Chapter 582: Heading to the Frontlines
The news of the decision to join the battle was like a stone thrown into still water, rippling through the Death World base, but it was quickly superseded by a more efficient, goal-oriented operation.
Ryo (second avatar) formally replied to Executive Stoke of the Steel Hound Legion, confirming the participation of the EVA-Titan combat squad.
The other party was evidently satisfied with this result; a faint, imperceptible sense of relief could even be caught over the communication channel.
A more detailed operational plan briefing, detailed topographical data of Verdant III, and a preliminary analysis report regarding the tactical characteristics of the invading Ork tribe were rapidly transmitted over.
This information was immediately distributed to the three pilots, with instructions to absorb and master it as quickly as possible.
Intelligence explicitly pointed out that the invading Ork tribe had not yet been observed to possess super-heavy units such as Gargants or Stompas. For the EVA-Titans, which stood over eighty meters tall, this was undoubtedly good news.
This meant that in conventional ground engagements, they almost didn't need to worry about lethal threats from equivalently sized entities and could focus their attention on other tactical aspects.
Over the next few days, the atmosphere at the base noticeably became more tense and focused, not out of fear of an unknown, powerful enemy, but out of a serious regard for the mission itself.
Inside the hangar, Tech-Priests and servitors conducted the final pre-departure inspections and maintenance on the three EVA-Titans.
Energy pipelines were meticulously recalibrated, the seams of the heavy armor underwent flaw-detection inspections, and various weapon systems—from melee power claws to ranged energy cannons—all underwent final live-fire zeroing to ensure stable output power.
The three giant machines, painted crimson, violet, and ice-blue, gleamed with a cold and majestic light under the dense illumination of the maintenance gantries, like sharp blades about to be unsheathed.
Shinji Ikari, Asuka, and Rei Ayanami threw themselves into high-intensity pre-war studies and targeted simulated training.
They needed to understand the basic behavioral patterns of the Orks—that nearly insane swarm charge driven by a certain crude "WAAAGH!" energy field, their crude but overwhelmingly abundant live-ammunition weapons and explosives, as well as the characteristics of Ork Bosses acting as the core of localized combat.
The simulated training heavily incorporated attack waves of this style. This was not to pressure the three of them, but to let them familiarize themselves with and adapt to this chaotic battlefield environment in advance, practicing how to most efficiently mop up these "grunts" and how to rapidly identify and suppress the Ork leaders to disintegrate their offensives.
Realizing that the potential threat level was far lower than expected, the training mindsets of the three also differed slightly.
After learning that their main opponents were not unassailable behemoths, Shinji's taut nerves seemed to relax somewhat, allowing him to focus more on the tactics themselves.
Asuka became even more eager to try, focusing her training on how to utilize the red machine's high mobility for rapid sweeping and precision strikes.
Rei Ayanami remained as calm as ever, executing every command with precision and analyzing the patterns within the Orks' behavior.
Shinji was exceptionally diligent in his studies. Although the fear in his eyes hadn't completely dissipated, he forced himself to memorize every key point, repeatedly practicing the purple Unit-02's defensive postures and emergency evasive maneuvers in the simulation pod.
He didn't want to implicate anyone because of his own mistakes.
Asuka concentrated even more on researching how to push the red Unit-01's ultra-high mobility to its absolute limits, using it to deal with any potential heavy Ork units or execute rapid strikes on critical nodes.
She repeatedly ran deductions with the tactical system, searching for the most suitable engagement and disengagement routes.
Rei Ayanami peacefully absorbed all the information. In the simulations, her blue Unit-03 largely undertook the tasks of precision strikes and energy support; she needed to ensure every attack was highly efficient and lethal.
Ryo (second avatar) coordinated all the preparatory work and maintained close communication with the Steel Hound Legion to align the departure schedule and rendezvous details.
At the same time, he also reported the progress in real-time to his main body via their consciousness link.
