A few hours after the end of IF mission at the ASIC forces encampment at the west of Planeptune city
The marshal Relic got the necessary information form Histoire, he looks a the map and other documents given by the guild
Spy planes sent in the afternoon confirmed that the ASIC started to move troops started to head for the east, confirming that they got tricked by a false attack plan, also confirming that the new commander arrived
The time as come to start the airlift
PLANEPTUNE
BASILICOM
17H00
In the lab under the Basilicom, Bethesda works on something
He's drawing blueprints of some kind of weapon
It look like some kind of launcher that launch mini nukes
"Sir? The marshal wants to see you at the airfield." An basilicom staff says to Bethesda
"Okay." Bethesda responds while getting up
He heads outside while wondering why the marshal wants to see him
PLANEPTUNE
AIRFIELD
17H20
Bethesda arrived to the airfield
He see's some vertidragons and jets
"Looks like they are going to start the airlift." Bethesda thinks
He notice the marshal form far away
Quite easy considering the suit he wears and his hat make him easy to spot
Bethesda goes to him
"Marshal." Bethesda says
"Ah, here you are!" The marshal responds noticing Bethesda
"Why you wanted to see me?" Bethesda asks
"I wanted to congratulate you for making these tilt-rotors, it make our job a way easier."
"For the airlift?" Betehsda says
"Of course!" The marshal says
"The air force started to run out of ammunition due to the bombing of the ASIC supply convoys. With the airlift its gonna help us to not stopping bombing them and eventually making them starve, wait actually they already started starving." The marshal explains
"At what point?" Bethesda asks
"To the point that they started to eat our spies." The marshal explains
"Hol up, we can publicly denounce that to reduce their share." Bethesda says
"We can't, it was only said by one of our spies, but without additional clues when can't do that." The marshal says
"Oh." Bethesda responds
"But anyway its really a great thing what you did to get these vertidragons in time!" The marshal says
The marshal shakes Bethesda hand, A photograph immortalize the moment, even tough Bethesda seemed embarrassed for some reason
"So IF and Histoire told me that the way I managed to build the vertidragons is bad. But the marshal congratulate me by saying that it help them a lot. So its bad or good?" Bethesda thinks in full confusion, the reason why he look embarrassed on the picture
"By the way, do you know the numbers of troops and can I know it?" Bethesda asks
"Of course I know it. If you want to know there 150.000 troops here at Planeptune, not counting the irregulars, and there 100.000 coming" The marshal says
"And how close the reinforcement are form the city?" Bethesda asks
"They are very close now, they should be arrived tomorrow." The marshals says
"Okay, and how many for the ASIC?" Bethesda asks
"We don't know exactly but its around 500.000 to 800.000 according to information we have." He responds
"Wow, so we are really that outnumbered." Bethesda says
"Don't worry, its not going to be a big problem when we are going to start counter attacking." The marshal responds
A technician run up to the marshal
"Marshal, everything is ready!" The technician says
"Then start the airlift!" The marshal responds to the technician
The technician run back and say to someone something form afar
Soon after the Vertidragons start to take off vertically and tilt their rotors and start going away
"Well you are free to go now" The marshal say to Bethesda which just nods and walks away
The jets take off form the runway
SOUTH-WEST OF PLANEPTUNE
ONE OF THE ASIC ENCAMPMENT
17H50
An ASIC trooper wander in the encampment
Its a way less populated than usual since some of his troops moved to the east to protect form an incoming Planeptune forces attack
He's also pretty hungry, the ASIC army as whole have to save food to attempt getting starved because not a lot of food supplies make it to camps since they get bombed
"Hey! Man!" A girl form his squad call him
He look at the direction and see the girl with the rest of the squad siting on a log
He join them and sit with them
"We are quite lucky being here." One of the guys says
"We still starving tho." One of the girls says
"Yeah but the others are starving and dying due to fighting!"
"But they didn't started to attack yet." The man says
"Yet!"
