ok boom this is it the big one. I know some of my readers have been waiting for it for some time now and thank you for being patient here is the battle of New York. anyway to answer a few questions in the reviews the other witches are fine they are currently at the Department of Defense being questioned by the CIA and for the second question yes I am out of school but there are other things I have to do while I am in between semesters. I plan on writing at least one chapter a month anything more is kind of extra for you. I plan to finish the battle of New York by the end of the month but no promises as later I have a wedding to go to and I will be away from home for a while. anyway three things on note with this chapter one I actually don't have MW3 anymore so I am recreating this level from memory so it might not be totally spot on but it should be close even some of the dialogue I have paraphrased to be similar. secondly Hunter 2-1 is back yay! and lastly before we begin I would like to mention that there will be a few shout outs to some other games in this chapter some obvious others not so much. if you notice the references other than the big obvious one please do mention it in a review. anyways I present to you for your reading pleasure Black Tuesday
Black Tuesday
NORAD USA
General David Petraeus "Overlord"
06:21 Local Time
"This is Lightening 1-1 I am flying blind! We're hit, we're hit!" Shouted the pilot of an F-15E Strike Eagle flying an interdiction mission over the war torn city of New York. David swore as he looked upon the holographic image of the battlefield. It was a disaster for the Americans; FEMA screwed the pooch with the evacuation and thousands of civilians lost their lives trying to evacuate the city as Russian Tu-22Ms carpet bombed them from the skies above. Then the Russian ground forces landed and spread like wild fire throughout the city. At first the Americans started to turn the tide with the use of their powerful air forces but the Russians countered by setting up a jamming tower on the Stock Exchange, disabling the American's communications and guidance systems. In the span of three hours the Russian Navy swatted the majority of the New York Air National Guard's aircraft from the skies and began to pour missiles into the city. The primary battlefield in the city was on the island of Manhattan; that is where the Russians had put the majority of their forces. David turned to the computer screen to his left and opened up a video call with one of the highest ranking officers in the field. After a few seconds a young USMC Captain by the name of Nathan Hale appeared on screen. In the background of the screen David was able to see the Brooklyn Bridge indicating that the young Marine Officer was still in Brooklyn out of the range of the jamming tower.
"What's the sitrep on New York?" David asked Nathan who looked over his shoulder for a moment as a large explosion shook the screen.
"The Russian jamming rigs have neutralized our air support. As long as they maintain air dominance, it's a losing fight." Hale told David. As if to punctuate his point a Russian Navy Mig-29K flew over head, 30mm cannon blazing. David swore as he zoomed in the hologram to further display downtown Manhattan.
"We can NOT lose New York." David growled through gritted teeth. He then spoke again. "Are there any Special Mission units in the area we can request?" David asked the Marine officer who nodded.
"J-SOC has a Delta Force team at Bennett Field. Call sign Metal." He told the American General. Nathan typed in a few words on his computer then another picture came up on the screen. This one was a live video of a group of five soldiers, three men and two rather young looking women prepping their gear. "Overlord Metal Zero-One is up on green SAT." Captain Hale told David as he continued typing things into his computer. One of the Soldiers in the video turned to David and spoke.
"This is Sandman- understand we are OPCON to you, over." Sandman told David who nodded and began to brief the Delta unit.
"Glad to have you in our corner, Sandman. The Russians are using electronic countermeasures to jam our comms and guidance systems. The primary emission tower is on top of the Stock Exchange. I need your team to destroy it. The Jammer is full spectrum, so until it's down, you'll have no radio contact. I have ground assets to get you close, over." David told the Delta team leader who nodded.
"Copy all, we'll get it done." Sandman told him as he shut down the video feed. David then flipped the video screen back to Nathan Hale.
"Captain Hale I want you and your unit to link up with the 1st Experimental Warfare Battalion near the Brooklyn Bridge. Wait for Metal team and when they get there go in with them into Manhattan." David told Hale who nodded.
"Yes sir I copy. Do you want my team to follow them to their objective?" Nathan asked him. David shook his head.
"Negative I want your unit along with the 1st XW to head to Central Park. There is a developing situation there and I think your unit and the 1st XW's tanks and LAVs can turn the tide in our favor over." David told him. Nathan nodded.
"Yes sir, over and out." Nathan said as he terminated his video feed. David frowned and looked back to the hologram of the battle. A fresh wave of Russians thundered ashore in transport helicopters with Mig-29s flying top cover. Even with the jamming tower destroyed this was sure to be one tough fight.
Brooklyn USA
Staff Sergeant Derek Westbrook "Frost"
08:55 Local time
"INCOMING!" shouted a U.S. marine as an enemy Mig-29 flew overhead a salvo or rockets shooting from its two 80mm rocket pods. The rockets slammed into the side of a Stryker APC blowing it to pieces sending large chunks of razor sharp shrapnel scything across the ground cutting a few soldiers caught in the open to ribbons. As the Mig-29 passed overhead two of the air defense LAV-ADs turned their turrets skyward and opened up on the Russian naval plane with their five barreled 25mm Gatling guns spewing air bursting high explosive shells after the aircraft. Their efforts were rewarded when the Russian plane began spewing flames and tumbling out of the sky. The ground troops let out a series of cheers and insults at the downed Russian plane. Hanna then spoke to Frost.
"Shit this is what is left of New York?" Hanna asked more rhetorically than anything else. Frost looked across the Hudson River and grimaced. The city was in flames and Russian helicopters roamed the skies raining death upon the American defenders. In the harbor Russian warships clogged the bay periodically firing missiles randomly into the city trying to cause as much destruction as they could. Frost turned to Hanna who like Perrine was now dressed in the same grey-tan uniform that the rest of the American commandos were wearing.
"Yeah so much for being the greatest city on earth." Frost said. Perrine was then at his side.
"Damn and we are the ones going into all of that? You know I really should have just stayed at the Pentagon." Perrine stated sarcastically. Frost smirked a bit in response.
