威瑪戰爭 156－小國的大象
----------二號基地地表----------
沙漠之鷹趴伏在高處殘骸上。
狙擊槍緩緩抬起。
瞄準天空。
砰！
一發特殊信號彈脫離槍口。
子彈拖曳著紫紅色煙霧劃過天際，在灰暗的天空中留下長長的痕跡。
所有人同時抬起頭。
艾特率先透過觀測器鎖定方向。
艾特：看到了！
艾特：東方那棟倒塌建築旁邊！
下一秒。
熾天使推進器全開。
轟——
巨大的身影率先衝向目標區域。
手中光刃揮舞。
一根又一根支撐建築的巨柱被斬斷。
轟隆隆——
整座危樓朝一旁傾倒。
為地下部隊爭取出一塊安全區域。
其餘機甲也陸續抵達。
開始架設武器。
建立臨時防線。
不久後。
瑞伯率領增援部隊趕到。
瑞伯：位置確認。
距離二號基地三公里。
亞瑞斯望著眼前巨大的塌陷區。
亞瑞斯：我總覺得這個洞不是一天兩天挖出來的。
天助站在旁邊。
目光始終停留在地洞深處。
天助：難說。
搞不好有一部分本來就是二號基地。
瑞伯愣了一下。
瑞伯：什麼意思？
天助：你們不知道大象基地的故事？
瑞伯：知道啊。
傳說中的地下載具庫。
不過那不是都市傳說嗎？
天助笑了笑。
天助：你比較老還是我比較老？
亞瑞斯忍不住笑出來。
瑞伯：......
天助：目前戰場上活最久的就我跟漢克。
要說歷史故事。
我能講上三天三夜。
----------地下空洞----------
漢克帶著眾人穿過黑暗的通道。
探照燈的光芒照射在崎嶇岩壁上。
偶爾能看見巨大獸爪留下的痕跡。
凡赫辛：指揮官。
你剛剛是不是想到了什麼？
漢克停下腳步。
看著腳下明顯被切削過的岩層。
漢克：很久以前。
有傳聞說二號基地曾秘密進行地下探勘。
甚至開挖大型地下空間。
凡赫辛：目的呢？
漢克：藏東西。
法蘭克：藏什麼？
漢克：戰爭。
眾人同時沉默。
漢克：二號基地原本屬於一個很小的國家。
小到周邊任何一個鄰國都能輕易吞掉它。
麥克斯：所以他們拼命增加軍備？
漢克點頭。
漢克：對。
他們把有限的資源全投入國防。
甚至傳出地下藏有大量機甲與戰爭兵器。
久而久之。
附近國家反而不敢輕舉妄動。
法蘭克：虛張聲勢？
漢克：有時候。
最強大的武器不是炮火。
而是讓敵人不知道你有多少炮火。
凡赫辛：所以這個地洞......
漢克：我懷疑不完全是怪物挖的。
麥克斯：老爸。
你的意思是......
漢克：如果這裡曾經是地下基地。
那一定有人類建造的道路。
只要找到那些痕跡。
我們就能找到出口。
眾人精神一振。
----------地表----------
瑞伯將消息同步給所有部隊。
天助則繼續望著遠方的大象基地遺跡。
瑞伯：所以你的意思是。
這附近可能有地下設施？
天助：不無可能。
當年天衛者都已經開始研發。
你不能保證這個基地沒有秘密發射井。
亞瑞斯：我突然覺得你根本是活字典。
天助：少來。
等找到再說。
瑞伯：雷歐納。
妳聽到了嗎？
雷歐納：收到。
蓋布里歐部隊開始搜索。
就在此時。
天空傳來熟悉的引擎聲。
眾人抬頭。
一架鯨魚戰機掠過頭頂。
雷歐納笑了。
雷歐納：好夥伴。
終於來了。
橘慶：抱歉。
補充燃料花了點時間。
剛剛聽到你們的討論。
需要我協助搜尋地下發射設施？
瑞伯：飛行中隊負責空中搜索。
地面部隊掩護帆姆的鑽頭機甲抵達。
橘慶：他已經在路上。
十分鐘內會到。
戰車部隊也快到了。
瑞伯：太好了。
大家提高警戒。
就在此時。
天助忽然開口。
天助：有首大象基地的兒歌。
你們聽過嗎？
瑞伯：兒歌？
橘慶：資料庫有記錄。
橘慶投射出一道全息畫面。
橘慶：
「大象大象鼻子長，
守著城牆看夕陽。
東邊煙囪吐白雲，
西邊鐵橋過牛羊。」
眾人面面相覷。
亞瑞斯：這有什麼特別？
天助搖頭。
天助：錯了。
瑞伯：錯了？
天助：真正的版本不是這個。
橘慶：資料庫錯誤？
天助：因為這首歌從來不是官方兒歌。
聽說是一位鐵道工人唱給兒子聽的。
他每天搭著運輸列車進出基地。
於是把自己看到的景象寫成歌。
天助望向北方。
緩緩唱道：
「大象大象鼻子長，
北風吹來雪花香。
兩支長牙指著月，
三條鐵蛇入山岡。
太陽睡在大象背，
月亮藏在耳朵旁。
找到北方老松樹，
地下巨人會起航。」
全場突然安靜下來。
橘慶開始高速比對資料。
數秒後。
橘慶：比對完成。
兩支長牙。
符合舊基地兩座通訊塔位置。
三條鐵蛇。
符合廢棄運輸鐵道紀錄。
瑞伯：等等......
