Characters created by: Rebecca Sugar
Chapter 7: Haiti
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The Pentagon-Ten Days Later-09:00 Hours
Connie stood with the Chiefs of Staff and other Pentagon officials in a giant circular room, looking on at a giant screen across the room. The screen displayed a fully-colored picture from an unmanned Predator Drone.
"First strike wave has its sights upon Haiti." said Chairman Calhoun, "Main target, Port-de-Paix naval base."
"That's a major city." said Connie, "Let's be sure not to hit civilians."
"Yes, Ma'am."
The Predator Drone locked onto one of the ships on the naval port.
"Their shields are down. That is the ship that sunk the Charleston. It will be their first casualty. On your command, Madam President."
Connie stared at the screen.
"Fire…"
Calhoun turned to a woman sitting nearby, controlling the Drone.
"Fire all weapons."
She nodded. On the screen, the Drone fired its missiles and released its high explosive bombs.
The bombs fell. The missiles sped towards the ship.
…
…
…
After what seemed like ages, fire shot from the ship. Then, the whole ship erupted in a ball of flame. The explosion was so powerful, a shockwave could be seen travelling over the water and onto other ships, but their shields then could be seen, the shockwave travelling over the shields.
Calhoun smiled.
"The Charleston is now avenged. Would you like to proceed with the strike?"
Connie turned to him.
"Of course. Proceed."
Calhoun spoke into a communications device.
"Proceed with the strike."
After a few seconds, manned jets could be seen descending down upon the port from the safety of the clouds. More ships were being fired on.
The Drone then turned around, heading back to base. The screen then turned to a manned jet, aiming for a ship in front of it. It fired one of its timed missiles. The screen showed a camera mounted to the missile, broadcasting a live signal. The missile sped towards the ship. The ship was closer and closer. Then, the missile pierced through the armor, the camera still intact and broadcasting, being rocked around with the missile. It finally settled inside the munitions room, shells could be seen falling from their shelves onto the floor. Then, after a few seconds, the screen went white, then turned to static.
"Direct hit into the munitions." said Calhoun, "Very nice…"
The screen then turned to a high-altitude surveillance jet, showing the entire port. Ships were sinking, an airfield was in flames.
"The other northern sea ports are being bombed as of now, Ma'am." said Calhoun, "We are sending Navy fleets to Haiti now to secure the northern ports."
Connie nodded.
09:20 Hours…
Connie faced the screen, displaying the naval base of Port-de-Paix, towers of smoke rising, as Navy ships bombarded it.
"The civilians have been ordered to evacuate the city while a land units are being flown in." said Calhoun, "We are about to proceed with the landing."
"Very good." said Connie, "And what of our paratrooper units?"
"They are over the Bahamas now, heading straight towards Haiti."
Connie nodded.
09:30 Hours…
"Well, Madam President, our Army paratroopers are in Haiti now." said Calhoun, "They have landed in the mountains near the Dominican border, and another division in the southern strip, as you've requested. Soon, the First Marine Division will have the honor of crossing the border into Haiti."
Connie turned to Calhoun.
"Before they advance, I would like to speak with my son."
"Yes, Ma'am. I'll establish contact with his captain and put him on."
"Thank you, Chairman."
Connie followed Calhoun out of the room and out into the hall. As they walked down the hall, personnel in uniform passed by. They stopped at a door to the left. Calhoun opened it, and they both stepped in. In the middle of the room was a large holographic communications platform. Calhoun placed his right foot on a large button, which displayed a holographic screen before him. He typed on the screen, which then displayed a globe of the world. The globe turned to the Western Hemisphere, and a red dot popped up on the Dominican Republic, close to its border with Haiti. The screen disappeared, and the entire platform glowed. Calhoun stepped back. A holographic image of a man in his 40s with buzzcut brown hair and wearing a Marine uniform could be seen.
"Captain Amatuccio." said Calhoun.
The man saluted.
"Chairman Calhoun, sir?"
"The President would like to speak with Sergeant Universe, please."
"Yes, sir!" said the man, who walked off.
Connie turned back to Calhoun.
"If you don't mind, I'd like to talk in private."
Calhoun nodded.
"Yes, Ma'am."
