Mobile Suit Gundam: Vanguard Blitz
Chapter 20
Opan AFB, Central Lucan
Not this dry-heat, again, First Lieutenant Serena Vel Conirs thought; that was what blindsided her every time she came to Lucan. Certainly Vehal, nine hours before, had been grim in the last few remaining hours of the day. Trifecta Isles, just before sunset had been hot but not uncomfortable beneath a gentle rain.
But Lucan itself was an embodiment of hell; at least it was three hours before the sun had set and the temperature had manage to drop, some-what. Her black ESF khaki uniform had almost soaked through, the sweat from her body almost draining into her combat boots just coming from the MS transport; arriving to Lucan behind the bulk of the 154th MRB, many of whose personals where still out in the night searching out their units, commanders and temporary assign quarters. She brushed her hair back, slightly annoyed at its dampness, and scratches a spot under her armpit.
"When's this Colonel Tolland suppose to get here?" she asked the ESF officer assign as her team-mate for a mission she had yet to be briefed on. Her question came out more sharply than she'd intended. Blame it on this heat.
A former Noire Knight in training at Ratheon Institute, Vel Conirs had slowly raisin within the ranks of the ESF Division to become a full fledge member of one of the most feared ESF Black Ops units, specifically a Stryker commando, the best of the very best. And not just any Stryker commando units, a member of Stryker Team Cold-Hearts, the best of the very best.
As it was Vel Conirs had been trained never to feel any emotion regarding her assignments? Past or Present. But several hours ago, however, the ESF Supreme Commander had presented her with a digital picture of a young man for her to identified. That picture had certainly raised her heart rate when she had noticed the date stamped.
'Kailyn Starken, How?! She had her suspicion that this new assignment had something to do with her previous team-mate from a time long gone, somehow. The fact that he had survive Ratheon Institutes untimely destruction, was in itself a question that needed answering, and she would get that answer, before she personally killed him of course. It was a shame to; he had been kind of cute. But as a surviving Noire Knight, he was just far to dangerous to be allowed to live.
Second Lieutenant Artman Amberg responded, jolting her attention away from her wondering train of thoughts; she noted with a flash of annoyance that he was staring at her chest again." Uh, he must have been delayed somewhat. But he's well aware that we're here. He has to know our timetable is limited as well."
"Do we have to be brief by him? I'd like to proceed with the operation as soon as possible. What ever the hell it is this time."
Amberg was so startled his eyes lost their fixed on her bust. He began giving her the usual reasons why they couldn't start without the Colonel. Vel Conirs tuned him out. She scratched again and strolls over to the window. She looked out, absently flipping the collar of her uniform. In the distance, vibrating like a wine hangover, she could make out mobile suits of different types, armed with various-weapons for different mission roles in positions, ready to be moved into there assign MS transports. Beyond that was a star-filled and black night sky. She stared out at it, wondering whether she absolutely had to spend the night on the second floor of the local Air Force headquarters. She'd brought along her the new experimental mobile suit, just on the off chance...
Then she curbs her mind. She was here on official ESF business. A failed or completion assignment General Bergove had said. Go in, do your usual job and be home within three days time. That didn't sound like she had anymore time to familiarize herself with the ends and outs of her new MS, let alone continue testing its performance. No, she would concentrate solely on her new mission.
Because Elite Syber Force missions usually involved high levels of secrecy, the traditional multitier chain of command is often circumvented in favor of a "monocaput " management-- a single controller who is granted the authority to control the unit as he or she sees fit. The Controller tends to be a military power broker with sufficient rank or influence to run the mission. In this case, an ESF Colonel Urgis Tolland would be there controller.
"There he is," squeaked Amberg, sounding relieved. She dropped her gaze. A dusty military sedan was edging through the concrete barriers at the gate. As she watched, marines surrounded the vehicle, rifles at the ready. One circled it, inspecting the chassis with a flashlight. They'd done that to the car Vel Conirs had arrived in as well. Then they felled back, snapping up their hands in salute as the vehicle rolled into the compound, the blue sphere flags stirring flaccidly in the still air.
A few lengthy minutes later, Colonel Tolland was bursting into his office, and they snapped hasty salute in unison. He smelled of oil, dust and sweat." Good afternoon Lieutenants and welcome. Sorry I'm late, things have suddenly become hectic around here, with the redeployment of our ground and air defense forces around Opan, losing Unterrem to those rebel forces and to top it off, we weren't told about the arrival of this MRB until they were half-way here, why their here, where their going and I'm told even less about your current mission assignment. The files themselves only just arrived. I see they sent only two of you."
"Colonel Tolland."
"Yes?"
"We're Stryker's," Vel Conirs said coldly." While an average team is made up of three to four members. The both of us are more than capable of handling any mission required of us. Our time here is limited and there's a great deal we'd like to know and prepare for. Could we start the brief, sir?"
Tolland looked blank for just a moment, turned to face Amberg and back towards Vel Conirs, his right hand scratch his well shaven chin, while his left placed a leather brief-case he'd brought with him on his untidy wooden desk, snapped the latch open and reach inside with his right hand, withdrawing a pair of three page thick official-looking files with the ESF insignia over the envelope above the words ' Eyes Only'. "These are for your eyes only. This mission is top secret." He looked at Vel Conirs, and then at Amberg; the Colonel wink.
Vel Conirs and Amberg each reached out for a file and studied the documents in silence for a few minutes. They glanced at each other, then at the Colonel who had just handed them their mission orders and had simply slumped into his seat. His part of this operation it seems complete. Theirs it seem was only just beginning
"Shit! This is unbelievable, sir,' Amberg finally said, after a minute of intense silence." This says we will be joining up with two other Stryker teams. The Red- Shoulder Blades and the Devil's Guardian Knights. Aren't those guys trained in heavy assault and anti-fortification operations?"
Vel Conirs glanced sideways at Amberg. His eyes were like little glinting steel balls, even as her mind brought up the current stats of both Stryker teams, along with a mental picture of their mission, which looked unlike anything she had been ordered to do before. But she was more than willing to complete this assignment. It had merits at its conclusion and as well as a possible promotion. It won't be too complicated." We've done seek and seizure missions before."
"Not like this, three Stryker Teams on a single Ops. It's never been done before. Not to my knowledge, plus we'll be looking for something, neither of us knows whether it exists or not. Its exact position, relative to our LZ and with heavy enemy resistances."
Vel Conirs shrugged, turning to face the Colonel." Where's our basing, logistics structure."
Tolland pointed at the documents." It's all there. Everything you need to know, down to the last detail."
There was a rap at the door before Vel Conirs could glance at the papers again and an ESF Sergeant holding a clipboard let himself in. He paused upon seeing the crowded office. But Tolland waved him in and was given the clipboard. As he read, his face darkens.
