𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟎: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐨𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐥𝐝
Jun Garagawa, also known as Fizū, the representative of the Intensive Hunting Club, was leading with a modified All-Rounder machine called Fizū specification.
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The Fizū specification All-Rounder has been lightened by replacing metal armor with polycarbonate armor, thereby eliminating the sound of metal scraping and enhancing quietness.
Since it emphasizes quietness, the cooling method has been changed from air-cooled by a fan to water-cooled, making it a machine that can focus on the surrounding sounds, but it has become slightly weak against shocks due to the risk of water leakage from damage.
To mitigate the impact during shooting or running, the leg suspension is set softly, causing intense up-and-down motion in the field of vision during running.
According to a tried comrade, it is so peaky that it looks like a VR game character nodding while running on the screen, and even Fizū cannot avoid screen sickness.
However, there are many advantages. The Fizū specification is selective in its users, but if used well, it is a mech that can fight the latest state-of-the-art mechs.
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Overtaking a comrade’s mech, changing from a sniper rifle 『Yoichi』 to an assault rifle 『Ninja=Sun』. Utilizing leg cushions to slide down the slope, and using a tree trunk as a foothold to slow down.
While circling around the trunk with the right leg as an axis, moving the assault rifle horizontally and scattering bullets. This uniquely customized, quiet assault rifle only emits sounds at specific wavelengths, making it sound almost silent to Fizū’s ears thanks to PC-side noise cancellation.
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The scattered bullets do not make a sound when hitting metal. Strangely, there seem to be no enemy mechs nearby.
Recalling memories, the Kaien Squad that was seen while descending the ridge had suddenly stopped attacking.
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“Are they trying to pit us against the Order Actor? No, if that’s the case, they’d make it a pincer attack. What are they thinking?”
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Muttering, hiding the All-Rounder behind a tree and checking the radio wave conditions from the system screen.
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“The communication environment is bad. Lannoid group, has something happened?”
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Guarded by comrades who are performing deterrent shots at the Order Actor on the ridge, a Lannoid-type Jackalope slides in, hiding in the bush using its short stature.
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“. . . . . .Confirmed. It seems that the communication hub hidden in a discarded mech has been recovered by someone.”
“Is there a scavenger in the combat area. . . . . .? No, I can’t imagine a scavenger coming to an area where the Renegade Warriors appear. The Kaien Squad?”
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The Intensive Hunting Club had planted a communication hub in the direction where Kaien Squad was coming. It was a partially repaired Lannoid-type that had been destroyed during the three-way conflict.
A fleeting image of an All-Rounder having its head blown off by a strike from the Renegade Warrior crosses his mind.
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“Whoever the perpetrator is, the situation is bad, Fizū.”
“I know.”
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The Intensive Hunting Club had planned to ambush the approaching Kaien Squad by placing a communication hub. They were to engage in a head-on firefight while waiting for the right moment to cause communication failure with chaff, rendering them incapacitated, then using the strengthened radio waves from the communication hub to crush them unilaterally. They even brought unfamiliar wired equipment for this purpose.
However, it seems that the communication hub has been recovered by someone, and the radio wave intensity is low. Some hubs seem to be lost as well.
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“The Order Actor in the rear is closing in. We’ll be caught in a pincer attack.”
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While frowning at the report from his subordinates, Fizū quickly operated the modified mech and moved swiftly to the rear.
The heavily armored mech of the Order Actor stood on the ridge, slowly advancing as it fired a heavy machine gun. The collection of Order-series Actanoids, varying in size and shape and lacking uniformity, was rather spectacular.
There are some that he have taken requests with before, but he do not know their weaknesses.
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Fizū switched to a sniper rifle, firing at the ridge between the enemy heavy armored mechs. Right after the bullets ricocheted off the ridge, a mech that had shown its face hurriedly withdrew. The lag probably caused the input before sniping to coincide with the impact.
From that appearance, the Order Actor’s Lannoid-series must not have arrived at the scene yet.
The heavy armored mech stopped its legs. Any further, and the signal might get too weak, causing a communication cut.
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A momentary stalemate. It’s a reprieve until the Order Actor’s Lannoid-series arrives.
They must find a breakthrough now or be wiped out.
When he was looking for a way out, a report came from the Jackalope.
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“The Kaien Squad has begun to move north.”
“North? I think they should be retreating to the east to regroup, or else they would be sandwiching us with the Order Actor.”
“It seems they’ve caught the Renegade Warrior.”
“Renegade Warrior?”
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He almost understands for a moment, but then again, the movement is strange.
