I’ll be the Red Ranger
Chapter 140 – At the Half Wall

- Nico -

Alarms blared at max volume throughout the labyrinthine corridors of Half Wall. Nico sprinted through the passageways, his Ranger armor already activated and gleaming under the strobing emergency lights. The noise of sirens was almost deafening, but he pushed onward, weaving between frantic personnel as ships roared overhead, arriving and departing in a frenzied dance.

"Immediate evacuation!" Nico shouted to every civilian he passed in the lower corridors. "If you're not part of the defense team, you must leave Half Wall now!"

Since the last attack, Nico had risen through the ranks within the Dardanus faction. His exceptional performance earned him a promotion to Squad Leader, making him responsible not only for his own team but also for coordinating with other leaders.

But with the recent notification of a Titan assault, he'd been reassigned to the southern sector of the wall. Alongside his soldiers and several other Dardanus squads, they were dispatched to hold the line for as long as possible.

Nico tapped his communicator to relay new instructions. "Logistics Officers are to continue managing the evacuation. All Soldiers and Defense Officers, report to your defense posts immediately."

"Yes, sir!" came the unified response from his troops.

"Where are the NEA officers?" Nico inquired urgently into his communicator, referring to the New Earth Alliance leadership.

"They're in the control room," one of his officers replied. "They're in communication with the Great Houses and the Armada."

"Understood." Nico quickened his pace, his boots pounding against the metal flooring as he made his way toward the central tower. He needed to reach the top levels to assess the situation fully.

Without having time to wait for some of the elevators, Nico ran up the stairs as fast as possible until he reached the higher levels. As he approached the command center, he swiftly passed through the double doors, getting a clear view of the chaos inside the room.

Dozens of officers buzzed around, each engaged in discussions over various communicators. Walls lined with screens displayed live feeds from battlefronts across the sector. Holographic maps hovered in mid-air, detailing the movements of hundreds of squadrons spread throughout the empire.

Momentarily overwhelmed by the sheer volume of information and the clamor of voices, Nico paused, scanning the room for someone who could brief him. An officer who had just stepped away from a console spotted the Yellow Ranger standing at the entrance.

"Nico, correct?" the officer called out as he approached.

"Yes," Nico affirmed, grateful to be acknowledged. "I'm responsible for the Dardanus teams. I need a briefing on the current situation."

The officer glanced around at the chaotic environment. "It's better if we talk in the corridor," he suggested. "It's too noisy in here."

Nico nodded. They stepped back into the hallway, the heavy doors closing behind them to muffle the noise.

"What's our status?" Nico asked his tone all business.

"We have visual confirmation of Titan movement, along with dozens of hordes. All of them are heading toward the southern base. However, all our defenses in recent weeks have been concentrated on the north," the officer explained, his voice strained with urgency. "We still don't have enough personnel here for the base to operate at its maximum capacity. Moreover, an Ork armada is hindering the arrival of our deployed mechs."

"Which Great Houses have responded to the call for support?" Nico asked, leaning against the wall of the command center.

The officer's face betrayed his concern. He seemed uncomfortable with the question. "Charon and Echo have deployed their contingents to the wall. However, they can't bring the mechs that are currently deployed on other planets."

Nico nodded thoughtfully. Charon and Echo were always the quickest to respond, especially if they had any mechs stationed on Olympus. Their support would be crucial.

"Any other replies?" Nico pressed.

"York, Selene, and Meridius are sending their mechs, but it'll take at least an hour for them to arrive—and they'll have to break through the Ork armada first. The Emperor has also dispatched the Dogs of War, but the enemy fleet currently blocks them," the officer explained, his frustration evident.

"And the other Houses?" Nico asked, confusion creasing his brow. It was unusual not to have heard from them.

"No response," the officer said tersely.

"What do you mean by no response? Didn't the Emperor command support for Olympus?" Nico's voice rose, incredulous.

"You might not have heard yet, but the Great House Lot has taken this moment to declare independence—calling themselves the Republic of Enceladus or something along those lines," the officer revealed.

