Chapter 450 "Infectious Diseases" (21)
In the same area as Han Zu and Xin, 400 meters away from them. The Reaper annihilation team.
"Out of the sentinel's lock range."
After using the shielding position to avoid the out-of-control mechanical sentinels, the members of the annihilation team lifted the shielding position and walked out of their hiding positions. They began to continue the work of removing the traps.
They were indeed the annihilation team that Han Zu had locked onto, but Han Zu had not guessed their identities. They were indeed the team that had appeared in the "Echo" image before, checking the bodies, but it was not their members who triggered the trap and were killed, but another annihilation team. Since the armor designs of the dozen or so annihilation teams in the space station were similar, it was normal for Han Zu to make a mistake.
However, this annihilation team seemed a little different from the other teams. They should be more elite than the other annihilation teams. Although Han Zu has not seen them fighting yet, judging from the fact that they are organized and can quickly eliminate traps, and have not lost track of their targets, their combat quality must be extraordinary.
"Locate available 'Echo'."
"Target unit spotted."
After ten minutes of moving forward, the "Harvester" team found an available "echo". By observing the image, they finally saw Baduo's figure in its entirety. He seemed to be hiding from something. It can be seen that Baduo turned around and ran out immediately after entering a regional mobile train stop. It can be seen that he was in a very bad state. The situation should not be good, so he didn't even have time to set a trap.
"Path drawing process terminated, extensive regional structural damage detected. Re-routing."
According to the video information in the "Echo", after escaping the stop, Baduo went to the area ahead, but the road ahead is now completely impassable. The pioneers of the "Harvester" team saw large-scale regional destruction. The original ground here has collapsed for some unknown reason. The collapsed structure of the upper layer has filled the collapsed area with unstable arcs. Since the track of the regional mobile train is next to it, this arc force field, which is not formed naturally due to the damage of the regional structure, is extremely dangerous.
However, in theory, this arc field area with constant electric sparks could not actually penetrate the defense of the "Reaper" team, but these unstable arcs would probably temporarily overload the propulsion device on the team's armor. The collapsed area covered several layers. Falling from this height would either kill or injure. Even if the person was fine, the damage to the armor would not be worth the loss. So the commander of the "Reaper" team immediately ordered to bypass this place.
However, there are only two ways to bypass this area. One way is to return along the original route and bypass through another area. Although this is safe, it will greatly increase the distance between them and Baduo.
The other way is to go through the regional mobile trains that have lost half of their platforms due to regional structural damage and are suspended on the tracks next to them. In order to ensure the speed of movement within the huge space station, the bodies of these regional mobile trains are very strong. Although part of them are within the range of the arc force field, the shells made of special materials can absorb these unstable arcs so that the internal carriages will not be affected. This is naturally much faster than detouring from other areas, but this route is also full of dangers.
Let’s not talk about Baduo’s escape from the platform in “Echo”. The state of these trains alone cannot give anyone a sense of security. The tracks of these trains are located above the trains. There are special magnetic sequence devices on the top of the trains, which can keep the trains firmly attached to the tracks. There is no connection between the trains and the tracks. Although these trains that rely on suspension technology have a very high safety factor in normal times, that is because the energy supplied to the trains and tracks is sufficient or even excessive. Now, due to large-scale damage to the energy system in the space station, many places in the space station are short of energy or even exhausted. Although these trains are still suspended under the tracks, their unstable shaking from time to time is enough to show that the tracks are already short of energy.
Not to mention, due to the nearby arc force field, the energy consumption of these already unstable trains and tracks is gradually accelerating. It is hard to say when these trains will lose track energy, causing the magnetic sequence devices on the top of the trains to shut down, causing these trains to fall from hundreds of meters. The weight of these iron boxes is no joke. Even if the "Reaper" team does not die from the fall, it is estimated that they will be crushed into slag by the weight of the train, along with their bodies and armor.
