One week later
August 8, 2016
45 miles off the Akaelian coast,
Northwest of Talon Bay
Task Force 121 was now in position for the amphibious assault ships to land their embarked troops ashore in the first offensive campaign against the enemy.
Task Force 129 would provide support using aircraft from the carriers, and gunfire from the other warships, including the battleships ERNS Celestia and ERNS Luna.
This operation would be code-named "Operation Hoof-Stomp".
On the flight decks of two of the Arcadian ships; AFS Portal, AFS Stargate, MV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft and MH-60S Knighthawk helicopters were being loaded up with infantry for the coming assault, on the other two Arcadian ships; AFS Hellspawn, AFS Hellgate, F-35B VSTOL strike fighters on the Hellspawn, and AH-74B Crossbow gunships on the Hellgate got ready for takeoff.
The story was the same for the CH-46 Sea Knights, EH-101 Merlin and MV-22C Ospreys on the Equestrian ships ERNS Barnyard, ERNS Stable, and AV-8B Harrier IIs .
In the well decks, the Barnyard and Stable loaded their three LCACs (per ship) with 4 FV510 Warrior IFVs, while the Hellspawn and Hellgate loaded their 2 LCACs (per ship) with 4 M1126 Striker IFVs. The ERNS Canterlot and ERNS Swayback loaded their LCACs with 1 Leopard II tank, while the AFS Portal and AFS Stargate loaded theirs with M1A3 Abrams tanks.
Once launched, the LCACs all lined up and prepared to advance towards the beach. The helicopters and jets started up their engines and waited for the order to take off.
Meanwhile, The battleships ERNS Luna and ERNS Celestia were moving into position to provide fire support.
They would fire the first shots, destroying enemy coastal bunkers to facilitate the amphibious landings while C-17 and C-130 transports would drop paratroops in deep behind enemy lines, with vehicles being deployed by waves of LCACs.
The first wave of transports, consisting of 5 Arcadian Air Force (AAF) C-17s and 7 ERAF C-17s were thirty minutes out.
The area where Talon Air Base was located was chosen as the landing site because the radar stations in the area were already destroyed by the strike that took out the base.
On the Kestrel, Robert and his squadron was preparing for the coming fight. Each aircraft was loaded with 4 GBU-31 JDAM (Joint Direct Attack Munition) 2,000-pound GPS-guided bombs, 4 AIM-9X Sidewinder heat-seekers, and a single AIM-120D AMRAAM, as well as a center-line-mounted external fuel tank.
"Here we go..." Robert muttered as he taxied onto the #1 catapult. A flight of E/A-18G Growlers and a flight of EA-6B Prowlers would go in first, carrying out a SEAD mission to eliminate enemy air defenses in the area (i.e. AAA and SAM sites and radar stations).
Robert's flight would then fly in and destroy any enemy bunkers located further inland, out of range of the battleships' guns.
Other targets, such as communications facilities and the like, would be hit by the cruisers and destroyers using BGM-109 Tomahawk land attack cruise missiles (TLAM).
"All units, this is Task Force Lead, Hoof-stomp. I say again, Hoof-stomp! Make us proud!" the Arcadian task force commander, Admiral Jack Dickson ordered from the flagship of the fleet, AFS Kestrel.
Robert watched from the flight deck as the flight of Growlers launched from the Kestrel's sister ship, AFS Aquaria. On the starboard side of the Kestrel, the flight of Prowlers launched from ERNS Honesty.
Both flights were loaded with AGM-88 HARM anti-radiation missiles. On the ERNS Harmony, a group of 10 BQM-74E Chukar drones were launched from the flight deck.
Their purpose was to have the enemy air defenses pick them up, revealing their position with their emissions and as they fired on the drones, the SEAD aircraft would target them with their HARMs.
The drones flew close to the coastline and sure enough, the enemy SAM defenses began targeting them. The Growlers were then able to acquire them and lock them up with their HARMs. "Sanitizer One, magnum!" the lead Growler pilot called out as he fired a HARM.
The other three Growlers fired a HARM at an enemy SAM site. The Prowlers than began jamming the enemy radar sites that had been recently set up to cover the gap that had been opened up by the strike on Talon Air Base.
The Growlers then destroyed the radar sites before the enemy could react. Both flights turned back towards the carrier after all anti-aircraft defenses in the area had been destroyed, only 4 drones were lost to SAM fire.
(BGM: Act on Instinct)
The LCACs were now cleared to advance towards the beach. At the same time, a MQ-8B Fire Scout helicopter drone was launched from the destroyer AFS Gladiator as a forward observer for the battleships.
"All ships, fire at will!" Admiral Dickson ordered.
At that moment, both Equestrian battleships, which had already locked in their targets, fired all of their guns, creating a deafening boom that could be heard all over the surrounding area. The targets, a line of coastal bunkers, were decimated by the barrage.
On the amphibious ships, all of the helicopters launched, the gunships taking point to cover the transports. They all created a wall of helicopters that advanced towards the beach, a line of LCACs moving in below.
The gunships fired a wave of Hellfire missiles at a line of T-80 tanks that had formed up on the beach. A pair of ERAF A-10Cs flew in and strafed the enemy tanks with their GAU-8 Avenger 30mm cannons.
Within 30 seconds, the area was clear and the LCACs came ashore, deflating their skirts and lowering their ramps, allowing the vehicles on board to drive off.
At the same time, the 12 C-17s were approaching the beach. They were at 9,000 feet and in formation to deploy the infantry inside via HALO jumps.
"This is it, y'all! Once we git on the ground, rally up at this location near the drop zone!" Applejack said as she pointed out the rally point on her map. Spike was stoked, he was finally going to get payback for Akael's incursion into Equestria.
A signal light changed from red to yellow as the C-17's cargo ramp opened up.
"Twenty seconds to drop point!" the pilot said as the ramp finished opening. Applejack's squad got up and lined up to jump.
"Ten seconds!" the pilot announced as the squad finished getting into position. Applejack stared with determination at the ground below.
"Mark!" the pilot announced as they reached the drop point.
"GO! GO! GO!" Applejack shouted as she and her squad began to jump out of the aircraft.
As she fell, Applejack could see tracers from enemy anti-aircraft emplacements streaking up at the transports, but the number of mounts firing decreased as they were being destroyed by allied gunships.
At 3,000 feet, Applejack and her squad deployed their parachutes to slow their descent as they approached their drop zone.
Upon landing, Applejack readied her weapon and ran to the rally point: a nearby abandoned house. Applejack watched as her squad landed nearby and gathered at the house near her.
"OK, y'all, our objective is to take out the enemy artillery before they can cause severe damage to our artillery base is located here, two clicks north of our position, we'll have full air support and allied reinforcements will be with us as we push on. They'll be doing their own jobs, but will not hesitate to help out if we need it, so don't hesitate to call for support if needed, oorah? Alright, let's git movin'!" Applejack ordered as she explained the situation.
They formed up and began moving towards their objective. A Fire Scout UAV picked up a group of hostile infantry in a village 200 yards from the squad's position.
