Chp. 28: Lifeguard
March 10, 2024
SDS Toshikaze (LST-840)
The Landing Craft Air Cushion, LCAC, made a deafening roar with its engines, something between a hurricane and a box fan the size of a school bus. Well, the latter part was a bit redundant, James thought; its propellers weren't just like box fans, they were box fans! He held on tight as they reached their loudest and the hovercraft drifted out of the ship's well deck. It slowed and turned away from the ship before pushing out of the Toshikaze's wake and towards the beachhead that the Bastok and Reindel Ridge amphibious groups had taken yesterday. The ride in was one of feeling rather than seeing for James, as he kept the doors for his primary sight closed to avoid them getting splashed by seawater. After a few bumps, it felt like they were cruising down the highway for a long time. They seemed to hit a pretty fast speed, then slowed down to a near-crawl. They stopped and Lieutenant Betz clicked on her mike.
"Alright driver, take us forward. Follow the guy with the glowing sticks." Bettz instructed.
James opened his sight to the elements and took in the world before him as the Abrams disembarked onto a snow-dusted beach. Jose guided the machine to a collection of vehicles, tents and trailers where the MEU had placed her command elements. The Abrams lurched to a stop, joined by Benedict's tank, and sat in wait near the command area for the two remaining tanks in the platoon. A runner from the command center hurried to the two machines as Bettz got out to inspect her surroundings. She glanced towards the young woman as she stopped and rendered a quick salute.
"Lieutenant Bettz? Needle 6 has a mission for your platoon as soon as you're all ashore." She said, talking like she hadn't even run a few feet.
"What's he got, Marine?" Bettz replied.
"We just got word a few minutes ago that one of the SDF's recon teams is pinned near a plateau along the coastal road, about 20 miles out. Most of the Battalion Landing Team is dedicated to the drive on Midonami and they report they're heavily engaged with Verusean mechanized. Colonel says you'll get air support and a reinforced LAR platoon." She explained.
"Any indication the Veruseans are gonna make a major push in that area?"
"No ma'am, but once you've gotten the recon team outta there, Needle 6 wants you and the LAR to dig in until we can piece together a better blocking force. We expect the 101st to start arriving soon; they'll relieve you in about six hours."
"Will do, any change in their LZs?"
"No ma'am."
Bettz had precious little time to coordinate with the LAR platoon's leader over what was going on while the last two tanks in her platoon were rush ashore. The recon team, "Avenger 1-3", had run into trouble half an hour ago, but initially managed to break contact. They were ambushed again a handful of minutes before Bettz and Benedict had landed. Reports indicated that they were engaged with Verusean infantry, but not much else could be ascertained due to jamming. Needle 6's assets were working on getting that permanently dealt with.
"Any word on what kind or armor we'll be facing, Misfit 1, if any?" Bettz asked as she poured over her physical and digital maps.
"Unknown, but likely to be on the lighter side." Misfit 1 replied.
"Roger...Load AMP."
Izzy pulled the round from the magazine and slammed it into the breech with a resounding "AMP Up!" before Kourtney ordered that James set it for anti-vehicle. Izzy was ordered up to his loader's machine gun and told to scan for targets alongside James and Kourtney as they moved. The arrival of Knight 3-3 and 3-4 signalled that it was time to go. The platoon drove off the beach and spread into a wedge formation past the dunes between beach and inland. They spread out across a field on the left side of the road while the MPCs split into two. The first pair went ahead of the others while the second pair ran rear guard for the M1s. The thunder of Marine artillery lobbying a fresh salvo of 155mm shells towards the fishing town of Midonami faded behind them as a reminder they were going back into the fray. The first miles were nothing more than empty countryside, broken only by an abandoned car here or there. The first sign of a fight was the charred remains of a small convoy. The formation went past on the left and scanned the hulks for signs of life, but the only signs of human life were what had been.
