Chapter 21:
Metal Frenzy
"Overlord, this is Hunter 3. Package has been delivered. Possibly 5 EKIA." Reported Yuki Inaho right after dropping a JDAM bomb at an enemy location informed by the British paratroopers. "I'm RTB for retasking and rearming. How copy?"
"Solid copy Hunter 3. You have a new set of orders. U.S Marines of 1st Battalion are pinned down by artillery at the Metal Empire Highlands. We have a drone in the area for laser-guiding." Informed a JASDF air controller from Camp Ginza.
"Roger that. Rearming for precision strike mission. ETA 10 mikes, Hunter 3 out."
Metal Empire Highlands.
Captain Campbell dived in his foxhole as a storm of bullets missed him by a few inches. He grabbed his radio.
"Sir! We're taking heavy fire and we're spread too thin!" He radioed in to Richards.
"I know. We're all are. I have requested air support. ETA 5 mikes. Just hang in there. We're counting on you to hold that trench."
"Roger that, sir. We'll give them- AAH!"
At the end of line there was only static, Richards called Campbell multiple times but to no avail.
"Goddamnit! What is the situation with Alpha company?" He asked around.
"Sir! Look up!" Yelled a Marine corporal.
Looking up, they spotted a group of aerial digimon coming towards their LZ.
"Get those 50s up! They are trying to cut our air support!" Ordered Richards while firing at them.
They executed to the order. Small arms and .50 cal machine guns lit up the airborne digimon. Some of them were gunned down and hurled to the ground. Attacks were launched at the Marines and the nearby helicopters. A Black Hawk helicopter stabled itself in the air to allow both of its gunners to return fire. The powerful whirs of the M134 minigun easily chirped through the digimon's armour.
"Plasma Cannon!" A Mailbirdramon shouted as it shoots plasma shells from its mouth at the mortar teams.
The series of plasma shots erupted throughout the mortar teams and medical zone, engulfing Marines and JGSDF soldiers alike in flames. Men were screaming in agony and crying out for a medic. The heavily wounded were killed in the blasts. Several munitions of the mortars exploded, creating a mini chain of reaction, killing the crew in its fiery destruction. Mailbirdramon then veered off to LZ Bravo along with a handful of other airborne Digimon.
Quickly sensing the incoming danger, Guilmon warned his teammates and those close to them to defend themselves and evacuate the wounded. With haste, the soldiers prepared their weapons and pointed at the sky while others were relocating the wounded.
At first sight, Guilmon launched a series of his own attacks to disrupt the incoming force. Soon the men joined him and opened fire.
"AT lock and loaded!" Informed PFC. Edwards with an AT-4 rocket launcher on his shoulder.
"Shoot at the big blue bird!" Guilmon told him.
Edwards calmly aims down the sight and lined it up at the designated digimon. The Mailbirdramon was diving down while precisely avoiding the bullets with astounding agility. Just as the digimon is about to fire another plasma shell, Edward pushed the button on the launcher, the recoil kicked him a bit upwards. The warhead let off a thick trail of smoke as soon as it exited the launcher. It sped straight up towards its target until the digimon simply dodged to the left.
"Ah shit..." Edwards said before looking franctically for another launcher.
Another warhead streaked to the sky and hit the Dramon digimon to its side. Interrupted, Guilmon use the opportunity to fire another attack. He concentrates and powers up his next attack by using the Digital Hazard to maximize the damage.
"Pyro-Sphere!"
He shot a large red-hot fireball from his mouth. The attack envelopped the digimon in fire, slowly burning it in the inside. Edwards found another AT-4 and didn't waste time to fire at it. The warhead impacted on its head and blew it in half before dissolving in data particles.
"Thanks for the heads-up, Guilmon. You saved our asses back there." Flamedramon said before throwing a light punch at Guilmon.
"Did you know who fired that second shot?" Guilmon asked, wanting to thank the soldier who gave them a few more seconds to spare. "Without that shot we would've probably be fried."
"Yeah, thanks reminding us for that, Guilmon." A Marine said blankly with sarcasm.
"What? It's true you know!"
"We know that! Just give us a moment to celebrate that we survived this far."
Their small and playful bickering stopped once they heard a loud explosion at what they assumed was Charlie company's front line.
