Black Death
Farbanti, Kingdom of Erusea
September 19th 2019, 17:10
Provisional fleet of Erusean Royal Navy, consisted by four Admiral Kuznetsov-Class Aircraft Carriers, two Kirov-Class Battlecruisers, two Kara-Class Cruisers, twelve Krivak-Class Frigates, and numerous Tarantul-Class Corvettes and Bora-Class Hovercrafts, has already deployed its formation in Spring Sea, south to coastline and Submerged Area of the capital, facing the approaching Osean fleet, consisted by three carrier battle groups. Atmosphere is like filled by gasoline vapor, even lighting a march would cause a major conflagration.
Osean flagship, not an aircraft carrier but a modified and modernized Iowa-Class Fast Battleship — it's most significant differences comparing with "standard" Iowa-Class, are the primary armaments, being four triple-barrel artillery turrets of 460mm naval guns, two installed in front of bridge and two located on the rear, instead of three triple-barrel artillery turrets of 406mm naval guns; then the incredible speed that exceeds 40 knots, benefited by revolutionary cold fusion reactors and high-power magneto-hydrodynamic propulsion systems. A common stereotype shared by people is flagships must be the most heavily-armed and heavily-armored capital ships, but in actual military operations, they are always the fastest ones instead of being among the bulkiest, for quick repositioning and maneuvering. "We're in position." Inside the flagship's command center, deputy commander tells his superior.
"Signal all vessels to assume attack formation but hold fire. LRSSG has a special pesticide to those Erusea vermins, we take supporting roles this time."
"What…what are they doing?" Supreme commander of Erusean fleet is confused: Enemy armada is slowing down and is changing arrangement among the ships. "Launch all squadrons, fire all missiles! This is our chance!" He issues order, but before his order comes to validation, radar operators report: "Enemy fighters! We're under attack from rear!"
Trigger, in her customized F-22A Raptor, and Count, in his customized Su-37 Terminator, suddenly appear behind Erusean fleet, which is focusing all attentions to frontal side. Using skills of aces, the two Osean Big Shots just strode their ways through the crazy maze formed by gaps between high-rises, with incredible swiftness, also effectively avoided sensors. Raptor and Terminator charge directly to the nearest enemy aircraft carrier, also the enemy fleet's flagship, with full afterburners and in ultra-low altitude, like Thanatos and Hypnos, they're carrying decrees from Hades, ready to cast Eruseans down into inferno for permanent slumbers.
【Background Music: Stage 4: Iron Blue Intention】
【Extracted from Video Game "Castlevania: Bloodlines"】
"Fire everything!" Supreme commander of Erusean Fleet, in utter terror, shouts to his subordinates. Too late, missiles launched from VLS and "traditional" launchers require several seconds to make turns to go after targets, and they're not good in pursuing objects that move in ultra-low altitude with supersonic speed — for example Trigger and Count, and they're flinging chaffs and flares to further disrupt enemies' sensors.
Erusean ships activate CIWS, tossing a hailstone of slugs to Osean fighters, but the ace duo maneuver radically to dodge incoming bullets, a suicidal stunt in such an altitude that almost grazing the surface of the water, but quite an ordinary practice for them. Meanwhile, missiles launched from ships start to track their targets, turning around and zeroing on them, however these ordnances are not designed to strike aircraft of high-speed and high-maneuverability from above, therefore they all impact harmlessly behind Raptor and Terminator. Avionics tell Trigger and Count to fire, but they ignore the message and continue their rapid advances without firing anything, both aces won't pull triggers until the prey's eyes can be clearly seen.
Finally thinking time is right, Trigger releases four SOD, two from main weapon bay inside F-22A's belly and one from each single LOSP (Low Observable Strike Pod) attached to wings. Count also launches four LASM in one salvo, directly to the Admiral Kuznetsov-Class Aircraft Carrier designated as Erusean flagship.
CIWS aboard aircraft carrier redirect firepowers to intercept missiles and succeed, but the two Osean fighters, still in their supersonic approaching, piercing smokes generated by missiles' explosions with slight pulling up, appearing right above the vessel. A no-win situation to Eruseans, if they aim on fighters, missiles launched from fighters will devastate their ship; but if their focus on missiles, fighters will exploit this chance to attack from point-blank range. So in short, they're doomed from beginning. Knowing what those Osean pilots has planned, Supreme commander of Erusean fleet is completely petrified by even graver terror and despair, as the Raptor drops twelve XSDB — once again six from main weapon bay and three from each LOSP, at the same time Terminator drops four FAEB, directly to aircraft carrier's island.
