Chapter 413: Operation Verdun
One hour later, General Briggs convened a briefing for all frontline officers and the core members of Maine's squad.
On the massive holographic tactical table, a detailed map of the French coastline was displayed, marked with countless red enemy icons and blue UDF troop indicators.
"Gentlemen," General Briggs's voice echoed through the command center, "we are about to launch a massive counter-offensive codenamed 'Operation Verdun'."
He pointed to a stretch of beach on the map. "The main landing force will make a forced entry here, at 'Sword' Beach, to establish a beachhead. Simultaneously, the 2nd and 3rd Mobile Battalions will advance from the flanks at 'Juno' and 'Gold' beaches, forming a pincer movement."
His finger traced across the map. "The objective is to destroy the primary Mimic nest located in this area—" he pointed to an inland region marked as a high-threat zone, "—and cut off their expansion routes into the interior."
Maine listened quietly, recording every detail on the map.
Rebecca looked at the blue arrows representing the UDF forces, then glanced at the UDF main battle tank parameters displayed on a nearby screen, commenting in a low voice on the squad channel: "Relying on those tin cans? Are they serious?"
Dorio focused more on the potential Mimic deployment: "According to current intelligence, Mimic density is highest in the beachhead area. They excel at using the terrain for ambushes."
General Briggs concluded his brief explanation, turning his gaze toward Maine: "Captain Maine, your martial prowess proved its value in the previous encounter. The UDF hopes you can serve as the spearhead, opening the way for our forces in the initial stages of the landing and suppressing the Mimics' heavy units."
Maine's processor rapidly evaluated the mission risks, the value of the intelligence, and the pros and cons of cooperating with the local forces. Participating in this large-scale military operation would provide a wealth of combat data regarding Mimic battle patterns and the military capabilities of this world.
"Maine's squad will participate in this operation," Maine finally responded. "We will be responsible for the initial clearing of the beachhead. We require real-time battlefield data sharing from the UDF and the guarantee of operational freedom for our units in the engagement zone."
"Agreed," General Briggs nodded. "The specific details will be coordinated between my staff and your team. Operation time is set for twenty-four hours from now. Good luck."
With the briefing over, the officers quickly dispersed to begin intense pre-battle preparations. Maine's squad also left the command post and returned to their temporarily assigned area.
"Everyone, perform a final equipment check," Maine ordered within the squad channel. "Valerie, Jackie, ensure the Iron Guards are in optimal combat condition. David, Lucy, continue analyzing the Mimic samples and look for potential weaknesses. Sasha, Kiwi, maintain monitoring of UDF communications and Mimic signals. We are going into Operation Verdun."
The massive metal gates slowly closed behind them, isolating the clamor of the command post. The squad members began their respective tasks, preparing for the upcoming large-scale battle. The faint sound of artillery in the distance heralded a conflict far beyond anything they had ever experienced in Night City.
The low rumble of engines filled the enclosed cabin of the landing craft.
Maine's squad was squeezed in with dozens of UDF soldiers, swaying violently with the craft's movements. Continuous explosions could be heard outside the hull—naval gunfire conducting preliminary bombardment on the beachhead.
"Engaging in thirty seconds!" the craft commander's voice came through the internal comms, laced with static.
Maine's synthesized voice rang out in the squad channel: "Deploy as planned. Iron Guards establish fire support points first. Rebecca, clear the landing zone. Dorio, cover the flanks."
The hatch indicator light turned from red to green, the heavy ramp slowly lowered, and blinding daylight and deafening explosions instantly flooded in.
Before them was a scene of utter chaos.
Murky seawater lashed against the sand, black smoke drifted everywhere, and the beach was littered with burning vehicle wreckage and fallen corpses. Countless dark gray Mimics surged like a tide from the dunes and the fortifications in the rear, pouncing on the newly landed, disorganized UDF soldiers.
The UDF forces fell into a bitter struggle as soon as they left the landing craft. Their rifle and machine gun rounds hit the Mimics' spinning tentacles and hardened shells, often only causing sporadic sparks and failing to inflict lethal damage. The Mimics' swift and bizarre movements made them difficult to aim at, and their metallic tentacles easily pierced through body armor, kicking up mists of blood. Screams and explosions rose and fell; the landing zone was rapidly turning into a slaughterhouse.
"Advance," Maine commanded.
The two Iron Guard prototypes were the first to step out of the landing craft, their heavy mechanical feet sinking deep into the wet sand. The heavy bolter on the shoulder of the neural-linked Iron Guard piloted by Valerie opened fire first, 30mm shells raining down like a deathly shower on the densest Mimic clusters, blowing several Mimics to pieces along with the dunes they were hiding behind. The standard Iron Guard controlled by Jackie used its autocannon for precise bursts, clearing close-range threats for the advancing UDF soldiers.
Rebecca stood in the gap between the Iron Guards, the barrel of her plasma bombardment cannon glowing with blazing white light once more.
"Turn to ash, you bastards!" she roared, pulling the trigger. A thick stream of plasma swept across the fan-shaped area nearly a hundred meters wide in front of her. Mimics hit directly were instantly vaporized, while those on the periphery were ignited by the intense heat, becoming twisted, burning metallic wreckage. A clear, vitrified trail of molten glass appeared on the beach.
Dorio lunged out from the flank of the Iron Guards like a ghost, her speed far exceeding that of a normal human as she wove through the Mimic swarm. Every strike of her fists, covered in ceramite power gauntlets, carried a muffled explosion followed by white volkite flames. She slammed into the embrace of a Mimic, her fist piercing its shell as the internal volkite generator ignited and shattered it from the inside. Another Mimic attempting to attack from the side had its core crushed by a backhand strike, its burning remains sent flying.
The promethium flamer on Pilar's back continuously spewed blazing white flames, clearing straggling Mimics trying to approach the squad from the side. Falco, meanwhile, continuously reported the battlefield situation: "Large signal cluster gathering behind the left dune. The UDF squad on the right flank is retreating; there's a gap in the line."
David and Lucy remained in relatively rearward positions. Lucy controlled her quadrupedal automaton to pick off stragglers that bypassed the Iron Guards' fire with heavy machine gun bursts. David took this opportunity to quickly collect Mimic samples in various states of damage, recording the changes in their energy signals at the moment of death.
Sasha and Kiwi focused on the electronic battlefield. Sasha monitored the crumbling UDF communication network, trying to maintain the transmission of critical orders. Kiwi stared intently at the sensor screen: "High-intensity energy signal source detected... direction, straight ahead behind the dune line. Signal signature differs significantly from ordinary individuals."