To the west of the barren rock desert was the vast Palea Desert. In this day and age, no one would venture there for no good reason as that was a truly deserted place.
So, when the war began, even though everyone knew the distance between Fortress 178 and the Ultima Consortium’s Stronghold 146 was not particularly far, very few people would even have any ideas about using the Palea in their plans.
If a military unit wanted to pass through there, it was basically a pipe dream. However, the Ultima Consortium had been plotting to take over Fortress 178 for a long time.
The territory the Ultima Consortium occupied had far fewer resources than Fortress 178, the Panaqua Consortium, and the Radianz Consortium. In fact, the level of their resources could not even compare with that of the Skyfort Consortium. Therefore, expanding to seek further resources was something the Ultima Consortium had to do. Only with a large amount of resources could they support their ambitions.
But where were the resources?
At Fortress 178, of course!
Importantly, Fortress 178 occupied a broader territory beyond the Northwest. The land in that territory held 90% of the mineral resources that were available to the Alliance of Strongholds, as well as a vast amount of natural gas, crude oil, and various types of metal ores.
In the Ultima Consortium’s view, these resources were simply wasted in the hands of that damn group from Fortress 178 if they did not make use of them.
Several years earlier, the Ultima Consortium had quietly established a secret troop to transport supplies into the Palea. And now, they had established a massive forward operating base in a little oasis within the desert.
All of this was done so that one day, a ferocious army could make use of this forward operating base to pass through the Palea and deal a fatal blow to Fortress 178.
Actually, the Ultima Consortium already knew that Fortress 178 was going to attack Mt. Sentani from the southern bank of Blackstone River. They also knew their Ultima Consortium’s route to the south for any incursions would be cut off once Fortress 178 blew up the Aurduri Bridge. However, everything was still going according to the Ultima Consortium’s plan. This was because Fortress 178 would also not have a path of retreat.
Pascal had received some very reliable intelligence a long time ago.
Currently, there was only one independent brigade garrisoned in Fortress 178, with the rest of the stronghold’s forces deployed in full force for the war. As a result, the almost defenseless Fortress 178 was now like a deserted island with no one to protect it.
As long as the Ultima Consortium could occupy Fortress 178, even if Peter and his men repaired the pontoon bridge, they would have no home to return to, nor would there be any fortress left for them to defend.
When the supplies for Fortress 178’s troops got cut off, the Ultima Consortium could manipulate them at will.
According to Pascal’s calculations, his troops would cross the Palea Desert and reach Fortress 178 in another seven days for the confrontation!
Pascal narrowed his eyes as favonovel.com wondered if Peter had already guessed all of this by now. He assumed so, since cutting off their path at Blackstone River showed his plans pretty obviously.
But so what if favonovel.com could guess it?
There was no way that Peter could stop favonovel.com from occupying Fortress 178.
Troops were sacrificed as cannon fodder so favonovel.com could lure Peter to the northern shore of Blackstone River. In the end, favonovel.com was the superior tactician. Although there was a small episode in between involving the Razor Sharp Company, that was not too great of a concern. Even if that company was extremely capable, they couldn’t affect the big picture.
Although the granary had been burned down, the Ultima Consortium could still last for a month with their food reserves. This one month would be enough for favonovel.com to bring the Fortress 178 troops to their knees. After all, Peter would be cut off from his supply lines as well.
At the thought of being able to defeat Peter, a military leader long famous, Pascal felt an uncontrollable sense of excitement in his heart. At his position, only power and unprecedented victory could arouse his desires.
Meanwhile, the armored brigade’s Commander Kelsey, who was standing beside Peter, looked at favonovel.com and said, “Commander Dublin, the Ultima Consortium has cut off our main forces’ retreat route. They must be plotting something against us. Sir, please think of something.”
Peter looked at Kelsey. “We must make a stand. Everyone, we’ll have to take Mt. Sentani as quickly as possible if we want to make it out of this alive. Inform the Engineering Battalion behind us to quickly rebuild the pontoon bridge, and check how long they will need!”
A staff officer hesitated for a moment before saying, “We asked about that earlier. The Engineering Battalion on the southern shore said that it would take ten days! They could build a simple pontoon bridge instead; that will be faster, but it’s useless if the mechanized infantry can’t cross the river on it.”
