It is used to be a section about Wardog Squadron gets a one-week furlough and Blaze reunites with his "para-girlfriend" and the girl's maid in Oured, plus how he interacts with them, I even had completed character designs in draft. But I really suck at describing lover relationships, so I cut this section out. However there's something to be made straight: Blaze has a "para-girlfriend" and the girl has a maid, they will make brief appearances for once. Anyways, the time of formidable battles has come.
Operation: Footprint
First Downtown Sector of Oured
October 30th 2010, 19:00
"Quick! Take a look of this!" "War! We're going to war!" Crowds are gathering on a vast square, in front of a huge screen installed on the side of a tall building. The screen is live broadcasting an aggressive war-proclamation against Union of Yuktobanian Republics, in the name of President Vincent Harling. However, the one who is exclaiming anti-Yuktobania manifesto on the show, is not the president himself, but is the Vice President Appelrouth.
As vice president continues giving the passionate and agitative speech, audiences are showing different reactions: Excitement, fear, anxiety…however one thing is for sure: Total war is inevitable.
Mission Briefing Room, Sand Island Air Force Base
November 1st 2010, 10:30
Commander Orson Perrault: "Our armies finally get ready to conduct a large-scale counter-attack against Yuktobania. If we succeed, we'll never have to face the humiliation of those Yukes tramping on our homeland again. The tactical objectives of this counter-attack are simple enough: To invade and occupy Yuktobanian mainland, and conquer their capital city of Cinigrad. Therefore, I need everyone in this base fight their best to contribute in this war effort."
Screen wall is displaying vital information regarding impending mission for Wardog Squadron.
"As the first step of entire campaign, we're going to launch a large-scale amphibious assault against Yuktobania on the eastern coast of its mainland. This operation is named 'Footprint', twelve divisions of our military strength had been allocated to storm on designated beachheads for establishing solid frontier bases, as the entrances for further reinforcements and expansions, on a total battlefront stretches to 1200 kilometers, along eastern and southern shore of Bastok Peninsula. Wardog Squadron will participate in a small but critical piece of this huge puzzle board. Our tactical analysis has confirmed there is a weak point in Yuktobanian's overall coastal defense, that is Area YK09-L02, a.k.a. Volna Beach. This region is relatively poorly defended than other areas and once taken, can greatly compromise their entire defensive mechanism. But although 'relatively poorly defended', Volna Beach do have its potent defenses, in form of three layers. The first layer is a carrier battle group, consisted by an Admiral Kuznetsov-Class Aircraft Carrier and escorts, positioned miles ahead of coastline; the second layer is a series of sea-bound bases, converted from off-shore drilling platforms, serving as wet-docks, hangars and airstrips; these two layers of defense also contain majority of local defensive air force, if can be neutralized quickly, we can deny their abilities of launching aircraft which in turn to be our favor. Third layer is numerous defensive structures and units scattered from coastline to inland, as defense in depth; last, but not the least, is this square-shaped stronghold located in the north, their regional headquarter. To ensure the successfully invasion and conquest of Volna Beach, Central Command specially deployed elite landing forces selected from First and Second Osean Ground Defense Force Battalions, they will be divided into four companies, A, B, C and D. Wardog Squadron will clear paths for them to land on coastline, then provides further supports as they fan out and push into depth, finally take control of the stronghold as primary target. The assault will be under poor weather conditions, which should catch local garrisons off-guard, but fierce resistance is to be expected."
Perrault: "Seems the victory or defeat of Footprint is in your hands, children. I wish you the best luck and best performance in the battle, dismiss."
Wardog Squadron is fully fueled and armed, waiting for orders on runway. This time Blaze and Nagase pilot Su-35 Super Flankers, equipped with R-60Ms, R-37s and B-13 Rocket Hive-Pods. Davenport and Grimm pilot Su-37 Terminators, equipped with R-60Ms, R-74EMs and BLU-96s.
"Wardog Squadron, your cleared for takeoff." They accelerate, rise into sky, arrange a rhombus formation, disappear into distance.
"Altitude restriction cancelled, return to your mission, good luck."
Davenport: "Yeah, luck, we'll all need it."
Volna Beach, Bastok Peninsula, Union of Yuktobanian Republics
Longitude: 123 Degree 29 Minute 45 Second East
Latitude: 04 Degree 32 Minute 42 Second South
November 1st 2010, 16:30
A tropical storm envelops entire area, wind howls, rain pours, waves toss, not ideal for landing, however, landing operations always get carried out under a weather condition which is deemed not that suitable.
"Those Osean capitalists are attacking everywhere, but this beach is spared. Thanks to the storm. It's gonna to be a quiet day, almost too quiet."
"You can say it again, a tempest of water and vapor is too good compare with a tempest of fire and explosion."
