Chapter 20:
Prelude to another war
The roars of the helicopters filled the bustling camp as the Marines of 1st Battalion scrambled themselves to get ready for combat. Squads were sent to their designated choppers. Every Marine, once on board the transport helicopters, inspected their weapons and gears, and whispered a little prayer. The status of the battle was already deemed as a massacre for the JGSDF and the Marines of Charlie company had taken some losses.
Once set and prepared, the helicopters flew off to battle. Dozens of helicopters dotted the sky, along with a handful of attack helicopters and attack jets that flew pass them. What supposed to be a quick take-and-hold mission now turned in to a fullscale battle against an enemy still not recognised.
Unbeknownst to the men and women who will go to battle, this particular battle will spark another war few years later after this one. A war between two powerful nations, a war where two grand armies collide in a stalemate. The outcome of this battle will start an internal hatred between these two armies and between two worlds. Political rivalries will escalate once the war against the Imperium is over.
January 4th 2018, before that day the soldiers of the IDDF and those of the Metal Empire never met each other in a major battle.
Flying high above the highlands of the Metal Empire, the waves helicopters has caught the eyes of curious Digimon famers and workers below, looking up at them with awe and wonder.
As the helicopters approached the battlefield, the Marines could easily spot the enemy positions in the mountains and in the forests. Lowering to the newly established landing zone, Richards and a squad of Marines were the first ones in before being followed by the dozens more as more Marines poured in.
Walking down the dirt path and onto the grass field, Yanagida saluted the american officer and told him the situation of the battle.
"We've got two whole companies that had pushed further up and at 0835 hours, Delta company announced that they were pushing up further into the mountains towards what we assume were their artillery batteries. Since then, I haven't got any more reports from them."
"Alright, have your men stay here and hold the line. Bravo company will assist. We mustn't let the enemy surround us, got it?" Explained Richards.
Yanagida nodded and saluted again. Richards called a radio specialist and Raymond. "Tell Charlie company to hold that creek bed no matter what! We need to cut off their flanking routes before we can muster a counter-attack." He then turned to Raymond. "Take your company and help out the two companies up ahead the road."
"Yes sir!" Raymond saluted before calling up Alpha company.
The Viper attack helicopters fired missiles and machine gun rounds at the forest and mountains. The environment was being pounded and peppered by the coalition force's sheer volume of fire, dozens of enemy units were being destroyed and hundreds more wounded.
Linking up with 4th IR's Charlie company, the Marines of Alpha company took up positions behind rock formations and craters, creating a firing perimeter. Surrounded by tall grass and small trees with heavily dense bushes, the men had a hard time to locate and see the enemy.
A small area was dedicated for mortar teams and another was dedicated for the wounded as the medics did their best to treat the wounds under heavy fire and pratically under no cover.
Joining with a wounded Captain Izuka, Raymond was asking about the current situation so far.
"Where the hell is Delta company?"
"They are up those hills. We're trying to get comms running with them but the thick foliage is blocking our signals." Replied Izuka while he tries to get some order among his men.
"Alright. Lieutenant Colbert! Take your Recon Marines and find me Delta company. Dukeman, I want machine gun teams dugged in along the perimeter."
As the americans arrived into the battlefield, meanwhile with Delta company, they were taking heavy casualties when they walked into a clearing with not a lot of cover other than tall grass and a huge, dead tree trunk. They set foot in the enemy's ambush.
Itami slowly crawled between Kurata and Nishinda who were surveying their surroundings for any signs of enemy movement.
"How's the Captain, sir" Asked Nishinda quietly.
"Fucked up but still breathing. I think." Itami replied.
"Seriously, what has gotten into his head to keep charging the enemy?" Kurata growled.
"Shut up, Takeo, and keep your eyes open." Itami said after hitting him behind his head.
"You think the rest will-"
Nishinda placed his palm on Kurata's mouth to silence him and listened carefully at the environment. The three of them slowly raised their weapons as they heard slow foot steps coming closely towards them. Itami signaled Nishinda to throw a frag out in the open to scare the enemy out.
Right after the grenade exploded, the JSDF soldiers were met by a group of charging Commandramon and Sealsdramon who got up from the tall grass. They immediately returned fire, bullets were being exchanged to both sides.
Digimon dropped dead right in front of them as they continued to spit out lead from their rifles. Itami quickly switched one target to another, firing three rounds at a time.
"Conserve your ammo! Three rounds to the chest!" Shouted Kuwahara.
