Chapter 7:
An unexpected rescue mission
An hour has passed ever since the operation begun and the Allied forces are beginning to face heavy retaliations from the enemy.
In Dramon Market, the french and japanese paratroopers were being shelled by the heavy mobile artilleries from the Armoury Field. Meanwhile, the main armoured force just entered the town and the Delta forces at the Jade Palace were having a hard time to secure the palace. With thirty minutes late in their schedules, the infantry division and most of the Digital marines were tasked to assist the special forces units while Echo company and elements of 1st Ranger Battalion continued with their task. With the air support being constantly called to other areas of operations, the assault group won't have any support from the IDDF.
Their convoy was consisted of a few dozens of MRAPs and M-ATVs and 6 LAVs. Once they were out of the town through the south gate, the convoy spread out in a spearhead formation as they head towards the Armoury Field through the open grassy fields. They later spotted a small group of aerial digimon flying near them.
"Are we seriously letting them fly above us?" Asked incrediously Cyberdramon.
"You know the rules of engagements, Cyberdramon, they're just a bunch of scouts and messengers. Plus I don't see a reason to waste our heavy rounds on them when we'll need them later." Replied Raymond with a reassuring smile. "Although that doesn't stop you from flipping the bird at them." He added with an amusing tone before he opened the window of the M-ATV and flipped a bird at the enemy scouts.
Some of the Rangers on the machine gun turret seat began showing the 'finger' while some marines started insulting the imperials.
"What have you done, Lieutenant..." Muttered Dukeman as he witnessed the scene.
A few minutes later, Captain Richards announces to the marines and the Rangers through the comms as the imperial scouts fly away from them.
"Listen up! The scouts just left so that means we'll be encountering their artillery soon. Speed up through them and keep yourselves spread out. Good luck and see you on the other side gentlemen."
As if cue, sounds of battery firing and trails of smoke launched out of the Armoury Field and heading straight for them. Explosions erupted around them as the ground shook and dirt shot out in the air. The closer they got, the more intense the artillery fired as their rate of fire increased significantly. A shell erupted near Raymond's transport vehicle, the rain of dirt disoriented Larry as he tries to rebalance the M-ATV.
"That's one hell of driving out there, Larry!" Exclaimed PFC. Sebastian Salt behind the gunner seat.
Suddenly they heard a thunderous explosion behind them as it was followed by a violent shaking. The vehicle stopped dead on its tracks.
"Why did you stop?" Yelled Raymond. Larry just froze for a second before staring with a shocked expression at the him.
"W-we didn't get hit?" Stuttered out the driver.
Stephen looked out of his window and scanned around their perimeter. Most of the vehicles were still heading towards the field, leaving them behind. Stephen then looked behind the vehicle.
"Fuck..." He said silently.
Eventhough they dodged a shell, unfortunately for the vehicle behind them, they didn't have the same chance. The MRAP was completely crushed and melted by the blazing fire. It was a guarantee that no one survived the blast and more distrubing that it was sure their bodies were gone. Raymond sat back in the vehicle with a grim expression on his face before he ordered Larry to continue to drive.
"What about the bodies?" Asked sadly the driver.
"We won't find any." Simply replied the platoon officer.
Once the marines and the Rangers has breached through the enemy lines, the artillery had stopped firing, not wanting to cause any friendly fire. Although they managed to stop the bombardment, it only delayed them as the imperials relocate their artilleries. The assault convoy kept speeding through Armoury Field towards their destination, the imperial Command and Control Center. A three storey building built in concrete and steel and surrounded with thick steel Aegis-like defense lines and sandbags.
"1st and 2nd platoon! Move up with the Rangers and secure out the building! We'll take care of the artillery." Ordered Cpt. Richards as the marines and Rangers jump out of their transports.
They rushed in the building, bashing the double plywood doors and immediately neutralised the security team.
"Reception clear!" Yelled a Ranger while the rest of the assault group formed up a 360° firing line.
"You think you can catch up with us, Lieutenant?" Asked Sergeant Keith Foley.
"Lead the way, we'll be just behind you." Replied Raymond with a smirk.
