NABC Chapter 54 Pre-Battle Preparations
Chapter 54 Pre-Battle Preparations
Lorraine led Platinum out of the medical room and into the driver's seat.
When discussing tactical arrangements, Platinum reverted to the demeanor of a special operations squad leader.
"Based on Cleveland's speculation, the raiders are most likely located in an upscale residential area by the river. So, our first step is to confirm whether this is their camp."
Platinum marked the enemy's location on the electronic map.
"It's 2 PM now, and they're about 40 kilometers away from us. Can we use aerial reconnaissance?"
Over the previous three days, in addition to training Lorraine, Platinum gained a general understanding of the parameters of the various drones on board.
"Rainbow One can be programmed to take a route and can circle over the neighborhood twice before returning. Although the information captured may not be complete, it is sufficient to determine the location."
Lorraine provided a solution.
"Specific information can be gathered after nightfall."
"Then let Di Ting and Maomao go. Both of them have the ability to operate covertly and can directly infiltrate the enemy's territory."
After all, they have mechanical dogs that can move silently, making them the perfect scouts in this situation.
Lorraine, however, had a different opinion.
"Have Roy take the Rainbow One drone aboard another landing craft to provide cover and aerial reconnaissance for the reconnaissance team."
Lorraine paused for a moment, feeling that something was missing.
"Oh, right, there's another, less ethical way. We can attach bait to the drones to lure the zombies into attacking their camp."
Lorraine said that if things got bad, she would just not go in, go to the medical center to get the medicine, and then run away.
"My thinking is rigid."
Platinum's tactical thinking was still limited to combat against humans before the apocalypse. Although he considered the threat that zombies posed to his own side, he overlooked the fact that zombies were equally deadly to the enemy.
After confirming that the pre-battle preparations were in order, Lorraine ordered Cleveland to launch the Rainbow One drone to conduct reconnaissance.
[The flight path has been set, Rainbow One has been launched, and it is expected to return in one hour.]
Lorraine and Platinum continued to discuss the next course of action.
Platinum believes that after sending out a reconnaissance team to complete its reconnaissance mission, it should take the opportunity to withdraw and avoid encountering the enemy as much as possible during the mission.
Lorraine believed that the reconnaissance team should remain undercover in the camp after completing their mission.
After completing preparations for the harassment mission, Roy should board a landing craft and approach Cat and Listener, ready to provide support at any time.
The flagship advanced to a point 8 kilometers from the camp during the harassment mission, using the buildings for cover to conceal itself.
"What if they're discovered? Or are you planning to use them to create chaos and cover the flagship's approach?"
Platinum was very worried about this. Even if the enemy's combat power was weak, it was still a group of people ganging up on three mechanical dogs.
"You forgot one thing, this type of ship is called Ghost Vanguard."
"Its power source is a diesel-electric hybrid, and when using all-electric propulsion, it can silently approach the target."
After saying that, Lorraine pointed to the connecting bridge that links the left and right hulls.
Looking in the direction Lorraine pointed, Bai Jinshun saw eight rectangular solar panels slowly unfolding on the two connecting bridges.
[Solar charging has begun, with an estimated 24% charge replenishment]
"With a full charge, this ship can travel 100 nautical miles on pure electric power."
"So you don't need to worry. Her specialty is using her stealth shape to avoid radar detection and then using electric propulsion to get close silently."
Platinum breathed a sigh of relief. As an army soldier, her focus was on the ship's speed, range, and main gun range.
After finalizing the next course of action, the two stood silently in the driver's seat.
Platinum's gaze gradually drifted, and it was unclear what she was thinking.
Lorraine then looked at the map to find a suitable angle for shelling.
What are you thinking about?
When Lorraine looked up, she saw Platinum leaning against the wall, her eyes unfocused and her face flushed.
"It's nothing, it's nothing."
Platinum was startled by Lorraine's sudden question and lowered her head, avoiding eye contact.
"We're all in the same boat. If you're the one who gets hurt, this isn't infiltration anymore; it's like putting the main gun right on their heads."
Lorraine had no idea what Platinum was thinking, so she could only try to comfort her.
"That's not the reason."
Bai Jin hurriedly looked up; she had only... only...
[Commander, Rainbow One drone has returned to base and image transmission has begun.]
At a crucial moment, news from Cleveland broke the awkward atmosphere between the two.
"Stop worrying about it, come and see the investigation results."
"They're here."
Platinum instantly reverted to his warrior nature, shifting his attention to the images that Rainbow One had been the first to transmit.
Seeing the various obstacles and fortifications clearly visible in the picture, Lorraine began to search for enemy vehicles in the photo.
"Is this it?"
The enlarged photo, taken by Platinum, shows a van parked in front of the building, appearing before the two.
"It should be."
Looking at the dusty van, Lorraine chose to let Cleveland make the judgment.
[Comparison in progress...]
[Vehicle type complies, environmental pollution complies...]
[After comparison, the tire tracks previously discovered are most likely those left by the vehicle that recorded the video.]
Lorraine and Platinum did not receive the video transmitted by Rainbow One until it came to a stop on the aft deck.
"There are guards and patrols, so why is there someone hiding on the roof?"
Based on the transmitted video, Platinum quickly recorded the enemy's sentry posts and patrol routes on the map.
This camp is different from the one outside the 137 Weapons Research Institute.
They removed the greenery, re-planned the land, built greenhouses and planted crops; they also built a simple hydroelectric power plant and a boiler by the river.
"Platinum, what do you think this boiler is for?"
Lorraine was puzzled, and Platinum shook her head as well. Fortunately, Cleveland provided the answer to their question.
[This should be a simple water filtration device. Currently, the activity and infectivity of the zombie virus have significantly decreased. By boiling the water and using the prescribed medication, the river water can be brought to the minimum drinking water standard.]
The camp in front of them had relatively complete infrastructure, which puzzled Lorraine and Platinum. The facilities they saw could not have been built overnight.
Suddenly, Platinum paused the video, zoomed in a bit, and then focused Cleveland on that spot before resuming playback.
"Look, there are still people building houses here, and they're doing a relatively fast pace even without anyone supervising?"
Bai Jin discovered through the video that someone was actually carrying out large-scale construction in a relatively remote part of the community.
By looking at the piles of junk around them, Lorraine and Platinum realized they were working on a children's playground.
"This is not right. Based on what we're seeing now, they're unlikely to commit murder and robbery."
The campsite in the video is clearly a thriving scene.