Applejack ordered her squad to hold position behind a nearby warehouse. "Alpha-Six, this is Command, be advised, an Arcadian AC-130 is en-route to provide air support, it'll be in your airspace in ten." Command said. "Roger that, we'll call them if needed, Alpha-Six out!" Applejack replied.
Suddenly, the enemy soldiers began firing at Applejack's squad.
"LIGHT 'EM UP!" Applejack ordered as she and her squad returned fire. She gunned down three enemy soldiers before their fire forced her back behind cover.
One of her squad members, an earth pony named Shooter, began letting loose with his M249P SAW, cutting down several enemy soldiers with the spray of bullets. Applejack used this to take down five more enemies.
Just then, she spotted a gryphon soldier wielding a long tube with a green object at the end. Her eyes grew wide when she recognized the object as an RPG-7.
"GIT DOWN, RPG!" she ordered. The squad members ran for cover as the enemy soldier fired the RPG. An explosion rang out 5 yards from Applejack's position as the rocket struck the ground, showering her with debris.
She looked to see two of her squad members' bodies shredded by the explosion.
Spike took out the enemy soldier that had the RPG and raced to cover Applejack.
Several more enemy soldiers came up and Spike gunned them all down while Applejack reloaded.
"Alpha-Six, be advised, UAV is showing multiple BTRs headed your way!" Command warned.
"Roger that!" Applejack replied. Spike got out his FGM-148 Javelin anti-tank missile launcher as he used his eyes to scan the area for BTRs.
Meanwhile, on the beach
Applebloom stared at the beach ahead with determination as her tank was being transported to the beach via an ERN LCAC. Lyra had already prepared to load the main gun with a APFSDS round.
"Git ready!" Applebloom ordered as the hovercraft sped up onto the beach and slowed down next to an Arcadian LCAC that had just deployed the M1A3 Abrams tank that it was carrying. Roseluck placed her hooves on the controls as the ramp opened up.
"PUNCH IT!" Applebloom ordered.
Roseluck began to accelerate the tank towards the rest of their platoon which was already engaging enemy vehicles on the inner edge of the beach.
"Gunner, target, tank, eleven o'clock, load up sabot!" Applebloom called out as she spotted an enemy T-90 coming out from behind a nearby rock formation.
"Identified!" Twist called out as she spotted the tank in her targeting sights.
"Sabot up!" Lyra called out as she shut the breech of the gun.
"FIRE!" Applebloom ordered.
"On the way!" Twist shouted as she pressed the trigger.
The tank jolted as the 120mm smoothbore main gun fired.
The depleted uranium projectile punched through the T-90's armor, igniting once inside and hitting the ammunition, causing the tank to explode.
"Alright, that's a kill!" Applebloom shouted when she saw the enemy tank blow up.
Another Leopard II pulled up alongside them as their platoon set up a fighting position at the edge of the beach, the other two tanks of the platoon lining up on the other side of Applebloom's tank.
Applebloom spotted some enemy infantry coming out of a nearby sandbag bunker, some wielding RPG-7s.
She quickly began mowing them down with the Ma Deuce mounted in front of her on top of the turret.
"GIT SOME, FEATHERBRAINS!" Applebloom shouted as she took out most of the enemy infantry.
Two Arcadian UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters flew overhead, their door-mounted M134 Miniguns blazing away at enemy soldiers as they made their way to an LZ further inland.
After five minutes, and several enemy vehicles destroyed, several large explosions rang out in front of the allied lines, destroying several enemy positions in the process. Applebloom looked up and saw a pair of Arcadian Marine Force F-35Bs flying overhead, having just bombed the enemy positions with Mk-83 1,000lb bombs.
"YEAH!" Applebloom shouted as the allied jets passed overhead. Her platoon then began to advance, finally getting off the beach and into the grasslands further inland. In the distance, Applebloom could see an enemy position being bombarded by gunfire from the ERNS Luna.
She could also see several enemy bunkers being blasted by the ERNS Celestia's 16-inch guns.
Meanwhile, 100 feet above the carnage
Scootaloo skillfully piloted her Apache around the battlefield, carefully dodging enemy anti-aircraft gunfire while looking for targets.
"Contact, tank one o'clock!" Bon-Bon called out as she spotted an enemy T-80 tank.
"Got it, switching to Hellfires!" Scootaloo replied as she brought the attack helicopter to a hover behind the remains of a blasted bunker. Bon-Bon acquired the enemy tank and locked on, prompting Scootaloo to fire the missile.
She watched in satisfaction as the missile dove down on the enemy tank, which then disappeared in a fireball.
"Good kill!" Bon-Bon called out as she confirmed the kill. She then spotted a group of enemy soldiers that were about to flank a group of Arcadian Army troops.
"Enemy infantry spotted, switching guns!" Bon-Bon called out as she armed the M230.
"Roger, going in hot! Guns! Guns! Guns!" Scootaloo replied as she positioned the Apache to engage the enemy troops.
RATATATATATATATAT! A short burst of several rounds fired from the M230 and struck the enemy troops with grim results.
"Whoa, they're toast!" Bon-Bon said as she watched the carnage.
"Delta Two-Zero, this is Bravo-Six, thanks for the save!" PFC Ramirez said as he saw the enemy troops get gunned down.
"No problem, we've always got your backs!" Scootaloo replied proudly.
"RPG, LOOK OUT!" Bon-Bon shouted as she spotted an enemy RPG being fired at them!
"Whoa, HANG ON!" Scootaloo shouted as she strafed to the right, barely avoiding the incoming rocket. A member of Ramirez's squad then took out the threat with his M110 SASS.
"Whew, that was close!" Bon-Bon exclaimed.
"Yeah, but not close enough!" Scootaloo replied proudly. She then spotted a ZSU-23 anti-aircraft gun mount and had Bon-Bon target it for a Hellfire missile shot.
Suddenly, the Apache shuddered as a burst of enemy gunfire hit the aircraft, causing Scootaloo to cringe.
"We're hit!" she exclaimed as she looked around. She then spotted an enemy BTR-80 at their 3 o'clock shooting at her helicopter with its 14.5mm machine gun.
"Oh, no you don't!" she exclaimed as she rotated the helicopter to face the BTR while moving back away from it to get it out of the minimum range of her Hellfires and out of range of the ZSU-23.
Once Bon-Bon got her a lock, she fired a single missile, which reduced the BTR to a ball of flame. Several seconds later, she did the same with the ZSU-23.
Five minutes later...
(BGM: Aquila)
Robert's flight was just seconds from carrying out an airstrike on a line of bunkers that separated the AEJSF forces from their key objective in this area: the local field HQ.
He watched as a wave of BGM-109 Tomahawk cruise missiles streaked in and struck a group of ammo dumps and barracks, resulting in large explosions. Robert lined up and moved his thumb onto the weapon release button on the stick.
"Just a bit more...and...goodbye!" he muttered as he released the bomb.
"One away!" he called out as he began circling around his target. Angelo bombed the bunker to the immediate left of the one that Robert targeted while Vidal and Megan hit the ones to his right.