"Knight, I suggest we pick up the pace if we wanna reach Avenger in time, how copy?" The lead MPC pointed out.
"We know if Avenger cleared this route?" Bettz inquired.
"Unknown, but don't know how much longer we can afford to move at this pace."
"Noted...okay move it up."
James held on tight as the tank lurched forward into a higher speed, churning up the snowy ground beneath it with ease as the tank rolled up a slope and moved across the road. Knight 3-1 and 3-3 took the right side, ducking through clusters of trees with two of the MPCs. The rest of the force moved ahead and stuck to the left side. Their support, two AH-1Zs, were holding off the coast in anticipation of the force reaching the recon team. There were enough flights going in and out that they could easily divert fixed-wing assets. The MPCs had a FAC with them, callsign "Jester 92" to coordinate the fire from above.
"Avenger 1-3 this is Misfit 1-1, Avenger 1-3 this is Misfit 1-1. We're inbound at this time and have you on Blue Force Tracker...what's your current situation, how copy? Come in, Avenger 1-3." The MPC radioed…
Avenger 1-3's current position had them dismounted and pinned at the eastern edge of a small town. One of their Komatsu LAVs had been knocked out at an intersection and the other was disabled. Its gunner was inside, but unable to lay down fire lest he get the attention of every hostile gun and rocket on the block. The third vehicle in the unit, a Toyota HMV (High Mobility Vehicle) had pulled back out of the kill zone with a few scars.
First Lieutenant Yoji Itami ducked back as a Verusean LMG on the opposite corner switched its attention to his group. Pieces of cinder block turned to dust as he and three others hunkered behind cover. He glanced towards the corner again, thinking of the wounded driver hiding behind the LAV. Takeo might just as easily have bled out by now. Shino hadn't made much progress in trying to flank the Veruseans' main skirmish line at the other end of the block, but at the same time the Veruseans couldn't exactly get close to them. He had eight able-bodied shooters, one of whom was trapped and playing possum. One was wounded for sure and the rest he assumed were gone. He couldn't fake it this time; no one was coming for them. The sound of his headset clicking gave him a little hope for a second.
"Actual, I suggest we regroup and strongpoint the convoy until air support arrives." One of his team leaders, Sergeant First Class Shino Kuribayashi, advised.
"Negative, we've gotta break out and rescue the wounded." He replied, growing tired of her being hung up on that plan. Why bunch up and get killed? He reasoned. She gave him a curt "Understood Actual" and the radio again went quiet. Fuck, maybe she wants me to get killed...
Itami had half a mind to formally reprimand her after this, if they got out. He was certain she was going to lodge a complaint about him insisting they avoid the side-streets and get through the town as fast as possible. He looked towards the HMV, knowing there were some smoke grenades in there. They'd be a great help in helping them break out. They would probably have to move out on foot and get extracted outside the city by one of the landing force's helicopters.
"Lieutenant?" His radioman, Tozu, called. He looked at him, trying to keep his temper on a short leash under all the stress.
"Sir, I've been freq hoping and we've got someone on the radio. Reinforcements, I think!" He said, holding out the handset.
"Go for Avenger 1-3 Actual." The Lieutenant said as he put the device to his ear. Oh great, it's Lieutenant Lazy-Ass the Lolicon... The rest of the crew (and maybe even Kourtney) thought.
"Avenger 1-3 Actual this is Misfit 1 Actual, we're enroute to relieve you with Knight 3. Gimme a SITREP." The LAR platoon's leader radioed.
"Misfit...Avenger 1-3 is under fire on the east side of town in a residential area and unable to maneuver. One wounded, possibly two dead. Engaged with Verusean footmobiles, number unknown…"
"Understood Avenger, hang tight we're coming to you."
"Misfit, we'll detach two tanks to hold our exfil route. Request you reinforce 'em with three of your Victors and keep the last with us." Kourtney spoke up.
"Will do Knight. You want us to dismount our shooters?"