A Sealsdramon jumped in Renamon's foxhole and took out his combat knife to engage in CQC. They both took a fighting stance and waited for the other to engage first in this very small space.
"How about we negotiate over this peacefully like civilized digimon." She suggested sarcastically.
The commando-type digimon scoffed and lunged forward. She caught his arm with the blade in hand and elbowed him to the face, smashing his visors with the strong blow. Disoriented and breathless, Renamon launched a powerful kick to his chest that sent him back down the hill's slope.
"Roach! I need a mag now!" She demanded from her spotter, who threw at her a new AR15 magazine.
"It's my last mag, ma'am!" He informed her loudly as he puts in another magazine in his M4A1 rifle.
Crouching behind a thick fallen tree trunk, she fired her rifle in rapid successions in semi-automatic, each shots landed perfectly at their intended target. Her quick aiming and trigger finger led to her rifle running dry in a matter of seconds.
"Damn it!"
She looked around for her sniper rifle when suddenly a Commandramon jumped right in front of her and was about to strike her with his bayonet fixed at his rifle's barrel. Renamon swiftly dodged it and drew out her combat knife. She lunged it at his throat and pushed him aside. The Commandramon bled profusely as his throat was cut before turning into a data cloud.
Raymond was struggling with a Commandramon who tried to gut him alive. Raymond used all of his strenght to push back the blade from entering his armour and guts. The two of them were grunting as he blocked the digimon's other arm to use it as additional force. Raymond came up with a quick headbutt but the Commandramon's head dropped dead after a bullet pierced his helmet.
"That's the second time you owe me, Lieutenant." Renamon said with mocking smirk.
She then disappears before Raymond could respond back. He simply shook his head and went back to order his Marines around.
Only the screams of the suffering filled LZ Alpha as Yanagida tries to help them. He went to a man who had half of his body burnt to a crisp. The man was still alive.
"Medic! Medic!" Yanagida requested loudly as he knelt down next to the burnt JGSDF soldier.
A Navy Corpsman arrived and quickly applied a morphine to the wounded. Meanwhile Yanagida tried to calm the man down. A Black Hawk chopper flew above them and landed a few meters away.
"Take his legs! We're going to take him to that chopper!" The corpsman explained as he positioned himself above the wounded's shoulders.
Yanagida nodded and went to grabbed the legs. Once his hands made contact with the burnt fabric and pulled up, the combat pants' cloth teared up along with the soldier's flesh. As he screamed once again in pain, Yanagida stared at his gloved hands in horror. Pieces of darken and mossy skin and flesh covered his hands as he could feel the blood and warmth through the gloves. He looked down and gasped in disgust now that the feet's bones could be seen clearly. He tried his best to not pass out or throwing up, he was snapped out of his horrid stare by the corpsman who was yelling at him.
"You're going to have to carry him to that chopper! I'm needed elsewhere! Do you understand?"
Yanagida simply nodded and the corpsman ran to another wounded soldier. The japanese officer slowly breathe to come back to his senses and took off his helmet. He carefully pick the wounded man and carried him bridal style.
"Hang in there! You're going home!" He said to the burnt soldier as a morale support.
The Black Hawk was initially filled with ammunation crates and medical supplies but after unloading its packages, it is now filled with wounded soldiers. The pilot was about to fly off until his co-pilot stopped and pointed at him Yanagida. They stared at the wounded he was carrying with shock and horror. They patiently waited for him to drop him in the vehicle. Once done, they took off to the sky and back to base.
The lieutenant just stood still, having a hard time to catch his breath as the images repeated in his head. He dropped on his knees, he was at the edge of breaking up in the middle of the battlefield. After a few moments of internal conflicts in his mind, he stood back up with newfound resolve and decided to make a difference in the battlefield.
"Pull back! For fuck's sake! Pull back!" Ordered 2nd Lieutenant Fowler.
With the recent death of Captain Campbell, the Marines of Charlie company were in havoc as their position was being overrun. Their armoured support were starting to pull back as more and more anti-tank units were taking out one tank at a time.
Fowler tried to help a Marine radio operator to get on his feet only to find out that the private was dead. Fowler picked up the radio pack and ran behind a destroyed LAV-25.