The current position is the Renegade Warrior to the north, Kaien Squad to the south of that, the Intensive Hunting Club further south, and the Order Actor to the west.
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If the Intensive Hunting Club retreats to where the Kaien Squad was, there will be a sufficient buffer zone between them and the Order Actor. A battlefield that is well-suited to the Intensive Hunting Club, who is skilled in mountain guerrilla warfare, will be created.
Furthermore, neither the Intensive Hunting Club nor the Order Actor would overlook any move against the Renegade Warrior. The movement of the Kaien Squad, turning their backs on those two, is simply foolish.
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“Is the Kaien Squad planning to face the Renegade Warrior in front, while being caught in the crossfire between us and the Order Actor from behind. . . . . .? There must be something going on.”
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Though the movement of the Kaien Squad was tactically impossible, Fizū visually confirmed that Kaien Yoshitoshi’s beloved mech 『Patriot』 was among them.
It’s hard to believe that the Kaien Squad’s top party would make such a basic tactical mistake.
He doesn’t know what’s behind it, but there are not many strategies available. Ultimately, taking the position where the Kaien Squad was is the best move in this situation.
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“While being cautious of traps and the Shepherd’s ambush, let’s retreat. Considering the Kaien Squad’s reversal, let’s place combat-capable units on the north side.”
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Wondering what was going on, Fizū continued to shoot persistently at the ridge, weaving between the legs and spaces of the Order Actor’s heavy armored mechs, worrying about his comrades’ mechs.
Soon, a communication from a comrade arrived.
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“Report. It’s a wire trap. It’s sloppy as if an amateur set it, but there are many.”
“There shouldn’t be time to set up anything elaborate. Are they dummy traps?”
“Some are actually tied with grenades. But this doesn’t seem like something the Kaien Squad would set up.”
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As the comrades said, there is no point in the Kaien Squad setting a wire trap at this stage. It would only cut off their own retreat.
In that case, thinking about who set it up, Fizū clearly recalls the face of the All-Rounder who had his head blown off.
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“――Ah, damn it. It’s that person. Bomber. He was still working overtime even after getting his head blown off. Rather, is this his main job as a Bomber?”
“Bomber? But why a wire trap. . . . . .”
“Sealing off this place is the best move to control the flow of the battlefield.”
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Just as the Kaien Squad was frustrated by having their retreat cut off, the Intensive Hunting Club, who were pressed by the Order Actor, also had their retreat cut off here.
However, Fizū and Kaien Yoshitoshi understood that the real purpose of the wire trap was not to block the retreat.
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“The Kaien Squad dislikes wearing down in a battle on two fronts with us and the Renegade Warrior. So Kaien Yoshitoshi thought about it. The common goal for all forces here is not to crush each other, but to subdue or capture the Renegade Warrior. In that case, there’s a situation where they must temporarily entrust each other with their backs for mutual survival.”
“Could it be, the situation has arisen where the Kaien Squad takes on the Renegade Warrior, while we, the Intensive Hunting Club, can face the Order Actor head-on? But what happens if the Kaien Squad captures the Renegade Warrior?”
“The Order Actor will not remain silent. We won’t either. Moreover, among the Actanoids gathered here, the Kaien Squad has brought a heavy rounder with high defense but slow movement. Escaping with the captured Renegade Warrior is not realistic.”
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The heavy rounder series has high combat ability, but its movement speed is about 60 kilometers per hour, and the fuel efficiency is poor. Escaping from this battlefield with the captured unit is difficult; they must eliminate all likely pursuers.
The Jackalope’s Actor swallows hard.
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“So, if the Kaien Squad and us make the realistic choice, this wire trap alone, created by Bomber, forces us into a situation where we have to fight with our backs to each other?”
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If the speculation is correct, it’s a terrifying level of battlefield control.
However, circumstantial evidence allows no other conclusion. Kaien Yoshitoshi also thought so, so he had no choice but to go along with the scheme.
Fizū too. He has no choice but to go along with it.
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“That Bomber guy, the placement seems to anticipate the Order Actor attacking us from behind. It’s nasty, but honestly, it helps. All hands, oppose the Order Actor. Be careful not to spread out too much to protect the Kaien Squad’s rear. Don’t engage with the Trigger Happy, aim for the rear Lannoid series!”
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While giving orders, Fizū glances at the wire trap.
Bomber’s identity is unknown. However, since he’s intervening, he must be in a position to oversee the situation.
Yet, he let neither his true identity nor his purpose be grasped. Whose Actor is that maneuver, turning all forces into enemies?
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“. . . . . .I’d like to see the face of the boss who keeps such a dangerous person.”
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