A XSDB is a small-diameter guided bomb shaped like a rod, being categorized as bombs, it has no propulsion systems, saving the capacity for a bigger explosive payload, each XSDB is capable of tearing though even the most durable armor-plating of a MBT, not to mention it's integrated with well-designed foldable gliding wings for a longer range and a better precision. A FAEB, on the other hand, is a heavy-duty free-fall bomb to destroy targets in wide areas via intense incinerations, although lack penetration capabilities of a GPB and a XSDB, however constant, insanely high temperature generated by prolonged burning is sufficient to melt even the most durable military-grade alloys. Now with the combined lethality of twelve XSDB and four FAEB, Erusean flagship's island is thoroughly pulverized and carbureted, while surrounding areas are substantially damaged too, no survivors in radius of blasts. But the worst is just about to happen, as Osean fighters defiantly flyby the devastated ship, two columns of missiles that are impacting behind them like dozens of rocket-propelled meteorites, literally cut the vessel into pieces like sharp razors.
Entire Erusean fleet is thrown into chaos since their flagship goes down so quickly and goes up in flames by such an explosive way, another thing goes in oblivion is their morale. Before chain of command can be reconfirmed, the two Osean Big Shots initiate attack runs on the second Admiral Kuznetsov-Class Aircraft Carrier. Since both SOD and XSDB are still in processes of reloading, Trigger switches to the third advanced armament she's carrying: ODMM (Omnidirectional Multi-Purpose Missile/高機能多目的ミサイル). Based on both AIM-54 Series and AIM-260 JATM, ODMM is created to answer the urgent demand of fighter-carrying, heavy-duty and long-range guided ordnance capable of locking on both air and ground targets, with specifically enhanced guidance — not only combining active radar and infrared, even capable of "memorizing" and tracking the unique optical characteristics of targets. Trigger launches eight ODMM, four from main weapon bay and four from both LOSP, to upward-curved ramp section of aircraft carrier's deck, also to the ski-jumping aircraft, effectively creating roadblocks of searing flames to block any Erusean fighters from taking off. Meanwhile Count fires four QAAM as unguided rockets to ship's island for inflicting more damages and disabling its commanding ability.
Still a number of Su-57, Su-33 and Rafale M manage to get airborne, from the remaining two aircraft carriers, and of course, from the two now-defunct aircraft carriers before they're attacked. Those enraged Erusean pilots immediately go after Osean fighters to prove they're messing with a wrong group, and Erusean fleet, with command chain partially restored, restart its counterattack. Eruseans' determinations and efforts are worthy for a commend, however war is primarily decided by strength, and theirs are insignificant next to Trigger and Count, especially the former, who is a de facto Deus Ex Machina. The duo of Osean Big Shots easily evade attacks from Erusean fighters and ships, via radical maneuvers and properly-deployed countermeasures, and in turn, snatch chances to hurt enemies, even "persuade" enemies into self-destructions, for example luring enemy missiles to hit their own ships, tricking enemy fighters to collide against each other or to crash into their own ships.
