novelraw Chapter 91: 5th Armoured Assault Regiment
Chapter 91: 5th Armoured Assault Regiment
Thick, heavy cables coiled and slithered across the low ceiling, humming as the energy surging through them echoed throughout the compartment. Artificial air currents flowed sluggishly from the grated vents above. While bringing oxygen to prevent suffocation, they also carried in dust and grime from the long-unmaintained ventilation ducts.
This was the middle deck of the Starfire. Here, aside from spotting busy workers and Servitors, one could also hear the rhythmic, thudding operation of heavy machinery nearby.
Thick pipes stood like trees in a jungle on both sides of the corridors and halls.
Or rather, this was a forest of steel. The animals living here adhered to the exact same law of survival: the weak are prey to the strong.
Deeper within, spherical lights arranged every meter along the metal walls emitted a fitful, dying glow, preventing the expansive compartment from plunging into absolute darkness.
Several hundred soldiers in dark grey uniforms formed a neat, rectangular formation. Opposite them stood over a dozen arrogant officers.
The officers' uniforms were all silver-grey, and their military caps and epaulettes bore the insignia of crossed swords, indicating they were Mortal Auxiliaries subordinate to the Astral Knights.
"I am Captain Manson, Commander of the 1st Company of the Military Police Battalion."
The leading officer was a tall, heavily jowled man with a buzz cut. Standing with his hands on his hips, his wide, glaring eyes constantly swept across the crowd, much like a rancher eyeing a herd of animals.
"And I am here to supervise you!"The moment these words fell, all the soldiers trembled slightly, then proceeded to straighten their already ramrod-straight backs even further and thrust their chests out higher, as if undergoing an inspection.
"Our Military Police Company is your finest big brother! If there are rules you do not understand or doubts you harbor, you may ask us, and we will answer you 'cordially'!"
He said the words, but from that gaping maw, the word 'cordially' possessed basically zero persuasive power.
Not to mention that paired with his near-roaring tone, it sounded much more like some sort of threat.
And everyone practically received this threat loud and clear. Yet they all stood rooted to their spots like statues, not daring to move an inch.
They all belonged to the newly formed 5th Armoured Assault Regiment.
After acquiring twelve Malcador heavy tanks, Soshyan set about forming the Astral Knights' fifth mortal auxiliary unit upon the foundation of the original four infantry regiments.
The formation of this new unit also served as an opportunity. Soshyan reorganized the originally chaotic organizational structure, establishing a Regiment-Battalion-Company hierarchy.
Taking the 5th Armoured Assault Regiment as an example, this regiment commanded one armoured battalion, eight infantry battalions, one reconnaissance battalion, and one engineer battalion, totaling 8,500 personnel.
The armoured battalion was further divided into four companies. Each company commanded three Malcador heavy tanks, as well as an undisclosed number of covering infantry.
These companies could be concentrated to form a powerful armoured spearhead for storming fortifications, or dispersed among other battalions to provide infantry support fire.
These gathered individuals were precisely the officers and soldiers belonging to the armoured battalion.
"Now, will the tank commanders please introduce yourselves! Each of you, state your tank's designation and your name!"
The Military Police Company Commander raised his hand and pointed at the first person on his right in the front row.
"Starting with you!"
"Yes, sir! 1st Company of the Armoured Battalion, Howling Scythe!"
The speaker was a young officer with a flat top haircut and well-developed muscles, looking exceptionally capable.
But before he could finish his introduction, he was immediately and coarsely interrupted.
"NO VIGOR!!"
The Military Police Company Commander roared like a furious lion, and the military police behind him shouted and hollered in tandem.
"I CAN'T HEAR YOU AT ALL!"
"CAN'T HEAR YOU!"
"SAY IT AGAIN!"
"OVER! DO IT OVER!"
"YOU WANT TO DRIVE A TANK WITH A VOICE THAT SOFT?!"
The strong young officer was momentarily unsettled by these roaring voices, and sweat immediately beaded on his forehead.
"YES, SIR!"
He then bellowed at a decibel level capable of tearing his own vocal cords.
"1ST COMPANY OF THE ARMOURED BATTALION! HOWLING SCYTHE! EDMUND ROMAN OAKLEY!!"
As he spoke, the muscles across his entire face were practically contorted. When he finished, he even felt like his throat was smoking.
"GOOD—!"
The Military Police Company Commander's gaze shifted to the man on Edmund's left.
"NEXT!"
"1ST COMPANY OF THE ARMOURED BATTALION! STEEL GRINDER! PIERRE BILLAUD!!"
This stocky officer had clearly learned his lesson, elevating his pitch to the absolute maximum right from the start.
"GOOD!!"
Seeing the other so compliant, a trace of smugness surfaced on the Military Police Company Commander's face.
"VERY SPIRITED!"
But when his gaze shifted to the third man, his expression reverted to that ferocious visage.
That was a man with a placid expression and a terrifying scar slashing from the corner of his right eye to his lower lip. Compared to the people around him, his military uniform appeared somewhat bagging—an undisguised showing of disdain.
"1st Company of the Armoured Battalion, Undead Pest, Kent Ruspel."
Compared to the previous two, his voice was as soft as a poet reciting verses by a lakeside.
His tone and attitude instantly enraged all the military police.
"CAN'T HEAR YOU! CAN'T HEAR YOU!"
"VOICE IS TOO SOFT!"
"OVER! DO IT OVER!"
The military police stepped forward one after another, pointing fingers at him, looking very much like they would resort to physical violence if he didn't comply.
As for the Company Commander, he remained standing where he was, though his eyes turned into those of a man-eating beast.
"WELL?! DID YOU NOT HEAR US?!"
Faced with his roar, the man remained entirely unmoved.
"DON'T LOOK ANYWHERE ELSE!"
"NO LOOKING AROUND!"
"IS THAT A POSTURE OF ATTENTION?!"
The military police weren't just roaring at Kent; they were also asserting their authority over the other officers and soldiers. Standing with hands on hips like prison guards patrolling inmates, their eyes constantly swept through the formation, seeking out any possible dissenters.
At least for the moment, a second one had yet to appear.
"RIGHT HERE! WHEN THE MILITARY POLICE COMPANY SAYS WE CAN'T HEAR YOU, IT MEANS WE CAN'T HEAR YOU!"
After roaring this sentence at the formation, the Military Police Company Commander glared at this unruly man and used all his strength to bellow at his maximum volume.
"DO IT OVER!!!!!!!!!"
(End of Chapter)