A bullet struck Nishinda at his left arm. He shouted a profanity and laid on his back as the pain surged through his whole body. Then he spotted a grenade landing right next to him. Without thinking, he threw himself on top of the hand grenade.
"GRENADE!" He yelled and Itami and Kurata covered their heads.
The fragmentation grenade erupted and chewed through his body armour and torso. Though he saved his friends, Nishinda dies two days after his second child came to life.
Watching his friend die right before his eyes, Kurata screamed in horror and grief, Nishinda had a family to live for and he threw all away in order to save his teammates. Itami shook Kurata once he started to cry uncontrollably in the middle of the firefight.
"Takeo! Takeo!" The soldier finally came to his senses and sniffed an apology. "This is Recon 3-Actual to all units, Man down. I repeat man down. Nishinda is KIA." Itami annonced grimly to the rest of his team.
At the LZ, Richards and Yanagida were coordinating their units accordingly. The medics tended to the wounded right next to them and the mortar teams. Radio communicators were exchanging orders with the pilots as the airstrikes intensefies by volume of fire.
More helicopters arrived at the LZ as the need for medevacs and reinforcements increases. The coalition started to pull back so that they wouldn't be killed by the incoming air support.
Smoke grenades of different colors were popping out to mark their positions.
A UH-1 Venom loaded with ammo boxes and Marines was receiving heavy enemy fire until one round struck the tail rotor. The helicopter spun out of control a few feet above the ground. The passengers had throw the ammo and themselves out of it. Black smoke started to pick up on the helicopter's tail. Another round struck the co-pilot in the head. The main pilot tried his best to land the air transport safely but instead it crashed violently as it received more incoming fire. The other pilot and two unfortunate Marines were killed in the crash.
"This is Hawk 3-4. LZ is too hot. We're halting medevac for the moment until it is cleared."
"Got it! We'll clear it out as soon as possible." Suggested Richards. "Get me Warpig and tell them to pushed up the creek bed with Charlie Company!" He ordered.
Screams and gun fire resumed once again when the enemy launched another charge at their position. Kurokawa quickly crawled up to another wounded soldier. The wounded was screaming in agony while his entire left side of the body was slowly being consumed by what looked like white phosphorus. The incendiary munition burned through his body armour and flesh painfully. Kurokawa quickly took off her kevlar helmet and searched through her medic bag for bandages and water.
"DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY FUCKING BANDAGES!?" She asked in complete frustration.
Another soldier got shot to the chest right next to her. Fortunately for her, another combat medic arrived and she orders him to take care of her patient while she tends on the other wounded. Kuribayashi ran behind Kurokawa to give some cover fire.
"Shino! Give me a hand over here!" Requested Mari.
"What?! Can't you-"
"GET OVER HERE NOW!" Snarled savagely the combat medic which made both the wounded soldier and Kuribayashi flinch.
While Mari applied a morphine shot, Shino plugged the wound with her hands to stop the bleeding. After the morphine shot, Mari ducked down to treat the wound, unintentionally avoiding a bullet that zipped just above her head. Once the bandages were applied, she picked up her assault rifle and fired a couple bursts at three Sealsdramon who tried to snuck behind them.
"Uh, Mari..." Kuribayashi stuttered. "You're kinda scaring me out now."
"Yeah, same here" Added the wounded private.
"I thought you wanted bloodshed..." Glared Mari at her friend then at the private. "And you keep your mouth shut or else I'll use you as a bullet sponge. Is that clear?"
The two soldiers nodded rapidly and in fright, not wanting to go further on her bad side.
"Recon 3, this is Recon 1-1, we're in the forest, where are you?"
Itami took the radio and replied with relief in his voice.
"Recon 1-1, this is Recon 3. Boy are we glad to hear you. We're currently taking a defensive position in what I assume is a knoll in the middle of a clearing."
"Roger that, we're just a few meters East of your position. Hang tight help is on the way."
"Listen up! Friendlies coming to our East! Give them some cover fire!" Shouted Itami to what was left of Delta company.
Raymond just received the new report from the Recon units and sighed with relief knowing that Itami and his teammates were still alive, for now.
"1st and 2nd platoon on me! We're making a push through the forest and link up with the Recon Marines. Guilmon, I want H.E rounds at 200 meters ahead the knoll, 3 rounds." He ordered.
The Marines of the metionned platoons got out from their dug foxholes and ran up the hill under the cover fire of the vehicles and 3rd platoon's machine gun squads. With the way already cleared up by the Recon units, the assault group moved forward, occasionally firing at enemy stranded units. Once joined up with the Recon units, the Marines took up firing positions from the higher grounds. They could see the small dirt mound, covered with wounded or killed soldiers.