All of the targeted bunkers disappeared in balls of flame.
"We have good hits!" Robert called out.
"Shadow Flight, this is War Horse, thanks fer takin' out those bunkers, we're advancin' now!" Applebloom called out as her unit began advancing.
I know that voice, that's Applejack's younger sister, Applebloom! Robert thought as he passed over the Equestrian tanks and rolled the aircraft in greeting.
"Shadow Flight, this is Stardust, we have a new contact, single group, bearing zero-nine-one, thirty miles, angels four. Super Flanker, hostile, you're cleared to engage!" came the call from the AAF E-3D Sentry AWACS that was overseeing the aerial action.
"Roger, Shadow Flight engaging bandits!" Robert replied as he and his fellow pilots switched to their air-to-air weapons.
Seconds later, the F-18s picked up the Su-35s on their APG-79 AESA radars.
"OK, everyone pick a bandit and lock him up!" Robert ordered. Each pilot locked up a different enemy fighter and locked on.
"OK, I've got good tone, and...fox three, fox three!" Robert called out as he fired his AMRAAM. The others followed suit, and the flight of bandits was destroyed seconds later.
"Shadow Flight, Stardust, we're picking up a large force of enemy fighters and attack aircraft arriving from the east." Stardust warned.
"How many are we dealing with?" Robert asked. "It looks like, oh, boy, looks like at least forty aircraft, Frogfoots, Fulcrums and Havoc gunships!" Stardust warned.
"Shadow Flight, this is Warwolf, we're inbound to help deal with the bandits." Colonel William Bishop, an AAF F-22 Raptor pilot said as his flight moved in to engage.
"We're relaying their position to Sweeper Flight, they'll take it from there." Bishop added. "Roger, thanks." Robert said as his flight moved on.
Meanwhile, just off the coast at 10,000 feet...
Sweeper Flight, a pair of B-1R Lancer missile carriers, was standing by to receive targeting information on the large group of bandits via data link from Warwolf Flight.
After a minute, the data was received and relayed to the fire control system.
Seconds later, all of each Lancer's 20 AMRAAMs fired, each headed towards a different bandit in the group.
All 12 Mi-28 Havoc gunships, all 20 Su-25 Frogfoot attack planes, and 4 of 8 MiG-29S Fulcrums were destroyed by the massive wave of missiles.
"Sweeper Flight, Stardust, we've confirmed the kills, wow, nice shooting!" Stardust said.
Robert gave an astonished whistle after witnessing the might of the B-1R versus a large group of enemy aircraft.
"Warwolf One, fox three!" William called out as he fired an AMRAAM from his F-22's internal bay.
The other Raptors in his flight followed suit and the remaining MiGs were destroyed, without even having spotted the stealthy F-22s.
"Nice!" Robert said as he and his flight headed out to look for more action.
Meanwhile, 180 yards from the beach...
Applejack's unit was facing seven BTRs headed their way. Spike had already used his Javelin to take one out, and the only other marine in the squad that had Javelins was KIA.
"Well, ah reckon this is it, we'll fight on 'til the last shot!" Applejack said.
Just then, she heard a call on her radio that she prayed she would hear.
"Alpha-Six, this is Warhammer, heard you could use some help down there, call the shot." the pilot of Warhammer, the Arcadian AC-130U Spooky II gunship, said.
"Roger Warhammer, fire mission danger close, multiple enemy BTRs about 100 yards east of our position!" Applejack said.
"Roger that, we have visual, fire mission coming down, take cover down there!" Warhammer replied.
Seconds later, the BTRs were shredded by several rounds from the gunship's 40mm Bofors cannon, followed by a finishing shot with the 105mm howitzer, which was so close that Applejack's unit felt the shockwave as a sudden wind.
"Whoa, Nelly! That's some mighty fine shootin' there, Warhammer!" Applejack said.
"Alpha-Six, this is Command, we have an Arcadian Warthog pilot down two clicks south of your position and your unit is the closest one available to assist." Command said.
"Understood, we're on our way to him now, Alpha-Six out!" Applejack replied.
"Alright, listen up, there's an allied pilot down, and we just got called in to help him out, so we're gonna help git him home!" Applejack announced as she briefed her squad on the change of mission.
"Warhammer, y'all got that?" Applejack asked.
"Roger, we'll cover you all the way to the extraction point, you better get moving, out." Warhammer replied.
"Roger, we're on our way to get that pilot now, Alpha-Six out!" Applejack replied.
(BGM: Terran theme 2)
Meanwhile, 15,000 feet AGL...
All of the crew members had their game faces on as the AC-130U Spooky II gunship circled around Applejack's squad. Major Johnathan Lopez flew the aircraft with his copilot Captain Evan Jacobs and their navigator, Captain George Owens.
Below the cockpit, TV operator Airman First-Class Bill Grimm sat with fire control officer First Lieutenant Sebastian Mendez.
Finally, in the rear, Senior Airman Jessica Mendez and Airman First-Class Laura Hernandez manned the ammunition, keeping the guns loaded.
"Crew, confirm you have eyes on friendlies." John said over the intercom.
"We see them, start the clock." Bill replied after spotting the distinct flashes of allies with infrared strobes on his thermal imaging display.
Seconds later, he spotted several armored vehicles, identified as T-90 tanks and BMP-3 IFVs approaching their position.
"Alpha-Six, be advised, we're seeing multiple enemy armor units approaching your position and are engaging at this time." John said.
"Roger Warhammer, we're holdin' position!" Applejack's voice called over the radio.
Bill armed the 105mm howitzer as he brought the lead T-90 into his sights.
A quick squeeze of the trigger sent a 45 pound explosive warhead flying at high velocity into the tank.
"Shot!" Laura called out into the intercom as the cannon fired. Bill's eyes grew wide with excitement as he watched the tank get engulfed by a fireball from the shell's impact.
Through the fireball, Bill saw the turret get blown clean off and a second explosion from the tank's ammunition engulfing the BMP behind it.
"Good hits, good hits!" Bill excitedly said into the intercom.
In the back of the plane, the two loaders quickly rammed another shell in, a quick
"Gun ready!" call signaling that the howitzer was ready to fire again at any time.
"Get those guys behind the tanks." the FCO called out. Bill responded with eight cracks of the 40mm Bofors cannon, two for each BMP.
The first round of each pair ripped its target open, while the second took out the interior, including the occupants.
The two remaining BMPs began unloading their troops instantly. Bill instinctively switched to the 25mm Gatling gun.
"Time for the Crowd Pleaser!" Bill taunted as he unleashed a one second burst into the mass of gryphons, ripping them to bloody shreds. A second shot from the 105mm reduced the remaining T-90 to a burning hulk.
"OK, Alpha-Six, all hostiles neutralized, you're cleared to advance at this time." John said.
"Roger, we're movin' out now, Alpha-Six out!" Applejack replied as her squad began to move. Two tense minutes later, a new voice came on the radio.
"Any allied units on this channel, this is Hog Driver, I'm hearing a lot of noise a bit close to here, what's happening?" the voice said.
