OR1-EP2: Battle of Rhodesia (9)

When McNeil gradually realized that the enemy's actual situation was the exact opposite of what everyone had estimated before the war, he made a risky decision. After an almost failed raid, there were less than ten people left by McNeil's side, and he was close to running out of ammunition and food. The safest way was to return to the previous underground facility to join the rest of the troop. In this way, McNeil faces a difficult choice. His longtime commander instinct tells him that the friendly forces in the underground facility are nothing compared to the total number of enemies they face. Once he led greater danger to his teammates, the only outcome that awaited them was complete annihilation. Old Jake once advised McNeil not to run around in the native territory, and now McNeil decided to take this risk and attract the attention of the enemy. As long as the natives or those who command them are deceived by his series of fake moves, he can buy enough time for his teammates - if those people are credible enough, they should know how to take advantage of this short-lived opportunity.

"Only if our teammates really understand what's going on." David Roberts, who was at the front of the line this time, tried to prove to others that he wasn't a coward. "I suppose they thought we were all dead, the temporarily elected leader may decide to stick to it..."

"They're not going to stand still, because Colonel Karl Duttmann has said that if we disappear forever on the reservation, the military will act like we never existed." McNeil is confident in his ability to predict, "In short, we can't expect reinforcements at all, and our teammates can't wait for any support. Of course, if we try to defend that base, everyone will die together."

"You sound like a preacher preaching Judgment Day from the pulpit when you say this cruel conclusion." Roberts didn't like McNeil's statement.

"Thank you for the compliment, that's truly my style."

McNeil led them aimlessly in the wild for two whole days, during which Carlo Farah proposed to attack the nearby indigenous camp directly, but was rejected by McNeil and Roberts together. Now that the natives have achieved complete union, if they go to attack any group of natives rashly now, they will get burned. The most appropriate way is to make it impossible for the natives to judge their true intentions. Maybe the natives think they are planning to break through, or the natives are worried that they will attack the nearby tribes... In fact, McNeil has no plans at all, he just wants to disrupt the natives. Judgment, then go to the nearby supply point to obtain supplies, and then return to the underground facility to discuss the next combat plan.

Their knowledge of the natives was nowhere near that of the soldiers who had been stationed long-term in South Africa or other neighboring colonies. Instead of taking care of the work that should be theirs, the real experts hired a group of foreigners who, despite their superb combat abilities, knew nothing about the local situation, to die for them. No one wants to get their hands dirty, Duttmann is that kind of guy Governor-general Herzog is too, the famous politician in Paris is even more so, maybe only Adalbert Herzog, who has been plagued by persecution paranoia will not think about it so much. They had fallen behind, and the only hope was that the army would gradually tighten the siege as promised.

After walking out of a sparse forest, there is still an endless yellow grassland in front of them. McNeil stopped in place, stood there for a few seconds, muttering words, and then followed in the footsteps of his comrades. Roberts was very curious about what the captain said just now, but before he could ask a question, he was choked by McNeil's question:

"What is the highest rank you have won before?"

"Lieutenant. Then I was forced to be a worker." Roberts said angrily, "What about you? Don't push me away, I know you must be a soldier, or a mercenary with more than ten years of experience."

"Would you believe me if I said I was a lieutenant general?"

"...Then I'm still a field marshal!" Roberts laughed, "But if you really serve in the military, you may soon gain attention and rise to the top. Of course, since you are currently a freelancer, I don't think you should get that hard job. The situation of the EU's army is not as ideal as it is advertised. Similar conflicts between the South African Guardian Corp and the defense force are being staged all over our country. I just hope that I will not see a new war in Siberia in my lifetime, and I will not risk my life to seize a piece of land that has nothing to do with me."

McNeil wanted to say that the biggest enemy of the EU was actually the Britannian Empire, but no one would believe this kind of nonsense. A country that has been in decline and division for a long time is not qualified to threaten the EU as a world hegemon, and a corrupt and depraved monarchy cannot defeat an alliance of republics with abundant military virtues. This is what EU's citizens have firmly believed for more than 100 years. Many also hope that the EU will one day cross the Atlantic to invade the Americas and save the world from the clutches of various monarchs. Whether the motivation for this statement is really for EU citizens or just for their own ambitions, McNeil will not comment for the time being, he only knows that even Carlo Farah, who is less than 20 years old, fantasizes about being the new conqueror of the Americas, as Pizarro and Cortez did.

The past two days have been as long as a month, and they have run out of ammunition and food, and they are running out of water. David Roberts took the bottomed water bottle from Carlo Farah, sighed, and handed it to McNeil, who was observing the surrounding terrain on the high ground.

"Captain-"

"I'm not thirsty, you can drink if you want, don't call me for this while." McNeil looked at the distant river and the slowly rising smoke, judging the enemy's movements. Those Britannians may be able to cover up their whereabouts, but the natives cannot be so cautious all the time. Besides, a large tribe still has to make a fire to have a meal, even if this will directly expose their location and the fact that they are currently incapable of fighting.

McNeil is telling the truth, he is not an ordinary person, and it is very simple for him to suppress his own needs in a special environment. However, in the eyes of David Roberts and the rest of the team, it was a great blessing. There are too many classic cases of killing friends and killing each other for a sip of water. Since McNeil trusts them so much, they have no reason to leave the captain and run away on their own. Besides, they can't get out either. If they don't finish their mission and they're going to run away, who knows what means Colonel Duttmann will do against them?