Although the Reaper team did not want to go around other areas, they certainly did not want to go through these trains that could fall off at any time. So at the beginning, the commander of this annihilation team was not prepared to continue moving forward along this road.
"Can we cut off the energy sources nearby? If we can get rid of the arc force field, we won't have to take risks."
"No, Captain. According to the equipment scan, the energy sequence and control system that form these arc force fields have been completely damaged. Unless these energy sequences are automatically consumed, we will not be able to solve the arc force field in front of us."
The leader of the Reaper team grunted in displeasure and turned to look at the regional movers currently hovering below the tracks.
"It's a messy job. Scan these trains and tracks to see if they can hold out until we pass through the arc field and the structural damage. Also calculate the fastest time we can pass and the time it takes for the track energy to drop to a dangerous threshold, and compare them. Everyone else, stay alert."
"clear."
"clear."
This area is a dangerous area for most units in the space station, including most mutants and those out-of-control mechanical sentinels, so they instinctively avoid this area. So in a way, this is actually a safe area. The team's vigilance mission is naturally much easier. While the two pioneers are checking the moving trains and tracks in those areas, the others check their weapons and armor in batches to ensure that they are functioning properly.
"The scan is complete. The energy distance of these orbits has dropped to the dangerous threshold. There is still one hour and 53 minutes left. If we don't encounter any special circumstances, it will only take 74 minutes for us to pass through this area."
"Have you taken into account the effect of the weight of our armor and weapons on the train?"
"I used the most extreme theoretical data to calculate that it is very feasible to move trains through these areas where they are stopped on the track and bypass the dangerous areas."
"But the information about the target's escape from the station is very important. Has the biological unit scan been done?"
"It has been synchronized. We found some mutants in several of the train cars. However, they are just miscellaneous soldiers. We don't need to use main weapons. We can easily kill them with strength."
"Are there any special energy reactions or life signs?"
"Yes, but it's 300 meters away from us, which is beyond the accurate scanning range of the equipment. Moreover, it's behind us and has not moved, so it won't affect us. It's probably a special mutant unit."
The captain nodded. With the information scanned, they were ready. So under the captain's command, the two pioneers entered the remaining platform first and opened the door of the carriage closest to them.
“Wooooooa ...
There were more than 30 ordinary mutants inside. These guys had no IQ at all. After seeing the two pioneers opening the door on the platform, they staggered towards them. These guys were very slow, and not only that, because of the distortion of their bodies caused by excessive mutation, they could not perform complex movements such as running and jumping. So these more than 30 stupid mutants fell straight down from the gap between the train car and the platform.
"empty."
"Keep going, be safe, and be gentle with your movements so as not to add to the burden on the track."
In order to ensure the stability of the carriages, two pioneers with relatively light armor entered the first train first. While continuing to scout the situation of the subsequent carriages, they determined the movement route for other team members behind them and opened the closed or damaged carriage doors.
Behind them was one of the heavy-armored units, but he temporarily handed the shield in his hand to the ordinary combat unit behind him. After all, their armor was too heavy. Under the current circumstances, in order to ensure that the burden on the train was not increased too much, it was best for them to travel alone.
Behind the first heavy unit are the remaining two sniper units, who carry the shields of the two heavy units. Their armor is the lightest and can effectively share the weight.
Behind them are some ordinary combat units. They may have slightly more people, and if there is a dangerous situation, they can also rescue the heavy-armored units in front in time.
Behind the first batch of ordinary units is the second heavy unit, who also passes through a carriage alone, and his shield is also in the hands of the sniper unit in front. Behind him are the remaining ordinary combat units.
At the end of the team are the team leader, adjutant, and the team's pharmacist, who are responsible for covering the retreat.
Moving on such a dangerous path made every member of the team tense and try their best to control their movements to avoid accidents. However, half an hour after the movement began, the "Reaper" team, which had not encountered any accidents except ordinary mutants, gradually relaxed.