"Hog Driver, state your position and current status." John replied.
"I'm fine, just a little shaken from the punch-out, but I'm OK, the enemy hasn't spotted me yet." the voice replied. John realized that this was the downed Arcadian A-10 pilot.
"OK, be advised, an Equestrian squad is en-route to rendezvous with you and escort you to the LZ, we will support you the whole way. Call-sign is 'Alpha-Six'." John said.
"Roger, I'll try and contact them now." the pilot, Major Andrew Wall replied.
"Alpha-Six, this is Hog Driver, do you read me?" Andrew asked.
"Yep, loud and clear, we're gonna get ya outta here quick, just hang in there, we'll be there in about a minute." Applejack replied.
A minute later, Applejack's unit reached the downed pilot, who was glad to see them.
"You alright, sir?" Applejack asked.
"Yeah, I'm glad to see friendly faces again!" Andrew replied.
"Let's go, the gunship will cover us the whole way!" Applejack said as the group got moving, the AC-130 circling above them like a guardian angel. They eventually reached a small town just east of their position.
"Warhammer, we're moving up the road towards a town to the east!" Applejack reported as they moved in.
"Roger, we see you, Alpha Six!" John replied. Bill then spotted several gryphons moving out of a large church near the friendly ground unit's position.
"We have armed personnel coming out of the church, request permission to engage." Bill was ready to go.
"Crew, you are cleared to engage, but do not fire on the church." Sebastian replied.
Bill then moved the reticule in front of the enemy troops and fired a burst. The rounds hit and most of the enemy troops were hit as the survivors ran around in a panic.
"Oh no, you don't!" Bill taunted as he selected the Bofors gun and fired a round. The last enemy troops were engulfed in the fireball from the blast.
"Yeah, good kill, I see a lot of little pieces down there!" Sebastian exclaimed as he watched the carnage on his own display. Bill then spotted a UAZ heading towards Applejack's group.
Bill acted fast and popped two rounds in front of the UAZ, blowing it to bis with the second hit.
"Shit, must have been a full tank of gas!" Sebastian exclaimed.
"Warhammer, this is Alpha-Six, be advised, we're passing a large church and continuing towards the main road, keep up the fire, Alpha-Six out!" Applejack said as she led her team and the Arcadian pilot past the small town with the church and towards a highway.
"Copy, crew, engage anything without a flashing strobe light, those are all hostiles." John ordered. Bill spotted a large group of hostiles crossing a nearby field.
"Enemies crossing the field!" Bill said as he selected the 105mm and squeezed off a round.
"SHOT!" Jessica called out as she and Laura reloaded the gun as quickly as they could.
"GUN READY!" Jessica called out when the reloading process was finished. Bill picked off the remaining enemies with the Bofors.
Bill then saw a large highway at the edge of his display. He also spotted a truck driving down the road.
"Got a moving vehicle here." Bill said. Sebastian saw the truck on his display and recognized it as a civilian vehicle.
"Negative, negative, do not engage any vehicles on the main highway, those are civilians." he ordered. Bill then spotted Applejack's squad with the Arcadian pilot closing in on the highway as a pair of trucks approached.
"Warhammer, we're commandeerin' civilian transports on the main highway, cover us!" Applejack said as Spike fired several warning shots in front of the trucks to make them stop.
"Friendly ground units are acquiring alternate transport at this time. Do not engage any vehicles on the highway unless cleared to do so." Sebastian ordered.
Bill watched as Applejack and her fellow Royal Marines got into the trucks after scaring off the drivers, who fled upon facing loaded automatic weapons.
"I bet that guy's pissed, nice truck!" Bill commented.
"Nah, heh heh, he's scared shitless!" Sebastian replied with a chuckle.
"Warhammer, we're marking the vehicles!" Applejack said.
"Roger, we see the beacons!" Bill replied as he saw the flashing strobes on his display.
Just then, Sebastian saw four ominous blips on his monitor. His eyes widened with horror as the computer confirmed their identity as MiG-35 fighters.
"WE'VE GOT MIGS!" he exclaimed as John began evasive action.
"Stardust, this is Warhammer, be advised, we've got bandits headed our way!" John said.
"Copy, bandits are five-zero miles out, allied fighters are en route to intercept, call-sign: Shadow." Stardust replied.
"Roger, we'll hold out as long as we can!" John replied. A minute later, one of the MiGs fired an R-73 Archer at the Spooky.
"MISSILE LAUNCH!" Sebastian exclaimed as he saw the launch on his alert panel next to his main display. John saw the launch as well on his RWR display and activated the countermeasures as an alarm blared throughout the cockpit and fire control center.
A large volley of decoy flares spewed out the sides and bottom of the gunship as it turned to the right. The missile zoomed past the AC-130 as it was decoyed by the flares.
"Shadow Flight, this is Warhammer, we are under attack! Where the hell are you?!" John asked in desperation.
"Warhammer, this is Shadow One, we're on our way, ETA twenty seconds!" Robert replied as he and his fellow pilots blazed towards the endangered gunship at full afterburner.
Robert armed his AIM-9X Sidewinder heat-homing missiles as his flight closed in on the MiGs. He got in range and got a good tone on the lead MiG.
"I've got good tone...fox two!" he called out at he launched his missile. The Sidewinder flew up and struck the tail of the MiG, blowing it apart.
"Yeah, got that scumbag!" Angelo exclaimed.
"Three more bandits bearing zero-five-six, Shadow Flight, engage!" Robert ordered as his flight entered the fight.
John saw the Arcadian Super Hornets buzz by just above them.
"Hah-hah, good guys are here!" John said into the intercom to spread the news to the rest of the crew.
"Taking the shot!" Megan called out as she locked onto another MiG and fired a Sidewinder. The missile flew up and struck the MiG just behind the cockpit, engulfing the fighter in a ball of flame.
"Good kill, Edge!" Angelo exclaimed as he witnessed her kill.
"Bandit on Warhammer's tail, I'm taking it down!" Vidal said as he positioned himself behind the third MiG.
"Fox Two, Fox Two!" he said as he locked on and fired. The MiG turned to evade but to no avail as the missile blew off its left wing, causing it to spiral uncontrollably as it nosedived towards the ground.
The fourth MiG turned away from the Arcadian fighters and focused on the AC-130 still maneuvering nearby.
This action was a big mistake, for the Akealian pilot's desperate attempt to down the gunship made him extremely open to attack. The enemy pilot rolled around as he attempted to get into position to engage the AC-130.
"Oh no, you don't, you son of a bitch!" Robert said as he got behind the MiG.
He squeezed the trigger the moment he heard the growling tone in his headphones. He watched with glee as his missile flew off the rail and into the MiG. He turned away at full burner to avoid the debris and his flight formed up.
"Stardust, all MiGs destroyed, we're clear!" Robert happily exclaimed as his flight turned west towards the Kestrel.
"Thanks for the help, Shadow, we wouldn't have made it without you guys!" John said as he maneuvered the gunship back into position to support Applejack's unit.
"Alpha-Six, this is Warhammer, sorry it took so long, we got held up by some MiGs." John said.
