Major Silsbee was relieved. He had gotten a transmission from a harrier
pilot, callsign Gator27. They had crashed, had prisoners, and needed
pickup. Silsbee's 'Battalion' wasn't very large. It had taken a major
beating recently. There were 150 GIs and about 35 rocketeers under his
direct command. But he was a good CO. He'd find a way.
"Jenkins! Get HQ, on the double! We got downed flyboys and we need some Legionares!"
***
Colonel Verinov was listening intently to a radio broadcast. It was an American pilot requesting rescue. There were two pilots, holding a soldier of the Motherland hostage.
"Foolish boy," Verinov chuckled as he triangulated the source of the transmission. "You will pay dearly for your insolence."
In unison, a battalion of tank treads pivoted due east and began to race.
***
David wasn't pushing his luck any further. They had evaded the Soviet surveillance aircraft, but now they had to wait out the day until dusk. When you're camped less than 500 yards from an enemy base, 'hold position' is not quite the expected order. The men were restless. David's wonderings on his assignments to this mission still confused him. A normal battalion could handle this. Why all the secrecy? Why in hell the SEALs? Thankfully, the squad was all in one tent so he didn't have to leave.
"Hey, Major, why are we here?" David couldn't speculate any longer. He had to know.
"Say what, Lieutenant?" the Major retorted.
"This seems like a standard op. Why are we here?"
"What would you say if I told you that Soviets were trying to mimic our prism technology?"
"I'd say those fuckers kill enough of us with their tesla crap!" David tried to relate that with the topic. It didn't fit.
"Satellite pictures show experimental Soviet structures at this site. They bear remarkable resemblance to Prism Towers. They might have improved up our technology. Once we are in, they must be captured and analyzed before they are destroyed. This is why SEALs are here. No other Allied fighter in this theater has our versatility."
Oh. That hit hard. It's always a pain when you don't just blow stuff up.
"So what now, sir?" David finally replied.
"We wait, son, we wait."
***
David had officially decided, after several hours, that waiting sucks. Fortunately, it was over, and everyone was getting on their gear. The GIs and Grizzly crews were solemn, they knew there only purpose here was cannon fodder. The Major had recently briefed them as well. Most of the men knew firsthand what tesla-fried trooper looks (and smells) like. The Commies didn't need to go stealing our tech.
The march was somber. There was every reason for it to be so. Lieutenant Hyrin would be in the main attack force. The Major and a few other SEALs would disable the power from the rear. Then the tanks would storm the front, David would eliminate the auxiliary power sources (tesla troops), which would leave the base crippled. GIs would secure the area and engineers would be dropped in to examine the Commie Prism buildings.
That was the plan, and hopefully it would work. David and the Grizzlies saw the shimmering blue tesla towers at exactly 10:15. At 10:16, base power was off.
"Jenkins! Get HQ, on the double! We got downed flyboys and we need some Legionares!"
***
Colonel Verinov was listening intently to a radio broadcast. It was an American pilot requesting rescue. There were two pilots, holding a soldier of the Motherland hostage.
"Foolish boy," Verinov chuckled as he triangulated the source of the transmission. "You will pay dearly for your insolence."
In unison, a battalion of tank treads pivoted due east and began to race.
***
David wasn't pushing his luck any further. They had evaded the Soviet surveillance aircraft, but now they had to wait out the day until dusk. When you're camped less than 500 yards from an enemy base, 'hold position' is not quite the expected order. The men were restless. David's wonderings on his assignments to this mission still confused him. A normal battalion could handle this. Why all the secrecy? Why in hell the SEALs? Thankfully, the squad was all in one tent so he didn't have to leave.
"Hey, Major, why are we here?" David couldn't speculate any longer. He had to know.
"Say what, Lieutenant?" the Major retorted.
"This seems like a standard op. Why are we here?"
"What would you say if I told you that Soviets were trying to mimic our prism technology?"
"I'd say those fuckers kill enough of us with their tesla crap!" David tried to relate that with the topic. It didn't fit.
"Satellite pictures show experimental Soviet structures at this site. They bear remarkable resemblance to Prism Towers. They might have improved up our technology. Once we are in, they must be captured and analyzed before they are destroyed. This is why SEALs are here. No other Allied fighter in this theater has our versatility."
Oh. That hit hard. It's always a pain when you don't just blow stuff up.
"So what now, sir?" David finally replied.
"We wait, son, we wait."
***
David had officially decided, after several hours, that waiting sucks. Fortunately, it was over, and everyone was getting on their gear. The GIs and Grizzly crews were solemn, they knew there only purpose here was cannon fodder. The Major had recently briefed them as well. Most of the men knew firsthand what tesla-fried trooper looks (and smells) like. The Commies didn't need to go stealing our tech.
The march was somber. There was every reason for it to be so. Lieutenant Hyrin would be in the main attack force. The Major and a few other SEALs would disable the power from the rear. Then the tanks would storm the front, David would eliminate the auxiliary power sources (tesla troops), which would leave the base crippled. GIs would secure the area and engineers would be dropped in to examine the Commie Prism buildings.
That was the plan, and hopefully it would work. David and the Grizzlies saw the shimmering blue tesla towers at exactly 10:15. At 10:16, base power was off.