Just as Erusean fleet, including the associated aviation force, figure out themselves are nothing more than a bunch of preys being feasted by a pair of hungry Xenomorphs, Osean fleet makes their moves, sending swarms of missiles, and squadrons of F-35Cs, F/A-18F and F-14D, into the extermination. Trigger and Count leave the rest of enemy fleet and enemy fleet's carrier-based aircraft to allies' mercy, moving to deal with UCAV above southern downtown. Those MQ-99 are fragile like Vulture-Class Droid Starfighters, but not nearly as agile, for they're general-purpose unmanned aerial vehicles deigned to attack both air and ground targets, although they can employ predominance of quantity like Vulture-Class Droid Starfighters, yet for flying aces they're merely kill-counts of free-offer, even too cheap to be counted as kills. Trigger doesn't want to spend her missiles to those inferior flyers, so she switches to guns, yeah, guns, her customized Raptor had the default M61A2 20mm Vulcan rotary embedded in the wing root removed, instead two retractable large-caliber autocannons are installed in the two secondary weapon bays located on the sides of the fuselage. Moreover, instead of firing SAPHEI slugs, these cannons fire caseless ammunition of high-speed and high-penetration, also integrated with revolutionary IBSF (Imprint Ballistic Solution on Fire) technology: Each bullet is a fire-and-forget projectile with small fins at the front and rear, controlled by a build-in microprocessor and linked to Raptor's avionics, capable of calculating and assuming ballistic arcs needed to hit the acquired target. Although due to techno constraints, bullets only can turn 15 degrees at max, but it's already a non-negligible tactical advantage, not to mention paired with the specialized "Sniper OS" integrated into the plane's interfaces, enabling the gun reticule to automatically align to a target once it gets in range. Like a turkey shoot, Trigger vacates airspace over cityscape from UCAV as if spraying DDVP in middle of flocks of insects, followed by Count, who are doing the same fairly quick, they successfully draw UCAV swarms from allies, and are shrinking their number, in order to free allies from dealing with those annoying flies, making them better focus on their own jobs. Suppliers of MQ-99 gonna be both pleased and unpleased, for they're about to receive order-forms of large quantities, as well as complains about their products' trashy qualities.
AWACS Bandog: "Updating sitrep: All sub-operations are going well, even better than we expected. Sub-Operation A is almost accomplished, Sub-Operation B and C are also progressing smoothly, commandos of Sub-Operation D are still in covert statues, I'll relay their air support requests should they need any."
Osean task fleet has purged Erusean presence from Spring Sea, now they're shoveling Farbanti's Submerged Area and coastline with missiles, rockets and bombs, plus 460mm Burst Shells fired from the flagship's main cannons, these super-heavy and super-destructive munitions are also enhanced by IBSF, targets entrenched in Submerged Area and coastline, no matter stationary or mobile, stand no chance of survival under the fury of mighty OMDF.
"Sub-Operation A successfully completed. Our task fleet now has full control of Spring Sea, coastline and Submerged Area, they're unloading troops from amphibious assault ships and are sending as many aircraft as they can spare to support other sub-operations. I'll relay anyone's requests of extra long-range fire supports to them if necessary." Bandog reports a good news to all allies, generating a significant boost to the already sky-high morale.
Trigger and Count are still popping MQ-99 dozen after dozen after dozen, literally Doomgal and Doomguy who are ripping and tearing through hordes of hell-spawns…in heaven instead of in Hell, and they seem quite enjoy such process. Meanwhile Cyclops Squadron, led by Wiseman, is supporting ground troops participated in Sub-Operation C, they had advanced into vicinity of the temporary airport, and are now exchanging firepowers against Eruseans who determined to die with the airport's defenses. Other friendly units are doing their jobs nicely as well, indeed resistances are extraordinarily stiff, given the fact this is capital of Kingdom of Erusea, however Oseans have advantages of both tactic and strategy, since they neither in a haste to take over Farbanti, nor intend to leave it unscratched. Osean ground forces expand their occupations building by building, structure by structure, in slow and steady paces, as their airborne brethren clearing paths by prioritizing targets on Erusean attackers, attack helicopters and artilleries; when encountering obstacles like heavily-armored emplacements or reinforced civilian structures with Erusean garrisons, they just call in heavy-hitters like tanks, artilleries, gunships, fighters, attackers, and of course naval vessels, completely razing the targets into rubble and burying all Eruseans inside them regardless military or civilian. Personnel in every branch of Osean Defense Forces has little to no concerns to Erusean citizens' lives, partially for those people belong to the enemy state which started this war, also for any civilians who don't escape from major cities immediately after the war's eruption deserve to be Darwin Award's candidates. On the other hand, governments of Osean Federation organized general evacuations in all major cities in and near coastal regions immediately after the very first wave of sudden strikes from Erusea, in less than six days entire population of threatened cities, as well as important departments and institutions, including administrations, transportations, diplomacies, medics, commercials, manufactures, finances and banks, educations and researches, arts and museums, logistics and reserves…were successfully relocated to the safety of inland; but after OADF carried out their Doolittle Raid over Farbanti, Erusean governments did nothing to evacuate civilians, and even worse, they mixed military targets among civilians to use them as human-shields, thus gravely disgusted Oseans: Belkan governments were bad enough, now Eruseans aren't any better, and since they're so eager to die, Oseans will grant their collective death wish. In fact there were plans to turn Farbanti into another Dresden or Hiroshima, by utilizing strategic bombers or missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads, even orbital weaponry, but soon all these propositions were dropped since a swift death would be too merciful, to achieve the maximum punishment both physiologically and psychologically, a severe but chronic pain is more preferred, just like the caning in Singapore.