"Affirm, we'll need em."
Jester 92 would stay behind with the blocking force and use his RQ-11 to guide in their air support. The MPCs dismounted their infantry to escort the two tanks and single recon vehicle in while the rest of the task force set up a defensive line outside the town. The locale seemed abandoned completely, with only the leftovers of human habitation to remind them that people once lived here, and might still in small numbers. James slowly rotated the turret of the tank from left to right, searching for signs of unfriendly life. The road they entered town on was lined by gas stations and the central tenants of a town (police, post office, etc). The only indication of anyone else in the town was the sound of Avenger 1-3's engagement. It reminded James of Shizukana, to a degree. That added a new level of importance to taking the island; Shizukana had been a formative place to him. Maybe even more than it had been to his big brother.
"Knight 3-1 this is Misfit 1-Delta, I'm hearing multiple engine noises and they ain't ours." The Lieutenant in charge of the dismounted Marines reported. And that James thought.
"Roger 1-Delta, get your Marines into cover and standby." Kourtney replied.
The Marines hurried from the street to the nearest buildings. When commanded, Jose brought the tank to a near halt just short of a block-sized park. Knight 3-3 rolled into position to the left to cover it and put two guns into play. Jester 92 caught the source of the noise, a company of Verusean reconnaissance vehicles, as it was coming into view on the other side of the park. James spotted a ZTL-11 assault gun and rotated the turret in that direction.
"APC, two o' clock!" James shouted.
"Fire!" Kourtney ordered.
"On the way!" James replied.
More ZBLs spilled from that street as Sergeant Garvin's tank junked a second assault gun. Another assault gun emerged from a different street as Kourtney ordered smoke deployed. A few seconds later the two tanks rolled forward, bracketing the Verusean APCs while Misfit 1-4 and his dismounts advanced. The sound of 30mm shells zipping by and grazing the tank's frontal armor. It did little to stop James from requesting another AMP round.
"Gunner identify, second PC at our eleven!" James said.
"AMP up!" Izzy barked.
"Fire!" Kourtney yelled triumphantly.
"On the way!"
The right side of James's view through the sights was suddenly filled with a small playset as the Abrams, in the midst of its maneuvers, crashed through a small playset. He recoiled in the midst of requesting a third AMP round.
"Fucking hell, Martinas!" He barked.
"Less crying more shooting!" The driver snapped as he maneuvered around a tree.
"Misfit where the hell are you?" Itami demanded.
"Standby, have made contact with a Verusean reconnaissance force. We're approaching your six at this time." Misfit 1-1 replied.
"Misfit this is Knight 3-1, we're probably gonna need some of that promised CAS here soon. Jester, what's Thumper's current position?" Kourtney added.
"Ordering them out of orbit at this time. Standby, we've also got a pair of Thunderhawks enroute. Be hilarious if Eric showed up James thought.
Jose brought the tank back to the left and slowed near the curb to allow James to engage the retreating ZBLs. They deployed their own wall of smoke, leaving the two Abrams to wait for their next move while their own recon elements hurried to help Avenger. They went down a street to the left of the stranded convoy and around the corner across an empty lot. Arvin covered the opposite direction while James laid down fire on the first Verusean position he saw. The enemy force had set up a simple crossfire, both of which were in reach of his coaxial machine gun. Trophy intercepted an RPG fired their way in response, to which James retorted with an AMP round into one of the occupied buildings. Misfit 1-Delta made contact with the Shimoji troops and set up a skirmish line while their MPC rolled into position behind the HMV to collect wounded.
"Avenger we've got em suppressed, deploy smoke and get your wounded out of there!" Kourtney barked.
"R-Roger that!" Itami replied.
"Knight, Misfit this is Jester 92; Thumper is on station at this time. Be advised that I have eyes on a mechanized force northeast of the town. Gonna have the Vipers work em over first, how copy?" the FAC added.
"Roger that Jester. Got the exact position of that mechanized force?"
