Cataclysm: Undead Dragons and Zero Empire

"For the Commander!"

Karen's rebel fleet had already breached the core star system of the Boros Global Foundation, and the last barrier between the rebels and the core star system lay before them.

A permanent military fortress, the surface of the entire planet was leveled by one-third, and layers upon layers of permanent fortifications, anti-aircraft arrays and shield generators covered the continent like steel thorns.

The troops stationed here are the direct forces of the Board of Directors, with a full complement of over 100,000 genetically modified warriors and countless auxiliary troops. In the long history of the Foundation's rule, they have never been breached by external enemies. They are like an anvil that welcomes all invaders, unmoved even when sparks are thrown at them.

However, at this very moment, this anvil, which has stood for countless years, is surrounded by the raging flames of war that have been set ablaze within its own borders.

Above the fortress planet's orbit, Karen's fleet had completed a full blockade, like a pack of wolves hunting a giant beast, having just ended a fierce space naval battle.

The interstellar fortresses, defense platforms, and mobile fleets deployed by the board in this star system have all been completely reduced to cosmic dust under concentrated fire, forming a wreckage belt around the fortress planet, like a garland adorning this cold fortress planet.

The fleet's main gun array continued to charge, and the light symbolizing enormous energy constantly gathered at the muzzle, illuminating the entire orbit as bright as day. These bombardments were like thunderous spears punishing the world, slamming hard into the predetermined targets on the ground.

The first wave of bombardment targeted the planetary shield generator. The moment the energy beam struck the shield, a semi-transparent barrier lit up the entire continent, like an inverted giant bowl firmly protecting the fortress. The beam exploded on the surface of the barrier, creating visible ripples of energy.

"First wave of bombardment, target's shield energy estimated at 67%!"

"Second salvo charging complete, prepare for firing!"

Reports echoed throughout the flagship's bridge, as the colors representing the rebel fleet's firepower coverage relentlessly engulfed the weak points of the surface shields like a tidal wave.

However, both sides knew very well that orbital bombardment could only destroy the surface-level anti-aircraft firepower and shield generators; the real tough nuts to crack still needed to be cracked by the ground troops.

"The bombing continues to suppress the enemy, and the landing operation is launched as planned."

After the general commanding the battle issued the order, the warships orbiting the planet opened their belly hatches.

The densely packed landing pods, like swarms of bees emerging from a punctured honeycomb, instantly obscured the near-Earth orbit of the fortress planet. As these landing pods breached the planetary shield, both sides realized that a bloody battle with no chance of survival awaited them.

Alarms and sirens blared incessantly, but the warriors inside the landing pods remained deathly silent. Each standard landing pod carried twelve genetically modified warriors, clad in full-body power armor, making the space inside feel exceptionally cramped due to their height.

They gripped large-caliber kinetic energy rifles tightly, the chambers loaded with high-explosive armor-piercing rounds, their armored vehicles humming as they activated.

In the rear cargo hold of the landing module, there is a single-soldier mech. Inside sits disabled veterans who lost limbs in past wars and should have retired. After surgical modifications, they have become one with the mech. Kovacs is one of them.

This veteran, who had fought his entire life on the Foundation's borders, used the money his family had saved to undergo neural reconnection surgery, allowing his consciousness to merge with his mech and continue serving and earning money with his steel body, instead of ending up destitute like Rex.

However, these veterans all had one thing in common: they had seen too much corruption and greed behind the foundation's glory, and too many veterans like him who had dedicated their lives to the foundation only to be discarded like trash.

What Commander Karen promised them was not some vague promise of wealth and glory, but a fair new foundation that would no longer dishearten the victims.

"Attention all units, we are about to enter the atmosphere! We are currently encountering anti-aircraft fire, so hold on tight, there will be some turbulence ahead," the landing module pilot's voice came through the communication channel.

The landing module shuddered violently, its outer shell rubbing intensely against the atmosphere, instantly igniting a raging fire. The entire landing module, like a meteor falling to earth, left a blinding trail of fire in the dim sky, while simultaneously facing the roar of surface fire.

Countless beams of light shot into the sky, and a barrage of kinetic energy-powered missiles rained down like a storm, instantly weaving a dense, impenetrable net of death across the heavens, each mesh leading to hell.