Bandog: "Sub-Operation C successfully completed. Our boys take control of that airport and are working on restoring its functionality. Still Sub-Operation B is half-way, any available units move to assist the participating allies in north of AO. Also there's no update from Sub-Operation D, Trigger and Count, be alert at any time. OSDF has initiated Operation Starburst, I know a lavish space firework is something to behold, but don't get distracted, our job here is not half-finished…" As he speaks, hundreds of explosions occur outside atmosphere, dotting entire sky dome, and fade silently, replaced by countless streamlines. Those are satellites destroyed by A-SAT salvos and subsequent chain reactions caused by spreading debris. Osean military had been informed and instructed previously, so they just keep on fighting while some of them who happen to be not so preoccupied, savior the uncanny sight; however such phenomenon generates an unexpected effect on Erusean military, more precisely, triggering their PSTD of Ulysses 1994XF04's impact, to make matters worse, many Erusean military personnel notices and recognizes the paintjobs and emblems on the hulls of the unnaturally active Osean F-22A and Su-37, which further unhinging them to the extent of deserting.
"Some Eruseans are abandoning their posts, must be frightened by falling satellite debris as a rerun of Ulysses Impact Event, all allied units press on, wipe them out." Victory is near, but Bandog keeps his composure: "Sub-Operation B is estimated to be accomplished in minutes, and we finally receive messages from commandos implementing Sub-Operation D, they're near the first UCAV control node but need air support. Trigger, take out defenses around the control node, and be careful not to damage the structure itself. Count, you cover her."
The two Osean Big Shots disengage from battling against MQ-99 and Erusean fighters of various models, charge directly to the designated position with maximum speed. UCAV control node is a building well-hidden in midtown, with a unique design: The exterior form generally resembles a frustum of three or four story with an octagon bottom and a square top, heavily-armored, only one blast door-protected entrance leading inside, and several poles and dishes of antennas extend from roof. There are Leclerc MBT, GCT Self-Propelled Artilleries, plus Tiger HAP Attack Helicopters surrounding the structure, forming a quite solid defensive matrix to commandos who are more used to deal with infantries. Trigger soars to high altitude, then dives almost vertically, right to the control node, she unleashes salvos of ODMM and XSDB, annihilating much of the defenders, and picks the remaining ones by guns. Meanwhile Count keeps pursuing UCAV and fighters away from disturbing her.
Commandos quickly enter the control node, killing everyone inside and occupy control room for reprogramming. There're two more buildings of same functions several blocks away, Trigger quickly eliminates Erusean units who're protecting them, allowing friendly commandos to take over. A few minutes later all MQ-99 still flying over Farbanti change their affiliations to Osean Federation, in an act of sarcasm, Trigger tells Bandog to order commandos to drop all UCAV to remaining Erusean combatants in manners of kamikaze, and Bandog gladly complies, so do the commandos who're controlling UCAV.
"You got a mean streak, ojou-sama." Count comments with chuckles.
"I like killing and I like killing en masse, especially the enemies." Trigger responds in her usual plain tone. Being a rather non-talkative person, commonly known as "iceberg beauty", she prefers expressing her opinions via gun muzzles, instead of via her own mouth, especially in the skies, where she's an unstoppable killing machine as Mobius 1, if not deadlier. Back to the days in 444th Fighter Squadron, High Roller even once joked that he would give all his money to the one who successfully asked Trigger for a go out (and unsurprisingly nobody came to claim the money even after he was KIA).
