Operation Broken Sword!

So far, not a single person across the entire Wasteland OL closed beta server had managed to claim the first kill on a Deathclaw. Although traces of a Deathclaw had appeared in Yumu District, it was winter after all. As close relatives of lizards, Deathclaws needed to hibernate too. They spent almost all twenty-four hours of the day lying inside their nests, and no player had yet discovered where the one in Yumu District was hiding. Lurking on the forums and scrolling through the screen, Chu Guang felt a sudden stir in his heart and spoke up. "Xiao Qi, can you deploy a drone over there?" Xiao Qi paused, then said in a small voice, "Um, it should be possible, but there's a risk. The wind outside is too strong, and it snows every now and then. The Hummingbird is a short-range rotor drone. Even though our communication radius can now cover up to sixteen kilometers away, at such a long distance, Xiao Qi is worried it might fly over and not make it back." In different weather conditions, a drone's battery life varied. The Hummingbird was very small and highly stealthy, but it was relatively weaker in other aspects. After pondering for a moment, Chu Guang said, "It doesn't need to stay there long. What if it just snaps a couple of photos?" Xiao Qi replied, "Then that shouldn't be a problem... Xiao Qi will give it a try." Chu Guang nodded. "Yeah, just try your best. Don't force it." After giving Xiao Qi instructions, Chu Guang returned his gaze to the forum. Compared to the players' discussions about the Deathclaw's strength, the forum lurkers' enthusiasm was mainly focused on the group of marauders. Everything was being discussed, from the marauders' weapons to their clothing styles, and even their habits and culture. One couldn't say these discussions were completely useless—one could only say they were entirely pointless. Sitting in front of his computer, Chu Guang made silent calculations. The outpost base currently had five trucks. One was allocated to the industrial zone, and one was assigned to the transport route from the outpost base to Changjiu Farm. Another two were deployed at temporary resource points on the outskirts of Yumu District and the northern abandoned town, responsible for hauling players' hunted game and salvaged scrap back to Changjiu Farm. In truth, there was only one idle truck: the one Dr. Yin Fang had rented for the Ox and Horse Squad, which was currently returning from the Mid-Continent Aerospace laboratory. The snow in the northern suburbs was already knee-deep. At a distance of nearly sixteen kilometers, without reliable vehicles, making the players run there on foot to provide support meant they would have to be prepared to spend an entire day just trudging through the snow. "It seems the outpost base lacks not only weapons, but also vehicles." Long-distance troop transport was a major issue. Even though his little players had DIY-ed a few mountain bikes and built tricycles, the numbers were still far too small. "...Once the issue of anti-air weapons is resolved, I need to have No. 81 Steel Mill figure out a way to produce a few more wood-burning trucks." Right now, there was only one thing Chu Guang couldn't figure out. What did those marauders want fuel rods for? Did they need to charge a shelter too? Could that thing even be burned as firewood? Just then, Lao Bai, who had logged back into the game for a short while, logged off again and ran to the forum. He had already turned that post of his into a live update thread. He was currently updating his experience after being captured by the marauders. "I'm back! Just logged in and snuck a peek through the window. Damn it, the marauders here are getting more and more numerous! There were only a few dozen just now, but now there are over a hundred!" "They confiscated my VM earlier and searched me, hahaha, but they never dreamed that Daddy could log off just by sleeping!" "By the way, does this count as exploiting a game bug? Brother Guang won't delete my post, will he?" *Holy shit!* Chu Guang's eyes instantly lit up. Damn, captives could be used like this? Forget deleting the post; Chu Guang wished he would exploit the bug even more, preferably posting the enemy's exact headcount and troop deployment all over the forum. Just as he was hesitating over whether to create an alt account to steer the discussion, the goofy netizens waiting for updates beneath the post quickly asked every question Chu Guang had in mind. Qingtian Bu Jian Yue: "Holy shit, your cell even has a window?" Retirement Home Boss: "666! Hurry and tell us how many people they have and what their gear is like! As soon as this old monk gets off the plane, I'll log in and pass along the message!" Lao Bai: "How should I put it? Judging purely by physique, I