She was about to ask what had happen when a telephone buzzed. The Colonel frown as he reached across his desk for it, listened, then said, "Thank you, they'll be back there in fifteen minutes----Lieutenants, Tower Control reports your transportation has arrived. Let's see, I think everything is in order. I'll send a man to pick up your bags immediately. Now if you'll excuse me, it seems I'm badly needed elsewhere."
" Thank you, sir, "She smiled at Amberg." Now we can get going, can't we."
"Yes, ma'am." Amberg replied flipping to the last page."It says we'll be base on one of those new Geiger-class assault carriers we've been hearing about. Guess one finally made it off the shipyards production line. Operations commander is a Colonel Nevano Tional, Army liaison officer to the ESF. Says in this file here, he'll be our new Controller."
She didn't ask for elaboration as she cross the room, they both had the same files. But still it was unheard of for an Army officer, regardless of rank being a Controller. She'll know soon enough what was going on. The Sergeant held the door open for them. She said" Thank you" coldly as she brushed by him, with Amberg following hot on her heels mumbling to himself as he scan the pages.
When she was out of earshot and door closed shut behind him, the ESF Staff Sergeant turned to Colonel Tolland with astonishment." Their Stryker's, but they can't be more than twenty years old. What kind of strings was pulled to get them those badges?"
"Watch your tongue, Sergeant," said Tolland mildly." Strykers are chosen through skills, intellect and half a dozen other requirements you and I surely lack. To be a Stryker at that age alone is testament to their skills.
The Sergeant looked over his shoulder and said quietly." You think maybe their going to help retake Unterrem city from those rebels, sir."
" Not this day! You heard them talking! What ever their mission is, it's evidently more important than that shit-hole. Leave Unterrem city to the damn Army, its there fault for dropping their guard. But just in case things go bad out there, I want an assault plan for the 215th Guards Regiment on my desk by noon today. Is that clear, Sergeant!"
The staff Sergeant nodded in the middle of saluting." I'll get on it right away, sir."
Thirty minutes later, the two Stryker pilots were airborne aboard a MST helicopter on a north-eastern heading, carrying their personal mobile suits.
Aboard the Nemesis
Tabaro Wilisk had Pilot flying the Nemesis on a north-western heading for the better part of three hours now. Other than a fleeting infrared picture of a group of inhabitable islands to the north and east of them, he had seen nothing on his monitor but greenish water less than ten thousand feet beneath the Nemesis hull in that time.
Every so often Pilot would check his instruments and match it to a flight chart, the only way he could confirmed his bearings.' Another hour on this course and we'll be entering Kazan's airspace! The revelation intensified his uneasiness. To make things worst, we still have that HAT trailing behind us! Soon they would have to change course or risk a direct confrontation with Kazan's patrolling fighters.
Outside the Nemesis, there was perpetual darkness. Tabaro realized he would have to give the orders to change course shortly, but the closer they get to Kazan air space, the more likely-hood the Guild HAT would change course to prevent a diplomatic situation from developing with Kazan.
As the minutes passed, the stars twinkled above and the quarter moon appeared glowed white above against the black back-drop of the sky.
Finally, Tabaro spotted a new signal less than two-hundred miles ahead on his armchair monitor. The radar operator had hooked the signal immediately and read its stats, even as he passes the new contact to Tabaro's screen. Weird---the computer came up empty. For a moment he thought about going through the assortment of Guild records to identify it. Then, too quickly, it disappeared and he was left with a tingling sensation in the pit of his stomach. The new contact had lasted only nine seconds. It was much to early to be picking up any of Kazan's aircraft, but then again, it could be a lone bird on patrol and where there was one patrol aircraft, their were bound to be others not to far away." Pilot alter course to zero-one-zero and climb to twelve thousand feet altitude immediately." It was best not to tangle with any of Kazan's patrolling fighters if at all possible.
As Pilot adjusts the aircraft on its new heading, the Miska-class began buckling and shuddering in the heavy turbulence. Tabaro heard a metallic pop and nearly jumped out of his seat in fright as the aircraft shivered and vibrated, but there was no sign of any immediate mortal danger. As pilot struggled to keep the aircraft under control, Tabaro peered outside the cockpit as the nosed climbed slowly. He felt a sensational drag in his gut as the craft rose to twelve thousand feet and decelerated into a leveled flight northward.
" Ok, sir. Level at twelve thousand feet and maintaining course and new heading," Pilot responded.
Tabaro was more interested in the HAT trailing one hundred kilometers behind them, loaded with who knows how many atmospheric capable MS, both armed and ready to launch at any given moment now." Where are they?"
The radar operator spoke softly." Ninety-eight kilometers and adjusting course to match our new heading. What are they waiting for, why don't they just attack us and get it over with."
Tabaro breathed in some fresh ventilated air and tried to focus on anything other than the HAT trailing ninety-eight kilometers behind the Nemesis. Nothing stayed in his head longer than a few seconds. He unbuckles his safety-harness after fifteen minutes of boredom." I'm going to check on the status of the Gizen (r), if those ESF so much as pop a flare, go to red-alert."
He made his way directly to the hanger-bay, which was brightly light as usual, oven-hot, noisy and stunk of sweat, MS propellant, gunpowder and smoke. Tabaro made his was to the Gizen (r) right feet, then raised his voice above the clanking of one of two crane like manipulator arms carrying the Gizen (r)'s shield towards the left forearm, where two crew whispered into head-phones to the robotics operator manipulating one of the arms." , Kailyn, you in there. We need to have a talk!"
The sweat-slicked faced of Specialist Gigher appeared over the open cockpit hatch thirty feet high." He's not here Lieutenant Wilisk, the Lieutenant and the Chief left about twenty minutes ago."
"Is that so? How long before she's ready to fly?"
"She's ready anytime, sir. Took us four hours to complete the repairs to the left thruster binder, another two hours to do a full systems and stress check. As of now we're reloading and replacing expended ammunition and propellant. Should be done in the next twenty minutes or so."
Tabaro was only half listening. He circled the MS, his eyes flicking from right arm to left, leg to cockpit hatch, air-intake ports to X-shape faceplate and then mono-eye main camera within.
"You check the FCS."
"Not me sir, Lieutenant Starken did that himself. Adjusted the OS himself, damn near tweaked command to respond time by 0.04 seconds. I couldn't tell you how either, considering this hanger bay doesn't have the facilities or the equipments to do that sort of thing. All in all she'll be armed and ready by 0400 hours, or before the Lieutenant sorties."
The crane like armed released the shield and it was immediately locked into the forearm hard-point." Sortied?" Tabaro asked, evidently confuse.
"The Lieutenant's going out at 0430 hours, sir. Didn't you know?"
"Who told you that?"
"Orders came directly from Chief headed off with the Lieutenant for some kind of meeting. Something about the Lieutenant's going out as soon as we're good and ready."
Tabaro rested his palm on the left ankle joint, feeling the coldness of the composite armor." Why didn't he call me about this meeting, shit?" He spin around mentally wanting to kick the Gizen (r) left feet in frustration, but ultimately fearing the pain it would bring. There was only one place Kailyn would be right now if he was planning on a sortie in less than three hours.
