Chapter 15:
The siege of Village of Smiles
(Part 1)
November 5th 2017, Village of Smiles
Raymond peered through his binoculars over a Hesco barrier. Eversince this morning, the IDDF soldiers took up defensive positions and had their weapons at the ready. The mortar teams behind the trenches were ready to load a round.
"Renamon, can you identify the digimon?" He asked to the digimon sniper through the radio.
"Affirmative. Commandramon, male. Though he seems to be running away instead of charging us." She informed in response.
Raymond pensively thought out a course of action. He mentally slapped himself and moved out of cover.
"4th squad on me. Renamon, if you see anything not human, kill it." He ordered as he jumped over the trench and ran towards the fleeing imperial soldier.
"Easy for you to say..." She muttered under her breath.
After running a few meters, Raymond raised his fist up to halt the squad and aimed his rifle at the Commandramon.
"Stop! Or we'll shoot!" He warned him loudly.
Flamedramon's squad took firing stances and drawn out their weapons. The imperial trooper didn't seem to notice them as he franctically took glances behind him while running.
Raymond warned again but didn't got the result he hoped for. He fired a shot at the digimon's right leg. The soldier tripped on the grass and screamed as he held his shot leg.
The Marines ran up to him, still pointing their weapons at him and circled around him.
"Where are the others?" Asked sternly Flamedramon while pressing his foot against the digimon's wound to get a quick answer.
"I don't know!" He yelled back.
Flamedramon pressed again with more weight and asked the question a second time.
"Please stop that! We're being pursued and I got separated from my unit among the panic." Commandramon replied quickly.
"Pursued by what?" Asked Raymond intriged.
As if on cue, they heard a loud terrifying roar coming from the forest 500 meters further ahead of them. The trees shook violently and some were cut down. Small bug-like digimon flew away in fear as the second roar came closer. A large skeletal creature rushed out of the forest in a raging rampage and charged towards them. Raymond eyes widened in surprise and yelled out immediately:
"HOLY FUCK! RUN! JUST FUCKING RUN!"
Two Marines picked up the wounded enemy and ran towards the village with fear plastered on their faces.
The sudden appearance of a SkullGreymon took both Guilmon and Renamon, not to mention also the entire village, by surprise. The vulpine fired a shot at the rampaging digimon's head, only for the bullet to deflect off harmlessly. Small and heavy rounds flew straight for the SkullGreymon as the soldiers gave cover fire for the retreating marines. The heavy machine guns seemed to slow down the skeletal digimon but it also angered it even more. Once the retreating marines jumped back to friendly lines, mortars and missiles started to pound down the digimon. The SkullGreymon snarled and launched multiple organic missiles from its spinal cord.
"Incoming!" Renamon warned before ducking her head as a missile barely hit her.
"Rifles suppress it! Aim for the head! Machine guns and missiles aim for the chest!" Shouted Raymond.
The SkullGreymon backed away little by little as it growled at the humans disturbing its vision with small rounds.
"Katsumoto! Aim for the chest!" Ordered Itami at the large soldier carrying the Panzerfaust.
Katsumoto lifted the missile launcher over his shoulder and aimed carefully at the target. The constant movement of the digimon made him adjust the trajectory several times until he finally found his moment. He didn't take another second to wait and pulled the trigger. The warhead flew above the trench line, leaving a trail of smoke above 3rd Recon Team. The warhead pierced its ribcage and impacted with its remaining internal organs. The explosion engulfed the creature in some sort of a cleansing fire as it gave one last roar of pain before it dissolved into data.
While the JSDF recon team cheered happily, the Marines observed the forest ahead of their positions as if waiting for another attack … and they were right. The cheering was cut short and everyone ducked their heads behind the sandbags as multiple projectiles whizzed at them. Though the sandbags give them protection against conventional projectiles, it did nothing against other, more powerful "attacks". Under suppression, the allied forces tried to return fire and regain superior firepower.
Bradley opened fire at any muzzle flashes at the treelines from her position in a civilian house. Luckily for her, the imperials didn't notice her yet as she takes out several hostile foot soldiers. With the increasing number of imperial soldiers, she was emptying her rifle's magazines faster than she expected. Suddenly, as the Marines started to regain fire superiority, a hail of bullets peppered Bradley's cover. A round struck her right elbow before she fell on the ground painfully with a welp. Clutching her bleeding elbow, she spewed out profanities as more rounds went through the window and destroying everything inside the room.
"Lucky motherfuckers!" She hissed angrily as she crawled her way out of the bedroom.