"Only a psycho will attack here under such weather…" Well said Yuke, you just don't know the leader of Wardog Squadron is a magnificent psycho, and he is not the only magnificent psycho in Osean army.
Miles from coastline, dozens of helicopters and VTOL crafts, carrying troops inside or hanging vehicles underbelly, are flying near the surface, using the blind zone of low altitude and raging sea as covers, approaching enemies undetected. Wardog Squadron, flies even lower, bypassing them.
"This is Company A to friendly fighters, are you our air support in this mission? Wow, that's pretty a small squadron."
Blaze: "Wardog Squadron to friendly companies, we will clear a path for you to beachhead, please continue advancing."
"Wardog Squadron? The heroes who defended Sand Island and sunk the Scinfaxi? Guys! We got the 'Four Wings of Sand Island' to assist us! We can win through!" Cheers come through radio.
Wardog Squadron pulls up, unleashes hailstone of rockets and missiles directly to enemy carrier's deck, decimating bridge, catapults and parking aircraft, knock the ship out of the game. Then they disperses, cripple remaining ships in less than two minutes. Following that, they immediately dash forward to the line of off-shore platforms, disable all defensive emplacements and communication antennas onboard as well as wreck all planes still not able to be sent airborne. While transport group with landing companies fly by, some of them unload boarding parties on the incapable platforms, to eliminate remaining Yuktobanian operatives on site, occupy these structures for their own use.
Initial phases of sudden strike are successful beyond expectation, two layers of defense are breached in a matter of minutes, even after four landing companies are deployed on beach and begin to push forward, Yuktobanian defenders still unable to start a valid counterstrike.
Yuktobanian army's efficiency is demonstrated in the process of compensating previous setbacks. They quickly pull out artilleries onto hilltops and into jungles, also from fortified bunkers entrenched in side of hills, dousing Osean landing forces with shellfire, meanwhile, reinforcements from nearby areas, mainly some attack helicopters, enter the airspace to give a hand.
"We need REAL air support! Can't you dispatch some fixed-wing aircraft? Attackers! Bombers!" Someone, sounds like the commander in charge of local defense, shouting on the line.
"We're under heavily assault as well! Consider yourself lucky that we still have something to spare! It is your fault to be caught off-guard at the first place!"
Explosion, the primary communication tower in the stronghold collapses with headquarter, Blaze's doing. He promptly hits on full afterburner, dodges several anti-air missiles fired from ground by a barrel roll, escapes beyond their range, and rejoins his wingmen to plow ground for friendly forces.
"Headquarter is hit! Commander is inside!"
"Forget him! Quick! We need more ammo to feed artilleries!"
"The storm is interfering radar and infrared so badly! I'm almost firing in blind!"
"Just fire to the direction of the beach if you want to save your hide!"
"Eh…there're too many of them, which one should we attack first?" A Yuktobanian helicopter pilot asks, before get brought down by an R-74EM.
"Shack on Mi-24! Shack on AH-64D! Shack on Mi-24 again!" Davenport is hunting down enemy helicopters. Nagase is picking up sporadic enemy IFVs and tanks whose luck is bad enough to be positioned in the paths of advancing Osean landing forces. Grimm, on contrary, finds him almost idled, for all targets that he's planning to destroy had already been taken out by his teammates and friendly ground units.
"This is Company B! Enemy bunkers are halting our soldiers' advancing! Can you drive a missile into it?"
"Finally!" Grimm hurries to designated position, a group of AMP Units are exchanging firepower with a bunker half-buried in hillside. This bunker is fortified by reinforced concrete and steel, and is firing to nearby friendly forces with large-caliber machineguns as well as launching rocket-propelled shells to coastline, attempting to inflict more damages to Osean army. He fires four R-60Ms to it, only finds the missiles explode outside the bunker without doing actual damages.
"That armor's too strong for blasters…I mean for standard missiles." Grimm reports to Blaze.
Blaze: "Use FAEB. Tell friendlies to clear the area."
"Roger! Company B, withdraw from immediate area, I'm going to drop a BLU-96. Switch to targeting computer." Grimm aligns to frontal side of bunker and activates bombing targeting device.
A big fireball rises from bunker's frontal armor as result of FAEB impact, in fact, the explosion doesn't do much damage, but the deflagration exhausts oxygen inside the structure, suffocates all things that need to breathe. Bunker is effectively silenced.
Grimm: "Everyone who is stalled by enemy bunkers, here's special delivery for ya!" Then he talks to himself: "Now I understand why captain tells me to bring these bulky bombs."
"Company C here! Our heavy weapon dudes and AMP units can deal with enemy infantries and vehicles in our way, but can you do something to those Tornados on hills? We have casualties!"
