12th of May 1990 USA, 00:03 Washington Mountains.
"I Guess it too much to ask for people to be on time," Major Parker mumbled, probably a bit too loudly, as he sat in the back of his command Humvee.
His winter camouflaged Humvee was one of many in his battalion waiting for the order to advance into Archway. The entire Brigade was supposed to mustered as planned to begin the operation at midnight, which it was. Evident by the entire area was lighted by hundreds of vehicles waiting for the command to go ahead, with their engines on spitting exhaust into the cold mountain air, they were ready to go headfirst into the new world. But the reason he wasn't enjoying some nice and cold alien air and a bright sunny day was because some battalions weren't fully ready, at least to his knowledge. And now they were technically behind schedule on the operation, albeit 3 minutes.
Due to his complaint, his fellow occupants of the vehicle found that the signal to engage in conversation.
"Maybe it's Bannon's battalion?" Corporal Ants in the driver's seat of the vehicle voiced as he was slouched while he his head was propped against his door with his arm.
Corporal Mike in the passenger seat looked at the side mirror after trying to get some sleep, "You figure after having hell spitting you back up, you'll strive to do better."
Not this again, Parker had no idea how the hell he managed to get the duo in his battalion let alone in the same vehicle. Maybe it was pure luck... Maybe it could've been the Colonels doing... That bastard.
"Or it was just the artillery battalion." The Radio operator in the back passenger seat next to Parker stated as he listened in on the radios.
The artillery? Parker wasn't about insult Bannon in front of the men, but he did kind of think it was Bannon's fault. Reason? Wouldn't be the first time. He looked to the radio operator, if he remembered right his was name Charlie, "Charlie, what'd you hear?"
Charlie looked to Parker, "Something about a windshield having a barrel of a cannon smashed through it."
"Well, they are going to get an ear full from the Colonel," Mike said.
"Probably already are," Ants responded.
"I would too, honestly. A entire brigade, that was ordered by the President to go into a other world, is being held up by one artillery gun. They are probably going to get a lot more than a ear full." Parker added in. To which three other occupants of the vehicle showed signs of understanding with his explanation.
And the vehicle was once again silent with only a rumble of the engine being the only sound, which was perfectly fine with Parker. It gave him time to think about the situation and what to do next. And to also question his decision on his pick of a command vehicle, which was just a Humvee.
It wasn't even the command variant; it was just your run of the mill Humvee with more radios in it. Which was evident when Parker looked to see Charlie reaching back, stretching his hand over the other radios, to retrieve a radio mike. Even the space between the two of them was blocked by radios and other command equipment. This was all due to Parker at the moment of organizing his battalion, was given the option of what to have and how much. To which the first option was his command vehicle, he could've had a tank, APC, IFV, hell even just a truck, as a command vehicle but him and his infinite wisdom thought, "Welp my Battalion is pretty mobile and shouldn't get shelled at or anything and we are going to be in a uncivilized place so why not a Humvee? It doesn't take as much gas as the others or is as slow, should be perfect." He didn't account for the small space inside.
Well at least I should be pretty mobile, he thought as he looked out of the window. He could see some other brigade elements waiting.
Which the brigade itself was in all honesty was more like a understrength division if anything. If the rest of the battalion were here, it should add up to eight combat battalions with a few support battalions. But it was just six currently, the only two that weren't present was the Ranger and Marine battalions, but they were told they would get here in a few days. Would they be up to best equipped battalions? Probably not.
The evidence to support this claim was the fact the Brigade as a whole was pretty damn old. The only modern stuff, if combined only add to up to a max two battalions so Sawyer split it up between the battalions. Parkers own battalion only had one modern company, which was just Bradley's, and the other companies was either a motorized company or a APC company with M113s. And the only tanks the brigade had was M60s and M48 Pattons, the M60s parker understood but the M48s? Last time he checked those babies were retired. He even had a company of the M48s in his own battalion.
The air assets were the same as the ground, old. But that didn't matter that much when you're not fighting a other military. A squadron of F-4 Phantoms a mixed Huey squadron and some F-5s tigers. They would be getting some Black hawks, Chinooks and Stalions when the Rangers and Marines arrive which was not bad.
Guess that's what you get for using the reserves, Parker thought. Seeing how the majority of the Brigade was from the National Guard,
But then there was activity outside, men ran to their vehicles and the radio chatter within the Humvee increased with orders being given to different units.
