NOVEL WEB Chapter 108 - DHS
Chapter 108 – DHS
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[Notification: Recording message to ICARUS emergency channel.]
[Notification: Estimated to have occurred 30 minutes ago.]
[Notification: Playing….]
.
.
.
[: The headquarters is under attack. The enemy has breached the southern boundary. Immediate support is needed. I repeat, immediate support from nearby friendly personnel is required.]
[: We cannot maintain the defensive line! Initiating headquarters lockdown procedures!]
[: 70% of the defensive personnel are lost! We can’t do anything more! Please, send support, Aaaah!]
“Thirty minutes ago, it’s amazing how badly the timing can be off.”
I just nodded slightly instead of adding any comments. I thought any words here would sound strange. Harmony, too, seemed to only let out a small breath, not expecting any response.
Unfortunately, it was a common occurrence.
Especially since the EMP had swept through the capital, cutting off communication between agents, the situation where they couldn’t receive timely support and were individually defeated by enemies who had infiltrated the capital, or by former operators who had turned rogue, and special forces members, was all the more common.
Of course, just because it was common didn’t mean it wasn’t unfortunate.
There was no clear evidence, but I felt the surroundings gradually becoming noisier. However, it was a situation predictable enough without evidence.
A brief skirmish that lasted about 30 seconds had created a snowball effect.
Although it was difficult to shake the entire heart of America, the explosion was large enough to wake up many parts of the city that had been deeply asleep in the darkness. The light and sound that spread through the frozen city caused more chaos as a catalyst.
Like moths drawn to a great light source on a summer night, unwelcome entities were sneakily attracted.
“…It feels like the entire city is about to swallow us whole.”
“You have a way with words. Next time, try using that talent to think of something more hopeful.”
“I’ll have to.”
The target came into view.
As we approached the Department of Homeland Security – ICARUS headquarters, the mission popped up. Accordingly, the scenery around us began to change as well. Unlike the surroundings scattered with trash and scrap cars, barricades and concrete blocks started to appear.
On the blocks were various marks of bullet holes. And in the deep darkness, the numerous bodies we couldn’t help but see.
Gradually, a fortified area began to emerge.
[Notification: Verifying ICARUS operator credentials. Transferring control of nearby facilities… less than 30% of the defensive matrix is controllable.]
[Notification: Multiple enemies detected ahead.]
It was evident from the intense battle that they had tried to hold back the enemies.
There were at least two layers of defensive lines, but several holes big enough for a person to pass through were punctured here and there. Around were the bodies of those who hadn’t even managed to arm themselves properly and the corpses of what seemed to be Russian soldiers, lying scattered without any pattern.
The barbed wires surrounding the area were more crumpled and twisted than intact. Among them, there was even a person who had died holding a nipper in their hand in front of the barbed wire.
Murmurs were coming from inside the makeshift fortress.
The sound of stones crunching underfoot and the clinking of firearms. Russian. There were at least a dozen or so people outside. Of course, the results of accessing the surrounding CCTV through the transferred control were quite a spectacle.
Dozens of personnel. About forty had entered the building. The number of those standing guard outside was smaller. Relatively speaking, of course.
I wasn’t sure why the difficulty was like this, but we couldn’t just leave after coming this far.
I looked at Harmony and asked.
“Let’s cut them down quickly one by one.”
“Isn’t it too close? Even with a silencer, if we shoot, we’ll get caught.”
“There’s a way.”
After receiving Harmony’s sticky bomb through a few hand signals, I adjusted the cartridges through a few processes and procedures.
Excluding the shaped charge capable of penetrating thick armor, only the specially designed cylinder and the igniting materials inside were left. What was completed was a kind of close-range flamethrower. Instead of continuously spewing flames, it would emit an ultra-high temperature flame in an instant.
It could be called a kind of flame-shotgun.
“Approach closely, press it against their neck or the gap in their armor, and pull the trigger. It will handle them more cleanly than a knife.”
“…What is this?”
“You’ll find out in a few minutes.”
Always up to some weird stuff, LOL
Uh, sir, what are you doing now???????
(cue MacGyver theme music)
Knew it, LOL
Does he ever play normally even once, LOL
All I got in return was a dumbfounded look.
Of course, people grow through real-life experiences.
I launched a drone and added.
“What are you doing, standing still?”
Move, move.
───Vroom.
“They’re doing something weird again.”
“What? Are you watching Yoo Jin’s stream too?”
A silent drone flew high into the sky, blending into the darkness. It was a small reconnaissance drone with no attack capabilities. However, transmitting 60 frames per second video, it had the deadly function of monitoring enemy movements in real-time.
In the split screens of Yoo Jin and Harmony’s views, there were four screens in total. Although the enemies were all around, Harmony’s movements under Yoo Jin’s command were unrestrained.
One of the best tactics they could use was, of course, to eliminate the outside patrols.
Real-time instructions came through.
One patrol team ahead. Get ready.
Three red triangles appeared in front of them. Moving in real-time and approaching their sight, Yoo Jin, with a paralyzing round loaded in her specially silenced pistol, aimed forward without a moment’s hesitation.
It was the extreme silence you’d expect only in a movie.
There was only a faint clicking sound briefly. Zzzap. Three enemies fell face-first. While Yoo Jin twisted the neck of an enemy in the dark, Harmony, with a hesitant motion, placed the firing device on the back of the enemy’s neck and pulled the trigger.
A strange high-pitched sound. A small burst of white light, so tiny that it was hardly visible. To be precise, almost all of the thermal energy carbonized the neck area in an instant.