feel they aren't much different from the Bloodhand Clan we encountered before—just ordinary marauders. But overall, their level of organization is clearly a big step above Bloodhand's, and their equipment is much better. Probably somewhere between the Legion and typical marauders!" "On top of that, I saw two trucks in their camp, and there's actually a light machine gun mounted on the roof! That machine gun looks practically identical to the one we captured from the Legion!" "Besides that, they also keep a lot of mutants, especially mutant hyenas. That wouldn't normally be strange—after all, the Bloodhand Clan liked keeping dogs too—but these guys are interesting. They don't just keep dogs; they put clothes on them!" "I bet my life those clothes aren't for warmth. Eighty percent chance they're used to hang explosive satchels and stuff! If you guys plan to raid this place, you'd better watch out for those hyenas and never let them get close!" While Lao Bai was chatting away in the thread, several familiar IDs suddenly popped up on the forum. Ye Shi: "Holy shit, Lao Bai, you're still alive?!" Lao Bai: "Haha, Daddy's alive! By the way, why the hell did you get wiped too? I bought you guys so much time—don't tell me you threw your lives away anyway." Fang Chang: "We're on the truck heading back to base. We guessed you logged off, so we lay down, logged off, and came to check. Hang in there, good brother, we're going back to bring reinforcements to save you!" Lao Bai: "Uh, whatever you do, don't be reckless. These marauders aren't easy to deal with. My exoskeleton is already broken anyway. The most valuable piece of equipment on me right now is that VM. Losing the rest isn't a big deal, and dying just means spectating on the forum for three days. Don't make it sound like a tragic final farewell. Before I die, I just want to take the opportunity to figure out what the hell those marauders are doing in that ecological lab." Fang Chang: "Hmm... regarding that, I actually have some thoughts. Maybe they never intended to take any fuel rods at all, but rather have their sights set on the ecological park itself." Hearing Fang Chang's analysis, Chu Guang instantly perked up. This was precisely what he was most curious about. Lao Bai: "What do you mean by that?!" Fang Chang: "Simple. A warm climate, ample space, and ready-made concrete fortifications—it's practically a natural operating base. If I were their commander and confirmed that the ecological park in Building No. 3 was still functional, I would definitely choose to settle down there too." "Right now, their only problem was that a Deathclaw nested there. But now that the Deathclaw is injured, they just need to find it and clear it out." Lao Bai was startled. "Holy crap, now that you mention it... it really does look like it. I saw their trucks carrying quite a lot of supplies—that's clearly not an amount meant for just a hundred-odd people! I counted the crates and burlap sacks they unloaded. If those are all food and ammunition, it's probably enough to supply a thousand people!" Supplies! And for a thousand people, no less! Chu Guang grew excited in an instant. Damn. He had just been fretting over the issue of supplies, and someone was already bringing him a pillow just as he was dozing off? In less than a minute, Chu Guang made a decision in his heart. He could never let such a fat piece of meat slip away right under his nose! Fang Chang and Ye Shi were still on the truck and didn't dare linger on the forum for too long. After getting a grasp of the situation from Lao Bai, they logged back into the game. ... After brief consideration, Chu Guang made a swift decision to seize the initiative in the battle. Through the VM, he issued a quest to the remaining three members of the Ox and Horse Squad, ordering them to dismount immediately, set up an observation post near the Mid-Continent Aerospace experimental base, and closely monitor the movements of the marauders. Setting up an outpost right on his doorstep? In their dreams! Chu Guang immediately sent a message to Luka, instructing him to assemble all five trucks at the outpost base's northern industrial zone before nightfall to await orders. Just then, a knock sounded at the office door. Yin Fang pushed the door open, striding in with an anxious expression. "A disaster has struck!" "Our expedition team at the front encountered marauders!" Chu Guang said calmly, "Your news is too slow. I knew ten minutes ago." Seeing Chu Guang's calm demeanor, Yin Fang was slightly taken aback and said cautiously, "I must remind you, if they take the fuel rods from there... all our efforts over the past week will have been in vain, and we will have to search for a suitable target all over again." Chu Guang replied, "I know, but as