"Overlord! This is Charlie 2-Actual! Our position has been overrun and the Captain is dead. I want air support to burn the entire area as follow: Hotel 6 to India 6 on all grids!" Demanded Fowler quickly as he could hear enemy soldiers slowly approaching his cover.
"Charlie 2-Actual, we've received your coordinations but be aware that this is danger close, how copy?"
"I know that!" He replied angrily. "Just blow the entire area up! We've got hundreds of hostile foot mobiles and armour! I want them dead now!"
"Roger that. Air strike incoming in 2 mike."
"Roger that. Bomb dropping in 30 seconds." Announced Lieutenant Inaho after received an update of the fire mission.
He looked through his digital map of area. Adjusting the aim for the JDAM bomb, he then flicked the switch to release the high explosive munition.
"Dropping now." He informed just as the JDAM was released from its compartement.
As the bomb dropped, it emits a high pitched whistle before impacting and erupting as it touches the ground. The trench and all of its surroundings was covered in a thick black cloud that reached up to 40 meters in the air. The sound of the ammunition exploding came in a few seconds later. At the center of the thick cloud of smoke was a bright orange glow that disappeared shortly after the detonation. Not a single Digimon or man survived the blast. Half of the flanking enemy force was gone in a second. Several Marines were either killed in the blast or by the immense shockwave that it released upon impact. The gigantic smoke cloud could be seen and to some felt throughout the battlefield.
At the Metal Empire's camp, several Digimon troopers looked at the cloud in shock, including Fujinmon who stared at it in disbelief that a relatively small aircraft could cause so much damage.
"Do we have any survivors in that blast?" He asked the division commander.
"We have a hard time getting communications up but it seems that no one survived." Vajramon.
"Send in some reinforcements to push through that trench." He ordered.
"Yes, Commander!" The bull digimon saluted and gave out the order.
From Alpha company's position, the smoke cloud slowly covered them, thus blinding the two forces. The Marines had initially ducked themselves behind cover as soon as the bomb was dropped. When the smoke started to clear out, they returned to their firing positions and waited for further orders as the enemy hadn't fired back yet.
"Are they dead, sir?" Asked Brook with a mix of confusion and hope.
"What kind of stupid question is that?" Raymond asked rhetorically.
"Hey, I was just hoping. Being optimistic and all." Replied Brook casually.
"Then you're a tad bit too optimistic, Corporal." Renamon pointed out beside him.
"What are your orders, sir?" Asked Dukeman.
"Tell the men to fire at anything suspicious on my go, fire 3 rounds first." He informed him before Dukeman tell to the other squad leaders.
Raymond aimed at a random spot at the knoll and fired three times. The Marines fired shortly after, combing the area with small arms fire. Moments later, the enemy responded by firing blindly at them. The sheer amount of projectiles whizzing at them was enough to suppress the company at the ridge.
"Return fire! Return fire!" Raymond shouted at the Marines. "Dukeman! Get me mortar fire at anything above 100 meters from our positions! Light the fuck out of the area!"
Meanwhile back with Yuki Inaho, the pilot had his aircraft circling around the battlefield at high altitude waiting for the drone.
"Overlord, this is Hunter 3. I fail to see your drone or any laser guidance." He reported neutrally.
"Affirmative. Our drone got shot down on the way by the UDC defense force by accident. We'll see if 1st Battalion could get some coordinations for the air strike."
"Roger that. Permission to assist them with close air support?" He asked.
He waited for a full minute until the air comms finally responded. "Affirmative but be advised hostiles have anti-air weapons. Proceed with extreme caution. We are tasking you with 2nd Lieutenant Yanagida, callsign Alpha 1."
"Copy that. Hunter 3 inbound for close air support." He stated before lowering the aircraft for a run and gun manoeuver.
Yanagida and 2nd platoon had set a second defensive line for Charlie company of 1st Battalion. Dug out and sandbag layered foxholes was the welcome sight for the retreating Marines as the JSDF soldiers gave cover fire for them while also attempting to halt the enemy assault force from flanking Alpha company.
With a fresh mag in, Yanagida aimed down his red dot sight and fired in short bursts, each series of bullets connected their target. He then took a frag grenade and threw it as far as possible after pulling the pin. In a short amount of time, he had already killed several enemy soldiers. He was determined to avenge his fallen comrades and plans to get out of this mess alive.