"Sir, the first Battalion is making their way in now," Charlie told Parker.
"Finally," He took hold of one of the radio mikes, "This is Bravo-six, all units prepare to commence operation Columbus over." He said over the radio to his battalion.
He received confirmations from all his companies quickly after.
His battalion was the third in line to enter the Archway. The first being Bannon's Battalion, Webbs, then his. His battalion was tasked with protecting the Western perimeter of the other side then advancing the same direction to find anything of interest, how far still remains to be decided. He tried asking the Colonel on the limit of going out and all he got was, "As far as ordered, Parker." To say he was surprised by the answer would be a lie.
"Sir, isn't it a bit suggestive for the name of this operation to be named Columbus?" Mike asked from the front.
Parker honestly found it a bit iffy on the name, but it worked fine, "It's just a name, but you got your shots though? Those things might carry some nasty stuff on them." He teased.
Mike upon hearing that turned around and faced Parker with a concerned face, "Wait. Those things have diseases?"
Before Parker could say anything, Ants spoke, "No you idiot he was joking."
"But what about-" Mike was cut off by Charlie before he could finish.
"Sir, the Colonel has given us the okay to advance," Charlie said.
He forgot about the name and held the radio mike up to his face again, "This is Bravo-six, all units advance. I repeat, all units advance over." He then stowed it away, "Ants prepare to move. And mike don't worry about it, that's what you have those hazmat suits for." He told the front half of the vehicle. Ants got into a more appropriate driving position and Mike turned to face forward and pulled up his rifle into a ready position. Parker himself pulled up his shotgun and placed it on his lap just in case and waited for the Humvee to lurch forward.
It did after a few moments and his Humvee was one of many making their way to the Arch.
Bannon's battalion, 1st Armored company 1st platoon.
"All tanks forward." The Platoon leader from a M60 tank commanded after he got the go ahead. And as a result, his tank obeyed along with his platoon and moved in a wedge formation towards the Archway.
They advanced with a platoon of Bradley's right behind them following close, bringing infantry support with them, as they moved past the defensive perimeter kicking up mud and snow as they got closer to the Arch. Due to the size of the Archway it could allow a platoon of tanks go on through and still be properly spaced.
The tank platoon was now within 25 meters of entering so the platoon leader opened his hatch and sticked out to get a better sense of his surroundings, "Firefly Black-six to Firefly Red-six and Turtle Red-six over." The platoon leader heard over the radio from the Company commander.
"Firefly Red-six, roger Firefly Black-six," The tank platoon leader responds.
"Turtle Red-six, roger Firefly Black-six," The Bradly platoon leader did the same.
"Firefly Black-six, make sure your boys get some distance before disembarking, don't want you clogging up the only way in over."
"Roger Firefly Black-six," both Platoon leaders responded.
They were part of the first wave to enter, they would advance a couple hundred meters into the bright snow-covered forest, disembark the infantry then wait for the other waves to enter.
The tank platoon was now within of 10m meters of entering the bright semi-clear forest, so the platoon leader held onto his mounted machine gun inside the turret and pulled the bolt handle back readying it for action. He looked back to the Arch as they got closer, shielding his eyes with one hand from the sun from the other side, he used his other hand to swivel the M2 machine towards its general direction.
The Platoon leader breathed in a final breath of air from earth and held it as the tank crossed into the Archway along with the rest of the platoon. They advanced a couple meters before the Bradly platoon crossed on over and that's when he released his breath and breathed in the new air.
"Hm, the air is denser. Lower attitude then." He noted as the tanks moved forward passing and maneuvering around trees, leaving only tracks in the snow in their wake. He then decided to activate his radio, "This is Firefly Red-six to Firefly Black-six, we have entered and are moving forward over." he told the company commander.
"Roger Red-six, time to have a turkey shoot."
The platoon leader spotted movement at his 12-o-clock as he received the company commander, "Yippee-ki-ay," he whispered while he slid down inside the tank and aimed the 50.
14th of May 1990 USSR 23:50 Ural Military District.
"Sokol-1 to all units, prepare for deployment over," Romanov heard from the radio. He then took the radio mike and pressed the transmission button, "Sneg-1 to all units, get ready to move over." He said over the radio, then over the next few moments received confirmations from his companies.