"Well you know what they say. The only easy day was yesterday." Frost replied. Perrine chuckled. Frost looked upon the troops of the 1st Experimental Warfare Battalion as admired their fancy new equipment. They were a mechanized infantry unit equipped with the latest tanks and LAVs that had emerged from the decades long Next Generation Armor program. The new M5A2 Schwarzkopf MBTs were a real monster of a tank. Each one was armed with a top mounted remote controlled 30mm Raven chain gun and a rifled 120mm cannon, that was guided by the latest and greatest targeting system in service today. The armor was a prototype composite of super hardened metals and "laser resistant" materials; coupled with side mounted ERA blocks for defeating RPGs and on the rear of the tank a set of slat armor protected the gas turbine engine. The tank vaguely resembled an older M1A2 tank but its turret was slightly different it had a more… elegant shape to it then the blocky Abrams turret. Frost then looked to the LAV-52s which were heavily armed eight wheeled beasts. Armed with two 50mm auto cannons and a side mounted Hellfire missile launcher coupled with the turret mounted CROWS controlled M240 it was perhaps the best armed IFV in existence. Plus it had a V-hull configuration for resisting IEDs and ERA for countering RPGs. Frost was very glad that they were going to be escorting him into battle. The soldiers of the 1st XW weren't too shabby either they were equipped with the Land Warrior battle system and they all wielding a combination of LSATs, M8A1s and TDI Vectors. Frost then looked to the mix of marines and regular army troops gathering by the bridge he thought he saw some familiar faces amongst the ranks. Frost then whistled at one of the soldiers who had a set of night vision goggles attached to his helmet. The soldiers turned his head and Frost waved at him; the soldier waved back and approached him.
"Hey Frost, fancy meeting you here." Corporal Jake Dunn stated to Frost who nodded.
"Yes same here I would have figured that Hunter 2-1 would still be in DC mopping up any remaining resistance." Frost stated Dunn shook his head.
"No, after we secured the White House the fighting petered out and we were redeployed here." Dunn told him. Jake then looked to Perrine and Hanna. "Hey there it is nice to see you two as well." Jake told them.
"Oh yeah I remember you. You were that guy guarding the bunker in DC right?" Hanna said to him. Jake nodded.
"Indeed I was. I never got a chance to thank that one member of your squad who saved James we really owe her a deep debt of gratitude for saving him. Where is she by the way?" Jake asked them. Frost quickly responded.
"Sorry Jake that is classified but I will pass the word on to her when I see her next." Frost told Jake who smirked a bit.
"You know you Spec Ops boys are always so hush-hush; it wouldn't kill you to lighten up a bit." Jake told him. Frost smiled at him and replied.
"Yeah well if I told you all of the secrets I know then I would have to kill you." Frost jested. Jake rolled his eyes. Just then Private James Ramirez and Sergeant David Foley approached them.
"Frost it is good to see you again. And you two ladies as well." Foley said to the Delta Force team as he stuck out his hand; which Frost then shook.
"Yeah it is nice to see you to Sergeant." Frost told him.
"Yes I am glad to see you made it out of the capitol alive Sergeant Foley." Perrine said to the big African American who nodded.
"Thanks same to you." Foley told them. James then spoke.
"So we are going to be the ones covering you while you get to your objective." James stated. Jake nodded and then began to speak.
"Yeah we volunteered to be the ones to escort you all the way up to the Stock Exchange then we are going to rejoin the rest of the 1st Battalion 75th Ranger Regiment at Central Park. Apparently it is a blood bath down there." Jake told them. James frowned.
"Yes I hear that it rivals Red Square in Stalingrad with the ferocity of the fighting. We have already lost the better part of a battalion trying to hold out against the reds." James told them. Frost grimaced as he thought of Stalingrad; he had seen photos of the famous WW2 battle and how at Red Square the ground was literally carpeted with corpses who had fallen in one of the Soviet's ill fated frontal assaults. Sandman and Grinch approached the group.
"Hey guys what is up?" Sandman asked them.
"Nothing just shooting the shit. It is good to see you again." Foley told Sandman. Foley looked at the two older Delta Force commandos and then spoke. "Hey where is Truck?" Foley asked them. Sandman frowned and looked away.
"He's dead." Sandman simply stated. Foley frowned and nodded.
"I see, you have my condolences." He told them. Sandman nodded then Grinch spoke.
"Ok we are getting ready to mount up you three might want to get back to your vehicle it is going to be a tough ride to the objective.
"Alright we will see you in a bit then." Foley said to Sandman as he turned with the rest of his unit to head back to one of the idling Strykers.
"Ok people we are going to have to fight our way to the objective so be ready for anything. Frost I want you on the minigun for your HUMMVEE and I will man the gun on my vehicle." Grinch said to Frost who nodded.
"Understood." Frost simply stated. Grinch nodded and then looked towards Perrine.
"Come on let's get a move on." Grinch said to her. Perrine wordlessly nodded and followed him back to one of the waiting HUMMVEEs and got in the back door. Frost turned to Hanna.
"Hey Tina are you ready for this?" He asked her. Hanna grinned at him.
"Frost, I was born ready." She simply stated. Sandman rolled his eyes and interjected.
"Alright love birds come on." He said as he gestured them to follow him. Hanna and Frost followed their commander and got into their waiting vehicle. Inside the armored car was a waiting Private Peirce who would act as their driver.
"I am ready to go when you are sir; just give the word." Private Peirce said to Sandman who nodded.
"Good we will follow the tanks and LAVs into the city; but be ready for anything." Sandman said to him.
"Yes sir." Peirce said as Frost got in the gunner's seat and turned the electric motor in the M134 minigun on. Frost saw as the tanks started to rumble down the street towards the Brooklyn Bridge and he prepared himself for a fight.
