Chapter 11:

Combine Forces

September 29th 2017, Londreau, UDC.

What was once a beautiful, clear blue sky was soon dotted with various military aircrafts dawning upon the city of Londreau. Imperial forces had already suffered heavy casualties caused by IDDF artillerie and aerial bombardments. Marines were on board Venoms, BlackHawks and the newly arrived MV-22 Ospreys. On land, the grassy plains were filled with hundreds of heavily armoured vehicles, rushing straight at the city.

Raymond sat on the edge of the Venom, his feet casually swinging in the air. On the west part of the city, he could see several flying digimon of the Aerial Strike force diving in the city. He let out one deep sigh and loads up a fresh mag in his M4A1. He did a quick inspection to his equipement before he heard his radio buzzing to life.

"This is Super 6-2, be advised: we're taking fire here..." Announced a pilot of a BlackHawk.

"Roger that, Super 6-2. We've got small arms fires and rockets down there." Reported a pilot of a Viper attack helicopter.

"This is Striker 1-1, we've got visual on multiple hostiles, permission to go clean that up, how copy."

"Solid copy, Striker 1-1. All Strikers, you have green light to engage hostiles."

With the order given, the Vipers fan out of the main force and began their rain of death; bullets and rockets struck down the enemy, the shower of hot lead and explosives resulted in destruction and death on its path.

"Feet on ground in 10 seconds."

Raymond signaled Dukeman to prepare the rope to rappel down the transport.

"5 seconds"

The UH-1 Bell Venom hovered above a specific location and shifted to the left to give enough space for the marines to rappel down.

"Standby for greenlight..."

"Down the ropes! Go! Go! Go!" Shouted Raymond as marines began to pour in the city. He was the last one down before the transport helo flew off back to the FOB.

"1st and 2nd squad on me! 3rd and 4th squad move up to RDV point Bravo! I want a machine gun nest up and ready." He ordered as they fan out to different directions in the streets. As the 1st and 2nd squad pushed through the city, they came up to enemy fire from several meters away.

"Hit the deck!" Yelled Dukeman.

The marines doved behind any cover they could find. Though it was easy to say than done. Bullets snapped near them on the asphalt as the sound of machine guns erupted in a terrifying symphony.

"1st squad, get suppression fire on that building! 2nd squad on me, door breach, stack up!" Raymond ordered through his radio.

Once the 1st squad suppressed the enemy, Raymond and 2nd squad ran towards the targeted building and stacked up behind the door. He signaled Jackson to kick the door down.

The private stepped in front of the door and bashed it down with one strong kick. The others rapidly went in and proceeded through the hallway. They could here above them multiple voices and heavy guns firing. They silently went up the stairs, with Lcpl. Sanborn on point. They arrived at the second floor, they took the turn to the right and spotted two Commandramon with their backs at them, for now they have not been spotted by the enemy. They stealthly approached the two imperials. The hallway continued to the right and there was small room filled with small desks and chairs and a black board at the end of the room. The marines assumed they were in a school and Raymond ordered three marines to use the classroom to cut through the middle of the next hallway. They followed his instructions, Raymond leading the three others. He signaled PFC. Blake Imlay and PFC. Jake Lopez to get ready to shoot on his mark. Raymond prep up a flashbang grenade and quietly counted down for the squad to strike.

On '1', he lunged the flashbang at the other side of the hallway while both Imlay and Lopez killed the two Commandramon . Once the flashbang went out, blinding six imperials, the others cleared out the hallway.

"Hallway clear!" Announced Sanborn.

"1st squad, this is 2nd squad, the building has been cleared. Keep moving towards the objective. We need to push through and meet up with 1st Recon." He gave the order through the radio.

After the squads were linked up in the street, they pushed forward. Crossing streets and alleyways, only receiving little resistance from the enemy. So far everything was according to plan.

They entered in an open market place. The stands were abandonned, their owners leaving behind their products. The sun shined through the various colorful rugs hanging above each stand, coloring the market place.