"No worries, we're alright so far." Applejack replied as her unit drove on in the two trucks.
"Heads up, UAV data shows hostiles setting up ambush points along the curved road." George said.
"Navigation, which one's the curved road? Over." John asked.
"Fire control, do you see the water tower? Over." George asked.
"TV, confirm you see the water tower." Sebastian said. Bill looked around, moving the sensors until he got a water tower next to an intersection between two different roads in his field of view.
"You talking about the, uh, the water tower near the intersection?" Bill asked.
"Uh, roger, that's the one, and next to that water tower is a curved road, do you see that?" George asked.
"Roger that." Sebastian replied.
"Track that road to the next village, you, uh, should be able to see another water tower in the village further down that road." George said. Bill looked, but could not get the specified area in his view.
"Uh, we're having trouble acquiring the village, how far up the road is it?" Sebastian asked.
"It's approximately, umm, hang on...it's about two clicks along the curved road going away from the highway." George replied.
"Roger that." Sebastian replied.
By now, Bill could see the village in question, and numerous enemy troops set up to ambush Applejack's unit, some hidden by the thick forest that surrounded the village.
"We're banking towards the village, stand by to engage ground targets." John said as he rolled the AC-130U into position.
"We've got hostiles setting up along the curved road." Bill said as he lined up the reticule for a shot with the howitzer and fired, sending a sharp jolt throughout the aircraft.
"Hostiles preparing to ambush along the curved road, they're partially concealed by the trees!" Sebastian reported. Sebastian saw the effects of the shot on his display.
"Yeah, good hits on that one!" he said. Bill then saw a trail of smoke shoot out from a building towards the two vehicles.
"Whoa, someone just fired an RPG!" Bill reported as he sprayed the enemy infantry with the 25mm, taking care to avoid hitting Applejack's unit in the vehicles.
"Roger that, crew, go ahead and take out everything in that village!" Sebastian ordered. He then spotted a BMP-3 coming out of a nearby barn.
"Armored vehicle right there, right there coming out of the barn!" he said. Bill blasted the BMP with the howitzer.
"Targets in the village are confirmed as hostile, cleared to engage, smoke 'em!" John ordered.
"Warhammer, we're under attack, we sure could use some help down here!" Applejack said as she and the other driver avoided incoming enemy gunfire and RPGs.
"Crew, track those smoke trails and take them out at the source, clear a path for our guys!" Sebastian ordered.
Bill then spotted several enemy soldiers on the roof of a rectangular U-shaped building on the side of the road.
"Enemies on the roof of the U-shaped building!" Bill reported as he blew them away with the 40mm.
"Uhh, U-shaped building?" Sebastian asked.
"Roger, it's the one with the small square object on the roof, it's the one with the flat roof." George replied. Bill sprayed more enemy infantry with the 25mm and pounded more distant hostiles with the 40mm.
"Yeah, direct hits right there." Sebastian said as he monitored the action on his display.
"Get that guy by the building." Sebastian ordered as he tracked an enemy soldier by the U-shaped building. Bill fired a round from the 40mm and the enemy soldier was gone in a flash.
"Yeah, you got him, get back on those other guys."
"Enemy helicopters inbound!" Sebastian called out.
Bill then spotted four Mi-17 Hip troop transport helicopters attempting to drop reinforcements in.
"Not on my watch!" Bill said as he switched to the 25mm and fired a burst. One of the enemy helicopters was hit and went down in flames.
Bill adjusted his aim and fired again. Another enemy helicopter downed.
"Yeah, hit 'em!" Sebastian exclaimed as a third enemy chopper went down.
The fourth went into a hover and Bill hit it with the 40mm.
"Hot damn!" Bill exclaimed as the helicopter crashed after being hit.
"Good shooting, they didn't see that one coming!" Sebastian said. At this point, Applejack's unit had reach a junkyard which was the designated LZ.
"Warhammer, we've reached the LZ at the junkyard and are leaving the vehicles!" Applejack reported as she and the rest of her unit escorted the pilot into the junkyard.
"Roger that, Alpha-Six. Crew, friendlies are leaving the vehicles and are continuing on foot and hoof towards the LZ." John reported.
"Enemy forces in the junkyard." Bill reported as he spotted enemy troops and a few UAZs on the other side of the junkyard, with additional enemies coming out of a nearby building.
"Roger, go ahead and smoke 'em!" Sebastian ordered. Bill wasted no time putting rounds on target as he blasted a group of Golden Talon commandos with a burst of the 25mm.
"Man, these guys are going to town!" Sebastian exclaimed as Bill kept blasting away, taking care to not get his fire too close to the friendlies on the ground.
"There's a guy by that car!" Sebastian called out as he watched the action. Bill spotted the hostile and put a burst on him.
The fight went on until Applejack's unit found themselves surrounded by hostiles in the junkyard.
"Warhammer, we've reached the LZ, but we're takin' fire on all sides! Requestin' fire support on all sides of the LZ, danger close!" Applejack said loudly over the sounds of gunfire as her unit fought it out with many enemy soldiers.
Bill made a mental note to not use the 40mm or 105mm too close to the junkyard LZ where Applejack's unit was.
"Enemy personnel closing on the LZ from multiple sides, danger close! Recommend you stick to the twenty-five millimeter in the vicinity of the LZ." John ordered.
Bill spotted a pair of T-80 tanks and blasted one with the 105mm before pounding the other with the 40mm, eventually blasting the turret apart.
Once he heard the call, "gun ready", he fired the 105mm again to finish off the other enemy tank. He saw a pair of BMP-3s approaching.
"Denied!" he taunted as he nailed each of them with a pair of rounds from the 40mm.
"Crew be advised, friendly helicopters entering the area, watch your fire!" John said. "Copy." Bill replied.
Bill watched as an Arcadian Special Operations Command (SOCOM) MH-60L Direct Action Penetrator (DAP) transport helicopter of the 116th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR) armed with 8 AGM-114K Hellfire II anti-tank missiles and 38 Hydra 70 70mm FFAR with M261 MPSM (Multipurpose Submunition) warheads in twin in two M261 launchers, and a flight of AH-74 Crossbow gunships entered the area, the DAP landing on a nearby field.
Once the DAP was on the ground, a squad of Arcadian Army Rangers poured out and surrounded the helicopter, engaging any enemies that got too close, just as a pair of Equestrian Royal Army SOCOM Mi-24 Hind E transport gunships landed nearby.
"Warhammer, we're moving toward the helicopters now, thanks fer the assist, Alpha-Six out!" Applejack said as her unit got into the Hinds, just as Andrew joined the Rangers in the DAP.
All at once, the helicopter lifted off and headed west towards the coast.
"Man, this is gonna be one helluva highlight reel!" Sebastian exclaimed.
"Yeah, I heard that!" Bill added.
Bill watched as the allied helicopters flew safely out of the danger zone.
"Crew, Hog Driver is secure and heading home, good job, everyone!" George said, pride in his fellow crew members clear in his tone of voice.
