Chapter 291: The Breached Line of Defense
"Amethyst crystals have been detected approaching the second line of defense."
"The automatic sentry tower has begun to enter the activation state."
On both sides of the exit above the lava canyon.
17 sentry towers built with quick-acting cement lined up in a row entered the self-inspection state before being opened.
The Thunder-class photoelectric cannon above slowly rotated.
The terrifying multi-barreled gun was pointed towards the lava canyon.
Ten seconds later.
Flying purple crystals in the shape of insects began to emerge from the canyon in large numbers.
The spider robots guarding the watchtower opened fire first.
Then, when more and more flying purple crystals appeared, the spider robots alone seemed to be insufficient in firepower.
The photoelectric cannon on the watchtower finally started to work.
Accompanied by a slight humming sound.
The 32mm diameter shells are fired from the sentry tower cannon at a rate of 200 rounds per second.
It turned into a desperate metal storm.
Use super high speed to tear apart all obstacles in the way.
Most of the canyon exit was cleared out in an instant.
Five seconds later.
The machine guns stopped firing.
Only the spider robot was left to continue dealing with the remaining flying amethyst crystals.
The Thunder-class optoelectronic cannon on the sentry tower is powerful.
The speed at which ammunition is consumed when operating at full capacity is terrifying.
Even the ammunition used was solid shells made of cheap metal.
The overall cost is still not negligible.
Therefore, it is out of consideration to maintain long-term combat capability and reduce logistical pressure.
It will only happen when the number of purple crystals gathers to a certain level and has enough striking value.
Only then will the suppression be initiated.
Generally speaking.
It is still the more economical spider robot that uses an electromagnetic rifle for precise point shooting.
Under this powerful fire blockade.
The flying purple crystals launched several rounds of attacks in succession, leaving behind hundreds of thousands of corpses.
They have never been able to truly escape from the range of the lava canyon.
Until the 7th minute after the battle.
A violent explosion suddenly occurred beneath the foundation of a watchtower.
After the entire sentry tower was blown up and started shaking.
This is a one-sided massacre.
Only then did some changes begin to take place.
Su Wu was far away in the control center.
By retrieving battle logs and analyzing the battle scene.
It was discovered that the explosion came from a variant of amethyst.
It can briefly block the scanning of crystal detectors and sprint a distance underground at an extremely fast speed.
Then it self-destructs upon reaching its destination.
The explosive power is approximately equal to that of a 122mm howitzer with a warhead filled with military gunpowder.
"It's troublesome."
Su Wu had a headache.
The sentry tower is not far from the crack exit of the magma canyon. It is not a land battleship that can be moved at will.
Add these two situations together.
It became that they could neither scan the traces of the self-destructing amethyst crystals nor change the position of the sentry tower to keep a safe distance from the dangerous self-destructing amethyst crystals.
Can only passively take the beating.
Boom!
Just as Su Wu was tracking down the source of the explosion under the foundation of the sentry tower.
More self-destructive purple crystals began to appear around the watchtower.
Just a moment.
A small part of the foundation of one of the watchtowers was destroyed, causing the top to tilt.
Su Wu pondered for a moment.
Decided to take the initiative.
Dispatch spider robots and combat drone swarms to approach the rift location.
Suppress the flying amethyst crystals near the surface of the magma canyon so that the self-destructive amethyst crystals hidden among them cannot easily pass through the rock walls of the upper canyon and approach the sentry tower from underground in the shortest distance.
This is not a good method.
It actually amounts to rebuilding the first line of defense.
But spider robots and combat drones are not professional automatic firepower platforms embedded in the rock walls on both sides of the canyon.
Their firing angles and ammunition reserves are quite limited.
And its own defense is also weaker.
Reflected on the battlefield.
This was done with the assistance of a cluster of heavy artillery located at the foot of the Qinling Mountains.
It was difficult to drive the flying purple crystal back to the surface of the lava canyon.
The next moment.
Wait until the heavy artillery stops and enters the cooling period.
The flying purple crystal will come back again and fight fiercely with the spider robots near the crack.
In this intense entanglement.
The self-destructing purple crystal disguised as an insect can still occasionally find an opportunity to drill into the rock wall again.
Continue to cause damage to the sentry tower from time to time.