Romanov was currently waiting, like the rest of the brigade, in his command BTR for the order to move into the Archway. Which they were actually ahead of schedule, if he remembered right, they weren't suppose to advance in until midnight. Or maybe he understood wrong and the whole brigade was supposed to be in by midnight and they were actually behind schedule. But to be honest, it didn't really matter; they were going to be in the other world either way within the next few minutes seeing how his battalion was going to be the first one in.
Was he happy about that? Not really. Mostly because if any problems occur in this other world it's going to mostly effect the first unit in, which would be his battalion. Then he'll have to deal with those said problems and then get scrutinized by the other officers. And the benefits of being first? Zero. He didn't even get the personal glory for being the first officer into this new world, that would go to his platoon and company commanders because they would be in there before him.
But he supposed it was nice to be trusted enough to lead the first full battalion in. Guess the colonel only trusted him enough to actually make it through without delays and do his objective, which was securing the other side from the North while they waited for the rest of the brigade. That was the plan at least, the forest on the other side appeared to not be that dense he noticed, but it would be crowded with the entire brigade over there so he wouldn't surprised if he had to advance North somewhat. The full plan called for his battalion defending the staging area from the North until a airfield could be made, then he would recon North with his battalion and see if they could find anything of note.
He hoped he didn't have to go too far North and risk getting isolated from the brigade. The colonel might've made the battalions more self-reliant with more assets, but Romanov really liked having other battalions nearby to assist if needed. And he really liked more than a battery of artillery for fire support. He might have gotten assigned a battery of 122mm howitzers to his battalion, which he was grateful to have a extra battery of artillery with his battery of mortars. But having a full battalion of artillery on standby to be called upon does make a commander at ease.
"Sokol-1 to Sneg-1 over," he heard the Colonel call over the radio. He pressed the transmission button on a different radio, "Sneg-1 receives you Sokol-1," Romanov said.
"Sokol-1 you may advance Sneg-1, I repeat you may advance Sneg-1 over," The Colonel told him.
"Sneg-1, roger Sokol-1. Sneg-1 out." Romanov quickly turned to the front of the BTR, "Driver prepare to move." He then took the radio, "Sneg-1 to all units, advance I repeat advance over," he said to his battalion.
Due to the headquarters section of the battalion being close to the Archway Romanov could hear the rumble and cries of engines and their vehicles moving outside his BTR before he even got his first response on the radio.
Before they assembled, he instructed his tank company of T-55s and a reinforced Bmp-2 company, which was one of few in the entire brigade, to establish a bridge head on the other side and make sure the rest of the battalion made it through without interference. He didn't want his entire battalion stalled by a few of the beast. The day before there was a attempted incursion by a dozen or so of the creatures, it took a bit of effort to bring down one with rifle and machine gun fire. So, Romanov deemed the BMPs to best suited to accompany the tanks in first with their autocannons.
"Sneg-11 to Sneg-1, the first platoons are across. And the rest of the company is making their way in now over," the commander of his tank company informed him over the radio.
That was quick Romanov noted as he brought the radio up, "Sneg-1 to Sneg-11 take it slow, there's no rush over," he told him.
"Sneg-11 roger that Sn-," his company commander didn't finish his sentence for the transmission was cut off. Romanov was about to get his status, for maybe it was just interference from the Archway but stopped when he heard noise outside. It was the sound of machine gun fire and a lot of it, then what sounded like autocannon fire was added. Romanov then made the assumption his companies were in contact with the local wildlife.
"Sneg-11 what's your status?" Romanov asked.
"Sneg-11 to Sneg-1, the creatures just appeared and are currently making their way to us over!" the company commander responded, with his voice at a higher volume to compensate for the machinegun fire in the background.
"Roger Sneg-11, how many are there and are the infantry disembarked over?" Romanov asked calmly, just then the sound of cannon fire could be heard from outside.
"Sneg-11 there are a couple dozen of them Sneg-1, and the infantry are not. We only made it 50 meters from the arch over!" the commander responded, with autocannon fire in the background.
"Roger Sneg-11. Disembark the infantry and get into a tight formation, get the infantry and IFVs alongside the tanks over." He told the commander.
"Sneg-11, roger Sneg-1," The commander acknowledged.
Romanov turned to the front of the BTR to give the crew instructions before his radio operator stopped him, "Sir, the Colonel wants to know what's going on." He said.