The landing craft, moving at high speed through the barrage of fire, deployed its shields, constantly enduring the unavoidable barrage of fire, its kaleidoscope-like light illuminating the entire sky.

The shields of many landing pods that landed together overloaded, and the violent explosion instantly tore those landing pods to pieces. The soldiers and mechs inside turned into molten metal fragments flying all over the sky and burned up in the atmosphere.

This was a race against death. The short journey from the top of the atmosphere to the ground was paved with blood and fire. Kovacs's landing module was hit on the left flank by anti-aircraft fire, and a huge gap was torn in the armor. The alarm inside the module blared shrilly.

"Imminent impact, launch recoil missiles!"

The pilot roared, and the recoil missiles at the bottom of the landing module were activated, instantly slowing down the rapidly falling module. With a deafening bang, the landing module crashed heavily onto the ground, the enormous impact causing the entire module to sink into the metal floor.

Almost the instant it touched the ground, the heavy armor plates of the landing module unfolded layer by layer, forming a small combat fortress on the spot, blocking the ubiquitous barrage of artillery fire.

"For the Foundation! Charge!"

The hatch opened like a gaping maw, and the captain roared as he was the first to rush out of the landing pod, firing his kinetic rifle at the outside world, followed closely by the other gene warriors.

"The welcoming ceremony is about to begin. Iron Guard Mechs, proceed with the mission."

As Kovacs' voice rang out, the side hatch of the landing module slammed shut, and the mech leaped out with heavy steps, crashing onto the ground and causing the surrounding area to tremble slightly.

Kovacs controlled the mech with his nerves, and the twin-mounted cannons on his shoulder armor started instantly. Dense high-explosive shells rained down on the defenders, creating bursts of fire that shot into the sky.

The landing operation was fierce from the very beginning. The legionary soldiers stationed here were also genetically modified warriors, or rather, the attacking and defending sides were of the same origin.

The gene warriors at the forefront were directly hit by the plasma cannon, their individual shields shattering instantly. The scorching plasma melted the armor in a flash, burning the warriors inside to charcoal.

Kovacs's mech was also hit in the left leg, and a huge gash was blown in the alloy armor. The mech's balance system activated instantly, allowing him to continue moving forward instead of falling to his knees.

Using the smoke and dust from the explosion, Kovacs, dragging his injured left leg, charged towards the defenders' position like a furious steel behemoth, his dense firepower even overpowering the flames spewing from the bunker.

More and more landing pods crashed onto the fortress planet, leaving the land riddled with craters, and littered with shattered limbs, broken weapons, and burning armor debris.

Rebel soldiers fell in droves, but more landing craft were descending behind them, and more and more comrades were rushing forward.

With the opening up of the situation through orbital bombardment and the first wave of army landings, heavy equipment began to be airdropped. As these behemoths rolled out of their drop pods, the deafening roar shattered the defenders' stubborn resistance.

Large numbers of heavy mechs clashed on the surface of the fortress planet like mobile fortresses, much like giants from the mythical age fighting on the oceans and continents, turning mountains into abysses.

The bugle call for the general offensive sounded under the dim sky. The flying gunships flew low, being shot down by anti-aircraft fire while dropping countless bunker-buster bombs onto the ground.

This battle was beyond description; the core members of the Foundation built a wall of death on their own planet with their lives.

"Charge! For the Commander! For the New Foundation!"

Amidst the deafening shouts, countless genetic warriors surged like a tidal wave into the fortresses. The soldiers at the forefront fell in droves, but those behind continued their charge, stepping over the corpses of their comrades, relentlessly advancing.

Until the highest commander of the defending forces refused to surrender and activated the detonation system in the fortress, which he had never thought he would use one day, the battle finally came to an end amidst towering flames, leaving behind a planet riddled with holes and on the verge of destruction.

However, casualties are just a number now; this brutal landing battle is merely a microcosm of the countless battles taking place within the Foundation's territory at this moment.

The flames of rebellion that ignited in the outer star sectors have swept across most of the Foundation's territory, with countless planets witnessing the same battles, sacrifices, and bloodshed.