"Alright people I got word from scouts that Russian armor is moving onto the bridge to form a blocking position. We have no choice we are going to have to smash right through them." the Battle Captain spoke over the radio. Frost recognized the voice as belonging to Captain Hale, it was good to see that he was still alive and well. Frost patted the armor of his HUMMVEE it was one of the up-armored models but it still probably wouldn't be able to withstand a direct hit from a 125mm cannon shell or an RPG for that matter. Frost's vehicle began to move forward following the armored convoy. His vehicle rolled onto the bridge and he looked to his side to see dozens if not hundreds of blackened corpses of civilians who had been killed in the botched evacuation littering the ground. Frost's vehicle bucked a bit and Frost winced at the realization that they just ran over a corpse and judging by the bloody smears in front of him so have some of the other vehicles. It was a shame that they had to do that but in war such things happened. A violent force shook Frost from his thoughts as an RPG whizzed past only to be detonated by one of the Trophy systems on the LAV in front of him. The tanks in the front of the column opened fire; their powerful 120mm cannons sent HEAT shells down range obliterating the Russians who were foolish enough to open fire on them. Frost then heard the rhythmic thump of auto-cannons as the M5A2s opened up with their 30mm chain guns. Someone then spoke over the radio.
"HINDS TWO O'CLOCK HIGH!" a soldier shouted. Frost swung the minigun to the right and spun up the six barreled machine gun. Two grey painted Mi-24s flew towards them rocket pods blazing, sending a barrage of 80mm rockets into an LAV-52; the first few rockets were destroyed by the Trophy system but the rest struck home and smacked into the vehicle which much to Frost's surprise managed to stay relatively intact as it lurched to a halt. Frost aimed at the nearest Hind and fired a long burst from his M134. A steady stream of red 7.62mm tracers slammed into the helicopter. Sparks flew as the explosive bullets detonated against the heavily armored gunship. The LAV-52s turned their guns towards the helicopters and let loose a withering barrage of H.E. 50mm shells smacking into both Hinds blowing them to pieces. Frost then swerved his gun forward as bullets pinged off the armor of his vehicle. A few Russians managed to avoid the initial barrage of tank shells and were in a defensive position behind a destroyed car. Frost turned his minigun towards them and fired a long burst into them. Hundreds of bullets impacted into the three unfortunate Russians shredding them and painting the ground behind them in bright crimson.
"FROST RIGHT SIDE!" Sandman shouted as Frost turned to the right to see a Russian rushing them with a satchel charge. Frost fired a torrent of bullets into him. The Russian managed to just barely be inside his traverse range and Frost decapitated him as a dozen 7.62mm rounds smacked into his head blowing it to pieces. They were now about two thirds of the way across the bridge when mortar shells began falling on their position. Frost ducked down behind the bullet proof shield as shrapnel pinged against it. Peirce drove the HUMMVEE close to one of the LAVs as the Trophy system activated detonating the mortar rounds prematurely in the air protecting them from the worst of the shrapnel. Hanna tugged on Frosts leg.
"Hey you might want to keep your head down now; let the LAVs and tanks do the rest of the fighting." Hanna said to Frost.
"Yeah that is probably a good idea." Frost said as he got into his seat next to the blonde witch. Frost grabbed his HK416 and checked its hybrid sight. He then checked his XM25 to make sure it was loaded and the systems were working. When he was satisfied that everything was in order he let out a deep breath and got ready for the coming fight.
Manhattan Island USA
Flight Lieutenant Hanna Justina Marseille
10:17 local time
"RPG!" Peirce shouted to the occupants of the armored car just as Hanna was able to register the smoke trail of the incoming rocket. Peirce swerved the car to the right as the rocket smacked into a parked car right next to them. The force of the explosion was powerful enough that it flipped the armored car they were in on its side. Hanna slammed her head against the side of the door with enough force that it would have cracked a normal human's skull. She regained her senses and looked to the rest of the inhabitance of the car. Peirce was dead it looked like his neck was broken but Frost and Sandman looked to be ok. Sandman turned back to them and spoke.
"Frost, Hanna get switched on we got to move!" He shouted as he used his knife to cut his seatbelt. Hanna got the door open and got out of the vehicle. She readied her weapon and looked up just in time to see two cruise missiles smack into the side of a building, sending debris crashing down to the street below. Hanna raised her shield as a piece of masonry crashed down on it. Frost struggled to get out of the armored car and drew his weapon. Sandman tossed him a magazine for his HK416. "The jamming tower is 500 meters from here we will leg it the rest of the way." Sandman told them. The Stryker APC that had been escorting them rolled forward its top mounted 12.7mm HMG firing a steady stream of death at the Russians. The rear ramp of the APC dropped down and the Rangers poured out of the vehicle weapons at the ready. Hanna summoned her familiar and moved to cover. Hanna saw up ahead about two dozen Russians were in a defensive position blocking their advance. Hanna switched her sight to long range and took aim at the nearest Russian who was wielding an AK-47 with a grenade launcher underneath. She lined the soldier's head up in her sights and pulled the trigger sending a single shot through his left eye ripping it out of its socket and blowing the back of his skull off, spraying the man behind him in blood and brain matter. The now blood splattered Russian only had enough time to freak out before Hanna put three rounds into his chest. Hanna saw Frost fire a grenade from his XM25 blowing an unfortunate Russian apart. Grinch and Perrine ran into cover near Hanna and began to pick their targets and fire.
"Alright boss we are here what are your orders?" Grinch asked Sandman who was taking pot shots at the Russians from behind an overturned taxi.
"Hanna and Perrine I want you two to flank to the left while Grinch and Frost provide cover fire. David, Jake and James I want you three to flank to the right. Mcord, Zimmers and I will move up through the center. We advance in sequence when one group stops they cover the other two groups' advance clear?" Sandman ordered to the group everyone gave their acknowledgment. Hanna went to over to Perrine who was checking her ammo count.
"Hey watch my six while I advance." Hanna said to her as she switched to her M1014 shotgun. Perrine nodded.
