The Helldivers advanced, following the Titan Legions' footsteps, over ground that had been trampled like a plowed field by the God-Machines.
The leading warlord-class Titan, like a walking Gothic cathedral, made the earth groan in pain with every step. Each time its volcano cannon fired, it was like a small-scale solar flare, scorching energy beams sweeping across, easily wiping out entire Fire Warrior positions, along with their bunkers and the soldiers themselves, from this world.
Irresistible.
A player following behind a leman russ tank, looking at the world-destroying scene in the distance, couldn't help but take off his helmet and exclaim sincerely, "This is too damn awesome, too damn spectacular!"
Another player on the turret next to him said with a sense of shared pride, "Of course, these are Titans, God-Machines! What means do the T'au have to stop this level of war machine?"
The first player excitedly rubbed his hands, putting his helmet back on: "When the time comes, we need to seize the opportunity and rush up to strike at the remaining forces of the T'au Empire, otherwise there won't be any merit to earn..."
Before he finished speaking, a slender yet deadly pulse laser beam shot from a distant hillside, accurately striking his head. Under the high temperature, his head, along with his helmet, turned into a mass of molten metal and charcoal.
"Oh my god, brother, why are you dead?" The player next to him was startled by this sudden scene and instinctively ducked back behind the tank's hatch.
"Enemy attack! Hillside at three o'clock!"
"Everyone find cover!"
Other experienced players immediately halted their advance, using the tank wreckage and terrain for cover, suppressing the hillside from which the ambush originated. Simultaneously, under the company commander's orders, they began to advance towards the hillside in combat teams, providing covering fire for each other.
However, when the company, after suffering over a dozen casualties, finally reached the hillside, they found it deserted, with only a few spent ammunition clips and some faint footprints remaining. As for the T'au, they had long since disappeared.
"Damn it," the company commander immediately realized what the Fire Warriors were up to upon seeing this scene, "Guerrilla warfare?"
"Company Commander," a player from Canada said, pointing to the tracks on the ground, "These T'au aren't careful enough; they left traces. Why don't we follow them? Avenge our guys!"
He didn't expect that as soon as he said this, all the other players present, including the company commander, unanimously and emphatically shouted, "Absolutely no pursuit!"
"Uh," the player was clearly stunned by so many people contradicting him at once, "Why?"
The others explained in a flurry of voices:
"The T'au's stealth capabilities are much better than the Imperium's; these tracks were definitely left on purpose!"
"Right, following them will surely lead us into their ambush. The T'au Empire isn't without heavy firepower; we'll just get wiped out!"
"Even if they don't lead us into an ambush, in such an unfamiliar place, they could just circle around and disorient us!"
"Really?" The Canadan player was skeptical, his adventurous spirit still making him feel a bit unwilling. "I still think we should try..."
The company commander didn't offer any more explanations. He looked at the Canadan player and concisely uttered one word: "Vietnam!"
"Oh~" The confusion on the Canadan player's face instantly vanished, replaced by a sudden realization. He immediately changed his attitude, saying with conviction, "Then we definitely can't pursue!"
After this democratic discussion, the consensus of "no pursuit" became an unshakeable belief within the company.
However, no one could offer a truly reliable suggestion on how to deal with the Fire Warriors' hit-and-run guerrilla tactics.
Players from other countries looked to the Canadan player, who all stated that textbooks and movies only taught how to wage guerrilla warfare, not how to counter it.
Finally, the company commander made the decisive call: "Let's report this. Guerrilla warfare is indeed not something one company can solve; let the higher-ups worry about it."
This matter was quickly laid on the desk of the Helldivers Legion's command. Ghostface, holding a datapad, said, "As of now, eight companies have encountered ambushes from the T'au Empire during their advance.
One of those companies pursued, and as a result, was completely wiped out by a prepared T'au ambush. They've all collectively resurrected next to their battalion commander... Everyone, tell me, how do we deal with the T'au's guerrilla warfare?"
Inside the command tent, several players serving as staff officers and divisional commanders fell into contemplation.
A military officer player, who seemed to possess good military acumen, pondered for a moment before speaking: "In fact, guerrilla warfare is not an entirely unmanageable tactic. We only need to conduct precise strikes on important industrial facilities on Dalis, significantly weakening their war potential, while simultaneously adopting a conciliatory policy towards non-combatants to appease their emotions, and then gradually establish forward bases, forming a network from points, advancing steadily. As long as we have patience and fight a year or two of security warfare, we can pretty much solve the problem completely."
His plan was sound, rational, and arguably the most correct approach, but also very... impractical.
"We're here for genocide," Ghostface said in a roundabout way, "and I see our superiors are already losing their minds. I estimate they'd at most accept a solution that takes two weeks."
"Then we just have to speed up." Another officer player slammed the table, proposing a completely opposite plan: "The T'au are fighting a guerrilla war, and ultimately their goal is to delay our advance, trading space for time. And the War Council's goal, to put it plainly, is like a petulant child, to wreak havoc in their main city, Guelbryn, and then run away. Since the objective is so clear, we might as well grant their wish!"
He looked around at everyone: "We'll simply ignore these sporadic harassments, and the entire army will advance at full speed, straight for Guelbryn! No matter how much the T'au Empire plays guerrilla, they can't abandon their main city; this is unacceptable from both a political and military perspective. So, we will force them to abandon guerrilla warfare and engage us in a decisive battle outside the city of Guelbryn!"
"Good, let's do it!" Ghostface immediately decided. "Transmit my order: full army accelerate! The first battle is the decisive battle, one battle to settle the war!"