"Imlay, Chandler. Pop smoke at the other side of the knoll on my mark. Colbert, you'll provide cover fire for the extraction team." Raymond ordered while he readies himself behind a tree.
"Who'll be the extraction team?" Asked Colbert unaware of the plan.
"Dukeman, pick five of your best men and follow me." He told to the Gunnery Sergeant.
"Ryan, Brook, Cyberdramon, Jackson and Miller." He picked sternly and then they prepared themselves to rush down to the clearing.
Raymond breathe in slowly and breathe out calmly. "Now!" He signalled.
The smoke grenades were launched at the same time as the extraction team rushed out of cover and down the slope to the clearing. The rest of the Marines started to fire and lit up the forest around the clearing, pinning the enemy down.
Once the extraction team arrived, they helped the medics at evacuating the wounded and carry the dead while those who weren't injured continued to fight back. The JSDF were able to evacuate the disabled and the dead in short time before the rest of them could retreat. In small groups, the japanese soldiers ran up back to the Marines and continued to the evac site.
The extraction team then slowly backed away while still providing some cover fire for the few that were still retreating. They procceeded the retreat with the 'talking guns' tactic, effectively suppressing the enemy troops.
With everyone finally out, Kuribayashi, who volunteered to stay behind for a bit used the opportunity to make a full sprint back to friendly lines. There was half a hundred meters to cross between her and the Marines. She quickly stood up and made a mad dash.
Nearing back to the hill, Raymond turned around and saw that Shino had almost joined up, until a bullet shot right through her lower waist. She gasped in surprise and lost control of her body, tripping on her feet and rolling back down at the base of the hill.
"Ah shit! She's hit!" Yelled Dukeman.
In a split second decision, Raymond ran back down to get her.
"I'll get her!" He shouted.
Dukeman stared at his superior in bewilderement and ordered the Marines to provide cover fire.
Clutching her wound and groaning, Kuribayashi tried to take off her body armour, which put a lot of weight on her and by the fact she was having a hard time to breath. Suddenly she felt someone taking the armour off of her and carried her bridal style. She could feel strong hands gripping her legs together and her back , she can also feel her face heat up when she realized that she instinctively wrapped her arms around the person she last expected to be save from but that she admires the most, the Marine Lieutenant Raymond.
Although he seems to be suffering a bit by carrying her and that he was covered in dirt and sweat, she couldn't help but stare into his eyes, the same eyes that burned with determination that she fell in love with. However her dreamy daze was cut short once the pain come back forcefully. She snarled and hung her head against Raymond's chest.
Raymond managed to carry her all the way back safely through all the spurratic fire. He gently laid her against a tree trunk where the medics can have a look at her wound.
"Can't believe I just made it through all that." Noted Raymond as Dukeman approached him.
"You do know that Renamon could've easily brought her here with her teleportation ability."
Raymond face-palmed once he remembered that fact. Dukeman then punched lightly Raymond's shoulder and added with a sly smile.
"Come on. Admit it that you did all that shit just to show off."
Raymond chuckled in response before he responded:
"Hold the ridge and get 3rd platoon over here."
"Yes sir!"
Six hours in the battle, the two armies are currently at a stalemate. Though the coalition force are able to regroup and push back the enemy force, they however still have one problem to take care off: the artillery.
Due to the sudden outburst and intensity of the battle, the IDDF took note that the 4th IR and 1st Battalion will not be able to assist the main assault force, thus had to improvise by taking out most of the air support from the 1st Battalion to speed up the operation. Of course, that only angered the Marines.
During the battle, two landing zones were being established. LZ Alpha for the Bravo and Charlie company and LZ Bravo for Alpha company.
Once the Creek bed has finally being re-secured, Richards ordered 1st and 2nd platoon to push up through the forest while 3rd platoon stayed behind and searched around the creek bed for any enemy scouts or booby traps. Lance Corporal Martin had his M16A4 rifle aimed lowly around as he walks around tall grass cautiously. Each step he took, he would stop and observe the ground around him for a couple of minutes before walking a few more steps forward and repeat the same process. Suddenly when approaching a bush, he saw that some of its leaves were starting to shake unnaturally. He slowly heads towards it, his rifle fully drawn and ready to shoot. He kicked through the bush and received a yelp in response.
"The fuck..."
He searched through the bush and was struggling to take out a small figure. He managed to throw the figure out of the hiding spot and pinned it down with his foot on top of it. He examined the figure and was surprised to catch an endangered animal in the Digital World of all places... or so he thought.