"Roger that. Alright listen up! We've got an entire three storey building to clear out full of hostile digimon, let's make this quick and painful for them. Hooah?"
"HOOAH!" Replied the Rangers.
And so the assault team moved through every hallway and room on each floor, the close-quarter firefights were easily won by the humans' volume of fire power and numbers. Doors were being kicked down, walls were being destroyed and peppered to bits. Frag and flash grenades were thrown at the enemy, the dark hallways lit up with tracer rounds and muzzle flashes. Commandramon were being shot and stabbed as the humans were now striking their foes with more ferocity and showing no signs of mercy. The firefights were beginning to become more brutal as the marines and Rangers basically fought continously through the entire first two floors. They then went on separate ways, the Rangers would clear the control center located on the otherside of the building while the marines clear out the third floor.
With Stephen on the lead, they slowly went up the spiral stairwell that led to the third floor's living quarters, all their weapons were drawn at the double doors at the end of the stairwell. Once they've reached the top, two marines went on both sides of the doors and simultanously kick them open and held them to let the rest pass through. It was a long hallway, dozens of doors were aligned on one side while sun light pass through the windows on the other. Suddenly, they all jumped when they heard frantic knockings and muffled screams coming from further down the hallway. Their weapons drawn towards the general direction, the marines proceeded cautiously towards the sounds while clearing one by one the dorms they pass by. After clearing ten empty dorms, they've finally reached to the sounds and what they heard surprised them.
They could barely hear someone or something crying out for help, in japanese. With nothing to do and on short time, Raymond decided he will enter the room first while some marines gathered up behind him if things do go south.
"You have five seconds to step away from the door before I kicked it down!" Warned Raymond loudly, assuming that the person on the otherside of the door could understand him.
The cries and knocks had ceased right after his warning but the lieutenant still counted down. He kicked the door down and pointed his rifle forward, what he found surprised him.
"The fuck?" He asked to himself while more marines came rushing in and stopped dead on their tracks.
"P-please don't k-kill me! I'm just a student!" The human cried out with his arms held up high.
The boy seems to be at least 17 years old, wearing a torn and ripped highschool uniform, his face was covered in bruises and scratches, making the marines guess he was in captivity for a long time and he didnt' get the best treatment.
"What's your name kid?" Asked Raymond.
"K-Koushi-ro I-Izumi..." He replied with a coarse voice.
He seemed to be on the verge of crying as his legs couldn't hold on. He was about to fall down but Brook caught him just before his face could hit the floor.
"Hang in there buddy, we'll get you home safe and sound." Said Larry before he placed the teen's left arm around him so he could use the marine as a prop to walk.
"How long have you been in captivity? Are there any others?" Asked the platoon commander of 2nd platoon, 2nd lieutenant William Martinez.
Before Izumi could reply, the two platoon commanders were being called on their radio.
"Echo 1-1 and 1-2, we just found a red bug-like digimon, non-hostile but it seems to not trust us either, how copy?" Informed the ranger.
Raymond paused for a second he looked up at Izumi to see him smile faintly.
"You know the digimon?" He asked.
The boy nodded before he spoke up: "He's my friend. Please, I beg of you to not hurt him, lieutenant."
"Hunter 2-1, escort safely the digimon and meet us at the reception area, tell him we've found his friend." He instructed, giving Izumi a reassuring nod.
"Roger that, we'll be there in 2 minutes, out."
"Listen up, marines! We've got two VIPs and we ought to get them out of here. Nathan, call in a medevac and tell them we need it ASAP. In the meantime, we'll hold on and fortify this place. Lewis, Lenihan and Gordon take the rooftop, you'll be our eyes to the outside." Ordered out Lt. Martinez. "Retreat?"
"HELL!" Yelled out the marines.
Meanwhile, in another city located a few kilometers East of Dramon Market, the small convoy of the Third Recon team sped through the empty and ruined roads of the city of Sadera.
"How are the civilians, Kurokawa?" Asked Itami with slight worry in his voice as he looks back the Toyota high mobility vehicle passenger seats behind him.
