Darkstone Code-Chapter 1027 - 1025: Let Them Taste Some Real Power
Nausea is the only feeling people have.
The Federation people are disgusting; they use Sanchez as an excuse to interfere in Mariluo’s internal affairs and pretend it has nothing to do with them.
This also puts the major warlords of Mariluo in a difficult position.
Should they make concessions step by step, or find a way to show the Federation their determination?
This is very important.
Just look at Nagariel; that land has completely become a colony of the Federation, and its new name even includes terms like "New Federation."
If the warlords do not resist, Mariluo might become the next "New Federation," with a name like "Mariluo New Federation."
As for them... just look at the ruling class of Nagariel, their fate won’t be too good.
The old rulers who should die have died, those who should immigrate to the Federation have done so, and the rest have disappeared.
The new rulers who have come to power are rulers in name only; they’re better described as puppets of the Federation. The only thing they can do is follow the Federation’s orders and play their roles well, otherwise, they might disappear from public view at any time.
The warlords don’t like this; they certainly didn’t become warlords out of some grand ideal.
Maybe at the start, they had ideals like saving the world or the nation, but once they reach this point, they realize that all their ideals are actually bullshit, and that power and wealth are what they truly seek.
They won’t give these up, at least not voluntarily until their lives are at risk.
There seems to be an air of danger brewing in the silent space as they think, each one’s thoughts gradually converging on showing the Federation a thing or two.
They can’t let the Federation interfere in Mariluo’s domestic situation at will like now. They must be made to understand that this is Mariluo, the Celestial Kingdom, not a broken place like Nagariel.
"I support this idea; we can fight the Federation first and then negotiate."
Someone was the first to stand up, and naturally, others agreed with this idea too. Soon everyone’s opinion aligned: they needed to teach the Federation a lesson before bringing them to the negotiating table.
Without scaring the Federation, they may not even sit at the negotiating table, and they certainly won’t make enough concessions.
Next, a group of warlord representatives began discussing how to fight and to what extent. 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎
In fact, before they came here, the generals behind these representatives had already made preliminary contacts; this was just a more direct meeting.
Some even believe this contact could become an unforgettable Chapter in the history of the Mariluo peace process, as Mariluo people truly attempt to cooperate for the first time.
Rather than laying down prejudice and hostility under the calls of clowns like Sanchez and merging together.
Their cooperation is the real first step towards unity.
...
The first day’s attack achieved little; to avoid another ambush like before, the strategy was slightly adjusted.
The command decided to clear some areas of the city and set up temporary outposts.
The situation in Mariluo is too complex; anyone could be a warlord’s subordinate.
These people, when not at war, are just ordinary citizens, even farmers. They don’t run around with guns daily; most of the time, they’re just doing their own things.
Working, or living life, makes it difficult to distinguish between them and true citizens accurately.
Previously, they could pretend to have distinguished, but with so many international military observers now, continued "mis-targeting" of civilians could bring negative effects.
The first day’s advance wasn’t fast, but everyone held an optimistic attitude about the battle’s outcome.
More advanced military equipment could solve many problems faced in the last battle, and such issues would be less likely to happen with these new arms.
According to the plan, in about four to seven days, they will either drive out or eliminate all armed elements in the city and then declare occupation.
It was also due to the presence of international military observers, so the Federation Government wanted to showcase something different——
We care about innocent civilians!
Yes, that’s what the Federation wants to display. When informing Lynch to be good to the civilians, Lynch was disdainful.
They’ve already fought into people’s homes but still talk about being kind...
But there’s no choice; the Ministry of Defense and Congress men have approved some funds to handle and settle some injured civilians.
To fully showcase the Federation’s spirit of peace and freedom...
Who knows what they’re thinking.
On the second day, the situation began to change.
"What’s going on?"
"Repeat again..."
"Okay, I understand."
The colonel hung up the phone, looking bewildered at the other commanders inside the command vehicle, "The message from the front line is that local civilians are leaving their houses voluntarily."
After all sorts of propaganda spread yesterday, the locals preferred staying in their houses than going anywhere.
People could understand such sentiments, finding some necessary safety in their own homes; who knows what they might encounter if they left?
The soldiers urged them to no avail. This caused minor clashes and uncovered over a dozen armed elements hiding among civilians, who were shot dead before they could attack Federation soldiers.
But surprisingly, this morning, those civilians who staunchly refused to leave their homes began taking their belongings and leaving voluntarily.
This left the commanders in the command vehicle confused by the complete reversal, leading to many assumptions.
"Perhaps we moved them!"
Gunfire that dotted the city drew the attention back to the ongoing battle, and concerns about why civilians chose to come out took a back seat.
In the first moments of engagement, information began to flow frequently.
The enemy’s defenses were not much different from expectations, using the complex urban landscape for ambushes and interceptions, becoming more clever.
They weren’t congregating in one place holding a particular building, dashing the command vehicle’s hopes for a swift resolution at the outset.
Enemies scattered behind various obstacles, hiding inside buildings; at the moment of exchange of fire, Federation soldiers began to suffer casualties.
"This is inevitable, but it’s much better than the previous battle,"
a lieutenant colonel standing with military observers watching the city’s developments explained, "The danger of street fighting is probably second only to jungle warfare, and if we want to clear every house, the cost and time required would be significant, so we have adopted new methods."
With the war underway, flamethrowers and incendiary grenades began to see action, especially explosive incendiary grenades, using supposedly the latest synthetic chemical agents.
Once ignited, they burn rapidly and are difficult to extinguish, with toxic emissions.
For increased lethality, the grenades detonate with shrapnel like explosions.
It is a throwing device about fifteen centimeters high and as thick as an adult’s wrist, weighted on one side.
Thrown, the weighted side lands first, causing a minor explosion, scattering the combustible compound, which contacts air and ignites quickly.
Each use leaves burn marks throughout a building, including the roof.
Even if someone takes cover behind furniture, the flames will swiftly ignite it. Want to avoid being burned or suffocated by toxic smoke? The only option is to rush out and face a hailstorm of bullets.
"I noticed all your soldiers have something special on their backs, what is it?"
The Gafura military observer spotted every soldier carrying something resembling a mask. Doctors donned similar garb during plagues, but this was a first on the battlefield.
Could there be an epidemic here?
The lieutenant colonel cast a glance at the soldiers offering protection nearby and calmly explained, "It’s a dust mask. In previous battles, we found heavy dust here; a high wind would subject our soldiers to harsh natural conditions."
This man is lying!
The Gafura military observer chuckled but did not expose the lie. Continued observation here would undoubtedly uncover such secrets.
His gaze again focused on the frontline, where gunfire grew more frequent, occasionally punctuated by explosions, appearing intense.
The Gafura military observer’s expression remained grim—with no doubt, the Federation’s army at least surpassed Gafura’s army.
Unwilling to admit it but having to, this truth was frustrating.
The lieutenant colonel beside him maintained a proud smile, for everything was as expected.
Meanwhile, in another direction of the city, roughly over a hundred kilometers away, a group of soldiers—appearing anything but elite—raced towards the battlefield.
Behind them were several trucks loaded with machine guns, some autocannons, and at the end of the column, even towing field artillery.
In another direction, similar soldiers advanced rapidly, moving by trucks even faster, carrying more machine guns and autocannons but no artillery!
A hundred kilometers away, the Federation troops had no idea what awaited them next.