Once in the hallway, she stood back up and closed the door shut, the sound of bullets impacting on the stone wall muffled. She turned around as she heard Sanderson falling down the wooden ladder. Once he got back on his feet, he panted heavily and rested his hands on his knees. Avoiding bullets was no easy task but he was relieved that he survived... there was a reason after all why his nickname is "Roach".
With their cover blown, literally, Roach carried Bradley to the medical vehicle, Renamon giving them cover fire. Thanks to the LAVs and APCs, they managed to return fire at the enemy with minimum casualties, for now only three Marines are wounded during the ongoing firefight.
The explosive rounds pounded the forest where the enemy position is, blowing up the terrain and trees apart. An hour later and air support soon arrived, dropping bombs and firing their machine guns, decimating the imperial force in an awesome and horrific display of human weaponry and firepower. Engulfed in flames, the human forces continued to gun down the entire forest until the sun finally sets in, leaving the forest and the grass around it in ashes and smokes.
"This is Goliath 2-3, we're RTB for re-arming and re-fueling." Announced the pilot of an A-10 Thunderbolt II.
"Roger that. Thanks a lot for the assist." Replied Raymond through the M-ATV's radio.
"Call us if you need any help." The pilot proposed.
"I'll keep it in mind." Raymond stated before shutting the comms off.
"Guilmon! Cyberdramon!" He called them loudly. " I want you to check on our ammunation if we have enough to last a few days." He ordered after he placed the radio back in the vehicle. "Dukeman, status report." He demanded as they walk along the trench lines.
"3 wounded on our side, 0 for the japs." The Staff Sergeant reported. "These guys are quite lucky."
"We're lucky, Louis, all of us are. Intel say we just fend off an entire company and probably more." Corrected Raymond before stopping in his tracks.
Dukeman jumped in surprise as Renamon appeared in front of them out of thin air, Raymond seemed to be unfazed by it and looked at her expectantly.
"The VIPs and civilians are okay. Just a few buildings got damaged but nothing too serious to report, sir." She reported dutifully.
Satisfied with the report, he nodded at her and was about to head towards Itami but got interrupted once Renamon placed a paw on his shoulder. He turned at her with an eyebrow raised. Though the gesture may be an offense to any officer, Raymond was the only officer in the entire company to have a laid back attitude. Most Marines admired and respected him, both in combat and on break.
"Permission to speak, sir?" She asked after pulling her paw out of his shoulder.
"Granted."
"How long should we stay here? The ammo and food supply aren't my concern but what about the civilians?"
"Don't know, Sergeant, but if we have to stay here and defend this village, we'll do just that. Command will, and hopefully, send us an evac order for the civvies." He answered straightly before being approached by Itami and the platoon's communications specialist, Lance Corporal Dean "DD" Darack, both of them had a radio in their hands and looks of worry on their faces.
"Sir, I just got news from the Major." He began nervously. "The main base is being under attack by an entire Legion and Intel spotted a whole battalion is coming for us, cutting us from any support."
Raymond looked at Itami, hoping that he might give him some good news, but it wasn't in this case.
"Got the same news from Hazama. JASDF are currently helping them out and the Airborne 12th company along the 401st company are tasked to assist them. If we can hold the imperials for 2 or 3 days, we might get reinforcements soon." He informed with a small hint of optimism.
"Well I guess we should fortify our defenses in the mean time." Suggested Raymond. "Renamon, tell Sergeant Sledge to move back our perimeter with his squad to block off the civilians, 2 klicks would be good enough." He added before the vulpine silently nodded and vanished.
Itami just stood there, his mouth and eyes wide open in utter shock that a digimon could disappear in thin air, the Marines left him as they casually went on their separate ways. He blinked a few times before gathering his team for a briefing.
"What do you mean we can't pass through?!" Asked the Knightmon incredulously at the Marines blocking the southern pathway of the village. "Do you know who you're dealing with, soldier?" He stated angrily at the human, who seemed completely calm at the tall heavily armoured digimon.
"Those are my orders, sir. Unless you want your king to be shot by enemy sniper." Responded casually the Marine with sarcasm. "His death will be on your hands." He added with a mocking smirk.
"Why you-"
Before Knightmon could draw out his sword, Yamaki stepped in front of him and showed his ID card at the Marine.
"Let them through, Marine. They're under my responsibility." He demanded as he put back his card.
The Marine reluctantly let the VIPs in the perimeter. Knightmon gave him a glare, and in response the Marine merely rolled his eyes.
"Over here, Knightmon!" Shouted hurriedly Shoutmon before things could escalate between them.