things stand, the fuel rods aren't in much danger." Yin Fang asked, "What do you mean..." "Those marauders have set up camp there. Judging by their headcount and the way they deployed supplies, they likely intend to use that place as an operating base... If my guess is correct, they must be the Bone Chewer Tribe that recently rose to prominence." Barring any surprises, they intended to establish a stronghold at the Mid-Continent Aerospace experimental base to serve as a bridgehead for a full-scale invasion of southern River Valley Province. Just as Fang Chang had pointed out, they had never intended to take the fuel rods away. They had come for the ecological experimental base itself! As he spoke, Chu Guang couldn't help sighing inwardly. He hadn't expected these people to arrive so quickly... Hearing Chu Guang's words, Yin Fang's expression shifted slightly, and he said nervously, "Isn't that even worse?" "They've practically written their intentions across their faces. Do you think I'll let them have their way? It's just a hundred or so people; this isn't my first time wiping out bandits." Looking at the stunned Yin Fang, Chu Guang smiled faintly and continued, "A reconnaissance team has already been deployed near those marauders. Just before you walked into my office, I had already mobilized all the trucks in the base, and soon I will mobilize another two hundred reservists to form a reinforced company." "Since they dared stretch their feet to my doorstep, they must have prepared themselves to leave behind both their legs and their shoes." "Once night falls, I'll teach them an unforgettable lesson!" ... Trapped inside the "cell" and unable to leave, Lao Bai looked around out of sheer boredom. Whenever he heard a commotion, he would walk over to the window to peer outside, then head back to sit on the bedboards. It had just passed noon in the game. In reality, it was currently the early hours of the morning; even if he logged off, he would just be sleeping, and he might not even be able to fall asleep. He might as well zone out here. Speaking of which, those marauders were quite interesting. While observing from the window, Lao Bai noticed that these NPCs all had their own life routines, just like in Red Dead Redemption. For instance, the marauder standing guard at the entrance of the experimental base was a heavy smoker. Whenever his superior wasn't around, he would pull out half a cigarette butt, take a couple of sniffs, and shove it back into his pocket. The drivers leaning against the trucks seemed to hold a higher status; nobody bothered them. Standing alongside their passengers, they smoked rolled cigarettes, blowing clouds of smoke with expressions of pure bliss. There was also a marauder sitting on the stone steps, carving something into the tip of a bullet with a small knife. Did people actually believe that urban legend? Carving a cross onto a bullet tip to boost damage. Just then, peering through a small hole in the tent, Lao Bai suddenly spotted a massive behemoth, roughly four meters long, being carried out from the ground floor's main entrance. "A Deathclaw!" Surprise surfaced on Lao Bai's face. "These guys actually killed the Deathclaw?" Saying it had been killed was probably inaccurate. Looking closely, although the Deathclaw was covered in terrifying wounds from head to toe, it hadn't stopped breathing completely; a sliver of life seemed to remain. Behind Building No. 2 was a row of tents, very close to where the trucks were unloading supplies. Working together, several marauders used a stretcher to carry it into a spacious tent. Just as Lao Bai was wondering what they planned to do, he soon saw an ugly old man follow right on their heels into the tent. For some reason, Lao Bai felt that this old man wrapped in a thick overcoat had an air somewhat different from the marauders around him. How should he put it? The guy felt mysterious. If the surrounding marauders were compared to goblins, then this old man was at least a goblin witch doctor. "Could they be planning to treat the Deathclaw's wounds?" Lao Bai's face was filled with utter bewilderment. No way, right? ... Xiao Qi's drone returned, bringing back aerial photographs of the marauder camp. Judging from several photos, at least a company of marauders was stationed at the Mid-Continent Aerospace lab. To put it plainly, at most a hundred and fifty, and at least a hundred. They were scattered across several laboratory buildings. Some were patrolling with dogs. As for the supplies, judging from the aerial photos, it really looked like enough for a thousand people, with the unloading point near Building No. 2. The marauders seemed intent on stashing the supplies inside the building, which was why they had begun clearing out the slime mold mutants