Calhoun walked out, leaving Connie to herself. She stood, with both her hands connecting. She waited a few seconds…
Then, Connie's oldest son, 20 year old Amazonite, wearing full Marine uniform, appeared, with an assault rifle strapped to his back. His helmets was also hanging on his side. His hair was grown, looking much like Steven's hair, except Amazonite's lacked curls. He stared at her mother.
"Mom? I-I mean, Madam President?"
"No need for those formalities, Amazonite. I'm glad to see you. I see you're a Sergeant now."
"Yeah! My superiors are impressed by my powers. They call me a "Born fighter"."
"I know you are. You're a Gem, and a Universe. And here you are, with the First Marine Division, one of the greatest. Although, as your mother, I hope you will stay safe. You are going into hostile territory."
"Speaking of," said Amazonite, "Where's Dad?"
"Oh, he didn't come. You know he isn't one for war. Besides, if he talked to you right now, he'd be in tears."
Amazonite laughed.
"Yeah. I guess you're right. Aquamarine's pretty much a younger Dad."
Connie smiled.
"Yeah… But I hope you will keep safe. You got that shield of yours to protect you and others."
"I know." said Amazonite, "Well, I better be off, we're about to roll out."
"Good luck, son. I love you."
"I love you too, Mom."
The hologram image then disappeared, leaving Connie all alone in the room. She took a deep breath and walked out.
"Stay safe…"
10:00 Hours…
For twenty minutes, the First Marine Division were now in enemy territory, rapidly fighting their way through the mountains.
"Turns out, a small battalion of French skirmishers found out about the Marines massing on the border, and sent their forces there to meet them." said Chairman Calhoun, "Luckily, on their way, they were met with the army paratroopers, who descended all around them. They became partially disorganized, and the combined Marine and Army units are fighting against them in the mountains. The southern paratroopers have blocked off all modes for the southern countryside to meet with Port-au-Prince, and are advancing west to take out all colonial units stationed there. The landing parties on the northern coasts have met, and are advancing south, and a Navy fleet is circling around to block all attempted escapes by colonial troops via Port-au-Prince's ports. We have nearly every important location in Haiti accounted for. What made it so easy is the lack of actual military influence there. The Naval fleets stationed at Haiti were small, and all colonial troops there are specialized Line and Skirmish regiments from the French Army, and are not used to the mountainous terrain. Even the more freely-roaming skirmishers have some setbacks working in sloped and or forested areas. Honestly, this makes the invasion all the more easier."
Connie nodded.
"Better than I expected. How is my son's battalion?"
"They are currently fighting Skirmisher units in the forests."
Meanwhile In The White House…
In the White House bedroom, Steven sat on the end of the bed, wearing his yellow star shirt, with his pink jacket worn over it, blue jeans, and sandals. He looked at the television. It was a broadcast coming from a forest in Haiti. On screen, thick shrubs and trees filled left and right, but in the center, an opening slope looking downwards to a burning bunker entrance. In front of the camera was a reporter walking around the area, Marines walking by.
"Here we have what looks like an entrance to a bunker. As you can see, it's in flames, set fire by the Marines here after clearing it out."
Distant gunshots could be heard.
"And as you can hear, the battle is still underway."
The reporter looked to her right. The camera turned towards the direction she faced. Nearby, two Marines were using a portable light mortar. One soldier loaded the shell, and the other turned a wheel that determined how high the mortar would fire. One yelled "Fire!", and both covered their ears. The mortar fired with a loud pow, the camera shaking, and the mic being overloaded with feedback because of the loud sound from the mortar. The camera turned to the reporter, who covered her right ear. She resorted to yelling as other mortars fired.
"These two Marines, as you can see, are firing a mortar over the French soldiers' heads! I wonder if that one got a direct hit!"
A voice could be heard from back at the studio from a male reporter.
"And, Diana, one of the main interests about all this is Amazonite Universe, the President's son, is fighting here."
"That is correct, Frank. Sergeant Universe is currently leading his squad through the battle in the forest. The fact that a son of the President is fighting in the frontlines is fighting in this raises publicity."
Steven cupped both his hands together and held them against his forehead.
"Please let Amazonite come home after this." he thought.