Ten days…
Even if they could rebuild the pontoon bridge within ten days, they would still need another seven days to get back to Fortress 178. That would be too late!
Suddenly, Harris ran back from the front line. “Commander! Commander! The Razor Sharp Company has called in!”
Everyone was startled. They never expected the Razor Sharp Company that was behind the enemy lines to actually reestablish communications with them.
The Razor Sharp Company had just finished their attack on Stronghold 144. Not only did they burn down the granary there, but they also stole a satellite phone from within the stronghold. It was only then that they were able to contact Fortress 178’s troops again.
Peter took the satellite phone and answered it.
On the other end of the line, Scott’s loud voice yelled excitedly, “Commander Dublin? Is that Commander Dublin?”
“Yes, this is Peter, please speak,” Peter said calmly. “We’ve burnt down the granary at Stronghold 144 and wiped out seven or eight of their companies. We even killed three regimental commanders of their 1237th Regiment, and the deputy regimental commander is in our hands now,” Scott said cockily, as though favonovel.com were afraid Peter would not award them the Nebula Medal. He thought favonovel.com should list all of their contributions in one fell swoop.
The commanders beside Peter were stunned. They had not expected the Razor Sharp Company would achieve so many important objectives. It was no wonder the Ultima Consortium had to deploy their troops back to deal with them in the rear.
Was this even a company?
Even an independent brigade would most probably not achieve what they had done. The Razor Sharp Company was simply too fearsome!
However, everyone did not cheer up because the current situation of the war could no longer be changed by burning down a granary, killing a few regimental commanders, or wiping out several companies.
Peter smiled and said, “You all did very well, but you have to be careful as well.”
“Commander Dublin, don’t worry, we suffered no casualties at all!”
The commanders started gritting their teeth. None of them could have imagined the Razor Sharp Company could do so many things without suffering a single casualty.
Peter laughed and gave Scott a few instructions before handing the phone to Harris. He did not mention a word about Milo throughout the entire call, but everyone knew Milo must have done a great job in this battle.
Harris took the phone and said to Scott, “Alright, we know y’all’ve done well, but now’s not the time to go over all of your achievements. Retreat to a safe location. We’re in a precarious situation over here.”
Scott was stunned. “Precarious?”
Harris hesitated for a moment and sighed as favonovel.com briefly explained the current situation. The Razor Sharp Company’s soldiers beside Scott were all listening to the call as well. Everyone was suddenly at a slight loss of what to do.
How did the situation suddenly turn so disadvantageous for them?
Furthermore, the Ultima Consortium might even capture Fortress 178 soon?
Scott thought about his wife and child.
What about that girl Sam liked?
What about everyone’s dream lover, Sherina?
Scott said anxiously, “Don’t worry, Battalion Commander. If they can attack Fortress 178, we can also take the fight to their Stronghold 146. Those old geezers of the Ultima Consortium’s Board are all located in Stronghold 146. If we kill them, the Ultima Consortium will immediately descend into chaos.”
Harris scolded favonovel.com with a laugh. “What are you talking about? There’s an entire brigade garrisoned in Stronghold 146 right now, so do you think you can attack them that easily? Hurry and get out of there! I want y’all to flee in the direction of the Central Plains,”
But before favonovel.com could finish speaking, favonovel.com was interrupted by another voice. “Is Mr. Dublin still listening? Can I just ask if it’ll be of any help to the situation if we destroy Stronghold 146?”
Peter stayed silent for a moment before saying, “Yes…”
“Alright, I’ll go and attack them then.”
The commanders listening to the call from the side felt that this voice sounded a little unfamiliar, but they all knew it was probably Milo talking.
But this Milo was way too arrogant.
How could the Razor Sharp Company possibly be capable of taking Stronghold 146?
Peter sighed and said, “It’s impossible for you all to destroy Stronghold 146.”
“Mr. Dublin, do you still remember what you told me?” Milo asked calmly. “You said that if one knows how difficult the situation is and still insists on doing it at the risk of injuring themselves, that is called stupidity. But do you remember what my response to you was?”
Peter recalled the moment Milo had told favonovel.com that the same went for bravery.