"Heading directly for your position; suggest you establish a perimeter."
Kourtney ordered Garvin and Knight 3-3 to hold the intersection while she moved her tank to the opposite end of the street, where the park was. One of the Viper Cobras swept over long enough to guide one of its Hellfires onto an unseen target. Its wingman came just overhead to engage the regrouped ZBLs with a salvo of Hydra rockets. Sporadic groundfire vainly swatted at the helicopters, but they remained out of sight for now. Jester had plenty more to give them. Now there were two F-21s circling just outside town, enjoying the lack of airborne threats. For once, Eric had a reason to thank the OAF's F-22s.
"Jester 92 this is Shogun 3 checking in. Flight of two T-Hawks…4 GBU-12s, two JDAMs, 530 rounds apiece. We've got around 15 minutes of playtime, how copy?" Chris radioed.
"Roger Shogun, we've got a pretty nasty situation down here. Dealing with a lot of hostile armor to the north of the town. Be advised they're in contact with a small force of friendlies in the town. Check near the park just off the main road, how copy?" Jester replied.
"Roger...want us to make runs north to south?"
"That's affirm...okay I have eyes on first target. I've got eyes on armor setting up along a high ridge to the northeast of town. Need you to hit those first before they can fire on friendlies, how copy?"
"Gotcha Jester, call additional targets if ya got any."
"Negative; concentrate on those tanks."
Chris looked back at Eric and told him to follow his impacts, noting they'd use their JDAMs for this one. With the coordinates passed along and programmed, Chris broke from the pair and spiralled down towards the ZTZ-99s until he was on a heading that would take him right over the tanks. Eric waited a few seconds, then slowly began his descent. His younger brother only heard the muffled sound of two thousand-pound bombs tearing apart man and earth. His concern was that for now the Verusean attack down the main road had petered out. Or, at least, they were looking for another way around.
"El-Tee, I'm not seeing anything. We might wanna tell Lieutenant Lolicon to get his shit in gear so we can fall back." He spoke up cautiously. His commander was quick to reply like she was talking to a sibling.
"Keep your head, Brad. Keep your head...1-Delta, Avenger what's the holdup?"
"We're just about loaded up!" Misfit replied, sounding a bit perturbed. She could hear Itami
"Tell Avenger to stop dragging his feet, then!"
"Gunner identify! Tank, our eleven!" James interrupted.
A ZTZ-99 had smashed through a convenience store and rolled across the road towards the park. James barked "On the way!" before Kourtney could order him to, then requested Izzy load a Sabot round when the AMP bounced off the ZTZ's frontal armor.
"He's aiming our way, Driver, move it!" The Lieutenant barked.
Jose jerked the tank back just in time, leaving the round to crash through a house to the M1's left. He then gunned it and rolled around the corner while James kept the gun on the tank. He fired again, putting the round right into the space between turret and hull. A second near miss from the ZTZ's wingman called for another Sabot and forced Jose towards the wrecked ZBLs they'd shot earlier. Kourtney was going back and forth with Jester to get the Vipers or Thunderhawks to help them. Jose weaved around the destroyed tank as the second tank missed it by inches. The ZTZ lurched forward and hooked around to the right, using the trees to make itself a bit harder to reach. Jose stopped and moved backwards to avoid running into whatever else was beyond the park. The ZTZ's next shot deflected by skipping off the frontal armor near Jose.
"Brad, kill that sucker! Fire, fire!" He pleaded before descending into his heritage's tongue to thank God the shell hadn't hit.
"On the way!" James assured.
The Abrams rocked as James put the round into the ZTZ's nearest set of tracks. The Verusean tank suddenly veered left as it lost the treads and its barrel swung past the Osean tank and towards its own lines. The turret started coming back while Izzy shoved one more Sabot into the breech and Jose stopped, still praying profusely to God, Jesus and every saint and apostle who followed. James even whispered one, asking that it go straight and true.