Only a few people went into the TCO and it was only to make operation plans. Tabaro arrived at the door, hesitated a moment reconsidering his option and knocked once after considering what could happen if he didn't know what was going on." Come in," came a familiar voice from within.
Tabaro stepped in and swore inwardly as he looked around at the four people standing over the table with a downward holographic view of the northern islands off Kazan territorial border. Vicati was at the far end of the table, with Athan glaring in his direction beside her, Deleware was leaning over the table, white shirt covering his mouth, he turned once to stare at Tabaro for a second, nodded his head in acknowledgement and returns his attention to the holographic map display.
"You're late. We started without you." Kailyn voice dropped even lower than its usual low as if his thought was elsewhere at the moment.
"Yea well, it happens when you're not informed about a meeting in the TCO room and you have to hear about such things by word of mouth."
"If you'd stayed on the bridge, you'd have been here fifteen minutes ago." Kailyn closed his eyes in the far corner of the room, then said abruptly," Your here now, we'll continue, Chief."
Deleware's voice was muffled under his shirt, low, but audible." I agree, their in the same shit we're in. Its dark, night operation is extremely dangerous, our advantage is we only have one MS to prepare, launched and if possible, recover. Only problem is we launch, they'll see you coming long before you get anywhere near that transport-carrier."
Athan added."Not to mention we have no idea how many flight-type MS they have at their disposal and how many ground-types. If only one comes our way. We'll be sitting ducks and easy as a pie."
Kailyn stepped forward, drawing attention to him as he mused over the holographic map display." A plan to attack with the sole intention to destroy that HAT, with our current battle strength and capabilities would ultimately fail. In simple terms it's a suicide mission."
Athan snickered." Thought you Black Knights were trained to go up against the odds and still come out on top."
"We're taught to go in, eliminate our targets and return to base. What's the point of destroying the target, if your base gets destroyed in the process," Kailyn voice trailed off as he glanced at the map display." One critical mistake here and a lot of lives will be lost, not unlike your own."
Athan face went white as the realization hit him. Kailyn continued." Destroying that HAT would be nice, but that's not why we're here. The moment that dawn arrives, that ESF commander onboard that HAT will launch every single operating atmospheric MS at his disposal at us, with a single mission, take us down. Our best course of action is to disrupt them in their planning and preparing stage. Hit them before they put their plans into action, force the commander into a situation where he has no other choice but to give a re-call order of their forces and to re-evaluate their plans. Which buys us time and time is what we need more than anything!"
Vicati spoke." Like knocking out an aircrafts base before they launched and not after."
"Precisely, it won't do anything for us if those Lupos Stratus takes to the air before we have a chance to counter-attack." added Kailyn." Right now, their entire MS units are probably at maintence period, preparing their machines for combat. Our best chance of survival is to stop that in its track."
"So the plan is to attack that HAT, with a single MS. You'll never get near that HAT, they'll launch everything they have after you and then they'll come after us. What's your plan for that option," Tabaro asked with great exasperation.
"We wait for them to make the first move once their set-up, prepared, armed and ready. Then we lose, but if we can force them to react to our actions and not us to theirs, then the advantage is ours. We moved first, they have to react, change their tactics and invent new ones, before they can move again." said Kailyn, his voice sounded committed to the plan." Those take time and time is what we need."
"Easier said than done, that still leaves the Nemesis wide open for an attack. Who's going to protect us once the Gizen (r) goes out and fight?" Tabaro ask, looking around the table.
Kailyn nodded to Athan and the Vicati before replying." They are, the Gizen (r) will only be the primary aerial platform, if things go from bad to worst. They become the ground platform in a matter of minutes, increasing the Nemesis chances of survival and doubling our battle strength."
Tabaro open and closed his mouth in confusion, Athan chuckled loudly, Vicati asked coolly." Mind telling us how that's going to happen, we're piloting ground type MS and if you haven't noticed, we're ten thousand feet in the air and flying over water."
Kailyn traced a finger over the map display, following a eastern sea-route, before continuing northward as he spoke his plan of action, which lasted a mere two minutes, as he finished, his finger stopped on a spot on that map." This will be our defensive route until we reached our destination. We either stop them from following us or push that HAT back and away from us before we arrived at this point. If not, we failed. Any questions before we began."
No one spoke for a full minute as each man or woman in his/her own mind, both worried about the upcoming engagement and admiration at a well laid out plan that went well with their previous plan route, stared at a single spot on the map." Tabaro, you mind telling Pilot our new heading an altitude. Make sure the minovsky particles is disperse at low levels thirty minutes prior to my launching."
Tabaro stared at the map display, studying their course in the well lit room. He silently calculated their best speed under current conditions on their new route to noon in a few hours. It would be a very close call. He would have to recheck his calculation with Pilot as soon as possible, Tabaro glanced at his watch. It was 2:51 Gigher had said, the launching of the Gizen (r) was schedule for 4:30.
Tabaro pushed any thoughts lingering at the back of his mind. This operation called for a lot of things, more important than luck, proper timing, which would depend more on Pilot's ability to keep the Nemesis afloat, even with that damage engine.
He sighed, squared his shoulders, glanced at the display one last time and left without saying a word. Some how he doubts anything he said would stop this foolish plan in its track. Kailyn was committed after-all. But it was a plan that needed to be carried out.
Unterrem City
Sergeant Rokam Erson was making a quick, but thorough final preflight inspection of his men's personal equipment, checking for proper body-armor, ammo supplies, night-vision goggles; considering where the captured Guild OC-10R2-NOS aircraft was taking them, Erson wanted to make sure its Special Escort Force-Commandos occupants were dressed for maximum protection against small caliber rounds and well equipped to take down a tank platoon, while still maintaining their mobility.
All of the men assemble on the small runway near the OC-10R2-NOS aircraft had been trained and hand-picked by him for this upcoming mission, and were experienced professionals, so this was just a quick safety inspection, not an instructional one, but Erson began a short briefing and a special mission topic during his inspections." Listen up," Erson said, as he inspected a high-yield shoulder-mounted rocket propel grenade launcher; also known as a Anti-armor Penetrator (AAP), it was supposedly powerful enough to bring down a MS if the impact point was correct, Erson had never had the chance to test that theory or witness it for himself, he hoped they wouldn't have to tonight," just to bring you all up to speed: Our target area is the Ren Gia Du prison, which I'm sure many of you have heard a lot about over the years. It's the Guild prison for POWs and former political figures, our people wrongly imprison without trial. Our flight path will take us southwest near the Deikumia border and straight north to combat drop on Ren Gia Du Prison itself."
"This is our first infiltration into this area, made all the possible by the sudden withdrawal of a MRB base in the immediate area, and as you all know this is a rare opportunity to get one up on the Guild. We're checking three different buildings inside Ren Gia Du prison as quickly as possible. If our guys are in anyone of them, I want them evacuated as fast as possible. The air and ground fighting near the prison will be fierce and lasting only an hour once we're given the go ahead to move in. You all know the code words and code signs. Anyone who doesn't return a recognition signal is to be considered a hostile and gets two in the chest and one in the head."