"It seems that the sentry tower cannot be saved."
Watching the developments on the battlefield,
Su Wu realized that the second line of defense had been breached and the outcome was basically a foregone conclusion.
The difference is just a matter of time.
But not before the watchtower was completely destroyed.
Su Wu still needs them to complete a task.
That is to act as bait and capture a complete or at least half-remaining self-destructive purple crystal.
Use them as samples to study how they evade detection by crystal detectors.
"Deploy a high-precision geological vibration detector."
"Build a model for extrapolation."
"Dispatch 10 sixth-generation Kongming-class fighters, carrying ground-penetrating missiles, to the Qinling Mountains for support."
Transmit the latest command on the console.
The super factory located on the 8th underground floor of the shelter immediately began to vacate a production line.
More than 10 geological vibration detectors were produced and assembled on site.
This thing is a special equipment specially customized by Su Wu based on the situation of the self-destructive purple crystal.
It can detect various tiny changes underground within a radius of tens of meters.
This can be used to indirectly infer the activity trajectory of the self-destructive purple crystal.
Of course, since there are no samples yet.
This detection is the most basic type of indiscriminate observation.
Regardless of whether it is useful or not, any abnormality detected will be fed back.
The consequence is bound to be a large number of false alarms.
But it doesn't matter.
As long as it can guess correctly once, its mission is accomplished.
And at the same time.
A corner of the metal platform holographic projection.
A map of the structure around the watchtower began to appear independently, outlined by silver-white lines.
Wait until the customized equipment and 10 Kongming-class sixth-generation fighter jets arrive.
Artificial intelligence will devote a lot of computing power to it.
Based on the detection results, guide the sixth-generation fighter jets to launch ground attacks.
Try to kill the self-destructive purple crystal in advance.
This is currently the only possible way to obtain samples of self-destructive amethyst crystals.
Otherwise, when it explodes, Su Wu will get nothing.
Ten minutes later.
A small farmyard with one floor above ground.
Four vertical take-off and landing platforms.
Two biplane helicopters equipped with newly produced geological seismic detectors took off first.
Then came ten sixth-generation fighter jets equipped with more than ten ground-penetrating missiles.
In order.
Accompanied by flashing green indicator lights, we slowly emerged from the hangar into the extremely cold outside world.
Then it floats into the air and ignites the engine.
It whistled and flew towards the Qinling Mountains.
Everything is going on in an orderly manner.
Qinling Mountains, above the lava canyon, and around the cracks.
Here at this moment.
Compared with a dozen minutes ago, it is completely different.
Five or six sentry towers were destroyed one after another by the self-destructing purple crystals.
The second line of defense was torn apart, leaving a large area with weak firepower.
New third and fourth amethyst forms.
With the assistance of Flying Amethyst.
It began to spread from the ground one after another.
One is a scorpion the size of a calf, covered with a grayish-white rock-like shell.
A special electromagnetic rifle originally mounted on the spider robot to target the Amethyst prototype.
Hitting its body will only leave a shallow mark.
Only rockets or electromagnetic sniper rifles can slightly hinder its progress.
But I want to kill it.
Multiple fire attacks are necessary.
It will be truly complete only after penetrating its rocky shell and shattering its inner brain located in the very center of its body.
In terms of difficulty.
It is even more difficult to deal with than the light tanks currently in service in the Federation.
The other type is an evolved form that flashes red all over and looks a bit like a lobster, but is at least as big as a family car.
This amethyst is named Magma Roarer.
Most of the body is filled with high-temperature gas and lava.
It can use its tail to compress the molten lava in its body into a cannonball and launch it far away.
The destructive power is equivalent to that of a 32mm artillery shell.
It doesn't seem too exaggerated.
In reality, it is already the most advanced heavy weapon that can be equipped by light infantry units in modern armies.
And when the destructive power reaches the standard, their numbers will accumulate.
The power that erupted.
It seems extremely scary.
They tore a huge gap in the line of spider robots.
Any ordinary spider robot that gets in the way.
Either they were violently smashed to pieces by the Rock Scorpion, or they were killed by the concentrated fire of several Lava Howlers.
None of them survived for more than 10 seconds.
The situation is slightly better for the heavy-duty main battle spider robot.
