First Battlefield Commander! - Chapter 170
Chapter 170: Rescue
The students and Doctor Lin detained in the base remained on the floor, unharmed but restrained.
The Gelen soldiers provided them with food and water, though clearly not as a long-term arrangement. The captors showed no intention of considering their future welfare.
They watched the scenery outside the window shift from darkness to light and back again.
Occasionally, aircraft would fly past the window, only to be swiftly shot down by the base's laser defense systems.
It was bitterly ironic - these advanced weapons originally meant to resist foreign enemies had their data altered before seeing proper use, becoming tools to kill their own people.
At night, the students dared not sleep. When exhaustion overwhelmed them, they would doze briefly, only to be startled awake by sudden explosions. The abrupt tension of being jerked from sleep left them deeply unsettled.
The room filled with heavy breathing as they lay depressed, staring wide-eyed at the ceiling through sleepless nights.
After two days, the students began understanding their captors' attitude. The Gelen soldiers were stalling, handling them perfunctorily. While they probably wouldn't kill them, their intentions were far from benevolent.
The students almost wished their captors would treat them more harshly - at least then the malice would be clear. This lukewarm "care," this pretense of ordinary decency, was the cruelest treatment of all.
They hated war. Truly hated it. Even standing at war's edge like this, the oppressive atmosphere was nearly enough to break them.
They counted - two nights passed.
As sunlight slanted through the window, it woke a student lying beneath it.
Blinking awake, they realized they'd actually fallen asleep.
"Outside... has it stopped?" a student asked, lifting their head. "I don't hear anything anymore."
Since the students had grown docile, the Gelen soldiers had removed the gags from their mouths.
Doctor Lin, his head resting on the floor, gave a quiet "Mm" of acknowledgment.
The students began stirring, shuffling toward the window. "What's happening?" one asked.
For two days straight, the sounds of battle outside had continued unabated. How many of the base's defenders had died? How many remained? What plans did either side have? None of this was clear.
Now the assault had suddenly ceased - were they regrouping or giving up?
After seizing the base, the Gelen forces had taken control of all equipment and weapons in the front sections. The defenders couldn't use high-yield weapons that might accidentally harm the students in the training building.
Their constant attacks served partly to divide enemy forces and prevent their expansion, while also representing the Alliance's stance.
Given the Alliance military's difficult position, Lin Shu felt he could understand any choice they might make.
Near noon, a tremendous explosion rocked the area, followed by intense gunfire. The distant sky darkened as something massive descended.
The students cried out in alarm, rolling instinctively toward the window before remembering themselves and clustering together warily toward their captors.
The Gelen soldiers received new orders.
"They've broken through. All units prepare to evacuate. Main battlefield shifting to the city center - move east."
"Return the base to them, but destroy all equipment and facilities. Dismantle that manually-operated mech completely - forget about data or materials. Just take its terminal!"
A soldier glanced toward the window. "What about these students?"
After a pause, the response came: "Whatever. Leave them for now."
The soldiers holstered their weapons and marched out, abandoning their captives.
"Move to the center! Away from the windows!" Doctor Lin shouted.
The ground trembled as explosions erupted nearby. Shockwaves battered their building, rattling the windows nearly to shattering.
Students pressed flat against the floor, eyes squeezed shut. Though they couldn't see, they could imagine the devastation outside.
The Gelen forces had chosen to destroy the base as their final blow against the Alliance military.
Years of effort, massive investments of manpower and resources to build the 36th District's border defense system - all gone.
A lifetime's work, utterly wasted.
Some time later - they couldn't tell how long - familiar Alliance uniforms burst through the door.
As the door shattered, Expeditionary Force soldiers rushed in to assess the situation. Several exhaled in relief. "Thank goodness you're unharmed. We're here!"
Hearing this, everyone's eyes grew moist.
They had come.
A soldier stood in the doorway, rifle in hand. "How many here? Any injuries? Is this everyone? Anyone in charge?"
"A few students... they went out that day when... when it happened."
"They must be in the bomb shelters. We've already sent rescue teams!" The soldier continued, "Our intel is limited. What exactly happened at the base? Any reports?"