The group headed to the lead M-ATV where 1st Lt. Raymond and 1st Lt. Itami were briefing with their NCOs. Yamaki coughed loudly to grab both of the officers' attention and interrupted the briefing.
"Shoutmon wants a status report on the situation." Stated Yamaki.
Both of the officers looked at each other, unsure which news they should tell first, Raymond finally spoke up.
"Well the good news is: we defended the village from an entire company of imperials and that support and reinforcements will be available in a few days." He started off before shifting uncomfortably. "However the reason why is the bad news. As we speak, Camp Green is under attack by an Imperial Legion. We got informed from our superiors that a force of about 800 soldiers or maybe more are coming straight at us." Raymond finished off grimly.
The group of civilians stared at him in shock after the news was given. Shoutmon paled at their current situation. He started to feel nauseous. Never in his life he fought off a force of this size, especially with a small force to defend his hometown and the fact that his reinforcements wouldn't be enough to defeat the imperials.
"A-and how do you plan on fighting against such a force?" He asked nervously. He feared for his friends' lives and hometown.
Raymond simply gave him a comforting smile.
"Semper fi, your majesty, we're used to fight against uneven odds. We're Marines and we win battles." He stated confidently before turning at his men. "Retreat?"
"Hell!" They all replied proudly.
"Is there any way that we can help you, gentlemen." Asked Knightmon with enthusiasm in his voice.
"If you can provide us heavy firepower, yes. If not, you can protect and guide the civilians out of harm's way." Replied Raymond as he puts on his helmet and shades on.
"Wait a minute... aren't you suppose to have a small army of pawnchessmon with you?" Asked Itami to Knightmon, earning him a surprised look from Raymond.
"Of course! My soldiers are loyal to me and will follow me anywhere!" Declared proudly the knight.
The knight digimon whistled loudly and suddenly, dwarf size white knights came out from different parts of the village, in the most random locations. Knights bursted out of food barrels, house windows and doors and even the ground itself. A Pawnchessmon even spawned out of a LAV-25, the drivers spilled their coffee and scrambled to get their weapons out. Causing chaos in the trenches, Marines let out gasps and curses, the small knights ignored them, some even apologised before their tiny armoured feet guided them to their leader. A hundred white Pawnchessmon stood in rank and file behind Knightmon, standing proudly at their commander's attention. Caught off guard, the nearby Marines instinctly raised their weapons at the small white knights.
"Stand your grounds, Marines! Jesus Christ! You almost blew the VIP's head off!" Scolded Raymond at them as he stepped in front of his men. "No one told us about that!" He exclaimed at Yamaki.
"Neither do I. However, what are you suggesting Itami?" He asked with interest at the young officer.
"If I remember from the anime, a Knightmon and several PawnChessmons can form a pyramid formation and it can halt any attack. If our LAVs give them cover fire, we'll be able to use our light vehicles and charge at the enemy lines." He stated as he continues to ponder more in his plans.
"And in that way, we'll be able to use more effectively our firepower at a closer range while having an impenetrable and mobile cover..." Continued Raymond as he realised Itami's plan. "If we can't beat them with numbers, we'll defeat them with speed and firepower. Break their lines and cause disorder among their ranks. We can flank them, breaking their morale at the same time."
"But for now, we should probably bolster our defenses first and make sure that we have enough supplies for at least a whole week." Reminded Itami with a frown.
"Back to work then." Raymond commented before giving a sharp salute at Shoutmon and headed towards the trench line.
Itami was about to head out also until he noticed Shoutmon looking around nervously.
"Uh? Are you okay, your highness?" He asked with mild concern for the small dragon digimon.
Shoutmon shook his head and blinked a few times, getting out of his trance. He looked up at the JSDF officer sheepishly.
"Y-yeah, I guess. It's just..." He started before frowning. "How do you feel relax with all this?"
Itami scratched his chin as he tries to come up with an answer. He didn't realised until now that he and most of the soldiers looked kind of relaxed, as if this was just another deployment in a country ruined by terrorism back in their own world. Even he felt calm and comfortable even though this was his first deployment in an actual warzone, the same could be said for the entire JSDF personels.
"I guess it didn't cross my mind until now. Maybe it's thanks to our training. As for the Marines, most of them already had combat experiences back in our world. But... no matter the odds, it's our duty to defend the population from any harm with our lives." He declared as he gave Shoutmon a comforting smile. "Well that's what I think anyway." He added sheepishly, earning him a chuckle from Yamaki.