The marines fan out and made a defensive perimeter. The market place was surrounded by small stone houses, with only two entrance points. One leads to the main street and the other led to a small alleyway which is connected to another block.

Firefights could be faintly heard all around them, which intensified when the armoured division rolled in. Jets and helicopters sometime flew pass above as the enemy try desperately to gain air power.

Meanwhile the 1st squad was sweeping through a house, the 2nd squad was holding their position outside. After clearing the first floor, they went up the stairs and started to clear the second floor. Chaffin kicked down the door and went in after Cobbly. With their weapons drawn, they did a quick search until they spotted a sturdy wooden ladder that leads up the rooftop.

"Found a way up, Staff Sergeant!" Shouted Chaffin.

Dukeman came in and decided to go up. He told Cobbly to call up the lieutenant and continued to climb up. Once on the roof, he looked around him. Luckily it was empty, for now. He looked behind him, at the streets they came from.

He could see attack jets flying down, spewing out 30mm rounds, destroying everything in their way. Attack helicopters were doing strafing runs, raining down rockets and heavy machine gun bullets, the shower of death resulted in clouds of black smoke and explosions erupting on the ground level.

"Find anything, Staff Sergeant?" Asked Raymond as he climbed up to the roof.

Dukeman nodded and pointed at him the taller ladder leading up to another, higher roof of another adjacent building.

"I think this one can give us a better field of view on the target building, sir." He guessed as he helped two marines to climb on the roof.

"Alright then, let's move up." He announced as he readjusted his M4A1 strapped around him.

The four marines reached up the other rooftop and proceeded closer the edge while crawling. Ahead of them was the other side of the city, plunged in chaotic firefights in every street. To their right, 300 meters away, was their target building, or buildings in this case. It was an university which consisted of four large buildings, a enormous gym, two (human) olympic size tracking fields, a small green park and a cafeteria. All of these were stretched in a 8 300 square meters area, built on a hill of 24 meters in height.

Raymond took out a pair of binoculars and examined the area. With the main entrance gates at the other side of the university, Raymond was relieved that the back entrance gate was left unguarded due to its smaller size, but big enough to allow marines to go through. He brought up his radio and turned it on.

"Echo 1-3, this is Echo 1, what's your status with 1st Recon?"

"We're linked up with 1st Recon Bravo Company and we are currently on foot to the university, over." Replied Sergeant Flamedramon.

" This is Stalker 1-1, we're moving to your position on your six, tell your men to hold their fire." Announced a Staff Sergeant of the Digital Marines' 1st Recon task force.

Raymond told Dukeman to give the order to the rest of the squad. On cue, a 10 marine sniper team arrived at the market place. Raymond and Dukeman joined up with the snipers inside the house.

"Staff Sergeant David Marcus of 1st Recon, sir." Snapped the young NCO at Raymond's attention. Raymond casually returned the salute before he gave a nod of acknowledgement at two members he knows personally: Sgt. Renamon and Lcpl. Sanderson.

"Aren't you supposed to assist the main force ?" He asked at the team leader.

"Indeed, sir. But Command sent us to help you instead, thinking you'll need all the help you can get to take that university." Replied bluntly Marcus.

"I guess the more the merrier. Anyways, we appreciate the help, we've just found a sniper spot on top of the roof of the other building." Informed the Lieutenant. "And in this case, Dukeman pass him the PLD." He ordered.

Dukeman nodded and handed to Marcus a Portable Laser Designator. "In case you need something with a heavier firepower to take out hostile tanks." He added.

"Thanks. Oh, and by the way, I'm handing you two of my best marines: Renamon and Roach. They've volunteered to be your designated marksmen." Marcus told to Raymond before the teams went on their ways and prepare themselves for the upcoming firefight.

The assault team, which consisted of 1st and 2nd squad with the two recon marines, carefully walked through the alleyway and later found themselves out on the streets again. With no holstile forces in sight, they quickly crossed the street and headed towards the small stone path that led to the back entrance of the university. With the fence tangled with flowers and bushes covering one side, a tall stone covering the other and the tall trees towering over them, the assault team 'dissapeared' from the sniper team's sight. As they neared the back gate, Raymond's radio sprunged to life as Marcus quietly calls him.

