Section One: Despair

　　Wispy, threadlike white clouds drifted lightly across the surface of the vast blue planet. The endless ocean, interspersed with black and faintly green landmasses, pressed tightly together, forming a thick, twisted, winding line. Sunlight slanted down from the depths of space, dividing the massive planet into two halves—one shrouded in light, the other in darkness. Yet the boundary was extremely blurred, with only a very regular, gradient-like buffer zone.

　　The road leading to the S12 mining district was riddled with shell craters. Chunks of black asphalt, torn up from the ground, had already softened, resembling semi-melted, solidified butter after being heated and cooled. On the surface, a thick layer of dust had accumulated. Occasionally, a gust of wind would blow by, pushing empty shell casings scattered on the ground to roll forward, producing a metallic clinking sound.

　　Atop the tower on the east side of the mining area, black smoke mixed with blazing flames billowed out. A huge, pale blue, square iron sign—about two square meters in size—hung from the top of the tower. In the center of the eye-catching Earth emblem, thick bullet holes left by GUESS Gauss rifles were densely clustered.

　　The auxiliary building to the left of the central building had already collapsed. A middle-aged colonel, his hair graying, standing as straight as a flagpole, dressed in blue-black camouflage combat uniform, stood on the rooftop. He raised a tactical binoculars with both hands, staring intently in the direction where gunfire and explosions still echoed in the distance. In the square below, the 150MM main guns of several medium tanks continuously spat fire and thunder. Each time a dazzling red flash appeared where the shells landed, a faint tremor could be felt in the ground beneath his feet.

　　The deep winter wind carried an unbearably biting chill. Yet above the S12 mining district, a heatwave raged, enough to roast a person alive into madness.

　　Many factors determine the outcome of war: logistics, economy, manpower, weapons... But the most important of all is resources.

　　According to the analysis of the Pan-United Army Strategic Intelligence Bureau—ore produced annually by the S12 mining district accounted for 6.43% of the Earth Federation’s total comprehensive resource output. Because the mining area was located near the border between two major powers, the Federation had stationed an entire special armored division here. At the same time, using hollowed-out abandoned mine pits as a foundation, a vast and solid permanent fortification complex had been constructed underground.

　　S12 was no longer a simple mining area; it had become a fortress with extremely powerful defensive capabilities. Even more terrifying, the automated tunneling machines hidden deep underground were frantically mining every day, and the supporting weapons factories, assembly workshops, and ammunition production lines were continuously manufacturing brand-new heavy assault vehicles, heavily armed tanks, light attack helicopters... These armed vehicles greatly shortened the supply line between the front and the rear cities. With S12 as support, the Earth Federation’s actual control line was rapidly extending outward.

　　The Pan-United Army could not tolerate this situation at all. Under the meticulous planning of the General Staff, they abandoned a frontal defense line over 130 kilometers wide, and instead concentrated five elite divisions to launch a flanking assault, breaking through the line in one fell swoop and penetrating directly into S12. Faced with this sudden upheaval, even though the Earth Federation mobilized reserves at the fastest speed to join the battle, the S12 fortress still suffered heavy losses in the face of an overwhelming enemy force—outnumbered more than sixteen to one.

　　Its fall was only a matter of time.

　　Slowly lowering the binoculars in his hands, the colonel’s tightly furrowed brows remained deeply knotted. He reached out to brush the dust from the silver knight’s sword insignia of the Pan-United Army on his chest, and with an almost imperceptible sigh, shook his head.

　　Most of the S12 TR garrison had already died in battle. More than 74% of the mining district’s functional areas had been overrun. Yet, over five hundred Earth Federation survivors still fought to the death, refusing to surrender. Relying on the most fortified core area of the mine’s control zone, they fought back desperately. Although the Pan-United Army’s assault troops repeatedly tried to persuade them to surrender, called for negotiations, and even attempted to bribe them with huge sums, the only response they received... was a crude retort from the opposing commander: “You Pan-United Army bastards, fuck your mother’s rotten cunt!”

　　According to the General Staff’s operational plan, if S12 could not be taken, the battle could last no more than twenty-six hours. This was a sensitive area within the Earth Federation’s sphere of influence, and various reinforcements were rapidly advancing from the east. A stalemate would only waste time. Once reinforcements arrived, the Pan-United Army’s assault troops would have no way out.

　　Gazing at the distant arched structure, protected by titanium-steel gates and fifty-five meters of reinforced concrete—impervious even to a direct hit from a 300mm super-heavy railway shell—the colonel felt an uncontrollable fury welling up inside. He gritted his teeth hard, clenched his fists tightly, then quickly released them. At the edge of his lips, pressed into a cold, hard line, a trace of cruel ferocity slowly appeared.

　　“Execute the backup plan. All combat personnel withdraw from S12 within fifteen minutes—”

　　……