Doctor Lin still lay on the floor, appearing unwell. A young soldier approached. "Doctor? Doctor?"
"Back off!" Another soldier pushed past, grabbing Lin's arm to help him up. "Lieutenant Lin? Is that you? How are you holding up?"
"The 36th District..." Lin's gaze sharpened as his mind cleared. His lips parted, then he slammed a fist down. "Damn it!"
The company commander's face darkened, fingers tightening slightly before he said, "Don't dwell on it. I'll get you evacuated first. Rescue ships are waiting outside. Other units have already reached the city to liberate the shelters."
Freed from his restraints, Doctor Lin remained seated.
"What about..." a student ventured, "the manual mech?"
"Those bastards tried to blow it up!" the commander spat. "Took out the whole warehouse!"
The students paled.
"Didn't work though," the commander continued. "That material's shockproof and heat-resistant. You can't just bomb it!"
The Moshi mech's unique segmented construction allowed disassembly but not explosive destruction. In their haste, the Gelen forces hadn't researched thoroughly enough to realize this.
But the attempt alone was infuriating.
The group was escorted to a nearby rescue ship, the trainees boarding under direction.
Outside lay ruins they couldn't bear to examine closely.
As they settled in, a student grabbed a departing soldier's sleeve. "The... the instructors?"
The soldier hesitated, then turned away. "...Don't ask."
He pulled free and disembarked.
The soldiers began sweeping the entire base.
The Gelen retreat had been swift and violent. It remained unclear how much equipment survived, whether enemies still lurked in shadows, if all planted explosives had detonated. They would have to verify everything.
Meanwhile, command worked to erect new signal towers as communication hubs to contact the Alliance.
Doctor Lin squinted into the distance, grinding a small piece of rubble beneath his toe.
A soldier approached. "Sir, please board the ship - it's safer inside. This area hasn't been fully cleared yet."
Lin sat on a chunk of blasted stone, exhaling heavily. "I'm staying. Not leaving yet."
"Why not?"
"Waiting for Lian Sheng's group. They're Alliance University students." Lin's hair ruffled in the wind as he turned. "Got a cigarette?"
"No sir. Base is smoke-free. You're just stressed - need some water?"
Lin didn't actually smoke - he just needed something in his hands. "No water. A scalpel would do."
The soldier stared.
Meanwhile, at the bomb shelter nearest eastern downtown, rescue teams finally arrived.
After hearing nearby gunfire, the shelter's massive stone door was forced open from outside.
Gelen soldiers immediately assumed defensive positions as terrified civilians shrank back inside.
Alliance soldiers stood silhouetted in the doorway's light. Through a megaphone came the announcement: "This is the Alliance Expeditionary Force Third Army detachment commander. Under the Peace Accords, we warn Gelen United Forces - do not act rashly! Do not harm hostages! Everyone inside is civilian! You are surrounded! Release the hostages!"
This should have been a heroic moment, yet it brought little comfort to those inside.
The atmosphere felt wrong - the soldiers at the entrance noticed too.
"Come out now!" they shouted impatiently. "We have ships ready to take you to safety. Hurry!"
"Don't go! It's dangerous outside!" countered a Gelen soldier. "Fierce fighting has paralyzed transportation - you'll never reach the base. Is anywhere safer than this shelter?"
"Safer my ass! Don't listen to their lies!" the Alliance soldier roared. "Nowhere's safe in a combat zone! We'll get you out of the 36th District! The Alliance has sent reinforcements - you'll be safe! Move!"
"Leave this shelter," a Gelen soldier said coldly, each word piercing, "and no one can guarantee your safety. Stay here, and political considerations will force the Alliance to prioritize your evacuation. But if you die in the crossfire, it'll be recorded as wartime collateral - all blame falling on us. Consider carefully why they're rescuing you now."
As if to punctuate this, heavy weapons fire erupted nearby.
Without the shelter door to muffle it, the concussive blasts vibrated through them, making everyone flinch.
Outside, rubble flew amid overwhelming danger.
The Alliance soldiers at the entrance nearly swore aloud upon hearing the Gelen propaganda, barely restraining themselves.
A tense standoff ensued.
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