"They chose to participate in the battle," the second avatar stated.
"Choices based on emotional connections and self-value positioning align with individual psychological model predictions," the main body's response remained rational. "Ensuring their survival in actual combat is the key to maintaining the value of this project and acquiring subsequent resources. Authorization has been granted to mobilize a batch of artificer-tier spare parts to accompany you. At the same time, a small support team composed of Tech-Priests and medical units will travel with you, placed under your direct command."
"Understood."
The day of departure arrived quickly.
On the massive and empty landing pad of the Death World, a specially modified heavy transport ship belonging to the Adeptus Mechanicus was already fully prepared.
Its massive hull was like a moving metallic mountain. Its internal cargo hold had been specially reinforced and expanded, sufficient to accommodate the three EVA-Titans, which stood over eighty meters tall.
Inside the cargo hold, the three machines—crimson, violet, and ice-blue—were firmly locked in the center by incredibly sturdy giant securing racks.
Thick energy pipelines and structural supports tightly connected them to the ship's hull, like three temporarily bound ancient deities about to step into the mortal realm, silently accumulating power beneath the dim cabin lights.
Shinji Ikari, Asuka, and Rei Ayanami had already entered the transport ship's living quarters ahead of time.
Through the thick portholes, they looked out at that dreary, desolate, and nearly lifeless world.
Faint vibrations transmitted through the metal deck, heralding the ship's imminent startup.
This departure was completely different from their previous brief excursion to Corona VII to relax. They were heading to a known, real battlefield; although intelligence showed the threat level was controllable, the essence of war had not changed.
Ryo (second avatar) confirmed the loading status of the accompanying Tech-Priest team, medical units, and spare supplies one last time.
After completing the checks, he boarded the transport ship with steady steps.
He still wore that suit of Tartaros-pattern Terminator power armor. In this universe filled with the unknown and danger, this armor was not only his most reliable protection but had also become a prominent symbol of his identity and stance.
"All units confirmed in position. Requesting clearance for takeoff," the captain's calm voice transmitted through the internal communication channel, echoing within the cabin.
"Takeoff approved." Ryo's response was concise and powerful.
With the command issued, the engines of the heavy transport ship instantly let out a low, powerful roar. The sound was like the bellow of a giant beast, shaking the entire landing pad.
Under the combined effects of anti-gravity fields and thrusters, the massive hull smoothly detached from the ground. Spitting out a dazzling blue ion wake from its rear, it began to slowly climb.
The oppressive surface of the Death World gradually shrank outside the portholes, its details blurring, ultimately replaced by the planet's murky atmosphere and the endless, pitch-black void of space beyond.
After correcting its attitude, the ship adjusted its direction toward the frontline rendezvous coordinates marked on the star map. Engine power further increased as it began its long-distance acceleration prior to the warp jump.
Inside the living quarters, Shinji looked out the window at the rapidly flashing, gradually thinning starlight, his hands subconsciously clutching tightly together as if to calm the turbulent waves in his heart.
Asuka pulled up her personal data slate once more. Her fingers swiped rapidly, repeatedly confirming the offline data regarding the tactical characteristics of the Orks, her gaze focused and sharp.
Rei Ayanami sat quietly in a fixed seat to the side. Her eyes were slightly closed, as if resting her mind, or perhaps undergoing some sort of internal adjustment, completely isolated from the noisy preparatory work outside.
Ryo stood at the front of the cabin, the presence of the power armor making him appear exceptionally tall and straight.
His gaze swept over these three young figures. What they were about to face, while not the absolute extreme cruelty of this universe, was undeniably a piece of its true reality.
Their choice had already led them onto a path completely different from their past peaceful lives—a path destined to be filled with gunpowder smoke and unknown challenges.
The transport ship sailed smoothly through the nothingness of cosmic space, heading firmly toward Verdant III, where the flames of war were about to spread, and toward the predetermined rendezvous point with the main force of the Steel Hound Legion.