Chapter 20: Youth is the Season for Mistakes!

“Just as I expected!”

Watching the trajectory of Red Dragon One’s movements, Dozlu wore a satisfied smile, as if to say, “I knew it.” Anticipating that the Federation forces would most likely employ a pincer maneuver, he had long since laid out minefields in this area.

Although these were simulated minefields on the map, any flanking units entering them would suffer losses—tank losses included.

However, just as the arrow indicating their advance was about to enter the minefield, the blue arrow suddenly changed direction.

“?”

Dozlu froze mid-sip, eyes wide as he stared at the electronic screen.

“Have we been detected?”

“No, that shouldn’t be!”

“Commander, they’re not flanking from the left wing. Instead, they’re continuing forward, seemingly heading up the mountain!”

“What?”

Now it was Dozlu’s turn to be taken aback.

“Who’s commanding the Federation forces here?”

A report was quickly delivered before Dozlu.

“Makarius Kleene?”

Dozlu glanced sideways at Lieutenant General Gene, who wore an expression as if to say, “I told you so,” and suddenly it all made sense.

“And who is that?”

“Just a junior at home with plenty of ideas.”

“That’s not ‘plenty of ideas’—sir, I’ve been to that hill. Armored vehicles cannot climb that terrain!”

Dozlu was absolutely certain. He was a grounded soldier who had personally scouted the area before the exercise. How could he not know whether tanks could pass through?

“Then there’s no debate needed, young man. Just watch and see.”

---

To be honest, at this moment, Makarius was quite grateful to be commanding an M61A2 tank equipped with a new power pack; it could still advance on slopes nearing fifty degrees, thanks to the Federation’s technological experts. They had already traversed nearly half the path, yet had used less than a third of the planned time. However, as the terrain grew more difficult ahead, the time required for the tanks to advance would only increase.

The accompanying infantry were dumbfounded. To them, these cumbersome tanks seemed like nimble steeds in the hands of the young commander. Maneuvering through dense forests and narrow trees, the tanks twisted and turned. Although countless leaves were shredded and moss crushed, the trees themselves remained untouched.

“I bet those Zeon guys never expected us to come through here!”

“Yeah, who else could pull this off?”

While the flanking squad advanced according to plan, the main force under John’s command began its operation. Soldiers swiftly deployed into battle formations, adjusting their diverse weapons until 07:45.

“Red Dragon, advance!”

Andre, the commander, released the radio button. His tank charged up the hillside like a wild bull.

“Fire!”

Though the vehicle hadn’t fully stopped, Andre had already locked two targets ahead with the fire control system and pressed the firing button. The tank’s barrel lifted to firing position in sync with the vehicle’s posture, then automatically discharged shells.

One target, representing a machine-gun bunker with a similar projected area, was hit by a marking round. Blue dye burst upon impact, changing the target’s color.

After firing, the turret automatically rotated toward another locked target, destroying another bunker.

Throughout this, Red Dragon Two maintained movement, charging up the slope before maneuvering sideways. After firing, the driver reversed the vehicle down the hill.

Red Dragons Three and Four did the same—three tanks striking simultaneously from different directions, completing their attacks and swiftly withdrawing.

“Defensive position targets destroyed; enemy tanks not hit!”

The command group soon evaluated: all frontline anti-tank firepower at the Zeon position had been wiped out. Then, the three tanks repeated the operation, though their advance points varied. Andre had prepared six distinct attack positions for the others. After each strike, tanks irregularly shifted starting points.

“Targets destroyed; infantry failed to hit enemy tanks!”

Within moments, the frontline fire support points for the Zeon infantry units were decimated under continuous bombardment from dual 150mm artillery. Simultaneously, Federation infantry advanced, clutching rifles and using tanks for cover as they approached defensive positions. They then deployed demolition rocket backpacks to clear paths through minefields—a weapon capable of carving out dozens of meters and blasting away barbed wire and other obstacles in a single blast.

With the path opened, tanks and infantry coordinated to rapidly penetrate frontline defenses.

“Excellent coordination, but useless. We’ve set up mortar positions and mobile missile launchers in the rear. Once they enter the frontline, they’ll be suppressed and unable to advance—unless the other pincer flank can help clear these firepoints! But where is their other wave?”

“Commander, they’re climbing the mountain!”

---

“What?”

“I’m switching you to the main screen!”

A vehicle-mounted perspective appeared on the electronic screen. A tank roared as it climbed the hillside. In front of it were two thick cables—one end anchored atop the mountain, bending a row of sturdy trees out of shape; the other end was wound on a winch behind the tank, steadily tightening.

Less than 27 minutes had passed, and Red Dragon Two was only a few dozen meters from the summit!

Once over the crest, they could unleash devastating firepower from a commanding height across the entire Zeon position!

“How is this possible?”

Dozlu stood abruptly, so forcefully that he knocked over his wine glass.

He had no time to clean up as he watched the M61 tank roar closer to the summit.

After that, he didn’t need to watch anymore.

The defensive position, which had been expected to hold off the Federation for at least a day and inflict over twenty percent losses, was doomed.

Along the flank where Red Dragon One operated, Zeon forces had no means to counterattack. The remaining missile launchers were swiftly and precisely destroyed by Red Dragon One’s relentless artillery fire—each shot like devouring sushi, one after another without pause. When the shelling ceased, all Zeon defenses in that area had been utterly annihilated.

“Heh.”

Pushing away the towel brought by an orderly, Dozlu sank into his chair with a bitter smile, looking toward Lieutenant General Gene.

“Looks like I was wrong this time. When the exercise ends, I must learn from your junior properly.”

“No worries, young man. Mistakes are normal—after all, youth is the time for mistakes. Now, we can notify the Red team to commence operations!”

“Of course! Connect me to Red Command!”