"Just make sure to watch out for me as well." She told her. Hanna gave the thumbs up and began to advance towards the next piece of cover which was a telephone booth. Hanna fired a slug at one of the Russians hiding behind a concrete block that was about a meter and a half tall. The slug caught the Russian in the forehead blowing the top of his head clean off. Hanna quickly switched targets and fired at another Russian this one just hitting him in the arm shredding it so that it was only dangling by a few tendons. Perrine finished him off with a burst from her MP5K three rounds impacting center mass putting the enemy soldier down for good. Hanna leaned out from cover and fired three shells into the Russians position impacting into an officer that was in the rear of their lines. The shells ripped his chest up pretty badly and Hanna was sure that he was down for the count.
"Ok we are moving up cover us!" Foley shouted to them. Hanna watched as a Russian with an RPG got his head blown off by one of Grinch's sniper rounds while a grenade exploded between a pair of Russians using an MG42s on a tripod. The 25mm grenade had a really nasty effect on the people caught inside its lethal radius basically turning them into hamburger meat. Hanna reloaded her shotgun and picked another target this time a Russian with a hand grenade. He was about to throw it when Hanna fired a shotgun shell at his elbow ripping his forearm off sending the active grenade to the ground at his feet. The Russian cried in pain before the detonation silenced him for good. Perrine fired some more burst from her SMG cutting another two Russians down. Foley and his team reached their point of cover and they began to cover Sandman's team as they moved up through the middle using the Stryker's fire for cover. Hanna switched back to her SCAR-L rifle as she moved up closer to the Russians position. She fired three round bursts as she went to keep the enemy's head down. Just before she was about to reach another set of cover a Russian armored car skidded around the corner with a roof mount DSHK HMG. Hanna swore as the bullets started to impact her shield which she managed to raise just in time. Hanna fired at the gunner on top of the green painted vehicle but her shots missed as he ducked down using the massive machine gun for cover, as he sprayed their position with gunfire.
"Hold on I am going to fire a grenade under the UAZ!" Frost shouted as he readied his XM25 and fired a grenade under the Russian car. The high explosive grenade detonated the vehicles fuel tank incinerating the Russian machine gunner. With their fire support gone the Russians did the only sensible thing they could think of and turned tail. Hanna crouched and fired into the backs of some of the Russians as they tried to turn the corner only to be cut down by a pair of U.S. Army Strykers and a platoon of American riflemen.
"Hold fire friendlies up ahead." Sandman said to the group.
"That means don't shoot them Grinch." Foley stated sarcastically.
"No shit." Grinch chuckled as they advanced up to meet with the rest of the Americans. Hanna rounded the corner and saw up ahead that the Russians were using a massive wall of debris for cover as they fired onto the advancing Americans. Hanna began to pick her targets and fire onto the group when she heard Dunn shout.
"OH SHIT ENEMY ATTACK HELICOPTER SIX O'CLOCK!" He shouted. Hanna's heart sank.
Manhattan USA
Corporal Jake Dunn
10:28 local time
The enemy Hind flew overhead spewing death upon the Americans caught in the open. After years of having total air superiority in any conflict the U.S. military had grown rather complacent when it came to paying attention to the skies. It was almost always subconsciously assumed that any aircraft that they could hear would be an allied aircraft. They were learning how today that assumption couldn't have been more wrong. Jake dove to the left as a storm of high explosive rockets slammed into the ground. Jake's ears rung as the explosions ripped through the Americans who had been caught in the open. Jake looked up as the Hind completed its pass and turned around to face them. Dust billowed up getting in Jake's eyes which he began to blink rapidly in order to potentially remedy his discomfort. Sandman then shouted to everyone.
"There to the right; move into the building!" Sandman shouted. Jake looked around and saw that both James and Foley were alright as well as the other commandos that they were looking out for. However Jake saw the obliterated corpses of Zimmers and Mcord. Jake said a silent prayer for them and sprinted into a damaged building as gunfire nicked the ground behind him. Jake's heart pounded like a fifty cal as he dashed for the nearest cover. He reached the building and much to his amazement he was still alive. "Up the stairs let's move people." Sandman ordered the group of eight commandos as they advanced on their objective. Dunn saw in the corner of his eye a TV with a GNN broadcast detailing the "Battle for New York" and smirked. Look mom I am on TV. He thought to himself. The group approached a closed door and stacked up. "Ok Ramirez, Dunn and Frost you guys clear the next room we will move in after you. Jake looked to James and smirked.
"Here we go again." Jake said to James.
"Why is it that I am always on point?" James asked to no one in particular. Then Frost spoke.
"Because you get shit done." He said to the twenty year old ranger. Frost placed a breaching charge on the door and counted down from three. The charge detonated and Jake was the first one through the door. Jake looked through his thermal scope and sighted two Russians up ahead. Jake fired four rounds from his SCAR-H into both of them tossing the disoriented Russians to the ground. Frost and James were beside them each firing their rifles on semi auto picking off the Russians in the room ahead. Jake moved up weapon at the ready. From a small bath room to his left a Russian with an axe swung for his head. Jake barely managed to duck it as the blade knocked his night vision goggles off his helmet. The force of the impact threw him to the ground. The Russian raised his axe over his head getting ready to strike Dunn down when Frost put a single shot through the man's face. Jake saw the Red's eyes roll back into his head as he toppled to the ground. Frost was then at Jake's side offering him a hand up. Jake grabbed onto it and pulled him to his feet. "Hey, are you alright?" The Delta Force commando said to Jake who nodded.
"Yeah I'm fine, thanks bro." Jake replied as he readied his weapon. James gave the all clear signal for the rest of the group to move up.
"Shit I think that is a helicopter in the building." Frost said as he pointed to a twisted mass of wreckage up ahead. Jake chuckled a bit. It was indeed an enemy helicopter that had smashed into the side of the building. "Alright come on let's move." Frost said as he took point. The moved up a ramp of debris and moved further into the building. They came upon a set of stairs leading to the ground floor. James took point as they scanned for any threats. They reached the bottom of the stairs and saw a door. Dunn heard voices on the other side in Russian. Frost readied a Flash Bang grenade and nodded. Jake cracked the door and Frost tossed the stun grenade through. A series of loud bangs could be heard as Jake swung open the door. Frost crouched and fired into the enemy. Jake leaned over him and fired his battle rifle into the enemy soldiers sending them to the ground. The rest of the unit reached the alleyway at the bottom of the stairs.