【Background Music Stops】
【Background Music: Stage 6: Calling from Heaven】
【Extracted from Video Game "Castlevania: Bloodlines"】
All four sub-operations are accomplished, Operation Eternal Damnation proceeds to second phase. Allies, minus those who're maintaining occupations of each district of the city and are rooting out last traces of resistances, are converging to Royal Residence, National Assembly and Secretariat-General for National Defense and Security. These buildings are spared from bombardments for Osean Federation intends to have them captured intact, and by the same reason, allies are restrained from using heavy weapons during the processes of seizing them. Erusean fanatics who're defending such places don't have aforementioned burden, they just toss everything they have, rocks included, to approaching Osean military, however Oseans cleverly keep their distances, waiting for air force's "precision elimination".
Undoubtedly Trigger is called up to erase those stubborn Eruseans who're unable or unwilling to admit their efforts are utterly futile. But suddenly Bandog issues warning: "Hypersonic projectiles inbound, Helios Missiles. I'll highlight affected areas of detonations."
"5…4…3…2…impact…now!" Several colossal-sized energy spheres of white-cyan color blossom in midair, but causing no casualties for good guys already took evasive actions.
"Second wave incoming. Don't panic, they're predictable and are anti-air only, crappy design." Bandog counts down again: "5…4…3…2…impact…now!" Another spectacular firework show of uselessness from Erusean side.
Count: "Where are those missiles come from? Better not be what I think it is…" He is cut short by Bandog: "Confirm two huge-profile aerial vehicles approaching from EbS, Arsenal Birds."
"What?! I thought we felled every last one of them." Count shouts in disbelief.
Bandog: "Indeed we did, but Eruseans must have secret factories somewhere to build more of these airborne dreadnoughts, cunning bastards. I'll have intelligence to look into this. Stonehenge Base said they can snipe one bird out, the other one is up to us to bring down. You have twenty minutes to land for replenishment, I suggest you to use it."
Trigger: "Understood. Count, we change armaments to air-to-air-specific."
Count: "Righto."
Minutes later, the Arsenal Bird flying in leading position is fractured by a slug fired by Stonehenge and disintegrates into a miniature meteor shower in sky. The remaining one keeps flying forward and launches Helios Missiles salvo after salve after salvo, a demonstration of firepower as well as a waste of ammunition, until it has no more rounds to launch.
"Helios barrage has stopped, guess those missiles are depleted. I'm transmitting schematics of Arsenal Bird with possible weak points highlighted. It's equipped with ninety-six MQ-101 UCAV, numerous CIWS and conventional missile launchers, plus a Tier 0.5 Scale 3.0 turbine laser cannon and a shield generator as primary means of offense and defense." Says Bandog: "Both the laser and the shield consume substantial amount of energy to be operational. I'll coordinate a saturation attack by both air force and navy to trick it to use the shield, you two knock out the laser cannon before it's recharged, then shoot out the reactor compartment located in the center after blowing off the docked supply vehicle concealing it as an extra layer of protection. I suggest attack from front and from low since most of Arsenal Bird's emplacements are situated on upperside of fuselage and are rear-oriented, for avoiding impeding UCAV and for countering pursuing bandits."
"Understood, relay charging status of laser and shield at any time." Trigger just took off with Count and with new configurations of weaponry: Preserving ODMM, replacing SOD and XSDB with XMAA and QAAM respectively. Count also changed his weapon layout by substituting XLAA and SASM for LASM and FAEB.
"Thirty seconds for Arsenal Bird entering AO, prepare for saturation attack…wait, I got a message from task fleet's flagship, they're going to take down Arsenal Bird themselves. Alright, all allied units except those belong to task fleet, stand down and stand clear from Spring Sea and eastern flat."
Meanwhile in the flagship, supreme commander of Osean fleet issues orders: "Ready saturation attack and switch all main cannons to ramjet, AP Shells, fire on my command." Four triple-barrel artillery turrets of 460mm naval guns installed on this modified and modernized Iowa-Class Fast Battleship align their muzzles to the direction of approaching Arsenal Bird. When the airborne dreadnought registers itself on outer border of AO, thousands of anti-air missiles are launched from all the vessels — and are blocked by its bubble-like shield as expected. Arsenal Bird deactivates shield, releases UCAV swarm and charges up the turbine laser cannon installed on its belly's center, but doing so renders itself exposed — the shield's recharge is delayed for more power is rerouted to feed the laser — it just sentenced its own death.