After McNeil made sure that the natives would not come to pursue them, they moved towards the scheduled supply point. Halfway through the journey, McNeil inadvertently talked to Roberts about the vicious brawl that led to Roberts being forced out of the army, which was said to have been caused by jealousy among several young officers.

"A group of men or a group of women fighting for another woman or another man is not news." McNeil was puzzled. "They kicked you out for such a small accident? How many people were injured?"

"There's only one, and I've always acted with restraint," Roberts replied.

"That's okay, I can't find any reason."

"But that man's father is a brigadier general," Roberts said gloomily.

When McNeil heard this, he didn't know what to do. Perhaps Roberts is right, the EU' military is no less corrupt than the Britannian Imperial Army, which has been criticized by it. Citizens living in the EU really have no way of knowing the truth. People care about their enemies more than the commonplace things around them. Since that kind of situation is the norm, it is no wonder that Roberts has no confidence in the army. After withdrawing from the army, David Roberts became an ordinary worker, struggling to support his family, and finally he decided to participate in this disgraceful operation for a huge bounty.

"Why did you decide to do this?" Roberts asked McNeil. "There are so many jobs to choose, and the work we do is not only dangerous, but it's not worth boasting at all."

"I have only two personal talents: killing people and keeping myself from being killed," McNeil said frankly. "Other than that, I can't do anything, just a lazy homeless person. If I don't use skill I have left for some belongings, I think I'll be the same as the rotten parts in the corner."

David Roberts didn't feel very well when he heard McNeil say this. These people really only have this ability, and they have no superfluous skills or knowledge, and their use in society is limited to protecting citizens from foreign enemies. Sometimes, however, they just turn their guns on citizens, especially when they desperately need to defend someone's interests.

Colonel Karl Duttmann was not willing to waste more manpower to feed wolves, tigers and leopards or cannibals in the wild. When Adalbert Herzog proposed that soldiers must be stationed at the supply point, the colonel strongly objected. One of the reasons is understaffed. McNeil did not intend to expect those people to have the courage to wait alone in the wilderness. As long as they can deliver the supplies to the designated location (the natives dare not approach the blockade), McNeil and Major Herzog's plan will have wiggle room. Carlo Farah has great expectations for the supplies he is about to get. After all, he is still a child, and there are still unfinished fantasies and romances in his words.

Michael McNeil came under a deformed tree and searched the grass for traces of supplies. He found a well-wrapped box and told Roberts to open it. The deputy captain took the dagger and opened the box, then let out a disappointed sigh. The crowd gathered around, each with embarrassed expressions on their faces, although no one took the initiative to speak out, they must know that the situation they will face next will never be optimistic. Obviously, the supplies are much less than expected, and the worst part is that there is not enough drinking water.

McNeil came to the other side of the tree, sat down slowly, and rested against the roots. Seeing this, Carlo Farah thought that McNeil was about to faint, and hurriedly shouted:

"Get him some water... hurry up!"

"No, I'm a little tired, you guys just let me rest alone for a while." McNeil put the rifle on the ground, closed his eyes and started to doze off. His eyelids were so heavy that he could barely keep them open, and he had to force his mind to stay clear. He still bears the lives of dozens of people. These people have their own families, their own dreams, and their own colorful lives.

"We can only survive by taking other people's lives, so what should I hope for more about the future?"

McNeil reinvigorated his spirits and gathered a few teammates to talk. The materials at hand are not even enough to support them returning to the underground facility. McNeil intends to go to the nearby creek—that is, near the location where they are expected to conduct a blocking war against the natives—to ensure that these people have a way of retreat, not just back to the underground base and wait for enemies' attacking.

However, there is another risk with this approach. The Britannians who are in charge of controlling these indigenous peoples will of course realize the importance of water to these indigenous tribes, where the defense net may have been laid. Even if the enemy had not been armed before due to negligence or other reasons, if the traces of McNeil and others were discovered by the natives there, the enemy would definitely be more vigilant, and the planning would be more difficult.

"If something goes wrong, I will take full responsibility. Among all the people on this team, I am the only one who has no identity, and you should not die on this kind of problem." McNeil finally concluded, "We don't talk about plans, but about how to keep alive. Whether it is to continue the mission or retreat, living is the greatest luck. Those who oppose this plan, please raise your hand."

No one raised their hands. The panic of running out of ammunition and food is still lingering in their hearts. If they did not die at the hands of the murderous enemy but were defeated by cruel nature, that will be the greatest shame for these mercenaries.

Another more insidious add-on, proposed by David Roberts, is to find ways to poison the upper reaches of the river. There are many things they can use as poisons, such as certain chemicals in field ration heating packs, as well as the highly poisonous substances that some people have prepared to kill themselves quickly if they are caught. As long as this plan succeeds, all indigenous tribes along the way, even potential Britannian agents, will be completely hors de combat, and the situation will be reversed in an instant.

"It's not good." McNeil shook his head. "If we have to add water to the river after that, we're going to die."

"I didn't think it through." Roberts succumbed to McNeil's questioning, "However, I strongly recommend that you use this method as a last resort. Our task is to slaughter these natives, and no one cares about us. If the situation is really critical, we can flee the battlefield immediately after poisoning, even if we hide back to the original station, when the colonel find out that we have completed the task, he will have no reason to default."

David Roberts quickly regretted what he said. After everyone packed up and set off again, everyone had their own opinions on the possible default.

TBC

Chapter Summary:

There is an opinion that the EU and the Chinese Federation are not unified states existing for at least a few decades, but regional alliances that was cobbled temporarily together against the Britannian Empire. I'm trying to find where this statement comes from.

Fortunately, modern British and French army rank structures are similar.