On the passenger seats was Sergeant 1st class and combat medic Mari Kurokawa and beside her were the sleeping figures of a young teen girl and a small cat-like digimon resting peacefully on her laps.
"For now they're fine, lieutenant." Replied Kurokawa with a comforting smile.
"Damn it, first we get invaded by digital monsters then we need to rescue some kids all across a world that's twice the size of Earth." Commented Kurata while he sighed in frustration. "They better give us a raise after this whole mess." He added.
Itami simply chuckled and turned on his radio.
"Hey 'pops', do you know when our ride's coming?"
"They should be arriving soon, lieutenant. And stop calling me 'Pops'." Replied the sergeant major.
"Roger that, Pops." Said Itami, playfully ignoring the veteran's complaint.
"Looks like the old man was right." Commented Kurata as he could hear three Chinooks flying above them, towards the rendez-vous point.
When the convoy arrived at the city's forum, some members of the Third Recon team got out of the vehicles to escort the two civilians while others were taking defensive positions to cover their backs. Itami led the teen and the cat digimon in the one of the massive helicopters safely before being called by one of the chopper's crewman.
"Are you Lieutenant Itami?" Asked the JASDF crewman, the officer in question nodded in confusion. "You've been ordered to come with us with some of your soldiers and help the americans to evacuate their civilians." He informed Youji.
"WHAT?! Can't you guys go by yourselves? You've got three choppers."
"We can't. The americans are getting a beating and they need to be evacuated quickly."
"What about the rest of us?"
"They've receive orders to pull back."
"In the middle of the operation?!" Asked Itami irritated.
The crewman simply shrugged. "I'm just doing my job, man. Now quickly pick three men and get in the helo!"
The crewman jogged back in the helicopter leaving Itami for a second. The young lieutenant groaned and picked up three members of his team.
"Kuribayashi, Tomita and Kurokawa! You're all coming with me for an escort mission. Sergeant-major, take command of the rest and RTB for retasking."
"HAI!" They all replied without any hesitation.
On board the Chinook, the four members of the team look out of the exit, silently watching their fellow teammates vacate the area with the convoy as the transport vehicle lifts off the ground.
"Um...lieutenant, can you tell us why we're going on an escort mission without the others?" Asked Tomita calmly.
"Yeah, and why in the middle of the operation? I've only managed to kill two imperials." Added Kuribayashi with an annoyed expression.
Itami silently stared back at them before he finally spoke up.
"Because the americans also found a human and a digimon civilian. Not only that but I've heard that they haven't receive any kind of air support since the assault started."
He then stared at Kuribayashi dumbfounded as she fixed a bayonet on the barrel of her Howa Type 89 assault rifle.
"Really, Kuribayashi... a bayonet now." He said with a disapproval look.
"You never know when things might get ugly." She stated with a sadistic smile.
"You really need to see a psychiatrist, you're scaring the little girl." Scolded Tomita.
While Tomita and Kuribayashi were bickering in the Chinook, the Rangers and the marines back at the Armoury Field were being pinned down and taking some losses. With the rest of the company cut off and the imperials mainly focusing on them, they were getting desperate for the arrival of their evacuation. However it didn't stopped them to fight more ferociously and more deadly. With the support of the french and japanese paratroopers raining death from above with mortar shells, the imperials were being cut to pieces.
Just outside the entrance, 1st platoon held their ground behind the sandbags and steel walls. Lt. Raymond was walking from cover to cover, passing out encouraging words and ammo to his marines.
"Come on! Keep the fire flowing! Don't let those fuckers get pass us. Show them no mercy, marines! Oorah?" He shouted out.
"OORAH!"
He stopped behind a wall, ignoring the bullets passing closely around him as he aims down his ACOG and opened fire short bursts at the enemy. After he emptied his mag, he dropped to one knee behind the steel wall to load another mag in his rifle, stands back up and shoots at them with rapid semi-auto fire and deadly accuracy.
Meanwhile in the building, Rangers and 2nd platoon laid out storms of rounds and 40mm grenades. Izumi was hiding behind the reception office, covering his head and ears with Tentomon close by his side as bullet casings from some of the Rangers dropped carelessly on top of him. A soldier ducked under office and looked at Izzy with a friendly smile.