"Roger that, returning to base." John said as he steered the gunship west and put the weapons on SAFE. The AC-130 flew back out to sea and refueled from an ERAF KC-135R before reaching its home at Riverton AFB.
Meanwhile...
Robert's flight was on the flight deck of the Kestrel rearming and refueling. Robert and his fellow pilots watched from their cockpits as the action continued on the beach.
Several miles in front of the carrier, the battleship ERNS Luna fired another volley with her main guns.
"Wow, I felt the vibrations on that one!" Vidal said as the deck crew finished attaching the final Paveway III 1,000lb laser-guided bunker-busting bomb to the left wing of his aircraft.
"Yeah, nothing like floating artillery bases to provide fire support." Angelo replied as the deck crew members detached the refueling hose from his plane.
Over the next five minutes, the resupply process was finished and the F/A-18Es were moved back onto the catapults. Angelo launched first, followed by Megan, Vidal and finally, Robert.
Here we go! Robert thought as he throttled up to full power. The plane jolted as the catapult was triggered, launching the Super Hornet back into the air.
As Robert's flight approached the beach, Robert noticed that there was no more action on the beach.
They must have advanced beyond the beach. Robert thought as the flight of four strike fighters crossed the shoreline.
On the ground, on the front lines...
Captain Roger Adams sat on his station with his crew as their M1A3 Abrams tank of the Arcadian Army's 6th Armored Battalion rolled next to their platoon along the battlefield.
Next to their platoon was Applebloom's unit, with her tank next to his.
"Command, this is Pounder Two-one, we're approaching the objective, we have the fortress in sight!" Roger said as the tanks stopped. Sure enough, a group of T-72 tanks came up from the fortress, forming a defensive line.
"Party time!" Roger said as his loader, Sergeant William Price loaded a APFSDS round into the gun.
"Up!" Will called out as he armed the gun upon loading it.
"On the way!" the gunner, PFC Jason Allen called out as he squeezed the trigger.
BOOM! The 120mm smoothbore gun fired, sending the round flying at the target. The T-72 was hit and exploded when the round reached the ammunition magazine. Will loaded another APFSDS round into the gun.
Roger spotted a T-90 attempting to flank Applebloom's tank as she took out another T-72.
"Warhorse, this is Pounder Two-one, you've got a T-90 about to flank you on the left side!" Roger called out.
"Roger, thanks fer the heads up!" Applebloom replied as Twist turned the gun to aim at the threat.
"FIRE!" Applebloom ordered.
"On the way!" Twist replied as she triggered the gun, hitting the T-90 and stopping it in its tracks.
"Up!" Lyra called out as she loaded another APFSDS round into the breech.
"FIRE!" Applebloom ordered.
"On the way!" Twist called out as she took the shot.
The gun fired, sending the round into the tank, causing it to explode. "Good shooting, Warhorse!" Roger called out as he watched the enemy tank explode.
Seconds later, she saw several T-90 tanks line up over the top of the hill.
Oh, horseapples! Applebloom thought as one of them turned its gun towards her tank.
Just then, she heard the familiar buzzing sound of a GAU-8A Avenger cannon firing from her left.
She looked and sure enough, an AAF A-10C Thunderbolt II flew by, the enemy tanks engulfed in the Warthog's gunfire.
"Whew!" Applebloom said as she breathed a sigh of relief.
"War horse, this is Baseplate, your unit is to assist Pounder in neutralizing enemy defenses around the fortress while Bravo-Six and Hunter Two-Three breach and clear the facility! Shadow Flight is inbound to support you with airstrikes on some of the bunkers. You mark the target and they'll put the bombs on target, how copy, over." Baseplate called in.
"Solid copy! We're on our way, Warhorse out!" Applebloom replied.
"HIT IT!" she shouted.
"You got it!" Roseluck replied as she drove the tank up onto the top of the ridge, just half a mile from the fortress where the local field HQ was located, the rest of her platoon and Roger's platoon following suit.
Meanwhile, 100 yards from the fortress...
Rambo and his squad was pinned down by heavy enemy fire from a nearby bunker that was 50 yards away. Tagger had his laser designator ready to paint the bunker for an airstrike.
"You ready?!" Rambo asked, raising his voice over the noise.
"YEAH!" Tagger replied.
"Hunter Two-Three, Bravo Six, this is Shadow Flight standing by to provide close air support, over." Robert said.
"Roger, we're lazing the target now!" Tagger replied as he marked the bunker with the laser designator. Robert's ATFLIR pod picked up the laser reflection off the bunker and he locked onto it.
"Target acquired, stand by for airstrike." Robert said as he lined up for his bombing run. He set the pickle mode to AUTO, which would cause the bomb to be automatically released upon reaching optimal position.
He watched as a small horizontal line made its way down the vertical line that went all the way up and down his HUD. He watched as the line reached the velocity indicator.
Robert smiled as he felt the plane jerk slightly. The word RELEASE flashed briefly on his HUD as the bomb was dropped.
"Shadow One, pickle!" Robert called out when the bomb dropped.
Rambo and his squad watched as the bunker erupted into a ball of flame as the bomb hit its mark dead-on.
"Yeah, that did it!" Tagger exclaimed as the rest of his squad-mates cheered.
"Alright, let's link up with the Arcadians and take that fortress!" Rambo said as he and the squad advanced towards the fortress. Ramirez's squad joined up with them halfway to the fortress.
Behind them, a pair of Arcadian Army M1126 Stryker IFVs from the 5th BCT (Ramirez's unit) provided cover fire. They were close to the fortress wall when several enemy soldiers opened fire, forcing the two squads to take cover.
The watch towers on the fortress opened fire on them as well, showering the area with machine gun rounds.
Tagger was readying his SAW when an RPG hit dangerously close to him. "FUUCK, THIIIIIIIIIS!" he exclaimed as he ran to cover.
Meanwhile, Ramirez's squad was already laying down fire as the Strykers lit up the enemy's position with their M2s.
"FRAG OUT!" Rambo shouted as he tossed an M67 grenade at the enemy. He heard one yell,"SCATTER!" before the grenade detonated. One gryphon managed to fly away, but Ramirez gunned him down with his M4A1.
"Nice try, bitch!" he taunted as he reloaded his assault rifle. A pair of Arcadian AH-64Ds flew up and hovered nearby.
"This is Echo Three, engaging watch towers!" the pilot called out as he and his wingman hit the towers with Hydra 70 FFARs, destroying them.
1st Lt. Valdez saw the door nearby and went for it when the enemy fire from the towers ceased.
"OK, everyone, stack up! Prepare to breach!" he ordered as the Apaches flew off. The two squads converged on the door and Ramirez planted a breaching charge on the door.
"Ramirez, do it!" Valdez ordered. Ramirez pressed the button on the detonator. The charge detonated, destroying the door.
"Breaching! Breaching!" Ramirez called out as the two squads stormed inside.
"My team will take the left side." Valdez said.
"We'll take the right. Good luck!" Rambo said as the two squads split up.
"Check your corners!" Rambo ordered as the squad moved down the hallway. They reached a door marked "Ammunition Storeroom 1".
