In the underground control center of the Farmhouse Shelter.
Su Wu hung up the call with the General Director of the Official Shelter, Bai Rui'an.
He turned his gaze to the screen.
The massive fleet of the Snowwind Mercenary Corps lingered on the display for a moment.
In two hours, that fleet would be engulfed in the flames of war.
No one knew how many ships would survive by then.
At 5 p.m.
The surface, as usual, was enveloped in thick darkness and rain.
Hundreds of armored vehicles and tanks silently departed from multiple Official Shelters in Jianghe City.
They moved toward the 4th Shelter, which had been captured by the Snowwind Mercenary Corps.
In the joint online operations command room, which was composed of Su Wu and the Official Shelter team.
Shuang Chenfeng, the head of the intelligence department and the official representative, reported the real-time situation to everyone in the command room while the security forces were en route.
"According to the latest information we've gathered."
"The Snowwind Mercenary Corps has two standardized mechanized infantry divisions."
"The total number is around 36,000."
"One infantry division, plus an armored brigade, is stationed near the 4th Shelter."
"Another aviation brigade, three mechanized infantry brigades, and several artillery and support units."
"These forces are scattered across various civilian vessels in the eastern region."
The scale of the Snowwind Mercenary Corps, just from the surface data, was enough to make it incredibly difficult to handle.
This wasn't a mob of refugees or thugs, lacking in combat strength and simply numerous.
Rather, it was a well-coordinated force with various military branches.
Their weaponry and equipment were generally superior, and they had two divisions of regular troops.
Facing such a formidable enemy, even one that inspired fear, the atmosphere in the online joint command room was tense.
Everyone was nervous.
Time slid forward quietly for half an hour.
As the various military units arrived at their designated positions.
Qijiangyu, a deputy director from the Jianghe City local security forces and the commander of this joint operation, stood up to present the combat plan.
"Our main target for this operation."
"Is the infantry division and armored brigade stationed near the 4th Shelter."
"Thanks to the efforts of our front-line intelligence personnel."
"We successfully released the Rola Virus inside the 4th Shelter."
"The troops originally stationed there have now been forced to withdraw."
"They have gathered at the high ground near the Golden Tai Mall on the surface."
"This gives us an opportunity for a heavy artillery strike."
"So—"
"After the battle starts."
"The front-line troops will activate electromagnetic shielding and weapon jamming missiles."
"Cut off the communications between the enemy and their fleet, and delay their discovery of our artillery positions as much as possible."
"Then, each shelter's long-range weapons will launch the first wave of attacks."
"A sustained saturation strike for over 15 minutes."
"Afterward, the armored forces will charge."
From Qijiangyu's words, it was clear that he had little confidence in their own forces.
Most of the hope was pinned on the first wave of long-range strikes.
Based on this, the 15-minute long artillery bombardment plan was formulated, an overly ambitious plan.
Maintaining this long-range bombardment would be difficult.
Not to mention the potential threat from the enemy's countermeasures.
Simply the consumption of ammunition would likely deplete half of the Official Shelter's stock.
It was a gamble.
After announcing the attack plan, Qijiangyu turned his gaze to Su Wu.
"Director Su Wu."
"The first wave of the attack will require your heavy artillery cluster to participate."
"Is there any problem?"
Su Wu glanced at the report from his artificial intelligence and nodded slightly.
"My forces are already in position."
"We can begin at any time."
As per his agreement with Bai Rui'an, in this battle, Su Wu would fire a total of 1,000 155mm shells and two 400mm rockets.
Additionally, he would send 100 spider robots and 300 robotic dogs to participate in the ground attack.
The support lineup was luxurious.
In the past, this amount of firepower would have been enough to level the entire Jianghe City district.
It was precisely because of Su Wu's overwhelming support that Bai Rui'an gained the confidence to take this risky step.
This indirectly facilitated the large-scale raid.
"Alright."
Qijiangyu's expression became excited, and he did not delay.
"Since everything is ready."
"We'll begin the official attack in 15 seconds."
A red countdown number started to appear in the online joint command room.
It was also transmitted to all participating departments in the Official Shelters.
In the last 10 seconds of the countdown.
The vertical launch silos at Su Wu's Farmhouse Shelter, near the small bunker, began opening their sealed doors one by one.
Revealing the 400mm rockets, painted in grey and ready for action at the bottom.
Some rainwater, as the vertical launch silos opened, drifted inside.
It stained the warheads of the rockets with a few droplets.
In the 8th second of the countdown.
The rocket engines ignited.
A large amount of smoke and high-temperature flames spewed from the rocket's tail.
The bottom of the vertical launch silo turned bright red.
The rockets began to slowly ascend.
Piercing through the clouds above.
In the 5th second.
The rockets transformed into meteors, climbing against the wind.
Their brilliant light flashed.
And they disappeared into the dark clouds.
In the final second.
Centered on the Farmhouse Shelter.
20 155mm self-propelled artillery vehicles, scattered in a range of several dozen kilometers around, began to fire.
Under the control of artificial intelligence.
Each artillery vehicle raised its gun barrel and calibrated its coordinates.
Then they opened fire.
At the same time.
Within the Jianghe City ruins.
The Official Shelters still under official control opened their launch silos.
Various missiles and rockets stored in their warehouses were launched in succession.
Hidden artillery towers slowly rose to the surface through elevator platforms.
They deployed their combat positions and unleashed artillery fire across the distant city.
Ten seconds later.
The first 400mm rocket, which had ignited earlier, reached the sky above the Snowwind Mercenary Corps' position near the 4th Shelter.
It began to descend vertically.
Accelerating in the final phase of its attack.
Below.
In the military camp that detected the incoming rocket.
The air defense siren let out a piercing wail.
A large number of anti-aircraft machine guns almost immediately responded.
They poured bullets into the air, quickly forming a dense protective net.
More than 10 anti-aircraft missiles simultaneously launched from vari
ous parts of the camp.
Chasing after the descending fireball.
However, all of this.
Was utterly ineffective in the face of the 400mm rocket, still accelerating through its rocket engine.