"Lieutenant! JASDF air support on our line! Callsign: Hunter 3." Informed the forward air controller while passing the radio to him.
"This is Alpha 1, how copy?"
"Alpha 1, this is Hunter 3. Overlord has attached me to your unit for close air support. Tell me where to shoot and I'll make sure that they are gone"
"Right, thanks for the help. I want you to gun down at coordinates: Hotel 7, grid 345 679 and Hotel 8, grid 457 321!"
"Copy that, inbound 10 seconds."
The whir of the attack jet's 20mm JM61A1 cannon filled the sky. Infantry and armour Digimon were instantly killed by the powerful weapon, chewing up their armour like paper. Hunter 3 then flew upwards and turned around for a second run. Assaultmon try to attack the aircraft only to be annihilated in seconds. Marines and JSDF soldiers cheered loudly and throwing insults and taunts at the enemy.
"Get some, you digimon fucks!" Shouted a Marine.
The air support boosted their morale and prompted the JGSDF tanks to push forward along with the infantry. The Metal Empire troops scrambled to regroup as they desperately try to fight back. They then started to flee, now chased by the humans from the ground and from the air.
"Sir, Overlord wants to know if you have the artillery's coordination." Reported a Lance-Corporal with a radio in hand.
"I don't fucking know! I thought they were using a drone." Replied Richards as he guides the Marines to evacuate the dead and wounded from the previous air assault.
"They were. The drone got shot down by friendlies behind our lines."
"For Christ's sake! Ajax! Map!" He called loudly before a Corporal came up with a map. "The informant did say that their artillery is a few klicks behind that mountain, correct?" He asked to the men around him.
"Yes sir. 3 klicks North-East." Answered the Sergeant-Major.
"Right, so that means that their heavy support is about..." He looked through the map, then pointed at a specific grid. "There. Echo 3 and 4 to Foxtrot 3 and 4."
"The entire grids, sir?" Asked the forward air controller with uncertainty.
"The whole fucking grid. I want their base burned to hell. Get me all the air support we could gather and fire everything at that area." He demanded, determined to end the battle today.
"Overlord, this is Trojan 2, requesting fire mission at Echo 3-4 to Foxtrot 3-4. Fire with everything you've got left for us. How copy?" Requested the radio operator.
"Solid copy. We've got A-10s and JASDF F-2s on the way for a bombing raid. ETA 5 mikes."
"That should break their morale." Noted Richards.
The rotary gun shook slightly the cockpit as Inaho fired the gun. He pulled up the joystick, which made the aircraft tilt upwards. He veered off to the right after gaining some altitude and descended for the fourth time at the enemy, firing the 20mm gun. He managed to take out some infantry units and two tank-like digimon. As he ascends again to the skies, he looked below and saw that the entire forest at the other side of the mountains was sprawling with hundreds of enemy soldiers.
"Alpha 1, be advised. You've got couple hundreds of enemy foot soldiers coming your way. How copy?"
"10-4, Hunter 3. We'll halt the assaut from here and hold our position. Thanks for the heads-up!" Responded Yanagida.
"Hunter 3, this is Overlord. We have coordinates for an air strike from the Marines of 1st Battalion." Informed the air controller of the air base.
"Roger that, ready for fire mission."
"In 5 mikes, you have Hunter 1, 2 and 4 along with American A-10s coming to assist you. We are sending the coordinates now." As on cue, he received the coordinations on his digital map.
"Coordinates received, Overlord. Going in. Weapon's lock and loaded." He reported before veering to the requested location.
Shells and missiles were fired at a frequent rate but it was starting to die down as the Metal Empire artillery units' commanders try to get communications with the troops at the frontlines. Fujinmon just watched them with amusement while Vajramon was yelling at them.
"What do you mean by that?!" The commander asked angrily at his subordinates.
"We are receiving fire support requests from all units but as we try to confirm the coordination they are either dead or taking fire." Answered the Sealsdramon with fright in his voice. "We cannot risk friendly fire, s-sir."
"By the Gods! You are all useless!" He scolded angrily at them before calling a Commandramon. "What's the status on our front?"
