Talion drove the "White Lion" towards Lin Ao. Lin Ao wanted to retreat but he had reached a point of no return.
"Aren't you going to resist? It's really disappointing!"
The white lion's battle ax swung down and hit Lin Ao's shield, unable to get it out for a while. Talion simply let go of the ax, grabbed a thick curved horn on the nose of No. 2, grabbed his head and knocked it on the white lion's knee.
Talion actually didn't need to do this, but he wanted to see how Lin Ao would behave after the No. 2 machine's head was removed by himself. He liked to torture the enemy and constantly destroy the enemy's spirit.
But he didn't succeed. The two thick horns that bent backwards on the No. 2 nose suddenly changed from black to hot red, melting the remaining left hand of the white lion!
"!! What's going on? Is there a thermal knife on the corner of the head!?"
Talion was horrified, now that both of his White Lion's hands were destroyed, he could no longer hold any weapons. He flew up and kicked Unit 2 into the building behind it and ran away.
Talion was very unwilling. He hoped that the battle with humanoid weapons would bring battle damage to his body, because battle damage is the medal of a warrior. But he didn't want the fight to end in such an anticlimactic manner.
The voice of his brother Targris appeared in his cockpit: "Talion, we should withdraw. Lieutenant Colonel Zheng Jin died, Lieutenant Colonel William was captured, and we are defeated."
"I know! I'll go back right now!"
Talion snorted and cut off Targris' communication.
…
A few weeks ago, when AI Toth introduced to himself that the two horns on the No. 2 nose were actually thermal knives, Lin Ao also joked about the use of putting knives on the head. Who knew that what saved him for the second time today was exactly what he had laughed at originally.
"Now do you know the purpose of the two corners on the nose of No. 2 machine?" the AI said proudly.
"...Is it only useful when you wait for the enemy to catch you?"
"That's not true. Like the mouth cannon of Unit 2, it is an auxiliary weapon in hand-to-hand combat. It can also ram into the enemy's warship."
"Hit the battleship with your head? That's more silly, okay? I'd rather just hit it with an axe!"
Lin Ao's hands were still shaking. He switched the driving mode to motion control. After getting up, it took a lot of effort to pull out the battle ax stuck in his shield.
"Ahhhhh... we only had one battle, and the shield was broken like this."
The shield of Unit 2 was full of small holes pierced by thermal energy swords, and there was also a hole split by a battle axe, which looked twisted and tattered.
AI said: "Don't worry, this level of damage can be repaired in a few days."
Lin Ao contacted the Osiris and learned that the HER army had begun to retreat. He breathed a sigh of relief and fell asleep on the console.
…
At night, citizens of Turin took to the streets to pay their respects to the NEU soldiers who died today.
The battle ended with HER's defeat. The New European Union (NEU) lost fourteen "Partner Cavalry" units. Captain Abraham Ferrari, the ace pilot of the Mediterranean-Spartan Legion, died. A deputy speaker of the New EU Parliament was unfortunately killed. .
HER lost 25 Yingyangs. Lieutenant Colonel Zheng Jin, the captain of the Cyclops battleship, was killed, and Lieutenant Colonel William, the captain of the Medusa battleship, was captured.
Portraits of fallen soldiers were placed in Piazza San Carlo, and wreaths and bouquets were laid in their honor. Although the rain in Turin has not ended today, there are still many citizens coming to mourn.
Among the mourners, there was a woman with hair as bright as fire. She was Captain Charlotte. Seeing the portrait of Captain Ferrari, who fought alongside her today, placed in the square, Charlotte had mixed feelings in her heart. But what reflected her appearance were her dull eyes. In the eyes of others, she must be the widow of a fallen soldier, so Charlotte received a lot of sympathetic looks.
A man in military uniform walked up to Charlotte holding an umbrella. After laying a bouquet to the portrait of Captain Ferrari, he said to Charlotte: "He was an outstanding soldier. I feel sorry for him... I am responsible for today." Hello, Colonel David, commander of the defense of Turin."
Colonel David stretched out his hand, and Charlotte Qu just nodded.
Colonel David looked at the altar set up by the citizens for the fallen soldiers and asked Captain Charlotte: "Captain Charlotte, have you heard about the Battle of Stalingrad?"
"No."
"That was hundreds of years ago. At that time, there was a country that was invading like HER now. They besieged a city called Stalingrad for several months. After the siege ended, three-quarters of the citizens died. From hunger, not from the artillery of the invaders.”