"Anyone got anything on the radios?" Sandman asked to no one in particular.
"Negative nothing but static on my end." Foley replied.
"Ok well the Stock Exchange isn't that far ahead; Perrine you take point." Sandman ordered the young French girl.
"Yes sir." She said as she checked her weapon and moved up.
Manhattan USA
Flying Officer Perrine Clostermann
10:34 Local time
Perrine walked up the few steps to the door with her weapon ready. She put her hand on the knob and slowly turned it, taking care to make as little noise as possible. On the other side of the door was a small flight of stairs which Perrine slowly moved up. She reached the top of the stairs and noticed that she was on the second floor of a jewelry store. Perrine mused to herself that some of the pieces were actually quite nice and she wouldn't have minded shopping here when the war was over. Perrine went up to the edge of the second floor balcony and peered over. Downstairs were a group of about twelve Russians looting the place while another four stood guard. Perrine frowned in disgust at such uncivilized and undisciplined conduct. Sandman and the others came up the stairs swiftly and silently. Perrine gestured to the American Delta Force leader that there were Russians downstairs and he nodded.
"Ok Frost and Perrine head downstairs, Grinch and I will cover you." Sandman whispered to Perrine who nodded. The young witch checked her ammo and flipped the selector switch for her MP5K to three round burst. Frost pulled out a stun grenade as they approached the stairs to the left of the floor. Frost tossed the grenade and a series of shouts in Russian could be heard as the looters noticed the danger and tried to react to it in time. A second later a cacophony of noise erupted from the stun grenade. Frost and Perrine fanned out from cover. Perrine sighted one dazed Russian soldier and fired three rounds into him. The two penetrators smashed through his Kevlar while the hollow point exploded inside him shredding his organs and causing an eruption of blood, bone fragments and pulped organs to shoot out from his back. Without missing a beat, Perrine turned to another Russian who was raising his weapon firing wildly in their general direction. She put his head in her EOtech sight and fired another three rounds blowing his head clean off. Perrine dashed for cover as more Russians came into the building firing at them. Bullets bounced off Perrine's shield as she slid behind a display case. Perrine pulled a frag grenade off her belt and tossed it blindly over the display case and waited for the loud thump of its detonation. Perrine leaned up out of cover and fired into a wounded Russian on the ground killing him instantly. Frost fired into a Russian soldier behind the cash register. Perrine fired another two burst at some Russians outside the store using the wall for cover. Perrine's gun clicked empty and she swore. She pulled a magazine off her vest and loaded it into her gun and slapped the charging handle loading another round in. A forty millimeter grenade whizzed over her head towards the Russians resulting in a thunderous explosion. Perrine turned around and saw Ramirez and the other two Rangers coming down the stairs firing their weapons on semi auto. Perrine vaulted over the display case and advanced on some nearby Russians with her shield raised as they fired their AK-74Us into it.
"TONERRE!" Perrine shouted as she sent a bolt of lightning into one of the Russians flash frying the man. The other Russian looked in horror at his fallen comrade as Perrine took aim with her MP5K and fired one handed. The three rounds took him in the chest and splattered the ground and display cases behind him in gore. Perrine then vaulted over the cover they were using and got behind another display case as bullets shot past her. The Russians began to retreat as the Americans fired into them; one or two of them might have escaped but Perrine couldn't be sure either way if they survived they would probably have some horror stories to tell their comrades at the sighting of witches in combat.
"Ok the Stock Exchange is just up ahead Perrine and Frost take point." Sandman said to them.
"Yes sir." They both said in unison. Perrine got behind Frost as they advanced up the road. They turned the corner and saw a group of Americans taking cover behind some destroyed cars.
"Hold your fire Anvil Team is up ahead." Sandman told the unit as they moved up. Frost and Perrine got behind a destroyed car near the American soldiers, which Perrine now noticed that they were another Delta Force unit. "Grizzly what is the situation?" Sandman asked the other Delta Force commando.
"The Russians are kicking are asses. We need to get some air support fast or we might as well throw in the towel now." Grizzly told Sandman who nodded.
"Ok help us get to the Stock Exchange and we will take out the jamming tower." Sandman said to Grizzly who nodded. "Perrine and Frost move up; we will cover you." Sandman told them. Perrine and Frost began to advance towards the Russians. Frost fired his HK416 in quick three round bursts at any Russians that presented themselves. Perrine looked to her right and saw the statue of Washington. Perrine remembered admiring its beauty when she was in New York back in her world. Now the statue was covered in obscene graffiti and defaced by the occupying Russian forces. Behind the statues was a series of steps leading to one of the stock buildings. Behind its formally unblemished white pillars a Russian fire team took cover. Perrine advanced towards them firing as she went. In the corner of her eye she saw two Russian armored cars with HMGs firing at their position. Perrine slid behind a destroyed American APC and looked back to Frost.
"Frost hang back there they have heavy machine guns. I will take them out then you move up got it?" Perrine said to Frost.
"Yeah I got you." Frost said as he fired at some of the Russians by the pillars. Perrine then began to head up the stairs. She fired her MP5K into a Russian who leaned out from behind a pillar; her bullets caught him in the neck shredding it to the point that his head was hanging limply by only a thin strip of flesh. Perrine then fired at another Russian (who much to Perrine's displeasure was a woman). The bullets caught her in the stomach and she cried out in pain and fell to the ground squirming in agony. Perrine went green in the face and cringed at what she had done. It took her a few seconds to come to her senses as she fired another burst into the fallen women putting her out of her misery. Perrine just stood there staring at her for a few seconds trying to come to terms with what she had done when out of the corner of her eye a Russian stepped out from cover with an LMG and raised it to fire at her. Perrine quickly raised her shield as a torrent of bullets impacted it. The Russian shouted in rage as he fired at her. Perrine closed the distance on him and with her left arm smacked the barrel of the gun away from her and stuck her MP5K under his chin before pulling the trigger blowing the top of his skull off. Perrine's gun clicked empty; she quickly reloaded and leaned out and fired at one of the armored cars. Three rounds impacted the gunner who slumped over dead. Perrine then turned to the next gunner and fired another burst in his direction with similar results.
