A temporary squad led by Atalante, which had deployed from the front lines of Meléa, had successfully rescued the struggling allies.

Marie, watching this unfold from the flagship's bridge, smiled in satisfaction.

"See, they can do it," she said.

Heidi, standing beside her, whistled at Atalante's performance.

"The wild child of the Third Weapon Factory, she's even more of a monster than the rumors claimed."

Marie, slightly exasperated, replied, "You're as silly as ever. It's not the machine you should be looking at, but the pilot. Now, how's the battle going?"

Heidi brought up multiple screens around them, quickly reviewing them before responding.

"They're fighting well, but they're being pushed back by the enemy's offensive. I mean, given the situation, they're doing their best. If the enemy keeps this up, we'll win in the end, though."

Hearing Heidi's nonchalant assessment, Marie pondered for a moment before a cold smile spread across her face.

Heidi scratched his head. "What are you planning, Marie?"

"It's obvious, isn't it?"

-------------

Migera stood on the bridge of the rebel flagship, issuing hysterical orders.

"Why are we struggling against an inferior enemy?! Drive them back!"

The monitor displaying the battle situation showed the rebel vanguard collapsing. The only ones holding their ground were the Dahlia mercenary fleet, a force they hadn't expected.

The commander standing next to Migera furrowed his brows, explaining the situation to her. It was clear that this was a repeated explanation, as his voice held a touch of exasperation.

"We can't attack the transport ships. We can't advance any further."

They'd successfully launched a surprise attack, but the problem was that Migera's target was the transport ships laden with supplies.

They were instructed not to harm the transport ships, even if they attacked enemy ships.

"The supplies on that ship are vital for our future operations," Migera insisted.

It was true that they needed the supplies, both politically and militarily. However, they didn't have the power to secure them.

"The enemy is too strong. We won't win unless we give up the supplies. It's no loss if the supplies don't reach the unified government."

The arguing had been going on for some time now, but Migera seemed to have given up on trying to convince the commander.

"Enough. Get the enhanced soldiers out there. The humanoid mobile weapons the filthy mercenaries brought in, right?"

Humanoid mobile weapons - what the Empire called mobile knights.

The commander looked distressed.

"They are our trump card, too. And, they haven't finished training yet."

"Don't care. Get all of them out, even the ones in cold sleep! This is an order!"

The unified government operated under civilian control, and Migera and her forces were following in that tradition.

The commander issued the order. "Deploy all enhanced soldiers. Awaken the enhanced soldiers in cold sleep."

-----

Crammed into a small room were the knights - the soldiers called enhanced soldiers by the unified government.

They had dedicated their lives to the military, losing many freedoms unlike ordinary people. All of them were bald, their reproductive functions restricted.

Their expressions were emotionless and mechanical. As orders were given, they stood up silently, changed into pilot suits, and headed for their humanoid mobile weapons.

Some of the enhanced soldiers kept in cold sleep were also awakened in a hurry.

The army treated them as mere tools.

-----

"That's eight!" Russell exclaimed, sweating profusely in the cockpit of his Nevan Custom.

The monitor displayed the burning cruiser, the eighth they had jointly downed as a squad.

They'd successfully destroyed a battleship initially, but the rebels, realizing they couldn't ignore them anymore, were now concentrating their attacks.

He quickly checked his remaining ammo, oxygen, and energy levels.

"We can still fight, but it's getting tough."

As he considered when they could get supplies, he spotted humanoid mobile weapons launching from the enemy fleet.

They looked different from the enemy machines they had faced before. They resembled mobile knights.

"What are those?"

They were unlike the humanoid mobile weapons the unified government used. They were humanoid mobile weapons that resembled mobile knights.

The Nevan Custom analyzed the enemy machines, revealing a data match of over 60% with a noble's machine.

That existing machine was developed in the First Weapons Factory.

"Is it a new model from the Empire?! Everyone, be vigilant. These guys are the latest models, on par with the Nevan!"

Sharr, wielding dual laser blades, charged at the approaching humanoid mobile weapons.

Their movements were unlike those of ordinary soldiers.

"They're enhanced soldiers?! Then, they'll be my score!"

Sharr sliced and diced the enemy machines with his dual laser blades, but he was outnumbered.

It was also taking longer to defeat them.

"Damn! These guys are stronger than I thought!"

Yoom, behind him, was slightly panicked as he watched the enemy's movements.

"They've deployed a mass of enhanced soldiers. We should be focusing on other battlefields too."

Russell realized the danger of this situation and regretted his mistake.

"We stood out too much. I should have advised a retreat sooner!"

If they ran now, they would be shot from behind.

They were surrounded by machines piloted by enhanced soldiers, whose abilities were comparable to knights.

The situation was desperate.

Meanwhile, Atalante mounted a multi-purpose beam rifle on her back.

She held two pistols, stored in hastily made holsters, in her free hands.

Electrostatic discharge emanated from Atalante's joints, as she held weapons in both hands.

An overload condition – her color turned yellow as her system went into overload.