Romanov faced his radio operator, "Tell the Colonel the first companies to go through are engaged by the creatures, but they are being dealt with," he told him. He then turned around to face the BTR crew, "Get us to the other side, and fast," he ordered them.
Romanov battalion, 1st Motor-Rifle company 2nd platoon 2nd squad.
The infantry was yanked forward as the Bmp-2 they were in suddenly stopped.
"Gunner fire the mg!" the commander of the Bmp yelled, and he received the sound of the bmp coaxial machinegun being fired.
"Well boys, looks like you're getting action sooner than expected," the Sergeant said to the squad of infantry and the crew of the Bmp.
The Infantry and the crew were surprised about the sudden action, they didn't expect it right as they entered the world, but they remained collected and calm. They were after all veterans of the American theater.
"Gunner, target bearing 300 range 100 meters, fire the cannon!" The turret of the Bmp moved slightly to the left and let out a burst of 30mm shells.
The squad of infantry had their weapons ready and prepared for the order to disembark. It would only be a matter of time before they were ordered too if they had the sound of the gun and cannon fire outside to go by. It sounded like the entire company was in on the action.
"How's it looking out there?" the Sergeant asked a rifleman, for the commander was still busy locating targets for the gunner.
The rifleman turned around and looked through his rifle port on the side of the Bmp, all he saw was a line of Bmp's on a flat snowy lightly tree covered landscape unleashing fire upon a foe he couldn't see. "We are giving them hell Sergeant," the rifleman said.
The rifleman didn't get a response for the commander of the Bmp spoke, "You've been ordered to disembark and prepare to move forward!" he told them.
The Sergeant found that as his cue, "Alright everyone out! Let's go! Go! Go! Go!" he ordered the squad. And the squad did as told, the person nearest to the back door of the Bmp turned the latch and opened it. The squad was temporally blinded by the sunlight swallowing the darkness of the bmp, but they quickly overcame the blindness and jumped out of the stationary Bmp.
What greeted them was a snowy forest with platoons of Bmp's and infantry on both sides of them doing what they had done, disembarking their vehicles and then facing towards the incoming enemy. The squad split into two and flanked the Bmp's sides and when the Bmp moved forward towards the tanks that were a dozen meters forward, they did too.
The Bmp and its squad of infantry moved forward at a slow jog pace firing their weapons as they did so, picking targets that presented themselves a few hundred meters in front of the tanks through the forest. The company of tanks that moved in before them were in a solid line across the battlefield, firing their machineguns and cannons trying to thin the number of black monsters trying to get to them. Despite the best efforts of the companies of tanks and infantry it was difficult to kill the beast for they were agile little monsters and due to the forest, the trees were in the line of fire, providing cover for the beast. But the forest wasn't entirely on the beast side, for when a 100mm shell impacted a tree it would explode not only sending metal shrapnel in all directions it would then send pieces of wood and splinters also acting as shrapnel into some beast. It was the same case for the autocannons of the IFV's, 30mm shells impacting trees having a similar effect of sending more shrapnel throughout the forest.
The Infantry with their Bmp's finally made it to the tanks and started providing a wall of fire, the anti-tank members of the infantry being stationary were finally able to unleash their RPGs onto the beast adding to the fire. And as the stream of running beast never ended neither did the fire from the two companies, lines of machinegun fire lit by tracers from the infantry and the vehicles flowed through the forest. Autocannons raked the landscape like the machineguns but in burst of deadly 30mm rounds tearing apart beast and foliage. And the cannons of the tanks destroyed whatever they targeted sending dirt and splinters across the battlefield. And if the beast managed to get close to the line, the rifleman would finish what would be left of them. And within a few moments of constant firing, it was finished.
"Cease fire! Cease Fire!" Sergeants yelled throughout the companies and so did the commanders of the vehicles to their crews.
And the gun and cannon fire died down, which left nothing but a silent forest of snow and smoke. The line of Soviet military personal just observed the forest they just unleashed their fire upon, looking for anything that could justify shooting again. But there was none, for the only thing left was immobile creatures that were still somehow alive and toppled trees. Some of the wounded creatures that lightly covered the landscape even tried to crawl away from them, trying to avoid their own demise as did their comrades.
"Sneg-1 to Sneg-11, over." the company commander received from inside his tank. He picked up the radio still observing the landscape through his cupola, "Sneg-11 receives you Sneg-1," he replied.
"Sneg-11, I don't hear anything what's your status over?"