"Hang in there, kid. You'll be home soon." He said before loading another mag in his M4A1 rifle and resumed to open fire at the imperials.
Shortly after, another Ranger dropped on the ground, yelling in pain as he holds on the massive wound on his left arm. The operator knelt down and gave the wounded soldier a morphine shot and applying pressure on the wound.
"Corpsman! Wade's hit!" He cried out.
Navy corpsman "Doc" Adukwu rushed towards the wounded soldier and quickly began applying bandages and treat the wounds.
"Those Chinooks better get here quickly or else we're fucked!" Shouted Cpl. Parker.
"Shut up, Parker! Semper fi, brother." Replied PFC. Allen.
And as if on cue, the roars of rotors of the mighty Chinooks could be heard outside. Raymond ran inside the building, his uniform covered once again in dirt and ash.
"We'll give you cover fire while you evacuate the casualties and the VIPs, make it quick." He stated before running back to the battlefield.
"You heard the man, double time marines!" Ordered Lt. Martinez as both Rangers and marines carried the wounded and escorted Izumi and Tentomon out.
Just as Itami's Chinook landed, he ordered his small squad to spread out and in defensive position. He ducked in fright as a projectile whizzed by his head. He knelt down and opened fire in the general direction of the imperials. Projectiles and energy, or magical, beams flew close the extraction team. Itami noticed to his right the american soldiers carrying their wounded and escorting a teenage boy towards him.
"Mari, Tomita, go help out the americans with the casualties! Kuribayashi, take care of the boy!" He ordered while firing in small bursts.
"RYOKAI!" They replied before doing their given tasks.
Kuribayashi approached the two Rangers escorting the boy. "Me take care boy." She said with a sloppy english vocabulary.
The Rangers simply nodded and handed her Izumi with Tentomon following close behind.
"Don't you worry kid, we're going to take you home." She gave Izumi a friendly smile as they entered the Chinook.
Both Izzy and Tentomon froze on their tracks once they laid their eyes on the other passengers.
"Hikari..."
The girl in question turned and looked up at him. She gasped in surprise before running up to him and hugged him dearly, bursting in tears.
"Oh thank god you're safe! I-I thought they'll kill you or e-even worse! Are you okay?"
Izzy patted gently her head, trying to comfort her.
"I'm fine, thanks for asking. Just a little beating, it's nothing." He stated with a comforting smile though he lied about that last part, his ribcages actually do hurt a lot.
"Do you know where are the others?" She asked, hoping she could see her friends and more importantly her brother.
However his smile disappeared, he knew he couldn't lie away with this one.
"I'm afraid no. They blinded us when we got separated a few hours before the military came. I'm sorry, Kari." He replied sadly.
Hikari sat down in silence, her hands covering her face as she continues to sob silently. Izzy and the two digimon sat beside her and gave a comforting hug, all of them wishing to see their friends back safely.
Once the casualties and the soldiers were in the Chinooks, the helicopters quickly took off of the Armoury Field before it was being bombed by Mirage 2000 fighter jets called in by the french paratroopers.
Though the battle was over, firefights still raged on as the sun begins to set and night approaching. The JASDF crewman walked up to Raymond and Itami, who sat next to eachother, and spoke up loudly.
"Overlord just gave the order to take both of you, the civvies and your men back to FOB Ginza."
"What?! What about the others?" Asked Raymond with concern, knowing that the rest of the company has to continue to fight.
"They're being pulled back to the back lines. They'll get some rest too, especially after what you all have been through, you guys earned it in my book." Replied the crewman. He then looked at the kids with sympathy. "These kids must have been through hell. Not only that but I've heard there are more of them."
"Six more..." Itami said to no one in particular.
"It begs the question though: why would the imperials want to capture children? More specifically them? That's just messed up." Commented the crewman before he went back to sit behind his M240B.
Raymond took quick glances at the teenagers, they all look tired and sad. Raymond's hands clenched into fists as anger and determination filled his mind: they will find the missing children and they will bring them back alive.