Chapter 424: Paris Raid Operation
After entering the Paris urban area, the battle became even more complex.
The narrow streets restricted the mobility of the Iron Guards, and Mimic ambush points were visible everywhere among the ruins.
"Switch to urban combat mode," Ryo ordered.
The Iron Guards shifted to providing long-range fire support, while Dorio and Rita led the ground forces to clear the buildings floor by floor.
With the assistance of the exoskeleton, Cage was already able to proficiently execute clearing missions.
"Second floor clear."
"Left street secure."
The squad members provided alternating cover, pushing forward steadily.
After several hours of intense engagement, the team finally arrived at the Louvre square.
The museum before them had partially collapsed, and the square was littered with Mimic remains and traces of the UDF's previous failed offensive.
"The entrance is here." Rita led everyone to an inconspicuous underground passage. "The reservoir is down there."
The passage was dark and damp, illuminated only by the lights on the squad's equipment.
As they went deeper, the unique energy fluctuations in the air became increasingly apparent.
"High-intensity energy signal detected," Pilar reported, his voice tinged with tension. "Also, a massive amount of biological signals."
When they finally entered the underground reservoir, the scene before them was shocking.
Within the vast space, countless Mimics surged like a tide, interspersed with several Alpha individuals emitting a deep blue glow.
In the center of the reservoir, an exceptionally large energy source was pulsating rhythmically.
"The Omega..." Rita whispered.
The Mimic swarm discovered the intruders and immediately surged forward like a tidal wave.
The battle erupted instantly.
"Establish a defensive perimeter!" Ryo shouted.
The Iron Guards formed a firepower barrier at the reservoir entrance, while Rebecca's plasma cannon cleared large areas with every shot.
"Attempt to capture an Alpha!" Ryo ordered.
Pilar and Lucy quickly set up the capture device.
During the first launch, the capture net successfully trapped an Alpha. However, just as the ultra-low temperature coolant began to take effect, another Alpha ambushed them from the flank, using energy tentacles to destroy critical components of the device.
"Device failure!" Pilar reported.
The situation took a turn for the worse.
More Alphas joined the battle. Clearly realizing the threat posed by the capture device, they began targeted attacks on the technical members.
"Retreat! We are underprepared!" Ryo made a split-second decision.
But it was too late.
Just as they began to pull back, the energy source in the center of the reservoir suddenly erupted with a blinding light.
A familiar sense of dizziness washed over them.
"Spacetime fluctuation detected!" Pilar's voice was drowned out by the dizziness of the reset.
When Ryo regained consciousness, he was standing inside the swaying landing craft, the familiar roar of engines in his ears.
The loop had reset once again, but they had brought back precious intelligence: the Omega's location was confirmed, and the plan to capture an Alpha required more thorough preparation.
Rebecca cursed in the communication channel and then said, "Next time, we're bringing more explosives."
Dorio checked her gauntlets. "We need a better breakthrough plan."
Cage took a deep breath and gripped the weapon in his hand.
Now they knew where the target was and what awaited them. Next time, they would be better prepared.
After the dizziness of the reset faded, Ryo's squad returned to the cabin of the landing craft once again. This time, no one showed surprise or hesitation.
"Seventeenth loop confirmed," Falco's voice was the first to ring out in the encrypted channel.
"As per the predetermined plan, contact Rita first," Ryo ordered. After practicing through multiple loops, they had worked out the most efficient process: establishing contact with Rita quickly in the early stages of the landing and using known intelligence to convince her to join.
Once the landing battle began, the squad rapidly broke through the beachhead along an optimized route.
Dorio and Cage headed directly to the combat zone where Rita was usually located. As Rita watched the two approach with a wary gaze, Cage spoke directly: "Full Metal Bitch, you once killed eighty-four Mimics in a single day during the Battle of Verdun. You lost your time-looping ability because you received a blood transfusion during surgery."
Rita's pupils contracted sharply, and she lowered her weapon slightly. "How do you..."
"We are also trapped in the loop," Dorio said concisely. "Join us. This time, we're taking out the head of the dragon."
With the experience of their previous cooperation, Rita was quickly convinced.
Her addition provided the squad with invaluable combat experience and a deep understanding of the local terrain.
Upon returning to the temporary stronghold, a tactical meeting was immediately convened.
Ryo pulled up the data recorded from the previous loops. "There are three main reasons why the last push failed: the route choice wasn't optimized enough, urban combat efficiency was low, and the reliability of the capture device in complex environments was insufficient."
"I suggest adjusting the travel route," Rita pointed at the map. "Avoid the main roads and utilize the underground tunnel system. Although the distance increases by twenty percent, it reduces the probability of engagement by sixty percent."
The data from Lucy's quadrupedal automaton supported this judgment. "Scans show that the frequency of Mimic activity in the underground tunnels is indeed lower."
"The equipment needs adjustment as well," Pilar proposed a plan for improvement. "The capture device needs reinforced protection, especially the energy core. I suggest using the spare armor plates from the Iron Guards for reinforcement."
Rebecca checked her plasma bombardment cannon. "I need a more flexible mounting system; the traverse of heavy weapons is too slow in urban combat."
After discussion, the squad decided on several improvements:
Adopt the underground tunnel route suggested by Rita.
Add a protective shell to the capture device.
Convert Rebecca's heavy weapon to a mobile-mounted mode.
Adjust the formation so the Iron Guards can provide better fire support in narrow environments.
A new round of pushing forward began. The improved plan showed results immediately. The underground tunnels indeed significantly reduced the number of encounters, allowing the squad to preserve more stamina for critical battles.
"The exit ahead leads to Sector 7," Rita guided the way. "Watch out, there's usually an ambush here."
Sure enough, just as they were about to exit the tunnel, a group of Mimics broke in through the ventilation ducts above. But this time, the squad was prepared.
"Crossfire, cover the exit," Ryo commanded calmly.
Dorio and Rita attacked simultaneously from both sides; their coordination was already quite tacit. Dorio was responsible for frontal suppression, while Rita used her agility for flanking strikes. With the aid of the exoskeleton, Cage was able to keep up with their rhythm and was responsible for filling in any gaps.
"Nice coordination," Rita said to Cage after a successful coordinated engagement.
Cage wiped away sweat. "It was all forced out by death."
After converting Rebecca's plasma cannon to mobile mode, its power in urban combat increased significantly. She could move quickly to vantage points to provide precise fire coverage.
"Left flank clear!" she reported proudly.
Valerie and Jackie also adjusted the Iron Guards' tactics. In narrow streets, they no longer sought to move but served as fixed fire points, providing continuous fire support for the advancing squad.
The improvements to the capture device also showed initial results. In a new round of testing, it successfully withstood a Mimic ambush and protected its core components.
"Protection is effective," Pilar recorded the data with satisfaction, "but the cooling system still needs further optimization."
As the number of loops increased, the coordination among the squad members became increasingly refined. Cage and Rita had fully integrated into the team, their local knowledge forming a perfect complement to the advanced technology of Ryo's squad.
"Look over there," Rita pointed at a building in the distance during a short break. "That's the Louvre. We're getting closer."
Ryo's optical lenses focused on the distant building.
After the tempering of seventeen loops, their tactics were perfecting day by day, and their teamwork was growing more seamless. Although they didn't yet know what challenges awaited ahead, they were ready.
"Keep moving," Ryo ordered. "This time, we will definitely break through the final line of defense."
The squad members quickly geared up and continued to push toward the target.
Every loop brought them one step closer to the truth, and every failure made them stronger. Within this endless cycle of time, they were growing at an astonishing rate.