"On the way!" He shouted, as if declaring the enemy tank would die here and now.
The armor-piercing round went through the side of the ZTZ's hull and stopped its gun as it was almost trained on the Abrams. The Verusean went still and Jose hurried their tank back to one of the streets. The sound of rotors announced the arrival of the cavalry as Thumper came in for another run. A third tank, who emerged from a truck lot left of the destroyed store, couldn't even get a round off before one of the AH-1Zs guided a Hellfire down onto its turret roof.
"Misfit, Knight I suggest you get the hell outta there. Veruseans got more armor on the way." Jester stressed, trying to be reverent of rank while betraying the urgency of the situation.
"Avenger if you aren't loaded up we're ditching your sorry ass!" Kourtney replied.
"We've got em; we're moving!" Misfit replied.
Every inch of space was used to carry the remains of the SDF recon team and the Marines who'd come to their rescue. Knights 3-1 and 3-3 moved forward to block for them until they were speeding down the main road towards the rest of the rescue force. Jester ordered the F-21s to make another run to keep the Veruseans back. Their move warranted stopping fast; it looked like it might be a major attack. Eric dropped two of his Paveways on Verusean infantry dismounting from ZBDs at the northern edge of town. He circled, using his eyes and his targeting pod's camera to search for more targets. The force that'd pushed into town had been well bloodied, but there was possibly more gathering to the north.
"Raptor, I've got eyes on some stuff to the north of town. Looks like more armor, number unknown." He reported.
"Is it massed or spread apart?" Chris asked.
"Uhhh...both, it's both."
Raptor hailed Eric to rejoin him and redirected his attention to the E-3 that controlled them.
"Principal this is Shogun 3, there's a lot more stuff massing north of Jester 92's position. Don't think we have enough ordnance to do anything and we're running low on playtime."
"Roger that Shogun 3, standby." The flat-voiced controller replied.
The two F-21s were ordered to a higher altitude and to monitor the Verusean forces below. The Osean boots on the ground had retreated to a position south of the village. They'd taken up positions along some hedgerows lining the outermost properties, which were a pair of upscale manors. Above, James could still hear the sounds of jet engines circling. He wondered what the hold-up was, or if there were even anymore targets. He looked over at Izzy as the man sat ready by the storage doors. The gun had an AMP round in it.
"By the way Martinas...that driving? That was some regular Girls Und Panzer shit." Izzy said, eager to break the tension.
"WEEB!" The rest of the crew shouted. Izzy was about to retort when he heard a roar akin to a jet airliner above.
"Jester 92 this is Shogun 3-1, suggest you and the others keep your heads down and covered. Viking 2-1 and 2-2 are inbound at this time." Raptor spoke up over the radio.
James's ears perked up at the callsign, but he said nothing. It didn't sound like his Mark or his big bro, but it might be someone he knew. Kourtney opened her hatch and looked up, slowly rising as she determined it to be safe behind the hedgerow. Izzy followed, then crawled out as James pushed his way out. The young Marines and their commander all got their heads out of the tank in time to see the sleek, otherworldly shape of two B-1 Lancers race over at low level. They had their bomb bays open to reveal a full load of 500-pound JDAMs
"Holy shit, commies are in for a real hurt now!" Izzy exclaimed, raising his fists in triumph.
"Yeah, kick some ass you guys! Flatten em!" James added.
The two Lancers dropped half their payloads in a preset pattern, using the JDAM's GPS guidance to set up where each bomb would fall to form that pattern. Their targets were a convoy moving through a narrow pass, a line of ZTZ-99s on either side of that pass and three batteries of guns and rockets that were setting up to support all that steel. Two B-1Rs, with close to 100 bombs between them, would make quick work of that. James could feel the tank vibrate as the rolling earthquake tore through the enemy positions.
"Flatten em…" He said again, whispering this time. The good guys were on the attack this time around.
