Chapter 192: Capturing The Seven-man Squad!
“No need to warn me. Mister Shu already told me before departure. Even if we can’t seize the Gene Primordium, we have to bring you back intact without any complications. Otherwise, when we encounter those two little bugs, I’ll crush them to death.”
Zhao Kuo glanced at the rearview mirror at HT-426 while speaking unhurriedly.
Only he knew what a fiery hot body was wrapped beneath the Combat Suit.
That slut 428 who knows side writing isn’t even one-tenth as good as her.
Unfortunately, he had only seen HT-426 wear a Formal Dress once, and it was breathtakingly beautiful.
Zhao Kuo, lost in recollection, suddenly felt the vehicle beneath him surge forward in speed.
HT-426’s voice was like it contained Ice Slag, “Don’t mention him in front of me. Our friendship isn’t deep enough for you to challenge my Bottom Line.”
Zhao Kuo raised his hands wrapped in Exoskeleton and said helplessly, “Alright, alright, I know you don’t recognize family ties—”
“Bang!”
The All-terrain Land Battle Vehicle directly crashed into the nearby Road Sign, but showed no sign of stopping.
While moving, the rear cabin door opened, and Zhao Kuo was kicked flying out.
“Since you’ve discovered my true nature, just run and keep up. If you can’t keep up, go execute the task yourself.”
Three Armored Vehicles sped away.
Leaving Zhao Kuo standing dumbfounded in place.
Awkwardly touching his nose, he strode after the Armored Vehicle.
……
A 16-meter-wide “Mobile Fortress” was racing on the Railway Track outside Shun’an.
Its Tracks crushing the Railway Track Gravel as if on flat ground, even reaching speeds of 70km/h in some flat areas.
Passing a narrow Platform, the Armed Train slowed down, first placing the left Carriage Bridge on the Railway Track, then the middle two layers of Ironwood connections disconnected, each retracting to stick to the Carriage sides.
Transforming from one complete Mobile Fortress into two separate Trains.
“Clack clack—clang!”
Tracks retracted, wheels landed on the Railway Track, and the Ground trembled heavily.
The Train slowly accelerated, waiting for the other Train to climb onto the Railway Track before speeding forward, quickly breaking the 70km/h limit.
Inside the [Xuanjia] Cockpit, it was countless times larger than the original Front of the Train, like a small Living Room.
Liang Kuan’s original narrow hard Small Chair had become a bionic spine support cabin, which could lie flat, with heating, massage, ventilation and other basic functions all available, and in front was a Dome Panoramic Screen, the scenery outside vivid and lifelike, with almost no delay or blur.
Behind its Driver’s Seat was a tiered ring-shaped Command Station. Thanks to [Xuanjia]’s terrifying height, the Command Station had a full three layers.
Xiao Zhao was leading over a dozen Logistics Group personnel to familiarize themselves with the various Equipment and dynamic Data on the Workbench.
In the future, these personnel would be stationed in the Cockpit, their main task to assist Liang Kuan in analyzing various Information, manipulating Drones, and contacting other Carriage personnel.
Like the eyes of the Armed Train, only observing, not making decisions.
Steady footsteps sounded, someone walked over from the rear Carriage, the Ground pressure sensors gradually lighting up cold White Light, connecting all the way to the top Command Station.
Outlining the young man’s broad shoulders, wild and unrestrained long hair draped over his shoulders, each strand glossy black like Obsidian, swaying slightly with the young man’s movements.
Beside him, Deputy General Manager Deng was incessantly introducing the various Details of the Armed Train.
“We used the strongest Titanium Alloy Metal for the Tracks. Although not as good as the Qing Steel produced by the Manufacturing Group in overall performance, the Tracks are modularized and can be replaced later. The hard Metal better resists centrifugal force. Tests show that at present stage, unloaded it can reach 75km/h. If pure Qing Steel Tracks, it should reach 80km/h…”
“There are four main limits to Train speed: Track resistance, centrifugal force resistance, power Consumption, suspension system.”
“Our Shun’an suspension system is absolutely world-class. Without major breakthroughs, this suspension system won’t be outdated for ten years.”
“Resistance is inevitable. The key is centrifugal force resistance. The best solution is to increase Material strength.”
“…”
“Material strength, got it.”
Su Huan’s gaze stayed on the overhead Dome Panoramic Screen, but he firmly remembered every word Deputy General Manager Deng said.
“To not affect the Front of the Train’s integrity, connections are only in the rear Carriages, and all are sealed. Even opening and closing in water won’t let water seep in…”
Su Huan nodded in approval.
The connection design between the two Trains was his most Satisfied point.
The Ironwood platform between the two Trains was also sealed, like a ship cabin.