in Building No. 2. Ye Shi had set up an observation post nearby and mounted his sniper rifle. Fang Chang, who was an Agility-type with enhanced vision, served as the spotter. Kuang Feng lay in ambush nearby, responsible for covering their backs while logging off every now and then to check the forum. Lao Bai, held as a prisoner, had turned into an eye planted inside the marauder camp, keeping constant track of the personnel distribution within. However, because the entire experimental base had been built on relatively high ground and was surrounded by ruins and thickets, Ye Shi, acting as sniper, didn't have a very good line of sight. Still, that didn't matter. The mission they received hadn't been to squat on high ground taking cheap shots in the first place, but rather to monitor the patrol squads scattered outside the stronghold and provide cover for the players approaching it. If they spotted high-threat targets, such as machine gunners or rocket-tube wielders, they were to pick them off before they could pose a threat to friendly units. Eight o'clock in the evening, wasteland time. Five light trucks transported two hundred players to the combat zone in two batches, completing their assembly one kilometer away from the Mid-Continent Aerospace Ecological Experimental Base. Chu Guang personally led and commanded this operation, arriving at the front lines with six guards to oversee the battle. In addition, former Legion chiliarch Vannus was also permitted to head to the front line. This was his own request, his reason being that he wanted to see with his own eyes how the people who had defeated them on the battlefield fought. Chu Guang agreed to his request, keeping him close by his side and allowing him to observe. Coincidentally, he also needed a staff officer. He didn't necessarily have to take the man's advice, but in crucial moments, Vannus's combat experience might come in handy. The southwest side of the experimental base faced Qingquan City, making it a priority defensive area for the marauders. A machine gun was mounted on the third floor of Building No. 1, its window packed with sandbags for cover, its muzzle pointed straight at the experimental base's main entrance where a checkpoint had been placed. Sandbags were also piled near the checkpoint; squatting behind them allowed one to shoot down from a commanding height into the forest down the slope. In addition, about thirty slaves with shackled feet were constructing crude shelters and fortifications inside the base under the watchful eyes of a ten-man squad. It was clear that this band of marauders was very cautious. They had even taken into account the possibility of air raids and artillery strikes, and even knew to dig foxholes inside their home base. Chu Guang figured those foxholes and shelters weren't meant for him; they were most likely precautions against Boulder City aircraft or something else. On the other hand, the east side of the experimental base was their weak defensive flank, with only two patrol squads and no heavy firepower deployed. Perhaps because the terrain here was gentle and cover was sparse, they were confident they could react swiftly if attacked from this direction by driving over the truck with the roof-mounted machine gun. However, what they faced was no ordinary opponent. Vannus looked at Chu Guang standing beside him in power armor, an odd expression on his face. "You plan to take to the front lines yourself?" Chu Guang glanced at him. "Did I say that?" Vannus eyed the heavy breastplate, the hammer on his back, and the Gauss rifle, then slowly shook his head. "No." To be honest, he had fought in over a hundred battles, large and small, yet this was the first time he had seen a commander arm himself like a tin can. That fellow Lu Yang didn't count. In his eyes, Lu Yang couldn't be considered a commander at all. Chu Guang paid him no heed. Lightly tapping his helmet with his index finger, an orange floating window projected onto the tactical visor of the helmet. The information updated simultaneously on the players' VMs! [Quest: Operation Broken Sword] [Details: The vanguard of the Bone Chewer Tribe has arrived in the northern suburbs of Qingquan City. Not only have they captured our compatriot, but they also intend to establish a bridgehead here to invade Qingquan City! Unfortunately for them, they picked the wrong opponent. We will teach them the price with our bullets!] [Note: Participating in the operation grants 100 war points; completing orders issued by the commander grants 10–50 points.] [Reward: 1 silver and 1 contribution point per war point.] — [Quest: Rescue the Captive (Side Quest)] [Details: We leave no one behind!] [Note: Rescue the captured shelter resident.] [Reward: 50 silver, 50 contribution points]