Osean flagship fires all main cannons in unison, twelve 460mm naval gun shells capable of traveling at Mach 6 are shot to the flying monstrosity's underside. Being non-missiles, CIWS can't effectively intercept them, even they can, the insufficient quantity of emplacement won't make any differences. The outcome is obvious: Arsenal Bird's reactor, along with attached supply vehicle, laser cannon and shield generator, are no more, leaving only a huge hole of cylinder running from upside to underside which is billowing smokes and flames, seconds later, small-scaled explosions begin to occur all over the fuselage, generating more fires and fumes. All propellers abruptly cease functioning, as for UCAV already detached from their nests, they escape from immediate airspace because their onboard AIs are semi-decentralized, when the mainframe goes offline, they automatically activate backup protocol to search for the nearest Erusean supercomputers capable of controlling them, ISEV is one of the options.
"Arsenal Bird is losing altitude rapidly, estimated point of impact is…our flagship. Insane even in death, those Eruseans just don't quit." Bandog muses.
Flagship of Osean task fleet executes the second salvo of cannonade, smashing the falling Arsenal Bird's nose and messes up its steering. The dead giant veers away from its intended crash site to the right.
"Updating estimated point of impact, it'll prang into southern downtown. Trigger, it's your call, shall we intervene?" Bandog inquiries Trigger via a private channel.
Trigger answers plainly and instantly: "No."
"Fine. I'm alerting all allies to keep away from Arsenal Bird's path and the projected ground zero." Bandog has no objections to Trigger's decision.
Trigger and Count escort the dysfunctional airborne dreadnought to plow into Farbanti's downtown district from south…not really an escort, but to record footage from close-range as souvenirs. Countless high-rises are cut down during Arsenal Bird's descension, to make matters better, after it finally runs out of momentum and getting stuck among a cluster of buildings, the entire fuselage explodes like a baby nuke, destroying surroundings and generating a seismicity of magnitude three.
"Gonna be extremely painful for Eruseans to stomach this one." Count comments, sarcastically. Trigger doesn't speak, but she's internally satisfied to her wingman's sarcasm.
【Background Music Stops】
【Background Music: Before Final Boss: Theme of Simon】
【Extracted from Video Game "Castlevania: Bloodlines"】
"Both Operation Eternal Damnation and Operation Starburst are concluded as Osean victories. Our allies captured all capital buildings and are rounding up Erusean deserters currently, no information about enemy leaders' statues yet. Also OSDF had wiped out all Erusean satellites and those hacked by them, although there is a globe-scaled Kessler Syndrome as side-effect, but since we had taken adequate precautions, so it's acceptable." Bandog announces: "I'm assigning posts of aerial patrols, anyone who don't have immediate assignments can touch down for resting up."
Count: "Look at the city…or what's left of it, quite an apocalyptic sight." Farbanti surely got itself raped…ripped apart just like the sky above it which is littered with unstopping meteors of satellite debris, even Berlin in May 1945 couldn't be this dire. "So where is that Sol Squadron? Had they forsaken their fatherland? Can't blame them given the fact of degenerating Erusean morale ever since…well, ever since your emergence, ojou-sama." He wants to say more, even his leader is unlikely to give a reply, but suddenly Bandog warns them: "Wait, there are some strange readings…be on alert." At the same time both Trigger and Count's avionic displays show tiny ripples, and both of them know they are not caused by spikes of data flow demands in a narrowed network, but some concentrated electromagnetic energy from exterior, clearly indicating an imminent railgun strike.
Raptor and Terminator take evasive actions in an instant, as something traveling at re-entry speed bursts through where they used to be, dragging helical wakes of plasma.
Bandog: "Five X-02S Strike Wyverns approaching from SEbS. So they finally show up, could be much earlier for defending their capital. Trigger, Count, you have your orders. Extinguish Sol Squadron into the everlasting night of darkness."
Trigger/Count: "Understood/Righto."
Final shot of this chapter: The frame freezes as Trigger's F-22A Raptor and Count's Su-37 Terminator charging directly to the formation of Sol Squadron's five X-02S Strike Wyverns, then zooms out and transforms its graphic effect into oil painting-like style.
Time for the total solar eclipse.
【Background Music Stops】