Countless drones hovered above the Kabuki district.
Live footage was being delivered in real-time by various media outlets to the public of Night City.
Regardless of their stance, Night City residents were anxiously or excitedly awaiting this bloody drama.
"We can see that the Hive people were the first to arrive in Kabuki. The previous statement by the Hive spokesperson has once again topped the trending topics. Is this the sophistry of criminals or a genuine heartfelt declaration? We wonder what viewers in front of their televisions think..."
"Everyone is now calling the Hive army the 'western army' and the Tyger Claws army the 'Eastern Army.' I personally like this terminology, but in this war, where does the greater cause truly liewith the 'western army' or the 'Eastern Army'? Let us wait and see."
"According to analysis by researchers working for our station, the Hive's chance of victory is less than 13%. The Hive's strategy of launching a preemptive attack appears to be a mistake, dropping their win rate by nearly 7%..."
"This is a special edition of the Death Lottery. This battle hasn't even started, and I think the Hive is already doomed. Two hundred against eight hundredthat's arithmetic a child can do. However, we won't take bets on the outcome, but for those of you watching, why not test your sensitivity to numbers? Place a bet on the number of Hive fatalities."
"Let's see. Currently, 21% of people believe the Hive will suffer fifty casualties, 43% believe the Hive will lose half, which is one hundred people, and the remaining 36%the troublemakersbelieve the Hive will be completely annihilated. What is your prediction? Hurry up and place your bets to earn a fortune."
...Night City residents seemed highly skeptical of the Hive. Even those who supported the Hive felt despair over the ratio of two hundred against eight hundred.
People seemed to believe that fighting a spectacular battle was the best possible outcome for the Hive, while in reality, being easily crushed by the Tyger Claws seemed far more likely.
These external commotions did not affect Berry. After all, she had no time to pay attention to outside opinions; she was completely immersed in the war.
Inside the command room of the Hive Tower, she was the brain of the Hive army, the Supreme Commander of the "western army" in the mouths of Night City residents.
The lives of over two hundred people were currently tied to her decisions.
She silently watched the green beacons on the holographic map representing the Hive's military strength; every single dot represented a living life.
Monitoring the Hive's marching progress, Berry issued instructions to the frontline commanders via the headset microphone at her mouth on the public channel.
"Jackie, V, proceed according to plan. Let the Tyger Claws come in, then engage."
"I am making the following deployment. Remember it."
"Jackie's First Column, James's Second Column, and Chagatai's Third Column are to deploy sequentially in Kabuki, constructing defenses, setting up sandbags and cement barriers, and preparing for Barricade Warfare."
"V will lead MaxTac to the designated location to await orders. Launch a sudden attack when the timing is right."
"The General Reserve will hold position."
"As soon as the timing is right, seize the main bridge, cut off the Tyger Claws' retreat, and we will execute the Catching a Turtle in a Jar strategy."
"Two hundred against eight hundredthis is undercooked rice. Undercooked or not, we must eat it!"
Berry issued the command with ringing authority.
Soon, the replies of the frontline commanders came through the communication channel, accompanied by electromagnetic static.
"Jackie acknowledged."
"James acknowledged."
"Chagatai acknowledged."
"V acknowledged."
Berry nodded. Everything was proceeding according to plan.
Thanks to Rogue's information, they were able to enter the battlefield early and begin deployment.
The holographic map displayed all formations, naturally including Berry's deployment.
Facing a disadvantage in manpower, Berry adopted the wildest strategy: deciding the outcome in a single battle, as she simply couldn't afford a war of attrition.
Her tactic was to hit the Tyger Claws hard in Kabuki with an encirclement and annihilation battle.
She utilized the Honeycomb Mercenaries' fighting strength of over two hundred people to the extreme.
First, the largest force, the front-line troops, accounted for the majority of the Honeycomb Mercenaries' fighting strength—a full 160 people, divided into three columns, forty people each. They sequentially established a multi-layered defense line in Kabuki, delaying the Tyger Claws' attack layer by layer until they could orderly retreat and hold the pre-determined ambush zone.
By then, the MaxTac unit, spearheaded by V's "Phantom" squad and including the forty Aldecaldos reinforcements brought by Panam Palmer, would launch a surprise attack from a pre-arranged hiding spot, pierce the Tyger Claws' weak point, move deep behind enemy lines, seize the bridge, and cut off the Tyger Claws' retreat.
Enhanced by pre-positioned motorcycle vehicles, the MaxTac unit was a genuine motorized force, and its combat personnel were elites. They could complete the mission.
As for the fifty-person General Reserve led by Mitsuhide, they would seize the opportunity to join the battlefield, assist the MaxTac unit in flanking maneuvers and surprise attacks, or reinforce the defense line on the main front.
If the plan succeeded, it would form an encirclement of the Tyger Claws, allowing for a full-scale counterattack to wipe out the Tyger Claws within the pocket.
This was Berry's plan.
As for the Hive Tower headquarters, she deployed little fighting strength, save for a handful of guards.
After all, if the front line failed, holding the Hive Tower was meaningless; it would be better to run early.
Nonetheless, Berry utilized everything she could.
The five-person drone team led by Judy would operate drones to monitor the area around the building, serving as the building's first line of defense.
Berry also left Kikyo at the building in case of emergency.
There wasn't much else.
The medical rescue team of over a dozen people led by Viktor was responsible for using vehicles to transport injured soldiers back from the front line for treatment.
As for non-combat personnel like Bartenders and administrative staff, Berry ordered them directly to the basement to await orders. The basement entrance had a half-meter-thick alloy blast door with a spiral mechanism; once the door was closed, it would be impossible to open quickly.
In short, Berry had utilized every deployable force to the maximum. The rest depended on adapting to the situation on the battlefield.
War is about fighting your own fight while the enemy fights theirs.
While maneuvering the battlefield situation to one's advantage, one must avoid being maneuvered by the enemy; everything relies on adaptation... As the Honeycomb Mercenaries entered the battlefield, the Tyger Claws forces also gathered near the bridge, awaiting the command to cross and attack Kabuki.
"So that's how it is. I understand."
The details of the Honeycomb Mercenaries' deployment were also reported to Jotaro, who merely scoffed upon reading the report.
The Honeycomb Mercenaries' commander was either extremely arrogant or extremely stupid.
They dared to divide their forces despite having so few troops.
It seemed they wanted to delay his attack, but how could that be possible?
Pointless struggle would only hasten death.
Jotaro had made up his mind.
"Pass on my order: do not be distracted by the enemy. Maintain a focused attack, find the enemy's weak points, and break through their fragile defense lines."
"This battle is 800 against 200."
"No matter how you look at it, the advantage is mine."
"Gentlemen, fight hard!"
On the Cross-River Bridge that night, there were no vehicles, only the dense, cloud-like formation of the Tyger Claws, their blood-red eyes fixed on the other side of the bridge.
Finally, the order was given.
The Tyger Claws army rushed onto the bridge, shouting and gripping their weapons.
The war had begun.
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