"What are you doing, Rodman!?"

Atalante was a highly classified machine, and Russell was unaware of this state.

Emma appeared on the monitor, but she didn't seem surprised.

"I'll create an opening. Everyone, follow me from behind."

"What do you think you're doing alone?! We'll support you immediat— "

"No, you don't need to. Atalante... I'm going all out!"

Atalante accelerated, leaving a yellow streak in her wake.

She attacked the enemy machines, destroying them one by one.

One, two… before anyone knew it, a gap was appearing in the surrounding wall of enemies.

(Rodman… you're… damn!)

Russell couldn't believe his eyes at first, but he quickly regained his composure.

"We're going through the path Rodman made! Both of you, keep up!"

------

One enhanced soldier watched the glowing machine from his cockpit.

What a stupid machine.

It was like announcing your position to the enemy by glowing on the battlefield.

A typical Empire-style humanoid mobile weapon, with useless features.

The enhanced soldier, with suppressed emotions, watched the glowing machine. He held a blade-equipped pistol in each hand.

Shoot from a distance, slash up close.

But it was just one machine.

The other three machines were likely almost as capable as the one he was piloting.

It would be easy to destroy those four humanoid mobile weapons, just another task… that's what he thought.

"All units, prioritize that glowing machine—"

The communication from the lead unit cut off, and the glowing machine was the cause.

The enemy machine had stabbed the lead unit's cockpit with its blade, firing several lasers before kicking it away.

The lead unit exploded.

The enhanced soldier felt a flicker of emotion at the loss of his captain, someone he'd fought alongside for so long.

"I take command. All units, encircle that machine."

More than ten machines had already been destroyed, but they were ordered to destroy the humanoid mobile weapon squad that posed a threat to their allies.

No retreat orders had been issued. They couldn't back down.

His subordinates made suggestions.

"We've reached a 20% casualty rate. I recommend a retreat."

"Denied. I made a request to the mother ship earlier, but they ordered us to continue the mission."

Allied machines attacked one after another, but they couldn't catch the glowing machine.

Then, the glowing machine was right in front of the enhanced soldier.

"You… Empire monster…"

Then, the cockpit was engulfed in flames, and the enhanced soldier's life ended.

-------

The machine once called Gold Racoon was now named Chimera.

It's lost left arm was replaced with a left arm from another machine, longer than its right arm.

It was equipped with long claws, turning the arm itself into a weapon.

Siren, leading the Dahlia mercenary squad of mobile knights.

Using a function built into Gold Racoon, they had disappeared from radar and sight, approaching the transport ship.

"We have to at least capture one. That woman will be a real pain in the neck if we don't."

The mobile knights of the Newlands-introduced transport ship launched upon seeing the suddenly-appearing mercenary mobile knights.

"Captain, the guards are coming out."

Siren licked her lips at her subordinate's words.

"Well, let's play with you, Newland Merchant's proud guards."

Chimera pierced and swatted away the approaching enemy machines with its left claw.

"Now, let's secure the bridge."

--------

On the bridge of Meléa, a rescue request from the transport ship arrived.

"They got through. The escort fleet is pretty useless."

The colonel, seated in the commander's chair, had no intention of going to the rescue.

He couldn't move Meléa without Emma's permission since she had taken command.

The operator turned to the colonel.

"What should we do? Our forces are busy with the enemy in front of them."

"We just follow the lady's orders. Besides, none of the pilots have been authorized to deploy, right?"

The operator looked troubled. This was just like the upper echelons of the past – those who had left them to die.

The colonel felt the same way.

As he sat restlessly, Doug entered the bridge.

He was dressed in a pilot suit, ready to deploy. He seemed to have sobered up.

"Sir, grant me permission to deploy! If you won't, we'll go on our own."

"Doug? But you— "

Behind Doug were the other pilots, including Larry.

"We can't just back down after that lady's orders. Besides, I… we… don't want to become like those guys."

Doug's face held regret, a mixture of frustration and sadness.

He said, "We're deploying. Open the hatch."

He was aware of it.

They were like the upper echelons they had despised before. They were just unleashing their pent-up anger on the current leadership.

But there was nothing they could do.

Their threads were severed when the old army was dismantled. Their hearts were broken, and they couldn't rise again.

The colonel straightened his hat and stood from his seat, giving orders.

"Deploying only mobile knights, how will you make up for the energy loss? Meléa will head to the transport ship's rescue. Tell that girl."

The operator was surprised but slightly happy.

"Are you sure?"

"It's to protect civilians. I have no need to listen to the complaints of that self-proclaimed hero."

"Yes!"

As the pilots headed to their machines, the colonel stopped Doug.

"Doug, are you sure about this?"

Doug, without turning back, answered.

It seemed he was embarrassed.

"I know this isn't my style, but if I didn't stand up after what she said... it would be the same as dying a living death."

As Dag left the bridge, the colonel muttered.

"Dying a living death, huh. Yeah, it's the same as being dead, isn't it?"