*BAM!!!*
In the fringes of the northern port, several Arcanum Engines were deeply entrenched into the ground akin to fortresses and blasted whatever stood in front of them. These siege guns were the final defenses of the northern port, and they were being shoved back by the relentless steel walkers that had surrounded the entirety of the northern port.
Time was ticking for what remained of the armies.
Half a kilometer away from the fringes of the northern port, a squadron of Assault MECHs calmly observed the defense line of Arcanum Engines that protected the last fortress of the Colonial Dominions. It was the final chess piece, the cornered king. There was nothing left that they could utilized. No ships, no armies, no air support, and no reinforcements. They were all alone.
And death was creeping in to consume them all.
*Those Arcanum Engines are troublesome.* A Mecha remarked while observing the defense line through the surveillance comms of the Assault MECH. The runic shielding was troublesome. Although not as sophisticated or intricate as the shielding of the strategic ships, they proved to be quite a beast that couldn't easily be destroyed.
Even with the support of the EM Rifles that resembled tank barrels or were comparable to 120mm gun of the Abrams, the runic shielding of the Arcanum Engines remained capable. They needed much more hard-hitting weapons if they were required to push through the defense line that had been established in the fringes of the northern port.
*Just as we adapted, those bastards also developed new weapons. After this war, an arms race between us and Europa could occur. If it does, it would be far larger than anything, dwarfing even the cold war of our former world.* The Sentinel Officer commented, earning the mechanical stares of his subordinates. His words were nothing more than his opinions, yet it might be an actuality.
*What should we do, Sir? Should we ambush them?* Another Mecha questioned through the comms, earning the thoughtful expression of the Officer. They had already fought against an Arcanum Engine, and it was difficult to defeat even with the utilization of the Assault MECHs. Though, there were some MECHs that could rival the Arcanum Engines.
Sadly, they hadn't been deployed yet as the circumstance within the island didn't need their intervention. What was required was the fast and swift deployment of the Assault MECHs alongside their considerable firepower that went beyond the usual main battle tanks. As of now, not a single MECH had been destroyed by their adversaries.
It was through the agility, speed, and dexterity of the walker that made it formidable in the battlefield. There wasn't any need for them to worry about terrain, and their silhouette was adaptable as they could lay to the ground with ease. It made them pretty hard to hit, even with the ruthless firepower of the Arcanum Engines.
*There's no need... We can ask the support of the Sentinel Fleet.* Without a tinge of hesitation or delay, the Sentinel Officer contacted the strategic ships drifting above them. After discussing with the communication operator in the other side, the request concluded with the agreement of the commanding officer. Turning his attention at the defense line, he also contacted their allies.
Some of the Assault MECHs were fighting against the defense line of Arcanum Engines. They were suppressing the bastards, practically not giving them a moment to breathe. It was for this reason that their enemies could only think of surviving against the onslaught instead of a counter-attack or a suicidal assault. They were focused in buying themselves time.
It was also through these reasonings that the Assault Squadrons surrounded the northern port merely clashed against the invaders without pushing deeper than required. The Sentinel Fleet was also taking their time, learning more about the capabilities of their Combined-Technology and understanding what needed to be withheld or discarded from the proven designs.
A few moments later, the Assault MECHS that had relentlessly assaulted the defenders of the northern port slowly retreated from their positions while laying suppression to the defense line. The Sentinel Officer observed the withdrawal as the bombardment would hold far larger tonnage of explosives. Especially when the Arcanum Engines remained to be entrenched like a fortress.
*It shouldn't take long before the strategic strike.* He muttered under his breath as sooner or later the woods that had encompassed the two sides would be set ablaze by the heavens above. It was but the result of war, destruction, suffering, and death. The victor would be the one who would survive these three. The losers... Well, they were the first ones to see the end of the war. Their war.
Over the blue skies, the UNSS Vagabond drifted alongside the Sentinel Fleet. The doctrine of the Sentinels remained to be untested, unconfirmed of its capabilities and reliability. Because of their complete aerial supremacy, the strategic ships remained dormant until required to be utilized by the MECH Squadrons below. Though, after more battles, their doctrine would be far refined.