北方老松樹？
天助笑了。
天助：如果這首歌是真的。
那就是地圖。
雷歐納：所有搜索部隊！
優先搜尋基地北方！
收到命令的機甲立即散開。
天空中的戰機也開始拉高高度搜尋。
數分鐘後。
通訊頻道突然傳來驚呼。
「發現異常目標！」
「重複！」
「發現異常目標！」
所有人立刻看向共享畫面。
基地北側。
一棵早已枯死的巨大松樹倒在沙地中央。
而樹根旁。
露出一塊巨大的金屬圓盤。
橘慶立刻掃描。
下一秒。
他的聲音出現少見的驚訝。
橘慶：確認目標。
大型機甲發射井。
直徑六十二公尺。
深度超過三百公尺。
推測可供天衛者級機甲緊急升空使用。
瑞伯：找到了！
雷歐納：下面的人有救了！
而此時。
地下深處。
漢克忽然停下腳步。
探照燈照向前方。
黑暗之中。
一扇覆滿灰塵的巨大鋼鐵閘門靜靜矗立。
凡赫辛：那是......
漢克露出笑容。
漢克：找到路了。
法蘭克：出口？
漢克搖了搖頭。
望著那扇足以讓巨型機甲通過的鋼鐵大門。
漢克：
不。
這是入口。
而且是給巨人使用的入口。
Weimar War 156 — The Elephant of a Small Nation
---------- Surface of Base No.2 ----------
The Desert Eagle lay motionless atop the ruins.
The sniper rifle slowly rose.
The barrel aimed toward the sky.
BANG!
A special signal round left the chamber.
The bullet tore through the dark sky, leaving behind a trail of violet-red smoke that stretched across the battlefield.
Everyone looked upward at the same time.
Ait quickly locked onto the direction through his scanner.
Ait:
"I see it!"
Ait:
"Near the collapsed structure to the east!"
The next moment—
The Seraph activated its thrusters.
BOOM—
The massive machine launched toward the target area.
Its energy blade swung.
One support pillar after another was cut apart.
CRASH—
The unstable building collapsed to the side.
The falling structure cleared a safe zone for the underground rescue team.
The remaining machines arrived one after another.
They began setting up weapons.
Establishing a temporary defensive line.
Not long after—
Reb arrived with the reinforcement units.
Reb:
"Confirmed location."
"Three kilometers from Base No.2."
Ares looked at the massive crater in front of them.
Ares:
"I have a feeling this hole wasn't made recently."
Tian Zhu stood beside him.
His eyes remained fixed on the darkness below.
Tian Zhu:
"Hard to say."
"Maybe part of this was already part of Base No.2."
Reb froze.
Reb:
"What do you mean?"
Tian Zhu looked at him.
Tian Zhu:
"Don't you know the story of the Elephant Base?"
Reb:
"I know."
"The legendary underground vehicle storage facility."
"But wasn't that just a rumor?"
Tian Zhu smiled.
Tian Zhu:
"Who is older? You or me?"
Ares couldn't help but laugh.
Reb:
"......"
Tian Zhu:
"Right now, the oldest survivors on this battlefield are me and Hank."
"If you want history..."
"I can talk for three days straight."
---------- Underground Cavern ----------
Hank led the group through the dark tunnel.
Their lights swept across the rough walls.
Occasionally, they could see enormous claw marks left behind by creatures.
Van Helsing:
"Commander."
"You seem to have realized something."
Hank stopped.
He looked down at the ground.
The rock surface showed signs of artificial excavation.
Hank:
"Long ago..."
"There were rumors that Base No.2 secretly conducted underground exploration."
"And even constructed a massive underground space."
Van Helsing:
"For what purpose?"
Hank looked forward.
Hank:
"To hide something."
Frank:
"Hide what?"
Hank answered calmly.
Hank:
"War."
Everyone became silent.
Hank:
"Base No.2 originally belonged to a very small nation."
"So small..."
"That any neighboring country could have destroyed it easily."
Max:
"So they desperately increased their military power?"
Hank nodded.
Hank:
"Exactly."