" We got some major help coming on this one tonight----apparently the General feels this operation must succeed at all cost and is moving in at least two company of MS to stir up some heavy ground opposition and a flight of captured Laspers to keep the skies empty," Erson said." Maybe it'll keep the Guild off balance, maybe it won't. Forget about them and concentrate on your work tonight. Our job is to go into Ren Gia Du, kick some Guild ass, rescue our people that have been waiting on us for to damn long to do so, and comeback alive. Let's get loaded."
Erson knew these men's skill level by heart and their determination and had picked the men, who had at least one family or friend imprison in Ren Gia Du prison; mostly as a motivation, so he didn't look each individual in the face as he went down the line just before checking his spare magazines and boarding the aircraft.
Just eight minutes later, Erson and six of his commandos were crammed in the tiny cargo bay of the captured OC-10, now upgraded and improve into a OC-10R2-NOS (Night Observation System) attack and reconnaissance plane; as the LFA had no used for single mission profile aircraft that immediately began speeding down Unterrem city's private airfield, on their way to Ren Gia Du prison.
They didn't have their MS, or a real plan of action as everything had been ahead at short notice, but they did have a warplane. The new upgraded OC-10R2 twin hover-craft attack and observation aircraft had been redesign to carry a full attack payload: improve hydrogen-2 fuel cells in the centerline and wings, 1,500 rounds of 20-millimeter ammunition for the six-barrel steerable Gatling gun, two pods of four ASM-10B Alt laser-guided missiles on the fuselage sponsons, and two ASM-10C Rorqual anti-radar missile mounted on the outboard side of each of the wing pylons. This aircraft also has chaff and flare ejectors installed in the tail booms to assist in decoying enemy anti-aircraft radars and heat seeking missiles. It seems as if the heavily laden R2-NOS would never lift off the runaway and into the warm, humid night air.
Shortly after leveling off at cruise altitude, Erson was on the plane's radio on the prearrange UHF frequency: " Night-Hawk, Night-Hawk, this is Sally-One we are on the move, repeat Night-Hawk, this is Sally-One, we are good to go." Erson then flipped over to a special UHF frequency that only a handful of people would be monitoring at this time and keyed the mike." Overlord, this Sally-One. We're moving out."
"Understood Sally-One," barked the speakers with the familiar baritone voice Erson had grown to respect." Good luck and good hunting Sergeant."
Planet Metheral, Methyst Star-system
Imperial Fleet Admiral Weissan Kus Kirfin, Praetorian 1st Fleet Supreme Commander, stared out the bridge of his flagship, NemBrica, trying not to seem as bored as he truly was as the bridge crew went about their routine tasks with efficiency never before seen of a well picked and trained crew. He had been gazing somewhat in the same direction for the better part of two hours now, the only sign of actual movements he portrayed was the shifting of his eyes following a four man team of MS on their patrol runs. The gray eyes over the prominent nose showed little or no warmth. The small pink lips were curled into a frown. Unseen, behind the thorny mental defenses that guarded the dense thickness of his mind, lurked the unfathomable workings of a master tactician.
His gray-eyes shifted upwards from his throne-like seated position on a chair bolted to a high square platform on the bridge just in time too see the Carcharadon Commander Type followed closely by three Carcharadon Ms flying pass, leaving a trail of luminescent blue behind them as they continue their patrol flight pass nearby, passing a dozen escort cruisers on a course towards two giant asteroids being moved into geostationary orbit over the planet Metheral.
The humming of the elevator connected to the platform raising caught his attention, followed by its cryptic click as it locked and immediately by the continuous tapping of a boot with metallic heels moving towards his showed no sign that he had heard it. The tapping stopped and there was nothing for several intense seconds. Until the person cleared his throat loudly to catch his attention." You're Excellency Lord Kirfin."
"Have there been any new developments," Kirfin asked slowly. His deep baritone voice sounded as if it had been issued forth from the depths of hell itself.
The young male was dress in a brown and white stripped khaki uniform, with the military of his shirt tight against his neck and his pants were tucked over low heeled boots of shiny black genuine leather. His dark brown hair was cut neatly short less than two inch long. He bore the gold tabs of an 's chief of staff, Rear-Admiral Scharario Herdule murmured a silent pray his mother had taught him half a century ago to appease a higher classman. Mustering the courage to speak, he began." Forgive the untimely interruption, Your Excellency."
"But as of oh-three-hundred Standard-time, we've successfully manage to take control of the area of space around the Methyst star-system. Eliminated all inhabitants of the planets Metheral and Methyst. Construction of the alloy and fuel production facilities on Methyst."
"Your plans to set-up an operations base on Metheral complete with supply depot for solid fuel and propellant extract is moving ahead smoothly, we estimated that getting the operations center complete will take the greatest amount of time, nearly four-hundred hours. Completion of the mobile command fortress will be sooner, less than three hundred-hours. Should everything goes as plan, the third asteroid should be here within twenty-four hours. Construction of the orbital shipyards will commence soon after."
The oval face looked downward and the gray eyes stared out of the skull. They were the hypnotic eyes of a predator, large and lustrous and chief of staff felt his knees buckle under the intensity of their gaze.
A paused."Basically everything is going according to my plans. Yes."
"Yes, sir." Under the spell of the unrelenting gaze, the terrified Herdule felt his strength started to leave his legs. He snapped to attention, bow with his eyes to the ground to avoid staring into eyes that were hard and cold as steel." We seemed to have lost contact with the 8th Reserve Squadron that you ordered to remain in the Vasper star-system. It maybe due from heavy minovsky waves from our engagement...
"Or they fell to the enemy reinforcements." Kirfin shifted his body and stood to his full height of 6'4".He was dressed in purely white khaki uniform, covered by a great cloak that dropped to his ankle, revealing the Praetorian Empire's Emblem, A one winged angel wielding a sword and shield of a star-system on the left side, opposite and below a star shaped shield and hammerhead shark insignia of the 1st fleet of the Praetorian Empire. The military collar of his shirt was loose against his neck, with a chain of pure gold and platinum connected to a large gemstone.
He worked the stiffness from his muscles joint by joint and took slow gulps of air into his lungs. When all his bones seemed to pop into place, he moved to the edge of the platform, stopping inches away from the guard-rails as he gazed down from a new angle at the bridge crew.
The NemBrica was the first Nova-class Juggernaut to leave the orbital shipyards of Soiree, designed with a wide forward deck loaded with numerous 3x2 barrel 300cm VSMPPBC secondary cannons, set in twin rows around the outer hull. It was also armed with multiple 2x 100cm VSMPPBC on each side and a multitude of missile launchers. Its main guns were a pair of 2000cm VSMPPBC dual cannons. Its internal hanger bay was not only capable of carrying and servicing 500 MS, but with its 20 catapult, it could easily deploy its entire compliment of MS into battle in less than thirty minutes. The NemBrica was virtually a mobile battle fortress, who single-handedly can decide the outcome of a battle in mere moments.