Everyone laughs
A distant sound of engine get heard
"You guys are hearing that?" a girl says
"Yeah, and I don't like this sound!" A guy responds
They look up in the sky
…
…
…
"ACTIVATE THE TANKS!" Someone yells
WOOOOSSSSHHHHH
Everyone get out of the area hearing the jets
BOOM BOOM
The bombs dropped by the jets start to explode
The tanks start to target the jets with their energy cannons
PHEW PHEW PHEW PHEW PHEW PHEW
The jets starts to do combat turns and go back to start strafing the tanks
BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG
BOOM BOOM BOOM
A few tanks explodes
PHEW PHEW
The tanks continues to fire
One of the jet get hit by an energy beam
"I am hit! I need to fallback!" The jet pilot says while going back to planeptune
PHEW PHEW PHEW
The tanks don't stop firing at the jets
A few moments after a strange group of vehicles with twin engines on the end of wings enter in the airspace
"What the hell is these things?" One of the soldiers says
"We don't care, fire a them!" Another one responds
BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG
The ASIC troopers starts to fire at the vehicles
BRRRRRTTTTTT
They retaliates by the doors gunners of the flying machines firing miniguns
The troopers quickly get on the ground, some of them are already on the ground but not in one piece due of getting hit by the miniguns
The tanks start to target them
"Aim for the tanks!" one of the pilot of the flying machines says
PHEW PHEW PHEW
The tanks a short moment after fire at them
They hit one of the flying machines
"We are hit! Get rid of them before we get shot down!" the pilot says
The door gunner aims for the tanks
BRRRRRTTTTTTTT BRRRRTTTTTTTT
And fire at them
BOOM BOOM BOOM
The remaining tanks get destroyed
The strange machines fly away
One of the ASIC troopers look at themselves
"What the hell was these things?" The trooper says looking at them getting away
PLANEPTUNE
COMPA APARTMENT
18H00
"Welcome back Beth!" Compa says to Bethesda who just entered the apartment
"Hello again Compa." Bethesda says while removing his lab coat as usual
"So, IF is okay?"
"Yes, she spent most of the day here, she wanted to get out to the guild but I managed to keep her here." Compa explains
"Uh I think I'm not going to want to know how you managed to do that." Bethesda says
"Oh, its quite simple, I used som-"
"I said I didn't want to know." Bethesda cut off Compa
"Well I'm in the kitchen making food if you search for me" Compa says as she leaves
Bethesda goes to the living room
He see IF laying on the couch, looking things on her phone
"Hi IF." Bethesda says
IF looks up and notice Bethesda
"Hi Bethesda." IF responds
"So, it wasn't too boring today?" Bethesda says while siting on the edge of the couch
"Not that much." IF says
"Yeah, you must have spent most of the day sleeping, that's explains that." Bethesda says
"Oh, not only I also spent time with Compa. We played video games and etc." IF says
"Of course you did, she didn't let you out." Bethesda says
"She told you that didn't she?" IF asks
Bethesda responds by a nod while a small smirk appears on his face
"Well, anyway what your mission was about?" Betehsda asks
"It was about infiltrating the western encampment of the ASIC army at the west of the city, it was for the airlift and other things I can't tell you about."IF explains
"I went to see the marshal today, he told me that the ASIC started to starve and started to eat spies, I am quite happy that you didn't get captured."
"He told you that?" IF says
"Well he said that it was only said by the spy who saw that." Bethesda says
"Yeah." IF says
Compa enters in
"Iffy, Beth, the diner is ready." Compa says
They get up and go to the kitchen
And they sit down and start eating
A few moment later Compa speaks to Bethesda
"What you did today? Beth?" Compa asks
"I started working on a portable launcher that launch mini nukes, like a grenade launcher but under testosterone. After that I went to see the marshal at the airfield" Bethesda says
"I doubt that the guild or the basilicom would accept a weapon like that." IF comments
"I'm pretty sure they would love it." Compa replies
"I hope that they will at least let me build one." Bethesda says
"And why you went to meet the marshal at the airfield?" Compa asks
"He wanted to congratulate me and he shook my hand, a photograph took a picture and we continued to talk about the war and the reinforcements coming." Bethesda continues
"And when they are coming?" IF asks
"Tomorrow, he said."Bethesda says
"Well, then we better get ready for what's going to happen next." IF says
"About what?" Compa asks
"The counter-attack to push back the ASIC." IF responds
"You two are going to fight again?" Compa asks
"Obviously, planeptune need more people than possible since we are outnumbered by the ASIC." Bethesda says
"You shouldn't have said that." IF whispers to Bethesda
"Why?" Bethesda whisper back
A small moment of silence ensue
"I'm going to go with you two." Compa says in determined tone
Bethesda start to understand
"You are really sure about it?" Bethesda asks
Compa responds by noding
"I mean its war, its not like hunting monsters." Bethesda explains
"He's right, you can get killed or injured if you are inattentive more than one second. Don't do it its for your own good."
