signingbooks Chapter 338 Standoff in the Wasteland
Chapter 338 Standoff in the Wasteland
The 5th and 7th Armored Brigades, known as the "Pioneers," were once the pride of the United States Army.
They were equipped with state-of-the-art M1A3 main battle tanks and upgraded Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, and every soldier was a battle-hardened elite. In the early stages of the monster invasion, they were the mainstay in resisting the monster waves, fighting one fierce victory after another on the ruins of the North American continent.
Their commander, General Michael Anderson, was a hawkish general known for his iron-fisted and tough approach, and one of the president's most loyal supporters.
When the White House gave the order to rush into Zone Zero at all costs, find the "traitor" Marcus, and retrieve the "key," General Anderson did not hesitate for a moment.
He immediately assembled his two most elite brigades, totaling 15,000 soldiers and nearly 1,000 tanks and armored vehicles, forming an iron torrent that marched from the military base in Montana straight toward Nebraska.
However, before they could even get close to Zone Zero, they were blocked in the Wyoming wilderness by another equally massive steel torrent.
That is Russia's 14th Arctic Garrison Army.
These steel beasts, stationed year-round on the Siberian ice fields, are equipped with equally formidable T-14 "Armata" main battle tanks and BMP-3 infantry fighting vehicles.
Their soldiers, each one tall and strong, had eyes as cold and resolute as the Siberian wind.
Two iron legions, representing the strongest land forces in the East and West respectively, met on this desolate wasteland.
Nearly two thousand tanks and armored vehicles were lined up in formation on the vast wasteland.
Dark, gaping cannon muzzles, pointing at each other.
The air was thick with the strong smell of gunpowder and diesel fuel.
The atmosphere was tense to the point of freezing.
It was as if, if even one soldier were to accidentally fire a gun, a third world war, enough to destroy this continent, would erupt instantly.
"I am Lieutenant General Michael Anderson, Commander of the 'Pathfinder' Armored Forces of the United States of America!"
General Anderson, standing on his command vehicle, roared angrily through the loudspeaker at the Russian positions opposite him.
"You have illegally invaded our American territory! I order you to immediately lay down your weapons and withdraw from our border! Otherwise, you will face the consequences!"
His voice echoed across the empty, desolate plains.
There was silence on the other side for a moment.
Then, another voice, equally loud and with a heavy Russian accent, rang out.
"General Anderson, I think you've made a mistake."
A Russian general, equally burly and carrying the rank of lieutenant general on his shoulders, stood up from the turret of a T-14 tank.
He was Ivanov, the commander of the "Polar Garrison".
"We are a member of the Earth Alliance. We are here to assist you in stabilizing the situation in the theater of operations, under the joint orders of the Alliance Commander-in-Chief, Mr. Li Zhenguo, and your Provisional Supreme Commander of the North American Theater, General Marcus."
"If you say it's 'illegal,' then it is you who are defying the highest orders of the Allied Forces and attempting to instigate a civil war."
Ivanov's words were like a loud slap, landing hard on Anderson's face.
"Bullshit! Marcus is a traitor! We only obey the President's orders!" Anderson was furious and enraged.
"Mr. President?" Ivanov sneered. "Is he the one who hired the executioner of the 'Sky Dome Martial Alliance' to slaughter your own compatriots, the president?"
"Is that the one who, because he provided false information, was hunted down by the 'Sky Dome Martial Alliance' with a bounty of 50 million merit points, the one who went missing?"
"General Anderson, I advise you to wake up."
"The White House is already in dire straits itself. Are you and your soldiers really going to die for such a madman?"
Every word Ivanov spoke was like a sharp knife, piercing the hearts of Anderson and all the American soldiers behind him.
Yes.
They heard about it too.
I've heard about those absurd things that happened in Washington.
The president is wanted globally.
General Marcus, having reached his limit, announced his defection.
China and Russia, under the guise of "rescue," have deployed large numbers of troops to their borders.
They, these low-ranking soldiers, were utterly bewildered.
They don't know who to believe.
They didn't know who they were fighting for.
All they knew was that if, today, they really opened fire.
They, and those Russians on the other side, will all die here.
Then, those damned monsters will crawl out from underground and devour their corpses.
General Anderson also fell silent.
His fist was clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white.
Of course he knew that what Ivanov said was true.
But he was a soldier.
Obeying orders is a soldier's duty.
As long as the president is not removed from office, he must carry out the president's orders.
"I'll repeat myself one last time," Anderson took a deep breath, his voice hoarse but firm, "Get out of the way! Otherwise, we'll drive over your corpses!"
"Then, let's give it a try." Ivanov's eyes also turned cold.
He slowly raised his right hand.
As long as, his hand swings down.
A barrage of cannon fire ensued, and blood flowed like a river.
Right at this critical moment.
A voice, unexpected by everyone, suddenly broke into their communication channel, between the two armies.
That was a young woman's voice.
Clear and melodious, yet carrying an undeniable air of authority.
"General Anderson, General Ivanov, this is Long Yue, Special Liaison Officer from the Commander-in-Chief's Office, Earth Alliance Headquarters."
"I am here on the orders of Commander-in-Chief Li Zhenguo to convey to you the latest instructions."
"All troops, stand by. No military conflict of any kind is permitted."
"Fifteen minutes later, General Marcus, commander of the 'Death' task force, will personally arrive at the scene."
"He will show you the 'key' and explain everything."
"To reiterate, General Marcus will personally arrive at the scene."
This sudden news stunned both sides, who were on the verge of battle.
General Marcus is coming?
He wants to come here in person?
General Anderson's face showed an extremely complex expression.
There was anger, there was confusion, but more than anything, there was an expectation that even he himself was unaware of.
He wanted to ask this colleague, whom he had once admired most, in person.
Why?
Why betray your own country?
General Ivanov, on the other hand, breathed a sigh of relief.
He slowly lowered his right hand, which was already halfway raised.
He knew that as long as Marcus came...
As long as that "key" representing "righteousness" appears.
This crisis could potentially be resolved peacefully.
An eerie silence fell over the wasteland.
Two massive, steel legions stood facing each other silently.
All the soldiers, without prior agreement, turned their gazes toward the east.
They are there, waiting.
Waiting for the arrival of the man who will decide their fate.