"Let's go, I have an idea!" Rambo said as he bucked the door open.
"Hunter Two-Three, this is Bravo-Six, we've encountered light resistance but are still moving." Valdez said over the radio.
"Roger that, Bravo-Six, we've entered an ammo dump within the facility, we're rigging it to blow this dump!" Rambo replied.
"Roger that, we'll hold these feather-heads off, Bravo-Six out!" Valdez replied.
The squad could hear the sounds of gunfire as Ramirez's squad engaged enemy forces in their sector.
Rambo and Dumbbell each got out a pair of C4 charges. Rambo planted one charge on a set of mortar shells and the other on a box of RPG-7 rockets.
Dumbbell planted one charge on a large rack full of artillery shells and the other on a box of small-arms ammunition.
"OK, charges in place, let's go!" Dumbbell reported. "Good work, Corporal, let's get out of here!" Rambo replied as the squad headed out of the room.
They shut the door and continued down the hall.
"Bravo-Six, this is Hunter Two-Three, we've set charges in the ammo dump! What's the status on your end?" Rambo asked.
"This is Bravo-Six, we've entered another ammo dump and are rigging charges at this time!" Valdez replied.
Just then, Rambo spotted a group of enemy soldiers approaching them.
(BGM: Navy SEALS Main Theme- The Rock OST)
"SHIT! LIGHT 'EM UP!" Rambo ordered as the squad dove for cover, enemy 7.62X39mm rounds flying at them.
"EAT THIS, MOTHERFUCKERS!" Tagger yelled out as he let off a volley of fire from his M249.
PFC Sonata took out two enemy soldiers before she had to reload. When she was finished, she went up to fire, only to have two rounds hit her, one in the shoulder and another in her neck.
"SONATA!" Dumbbell yelled out as he saw her go down.
"PONY DOWN! PONY DOWN!" Rambo yelled as he saw Sonata get gunned down her blood creating a crimson puddle around and on her body.
Dumbbell tried to help her, but there was no use, she was already dead by the time he got to her.
"DAMMIT!" he exclaimed as he continued the fight. Tagger had just finished reloading his SAW when Sonata was killed.
"That's it, NOW YOU BASTARDS MADE ME MAD!" he exclaimed as he let loose. Almost all of the remaining hostiles went down as Tagger sprayed them mercilessly, letting out a war cry as he did so.
Rambo finished off the last two with his G36 and reloaded as the others stopped firing.
"Area clear, let's keep moving." Rambo said somberly. He had known Sonata for a while, and hated to see her die.
"I swear to Celestia, I WILL avenge you by winning this war!" He muttered as the squad got moving.
"Hunter Two-Three, this is Bravo-Six, our charges are in place, what's your status?" Valdez asked.
"We've just engaged an enemy force and are continuing on." Rambo replied.
"Any casualties?" Valdez asked.
"One, sir: PFC Sonata." Rambo replied.
"Damn. We're continuing on to the second floor." Valdez said.
"We're doing the same, see you outside, Hunter Two-Three out!" Rambo replied as he led his squad up a set of stairs.
The two squads ended up meeting up at the top of the staircases, which were next to each other.
"OK, according to our intelligence, this fortress has three levels, Level One, where we just were: ammo storage. Level Two, where we are now: Living Quarters and Medical facilities, and finally, Level Three: Command and Control. We've just cleared Level One and will clear these other levels before we clear out and blow the C4. Any questions?" Valdez said.
"Let's do this!" Rambo replied with a confident grin.
"Alright, let's move!" Valdez ordered as the two squads moved out.
Ramirez took point and the squad reached a door marked, "Living Quarters 1." He took out an M84 flash-bang grenade and slowly opened the door.
"Flash-bang out!" he called out as he tossed the cylindrical grenade inside. After hearing the bang, the squad stormed in and gunned down the gryphons that were stumbling around blinded and deafened by the effects of the flash-bang.
"Area clear, let's go!" Valdez said as he led the squad out and back into the hallway. Tagger spotted a group of gryphons rounding the corner and gunned them down with his SAW.
They reached another door marked, "Living Quarters 2."
"Frag out!" Ramirez called out as he partially opened the door and tossed an M67 inside. When the grenade went off, the squad went inside and saw three gryphons stumbling around, one clutching his wing.
Ramirez took them out with his M9 pistol as he searched the room, his squadmates behind them.
"Room clear, move on!" Valdez ordered when they had finished clearing out the hostiles in the room.
"Hunter Two-Three, this is Bravo-Six, what's your status?" Valdez asked.
"We've just cleared out the medical room, no hostiles inside, we're clearing out the number three living quarters room now." Rambo replied.
"Roger that, Rooms one and two are clear." Valdez replied.
"Roger that, we'll link up on the top floor, Hunter Two-Three out." Rambo replied.
"Solid copy, Two-Three, Bravo-Six out!" Valdez replied.
Ramirez and his squadmates continued down the hall and saw the door ahead of them open. The human soldiers readied their weapons as a squad of Golden Talon commandos came out.
Pvt. Alex Osborne hit one before a round from one of the commandos' AK-74us hit him in the head.
"OSBORNE!" Ramirez yelled out as he gunned down two of the commandos.
"MAN DOWN! MAN DOWN!" Valdez called out before he tossed out a flash-bang. Corporal Jason Grant spotted one of the enemy commandos tossing an RGD5 grenade.
"GRENADE!" Grant yelled out as he watched the grenade fly towards the squad.
The human soldiers raced to get to cover, firing as they went, but another soldier, PFC Adams, leaped onto the grenade, absorbing the blast with his own body.
"ADAMS!" Ramirez yelled out as Jason fired a round from his M203 grenade launcher.
The blast took out the remaining enemies and the remaining squad members regrouped. Ramirez looked down at the remains of his friend and fellow soldier.
"You did good, Adams. We'll make sure you're properly honored for your heroism." he said as the squad went into the door and up the stairs.
"Hunter Two-Three, this is Bravo-Six, we've cleared out our sector and are proceeding to the third floor, what's your status?" Valdez said.
"We've just finished up here and are moving up now. See you in one mike!" Rambo replied.
Sure enough, they both met up at the top of the stairs. Rambo noticed that Valdez's team was down two members.
"Where are Adams and Osborne?" he asked.
"We lost them engaging a group of Golden Talon commandos." Valdez replied.
"Damn...well, we just have to clear out this floor and the fortress will be secure." Rambo said.
"OK, there are three main rooms here: the radar room, radio room and the war room. We clear those out, we'll be good to go!" Valdez said.
"Let's roll!" Rambo replied. The two squads split off again to begin clearing the floor of hostiles.
Rambo's squad reached the radar room door and Tagger opened it slightly as Specialist Rocker tossed a flash-bang inside.
Once the flash-bang went off, the squad rushed in and gunned down every gryphon inside. One gryphon soldier came up from cover only to be gunned down by Rambo as he moved up to the other side of the room. The pony soldiers looked around and noted the lack of activity.
"Room clear!" Tagger reported.
"Clear!" Rocker called out.
