Two squadrons of Titan Mecha were deployed on the battlefield, primarily to test the combat effectiveness of the new models.
Therefore, these two squadrons of Titan Mecha were not assigned specific combat objectives. They were given a series of testing targets upon deployment, and the specific combat plans were entirely left to the discretion of the leaders of the two squadrons.
In fact, even if the higher-ups wanted to set specific combat plans or assign specific combat objectives, it was impossible, as fighting alien creatures involves no conventional missions like eliminating firepoints, attacking defensive nodes, or decapitating command headquarters.
When troops were sent to the battlefield, all they needed to know was one thing: keep pulling the trigger, shooting at the alien creatures, and kill as many as possible β the more, the better.
After all, what you're facing are alien creatures that don't engage in tactical strategy but rely on overwhelming numbers, leaving you with no choice other than to tackle them head-on.
For the two Titan squadrons needing to test equipment performance, it put their ability to improvise in battlefield conditions to the test.
Especially since they were directly thrown into the most intense frontline, where the battle intensity was highest, and with friendly lines behind them, retreating was convenient, making it an ideal field for real combat testing.
But this also meant facing an endless flood of alien swarms.
For the Titan squadron leader, he could let his teammates fight while retreating, withdrawing beneath the defensive line to test the weapons he had brought along.
This was the most prudent and safest plan.
However, among the equipment they needed to test was the Energy Shield, the latest technology, and the focal point of this test was the Energy Shield.
So, their strategy couldn't be too conservative. If they never engaged in close combat with alien creatures, they couldn't test the shield's performance in real combat. Merely using weapons for continuous shooting clearly did not meet the intended goals.
Therefore, even though the squadron leader moved the team closer to the defense line, he did not have them fight while relying directly on it, keeping a small distance from it.
Though they didn't follow the initial plan of letting a few alien creatures gnaw on the shields for testing, the leader still instructed team members to conserve ammunition and control shooting rhythm, consciously reducing the density of the firepower network.
If they were at the European Defense Line, the leader certainly wouldn't dare to do so, as testing the shield would be out of the question. Their survival alone would be difficult.
The alien creature attack intensity on the European Defense Line greatly surpassed that of the Aleppo Defense Line here. The alien attack waves, like waves crashing against the shore, could completely overwhelm them.
Even going all out with firepower might not hold for long, let alone reducing fire density.
But the situation in the Aleppo Region was different. The attack intensity of alien creatures here wasn't as high, so slightly reducing the density of the firepower net and adopting a more ammo-conserving combat style wouldn't entail great risks.
Even so, after the Titan squadron lowered the firepower net's density, only a few alien creatures managed to breach it.
Even if one or two occasionally broke through, they were quickly killed, without a chance to test the shield's strength up close.
"Captain, twenty-seven new weapon tests and one hundred thirty-six unmanned Titan combat test projects are completed. There are thirteen Energy Shield test projects left. I still suggest we let some alien creatures come to gnaw on the shield to quickly complete the test." A team member verified the tests needing completion via the Titan's onboard computer and suggested it again once only the Energy Shield tests remained.
Upon hearing this, even though still reluctant, the captain replied, "Keep moving back. Once close to the defense line, everyone switch to alert mode, leaving combat to the unmanned Titans."
"Yes!" The team members responded in unison and began moving again.
At this moment, the troops waiting on the defense line to assist them had already taken combat positions, but the Titan squadron's firepower was so fierce they hadn't been needed yet.
"Do we need to support them? They seem to be running out of ammunition." A defender suggested to a nearby Flame Country officer, observing what looked like a decline in firepower from these deployed beasts β half of them barely firing, which undoubtedly indicated that ammunition was running low.
However, the Flame Country officer, more familiar with their equipment and fighters' combat style, knew this wasn't due to ammunition depletion.
Nonetheless, he nodded and said, "Provide them with fire support, but don't hit too hard. They're here to test equipment, leave some enemies for them."
"Understood." The defender immediately conveyed the orders downwards.
Soon, the defenders began artillery strikes and other fire support, and the Titan squadron retreated close to the defense.
They adopted a defensive formation, refraining from further retreating into the line, letting the unmanned Titans carry out the main firepower output in alert shooting mode.
This made it appear as though they were running low on ammunition, forced to reduce firing frequency.
In reality, although they'd indeed depleted much ammunition, they still had at least one-third of it remaining, enough for prolonged combat.
"The defenders are attacking, Captain. Shouldn't we let some dogs come to gnaw the shield? Otherwise, the mission won't be completed this way!" The team member suggested again, watching shells land from the defense line.
No sooner had he finished speaking than a mortar shell landed nearby, exploding with shrapnel and fragments of snow and earth pelting against half a squadron of Titan shields, casting a blue glow.
"Was that a misfire?" the team member asked, incredulous that shields untested by alien attacks had been triggered by friendly fire.
"Probably a misfire. Have we got shield test parameters?" asked the captain, more concerned about mission completion than the soldiers, yet not willing to deliberately let aliens come to test the shield, which involved much greater risks.
"Parameters received, but some elements need testing," confirmed the team member, adding a discovery: "Also, when the shield activates, we can't shoot outward. Our bullets are blocked by the shield too, this must be reported!"