"H-hey! I found a panda!" He shouted to gain the nearby Marines' attention.
Five Marines came at him including Richards and Sergeant-Major Hendrick.
"That's no panda... it's a digimon, you idiot," Scolded the Sergeant-Major and pulled the Pandamon by its scarf. "Tell me one reason why I shouldn't kill you on the spot!" He threatened, which was effective at scaring the life out of the digimon.
"Please don't! I'm not a scout! I'm a deserter!" Pandamon claimed quickly.
"Leave him, Hendrick. Let's hear him out." Ordered Richards.
Hendrick dropped the digimon and Richards knelt down so that he could speak with the digimon face-to-face.
"Now if you're a deserter then you don't mind telling us everything we want to know, right?"
"S-sure, what-e-ever you want! I just want to live!"
"Good. First question: who are we facing against?"
Pandamon stared at the human blankly, thinking that this particular was dumb to him.
"The Metal Empire of course! Who else?!"
"I thought that they were neutral to the war."
"Chaosdramon claims to be neutral but the Metal Empire is secretly aiding the Imperium by providing weapons and troops. In fact, this battle is just a distraction to buy some time for the Imperium."
"Can you tell us where their camp and their artillery units are located?"
"Three klicks ahead at the other side of that mountain." Pandamon answered while pointing at the direction. " It is heavily defended and Chaosdramon and the Three Storm Commanders are there to observe us."
"Why would they want to observe us?" Asked Hendrick.
"Eversince you came in our world, Chaosdramon was tired of fending off rebellions and wanted a real challenge for the Metal Empire. Him, the Storm Commanders and most of the D-Brigade are all eager to fight you after your success at Iarica and Dramon Market. There's currently a whole division, 4 000 digimon, waiting to kill every human they see."
"And is Chaosdramon going to send some reinforcements?" Asked Richards.
"No. Our main objective is to hold this position until either the division or the humans are destroyed completely. This is but a fraction of the D-Brigade."
"How many are there in the D-Brigade?" Martin asked with a bit of worry in his voice.
"16 000 digimon, without the reserves."
While the Marines were starting to get worried, Richards ponders for a plan that could turn the tide for them.
"Hendrick, get me an extract helo quickly and get the prisonner to our base. Call the Royal Knights and tell them about this. Tell them to act fast if they want us out of here alive." Requested Richards before going back to the convoy.
Hendrick nodded and barked out the orders at the Marines around him. The Marines immediately got to their tasks.
"What are your next orders, sir?" Asked a Marine Forward Air Controller.
"Tell to all units to dig in and hold their grounds for the night. I have a feeling that the Metal Empire is going to send us everything they have for tonight."
The battle continued to the dead of night. The firefights seem to never loose their momentum. Tracer rounds and sparks of light were exchanged from both sides. The coalition force were slowly gaining the high grounds. Mortar teams deployed flares out to the dark skies to illuminate certain areas of the highlands.
Gun shots and artillery shellings could be heard throughout the forest where Alpha company has been holding on to for the past two hours. Foxholes were dug in and sandbags were distributed along the defensive line, with the help of the thick forages and trees, the Marines had little effort to defend their positions.
Raymond pulled down the NVG goggles to his eyes to see better in the darkness. He observed the surroundings of the clearing carefully until he received a message from the Lieutenant-Colonel.
"Alpha-Actual, be advised, we have gathered info that the enemy might send a massive counter-attack. Expect lots of infantry and possible armour. How copy?"
Just as he receives the info, he spotted several movement down at the clearing. Renamon warned everybody about the enemy presence and the Marines quickly took up arms and readied themselves for a fierce fight.
"Solid copy. We're about to meet an enemy counter-attack as we speak. Over." Replied Raymond before he inspected his rifle and aims down at the knoll.
"Roger that. Bravo company is also about to receive the same treatment. Be careful and give 'em Hell!"
"Alpha 4-1, I want flares at: Golf 6 to Golf 7 on all grids." He demanded and waited for the illumination flares to pop up.
Meanwhile, Colbert passed behind Renamon and tapped lightly on her shoulder. She looked back and he handed her a M16A4 assault rifle.
"Take this instead of your sniper rifle, things will get dirty quite soon." He explained to her.
"But, sir, I can handle just fine with this." She pointed out in protest.
"Trust me, it's better with a M16. Besides I know that you broke your first rifle back at Iarica for using it as a club."