Behind his foxhole, Guilmon observed the enemy line behind the treelines through his Nightvision goggles. The eerie silence and the gentle breeze caressing his scales made him feel sleepy until he noticed a particular scent coming to his left. He smiled as Renamon took a seat in his foxhole next to him.
"Anything new with our neighbours?" She asked sarcastically, placing her sniper rifle next to her.
"For now, no. They are just having a nice campfire while others are staring at us." He replied with the same tone.
He sighed and lifted the goggles off his eyes. He slumped his back against the dirt and took a pen and a notepad from his backpack. Renamon looked at him curiously as he scribbles down notes.
"They have a Blackmetalgarurumon. I figure LT wants him down and quickly, might as well use our LAVs and mortars for once." He answered at her mental question as he continues to scribble down.
Renamon picked up her sniper rifle and examined the enemy line through her rifle's scope. She was making mental notes on the enemy personel, spotting their NCOs and any potential threat to take out tomorrow.
"That Machgaogamon seems to be an officer. Maybe the one leading the whole Battalion." She informed him as she set her sights on the digimon.
The digimon in question walked around the imperial camp site casually, his arms behind his back, while being followed by several armed Sealsdramon and a NeoDevimon.
"That NeoDevimon must be his secon-in-command." She added to Guilmon as he writes down the information.
After several minutes of silent observing, she placed down her rifle on the ground and rested next to her boyfriend, nestling closely to him. She rested her head on his shoulder and snickered when she realised that Guilmon was drawing sketches of her during the observation.
"For someone who have claws for fingers, you draw like an artist." Guilmon blushed lightly at her compliment and chuckled.
"These are just simple doodles..." He stated as he rested his head on top of hers.
"Now you're being modest. These are beautiful." She complimented before giving a small kiss on the digimon's cheek.
"Y-you think?" He stuttered out, caught off guard by the loving gesture.
"Yeah, I'll like to have a portrait of myself. Drawn and signed by you."
"Gosh... I didn't know you appreciate them so much. Guess I should get started then." He turned a page on his notepad and started to draw the silhouette of her head. "How about you?"
"My drawing skill has been quite rusty since we've being deployed. But I can say that you draw as well as me, maybe even better." She admitted.
"No way, you're still the best. Remember that drawing you did of our group photo of last summer? That's a masterpiece and not a "quick doodle" like you claimed numerous times before."
Renamon felt her cheeks heat up at Guilmon's admiration. She tightens her paw around his hand and smiled at him brightly, a rare sight for any one to see, reserved only for him.
"Aww, you're too sweet, but thanks, it means a lot."
The two digimon stared at each other happily, their smiles widened and their heartbeats in a synchronised rhythm. They slowly leaned forward, tilting their heads as their faces inched closer and closer.
"Guilmon, keep your eyes on the enemy and not on your girlfriend." Ordered Raymond as he casually passed their foxhole with Dukeman behind him. "And no kisses in combat. You two will get a room after the war." He added with a playful smirk.
The couple sat straightly and looked away in embarrassement, their faces lit in deep crimson. Guilmon coughed awkwardly and placed his NVGs back on his eyes and resumed his observation on the enemy while Renamon stood up and walked back to her foxhole.
She quickly turned back and gave one last kiss on his cheek.
November 6th 2017, Village of Smiles.
The Marines and JGSDF soldiers didn't have a nice morning. As soon as the sun rose up, the Imperials started to open fire at their positions. Fortunately for them, they were quick enough to respond back.
Raymond ducked behind the Hesco barrier as more rounds hit his cover and ziping above his head. Hostile missiles erupted near their positions, shooting dirt in the air and covering the nearby Marines in dusts.
"I want H.E rounds on that son of a bitch!" He yelled out as he runs out of his cover and towards his M-ATV. A few rounds impacted on the ground near his feet as he was running. He hastilly opened the vehicle's driver door and quickly took the backpack on his seat. He rummaged through his backpack until he found the portable laser designator and a couple of AR-15 box magazines. He cautiously looked around him before he made a mad dash to a nearby foxhole.
"Use this to direct our air support!" He shouted as he passes the device to Darrack. "Guilmon! Set coordinates for the mortars: 500 meters to our 12, 3 rounds. Fire for effect!"
Guilmon repeated Raymond's coordinates to the rest of the mortar team as he loads a round on a mortar. The infantry artillery launched their H.E rounds over the trenches, hitting on a couple of hostile units.
"Adjust 25 meters to the left!" Dukeman shouted at them while firing a couple of rounds.
"Firing!" Yelled Guilmon before loading another round in the mortar.
This time the shells impacted deep behind enemy lines, taking out some of their artillery digimon and destroying some equipment in their camp.