Faster movement speed, thicker body and equipped with arc defense array, as well as more powerful main guns.
Making it easier to keep distance from the Amethyst horde.
And while moving, use the main gun on your body to efficiently kill the Lava Roarers that pose the greatest threat.
But the outstanding performance of an individual cannot reverse the overall situation.
The heavy-duty main battle spider robots are too expensive and too few in number.
They can cruise on the edge and continuously eat some of the purple crystals, but they cannot stop the main force of the purple crystals from crossing the defense line and rushing to the outer periphery.
When the biplane helicopter carrying equipment arrived at the battlefield.
The few rock scorpion purple crystals at the front have begun to sporadically test the firepower of the third line of defense.
"The robot army retreats."
"The heavy artillery cluster begins ten rounds of long-range bombardment."
"Covering the following areas——"
Artificial intelligence does not have negative emotions such as tension and panic.
It seemed that the second line of defense was about to be completely broken.
Start calling for heavy fire support immediately.
Ultimate firepower.
It still doesn't fail here.
Accompanied by more than 100 heavy artillery shells carrying destructive power, falling heavily on the battlefield.
The attack of the purple crystals suddenly slowed down.
Whether it's the Lava Howler whose majority of its body is covered in lava, or the Rock Scorpion that's as thick as a tank.
They were all unable to withstand the huge shock waves brought by the heavy artillery.
One by one they were blown to pieces or knocked over.
And take advantage of this opportunity.
Two biplane helicopters hovering in the sky.
Surrounded and protected by a swarm of combat drones.
Landed on the ground near the two sentry towers that had not been destroyed.
Several spider robots that had been waiting on the ground were responsible for transporting a high-precision geological vibration detector they brought into the sentry tower.
Then it continued to take off and headed for other watchtowers.
After repeating this several times.
When a biplane helicopter was about to land near the last watchtower.
A series of violent explosions suddenly occurred inside the watchtower.
Powerful shock wave.
In an instant, the main body of the sentry tower, which was cast with quick cement, was torn into pieces.
Then bursts of blazing flames shot out from the cracks.
Transformed into rolling heat waves.
Pressing towards the approaching biplane helicopter.
The huge machine, which had not yet completely landed on the ground, was forcibly pushed back several meters.
"Only nine watchtowers remain."
Su Wu stood next to the metal platform and looked at the projected Qinling Mountain battlefield.
It seems as if I can feel the intelligent existence behind the scenes that is manipulating this group of purple crystals.
The resolute will to break free from the cage once and for all.
Think about it.
He intervened in the command of the artificial intelligence.
Let the spider robots, including those stationed on the third line of defense, continue to retreat.
Only large-scale combat drone clusters and a land force composed mainly of heavily-armored main battle spider robots remain.
Since the facts have been proven.
The electromagnetic weapons carried by ordinary spider robots can no longer effectively kill the amethyst variants on land.
There is no need to let them continue to stay on the battlefield and die in vain.
And leaving behind a complete cluster of combat drones.
This is to deal with the flying purple crystal that is currently flying higher and higher in the air.
Although a single flying purple crystal has little lethality, once they are gathered to a certain size, they can cause great damage.
With their more agile modes of movement than combat drones.
It is completely enough to become a force that could change the entire situation on the battlefield.
Therefore, even if combat drones and flying purple crystals are used for frontal close-range combat.
The casualty rate was alarmingly high.
Nor can they be allowed to retreat.
On the ground.
With the large-scale withdrawal of ordinary spider robots.
A cluster of heavy artillery without any scruples.
A full-speed bombardment mode lasting a full 15 minutes began.
The artillery shells that blocked out the sun and baptized the entire lava canyon and most of the second line of defense.
Just avoided the area around 9 watchtowers.
And in the meantime.
Large quantities of amethyst variants continue to pour out of the magma lakes in the magma canyon.
Continue to use the flying purple crystal, or climb up the rock wall thousands of meters high by yourself.
Trying to rush to the third line of defense.
However, this attack was completely futile.
Even if they did not fall under the heavy artillery shells that fell along the way, they would when they approached the third line of defense.
It was easily torn to pieces by the Thunder-class photoelectric cannon standing there.
Just as they are large in scale, they are enough to crush ordinary spider robots.