"Our left flank has collasped and our center forces are not moving an inch. Our right flank is starting to loose some grounds." The Commandramon stuttered out, afraid that his superior officer might beat him in place.
Vajramon growled furiously and kicked up a huge chunk of dirt in the air.
"Get the reserves up and running. I want them to reinforce the center force!" He ordered to the commando digimon before he turned to the artillery commanders. "And as of you four idiots! I want you to blow that mountain-"
"ENEMY AIRCRAFT INBOUND!" Warned a MetalGreymon before firing at it.
"Everyone battle stations, now!" Shouted a Metal Empire officer.
"Shoot at that aircraft!" Vajramon ordered them.
He stared at the aircraft, narrowing his eyes as to see what it was doing. Then he saw sparks of light coming from its nose, followed with multiple bullets whizzing near him. A couple of troopers got shot and killed while the artillery units aimed at the aircraft.
"Fire!" A Sealsdramon officer ordered.
The aircraft dropped another JDAM bomb as soon as the artillery units opened fire. Vajramon was being pushed back by the shockwave the explosion has produced upon impact, before being engulfed in the similar black cloud. Fujinmon managed to fly off and saw the fiery orange glow from above. As he gazes at the aircraft, he spotted a group of aircrafts coming towards them. He flew back to the ground to warn the troops.
"Everyone get out of here! Vacate the area now! We've got hostile air force coming in fast!" He shouted as loud as he could as he goes in the black cloud to find and help other digimon.
Suddenly he heard a distinctive whir of machines from above. It was shortly followed with the screams of digimon being shot and metal being teared apart along with blood splatters.
Powerful jet engines flew above him, piercing through the cloud of dust, thus it quickly dissipated. Fujinmon looked around him, he only saw destruction at his feet. Not a single digimon was spared in the blast. He then spotted Vajramon who was wandering around sluggishly and clutching his abdomen.
"Vajramon! Are you okay?" He asked as he walks up to him.
He gasped and his eyes widened when he noticed that the bull digimon's torso was riveled with bullet holes as if the Digizoid chestplate armour was nothing. Fujinmon looked up as he hears the engines of the aircrafts coming back.
"Come on. Let me help you get out of here. They're going to drop their bombs again." He calmly said as he wraps an arm around Vajramon, who reluctantly accepts the support.
Vajramon grunted painfully as they slowly walk their way out of the artillery fire base. However they didn't anticipated the aircrafts' speed. The whistles of multiple bombs dropping was heard behind them as they try to quicken their pace. But they were still too slow. The bombs blew up half of the entire camp, engulfing a huge chunk of the artillery and reserves in the fearsome blasts and the rest in the series of black smoke clouds. The shockwaves destroyed the tents and equipments installed.
Fujinmon was on the ground, unconscious. He later opened his eyes at the sound of the roars of the humans' air support. He coughed loudly and groggily stood up. He grunted once he felt pain on his head and ribcage, but he concluded that he didn't received any serious damage. Screams and moans of the wounded was heard around him. The battle still raged on at the mountains.
Fujinmon wanders through the desolated and destroyed camp. Feeling tired and in pain, he called out for survivors.
"H-here... someone p-p-please help m-me..." A weak voice beckoned near him.
He walked to the direction of the voice and later found a heavily wounded Sealsdramon. He has his left leg completely amputated and armour pierced by bullets. His visor and helmet was smashed in half, revealing his face covered with a gruesome scar and blood that seeped out of his face. Blood was profusely gauging out of his armoured chestplates.
"S-sir..." He said weakly as reaches his hand out.
Fujinmon knelt beside him and grabbed his hand.
"Don't worry, I'll get you out of here alive. Just stay with me," He said to him with determination. "Medic! Medic!" He shouted, hoping that someone would respond.
After minutes of waiting, the Sealsdramon was slowly losing his consciousness. He swore under his breath and carried the dying trooper somewhere in the camp in the hopes of finding a physician.
"Come on! Stay with me! You'll be out of here soon." He encouraged him as he sped up his pace and called out once more.
"I know..." Sealsdramon finally said.
Fujinmon stooped and looked at him in confusion.
"Thank you, sir... It has been an honour...to s-serve..."