"10 meters more to the left!" Raymond informed, knowing that the rounds approached their target.
With the adjustment done, the shells hit the BlackmetalGarurumon. The multiple explosions was enough to delete it from existence and taking out a few others around it.
"Good effect on target! Keep up the good work, boys!" Raymond cheered as he opens fire at the incoming hostile infantry.
A wave of foot soldiers charged at them, only to be mowed down by the JSDF LAV and machine guns. Soon, three Warthogs arrived at the battlefield and dropped their bombs on the enemy wave. They turned around and spewed out from their GAU-8 gatling autocannon. Dirt kicked up as 30mm rounds impacted on the ground and infantry digimon, killing them with a single hit.
Way behind the ensuing firefight, the inhabitants of the Village of Smiles were being evacuated in the village's town hall. It was a wide cylinder building, though not a tall building, it is spacious enough to shelter all 200 villagers, partially because most villagers are small size digimon.
"Holmes! Take out those scouts on our 6!" Yelled Sgt. Josh Sledge as he fired small bursts at an incoming Pegasusmon.
The intermediate cartridges of the Marines harmlessly bounced off the digimon's armour. The Marines dived for cover as the digimon launched an attack, the shower of needles showered the area. The needles got stuck solid on the dirt pathway and the humvee's window. With only a small distance between them, Sledge got up from his cover and opened fire at the digimon's left wing.
The holy beast came crashing down on the ground but was on its feet quickly and glaring at Sledge.
"Silver Blaze!" It shouted as it shoots a green beam from its forehead.
Thanks to his quick reflex, Sledge pulled the wounded Marine beside him and pushed him out of harm's way. The beam exploded in front of the sergeant, sending him farther in the street.
A Marine Lance corporal threw a fragmentation grenade right below the beast's belly while others suppressed it. The grenade's blast sent the digimon upwards before it crashed violently on the ground.
"How are you hanging, sir?" Asked PFC. Keith as he pulled the squad leader up.
Sledge was interrupted when they heard the heavy and shallow breath of the digimon. The Pegasusmon was desperately and stubbornly trying to get back on its feet. What was once considered a majestic beast turned in to a bloody mess, thanks to human modern weaponry. Though its upper body was untouched by the blast, its legs and lower body was filled with deep gashes and bled profusely. Its blond feathered wings were ruined and bleeding. Blood came out from its mouth and seeping out of its helmet, caused by the internal bleeding. Guts were threatening to spill on the ground.
The Marines stared at it with sympathy and sternness, they knew from experience that war isn't a pretty thing. After a few moments of struggle, it dropped back on the ground hopelessly, panting heavily as tears started to swell in its eyes.
A Marine corporal approached it, his weapon hanging loosely at his side. He gave it a stern salute before slowly aiming his M16A4 rifle at the digimon's head.
"I'm sorry to say this, but I'm going to end your suffering." Announced grimly the Marine. "Any last words?"
"Thank...you, human." It breathe out before shutting its eyes and awaited its final moments.
"It's the least I can do..." Replied the Marine before firing a round straight through its eye, ending it quickly.
The Marine stood still as the cloud of data particles flew up slowly, staring at the spot blankly. He swore under his breath and walks back to his squadmates shakingly. Sledge placed a hand on his shoulder and led him to the side of the humvee. He told him to sit down.
"How are you feeling, Corporal." He asked with concern as he stares at the blank Marine.
The Corporal swore loudly and slammed his head on his hands as he starts to weep solemnly. Sledge craddled the broken human being, letting his tears stain his uniform and caresses his back to comfort him. His fellow squadmates stood behind their squad leader, staring at him in silence. The moment of solidarity and brotherhood muffled the ongoing battle. After Sledge told the Marine to stay in the vehicle to take a rest, a Pawnchessmon stood straightly behind him, saluting him.
"The civilians ha-have been successfully evacuated..." He stuttered out while trembling.
"Are you okay there, trooper?" Sledge noticed his discomfort.
"A-a little, sir. Feeling a bit n-n-nauseous because of the blo-" His sentence was cut short as he knelt down and barfed out of his helmet. "C-can't handle the smell of blood, sir." He explained tiredly after multiple throw ups.
"Sorry to hear that, but thanks for the info." He turned to his men, who all gathered around him. "Listen up, our orders are to hold our ground here until further notice. I know that all of you want to go back to the trenches and beat the shit out of those imperial fucks but our priority is to defend the civilians, not to end the war in a single battle. Am I clear ?"
"Yes, Sergeant!" They all replied loudly.