"Ok I have taken out the HMGs you guys can move up now!" Perrine shouted to the rest of the Americans who then began to advance. Perrine then went back to firing at the Russians. She fired at three of the Russians clustered together behind a concrete barrier. The first six bullets killed two of them but the third ducked down. Perrine pulled off a frag grenade from her belt and pulled the pin. She waited a second and tossed it over the barrier at him. The Russian got up with fear in his eyes and made a run for it. Unfortunately for him he was too late as the grenade detonated turning him into human jelly.
"Stock Exchange it up ahead move it people!" Sandman shouted as he moved towards the New York Stock Exchange. Perrine followed the main group. They headed into the lobbying and formed up. Perrine noticed Jake look around at the battle scarred lobby and smirked.
"And to think they said this place was 'too big to fail'." Jake joked. Foley frowned.
"Can it Corporal." Foley chastised the young American who shrugged. Foley then turned to Sandman and spoke. "Sandman what is the plan?" Sergeant Foley inquired. Sandman thought for a moment.
"Ok Anvil team and you three stay here and make sure no Russians follow us in. when the jamming clears then go and head towards your next objectives in Central Park we will be able to make it off the roof on our own. Metal team we will move out and take back this building." Sandman told the group.
"Got it, stay safe guys." James said to the group.
"Same to you guys don't get killed on me got it." Frost said to Rangers. Jake then chuckled.
"I don't plan on it." He laughed. Frost nodded and checked his ammo before heading up the stairs. Perrine slapped a fresh clip into her gun and began to follow him.
Manhattan USA
Staff Sergeant Derek Westbrook "Frost"
10:55 local time
Bullets whizzed by Frost's head as he slid into cover behind a wall near the entrance to the trading floor. Hanna was on the other side of the entrance.
"Man I heard that the trading floor was always hectic but I never imagined it would be this rowdy." Hanna stated sarcastically. Frost leaned out and fired his HK416 into the nearest Russian perforating him.
"Yeah well you should see what it is like on a Friday afternoon." Frost replied. Hanna smirked and leaned out to fire at some of the Russians.
"Quit screwing around you two and get moving; we will provide cover fire." Grinch said to them. Frost flipped out of cover and fired a five round burst at a nearby Russian as he advanced towards one of the trading centers. Frost felt the hot exhaust trail of a bullet pass by his left cheek. Frost sighted the Russian who shot at him fired two rounds into his head. Frost saw Hanna advance up the middle her shield raised and her M1014 out as she fired at the Russian soldiers in her way. Frost wasn't sure why he just realized it now but her animal sprit or whatever those things were called looked to be some kind of bird of prey while all of the other witches seemed to have land animals like cats and dogs as their sprits. But that was a thought for a later time. Frost leaned out of cover and put his hybrid sight on one of the Russians who was dashing between cover. Frost fired a round that managed to strike him in the left leg kicking his feet out from under him. Frost then put another round through the side of his head. Frost then got out of cover and advanced further towards the back of the trading floor. Hanna was at his side firing her shotgun at some of the remaining Russians. Suddenly it went silent as the last Russian soldier had fallen.
"Ok we are clear." Frost said to the rest team. Sandman, Grinch and Perrine moved onto the trading floor and assembled with Frost and Hanna.
"Ok everyone check weapons and ammo then we are going to move up to the roof and complete our mission." Sandman said to everyone. Frost checked his ammo he had two magazines left for his HK416 and one magazine in his XM25 which he was planning on saving until he absolutely needed it. When he was satisfied that everything was in order he headed towards the right corner of the trading floor where a ladder was located that would allow him to get to a platform up above. Hanna was right behind him; she had drawn her SCAR-L and was scanning the area for any signs of Russian troops. Frost reached the first platform and climbed up another latter leading to another platform. He walked down the platform to reach the final latter leading up to the roof. Frost climbed up and silently moved closer to a set of stairs that would lead to another level of the roof where the jamming tower was located. Frost heard some voices in Russian speaking punctuated with the occasional shot from a sniper rifle. Frost pulled out a Nine-Bang grenade and pulled the pin tossing it over the fence that was obscuring his vision. The loud series of bangs coupled with the shouting in Russian indicated that his efforts were successful. Frost rounded the corner and saw six dazed Russians he fired two rounds into the chests of each of them. In less than four seconds all six Russians were dead. Frost leaned back so he could see the rest of the group.
"We are clear." Frost said causally. Sandman was the first to speak.
"Alright set charges on the jammer so we can get air support." Sandman told him.
"Roger." Frost replied as he headed for the jamming tower. Frost set a small half kilogram charge of Semtex on one of the legs of the tower and stepped back so he was behind the cover of one of the air vents on the roof. Frost then held up the detonator. "Fire in the hole." He said as he pulled the trigger on the detonator causing the Semtex to explode sending the tower down off of the building. Suddenly the radio was alive with activity from U.S. forces requesting reinforcements or air support.
"Hot damn the tide is turning!" Grinch said to no one in particular then Overlord spoke to the group.
"Good work Metal team we have a Blackhawk in route to extract you now but you are going to have to hold out for three minute while it gets there. We have a fully armed Reaper OPCON to you now make it count." Overlord informed them.
"Roger that Overlord Out copy." Sandman replied; he then looked to Frost.