"I know, but I won't let you two get injured again!" Compa says
Bethesda looks at Compa
He sees her pink eyes filled with burning determination
"That's why I said you shouldn't have said that, she is very stubborn about these kind of subjects." IF says to Bethesda
"Well, Compa I totally I am totally confident of your determination, but the enemy is a dangerous foe." Bethesda explains
"I noticed that since you got your arm burned." Compa says
Bethesda looks at his arm, still covered in bandages
Bethesda sighs
"I'm okay that you come with us then." Bethesda says
"See? I told you." IF says to Bethesda
MEANWHILE
GAMINDUSTRI GRAVEYARD
18H30
"So, you are reporting that there is strange flying machines that came with jets form Planeptune and they attacked one of the encampment at the south-west of Planeptune?" Magic says
"They didn't really attacked. They more tried force trough and shot anything that tried to shot them down with miniguns." An officer say
"I sent a convoy of trucks filled with MANPADS, what happened to them?" Magic asks
"They got bombed. By the way the troops are starving" The officer responds
Magic facepalm herself
"Fucking dammit, yes I knew that." Magic says
"But there Is good news, we think that planeptune is starting to run out of ammo for their aircraft, so we can restart sending supplies." The officer says
"Oh, really?" Magic says
"That's grea- wait the machine that flew trough, they are going were their reinforcement are?"
Magic asks
"Uh, yeah?" The officer responds
"They probably used their new invention to bring supplies to the city, and probably ammunition for aircraft." Magic says with a tone of disappointment
"...shit." The officer
"Kim Megaup must be arrived to the encampments, tell him to immediately reinforce the western positions. We must immediately get rid of those machines or even better, after shooting them down, find a way to bring the carcass of the machine here, so we can study it" Magic explains
"This is vital for the war so DON'T screw it up." Magic says
"Yes ma'am!" The officer says while leaving the office
After that Magic goes to the workshop
"Badd." Magic says finding quickly the middle aged man
"Yes ma'am?" Badd responds but this time less fearfull
"That's strange, you seem more confident and less scared of usual." Magic questions
"I'm just getting used to it ma'am" He responds
"So, how its progressing?"
"So, the thing that I managed to find a way to transform a organical body into a robotic one, but it have some problems."
"Say them."
"First, the machine will take around a few years to build, about how complicated the process is and the time to get the necessary parts." Badd explains
Magic nods
"It will also have to use shares to make it work" Badd says
"Keep going" Magic says
"And I think that in theory, the machine might slightly alter the personality and or memory of the person that got robotized, Brave might not be totally the same person." Badd continue to explain
"Okay I see, the two last one isn't to be totally problematic." Magic says
"Continue the good work and you might be still alive after the machine is finished." Magic finishes up and leave
WEST OF PLANEPTUNE
AIRSPACE
20H00
"Here Guynemer. We are approaching planeptune with the we have to fly over the ASIC encampment again." The pilot says
"Here the control tower, Hang on we are sending an airstrike to the ASIC position, according to the plan, get the most damaged of your squadron forward."
"Roger." the pilot responds
"V-1 to V-3 move you are getting ahead of the formation" The pilot says to another vertidragon pilot
"Roger."
