Chapter 22: Char Outmaneuvered!

Although it was a difficult process, under Garma’s encouragement, the Zeon forces managed to complete their assembly in about an hour.

"Have the officers and non-commissioned officers of each platoon gather. Everyone else, stand down and rest!"

Seeing that the majority of his men were covered in mud and looked disheveled, Garma, acting as commander, felt a pang of sympathy. After all, having lived and trained together day and night, they had forged deep bonds of friendship. These cadets had become Garma's most steadfast supporters and followers, so he ordered everyone to rest in place rather than remain on high alert for an immediate attack. He and his subordinate commanders planned to hold an impromptu meeting to discuss attack strategies as soon as the reconnaissance was complete.

However, just as the Zeon reconnaissance mast was raised, and before the camera lens could even rotate into position, short, sharp bursts of gunfire erupted from the perimeter.

"What’s going on? Where is that shooting coming from? Did the Federation forces launch an attack?"

Officers in the command vehicle quickly spilled out, but they found that the resting Zeon cadets were remaining disciplined at their positions, and the sentries had reported no emergencies.

"Report! The reconnaissance team has come under enemy fire!"

While everyone was left in confusion, the Zeon infantry who had gone out to scout retreated from the forest with downcast faces. The reconnaissance mast they had been carrying had been confiscated by military police, as it had been destroyed by precise fire from the Earth Federation forces and was now unusable.

"This... how is this possible?"

"How far were you from the enemy?"

"Less than two kilometers!"

"That is hardly surprising."

Char stopped the departing military police, examined the blue markings on the mast, and said, "The shooting was very precise. That guy used short bursts from a coaxial machine gun, damaging this thing with less than twenty rounds."

"So, what do we do now?"

Garma also looked at the dense cluster of impact marks.

"Continue the reconnaissance, just stay further back. We have two more sets of equipment. Have the scouts wear infrared cloaks and smear mud on any exposed skin."

Char’s arrangements were highly effective. The reason Macarius had been able to hit the first mast was primarily because the Zeon cadets had gotten too close and were captured by the vehicle's thermal imaging equipment—a stroke of luck aided by the heavy rain from the Zeon satellite. After all, the forest temperature had dropped significantly under the downpour, and it would have been strange not to notice a few warm spots suddenly appearing.

The second group of scouts did not expose themselves. They even camouflaged the reconnaissance mast with leaves and branches, fearing a repeat of the earlier incident. Soon, intelligence on the Federation defensive positions reached Garma’s command vehicle.

"The Federation forces are very cautious."

"Indeed. They barely show themselves; only a few sentries are patrolling the lines. Most importantly, we haven't seen any tanks."

For the Zeon side, the greatest threat was undoubtedly the four Type 61 tanks. In the absence of mobile suits, these tanks were the undisputed kings of the battlefield. With their thick armor and fierce firepower, any opposing force would find them a major headache.

"It’s a pity they didn't deploy their tanks on the front line."

Garma sighed. He knew it was wishful thinking, but he couldn't help but imagine it. If they had, he could have used the nine 120mm self-propelled mortars under his command to launch a precise volley, targeting the tanks from above to destroy them. Once the tanks were gone, the remaining Federation cadets would be like tigers without teeth, making them much easier to deal with.

"The enemy isn't stupid. They know we have heavy mortars, so they certainly won't expose them."

"Then, shall I lead a force to conduct a fire reconnaissance to flush them out and mark targets for the artillery?"

A Zeon cadet stood up immediately to volunteer. Although such a mission was dangerous, for them, collective honor at this moment was far more important than their lives. Even if they fell in battle, it would be worth it if they could pave the way to victory for their comrades!

"No, request denied!" Garma sternly rejected the proposal.

"Garma!" Char shook his head and said, "We need to conduct a fire reconnaissance. You know full well that if the enemy doesn't reveal their layout, staying here like this will only waste more time."

"Very well, I approve it."

After much deliberation, Garma had no choice but to nod in approval. After all, Char was speaking the truth.

Consequently, about a platoon of Zeon infantry was quickly assembled, prepared to conduct a fire reconnaissance under the cover of two wheeled armored vehicles and three tracked transport vehicles.

"Boss, the Zeons are on the move!"

"I see them."

From within a Federation tank positioned on the reverse slope, Macarius had already observed the Zeon movements through the reconnaissance equipment set up by the infantry. Fire reconnaissance was a tactic everyone was intimately familiar with. Therefore, during the operational briefing, Macarius had ordered the infantry not to open fire—even if the Zeons rushed right up to their faces, they were not to engage.

"Leave their fire reconnaissance to us."

Watching the Zeon troops spreading out in a skirmish line from the front, Macarius wore a satisfied smile and pressed his throat microphone.

"Squad, pay attention. Red Dragon Four and I are moving out. Two and Three, stand by!"

"Copy that!" x3

"Red Dragon Four, open fire at two thousand meters. Don't let them get too close. You take the two tracked vehicles on the right; I’ll handle the other three."

"Copy, Red Dragon One. Good luck!"

Macarius then began adjusting the fire control system to lock onto his targets. As the buzzing sounds echoed in sequence, all three Zeon vehicles, separated by at least two hundred meters, were captured by the tank’s fire control system.

Macarius pressed his microphone again.

"Tanks, advance!"

The idling engines suddenly roared to life, and the silhouettes of the Type 61 tanks emerged from the reverse slope behind the defensive line.

"The Federation tanks are moving!"

"Why only two?"

"Where are the other two?"

Before the Zeon commanders could voice their questions, Char, who had also been monitoring the battlefield, saw his expression change drastically.

"Order them to retreat!"

"Boom..."

But it was too late. The Type 61 tanks, having emerged from their cover, fired at the Zeon vehicles below as if they were practicing at a shooting range.

"This is nothing more than target practice!"

Sitting in the combat compartment, Macarius operated the turret, pressing the firing button in the pre-determined order. Immediately, bursts of blue paint exploded against the Zeon vehicles.

"Attacking vehicles disabled. Cease movement!"