Chapter 203: Reinforcements on the Plateau

Chapter 203: Reinforcements on the Plateau

Noah remained in front of the tactical display as another group of escape pods descended toward Planet X-317. Three pods approaching from the northeast had already changed course, moving east of two areas where Astragoths had previously gathered around rock formations.

This correction had been made even before the pods entered the lowest part of their descent. The officers now had enough information from earlier landings to avoid several known danger areas to prevent being threatened.

One Imperial officer enlarged the northeast section of the map. "Group Four is holding the corrected route. The Astragoths below them haven’t hurled another set of rocks toward the pods."

The officer beside him checked reports from the eastern goblin positions. "The nearest rifle section can also see that section. If the Astragoths return to those places, they’ll come under fire."

Noah watched the three pod markers continue downward. "Keep them on the current route. Don’t make another correction unless something interferes with their descent."

The pods maintained their spacing.

The later groups were also landing closer to the intended area. Earlier emergency corrections had scattered several craft toward the edges of the plateau, while Pod 17 had been forced away from it entirely. The newest pods were reaching positions to the earlier goblin as a result the soldiers could now join the defense shortly after landing.

One pod touched down near the center of the plateau.

Its marker changed from descending to landed, followed by smaller friendly markers as the goblins exited.

The soldiers did not remain around the craft. Their officer had received assignments before touchdown. One rifle section moved west toward the positions behind Pod 3, while another headed north toward a low rise between two occupied sectors.

The machine-gun team stayed beside the pod until its officer confirmed a position farther north where the weapon could effectively fire their weapons.

The senior goblin commander beside Noah followed their movement.

"The ground officers are now assigning sectors before each pod opens. The new troops effectively knows where they’re going before they step outside."

"Keep doing it that way," Noah said. "The landing areas need to stay clear for the pods behind them."

A second pod landed farther east several minutes later.

Most of its riflemen remained in the eastern sector instead of moving toward the western fighting. One section advanced toward the edge of the plateau, while another stopped farther back to cover the space between the forward position and the landing sites.

Its machine-gun crew moved toward defensive positions near the center-east. Before setting up, they shifted several meters north after noticing that their original firing lane could cross one of the routes used to carry ammunition.

From this new position, the weapon could now cover the eastern approach without blocking movement behind the rifle sections.

Another pod landed near the central rear.

Its riflemen left the touchdown area while other soldiers opened the cargo compartments and began unloading ammunition. The containers were carried toward a collection point behind the central positions instead of being left beside the pod.

The first units on the ground had kept most of their ammunition close because they controlled little territory. The later arrivals now had enough protected ground to gather supplies in one area and distribute them toward needed sectors.

Several ammunition markers began moving west. Another group headed north.

The carriers stayed behind the rifle positions and outside established machine-gun lanes.

The gaps between separate goblin units were also shrinking.

Pod 3 and Pod 6 still occupied the western and northern sections of the original position, but later arrivals had filled much of the ground behind them. Rifle sections now covered several areas that had been open when the first two pods landed.

One newly landed section initially moved toward the western fighting. Before reaching the active line, its officer received a transmission from Pod 3 and changed direction.

The unit moved north behind the western positions and occupied a gap between Pod 3 and Pod 6.

Noah watched their markers settle into place.

Another newly landed group remained near the center instead of moving toward a forward sector.

Noah looked toward the senior goblin commander. "That unit hasn’t moved since it left the pod. What assignment did they receive?"

"They’re being held in reserve," the commander replied. "From that position they can reach the west, north, or east."

"Has anyone asked for them?"

"Not yet. The west has already received another reinforcements, and the northern and eastern positions are holding."

"Then leave them where they are. If one side comes under heavier pressure, they can reinforce it without weakening another sector."

The commander passed the decision to the ground officers.

Keeping soldiers behind the front had not been possible during the opening landings. The first pods had needed nearly every available soldiers to watch the area around them. There were now enough goblins on the plateau for reserves.

Another pod entered final descent near the center.

A ground radio operator transmitted its expected landing point. Soldiers nearby moved equipment away from the touchdown area, while one rifle section shifted south before the craft arrived.

The pod landed in the cleared space.

Its hatch opened shortly afterward. One section moved east, another remained near the center, and the radio team headed toward the central command position. Several soldiers stayed behind to unload ammunition.

Noah turned toward the Imperial officer supervising the descent.

"How many pods from the later groups have been forced outside the plateau?"

The officer checked his records. "None since the last major course correction. We’ve changed several routes, but every pod still reached the main landing area."

He expanded the eastern side of the map.

"The ground troops are also denying some of the positions which Astragoth rock throwers use. These position were previously used during the earlier descent, but they’re now inside rifle range from the plateau making it ineffective."

A warning appeared while another pod descended toward the eastern half.

One Astragoth separated from a group below the plateau and moved toward a large exposed rock.

The insertion officer prepared to change the pod’s route.

"Possible attack from the east. I can shift the pod north to change its course before it gets any lower."