Seeing Charlotte's lack of reaction, Colonel David continued: "Times have changed, and the emergence of humanoid weapons has accelerated the pace of war. I have never heard of a protracted battle around a city like the Battle of Stalingrad. A few humanoid weapons can control a city in less than half a day, which may be a good thing..."
Charlotte asked him: "You think this is a good thing?"
Colonel David nodded affirmatively: "Yes, unarmed people no longer have to die of hunger due to siege. You must know that in the past, siege was an important means to capture a city."
"Do you think this is the ideal state for war?"
"That's not what I meant. If the city cannot be defended, the people will still suffer. Just like the atrocities committed by HER in North America... What I want to say is that in this era, the military needs humanoid weapons to protect the people. What is even more important is Excellent pilot. Captain Charlotte, I'm sorry about the annihilation of the Central European Army, but I hope you can join our Mediterranean Army."
Charlotte glanced at him and asked: "Is this your personal invitation, Colonel, or is it from the Mediterranean Legion?"
"It's all! Captain Charlotte, join us and continue to resist HER's invasion of our homeland!" Colonel David said with a positive attitude.
Charlotte's eyes were still dim and did not regain their luster due to Colonel David's invitation. She bent down and picked up a flower that had been washed away by the rain. She put the flower again in the bouquet presented by the citizens and said to David: "Thank you for the invitation. I will not leave NUE. But I prefer to stay here now." On the Osiris, I feel like there’s still unfinished business there.”
Charlotte turned and disappeared into the crowd, and Colonel David sighed helplessly. He glanced at the flower that Charlotte had just picked up. Its color was as bright as Charlotte's red hair.
…
"Captain Shepard, the last time was in Venice, and this time it was in Turin. You and your crew saved me for the second time!"
Deputy Speaker Robert held Shepard's hand tightly. If it weren't for the Osiris, Robert and the other council members would have been kidnapped by HER's spies.
Shepard smiled and said, "You don't have to be so polite. I'm glad to be able to help. But I also have something to ask for..."
"Speaking!"
"The Osiris has been unable to be repaired since leaving Athens and I hope the new EU can help..."
Robert laughed loudly, asked his secretary to make a phone call, and then said to Shepard on board: "It's simple. The Osiris has helped us resist HER's invasion of Europe many times, so we will naturally give our full help! I have asked the secretary and the military People from Fang contacted and they are willing to let the Osiris go to the shipyard in Genoa for repairs!"
"Many thanks!"
The Osiris finally found a place to get repairs and supplies, and the crew on the bridge were delighted, as it meant they would also get a holiday in Genoa.
Captain Shepard was also very happy, but seeing that Deputy Speaker Robert seemed to have something else to ask for, he asked him in a low voice: "Deputy Speaker, do you have anything else to ask for?"
Robert said with some embarrassment: "Actually... an agreement to support the North American Rescue Alliance was passed at the meeting in Turin today. I will go to North America on behalf of the new European Union. I hope the Osiris can..."
Shepard asked in a low voice, but Deputy Speaker Robert did not lower his voice when he answered. He did not know the consequences of doing so.
"You want us to go to North America? That's crazy! It's the most unsafe place on earth! I won't go!"
One crew member stood up to protest, and soon others were voicing their displeasure.
“Does your new EU have no ships?”
"The Osiris has been in enough trouble recently, and you still want us to go to that damn place in North America!?"
Seeing that he had made a mistake, Deputy Speaker Robert struggled to explain to everyone that he just hoped that the Osiris could take him to North America. Whether he agreed or not depended on the opinions of Captain Shepard and the crew.
Captain Shepard signaled everyone to be quiet, patted Deputy Speaker Robert on the shoulder and said: "Sorry, my crew has been having a hard time recently. They need a rest. I hope you can forgive them for their rudeness. As for what you said, Can we wait until we go to Genoa to discuss it?"
Robert nodded: "Of course, of course, my matter is not that urgent. By the way, there is another thing. I hope that the HER commander captured by your ship can be handed over to us, and we are willing to exchange ammunition for it."
"Of course! It's useless for us to keep him on the ship. Why don't you use it as a bargaining chip to negotiate with HER. Jessica, let the soldiers in the solitary room bring the prisoners over!"
"Captain! It's bad! The guard in the solitary room said the prisoner is missing!!"
"What did you say!?"
Captain Shepard was so shocked that he almost fainted.