4.5 km from the departure platform.
Although they have reached the other side of the arc field, there are no other trains at this location, and they have not yet reached the other side of the structural damage area. According to equipment calculations, there is still about two to three kilometers away.
"Captain, the situation ahead is a bit tricky. There are no extra footholds for us to use. If we want to cover the remaining distance, we can only use the propulsion device to fly. But the heavy armor is very heavy, and the distance they can propel in a single time is not enough to fly out."
Through the communication sequence, the two scouts at the front of the team sent a message.
"Synchronize the scan information ahead to me."
"clear."
According to the synchronized scans ahead, the movement of the two heavily armored units was indeed a problem, but this did not mean that they would abandon their teammates in this dangerous environment. So the captain gave an order for the others to reach a safe area first and then find a solution. They still had about an hour, which was plenty of time.
Soon, except for the captain, the pharmacist, the adjutant, and the two heavy-armored units, the rest of the team members gradually reached the safe area through the propulsion device. There were many mutants there, including some special mutants, but it was easy to deal with them, but it wasted a lot of time. After clearing the area, they began to think of ways to shorten the distance the two heavy-armored units needed to fly.
"I'm trying to start the train you're on. As long as it moves forward a few hundred meters, the two of them will be able to come over. But it takes time to find the corresponding train number. Did you see the train number in the carriage?"
"7-13114-β, is this it?"
"No, this is the carriage number. The train number format is a number at the beginning, letters in the middle, and numbers at the end. Look for it again, you should be able to find it."
"339-Δ-16, is this it?"
"Yes! That's it. Get ready. I'm overwriting the control sequence. It will take a few minutes."
"Got it. Captain, you three can go ahead. We don't need your help here. The two of us can handle it."
"Well, be careful."
While the Vanguard was overwriting the train's control sequence, the captain's adjutant and the pharmacist also arrived at the safe area. As soon as they landed, the Vanguard completed the overwrite. Two heavy-armored units that followed the train were approaching the distance that the propulsion device could fly.
"Multiple life signals detected."
"An abnormal energy reaction has been detected."
"Armed vehicle units detected."
"Get ready for battle!"
At this moment, a large number of mutants suddenly appeared near them. They seemed to be fighting with something. The sniper units immediately dispersed and occupied advantageous terrain. Through observation of the aiming sequence, they found an unmanned armed vehicle that was exchanging fire with those mutants. Near them, there were also many elite out-of-control mechanical sentinels. However, those sentinels were not helping the unmanned armed vehicle, but launching indiscriminate attacks.
In fact, the same is true for mutants and armed vehicles. The beams and shells in the sky instantly turn the surrounding area into a war zone and chaos.
"Boom~~"
Fortunately, the train had arrived at a sufficient position, and two heavy-armored units quickly started the propulsion device and joined the others. They immediately picked up their shields, unfolded the shields, and placed them in positions where the team had no cover, increasing their space for movement. From time to time, they used their heavy firepower weapons to suppress enemy units that were too close, creating a good output environment for other teammates.
"Additional life signatures detected."
"An abnormal energy reaction has been detected."
"Additional mechanical sentry units detected."
"Attached armed vehicle units detected."
"Warning, the threat assessment for the current area is: High. It is recommended to leave the current area immediately."
The situation was indeed not optimistic, but the team did not start moving, not because they did not want to, but because there was a huge battle zone ahead and there was no space to evacuate the area.
"A long-range attack has been detected and is being calculated to determine the attack point..."
"Completed, no potential threats assessed."
"boom!!!"
A beam attack appeared from nowhere in the distance, blowing away a large number of combat units and tearing a hole in the battlefield ahead. The team immediately seized the opportunity, destroying the approaching enemies while dodging armed vehicles, and gradually moved towards the outer area of the melee.
"Keep the formation! Don't lose your composure!"
"understand!"