"If they did fall to the enemy, then the enemy can't be too far behind. Dispatch several recon ships to the systems between us and Vasper star-system. The last thing I need is a Khimeran fleet scanning this region and getting an idea of what we're planning to do here."
"It shouldn't be too hard to track them sir, there's only a few accessible jump points between there and here. What should we do once we've localized their exact positions?" Herdule asked.
"Destroy them, what else can we do." Kirfin said coldly, before turning to face Herdule." What about the status of my fuel and materials."
Herdule bowed slowly, head tilted to his left shoulder."Admiral Xinom is commanding the 3rd Supply Corp to retrieve those supplies as we speak. Shall everything proceed on schedule; we should be able to replenish nearly twenty percent of our fuel reserves, so long as the refineries can be completed on schedule."
"See that they are. We don't have the fuel to proceed any further, let alone reached our targeted destination. This plan, my plan that I develop nearly thirty years ago, should solve those problem."
"And a perfect plan it is your Excellency. Everything is moving ahead as you predicted. The fall of the Vasper star-system with acceptable losses, the Khimeran forces displacement and mobilization to your current actions and the building of the largest productions and shipyards facilities outside the Soiree star-system," Herdule said, never once raising his head as he praise the Admiral.
"Then make sure everything moves ahead smoothly from this moment forth, the lost of the 8th Reserve Squadron was a blow, a minor one at best, but still a blow to our forces. Order the 115th Attack Squadron on standby and ready to move out. The moment we have an exact fixed on that Khimeran fleet, they are to move out immediately and dispose of it. Secondly, triple the number of patrols in this system, if so much as a rock move out of place abnormally, I want it investigated and destroyed. Are you clear on that admiral," Kirfin wave his left index finger side to side, his eyebrows lowering to Herdule head." Thirdly, I want that Helium -3 gas here sooner rather than later. Without it, we are doom to remain here indefinitely, which means my mission fails. I do not accept failure. See to it that Admiral Xinom understands that. Now go."
Without a reply Herdule turned on his heeled and returned to the elevator platform in three easy steps as Kirfin return his gazed to the two asteroids now in orbit. The third already in route, in just a matter of days those asteroid would be hollowed out, the minerals and ores recovered used to slowly turned the three asteroids into two very large orbital shipyards and one MS mass-production facility with the sole purpose of producing new war-machines, if the raw materials to do so ever arrives."
Only then would this lengthy war, have a favorable outcome.
Onboard the OC-10R2-NOS
"Down to twenty bundles of chaff, Sergeant," the weapons officer reported on interphone."Twenty-three kilometers until we reached Ren Gia Du Prison airspace."
Erson swore to himself, and then replied quickly." I won't argue with results, Lieutenant-- we're still alive. Just make sure it stays that way."
" Yes, Sergeant," the Lieutenant replied." Nineteen kilometers to go." As bad as it was up in the cockpit, the young gunnery officer thought, it would be even worst for the six poor souls back there.
The R2-NOS's threat warning receiver was beeping well before they crossed within fifty kilometers of Ren Gia Du prison; the first of many long-range radar at Opan AFB picked up their aircraft two hundred kilometers distance and they started their decent to get under radar coverage then. At 100 kilometers, even though they were flying less than 500 feet above the ground, the radar picked them up once again; at eighty kilometers, the first mobile SAM launcher acquisition radar was detected, and a few kilometers later they detected the SAM launcher target illuminators. That's when they decided to go down to fifty, using the FLIR camera and radar altimeter, which measured the altitude between the belly of the plane and the surface directly below, to keep from crashing.
When the first SAM launched at fifty kilometers, it was like a nightmare come alive. The cockpit crew could actually see the missile lift off; its bright rocket-motor plume clearly visible on the could see the bright yellow arc as it described a powered, semi-ballistic flight path through the sky. The pilot punched out chaff, racked the R2-NOS into a tight right turn using max pressure on the control stick to get the tightest turn--- but the SAM followed. A second SAM went up, followed by a third. The Guild missile crew wasn't taking any chances, they wanted that aircraft down and burning, while one missile couldn't guarantee that happening, two or three surely would claimed a kill. The pilot set the radar altimeter warning bug to thirty feet; Erson and his commandos in the cargo bay heard almost constant warning tones as the pilot edged lower and lower, trying to evade the missiles. When the pilot banked hard, the radar altimeter broke lock, the warning horn sounded constantly, and the commandos all feared that it would be the last sound they'd hear before crashing into the ground.
"All chaff expended," the gunner reported. They would be going in completely unprotected now.
Every hard bank threw the cargo bay occupants harder and harder against their harnesses, but each jarring move made Erson smile." Like riding a MS with bad stabilizer joints," Erson said to Private Adows Rein, motioning towards the cockpit. The noise level was very high in the R2-NOS's cargo bay because they had removed the small rear door before takeoff---it would make it easier to do what they needed to do once they got over Ren Gia Du prison." They're doing pretty good."
"How are we doing, Lieutenant?" Erson called up front to the weapons officer." Was that a SAM you evaded?"
"No sir! That was three," the weapons officer replied.
"Pretty good," Erson said." Expect a second volley in a few minutes and be sure to destroy it with the Rorqual anti-radar missiles. If it doesn't come up, prepare for anti-aircraft radar. I have no intention of walking to our target tonight."
"You got it, Sarge--oh shit, die bastards...shit...there! Shoot those Guilds bastards!" the weapons officer shouted. The commandos in the cargo bay could hear the threat warning receiver beep, and the R2-NOS entered another impossibly tight break to evade another missile moment later they heard a loud fwooosh! From the right wing as the Rorqual anti-radar missile left its tail, and moments later, the threat tone abruptly ended.
"Nice one, Lieutenant," Erson called up to the pilot, smiling even more broadly, wishing he could see the action from the cockpit." Keep it up, Let me know when you have that prison in sight."The weapons officer's response was a choked off by another hard break, this time to the left, followed by another Rorqual launch."
"That was the last Rorqual missile---we're on our own, Erson said.' What the hells going on. Intel never said Ren Gia Du had this much long-range defenses.' Range to our target?"
"Twenty kilometers to go, sir."Erson frowned: they were still several minutes away from being able to attack any of the air defense sites with Alt missiles. The longer-ranged SAM batteries could still track and shoot at them, no matter how low they flew.
Erson clicked on the radio:" NightHawk, this is Sally-One. Time to light em up boys." He removed the headset and tossed it aside." things about to get real hairy, real fast. Range to that prison, Lieutenant?"