With the vital points like the spinal cord, windpipe, spine, and carotid artery incinerated, the enemy lying on the ground trembled briefly before completely dying.
A subtle smile rose on Harmony’s lips.
Well done.
…What is this?
Huh.
A deflated laugh followed, and the chat, grasping the situation, spewed out dozens to a hundred messages per second.
Oh shit, LOL
Another new melee weapon? There’s really no end to this
We know there’s a modification function, but this is too much, LOL
What kind of person are you???????
Why is Harmony’s aim so good, LOL
Meanwhile, reloading.
Several pathways leading to what used to be the headquarters. Among the shattered concrete blocks, relatively intact barricades, and paths piled with trash and miscellaneous items, new objects in the form of Russian corpses began to appear.
Before long, the two split up after agreeing. Harmony would create a distraction, while Yoo Jin would find a way to deal with the enemies in the front yard somehow.
“…What on earth is going on in this person’s head?”
“That’s why everyone gets wiped out when they meet her.”
“Exactly.”
Various small unit combat techniques emerged as naturally as breathing.
Not just basic dispersal and concealment, but factoring in everything from the surrounding terrain, she devised tactics in real-time in her head to match all variables.
It was hard to even describe, and practically impossible to execute. It was closer to hoping that countless puzzle pieces thrown into a box and shaken would somehow assemble themselves.
Of course, the fact that Yoo Jin could pull it off was why she was such a hot topic.
Before they knew it, the distance between Yoo Jin and Harmony had widened considerably. Yoo Jin had infiltrated deep into the headquarters, while Harmony was cautiously moving along the outer defensive line.
Harmony was heading towards a watchtower with most of its walls destroyed. It was a spot where both the outer road and the friendly base could be seen at a glance. Climbing up the collapsed wall carefully, she surveyed the surroundings.
A distorted polygonal mass was ejected outside with parts of it twisted. However, the machine gun mounted on the turret was still aiming forward. The watchtower had been hit by a rocket but not directly struck.
It was powerful enough to kill people but not quite enough to damage the machine gun, implying its force.
Found it. Uh… M2A1 heavy machine gun. 50 caliber. What should I do now?
It’s turret-type. You can manipulate it slightly to silently turn the muzzle towards the enemy. I’ll share control, so try it.
…Got it.
Creak, creak.
Originally, the back was supposed to be blocked by concrete blocks or something, but the supporting columns had been weakened by an attack, causing the back wall to collapse. In short, Harmony was hiding near a watchtower with all directions open.
The machine gun slowly and silently turned, aiming at the enemies who still hadn’t grasped what was happening.
Secure an escape route. Once activated, the sensor will automatically identify enemies.
How do you know that?
It’s in the ICARUS data category 3, under the list of controllable facilities and machines, about standard unmanned turrets.
…Ah, okay.
A low voice.
Harmony was momentarily speechless at Yoo Jin, who recited uncommon knowledge as if it were common sense, but she was already somewhat used to it. Now wasn’t the time to question but to follow the given mission.
Of course, only Harmony thought that way.
As soon as it started operating, the infrared laser emitted a green light forward.
As it aimed at the enemy, Harmony pressed the fire button and sprinted along the pre-planned escape route.
In the middle of winter, in a place devoid of any human presence, an unexpected fireworks display erupted.
───Tat tat tat tat tat tat tung!
50-caliber casings and belt components spilled out from the lower part of the gun.
The sharp clatter of brass and metal hitting the concrete floor was impossible to ignore, but unfortunately for the enemies, the 50-caliber rounds flew faster than the sound, shattering the targets before they even heard the metallic noise.
Tens of thousands of glowing orange polygon fragments scattered into the air. Seven Russian soldiers, unable to disperse in time, were reduced to indescribable states.
рассеяннoсть! рассеяннoсть!
кoнтакт с прoтивникoм!
However, there were many more enemies waiting outside.
Harmony quickly vacated the spot. Just seconds later, a hail of lead rained down on the turret. Staying there any longer would have turned her into Swiss cheese.
Taking a small breath, Harmony checked the drone footage shared by Yoo Jin. The watchtower was a strategic point with a wide field of view. If necessary, it could be reclaimed once the attacks ceased.
But Yoo Jin chose a more sophisticated method.
[Notification: Drone control seized successfully.]
What did you do this time!?
I shot a hacking tool at the enemy UGV while they were taking cover.
Artemis, which sold technology and various machines to foreign enemies, had provided the Russian forces with unmanned vehicles that were perfect for their operations, but not now.
A smile spread across Yoo Jin’s face.
The chain gun and grenade launcher of the moving turret, whose control had been seized, began to operate with strange noises.
───Tat tung!
Aaaah!
An ironic synergy.
If the enemies left their cover to avoid the turret whose control had been seized, they were shredded by the still-operational turret.
If they stayed put, the UGV attacked them. Consequently, the firepower was divided between aiming at the turret and the moving turret. There was no reason not to take advantage of this.
Within less than a minute after the full-scale engagement began, nearly 30 enemies outside were torn apart by the combined inside and outside attacks.
The situation concluded only after the last fleeing enemy was silenced by a .338 round.
Silence swept over the ruins like a tsunami.
Oh
Oh shit, LOL
This place is crazy! This place is crazy! This place is crazy! This place is crazy! This place is crazy!
It’s beyond imagination, really, LOL
You beat the enemies again, sir. There’s really no end to this
We were foolish to even try to predict this, LOL
“…Wow, what is this?”
No one answered the mutter.
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