Facing the photoelectric cannon.
They also became the objects to be crushed.
Once you appear within the firing range of the machine gun, there is almost no chance of survival.
Chapter 292 Weapon Upgrade
"1172 abnormal vibrations detected."
"It is estimated that there is a 16% to 17% chance that a self-destructing purple crystal is approaching sentry tower No. 7."
"The probability has reached a critical point, and we will start launching earth-penetrating missiles."
Farmhouse courtyard, control center on the underground floor.
Projection of the terrain around Tower No. 7.
Thousands of red spots marked as abnormal appeared.
The dense crowds make it a bit dizzying.
This is a node that is judged to be abnormal under the detection of high-precision detectors.
Most of it is invalid information.
Only a small part has little reference value.
The probabilistic analysis of artificial intelligence is based on this information, which is a mixture of true and false information.
Several ground-penetrating missiles detached from a sixth-generation fighter plane hovering in the sky.
Falling straight into the vicinity of sentry tower No. 7.
After drilling to a depth of about 20 to 40 meters below, they detonated one after another.
A violent explosion.
The permafrost, which was extremely hard due to the extreme cold, was exploded with countless cracks.
Even the No. 7 sentry tower not far away was shaking.
But that's all the result.
In the third second after the explosion.
Artificial intelligence has already determined that this time no trace of the self-destructive purple crystal could be found.
And at the same time.
Watchtower No. 4 not far away.
Several dull roars were heard from beneath the foundation.
The entire tower sank several dozen centimeters.
Obviously, this time the self-destructing purple crystal chose its target for attack.
It was the No. 4 sentry tower that had only a 7% chance of being attacked according to the previous artificial intelligence analysis.
So far.
The center of the entire battlefield.
They began to surround the second line of defense and the last few remaining watchtowers.
Three hours after the war began.
Accompanied by a cluster of heavy artillery located at the foot of the Qinling Mountains.
The initial ammunition supply was emptied.
And accepted supplies from the farmyard convoy for the third time.
The last sentry tower standing on the second line of defense.
Finally, it collapsed under the continuous explosion of self-destructive purple crystals.
And Su Wu finally took advantage of the last period of time.
Successfully salvaged the incomplete remains of a self-destructive purple crystal.
"Although the loss is a bit heavy."
"But at least it turned out OK."
There is currently no organization for the spider robots to counterattack.
Even the cluster of combat drones that had been fighting with the flying purple crystals in the air.
They also began to retreat in an orderly manner to the vicinity of the third line of defense.
Su Wu calmly watched the large group of purple crystals climbing up from the lava canyon in an endless stream.
Nothing was done.
Until they crashed into the firing range of the optoelectronic guns of the third line of defense.
Torn into pieces by the terrifying metal storm.
Thunder-class optoelectronic cannon.
As a scaled-down version of the super-large electromagnetic railgun, it is the main gun of the Iceberg-class land frigate.
On the front battlefield.
For the time being, no armored unit can face its sharp edge.
Mere quantity has almost lost its meaning in front of it.
In addition to consuming some of its ammunition.
It can no longer have any impact on it.
"At a long enough distance."
"The self-destructing purple crystal is obviously unable to remain invisible throughout the entire process."
"And there is no such killer weapon."
"The third line of defense with photoelectric cannons is a high wall that they cannot cross."
"And because the battle line is wide enough."
"The efficiency of harvesting has actually become higher."
"After this battle, it is estimated that the amount of purple crystal debris harvested will exceed the total amount of all previous battles."
"More weapons and tools with amethyst as the core can be officially popularized on a small scale."
Overlooking the real-time battlefield holographically projected on the metal platform.
Although the current battle is still at its most intense.
Su Wu, however, was able to basically see the final outcome.
However, the destined victory outcome did not bring him much joy.
We won this time, but not necessarily the next time or the next time after that.
The speed of Amethyst's evolution is so fast that it makes people shudder.
That feeling seemed to have happened in less than a month.
We saw that the enemy had gone from ignorant primitive people, across the Stone Age and the feudal age, and directly into the modern era.
Although there is a gap in actual combat effectiveness between the two sides, the existence of top strategic weapons has made them a reality.
There is still a difference of several levels.