"Seventeen kilom----"He was interrupted by the threat warning receiver's blaring alarm again---it was another mobile SAM site. Erson looked into Private Rein's eyes, and he could sense his fear---that SAM was lock on, and there was nowhere to run now." SAM acquisition....SAM target illuminator...They then heard the fast, high-pitched deedledeedledeedle! As the threat warning system detected the SAM launching. Erson was well aware at the speed the SAM system went from acquisition to illuminator to missile launch told him that the SAM had a solid lock-on. The pilot immediately started his evasive maneuvers; more desperate...there was a second launch warning tone, followed immediately by a third..."
Suddenly the R2-NOS wild evasive maneuvers were cut short. A loud terrific explosion shook the R2-NOS as if a giant palm had slapped it, and there was BOOM, like the sky tearing itself open, followed by the vibration of a nearby shockwave...but they were still flying. Erson shouted," What was that Lieutenant. What was that explosion?"
There was a tense silence, then." A Lasper sir. Ours. Took the missile hit meant for us. We now have three friendly aircraft flying escorts, multiple radar sites are off the air. They're bombing the hell out of those Guild, sir."
"Understood," Erson said, hiding his relief." Be on the look-out for antiaircraft artillery sites, Intel says their won't be any, don't mean their aren't. Take us directly to the detention facility, should be three adjacent buildings nearly identical to each other. Take us to the rooftop of the third if possible."
" Yes, Sergeant," the weapons operator replied."Our navigation coordinates are programmed for the detention facility."
"Very well, Gunner," Erson said, pulling out a chart of Ren Gia Du prison and, softly, but quickly briefed their intended target, then ordered his six commandos to get ready.
The R2-NOS pilot made a high-speed approached from the eastward side of the base at very low altitude. The weapons officer designated targets for his Alt missiles, identifying occupied buildings that looked as though they were headquarters buildings or communications centers, and at the same time took pot shots with the Gatling gun at every power transformer, large vehicle, fuel storage tank, MS hangers or anything else that he thought might disrupt things down on the base and cover their activities. The last run was at the suspected CIC headquarters with the bulk of the Alt missiles; save for two, less than 500 yards from the detention facility itself; within seconds it was a pile of burning rubble. The two remaining Alt missiles were used on the prison perimeter wall, blowing two wide holes just before the pilot started a hard climb that took him directly over the primary targeted building and hovered at 600 feet. At that point, the seven commandos in the R2-NOS's cargo section made their static-line parachute jumps.
As mission commander, Erson went first. He braced himself against the open door at the rear cargo bay, hands and toes outside. As the R2-NOS started its steep hove upwards, Erson found himself staring directly down into the detention complex, a square three-story building surrounded by fifteen-foot high wall with barb-wire on top. Then, just before the R2-NOS reached the top of its climb, Erson simply let himself fall through the opening.
He heard the hum of the hover-crafts at maximum continuous power only for a brief instant, and then he heard the wait of air-raid and emergency sirens from the base. The static line yanked his ' chute out of its pack immediately. He heard the loud crrack...whummp! of six other chutes opening above him---very close above. He looked up and saw Rein dumping air out of his ' chute right away, trying to catch up with him, the five other commandos were doing the same, all attempting to land at the same time as their leader.
By the time their chutes open, they were less than a hundred feet above ground---they barely had time to get their bearings before they had to steer their chutes towards the detention facility rooftop. Two of the commandos missed the rooftop completely as preordered, and Erson and Rein's chute actually run into each other as they maneuvered for their target. Erson realized as he approached the edge of the building rapidly, that he had miscalculated and began to dump all the air completely out of his chute in earnest from fifteen feet to make it to the roof. Rein and his three commandos hit directly in the center. A testament to their trainings and skills.
"Are you all right, Sergeant?" Rein asked as he helped Erson to his feet. He had landed heavily on his left leg, but he was on his feet and moving quickly.
"Forget me Private," Erson said to Rein in response, as he clipped night-vision goggles to their helmeted. Something was sprained in his knee, but he tried to ignore the pain.
"Ubin and Mentez have landed safely on the ground and have begun securing the building," Rein said. His night-vision goggles and those of the other commandos with him were already on." Might want to look out for them, sir."
"I'm hoping they look out for us as well," Erson barked." Let's move!." It was too easy with a single LAR2 assault rifle 7mm round to breached the roof access door and make their way inside.
The toughest form of resistance was on the second floor of the three-story building---all the Guild Guards on the first floor had retreated up to the second floor as the LFA's SEF commandos started their surprise assault; the majority of the Guild guards were station on the second floor. Erson didn't care--if it moved it died. With the LFA new standard LAR2( Lucan Assault Rifle) assault rifles high caliber rounds capable of penetrating body armor and litterly tumble into the body, the fire fight was mostly if not one sided. Erson didn't care, he was not going to try to be neat and merciful, as far as he was concern these Guild guards deserved to die for every atrocity they had committed inside this prison over the last seven years.
The hallway was light by emergency lights--those were shot out immediately. Erson and Rein then threw infrared Cyalume light sticks into the hallways, which would brightly light up the area only for persons wearing night-vision equipments. Satisfied his two commandos would remain on ground level and not stray into the line of fire, the killing began.
Erson led the way, like a man on a mission, Rein following with a Titan 500 advanced shotgun, design for close quarters combat. The Titan 500 uses a semi-automatic, fifteen-round drum-fed action, for faster reloading and makes use of standard 10-gauge shotgun shells, firing custom-made double-0 three commandos following as rear security, carrying LP-6 submachine gun. Trotting through the four corridors, their Uzi with its sixteen-inch sound suppressor fitted and loaded with thirty-round magazines loaded with 6.8mm high-velocity rounds design for penetration, Erson gunned down anyone in front of him that was alive. He rarely give the guards time to raise their own weapons--one quick shot to the chest, one point-blank to the head.
As he finished the second corridor, he heard shots coming from the next corridor to the left. He sprinted around the corner and saw a pair of guards unlocking cell doors and firing an assault rifle into the cells, then moving on to the next cell. Erson growled loudly, dropping the pair of guards from behind with two- three round burst from thirty feet. Followed by a close-up single round to the head." Lucanites!" Erson shouted." Your time of freedom has arrived. Back away from the fucking doors if you want to live long enough to enjoy it."He then checked the fourth corridor--all the guards either laid dead, dying or had made a quick escape when shooting began. Rein sent a commando to guard the main stairway, and he and Erson began checking each cell.
The cells turn out to be small dormitory-type rooms, remodeled to be prisoner and punishment-reprimand facilities. Usually it only took one shotgun blast on the top outwardly swinging hinge to crack and pull the door open. When Erson, now with a Cyalume light stick around his neck, glanced into an occupied cell, he saw two men lying on the ground, facing the door, hands on their head.
"On your feet, soldiers," Erson said."I'm here to get you out."
The first cell he breached had an old friend from his academy days, a Corporal Benedict Sterling and an unknown soldier barely in his twenties."Sonofabitch----Its Sergeant Erson! Sterling said as he helped the young man up." New comer, got here a week ago. I've got him, Sergeant. Guards did a number on him."