Before he made the correction, a surface report came through.

The eastern rifle section had opened fire.

The Astragoth stopped beside the rock and moved away from the exposed position.

The insertion officer waited several seconds. "The Astragoth left the throwing position. The current route is clear again."

"Keep the pod where it is," Noah said. "Move it only if new threat returns."

The pod continued downward and landed without another warning.

Its riflemen divided between the eastern line and positions farther behind. The new group gave the eastern officers fresh soldiers to strengthen their forward observation while keeping troops between the edge of the plateau and the central landing area.

The growing defended area also gave the goblins more room to move casualties.

Several wounded soldiers were being carried away from the western sector toward the central rear. They followed routes behind the firing positions, moving in the opposite direction from logistics center.

The first wounded had been treated close to the active positions because there had been little secure ground behind them. That was no longer necessary.

The goblins now controlled enough of the plateau to place treatment areas farther from the approaches while keeping them inside the defense.

Noah shifted the tactical display southwest.

Pod 17 remained separated from the main force.

Its marker had moved only a short distance from the location where the damaged craft had landed. The soldiers there had secured the immediate area, but elevated ground between them and the plateau prevented them from seeing the full route northeast.

Noah looked toward the communications station.

"What is the status for Pod 17?"

The operator checked the latest report. "They found a possible route northeast of their position. They’ve inspected the first section and haven’t seen any Astragoths, but higher ground blocks their view farther ahead."

"How far has the main unit moved?"

"They haven’t left the pod. Only the scouts went forward."

Noah studied the route between Pod 17 and the western side of the plateau.

"Keep the main unit at the landing site. The scouts continue until they can confirm the middle section and the approach to the plateau."

The senior goblin commander looked at the same area. "If the route stays clear, they should be able to reach the western side of the plateau without getting involved in the fighting."

"If the scouts confirm that, they can move. Until then, let the pod gives them a fixed position to defend."

The order was transmitted.

Pod 17 remained at its landing site while the scouts continued northeast.

Noah returned the tactical display to the main plateau.

Another group of pods was already descending.

Two approached the central and northern areas within several minutes of each other. Ground officers cleared both touchdown zones before either craft arrived.

The first pod landed behind the central positions. Its riflemen moved away from the landing point while other soldiers began unloading ammunition.

The second landed farther north.

Most of its riflemen moved toward a gap between Pod 6 and one of the newer eastern positions. A smaller group remained behind with the unit’s radio equipment and additional ammunition.

When the main section reached the gap, the soldiers spread across the available cover and connected the two existing positions.

Noah checked the northern sector.

Every main approach visible from that part of the plateau now had goblin soldiers watching it.

A ground report arrived shortly afterward.

The western sector no longer needed every new reinforcement. Additional troops had reached Pod 3 and Pod 6, and the officers there had enough soldiers to maintain their positions while the remaining Astragoths were engaged.

Later arrivals were therefore being sent north and east.

The western fighting remained active, but sending more soldiers there leads to the defensive positions to be crowded. The northern and eastern sectors still needed troops to prevent the Astragoths from approaching the landing sites from another direction.

The central reserve also remained where it was.

As the defensive positions connected, the radio traffic from the surface became easier to follow. Reports were now being passed through sectors instead of independent communication of between each soldiers.

When the eastern units reported Astragoth movement below them, neighboring sections overlook the same direction without abandoning their assigned area. When another pod approached the central area, nearby troops cleared the touchdown point before it arrived.

Noah followed those movements from the starfortress without issuing orders to individual sections. The officers on the surface now had enough troops and reliable contact with nearby units to handle local adjustments themselves.

Another pod descended toward the center.

This time, the goblins below did not need to change any defensive positions. The landing point had already been kept clear, and the routes leading away from it were open.

The craft touched down.

Its troops left the pod and split according to their assignments. A rifle section moved north, another joined the central positions, while several soldiers remained behind to unload ammunition.

The area around the pod cleared before the next craft entered final descent.

An Imperial officer checked the remaining markers.

"Most of the first landing wave is on the surface now. The remaining pods are still descending, but none currently has a confirmed rock threat on its route."

Noah looked across the full tactical display.

Goblin units occupied the western, northern, central, and eastern parts of the plateau. Rifle sections covered the main approaches. Machine guns had firing lanes that did not cross the routes used by friendly troops. A reserve remained behind the central positions.

Ammunition moved from the newly landed pods toward the front. Wounded soldiers were being carried toward the rear. Radio operators connected the sectors, allowing ground officers to move reinforcements and supplies without waiting for instructions from the starfortress.

Only Pod 17 remained separated from the main force.

Another escape pod reached the center of the plateau. Its hatch opened, and the soldiers inside moved directly toward positions assigned before landing.

Noah watched the new markers separate from the pod. Some moved north, while others stopped near the center and joined the troops already defending the landing area.

The remaining pods continued their descent toward the plateau while the goblins on the surface held the approaches and kept the touchdown areas clear for each new arrival.