"Damn it," Nico muttered, the weight of the crisis sinking in. He understood what the officer implied. The other Great Houses were waiting to see how the battle unfolded before choosing a side. Political maneuvering at a time like this—when the very fate hung in the balance.

"Sir, we've got visuals on the Orks," one of his Rangers reported through the communicator.

"One moment, I'm heading up," Nico replied. He turned back to the officer. "Thank you. Please keep me updated on any new developments."

"Of course," the officer nodded, a hint of sympathy in his eyes before returning to the chaos of the command room.

Nico strode purposefully toward one of the hundreds of elevators lining the fortress's interior. He entered the nearest one and rapidly ascended to the highest level of the wall. As the doors slid open, he was greeted by the crisp air and the distant rumble of the approaching enemy.

Atop the colossal structure known as the Half Wall, he was close to the enormous cannons and the front line of defense. From this vantage point, he could see the battlefield, a grim spectacle stretching out to the horizon.

He positioned himself among the officers stationed at their defense posts, their faces etched with determination and underlying dread as they awaited the Titans' advance.

It wasn't hard to spot them. Their immense size and grotesque forms made them unmistakable even at a distance. Towering monstrosities, the Titans trudged forward, their metal exoskeletons glinting ominously under the brooding sky. Each step they took shook the earth, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake.

"By the stars," one of the younger officers whispered, his eyes wide with disbelief.

From one end of the horizon to the other, more than fifty Titans marched inexorably toward them, accompanied by swarms of other war machines the Ork were piloting.

"Don't wait for them to get too close! We won't have air support. As soon as they're within range, unleash steel and plasma on those Orks' heads!" Nico shouted to the officers around him. His command was swiftly relayed down the lines, echoing through the ranks of defenders atop Half Wall.

The thunderous crack of the first cannon marked the start of the battle. Despite the relentless barrage that transformed the terrain before the wall into a pockmarked wasteland of craters, the Titans kept advancing. The Orks' war machines were destroyed as collateral damage, but they weren't the primary target—the Titans were.

"Titans at two thousand meters! Rangers, prepare to jump!" Nico's voice resonated over the comms.

Not all Rangers could engage from atop the massive wall. Many were gearing up to leap onto the backs of the Titans as they approached. The Half Wall was so tall that only a few Titans matched its height, giving the Rangers a chance to drop onto the monstrosities from above.

The defensive cannons roared without pause. Along the lines, officers rushed to reload the colossal weapons while others readied for the next volley. The continuous exchange turned the battlefield into a clamor of destruction.

Yet, all they could manage was to slow the grotesque behemoths. Ten minutes into the battle, the Titans were already at the foot of the wall.

"Prepare to jump!" Nico repeated the command. As the first Titan—a skeletal behemoth made of bone—slammed its fist into the wall, the first wave of Rangers launched themselves at the enemy. Like tiny ants, they descended onto the monster's back, aiming to inflict as much damage as possible.

But this was only the first of over fifty such creatures.

"The mechs have broken through the Ork armada! They'll arrive in five minutes!" The announcement reverberated among the officers and reached Nico's ears.

"Don't stop! Keep firing!" Nico bellowed, striving to bolster the defenders' morale. As he shouted, he caught sight of a massive fist—or what resembled a fist—of a metallic Titan punching through a lower level of the wall, causing a tremor to ripple through its structure.

"Nico, something's not right. The mechs haven't arrived yet, but a strong energy signature is approaching," one of the control center officers reported over the channel. "It's coming from the direction of the Orks."

"Damn it. Is it a new Titan?" Nico asked, his concern mounting at the thought of the Orks deploying an even more formidable weapon.

"It doesn't seem to be. The signal is too small," the officer replied.

A sonic boom tore through the air as soon as the officer finished speaking. Something small and incredibly fast had accelerated toward the wall, colliding with one of the flesh-made Titans. The impact resulted in a gruesome explosion—a geyser of blood and entrails raining down in all directions.

Nico channeled his Energy into his eyes, enhancing his vision to pierce through the chaos.

Amidst the remains of the fallen Titan stood a lone Ranger. Clad in emerald armor and wielding two daggers, he launched himself toward another Titan, generating another sonic boom as he moved. The sheer speed and power of his assault were astonishing.