"I'm on it." Nagase strafes Yuktobanian batteries deployed on hills by her B-13 Rocket Hive-Pods, triggers continuous violent explosions, she even feels her plane is being shaken by shockwaves.
"Hey cap, Company D requests removal of enemy artilleries hiding in jungle, but I have trouble to have a clear lock-on." Davenport says.
"Use FAEB's area effects. I'm coming to join you." Blaze instructs.
"Light'em up." Blaze unleashes rocket salvos as Davenport drops BLU-96s. Jungle is immediately turned into a blazing inferno. When frenzied flames consume ammo crates, explosions arise.
"Fall back! Fall back to stronghold to regroup! We can still put up a fight behind the walls!" Acting commander of remaining Yuktobanian defenders in presence of this mission area, issues a desperate order. Meanwhile, situation goes more desperate to Yukes, that is, Osean landing crafts drive ashore, with tanks and artilleries as follow-up units. Once off-board, M270s and 9A53-S Tornados deploy and fire at enemy stronghold.
Company A: "We have advanced to two miles away from stronghold! What's your status?"
Company B: "We're advancing too! But there's still thimbleful unorganized resistance, give us a little more time."
Company C: "Approaching from southeast, air force had silenced the last bunker in our way."
Company D: "We need to take a detour to bypass burning jungle, seems flyboys are a little overexcited."
"Converge with us as fast as you can, friendly artilleries have had them suppressed, this is the best chance to take out that citadel! We must forge into a single large force to commence final assault!"
Davenport: "Our ground forces are accumulating in front of the stronghold, enemies are a beast at bay now."
"…I should tell you earlier, my elder brother is down there, among the landing units." Grimm reminds.
"What?!" Exclaims Davenport: "You do should tell us earlier! Where is he?"
"I don't know, they all look the same."
"Then everyone down there is your brother." Davenport announces. Wardog Squadron gathers, ready to deliver final blow with landing companies, to Yuktobanian defenders who are trapped inside the stronghold.
"Charge!" Osean ground forces, supported by Wardog Squadron and artilleries, tear into front gate of stronghold, clash against last defense line of Yukes. Defense shatters in an instant, Osean army storms into stronghold's courtyard like a flood, slaughtering every resisting Yuktobanian combatant in their way.
Battlefield suddenly falls into deathly silence, for all Yuktobanian units outside had been destroyed, assault troops now are clearing interior of structures room by room. Minutes later, a declaration comes from ground: "Confirm last trait of Yuke resistance eliminated, Volna Beach is ours! We can't make it without you Wardog Squadron, Three cheers for you—hail, hail, hooray!"
"Thank yourselves, not us." Nagase sounds exhausted and depressed.
"This is off-shore platform occupation force, we had restored the functionality of airstrips and hangars, if you need resupply, come at anytime."
Blaze: "Our job is definitely done here, Wardog Squadron, prepare to land on platform for replenishments."
Later, Osean victorious reports come in en masse, all designated beachheads are successfully claimed and solidified into forward bases and expansion points for future assaults inside Yuktobania mainland. With their defense line crumbled, Yuktobanian armies begin to withdraw, in a large scale.
Wardog Squadron is attributed as one of first-class merit makers. Ironically, it also means more assignments are lined up, and they won't be able to return to homeland shortly. They spend that night on one of the drilling platforms, where they park the planes.
"…we will match forward and we will not lay down our weapons until Yuktobanian capital has fallen. However, our true enemy here is the Yuktobanian military who started this unjust war, therefore we're forced to set foot on Yuktobania with weapons in hands. So I hereby to ask you, citizens of Yuktobania: Do not fear us, but rather join us in…" General Howell, supreme commander of Osean armies deployed in Yuktobania, who claims to have been given full operational authority by President Harling, is making pronouncement on media.
"To the hell with all of those bellicism-addicted!" Davenport, drinking a bottle of soft root beer: "I never should trust that Mr. Cargo guy. Man…I thought he would bring peace back to us, not drive us into war! Now I just hope I can withdraw my vote to him."
"It's not his fault to let this happen." Nagase says.
"You still have faith in him?" Davenport's tone is slightly taunting.
"I don't know, but president will never authorize a war of invading other countries. Even if he's against the congress and department of defense."
"Could that possible that congress and some high-ranking generals deprived president from his authority and escalated the war on their own?" Davenport is frightened by his own guess: "No, nevermind, I must be crazy. Say, Grimm, what's your opinion?"
Grimm: "Me? I…I just follow orders. But I don't think I signed up for invasion or something."
"Then how' bout you cap?" Davenport turns to Blaze.
"I just choked up by one thing: If the open-war manifesto was in president's name, why he was not the one declared it to public?" Blaze's speaking rings a bell to everyone.