Equivalent to the Armed Train gaining a 6m (width) × 30m (Carriage length + Carriage Bridge connection) × 5 (height) × 50 (Carriage count) storage Space.
Such a large area could be used for so many things.
Even if not as regular storage Space, it could serve as activity Space for Train personnel.
Greatly alleviating psychological Pressure.
A group of Armed Corps Officers also walked over from the rear Carriage.
He Jie’s loud voice even faster than the sensor lights, “Train Conductor, this Command Platform is designed so comfortably, as expected of Experts. Also, I see every Carriage has plenty of heavy Weapon mounting positions reserved. Where do we get some big guns?”
Before Su Huan could be surprised, Deputy General Manager Deng said boldly beside him, “This is my own design. We have many Carriages, I’ve reserved positions for various Caliber Cannons, whether vehicle-mounted 155mm self-propelled Howitzers or 127mm shipborne Cannons, all compatible. Mount and use, no need to worry about recoil cancellation. I considered it in the Carriage frame design.”
“Deputy General Manager Deng wasn’t from a Military Industry factory before, was he?”
Su Huan pinched the Bridge of Nose with a headache.
“Hey! Train Conductor guessed right. Old Deng was in a Military Industry factory for a while…”
Su Huan’s mouth twitched. No wonder this old guy was so hot-blooded.
Counting Director Xu and others now in the Base Laboratory.
Before the Armed Train became a mobile orphanage, it first became a mobile nursing home.
Elderly hot-blooded series?
As Su Huan’s mind flashed with random thoughts, He Jie and others also ascended to the top Command Platform.
“By the way, I remember the General Energy Detection device was installed back, right?”
Su Huan ignored them and continued asking.
Deputy General Manager Deng pushed up his Glasses and praised, “That Equipment is really great. It’s installed in the Front of the Train. You can call it via the Control Panel in front of you, of course there’s an even easier way.”
“Activate General Energy Monitor.”
Deputy General Manager Deng said clearly and loudly.
As soon as the words fell, a curved transparent touch screen suddenly lit up in front of Su Huan, displaying two overlapping Maps with dense red dots appearing on them.
Su Huan’s eyes widened in surprise, blurting out, “Intelligent AI?!”
“Not quite…”
A mysterious smile appeared on Deputy General Manager Deng’s round face.
“I called it up…”
Xiao Zhao said weakly from the Workbench below.
Damn!
So it was Artificial Intelligence.
The Train Conductor scratched his hair and sighed slightly in exasperation.
“The red dots above are the detected General Energy Fluctuations?”
Deputy General Manager Deng explained, “This shows all detectable Fluctuations within ten kilometers. This Equipment is very advanced, detecting from Mutated Plant to Ordinary Zombie to Evolver. Through the System carried by [Xuanjia], it’s presented on the Monitor.”
“This base Map is from the Train Database. If you activate Drone and Sound Wave positioning now, you can get an even more detailed Map. The System will automatically synthesize multiple Detection results into this visualized Map.”
(Like an evolved version of current Command Center)
As she spoke, Xiao Zhao tapped the hierarchy twice, and the dense red dots instantly reduced, mostly scattered on the Map, with only two groups most concentrated.
One group of five, about ten kilometers to the Train’s side rear, occasionally dropping out of General Energy Detection range, then catching up after a while.
The largest red dot with eleven others coming from directly North of the Train.
It looked like they would soon meet the other five red dots.
Everyone on the Command Platform instantly fell into Silence.
They might not know how to operate the Equipment, but they could read the hierarchy annotations in the bottom right.
All on the Screen now were Tier 1 and above General Energy intensity, especially the big red dot to the North, already Tier 2.
“The one to the North might be a Zombie Horde. What are those five things chasing us from behind?”
Deputy General Manager Deng muttered.
He Jie gritted his teeth in a cold laugh, “What else? Ones rushing to reincarnate.”
He was already furious inside. Just killed a batch two days ago, and guaranteed in front of the Train Conductor.
Yet today five more reckless ones following the Train!
“These are five Tier 1s. Probably not from Shun’an’s forces, right?”
Lin Jin said with some doubt.
While they spoke, Gao Yuan uneasily glanced at Tong Zizhan’s Complexion from behind, seeing his face also very grim, even a thin layer of sweat on his forehead.
Sensing his gaze, Tong Zizhan gave an imperceptible nod.
Gao Yuan’s heart instantly chilled.
‘Damn, it’s really company people!’
This number and quality left little to guess.
Though the Apocalypse had just begun, Deep Blue Data’s scouting teams had executed many Tasks. Glancing at familiar forces’ numbers and formations told which they belonged to.
Hearing He Jie and others already requesting to sortie, Tong Zizhan barely maintained calm on his face, cursing wildly inside.