With his final words spoken, the soldier dissolves into data in the arms of the Storm Commander. Fujinmon stood still for a full minute. He was trying to hold out some tears as he was internally saddened by the recent death. He finally let out a shaken sigh and wiped a tear away. A Commandramon with his right arm bandaged came up behind the commander with a portable radio on his back.
"Sir, have you seen Leftenant-Colonel Vajramon?" He asked while looking around tiredly.
"He's dead." Fujinmon replied coldly.
At first shocked, the Commandramon then straightened his back and saluted the new commanding officer.
"What are your new orders, sir?"
"Gather all our remaining air force and artillery units and tell them to cover our infantry while they fall back."
"We're pulling out?"
"No, just regrouping for a final assault."
The Commandramon nodded and transmit the orders through his radio.
Night came once again in the Digital World, envelopping it in darkness. Clusters of firefight were still ongoing but for the most time it was relatively quiet, maybe too quiet for the Marines and JGSDF staying up for the night in case of another counter-charge.
Raymond was listening carefully to Richards' instructions in his radio headset. Around him were his 2IC and all the squad leaders of Alpha company, including from the mortar teams.
"Alright, just got new orders from the Battalion officer. He wants us to push forward now." He finally informed them.
"You can't be serious?!" Asked Flamedramon in disbelief. "Does he know that this is going to turn into a massacre?"
"Intel said that we should be able to push up at least 100 meters before the enemy could respond." Raymond explained.
"With all do respect, sir, Intel have been fucking with us quite a numerous time." Dukeman pointed out, to which almost everyone agreed.
"I know, but Richards confirmed that the info is 70% sure about this."
"Then when are we going to get a 100% sure?" Asked rethorically Renamon behind the group.
"I suggest that you should at least send us to recon the area first before going in gung-ho out there." Proposed 2nd Lieutenant Colbert.
"Frankly, gentlemen, I'm not hearing the aggression I like." Raymond said sternly. "Look, their artillery is destroyed, their camp burned to the ground and their morale is probably crippled. We have the upper hand here and I'm not letting that go, not now, especially when the lives of my men depend on it."
Everyone stayed silent, knowing that Raymond had a point.
"No more objections? Good. 1st platoon along with Recon come with me, the rest of you stay here at the ridge to cover us from the higher grounds. Oorah?"
"Oorah!" They all said before preparing for the nocturnal assault.
A single bright red flare was shot at high altitude that could be seen above the battlefield. It was the signal to attack. The entire coalition force moved out from their cover and went down the slopes of the mountains. Alpha company quietly went down the ridge and ran up the knoll as stealthly as possible. The Recon units occupied the knoll to provide an overwatch as the rest of the company continued to move forward into the forest that surrounded the knoll. Suddenly shots were fired around them, supposedly from the other companies' front. Raymond halted the squads and ordered them to get down.
They waited patiently while the rest of the Battalion was already locked in combat. Then Raymond started to hear some leaves and branches cracking. The Marines readied their weapons and waited for his order.
"Alpha 4-1, fire an illumination flare right above us." Requested Raymond quietly.
A moment later and a bright flare was shot up above the knoll. The flare then revealed at least three dozen enemy troopers as close as 10 meters from their position and advancing slowly. Raymond rapidly aimed his rifle and opened fire at two Commandramon. An intense close-quarters firefight ensued right after. Raymond immediately ducked down and threw out a frag grenade blindly ahead of him.
"Guilmon! I want H.E rounds at 50 meters from our positions! Light them up!" He demanded.
The Metal empire troopers gave a loud battle cry as they charged in a suicidal attack at their foes, with their bayonets ready to kill. Raymond parried a strike, then bashed the buttstock of his rifle at his opponents cheek. He took out his M9 pistol and fired a couple shots.
"Maintain your positions, Marines! Maintain positions! Dukeman shouted to give them a morale boost as they go through another hectic firefight.
The low mountains was lit up with explosions and tracer rounds. Men and digimon fought in the darkness as the engagements eventually close in and turns into a hellish brawl battle. However with the Metal empire's morale crippled they were quickly dispatched. The Marines and JGSDF coalition held their lines through the whole night as they continued to fight in what seems to be Hell on Earth.