"Make sure they pay for what they did to all of you,"," Erson said, handing Sterling a handgun from a dead Guild guard. He was off, checking more cells.." Follow me and what ever you do stay close."
Aboard the MST helicopter
The sudden beeping of one of her sub-monitors brought Vel Conirs full attention away from the thick booklet that read in thick bold print Technical Manual: TSX-09AX Virage.
' What does that fool want now,' swore Vel Conirs as she gazed at her main screen picture, the ground came up as a lightless fast moving wall of darkness. She reached across and cycle to low light, the picture change to an eerie green as her Virage mono-eye camera saw it at those settings.
Another beep on her console, Vicati swore inwardly and flipped the comm. switch to ON, glaring through her helmet at the helmet covered face of Amberg." Your suppose to be on radio silence until we arrived at our destination or didn't you read the fine print, Lieutenant. So why the hell are you disturbing me."
"The pilot said we got an emergency beacon from Ren Gia Du prison complex a few minutes ago," Amberg said." Their being over run by rebel forces, same shit from the main ground force detachment in the area. According to our pilot, he's got a digital link with an AEW&C in the area, theirs also some type of an air battle going on less than two hundred kilometers ahead of us."
Vel Conirs eyes narrowed." Can we go around the battle and proceed to our destination unhindered. Never mind, I'll find out for myself what is going on around here."
Vel Conirs dialed up the AEW&C, a frequency where most chatter would occur when a major battle was going on nearby----and the news she heard was bad.
A Senior controller aboard the AEW&C was drawing into Vel Conirs headset," One bogey southeast ninety NM (Nautical Miles) and circling Ren Gia Du prison. Doing 540 knots."
Bogeys were usually unfriendly aircrafts patrolling a battlefield, armed with gravity bombs, AA missiles and 20mm the pilot of the a MST carrying two fully loaded and armed MS, the word meant danger.
Amberg came on her comm. He had long since been a thorn in her side, but he was four months her senior in the ESF and his intuitions and decisions was always crisps and on the ball." That Bogey's heading directly for us and fast."
"Amberg! What is it? Is it Fighter or transport?"
'If it's a fighter, we're so screw, she thought. Why didn't we have an escort? Simple our Mission is top secret of course.
The pilot had the MST helicopter in a dive for the surface.
Vel Conirs flipped the data-link display to active, the radar system of the MST helicopter was linked directly to her own radar systems and it fed vital information to her Virage , allowing her to see what her radar was incapable of. The radar signal bouncing off the bogey was a rare-type, in effect it was unknown, not presents in the laundry list of radars and attacked planes flown by any of the other countries. Her head, however, unlike the data-link, was stuffed with such unconsidered trifles: she knew immediately what it was.
"Its a Kazan built HF-03 Sur-Jin! Two AA missiles, poor radar performance. Pilot, get us below five hundred feet and he won't be able to get a tone with his birds."
Thankfully, the pilot was someone who listen and obeyed commands without comments, never to question any given order; in essence the perfect soldier. "Yes ma'am. Understood, we're going through two thousand and I'd really like to know his stall speed and do those things carry a gun?"
Vel Conirs searched her memory from the days of Ratheon Institute and every thing came rushing into her mind." Two 20-millimeters.150 knots clean."
She glanced at the screen; Shit, he's close, Vel Conirs thought, and all hell broke loose.
"Chaff flare!" shouted the co-pilot, and he fired the sequence himself from beside the pilot. The co-pilot's RAW showed a launch somewhere behind him. Vel Conirs leaned forward against the power of the dive and tried to read their altitude." Below 1000! she said, and the pilot pulled hard to right, worse than the hardest break Vel Conirs had ever seen.
The pilot turned the MST helicopter in a comfortable turn. A flash went by Vel Conir's main screen."Missile," Vel Conirs said, hoping she was wrong. The co-pilot was shouting to Opan AFB, but nobody was going to save them; they were to far out, for all intense purposes they were on their own.
"He's on top of us," Amberg said.
The MST helicopter bucked savagely. They all knew the MST had been hit by several 20-millimeter exploding rounds; at four hundred feet, any mistake and they were dead.
The pilot tightened his turn and dumped more speed in exasperation, but knowing ultimately it was futile. A fully loaded MST helicopter was unarmed and could never out maneuver a fighter. 'I won't allow my mission to fail without a sign of hope, he muttered, he swore the two ESF would survive." Lieutenants, prepare to combat-drop immediately. We can't shake guy...
Before Vel Conirs could object, she heard a rapid deedledeedledeedle! warning tone followed by the computer confirmation "MISSILE LAUNCH....MISSILE LAUNCH...!"
Vel Conirs immediately switched her MS from standby to full COMBAT mode and all of the Virage countermeasures equipment, snapping her mono-eye right and left trying to track the missiles more than the fighter. A brief violent flare lit up her main screen, followed by a sudden jerk and a shudder as the clamps holding the MS was release, and then she knew they were falling fast towards the ground.
" Mayday, Mayday, Mayday, Flight One-Eight-Zero on GUARD," the pilot of the MST helicopter shouted on the emergency frequency." Position...." And the radio went dead.
Vel Conirs glanced once at her altimeter at the corner of her eyes, watching the numbers drop fast, while knowing in her heart the MST helicopter had been hit. She glanced back at her main camera and saw the fireball that was the MST as she activated her main thrusters, increasing output slowly to build thrust at 200-meters, until she had slowed her fast decent with her Virage powerful thrusters. Setting down on the ground with hardly a TMS-19B Gizen (r) also landed behind hers, his shield Gatling gun angle skywards, searching out the fighter as they both watched on their main screen picture, the burning MST helicopter descending quickly to the ground, nosing over slightly just before hitting the ground in the distance. There was only a fireball arcing upwards to confirm where it had crashed.
"What now, Lieutenant." Amberg whispered softy, with the barest hint of anger."We're on a tightly schedule and we just lost our transport."
Vel Conirs swore inside, afraid to speak out immediately else her emotion would be detected, she was riddle by guilt and anguish for a minute, then calmly, into the mike, she whispered," Proceed on course to our primary destination immediately. Those fuckers are going to pay for this, when we get back. If the army don't kill them all by then."
" Roger, that," Amberg replied."We're still a good distance away, but we can make it. But just barely."
Shouldering the TMR-B-46/G 380mm bazooka with her left hand, Vel Conirs beckon Amberg in his Gizen (r) with her right, the Virage kicked on its powerful thrusters and launched itself upwards and turn north-east in mid-air before her thrusters pushed her ahead with Amberg following behind.
Ren Gia Du prison
The search was not pretty; the prison showed evidence of years of brutality and torture, and after a short time Erson wasn't feeling as if he'd accomplished were prisoners in the other cells other than Lucan soldiers and Government officials. Mostly suspect terrorists, weapons dealers and those civilians that simply did not know when to shut their mouth.
