Chapter 196: Shield Failure
After paying the price of having its left shoulder pauldron ablated by laser fire, an Arasaka "Onimusha" power armor successfully closed in on a Militech "Commando" power armor that was currently reloading its ammo belt.
The Arasaka pilot manipulated the mechanical arm without hesitation, smashing a heavy combat hammer viciously toward the opponent.
Based on previous engagement experience, this strike would likely be deflected by that layer of blue energy shield.
But this time, the hammer smashed solidly into the "Commando's" chest plate, emitting a teeth-aching sound of tearing metal.
The struck power armor staggered violently. The cockpit area was visibly dented, and the entire machine stiffened instantly.
"Melee is effective! Their shields don't work in close-quarters combat!" the Arasaka pilot roared excitedly in the internal channel.
This discovery spread rapidly through the Arasaka assault force.
Arasaka power armor pilots, previously constrained by the shields, felt their morale surge. They began consciously pushing through hostile long-range fire, attempting to engage the defending power armors in close combat.
"All power armor units, attention! Abandon long-range duels! Close distance with targets immediately and use melee weapons to resolve combat!" The Arasaka frontline commander issued new tactical orders instantly.
The battlefield situation shifted accordingly.
Relying on numerical superiority and the discovery of melee shield failure, Arasaka power armors began applying greater pressure on the defenders.
Militech's "Commando" power armors were clearly disadvantaged in close combat. Their design focused more on fire support, lacking effective heavy melee weapons, and their armor protection was relatively weak.
Once entangled by an "Onimusha," they were often hard-pressed to defend themselves.
Even the Lazarus mercenaries felt the pressure. Although skilled, when facing multiple "Onimusha" units that had abandoned range for pure melee, they had to be more cautious as their maneuvering space was compressed.
Shintaro Takayama keenly captured this change through the real-time footage sent back by drones in the rear command center.
A cold smile finally appeared on his tense face.
"As expected, every technology has its weakness." He ordered into the comms, "Signal all assault clusters: intensify frontal pressure. Power armor troops are to push forward with full force and engage enemy units in close combat! Tear open their defense line at any cost!"
Under his orders, Arasaka's offensive became even more frenzied.
Armored units pushed forward regardless of casualties. Power armor clusters, like sharks smelling blood, charged wave after wave at the defender's positions, specifically seeking opportunities for close combat with opposing power armors.
Barghest casualties mounted further. Multiple points on the defense line sent distress signals, and signs of wavering began to appear.
Inside the Badlands manufactorum, Joric's massive metal body stood quietly before the main console. His crimson optical lenses steadily scanned the waterfall-like data streams flowing on the screen.
The deafening explosions and intense gunfire outside were reduced to blurred background noise by heavy soundproofing materials.
"Old friend, it seems our shield system has encountered some interesting problems," Joric's voice sounded in the workshop, carrying a thoughtful tone.
The Servo-skull hovering beside him emitted a slight hum in response.
He was receiving and analyzing massive amounts of combat data from the front lines in real-time: "Look at these energy consumption curves, and the distribution of these failure time points... especially the shield response data during melee contact."
The results of the data analysis clearly corroborated some of his previous speculations and revealed bottlenecks in the current technological application.
"Record this, old friend," Joric said to the Servo-skull, his optical lenses flickering slightly. "Combat data confirms our hypothesis. This miniaturized kinetic shield system has inherent design limitations.
"To ensure energy efficiency and avoid false triggering, the sensor threshold is set to be particularly sensitive to high-speed projectiles, but reacts sluggishly to slowly approaching objects."
He paused slightly, as if organizing his thoughts. "In close combat, the relative movement speed of power armor simply doesn't reach the trigger condition for the shield. This design flaw renders our defensive system completely ineffective at point-blank range. Do you understand what I mean, old friend?"
The Servo-skull emitted a rhythmic hum, its eye beams scanning across the data stream.
Joric's processing core ran rapidly. Based on this new data, he dynamically corrected and supplemented the existing upgrade plan. "It seems relying solely on defensive shields is no longer enough, old friend. The enemy is adapting to our technological characteristics and adjusting tactics.
"We need a more direct, more effective means of killing, especially in the melee domain where the shield system has obvious flaws."
Almost simultaneously with this conclusion, a new weapon design proposal was generated, simulated, and preliminarily verified in his core database. "It's time to prepare some new toys for the lads on the front line, don't you think, old friend?"
"Mower," Joric's voice rang in the workshop.
Mower, standing by like a shadow, immediately stepped forward. "Master."
"Send the technical blueprints and production parameters of 'Plan Beta' to the Militech representative and Colonel Hansen. Priority: Highest." Joric's instructions were clear and precise. "Inform them that this is an immediate solution to the current melee disadvantage."
"Command confirmed." Mower turned to execute without hesitation.
Encrypted data streams traversed the battlefield instantly, arriving separately at the rear Militech coordination center and the forward Barghest command post.
Colonel Hansen was burnt out by the rapidly rising casualties and the increasingly strained battle line. When he received the new data packet from the Badlands manufactorum and saw its contents clearly, a trace of astonishment flashed in his single eye, followed immediately by a sharp glint.
"Chainswords?... Truly... simple and direct!" He growled low, connecting immediately to the emergency comms with the Militech representative without hesitation. "This is Hansen! Mobilize all frontline 3D printing and rapid manufacturing equipment immediately. Prioritize production of the new equipment just sent by the 'Sage'—codename 'Ripper' power armor chainswords! Full production capacity, get them to the front line as fast as possible!"
The Militech representative was also shocked by the efficient and direct violent aesthetic embodied in the design while reviewing the blueprints.
The battlefield situation was changing rapidly. He immediately ordered his technical support units to fully cooperate with production.
In the relatively safe area behind the Badlands manufactorum, several large military-grade 3D printers and rapid prototyping devices began operating at full power.
High-strength alloy powder was sintered precisely under laser beams, rapidly forming components filled with a sense of power: thick single-handed grips, sturdy crossguards, and the most critical part—the chainsword blade body with its menacing serrated teeth and precise internal power transmission mechanism.
(End of Chapter)