The two vertidragons exchange places
MEANWHILE AT THE GROUND
Someone looks at the map waiting for news of these flying machines that went trough the lines earlier at the end of the afternoon
"Commander, patrols seen sighting of the flying machines at the north west" A lieutenant says entering the commander tent
"Okay, I will tell to the armored division to regroup to next north west and prepare to shot down these vehicles in priority, since they are probably gonna sends jets with them." The commander responds
The lieutenant exit the tent
The commander grab a radio
NORTH-WEST OF PLANEPTUNE
AIRSPACE
20H30
A squadron of 20 planeptune Jets head toward the ASIC encampments
"Here AM2, we are approaching to the target." The leader of the squadron says
"Roger, the syndicalists recently moved tanks and R-4 to the position so get ready. You will have to distract the enemy to allow the passage of the Vertidragons" The controller responds
"Roger that." The leader says
She hold her breath for a small moment and push the jet joystick
The jets dive down
WOSSSSHHHHH
On the ground tanks: R4i-SDHC and the R-4's in the air start to fire at their jets
PHEW PHEW PHEW PHEW PHEW PHEW PHEW PHEW
A storm of lasers is unleashed against the jets
The jets start to drop their payload on the R4i-SDHC and pull up
BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM
A lot of tanks get destroyed, but its not enough to make it safe for the vertidragons
PHEW
A R4i-SDHC fire on a jet and hit it
"I'm hit! there is a hole on my right wing!" A pilot of the squadron says
He watch the wing of his plane on fire in terror while the plane dive on the ground while rolling
He attempt to control the plane to avoid making it crash
"AAAHHHH!"
BOOM
But explodes when hitting the ground
The other's jet does evasive maneuvers to dodge the strafing of lasers
BANG BANG BANG
A jet shot an R-4 with his gun
The shell penetrate the R-4
BOOM
And explode in mid air
An another shell goes trough the explosion and hit another one
Making it crash on the ground and disabling it
Another jet launch a missile on an another R-4
BOOM
And it explode throwing fragments everywhere
During the battle the leader receive a radio call
"AM2, this is Guynemer, we are passing trough while you are distracting them." The leader of the vertidragons squadron warn the leader of the jet squadron
"Roger, make it quick" She responds
The vertidragons start to pass in the airspace
"FOCUS ON THESE MACHINES!" A captain of the ASIC yells while pointing at the vertidragons
Shortly after ALL the reimaning R-4 star to chase the vertidragons while the R4i-SDHC start to focus their fire on them
PHEW PHEW PHEW PHEW
"WE ARE UNDER FIRE!" An vertidragon pilot cry to the leader of the squadron
"Cover us!" The squadron leader transmit to the other one
"Jet's split in two groups! One escort and protects the vertidragon form the R-4. Another one destroy the remaining tanks until there are out of range!" The jet squadron leader says to her squadron
8 Jets goes to protect the vertidragons the rest stay here
The R-4 strafe the vertidragons with lasers beams
PHEW PHEW
one of vertidragon at the back of the formation: the V-1 started to take critical damage
"HURRY UP!" the squadron leader pleads
the back tail get violently tear out due to repetitiveness of the attacks
The doors gunners can't do anything due to their positions
The R-4's get shot down by the jet's but its already too late
The V-1 Start to lose control and spin down due to the tail that got removed
"WE ARE LOSING CONTROL! WE HAVE TO BAIL OUT!" The co-pilot says
The crew manage to open a door and jumps out moments before hitting the ground
The crew deploy their parachutes and get on the ground
One of them quickly look at the destroyed vehicle form afar, catching fire
"Where's George?" Another one asks
"I think he jumped out after everyone."
"No, I didn't see him."
They look and see the corpse of their squadron leader, his parachute failed to open in time
"We have to get out of there before getting captured! We will mourn him later!"
They all run away to the city
MEANWHILE
PLANEPTUNE
AIRFIELD
21H20
The damaged vertidragons lands on the airfield along with some jets
The airfield staff start to unload the vertidragons
The marshal come to see the crews of the tilt-rotors
"There is one missing, what happened to it?" Relic says
"It got shot down by their R-4's. We have no idea what happened to the crew." A pilot says
"We also lost one of our jet's" Another pilot says
Relic sigh
"Well, I hope they are still alive." Relic responds
Soon after other jets lands
The marshal got disappointed that not all the Vertidragon made it back but it could have been worse
Relic knows that anyway the ammunition are going to be enough for continuing bombing their supplies line and for the counter attack
He returns to the base
He looks at the plan of the counter-attack he made at the start of the siege
The reinforcement equipped with tanks will breakthrough at the north-west to open the city and stop the siege and encircle the syndicalist troops at the south-west. After that the ASIC troops already weakened by the lack of supplies, will get pushed back by the planeptune troops to the mountains and eventually take back the mount segami
He's is confident a bout that plan