Renamon reluctantly accepted the rifle and placed the bolt-action sniper rifle in the foxhole next to Roach. She inspected the AR before looking through the ACOG sight, her natural nightvision being better than a human's, she doesn't need a NVG goggle to help her. Her sights were already lined up to her target as she slowly follows it. As soon as the flares finally pop up in the sky, the clearing and its surroundings lit up brightly, revealing dozens of confused enemy foot mobiles in the open and only a few hundred meters away from their position. Renamon was the first one to open fire, the bullet pierced right through a Strikedramon's helmet with ease.
"Thank you, Iceman." She thought to herself with a smirk now with the acknowledgement that were new rifle was equipped with armour piercing rounds.
The ridge lit up with small arms tracer rounds as soon as the flares were deployed. A handful of digimon were already killed at the first volley of fire. The D-Brigade troopers tried to find cover at the knoll or by simply going to ground and hoping for the best. In addition, more troopers started to rush out of the forest and through the clearing, thinking that by sheer numbers they could overrun the humans' position. Soon, several digimon packed with multiple guns, such as the dreaded Assaultmon, arrived and tried to win the firefight in terms of volume of fire.
"1-4! H.E rounds at anything above 200 meters of our positions, 5 rounds! Fire for effect!" Requested Raymond with Darrack's radio.
"H.E, 200 meters and above from your position, 5 rounds, fire for effect." Repeated Guilmon.
A few seconds later, plumes of dirt and digimon flying upward dotted the area has multiple mortar shells dropped from the sky.
"Good effect on target! Keep it up!" Thanked Raymond. "Dukeman! I want grenade launchers to fire at anything that passes 100 meters to our position!"
Meanwhile with Richards and Bravo company were holding off a similar wave of enemy, however it seems that the artillery is focusing on them.
"Listen to me! That trench is vital, vital! Now they'll be coming right at you with a lot of troops. Do not let them take that position!" Ordered loudly Richards to Charlie company through the hell fire of battle.
Though deep in cover, Bravo company will not last longer unless the artillery has been destroyed or at the very least disabled.
"Someone get me Warhammer on the comms now!" He demanded before firing multiple shots at a Omekamon. "A cardboard Digimon? Really?! This is Pokemon level of laziness here."
With the order given, Captain Nathan Campbell led Charlie company along a group of tanks and LAVs, crossing the dirt path at the far right of Alpha company. Across them was a wide clear space with small woods on each side.
A couple of Type 10 main battle tanks drove at the front of the assault force, the infantry taking cover behind them. A few meters ahead was a natural trench along a series of craters that spread throughtout the clearway. The Marines quickly secured the area and established defensive position, the armoured vehicles stayed behind them to give them fire support.
Just as they arrived, they heard several metal threads coming towards them. They were soon met with the Metal Empire's forces, consisted mainly of infantry and a handful of armour Digimon and Aerial Digimon.
"CONTACT!" A sergeant yelled shortly before ducking their heads as a Tankmon opened fired.
The japanese tanks retaliated by firing in volleys their main guns while the machine gunners lit up the foot mobiles. Easily retaking the firefight, the Marines returned fire and were able to already deal heavy losses to their foes.
Three fronts were engaged in a fierce stalemate as the Metal Empire tries to retake their positions recently captured by the humans. The battle continued through the whole night, none of them were taking a few seconds to regroup.
The flashes of explosion and the sounds of gun fire could be heard all the way to the Metal Empire's forward base, where Chaosdramon and his three Storm Commanders watched the battle from his tent installed on top of a cliff. Raijinmon, Suijinmon and Fujinmon were all discussing about the humans' tactics behind their emperor, who was gazing at the battle before facing his commanders.
"Should we go and assist our reserves, my lord?" Asked Raijinmon with anticipation in his voice.
"No. We just need to hold them off for several days. Besides if we truly use our forces to full efficiency then these humans won't last an hour." Replied Chaosdramon.
"Yes, my lord. What is your next order?"
"We leave tomorrow morning. Burn every trace that we were here."
"But what about the division?" Asked Suijinmon concernly.
"I think Major General Vajramon can handle himself, unless if one of you want to stay behind only to supervise and see the outcome of this battle." Suggested Chaosdramon at his subordinates.
"I would like to stay behind, my lord." Proposed Fujinmon. "I want to see how the humans would adapt when they are cut off from their precious air supplies and mortars."
"Very well, Fujinmon. However make sure to leave at once and with haste if the humans reach our camp." Instructed the mechanical emperor.
"It is unlikely to happen but I shall do as you command."