But there is no qualitative difference here.
It is very likely that the amethyst crystal had a small breakthrough or mutation.
For example, the Magma Roarer increases the range of the magma shells by several kilometers, and can use cover to launch long-range concentrated fire strikes on the Thunder-class optoelectronic cannons.
The threat posed to Su Wu.
It will increase several times immediately.
Of course, there is good news too.
After this massive battle.
The spoils obtained by Su Wu, the remains of amethyst.
It is enough to enable his armed mechanical army to popularize some more powerful special weapons and ammunition.
The next time we fight, we won't have to rely solely on the Thunder-class optoelectronic cannon.
Instead, there are more tactical options.
Overall.
Amethyst is evolving rapidly.
With the support of spirituality and purple crystal debris, Su Wu is also constantly iterating technology at a high speed.
It can be predicted that, unless something unexpected happens, such a long-distance confrontation will continue for quite some time.
Turn off the projection on the battlefield.
Su Wu then connected to the mechanical laboratory.
It is said that special weapons should be popularized.
But this is not the current priority.
Su Wu needs to first upgrade the spider robots and combat drones.
otherwise.
These are basic combat units in large numbers.
In the next battle with Amethyst, he will become pure cannon fodder.
It's a waste of resources to make them.
A projection of a spider robot prototype appeared on the metal platform.
Su Wu pondered for a few seconds.
The first thing to change was its weapon module.
According to the current compilation.
There are only three series of ordinary spider robots.
There is a long-range attack type equipped with a rocket launch slot, a main battle type equipped with an electromagnetic rifle, and a support type equipped with various electromagnetic interference bombs, smoke bombs and other functional combat equipment.
For long-range attack.
Su Wu divided the rockets he carried into two new categories.
One is a short-range, individual-level rocket with armor-piercing properties.
The other type is a stun rocket with a range of more than 5 kilometers and a warhead containing special metal fragments.
The former because of its smaller size.
A spider robot can carry up to 30 of them, which can be used as main weapons in combat.
The latter has great destructive power and can form a killing area covering a range of up to 30 meters when it explodes.
It is calculated based on the speed at which the metal fragments inside it are ejected during the explosion.
It is enough to cause fatal damage to all flying purple crystals within the killing range.
Fall on land.
It is also enough to cause certain effective damage to the Magma Roarer.
It's just that there may be nothing we can do about rock scorpions.
However, the rock scorpion has strong defense, and its attack is not that terrible.
You can leave it on the battlefield temporarily and let the individual-level armor-piercing shells at the back deal with it.
As for the main combat type and support type.
The latter does not need to be changed for the time being.
The former's electromagnetic rifle.
Keep a portion of them, return to the original form of pure metal bullets, and enhance their armor-piercing performance.
This can reduce the cost of ammunition because there is no need to fill the interior with metal hydrogen explosive.
And because of the enhanced armor-piercing performance, it can still cause certain damage to flying purple crystals and magma roarers with relatively weak defense.
At the same time, it can also take on the task of fighting against other shelters.
It is a general-purpose, inexpensive main battle weapon.
Another part was converted from electromagnetic rifles into multi-barrel light electromagnetic machine guns.
This is limited to the fact that an ordinary spider robot itself only has a mass of 500 kilograms.
Unable to carry heavy weapons.
The light machine gun is already the largest type of weapon it can carry.
After loading the light electromagnetic machine gun,
The shooting speed of an ordinary spider robot will reach 10,000 rounds per minute.
Although its damage is generally not high.
However, a dense air defense network can be woven in a very short time.
Flood the flying amethysts with sheer numbers.
Concentrate and shoot at the Magma Howler.
It can also achieve the effect of water dripping through a stone.
It is expected to last 10 to 15 seconds to kill a Lava Howler.
However, in this way,
an ordinary spider robot can only exert its full power for a maximum of one and a half minutes.
Then they would run out of ammunition and have to retreat to restock.
The last part.
Su Wu planned to make them completely give up electromagnetic firearms.
Instead, they used laser weapons and annihilation-class sniper bullets made from the remains of purple crystals.
Compared with electromagnetic weapons,
laser weapons have stronger sustained penetration performance.
Just give it enough time to accumulate.