"They invested everything they had into defense."
"There were even rumors that countless machines and weapons were hidden underground."
"Over time..."
"The surrounding nations became afraid to make a move."
Frank:
"So it was just intimidation?"
Hank shook his head.
Hank:
"Sometimes..."
"The strongest weapon isn't firepower."
"It is making your enemies wonder how much firepower you actually have."
Van Helsing:
"So this underground tunnel..."
Hank:
"I believe it wasn't entirely created by the monsters."
Max:
"Father..."
"You mean..."
Hank looked ahead.
Hank:
"If this was once a human-built underground base..."
"Then there must be human-made routes."
"Find those traces..."
"And we find our way out."
The entire group regained their determination.
---------- Surface Area ----------
Reb transmitted the information to all units.
Tian Zhu continued staring toward the ruins of Elephant Base.
Reb:
"So your theory is..."
"There might be underground facilities nearby?"
Tian Zhu:
"It's possible."
"Back then, the Heavenly Guardians project had already begun."
"You can't rule out the possibility that this base had a hidden launch facility."
Ares:
"I suddenly think you're a walking encyclopedia."
Tian Zhu:
"Don't say that yet."
"We need proof first."
Reb:
"Leona."
"Did you hear that?"
Leona:
"Confirmed."
"The Gebriel units are beginning the search."
At that moment—
A familiar engine sound came from the sky.
Everyone looked upward.
A Whale-transport flew overhead.
Leona smiled.
Leona:
"My old partner."
"Finally."
Juqing:
"Sorry."
"The refueling took longer than expected."
"I heard your conversation."
"Need me to assist in searching for the underground launch facility?"
Reb:
"Air units will search from above."
"Ground units will protect Famm's drilling machine until it arrives."
Juqing:
"It's already on the way."
"Ten minutes."
"The tank units will arrive as well."
Reb:
"Good."
"Everyone stay alert."
Suddenly—
Tian Zhu spoke.
Tian Zhu:
"There is a children's song about Elephant Base."
"Have you heard it?"
Reb:
"A children's song?"
Juqing:
"My database has a record."
A holographic screen appeared.
Juqing:
"Elephant, elephant, with a giant nose,
Watching the walls as the sunset glows.
The eastern chimney releases white clouds,
The western bridge crosses where cattle crowd."
Everyone looked confused.
Ares:
"What's special about that?"
Tian Zhu shook his head.
Tian Zhu:
"Wrong."
Reb:
"Wrong?"
Tian Zhu:
"The original version isn't this."
Juqing:
"Database error?"
Tian Zhu:
"Because this song was never an official children's song."
"Legend says it was written by a railway worker for his son."
"He used to ride the transport trains in and out of the base."
"And he turned everything he saw into a song."
Tian Zhu looked toward the north.
Then slowly sang:
"Elephant, elephant, with a giant nose,
The northern wind brings the scent of snow.
Two ivory tusks point toward the moon,
Three iron serpents enter the mountain's womb.
The sun sleeps upon the elephant's back,
The moon hides beneath its ear's dark track.
Find the old pine tree in the northern land,
The underground giant will rise again."
The battlefield became silent.
Juqing immediately began analyzing.
Seconds later—
Juqing:
"Comparison complete."
"Two ivory tusks."
"Confirmed location: the two old communication towers."
"Three iron serpents."
"Confirmed: abandoned underground railway routes."
Reb widened his eyes.
Reb:
"Wait..."
"The old pine tree in the north?"
Tian Zhu smiled.
Tian Zhu:
"If this song is real..."
"Then it is a map."
Leona:
"All search units!"
"Prioritize the northern area!"
The machines immediately spread out.
The aircraft climbed higher and scanned the land.
Minutes later—
A voice suddenly came through the communication channel.
"Abnormal structure detected!"
"Repeat!"
"Abnormal structure detected!"
Everyone looked at the shared image.
Northern Base Area.
An old dead pine tree stood in the desert.
Beside its roots—
A massive metal hatch was exposed.
Juqing scanned it.
His voice changed.
A rare moment of surprise.
Juqing:
"Confirmed target."
"Large-scale machine launch shaft."
"Diameter: sixty-two meters."
"Depth: over three hundred meters."
"Estimated to support emergency deployment of Heavenly Guardian-class machines."
Reb:
"We found it!"
Leona:
"The people below have a way out!"
Meanwhile...
Deep underground.
Hank suddenly stopped.
His flashlight illuminated the darkness ahead.
A massive steel door covered in dust stood silently in front of them.
Van Helsing:
"What is that..."
Hank smiled.
Hank:
"We found the path."
Frank:
"The exit?"
Hank shook his head.
He stared at the giant steel gate.
A gate large enough for a machine to pass through.
Hank:
"No."
"This is the entrance."
"And it was built..."
"For giants."