"Sneg-1, we have destroyed the enemy. Only the wounded of the creatures remain over," The company commander replied.
There was a pause, "Copy Sneg-11, continue on with the objective over," Romanov said.
"Sneg-11 to Sneg-1, what should we do with the wounded creatures over?" He asked while observing one of the wolf creatures trying crawl its way towards his lines with nothing but one limb dragging itself.
"Sneg-11, kill them over,"
"Roger that Sneg-1," He switched to communicating with the companies, "All platoons move forward, I want this forest cleaned of these creatures over."
The companies did as told and moved forward slowly, the tanks followed by infantry then the IFVs. The creatures that were wounded that didn't get crushed by the tracks of the vehicles were finished off by a burst from a rifle.
6 weeks before the earth expeditions.
"General, the embargo order has been issued," a female subordinate informed her superior.
"Good, and the high alert order to all Atlas bases?" the General asked to all his subordinates present.
"We've sent the orders General, but it'll take some time before they receive it," a male subordinate responded.
The General hummed in response and looked around the command center, he watched as soldiers in white uniforms monitored their screens and walked with purpose. He looked back to his officer's present. His tall and tough figure a little imposing to the officers, especially so when they looked comparatively small to him.
"Winter, you heard anything from you're missing sister?" he asked a female subordinate at his side.
She looked to him, "From what I gathered, she smuggled her way out of Atlas and was heading for Mantle," she said with a neutral face. But her eyes didn't lie and when he looked into those blue eyes and saw that she was worried, justifiably so.
"That is... unfortunate. Has there been any word from team RNJR?" He asked. If they found the team it would increase their chances of finding her sister. And possibly the relic, the General reasoned.
"Nothing as of now, General." Winter responded.
Damn it, he thought as he walked to one of the command centers desked that was vacant and leaned on it with both his hands and stared at all the screens. He tried to think of what he could do, he needed the relic, but he also needed to get Remnant communications back up so he could better combat Salem.
Winter walked up behind the General, "General Ironwood, perhaps we can-" She was interpreted by a sudden low static.
Upon hearing the static, Ironwood looked up to see where it came from. It didn't come from one source he realized as he looked around the command center, it was coming from everywhere. A low volume static sound came from all the communications devices and on all the screens showed a image of what was usually there, just that image was glitched and slightly spasming. The command staff all looked around confused on the sudden failure in the system, some got up from their seats and looked to see if they weren't the only ones having the problem saying things like "what the?" and "What's going on?" others looked to the General himself for a explanation. But the General had none, he looked to his officers behind him to see if they could explain. They were just as clueless as he was, wide eyed and staring at all the screens.
But just seconds after it all happened it suddenly stopped. There was once again the normal sounds of radio chatter and the beeps of the command center he was used to. The command staff all looked back to their post with their screens and saw they were normal again and that made them just as confused as before, all looking to each other for explanations.
Ironwood was the first to speak, "I want a answer on what just happened now!" he ordered his command staff with his voice raised to emphasize the speed to do so. And they all manned their stations and looked to find the source as Ironwood stood observing the room waiting for a explanation, thinking of what could've caused all that
Winter came back up beside him, "You think this is like before? At beacon?" she asked as she also observed the screens and staff.
Ironwood didn't answer for he was too busy focusing on possible target or motive. But then a officer stood up from his station and faced the General.
"General!" He got the General attention, and the General and Winter made their way over to the soldier's stations.
"You found the problem?" The General asked him.
He looked uncertain as he sat back down and continued looking at a map of Remnant and what appeared to be a radio wave on his screen. "Well, I might General." He looked closely at his screen, "It appears our systems just got interference from a unknown source. The source, I have no clue what it is though. All it shows is that it came from the South. From Mistral."
"Do you-" The General tried to ask but a other soldier got his attention.
"General!" she called out from a other station, "We are getting reports of similar events throughout Atlas."
A other male voice called out, "It's not just Atlas General, we are getting reports from coastal cities from the other kingdoms about this." then a other, "Our oversea bases are reporting the same General."
He looked back to the original soldier, "Find the origin and inform me immediately." He ordered and looked back to the rest of the room, "I want to know why this happened and where immediately!" He ordered the command centers staff. And he got affirmatives from them in response.
He looked to Winter, "Lets checkup on our maiden." He whispered to her.
She nodded her head, and both made their way for the exit.