Callum entered again once the door closed.
"Commander, the two misses are waiting."
"Let them in."
Yunera entered beside Kimmy.
Kimmy faced Hans as soon as they stopped before the table.
"Hans, you really have helicopters?"
Her voice carried through the room, louder and brighter than usual.
"Yes."
"So you really did fly above us yesterday?"
"I did."
"Why did you not tell us sooner?"
Hans did not know what to say.
"I only acquired Falcon One yesterday."
"That does not mean you could not have told us."
Yunera touched her arm.
"Sister, lower your voice. He already promised to take you into the skies."
"That was before he actually had a helicopter," Kimmy replied.
She turned back toward Hans.
"My brother used to boast about his missions and flying in helicopters. I wanted to know what it felt like too."
The usually reserved girl had been holding onto such a childish wish.
Come to think of it, I did promise her a flight.
Could I still take that back?
"Stop complaining. It is a military asset, not a toy I can use as I wish."
"Hmph. You used it yesterday. You flew above us, and you did not even speak to me over the radio."
"I was observing the platoons."
"You still could have said something."
Hans massaged his temples.
"I’ll take you into the skies once Falcon One is available."
"You said it. No going back."
Hans shrugged.
A short flight should not cause any problems.
However, he could only hope that Raptor One’s pilot would not tease Falcon One’s crew.
Yunera lightly pulled Kimmy’s arm.
"You already received your answer, Sister. We should let him return to his work."
Kimmy remained facing Hans.
"After the next operation?"
"When Falcon One is available."
"That’s not an exact time, Hans. What if you take back your word?"
"It is the only answer you are getting."
Kimmy pursed her lips, but she did not continue arguing.
"Very well. I will remember."
Hans had no doubt about that.
Yunera guided her toward the doorway. Before leaving, Kimmy stopped again.
"We are still joining South One tomorrow, are we not?"
"That depends on the plan drafted by my soldiers, but I have not ordered either of you removed."
"Then we will prepare."
Yunera gave Hans a small nod before leading Kimmy outside.
Callum entered after them.
"Fairy is waiting, Commander."
"Send her in."
Matilda arrived with Anton and Sabine several moments later. Anton carried the route maps from South One’s operation, while Sabine brought the latest reports from the northeastern sections.
They spread everything across the table.
Several new markings surrounded Highcross.
Hans noticed the vehicle assignments first.
Bastions One through Three remained with South One, while Bastions Four through Six stayed with South Two. Big Rhino and War Elephant retained their usual positions.
More Guardian APCs and Vanguards had been transferred from the mobile reserve. Some joined the two formations, while the rest covered the prepared withdrawal routes.
"You’re using more of the armor."
"Yes, Commander," Matilda answered. "South One and South Two are too small for Highcross by themselves. They will retain their command structure, but additional squads, Guardian APCs, and Vanguards will operate under their channels for the duration of the operation."
Hans looked over the secured positions farther north.
"What about the areas behind them?"
"The assigned garrisons remain unchanged. We are only drawing from the mobile reserve and units that can be replaced by infantry patrols for one day."
The Airfield, Route One, Site Three, and the main base still retained their own defenses.
Anton pointed toward the western approach.
"South One will hold the wider road near the first shopping center. The additional Guardian APCs will transport the fresh squads and provide covered withdrawal if the infected reach the formation."
Sabine moved her finger toward the eastern side.
"South Two will control the adjoining roads and prevent the drawn concentrations from spreading into the surrounding blocks."
The Vanguards were divided between them.
Several would engage the infected from the prepared roads. The others remained behind the platoons as a mobile reserve, ready to reinforce whichever side received the larger concentration.
Hans studied the arrangement.
"And the aircraft?"
"Falcon One and Falcon Two will begin the lure," Matilda said. "Striker One will cover the western route with South One. Striker Two will take the southern approach, while Striker Three will remain above South Two. Flight Operations can shift one of them if either side requires reinforcement."
"The artillery?"
"Held until the infected leave the valuable structures. The Hellhammers will only fire on targets inside the approved zones."
Matilda placed another vehicle marker between the two assigned routes.
"We also recommend using the Armored Command Truck for the command element."
Hans looked at the marker.
He had almost forgotten about it.
The vehicle had come with his promotion to Company Leader, but his power infrastructure had been unable to support it at the time.
When the Power Plants expanded the grid, his attention had already shifted to Site Three, the southern advance, and the Airfield.
He had never returned to it.
"The grid can support it now?"
"Yes, Commander. We confirmed that before adding it to the operation."
Matilda moved the marker into the center of the two routes.
"The truck will carry both platoon channels, the aircraft feeds, and the artillery link. It can remain behind the forward elements without placing the command group inside either engagement area."
Two Guardian APC markers covered it from opposite sides. Several Vanguards occupied the nearby roads, close enough to reinforce either platoon.
"I recommend that you command from the truck with me," Matilda continued. "Callum will remain inside. Specter Squad will occupy one of the escorting APCs."
Hans studied the arrangement again.
Matilda and the platoon leaders had remembered an asset he had stopped thinking about and placed it where it could support both formations.
"Use it."
"Understood."
Hans nodded.
His officers had already made use of the vehicles available to them. They had not limited the operation to the usual platoon formations simply because those formations had worked before.
A notification appeared before him.
------
[ Standard Infantry Squad training complete. ]
------
The new squad was ready.
Hans dismissed the panel and looked toward Matilda.
"Add them to the operation. Give them enough opportunities to earn promotions without placing the rest of the formation at risk."
"They will be assigned behind one of South One’s veteran squads," Matilda answered. "The Vanguards and Guardian APCs will reduce the pressure before the infected enter their range."
"Good."
Highcross would receive more soldiers, more armor, and three attack helicopters.
This time, Hans had no intention of arriving with only what was necessary.
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