefully observed the battlefield. Though technically a mess soldier, he wasn't without advantages—mess crews usually weren't given combat assignments.

But right now, while the plasma bugs bombarded the area, mobile infantry had no choice but to leap from cover, return fire with Gauss cannons, and even rush to the front lines to intercept incoming armored beetles.

Screeee… With high-pitched screeches, waves of armored beetles began their charge toward Hill Z3 under the cover of plasma bug bombardments.

"Light 'em up!" roared Ralf, the bear-like commander of 2nd Company. He hefted a Kamensky-class man-portable assault cannon, unloading into the horde of beetles. Each energy blast exploded on impact, shredding the foul creatures to pieces.

Though labeled "man-portable," the recoil of that cannon was monstrous. Only the most physically powerful soldiers could handle it—even with powered exoskeletons.

Ratatatatatata! The soldiers of 2nd Company joined the fray, guns blazing. Though many hadn't seen much action, surviving the initial landing and making it to this rally point was proof enough of their mettle. Under Ralf's command, they remained behind cover, returning fire with steady hands.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! More plasma rounds pounded the battlefield. Newly airdropped Gauss turrets were obliterated one by one. Even behind cover, the mobile infantry were taking heavy losses.

"Where the hell is air support?! At this rate, we're gonna lose Z3!" Ryan muttered as he scanned the chaos. Though just a mess sergeant, he'd survived a year of brutal combat. His tactical insight on small-scale skirmishes could rival any naval strategist—it was experience paid for in blood.

Whoooosh… At that moment, the roar of engines echoed through the skies. Federation fighters screamed across the battlefield at ultra-low altitude. Seconds later, the ground erupted in a series of violent explosions. Plasma bugs that had once rained destruction were torn to pieces. Their ruptured bellies spilled high-voltage plasma, incinerating the armored beetles they once shielded.

"Hell yeah!"

"Roast those d*mn bugs!"

…

Cheers erupted across Hill Z3. With the plasma bugs gone, the armored beetles no longer posed a threat. Lacking any long-range capabilities, they relied on their bladed forelimbs for close-quarters combat. But under the overwhelming firepower of Federation troops, they never even got close to the defenses.

"Engineers! Start construction on the temporary landing zone!" ordered Colonel James of the 106th Mobile Infantry Division. With the enemy assault finally repelled, preparations for the next phase began.

The 106th's mission was to seize Hill Z3, hold the position, and then establish a temporary LZ for incoming drop ships. Only the drop ships could transport the Federation's heavy war machines—tanks, armored vehicles, and the like. Small shuttles could only ferry troops and light gear.

"Yes, sir!" The engineering battalion got to work, driving SCVs to deploy beacon markers and shield generators.

Modern drop ships didn't require a full-fledged airfield, but their massive size made them slow and vulnerable during descent. Without shield fields to protect them, any attack during landing could be catastrophic—and losing a single drop ship would be a devastating blow.

"Whew… looks like the Federation is finally gaining a foothold on Alpha Prime," Ryan murmured, watching the SCVs get to work. For the first time all day, he allowed himself a sliver of relief.

But just as the cheers on Hill Z3 reached their peak, the ground beneath their feet began to tremble.

"What the hell…?" Ryan's heart skipped a beat. He'd fought across Alpha Prime, but this—this was new.

BOOM. BOOM. BOOM. The earth shook rhythmically—less like random tremors, more like… footsteps.

"Look over there!" a soldier shouted.

Everyone turned in the direction he pointed. In the distance, ancient towering trees were toppling, one after another. Above the collapsing canopy, a monstrous beast's snarling face loomed into view.

"What… what is that…" Soldiers stood frozen in awe and terror. None of them had seen a creature of that size before.

The behemoth crushed trees underfoot as it marched—heading straight for Hill Z3.

"All units! Focus fire on that thing! Open fire!" Colonel James roared. If that beast reached the hilltop, it wouldn't even need to fight. Just walking through would flatten every fortification they had.