"Frost you are on Drone duty." He told Frost who pulled the laptop out of his backpack. Just then bullets whizzed by as the roof tops across the street came alive with activity. Frost activated the predator feed and saw the white hot thermal signatures of dozens of Russians on both rooftops firing at them. Frost switched to JDAMs and dropped a 225kg bomb on the building on the right. The ground shook under the power of the bomb detonation as the building began to collapse. Frost then switched targets to the second building and dropped the remaining bomb with similar results. Then from the east a Hind gunship appeared. Frost switched to Hellfire missiles as 23mm cannon shells started to strike the rooftop. Frost fired a missile at the helicopter striking it in the rotor blade blowing it to pieces sending shrapnel flying in all directions. "Jeez Frost be careful you could have gotten us killed!" Sandman said.
"Sorry my bad." Frost replied. Then an MH-60L from the 160th SOAR appeared near the edge of the roof.
"Ok that is our ticket out of here people let's get a move on." Sandman said to the group who began to leap over the edge of the roof into the Spec Ops helicopter. Frost was the last one on board as he leapt from the ledge and into the waiting troop compartment. Frost got on the minigun of the chopper and began to scan for threats.
"Ok Metal team our orders are to take you to the insertion point for a raid on the Russian fleet Overlord will fill you in on the details shortly." The pilot of the helicopter told them as they began to move.
"Roger that." Sandman replied just as out of nowhere a Mi-24 appeared from around the corner firing rockets and cannons at the helicopter nearly hitting it.
"OH SHIT ENEMY HELO!" The pilot said as he began to take evasive action. Frost opened up on the helicopter with his M134. The explosive shells impacting against the canopy of the attack chopper. Then from around another corner a second Hind appeared. "Shit there is another one!" The pilot shouted over the radio. Frost fired into the second helicopter as well which ducked behind a building. Frost shifted his fire to the first helicopter and fired streams of bullets into it. The enemy helicopter began to smoke. "He is burning stay on him! Stay on him!" The pilot shouted. Frost continued to fire at the helicopter when the other one appeared firing at the helicopter. Frost again shifted his fire at the second chopper aiming for the rotor blades. After a few second the rotor on the enemy chopper began to wobble then completely detach itself from the enemy helicopter sending it to the ground. Frost then scanned for the first helicopter which had now come back around and was making a head on pass at them. Frost fired into the helicopter and it began to burn. Frost cheered as the helicopter smashed into the side of a building. "Ok I think we lost them but stay on alert." The pilot said. The helicopter then approached a sky scraper that was being built. Frost scanned from side to side looking for an enemy when another Hind popped up from behind the construction site. The Blackhawk took evasive action and began to circle the half finished building as Frost fired into the helicopter through the gaps in the building. The Hind swiveled its nose mounted cannon at them and tried to do the same. The Blackhawk raised its altitude so Frost could get a better angle on the rotor blades just as the Hind tried to do the same. Frost then must have scored a lucky hit on the helicopter as it began to lose control and began to spiral. Frost smirked in smug satisfaction then to his horror the enemy chopper swerved towards them striking the tail section of the Blackhawk which began to spin out of control. Frost was nearly thrown from the cabin as it entered an uncontrolled spin. The helicopter then jerked to a stop. "Ok, ok I think I have regained control, pressure in the pedals is ok the tail rotor is still working. I think we are ok people." The pilot said. Frost's heart pounded as he turned back to the rest of his team.
"Remind me… to fly… commercial next time." Frost joke to his team between his ragged breaths which chuckled.
"Alright people we will get you a secure connection to Overlord in a few minutes." The pilot said to the team. Frost thought to himself that today was going to be a long day.
The Pentagon USA
Sergeant Yoshika Miyafuji
11:01 local time
The CIA had questioned her for two hours about her abilities and about what she knew about the Neuroi. She didn't really want to talk to them or anyone for that matter. So after trying for two hours and getting no real useful information they had begun to get increasingly annoyed with her. Yoshika didn't care; she was not in the mood to get interrogated. After a while Lynne spoke with one of the CIA agents about something and he nodded and gestured to the other to leave the room with him, just leaving the Yoshika and Lynnette in the room together. Lynne had sat down beside her in silence for a few minutes neither of them said anything. Then Lynne rested her head against Yoshika's shoulder and wrapped her arms around her.
"Yoshika say something to me… please… I need to know that you are alright, you are scaring me." Lynne told her. Yoshika began to break down into tears.
"No Lynne I am not alright, I am just a hypocrite. I have broken my word as a doctor… I am a killer now… I am just a terrible person for what I have done." Yoshika sobbed to Lynne as she wrapped her arms around Lynne and began to cry.
"Broken your word what are you talking about?" Lynne asked.
"I kept telling you guys 'don't kill, don't kill and in the end I killed Shepherd with my own two hands. I knew it was wrong but I did it anyway. I don't deserve to call myself a doctor and more importantly I don't deserve to call myself your friend." Yoshika explained to Lynnette through tearful eyes. Lynne pulled away and looked Yoshika in the eye.
"Yoshika I don't think of you any differently for what you did. You only killed Shepherd to save Frost's life. I know killing his horrible and god knows I am scarred by the lives I have taken but you were trying to protect Frost, our comrade no our friend from someone who wanted to murder tens of thousands of innocent people. I know it was hard but it was something you had to do. I am sorry I couldn't have switched places with you but you did what was necessary, what you had to do." Lynne said to her as she began to cry as well. Lynne then hugged Yoshika tightly. "It is going to be ok Yoshika, I promise you I will always be here for you as your comrade and as your friend. I promise you that no matter what happens I will never abandon you Yoshika not in a million years and we will get through this together even if it takes a life time I will stay by your side." Lynne sobbed to her. Yoshika buried her face into Lynne's chest and began to sob. She was so thankful to have a friend like Lynne in her life she didn't know what she would do without her or how she would thank her for her kindness; but for now all she could do was cry; to let her emotions that she had bottled up since she got to this world out.