Something that would be forged through war.
Captain Jack observed the holographic screens that displayed the entirety of the island. There were the blue dots of their forces and the red dots of their adversaries. The northern port was filled to the brim with these crimson dots. It was far better to bombard it to damnation, however tests needed to be done to ensure the quality of the MECHs and the strategic ships.
Researchers and developers from the R&D Department had boarded their ships before the official deployment as to perceive the results of their newly-developed Combined Technologies in real time. And it has been in the positive side. Though, there could be improvements such as the applications of runic shielding.
While it couldn't be stronger than the shielding of the Arcanum Engines or the strategic ships, it would increase the survivability of the walker, thus increasing its effectiveness in battle. After all, a war machine that could last longer saved tax payers from having their military waste money acquiring more of it. But that remained to be a suggestion that would be answered by the Director.
"The runic barriers of these bastards couldn't withstand our initial bombardment. Three seconds was what it took for their barriers to collapsed under the weight of our firepower. But a fleet of over a frozen strategic ships simply cannot drift above a single city at a time." Captain Jack muttered under his breath as an intelligence officer calmly reported to him. "Sir, Strategic Strike is ready."
Hearing the report of the intelligence officer, Captain Jack nodded in understanding and straightened his back. "Our target is the defense line southeast of the northern port's fringes. There resides several Arcanum Engines, and they must be destroyed no matter what. Begin Strategic Strike! Let us assist our fellow men in their battles."
The personnel within the bridge nodded in agreement as they rapidly begun the firing sequence of the precision strike. The strategic ships were equipped two primary arsenals within their hulls. One was a dual, autoloading 250mm Electro-Magnetic Gun. The other was a complex VLS-Array, filled to the brim with over 200 missiles of various explosive calibers.
Such was the arsenal of a strategic destroyer. The strategic cruisers, battleships, and carriers contained much more arsenal of destructive capabilities.
It didn't take long before the barrels of the 250mm EM Gun was directed towards the position of the defense line of the northern port. The Strategic Strike was as follows. The EM Gun of the UNSS Vagabond shall break apart the runic barrier and shielding that protected the defense line and the Arcanum Engines. Afterward, five Cruise Missiles would be release from the VLS-Array.
Moments later, the EM Gun fired its smart shells. These shells pierced through the air and penetrated through the barrier like hot knife through butter. Afterward, these shells exploded in mid air, large shrapnel of anti-magic embedded tungsten. Such shrapnel could only be employed through smart shells or missiles as they tend to interfere with mana.
They weren't that much different than normal metal, perhaps harder, but it wasn't too significant. The only difference might be the prices as the anti-magic material was difficult to refine despite the large quantities that could be mined from the ground. Utilizing magicraft to refine it was out of the picture as it disturbed the harmony of mana.
As such, the R&D Department had to utilized old-modern ways. Besides, it wasn't full-proof as there was a limit of how much effective it could be. Stronger runic barriers would be difficult to break with the shrapnel and would require better penetrative qualities instead.
With the runic barrier and runic shielding of the defense line collapsing before the eyes of its defenders, the cruise missiles made their impact above the Arcanum Engines. It was in mere moments as bright flashes of light engulfed the entirety of the southeastern fringes of the northern port. What followed was explosions of sizeable magnitude.
The ground shook as the forest that surrounded the impact zone went ablaze and rumbled with the repulsive shockwave. Screams and cries echoed as the defenders that were confident in maintaining a small chunk of the island as theirs lost themselves to despair. Some were in total shock while others burned away from the remnants brought about by the explosions.
The MECH Squadrons confirmed the Strategic Strike, so they stride forward and left the tree lines. The survivors of the explosions slowly turned their attention towards the steel walkers that advanced towards their position. These giants of machinery, their crimson-velvet cyclops glowed amidst the ashes and smoke that engulfed the defense line.
Fear consumed the hearts of the soldiers, hope was lost, and there was nothing but despair.