The Pentagon-12:00 Hours…
"They're out of the mountains, and are free to Port-au-Prince!" said Chairman Calhoun with a smile, "They stomped the Skirmishers in the heights! This invasion is a huge success! Thank God for fast, rapid warfare!"
Calhoun paced very fast, occasionally doing an air kick out of pure excitement. Connie, who sat nearby, spoke.
"How's my son?"
"He is quite okay, Madam President, and his battalion will be in Port-au-Prince in the next few hours."
Connie nodded.
15:00 Hours…
Connie and the others watched the screen, showing an image of the city of Port-au-Prince from a surveillance satellite. Parts of the city were up in smoke.
"Their objective is the colonial hall. We are currently advancing towards it. The invasion will soon be over. The rest of the colonial units left will have no choice but to surrender."
All around them, personnel passed by, scrambling as the greatest objective in the invasion was being met.
Meanwhile In Port-au-Prince, Haiti…
In Port-au-Prince, the First Marine Division was having a heated final battle with French colonial forces. French bodies in a horizontal line spread across the roads. Some buildings were either burning, or taking smoke. Others were just plain damaged, mostly by artillery fire.
U.S. soldiers surrounded the Colonial Hall. The inside of the Hall was being guarded by the French Imperial Guard, wearing large fur caps, with gold plating on the bottom front, and a red plume on the side. They fired their rifles from windows.
Amazonite's squad stood behind a fence, one soldier holding a large protective shield, the soldiers firing from the safety behind it. A small number of Guard soldiers ran out of the front door.
"Front door!" exclaimed Amazonite.
The soldiers looked to the Guard soldiers and fired their weapons. The Guard soldiers went down quickly, one body rolling down the stairs.
Other soldiers could be seen around Amazonite's squad, providing heavy fire on the Hall. One soldier even held a light machine gun.
After a few seconds, a man in uniform rode in the back of a military vehicle. The vehicle stopped behind Amazonite's squad. The man took a megaphone out and stood up.
"Attention!"
Amazonite turned to the man, than back to his squad.
"Cease fire!"
His squad stopped firing. He turned to other squads around him.
"Cease fire!"
He heard other soldiers yell the same command around him. Soon, everyone stopped firing, even the French. The man on the vehicle spoke again.
"French soldiers, it's over! You are surrounded! You have been asked to save your own lives! Will you accept defeat and surrender?!"
A few moments of silence followed. Then, a lone voice from a Guard soldier yelled out.
"The Guard dies and does not surrender!"
The man immediately put down the megaphone.
"Blast 'em." he said to another man in the vehicle.
Amazonite suddenly heard loud drones heard behind him. He and the others turned around to see, at the other end of the road, were rows of tank, which aimed for the Hall. They all fired, the entire front of the Hall battered and engulfed by smoke.
Once the smoke had cleared, Amazonite heard the order.
"Clear it out."
Amazonite's squad jumped over the fence and ran along the field to the front entrance. Amazonite peeked through the front to make sure it was safe inside. He turned to the others and nodded. He went in first, followed by the others. He looked around at the bodies of French soldiers. He then heard coughing. He went into another room and saw a Guard soldier, dust on his face, coughing loudly. Amazonite hesitated, remembering the Guard's motto.
"The Guard dies and does not surrender!" he remembered.
The soldier slowly got up on his feet, holding his rifle in his hands. He lifted his head to look at Amazonite. He slowly started lifting his rifle. At this point, Amazonite aimed his gun at the soldier. But, the Guard stopped midway, erupting in cough. This time, he coughed blood, and began choking. He then fell face first onto the floor. Amazonite slowly approached him. The soldier showed no signs of life. He lightly tapped the soldier with his foot. No response. Amazonite stared at the soldiers' lifeless body and sighed.
Meanwhile In The Pentagon…
"The invasion is over, with great success." said Chairman Calhoun, "We have eradicated French influence in the Caribbean."
Connie sighed in relief. Calhoun looked to her and smiled.
"We did it, Ma'am. We beat them out. No more naval threats."
"This can't be the end of all French naval threats." said Connie, "We still have big influence over the world's seas. But, at least we stopped this hub of naval activity. Now, America is more safe. I hope…"
Connie looked down at her feet.
"I hope…"
As always, say in the reviews what you think should happen next!