"Be advised, we've just spotted a huge group of aerial digimon descending upon the target area, they could be the Royal Knights' Strike Force, how copy?"

"Solid copy, thanks for the heads up." Replied Raymond.

Soon they heard multiple explosions and attacks further ahead in the area. The marines silently opened the gate and moved through the open garden. With the battle ahead of them intensified, the assault team began to jog lightly to assist the Strike Force.

"Fan out, three meters distance, hustle up, ladies!" Barked Dukeman as they could see the battle unfolding in front of them.

Raymond halted the team and gave the order to hold ground, their weapons were raised but they couldn't identify friend or foe. They simply stare at the battle in an uncomfortable and awkward silence.

Suddenly, a huge long golden dragon flew pass their heads and landed in front of them. The winged serpentine-like digimon, wielding two swords and clad from head to toe in golden armour, its frightening appearance made the humans gazed at the digimon in awe. It quickly looked at them before it spoke up in its deep, resounding voice.

"Which one of you is Leftenant Raymond?" He asked.

Raymond got up, quickly walked up to the dragon and sharply saluted him.

"2nd Lieutenant Raymond of Echo company, 1st Digital Marines." He stated.

"Captain OuRyuumon of the Strike Force." He answered back with the salute. "Now can you tell me why aren't you helping my soldiers?" He sneered closely at Raymond, but he seemed unfazed.

"We can't identify from friend to foe, Captain." Raymond stated as matter-of-factly.

"Right, I forgot you guys aren't digimon. Just shoot at any cyborg foot mobiles." He informed Raymond with a growl before he flew towards the melee battle.

Raymond ran back to the team and issued out the info. "He's a nice lad." He murmured sarcastically.

With the info given out, the marines immediately opened fire at any mechanical-like and on foot digimon. Firing in short burst, they quickly took out a chunk of the imperial forces, who ignored them until they were fired upon. Some imperials try to fire back but were killed by the Strike Force. Seeing as the imperial force were starting to retreat, Raymond decided that they should take the initiative.

"Advance! On my lead!" He shouted before he stood up and continued to lay down fire while walking.

The assault team followed suit, the line of marines and their constant fire suppressed and forced the imperials to retreat further in the university. However the combined force charge was soon halted when two Tankdramon showed up from the main entrance gates and fired back.

"Ah fuck. Marines, on me! Let the Strike Force handle the infantry, we'll take care of the armour." He ordered out.

While the marines took their positions in the track field, Raymond tried to catch OuRyuumon's attention. The Captain of the Strike Force realized that the marines changed position and looked behind him to see Raymond making hand gestures at him. The marine pointed at himself then at the incoming Tankdramon, signaling OuRyuumon that they'll handle them. The golden dragon gave him a firm nod and in returned received a thumbs up from Raymond.

"Echo 1-3, where the fuck are you?!" Shouted the platoon officer on the radio while he sprinted through the small grassy field to the tracks to regroup with his marines.

"Chaffin, Sanborn! Take the ATs and aim for the warheads at their front! The rest of you, aim for the head. Let's blind these fuckers!" He barked out as the assault team opened fire at the Tankdramon faces, effectively distracting and blinding them.

Chaffin and Sanborn moved up a little before taking their positions and aimed carefully at their target.

"Backblast clear! Firing!" Yelled Chaffin before firing the AT4-CS at one of the massive living tanks.

Sanborn fired shortly after. The two 84mm unguided warheads hit their intended targets, blowing the Tankdramon missile stack in front of them. The detonation engulfed the two tank digimon in an explosive inferno, in the end leaving nothing but craters and particles of data.

"Echo 1, this is Anvil 1-3, we're here to kick some ass, friendlies at your six."

The assault team turned around after they heard the back gate crashing and cheered at the arriving tanks and marines, rushing towards the battlefield. Sergeant Flamedramon and 1st Lieutenant Vasquez of 1st Force Recon marines, Bravo Company went up to Raymond and gave him a quick salute.

