Although this hideout was carefully chosen by him and was far from the center of the battlefield, for the survival-focused William Carter, it still wasn’t reliable enough. From his vantage point, the distant battle was still raging fiercely. At the nine o’clock, twelve o’clock, and three o’clock positions on the battlefield were nearly a hundred two-meter-tall Imperial Army anti-joint single-soldier mecha battle armors, the [圣铠22]. These standard Imperial armors darted and leapt about as nimbly as ostriches, with wing-like missile launchers on either side emitting piercing shrieks from time to time, firing off laser-guided missiles one after another. Compressed at the six o’clock position were more than a dozen of the Galactic Federation’s three-meter-tall multi-legged five-person battle armors, the [荣誉15]. These bulky armors boasted jaw-dropping defensive power, and under the control of their central computers, their dozens of short legs could still execute all sorts of complex evasive maneuvers effectively. Although, due to being outnumbered, their firepower was suppressed by the Imperial Army, in the short term, the leaping Imperial single-soldier armors could do nothing against the Federation armors, which had formed a defensive formation. Both sides were locked in a heated exchange. The missile trails crisscrossed, filling the entire battlefield. The sound of energy autocannons roared everywhere. Although the Federation forces were at a disadvantage in terms of firepower, the [荣誉15] battle armors were medium-class and had extremely sturdy armor defense systems, with enough energy to deploy energy shields. So, although missiles fired by the Imperial single-soldier armors occasionally struck a [荣誉15], the proportion destroyed was still very low.

　　This area, contested with only a small number of mechs, was the salient of the northwestern defensive zone of New Rome, the largest industrialized city on Milok Star, garrisoned by a Federation force consisting of a reinforced medium armor squadron and an artillery company. Their mission was to protect the rear logistics route. There were no infantry-blocking fortifications or trenches here; it was merely a forward position, with the Federation’s true first line of defense still more than ten kilometers away in the jungle. Beyond the first line was a steel bridge spanning Milok Star’s largest river, the Supengman River—the Sujiang Bridge. On the far side of the bridge was the Federation’s hastily constructed second line of defense, also New Rome’s last line. If this line was breached, the Federation forces would be forced into street fighting. And on this battlefield, the only non-mech soldier was the mechanic William Carter. He was the only soldier sent here a few days ago to perform mech repairs at this forward position. Since the battle began, he had been watching alone from the sidelines for two days—no trenches, no fortifications, and not even any infantry to share his fate. Thinking of all this, the unlucky William Carter felt deeply depressed: “Damn, I can’t live like this anymore!” At that moment, a full retreat order came through his headset.

　　Thirty-seven kilometers away, the central defensive line had already been partially breached by the Imperial Army, and large numbers of Imperial armored units were pouring in through the gap. Among them, an Imperial armored squad consisting of two heavy land battle armors and eight medium armors was flanking from the rear. If they couldn’t disengage before this Imperial squad reached the battlefield, everyone might as well prepare to meet their maker. In the hilly terrain, land battle mechs could reach speeds of 150 kilometers per hour, and if there were roads, that speed could double. Even if the dense jungle and several small streams along the way could slow the enemy’s advance a bit, they could still reach the battlefield within twenty minutes.

　　Finally receiving the order to disengage from the combat zone, William Carter was so happy he almost jumped up. However, thinking about the possibility of being chased and intercepted by an Imperial armored squad with two heavy land battle mechs on the retreat route, he felt a bitter taste in his mouth. Activating the combat recorder on his left arm to confirm the order, William Carter began his twenty-first escape. After checking his gear to make sure nothing was left behind, William Carter sprang out like a cheetah, moving with astonishing speed. He vaulted over two fallen trees and five shell craters in quick succession, reaching the edge of the small hills. Using both hands and feet like a startled lizard, he hugged the grass and darted down a slope more than twenty meters wide, plunging headfirst into the depths of the forest.

　　At the same time, the Federation mech squadron, also receiving the retreat order, began to contract their formation. Perhaps the Imperial Army had received the same news, as the battle grew even fiercer. The sky was filled with endless smoke, and violent explosions sent dirt and dust high into the air. The Federation’s [荣誉15]s covered each other in alternating retreat, while an Imperial squadron of single-soldier armors had already begun to flank behind the Federation’s position. It seemed they intended to swallow up the last twelve medium mechs of the Federation in one bite. The Imperial flanking route was exactly the small hill where William Carter had previously hidden. The Federation forces also realized the Imperial Army’s intent. Although the hill wasn’t high, it commanded the area, and if the Imperial Army took it, it would be like driving a nail into the Federation armor squad’s retreat path. Soon, two [荣誉15]s, covered by their companions as they forcefully disengaged from battle, charged toward the hill. They had to seize the hill before the thirty Imperial single-soldier mechs [圣铠22] arrived, to guard the passage for their retreating comrades.

　　William Carter was now like a panicked dog, running frantically through the forest.

　　……