The final tally made the rescue even more worthwhile: two hundred and thirty-one Lucanite soldiers, including several officers ( who were on the highest priority list) and twenty-eight former government officials, equally as important. Eleven others had been killed by the Guild Guards; several critically wounded.
"Keep searching, I want every prisoner found, release and identified immediately," Erson said." We'll search this entire building if we have too."
But there was no time for that---one of the SEF commandoes ran up the stairs to report that pair of heavy infantry vehicles was spotted on their way, but no sign of any tanks or MSs as yet." Shit, guess our MS team didn't put up enough of a fight, it didn't take them long to send their infantry forces back."
"The cavalry isn't here, high chance they got held up. Our best chance is on the road," Erson said." We should could try stealing a vehicle; try making it out into the open countryside. Our forces are spread out about one hundred klicks east," Erson was well aware his option was running out quickly--but if they stayed in that building, they'd be surrounded quickly and killed off slowly but surely." Elpo, Grents, bring those anti-tank rockets. The rest of you, first chance you get and not before, get out of here and head eastward."
Erson signal to the two Privates and exit the building to hear the sounds of heavy-caliber weapons to the north, and moving closer as they made a break towards the perimeter wall, he looked for a spot near the hole in the perimeter wall the R2-NOS Alt missiles had made that would offer both a cover and vantage point. When he found what he was looking for, he moved ahead to his new position. His pace was deliberate, not hurried, and he continued to look into the darkness for the approaching Vosgove or Thranka, even as the heavy-caliber gun fire in the distance continuously moved closer, for Erson that was a distraction; those heavy-caliber weapons could only mean MS and they were not equipped to deal with multiple MSs.
Erson twisted his head to the left where Elpo took up position." Elpo, you fire make sure you call out your range before you do." Erson twisted his head to find the second soldier." Grents, listen up for Elpo's range and watch where his rocket the necessary corrections if you need too, then it."
To his right, Private Grents had already shouldered the AAP-6 anti-armor penetrator and was intently staring through the sights, said nothing. He only nodded, a nod that Erson didn't see, not that he needed to. Grents was young but he was solid and dependable. Erson knew Grent had , a smile on his face, turned to Erson." No sweat, Sarge."
Erson was about to respond when Grents yelled." RANGE, TWO HUNDRED METERS! FIRING!"
The snap that announced the ignition of the AAP-6's rocket motor, followed by a whoosh as the rocket left the tube. Watching the rocket, Erson was blinded when the shaped-charge warhead made contact with the Thranka head-on. The jet-stream formed by the explosion of the rocket's inverted cone-shape warhead cut through the armor of the Thranka's front slope just below the roof. Missing the driver's head by inches, the jet-stream hit the Thranka's gunner square in the stomach after cutting through the ammunition feed chute that fed linked rounds to the Thranka's 14.5mm machine gun. The driver was startle by the sudden explosion on the Thranka's front slope, followed by the spray of molten metal thrown off by the jet-stream as it raced past his head, and the screams of the gunner accompanied by the pop, pop, pop of the 14.5mm rounds going off behind him. His instinctive reaction was to slam on the brakes and duck his head, a motion that caused him to jerk the wheel to the left.
Watching where Grent's round struck, and noting that it appeared a little high, Elpo laid the three-hundred-meter range line of his rocket launcher's sight on the center of the Thranka, now slowing and offering an oblique shot as it turned. Lowering the muzzle of his AAP-6 ever slightly, Elpo yelled out," RANGE, ONE ." then let fly with his the rocket. Though it was not a catastrophic hit, Elpo's rocket ended any desire by the startle Thranka's crew and passengers to stay with their vehicle. They didn't even wait for the driver to bring the Thranka to a complete stop before hatches and doors flew open.
Checking himself, Erson flipped the safety off his weapon with his thumb and continued to wait until the Guild infantry squad began to spill out before he opened fired. Using the range announced by Elpo to sight his LAR2, Erson opened with a killing burst, hitting one Guild before he could completely emerge from the Thranka's side door. The guild's forward momentum, assisted by the shoving of the man behind him, cleared the line of sight for Erson to fire on the next man coming out the door. The second Guild never realized that his companion had been hit, a fate that he soon suffered himself as Erson squeezed off a second burst.
From inside the Thranka, a flame shot out of the opened door, followed by muffled explosion. A secondary detonation, probably an anti-tank rocket stored inside the Thranka just like the one that had stopped it, went off, ending the short anti-armor ambush.
Seeing no immediate threat, Erson eased up, signal to the first group of escapees to begin there escape with the waving of a signal flare. He stared motionless as several dozen inmates made good their escapes, even as he turned to search out the second Thranka. The report had said two IFVs incoming.
But as he searches it out, they immediately drew heavy caliber weapon fire from the hidden infantry vehicle. Erson swore, they weren't fully equipped to fight it out with Guild infantry---they'd brought just enough guns and ammunition to get the job done and leave, not a prolong shoot-out with infantry forces." Back inside! Erson shouted." We are going to have to fall back!"
Suddenly the unseen Thranka exploded in a huge fireball, less than three feet from the perimeter wall. Then further away, one, then two other explosions followed suit. Erson and Elpo cut down three infantrymen trying to rush the wall--but they weren't attacking, they were running from something behind them. Seconds later, another explosion ripple across the field across from them.
"What is it, Sergeant?"
"I hope it's the cavalry," Erson replied.
Sure enough, it was. Out the darkness, the R2-Nos appeared. It swooped in towards the security headquarters building with incredible grace and speed, for an aircraft its size, its hover-craft engines keeping it aloft as it slowly descended. It Gatling gun spat fire in several directions at ground targets to far away for Erson to see as the aircraft landed on the ground. Before the cargo ramp fully open, SEF followed by several dozen prisoners were running out the building and taking security positions around the aircraft.
Sergeant Erson ran over to the R2-NOs and into the cockpit as several SEF commandos helped the injured to the aircraft." Why'd you come back?" He felt like hugging the Lieutenant.
"Later sir," the pilot said." Right now, we got a company of MS heading this way, with who knows what else behind them. We're getting the hell out of here real fast. We're low on fuel, and our fighter escort can't hold them back for long and don't worry about the rest of the prisoners. Their rides here."
Erson watched in owe as three old rotor-blade helicopters in near perfection formation drop out of nowhere and the gunners door open with heavy caliber machine gun swiveling right and left, spitting tracers in the dead of night at unseen enemy forces.
Erson stopped staring ahead mouth agape in shocked, then nodded resignedly and said," Get us out of here ASAP, Lieutenant."
"Yes, sir."
In less than a minute, everyone was evacuated from the building and into the awaiting helicopters and the R2-NOS was ground hogging its way out of Ren Gia Du prison complex. The R2-NOS threat warning receiver beeped a few times, but the observed no missiles launchers or fighter pursuit; and for that Erson was thankful. He highly doubts they'd be able to dodge a single SAM with their current load of prisoners.
Without another word, he walked out the cockpit and let the pilot go about the task of getting them to Unterrem safely.
And then, the real battles began.