Didn’t know what the company was thinking, sending these five idiots.
Not even turning on General Energy barrier, thinking staying ten kilometers away from Yu Yue’s sound perception meant safety.
The company had undercover avoidance rules.
But if unavoidable, who does he help?
‘Stupid beyond belief!’
Tong Zizhan cursed viciously inside while stepping forward, “Could they be passing Evolvers? How about I lead a team to check?”
As soon as he spoke, Lu Xiao and Jiang Rong, same rank behind him, looked at him in surprise.
He Jie narrowed his eyes, turning to scrutinize Tong Zizhan carefully.
Trying to stand out?
Didn’t expect this usually quiet kid to seek the spotlight in front of him.
Interesting.
Goat and Qu Hang glanced at Tong Zizhan, then at the Train Conductor, having similar thoughts.
Many people on the Command Platform, but from start to end only Su Huan, He Jie and a few others’ voices.
Not that they had low presence, but the military valued discipline most. They were professional soldiers, obedience and command-following ingrained in their Bones.
Now with internal restructuring splitting into two, the Attendant Group had factions aside, but Armed Corps side was He Jie’s turf.
Train Conductor personally appointed Senior Colonel, rank gap clear.
So often only He Jie’s voice from the Military side.
Su Huan, back to everyone, licked his lips.
He was a bit curious how Tong Zizhan planned to handle this and give him a passable reason.
“Little Tong has a point. Five Tier 1 Evolvers isn’t something Shun’an can field. You go check it out.”
Order given, no one questioned further.
Three minutes later, Tong Zizhan and Gao Yuan took their remaining three Teammates off the vehicle.
One more was taken out during a Reconnaissance Task.
“Send up the Drone. I want to see what’s going on.”
He Jie completely unconcerned about earlier, said casually.
Su Huan also looked at the Screen with interest.
Because the Train and the dozen-plus red dots to the direct North were approaching each other, distance closing very fast, possibly colliding soon.
But more interestingly, whether the Northern Light Spots or the side rear Light Spots, all on the Train’s same side.
……
Off the vehicle, Tong Zizhan’s expression instantly darkened.
Gao Yuan twisted his Ring, “Since they’re just passing by, should we warn them first? To avoid unnecessary conflict later?”
Tong Zizhan cautiously glanced at the Train and shook his head slightly.
Can’t warn now, haven’t even seen faces. Firing a couple shots, and those on the Train would think you’re signaling.
Sighing slightly, the two kept straight faces leading the team toward the rear five-person group.
About ten kilometers to the side rear.
The group ran quickly hugging Buildings, speed not much slower than the Train.
The original five-person team had gained two more.
“Don’t know what madness the Armed Train is on. We’ve been watching for days, no movement…”
One person said while running.
The scouting Captain glanced at the two from Steel Council in charge of supervision.
Shook his head inwardly.
Turns out Steel Council could once count as a Force, now leading advantage crushed, aside from some Information Advantage, other aspects down to ordinary Survivor level.
These two supervisors hadn’t even reached Tier 1.
The group bypassed tall Building obstructions, vaguely seeing the Steel Giant Beast on the Railway Track ten kilometers away.
The clanging sounds making surrounding Zombies restless, causing them some trouble advancing.
“Find a Vehicle, close in to five kilometers of target range!”
……
Direct North direction, Zhao Kuo crouched on the Off-road Vehicle, HT-426 sat in the Armored Vehicle Driver’s Cabin, but her voice clearly transmitted to his ear via the Exoskeleton Armor internal General Energy Communication Equipment.
“Armed Train spotted. They’re on the Railway Track to our right, about five kilometers away.”
Flexing his wrists, Zhao Kuo said calmly, “447 prepare to intercept the Train. 339 handle the Steel Manipulator. Others ready for Battle.”
According to intelligence from Wang Yi and Mister Shu, though the Armed Train could repair Railway Tracks, it had to stop.
That was enough.
He wasn’t Steel Council. As long as it stopped, he had ways to crack this iron Canned Food.
“Wait, nine kilometers out there are two groups. One about five people, one about seven.”
Zhao Kuo leaned forward slightly, his Mechanical devices starting pre-Battle self-check.
His voice became low and deep.
“Ignore the five, probably Deep Blue Data’s scouting team. That seven-person one should be Armed Train’s force. Aren’t there a few from Director Wang with fine Detection? Judge their level.”
“Five Tier 1, two Unranked.”
A cold glint flashed in Zhao Kuo’s eyes, “Elites. Can’t let them go. Armed Train doesn’t have many elite Evolvers. The Dual Domain Gene Primordium likely among them.”
He then opened the team channel, “Original intercept Plan on hold. Switch to capturing the seven-person team!”