Not to mention the rock scorpion, which currently has the strongest defense among the purple crystals.
Even if other heavily armored units appear in the future, they will be able to cause defense-breaking damage to them.
The disadvantage is that it consumes too much energy, and its manufacturing materials are extremely dependent on purple crystal debris.
Unless wireless charging devices are deployed on the front battlefield to ensure that power is available at all times.
Otherwise it's just an ordinary spider robot equipped with laser weapons.
The laser can only be fired for a total duration of 60 seconds at most.
Less durable than a spider robot equipped with a light electromagnetic machine gun.
At the same time, its scale is closely related to the number of purple crystal debris.
The number of laser weapons that can be manufactured depends on the amount of wreckage there is.
From this point of view.
Even if Su Wu wanted to, he couldn't use it as the main force.
At most, it can serve as a supplement and a special force for support in critical moments.
Compared to laser weapons.
Annihilation-class sniper bullets are even rarer.
Because it is a disposable consumable made from the essence materials extracted from the remains of purple crystals.
Every time an annihilation-level sniper bullet is fired.
On average, it takes 2 to 3 purple crystal remains.
But the cost is so high.
It also brings its unique advantages.
That is, only an extremely simple and small launch device is needed to send it two kilometers away.
At the same time, the annihilation-class sniper bullet itself also has absolute destructive power.
Any part of the purple crystal that is hit.
They can be easily shattered, creating a gap with a diameter of half a meter.
In other words, just one annihilation-level sniper bullet.
Any type of evolved purple crystal that has appeared so far will be killed in one blow.
For such a precious annihilation-class sniper bullet.
Su Wu did not intend to list it as a main weapon and use it in a concentrated manner.
Instead, they plan to equip those ordinary spider robots with the highest combat effectiveness and survivability on the battlefield with laser weapons.
One piece per unit.
So that they can burst out at critical moments when performing tough tasks.
After all, at the cost of annihilation-class sniper bullets.
Every use is a loss-making transaction.
If it can't play a key role, there is no need to use it.
At the same time, carrying things in a dispersed manner can also reduce the probability of accidents.
Avoid being swept away.
"Except for the weapons."
"Ordinary spider robots have different body materials, joint structures, batteries, power, and so on."
"If it can be strengthened, we must find a way to strengthen it."
"Try to maximize performance."
"They need stronger defenses, more agile movements, and more power reserves and carrying capacity."
A prototype of a regular spider robot.
Born earlier.
Compared with the farmyard that has traded a lot of new technologies from other super cities, and has been spiritually blessed for a long time and has achieved many new technological breakthroughs, the version is a little backward.
Then consider the powerful threat currently posed by Amethyst.
It is necessary to carry out a systematic integration and optimization to improve the overall performance.
Determined the overall idea.
Su Wu immediately devoted himself to the research.
And soon, he discovered.
Some of these new technologies can be used directly to optimize and modify existing ordinary spider robots.
Some involve fundamental structural problems.
It can only be applied to newly produced spider robots.
Moreover, the gap between their final performance is not small.
Su Wu simply added a second-generation prefix to the spider robot that needed to be reproducible.
To distinguish it from the old spider robot.
According to Su Wu's plan.
The second-generation spider robots produced in the future will be used first on laser spider robots.
Then it will gradually spread to other models.
As for the existing old spider robots.
Su Wu would still modify them as much as possible.
At the same time, priority should be given to organizing them into front-line troops.
"It would be a shame to just remake the old spider robot."
"After the weapon modules have been modified, their combat effectiveness is not bad anyway."
"They can be used as cannon fodder and slowly consumed in the battle with Amethyst."
"Make the most of every last bit of value."
Finished the transformation of the ordinary spider robot.
Su Wu turned his attention to the heavy-armored main battle spider robot.
This weapon of war is already extremely powerful and comparable to main battle tanks.
His transformation ideas.
It's still the same as before.
It also accumulates various new technologies and replaces old styles with more advanced second-generation frames.
Then try to enhance the specifications and penetration performance of the electromagnetic sniper rifle as the main weapon.
but.
Because the heavy-duty main battle spider robot has stronger carrying capacity.
Su Wu also equipped them with laser weapons and annihilation-level sniper bullets.
Used as a secondary weapon and a killer.