CHAPTER 20. OPERATION KNIFE EDGE
Wednesday, 1600 hours
The day had come, and the entire base was dead silent. NATO support had not arrived yet, but was still expected to during the day. Everyone was wearing his or her combat gear, waiting in the warehouse for the order to roll out. Simba entered the command room and approached Woods. "NATO here yet?" He asked. "Negative, we're going to have to go in without them." Woods said. "You think we can handle it alone? We'll be outnumbered like ten to one, not to mention that Scar's got a bit more firepower" Simba asked, worried. "I have known these guys for a long time, there is no way a shortage of numbers or a lack of firepower will let us down, we are stronger, wiser, braver and tougher...and we have the will to win." Woods said, confident. Simba nodded and turned to the PA microphone.
"Operation Knife Edge is a go, all units launch, good luck." He said and several floors up, the order rang out on the speakers. Soldiers sprung out of whatever positions they were in and scrambled into their vehicles. The sound of engines starting and weapons being loaded filled the air. The doors to the warehouse opened and the vehicles started rolling out. There were Humvees, trucks with huge .50 caliber machine guns mounted, BTRs and other troop carrying cars all heading for the same place: the palace. They were to engage the Scar's forces and slowly crush them, while Scar's attention was directed at the battlefield, Simba and a team of commandoes were going to infiltrate the palace quietly and capture Scar. They were also bringing a video camera with them so that they could film their success.
Simba entered the room where his team was; the commandoes stood in a line and waited for him to talk. There were nine members in total, Timon and Pumbaa were among them, an ex Prideland marine called 'Jackson', a tactical sniper called 'Frost', an equipment specialist called 'Rex', a weapons and ammo expert named 'Westbrook', a light machine gunner called 'Swifty', and a PRF captain named 'EJ' (he was the one who was in charge of the camera) and of course, their sniper and overwatch: Nala. They all had camouflage painted faces and were all ready to fight. Simba looked over them and spoke.
"This is your last chance to turn back, take a look at the person next to you. There is a good chance that by the end of today, you...or they...will be dead." Simba started.
Timon shivered a little at that thought, he wasn't ready to die yet, even if it was for a good cause. "Those that are willing to make that sacrifice...step forward please." Everyone took one step forward, including Timon and Pumbaa. Simba nodded his approval. "Well then let's get this show on the road." He said. The team responded with the famous U-RAH! and readied their weapons. Simba led them upstairs and into the helicopter waiting for them on the roof of the warehouse. As soon as the last person was on board, the chopper ascended and started to make it's way to their marked drop zone.
On board the UH-1 helicopter designation: 4400X
Weaver sat on the edge of the helicopter and held his M16 rifle nervously. This was it. He looked up and saw the several other PRF choppers flying next to him, and they started to slow down. "Approaching DZ now, lock and load." He heard the pilot say over the radio. Weaver made the sign of the cross and said a quick prayer before they started to descend. A bullet struck the side of the chopper with a sickening TWANG! And everyone jumped in surprise. "We're taking fire! Engage God damn it!" Someone on another chopper shouted into the radio. "Roger that Bravo-6, engaging now." Their pilot said and turned the helicopter to face the building that was infested with Scar's soldiers. Two missiles suddenly burst out of the helicopter's launcher and slammed into the building that seemed to be causing all the trouble.
The building exploded into a giant ball of fire and debris was thrown everywhere. "Nice shot Hunter 2-1" The other helicopter's pilot complimented them. The helicopter then slowly began to descend again. Everyone unbuckled their seat belts and pulled their goggles over their eyes. "PLAY THE MUSIC PRIVATE!" Weaver yelled, as they got ready to deploy. The soldier pressed play on a huge sound system in the back of the helicopter and ACDC's Shoot to Thrill started blasting away. Weaver grinned, as he got ready to enter the battle. "LET'S DO THIS!" He shouted one last time before jumping out of the helicopter. All the men in his platoon followed behind him, they ran fearlessly to cover as the enemy's machine guns blazed. The music from the helicopter was still playing loudly above them.
I'm gonna pull it, pull it
Pull the trigger
Shoot to thrill, play to kill
Too many women, too many pills
Shoot to thrill, play to kill
I got my gun at the ready, gonna fire at will
No lyrics could match their position better. Weaver raised his rifle and fired a burst at a Communist machine gun crew in the window of another building, but he shouldn't have bothered. A PRF AH-6 attack helicopter buzzed over and fired a deadly burst of gunfire into the window and took them out in less then a second. He gave the low flying pilot a quick salute and the pilot returned the gesture. Weaver's squad then burst out of their cover and advanced down the streets of Prideland City. There were the occasional bullets that flew their way, but they were panicked shots and rarely came close to hitting anyone. Scar's army fled the huge wave of PRF forces that blasted their way to the palace. ACDC continued to blare out loud above them from the choppers, and it struck fear into the hearts of Scar's communists, but inspired Simba's PRF.