"All clear here, Sarge!" Dumbbell reported.
"Alright, good work, team! Let's move on!" Rambo said as they moved on.
"Hunter Two-Three, this is Bravo-Six, we've just cleared out the war room, but have one wounded, what's your status?" Valdez asked.
"This is Hunter Two-Three, we just cleared out the radar room and are heading to the radio room." Rambo replied.
"Roger that, we'll meet you there, Bravo-Six out!" Valdez replied.
"Alright, let's move!" Rambo said as he led his squad out and back into the hallway.
They reached the radio room seconds later, Valdez's unit right in front of them coming from around the corner.
"Check your fire, friendlies coming up around the corner!" Rambo ordered. Rambo saw Valdez carrying Grant, who had a bullet wound in his left shoulder, on his own shoulder.
The two teams stacked up by the door, ready to go.
"You ready, Sergeant?" Valdez asked.
"Ready as I'll ever be, sir!" Rambo replied with a confident grin as he readied his weapon.
"Ramirez, plant the charge, prepare to breach!" Valdez ordered. Ramirez planted a frame charge on the door, arming it after he placed it. The two squads backed up to a safe distance as Ramirez prepared to detonate the charge.
"Here we go!" Ramirez said as he hit the button on the remote detonator. The charge went off, destroying the door and stunning the gryphons in the room.
"BREACHING! BREACHING!" Valdez called out as the two squads poured in, guns blazing.
All enemies inside were mowed down in seconds, before they could even react.
"Clear!" Ramirez called out.
"All clear!" Rambo called out.
"Room clear, excellent work all around!" Valdez said.
"Baseplate, this is Bravo-Six, fortress is secure, all hostiles neutralized!" Valdez said.
"Bravo-Six, this is Baseplate, recommend you exfil immediately, a Pegasus UAV is showing at least a hundred enemy infantry units converging on your position, get the hell out of there!" Baseplate replied.
"Baseplate, this is Hunter Two-Three, we may not be able to exfil in time! Bravo-Six has one wounded!" Rambo said.
"Solid copy, Hunter Two-Three two Arcadian Pave Lows with SPIE rigs are inbound. Shadow and Falcon Flights are inbound to provide cover." Baseplate replied.
"Roger that, what's the ETA?" Valdez asked.
"They will arrive in one minute, the UCAV will thin out the enemy numbers as much as possible." Baseplate replied.
"Roger that, we'll hold out as much as we can! Bravo-Six out!" Valdez replied.
"OK, we gotta get up to the roof and hold out until the helos arrive!" Valdez said. Rambo and Dumbbell went up the stairs and bucked open the door leading to the roof.
The two teams stormed out, Valdez and Tagger carrying Grant up with them.
Once they were all up on the roof, Rambo planted a claymore by the door as the others set up defensive positions.
Suddenly, they heard a whoosh followed by an explosion. That must be a missile from the Pegasus drone! Ramirez thought as Rocker checked on his wound.
Rambo risked a glance over the edge and was horrified to see a massive enemy infantry force heading towards them.
"Oh, shit!" he muttered as he got ready. He spotted a machine gun turret nearby and rushed towards it. He smiled when he saw that the gun was loaded.
He readied the weapon and began firing on the enemy troops below. He let out a war cry as he unleashed a hail of bullets onto the enemy forces.
His squadmates and Ramirez went up to help out, Ramirez flipping up the scope on his rifle. He skillfully picked off several enemy troops before their fire forced him to take cover.
Just then, he spotted a pair of ERM AV-8B Harrier II's flying over them, dropping Mk-20 cluster bombs as they flew over the enemy.
He watched as a majority of the enemy troops were hit by the rain of bomblets from the airstrike.
"YEAH, TAKE THAT, SCUMBAGS!" Ramirez exclaimed as he reloaded.
Shortly after, Tagger spotted the Pave Lows approaching from the west.
"There they are!" he called out. Rocker finished patching up Grant's wound as he heard the sound of approaching rotors.
"OK, that should hold up for now." he said.
"Bravo-Six, Hunter Two-Three, this is Big Bird One and Two inbound for SPIE extraction. We have you visual, stand by for rig deployment." the lead Pave Low pilot said.
The helicopters closed in, dropping their SPIE rigs as they descended upon the fortress.
"Alright, everyone hook up!" Valdez ordered. Everyone clipped a hook that was attached to the cables to their vests.
"OK, we're hooked up, get us out of here!" Valdez said.
"Roger that, we're gone!" the pilot replied as the helicopters pulled up.
The two squads were pulled up and off the fortress, dangling from the bottoms of the aircraft on the cables. The cables were slowly retracted, enabling the soldiers hooked on to get into the cabins of the helicopters.
"Alright, all allied forces get to a safe distance from the fortress, we're blowing the charges!" Valdez said as he got out his remote.
He waited until he saw no friendlies near the fortress, which was now being overrun by enemy forces.
Valdez's eyes grew wide as he saw two RPG rockets fly in their direction, but they wound up going wide of the helicopters.
"This is for Adams, Osborne, and Sonata. May the three of you rest in peace." Valdez muttered as he pressed the button.
A split second later, a massive explosion erupted from the first floor of the fortress, which immediately began to collapse.
"Baseplate, this is Bravo-Six, enemy fortress has been destroyed. I say again, enemy fortress is destroyed! How copy? Over." Valdez said.
"Solid copy, Bravo-Six, all allied units confirm that all enemy forces in the area are in open retreat, we've secured the area!" Baseplate replied.
Valdez beamed when he realized what this meant: the AEJSF has won the battle and taken the area, establishing a beachhead on the entire Talon Bay area.
Valdez turned to the other soldiers in the cabin."We did it! We've secured the beachhead!" Valdez shouted as he raised a fist into the air, causing the other soldiers to start cheering.
The Pave Lows headed to a nearby field hospital that was set up on the newly established forward base at the site of Talon Bay Air Base, FOB Serenity, landing on the helipads near the flightline.
Four hours later
Robert and his squadron-mates were in the pilots' lounge on the Kestrel celebrating the AEJSF's first major victory in what is now being called the Trans-Atlantic War.
"Well, we sure did good, didn't we?" Vidal asked.
"Yep, we sure did, man!" Robert happily replied as he gave Vidal a bro-fist.
"Well, I'm certain that this will be the first of many." Megan said.
"Yep, I agree on that one, Edge." Robert replied.
"So, how long do you think this war will last?" Angelo asked.
"Who knows, but at we are off to a pretty good start, that's for sure!" Vidal replied.
"Well, I'm hitting the pit, catch you guys tomorrow!" Megan said as she got up and headed towards her stateroom.
"She's got the right idea, might as well get some rest." Angelo added as he got up.
The other two pilots left and headed to their staterooms. Robert laid in his rack and thought about what happened in Mareami.
Who was that Akealian pilot flying the MiG with the cyborg-gryphon painted on the nose? How was he, or she, able to sucker-punch me like that? Whoever that was, he/she must have been one of their top aces. Robert thought as he finally let himself be taken over by sleep.