Fifteen Kilometers out from New York battle space
Captain Kei Nagase "Edge"
11:44 local time
The jamming had finally cleared and the AWACS call sign "Thunderhead" had given them clearance to engage all targets over New York. Super cruising in at Mach 1.3 in her F-22 Raptor Kei was like an angle of death. She had a full load out of six AMRAAMs and two AIM-9X Sidewinders. They were still a ways out of weapons range but Kei's stealth aircraft AESA radar could detect a dozen Mig-29Ks over the city. Kei thought to herself about how she got in this situation. She was born in Kyoto Japan in 1991 to a middle class family. Her father was an engineer at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and her mother was a saleswomen. Kei was expected to take over for her father but for some reason she just wasn't interested in engineering. She had always been interested in flight and protecting others. She planned on enlisting in the JASDF after high school but when she found out that they wouldn't let women fly combat missions she decided on a different path. She got an Aeronautics degree from Tokyo U. and then walked straight in to the American Embassy and requested to join the USAF as a foreign volunteer. After a background check and a letter of recommendation from her professor she was accepted in Colorado Springs Air Force Academy. Kei graduated top of her class and was assigned to the 108th Tactical Fighter Squadron "Wardog". Thinking about it Kei was surprised that the Americans still had the "foreign volunteer" program going on. She remembered reading in her history class at Colorado Springs that the U.S. government signed the bill into a law after World War Two in order to negate the need for the draft. After the bill past the U.S. Military's ranks swelled with former Wehrmacht soldiers looking for a way out of their shattered country. The program was such a success that the bill remained in place to this day.
"Edge; are you awake back there?" Wardog 1 said to her.
"Yes commander I am her." she replied to him.
"Ok good we are cleared hot on all targets in the AO. Let's clear the way for the strike package to move into the city." Wardog 1 Major Bradley "Blaze" O'Connor told her. The strike package was a contingent of American and Canadian planes coming in from over the border with a load of JDAMs and ARMs to take out the Russian ground forces. Word on the street was that a Spec Ops unit was planning on disabling the Russian Fleet somehow. But that wasn't her concern. This would be Edge's first real taste of combat. She was overseas on Wake Island when the Russians invaded and her Squadron had flown on full afterburner to get back stateside. By the time they arrived the Battle of DC was over and the Battle of New York had just begun. Edge's squadron was about to enter the AO a few days ago when the Russians set up the jamming tower making long range engagements impossible. But now things were different the skies were clear and she was going in hot with a full weapons load. They were closing within weapons range of the enemy aircraft. The prototype A.I.s for the squadron linked their radars together and each assigned them a set of three targets apiece. Edge looked back to see Chopper and Archer were right behind her. Fortunately the "Motor Mouth" Chopper was quiet today; probably in anticipation of the coming battle. They closed within weapons range and Edge pulled the trigger on her flight stick as a single AIM-120C Advanced Medium Range Air to Air Missile launched from the weapons bay on the underside of her plane. Kei quickly switched for her second target and fired her second missile. Edge then switched to her last assigned target and fired her third missile, before switching to her Sidewinders in anticipation for a dogfight.
"Targets are popping chaff and taking evasive maneuvers." Thunderhead informed Wardog flight. Four Mig-29s disappeared from radar. "First volley hit, four confirmed kills." The AWACS told them. Four more enemy planes disappeared from radar. "Second volley hit, that is eight confirmed kills." Thunderhead told them. Edge watched as three more Mig-29s went down and a message displayed across her HUD saying MISS. Kei swore in Japanese before speaking to Blaze.
"Commander there is still one Mig-29 in the air permission to engage." Edge asked her Commander who took a few seconds to reply.
"You are cleared hot, take him out." Blaze told her.
"Roger that." She replied as she pushed the throttle forward and her afterburners engaged quickly shooting her to Mach 2.1 as she closed on her target. The cloud coverage was pretty low today at only four thousand meters. If her opponent ducked down into the clouds she could lose him. Edge closed to within five kilometers of her target and locked on with her AIM-9X and fired. The missile shot out from her right side weapons bay and headed towards her target. The Mig-29K popped flares and dove to the left and down towards the deck. "KUSO!" (shit!) She swore as she dived down after him. Kei was within visual range of the Russian plane which had ducked into the clouds. On her HUD the enemy craft was outlined in a red box so she was able to easily track him. Kei switched to her 20mm Vulcan cannon. Kei exited the cloud cover and followed after him.
"Edge you might want to wrap this up the strike package is two mikes out." Blaze told her.
"Yes sir." She replied as she closed the distance. The Mig-29 turned to head over the fleet; that was his one big and coincidently fatal mistake. Kei's Raptor swiftly got inside the turn and she placed the gun sight in the center of the enemy plane and pulled the trigger. A one second burst of 100 20mm explosive cannon shells smacked into the plane shredding it. The wreckage of the enemy plane smacked into the water and cart wheeled into a Russian minelayer ship destroying both. Kei then began to gain altitude as flak burst detonated near her plane. The Russian ships had begun to track her on their radars. Kei thought to herself that there was a good chance that she was not going to make it out of there alive when her salvation came in the form of two dozen ARM (Anti-Radiation-Missiles) which slammed into the enemy ships destroying their radars and fire control systems.
"This is Maple 1-1 thanks for getting there radars on that made our job a lot easier." An RCAF pilot said to her. Kei laughed in relieve. She had just completed her first combat mission and had already scored three kills. Maybe it was beginners luck or maybe it was her natural skill she wasn't sure but she would do whatever it took to win this war.
Well I hope you enjoyed that chapter as much as I did writing it. as for the brief dogfight in the end I hope you liked it I know it was unexpected and everything but I figured that you guys might like to see what an air battle looks like. Oh I hoped you guys liked seeing Hunter 2-1 again I know there is a lot of fans of that particular group. anyways as for Kei yes she was a reference to Ace Combat 5 (actually all of wardog squadron was a big shout out) and I am eventually planning on having her return in the story at a point that makes sense. oh and for the whole foreign volunteer thing the U.S. in our world doesn't have it but since COD is an alternate history of our world I figured I could take some artistic license. anyway please do read and review as that does encourage me to write faster XD