"3rd and 4th squad reporting for duty, sir!" Stated Flamedramon before Vasquez spoke up.

"1st Force Recon at your service, hope you don't mind us bringing some of our friends." He said, metionning the 3 M1 Abrams tanks.

"Not at all, sir. Shoot at any cyborg foot mobiles and armours." Raymond informed them.

Officers and NCOs gave out orders as they pushed up the imperials along with the Strike Force. Tank H.E shells flew across the battlefield while small and large firearms rounds whizzed at the enemy infantry. With the increasing size and firepower of the allied combine force, the marines took the advantage to flank and surround the imperials.

Raymond's platoon and the M1 Abrams callsigned "Bone Crusher", took the left flank, cutting off the enemy retreating in the forest located on the left side of the university. Meanwhile, 1st Force Recon took the right flank to capture the gym.

The 1st platoon of Echo company continued to pursue the enemy through the forest. Now with decent cover, the marines hid behind trees and took positions to open fire at the weakened enemy force. 40 mm H.E grenades rained down on them, taking out those who tried to fight back. However, their assault was all of the sudden halted when they started to take incoming fire from a large group of Assaultmon and Commandramon.

"Ah shit! Hit the deck! Enemy reinforcements!" Shouted Flamedramon as he doved for the ground, avoiding a few rounds that hit the dirt near him.

A group of five Assaultmon neared the marines and simultanously launched their attacks.

"Justice Strike!" They shouted furiously as their dual wield miniguns, hip machineguns and back machineguns spew out storms of bullets, pinning and taking out marines.

"Fuck! Sanborn's hit!" Yelled Flamedramon as the Lance Corporal lied in agony behind him, trying to keep pressure on his multiple wounds to the chest, legs and arms.

"Bone Crusher, I want you to take out those bastards! 50 meters on our twelve!"

With the coordinates given by Raymond, the tank fired back with all of its weapons. The .50 cal rounds and H.E shells quickly disposed most of the advancing imperial assault group.

"Echo 1, this is Bravo 6, we've captured the gym and enemy forces are retreating to the front entrance, what's your status?" Radio-ed in to Raymond.

"We're taking some fire but they are retreating as well, however we need a corpsman ASAP." He requested.

"I'll try to call a medivac. Should we pursue them?"

"Negative, our orders are to take and hold the area."

"Roger that, we'll prepare defensive positions from west to north. Bravo 6 out."

With the imperials now on the run and out of the area, Raymond gave out the order to cease fire. Some marines laughed and cheered in joy, relieved that they are alive to fight another day. Raymond sat beside a tree, his back resting on it. He took off his helmet and ballistic shades and breathed out in relief. He closed his eyes for a moment until he heard heavy foot steps stopping in front of him. He opened them and looked up to face the tall dragon as he looked back with a glare.

"Taking a rest now, Leftenant?" He asked.

Raymond lazily smiled at him before he replied.

"Well, when your fighting in a war where your protection can't protect much and that your weapon isn't as lethal as you wished, and that the entire world expects of you to succeed in battle with minimal casualties, it's quite frustrating. So yes, captain, I'm taking a rest. You can join me if you want." Raymond looked up at OuRyuumon and did a mock salute.

He expected the dragon to lash out and yell angrily at him but instead, his once furious glare softened but swore under his breath.

"Listen, Leftenant, I want to thank you for helping us back there and that you humans are here to help us." He extended his clawed hand at Raymond. "Now come on, we've got a base to defend."

Raymond reluctantly took his hand before been lifted to his feet. They both nodded at each other before Raymond started to re-equip himself. OuRyuumon just stared at him curiously as the human officer puts on his shades, helmet and lifted his scarf to cover half of his face. He then took out the mag on his rifle, made a quick check, re-inserted it and let the rifle hang on his side.

"Dukeman, call Command and tell them we need ammo quickly if Duftmon wants this place in our hands." He ordered before looking back at the dragon. "Captain." He sharply saluted before he joined up with the other marines.