The FAF-14 'Spear'.
A shoulder-mounted, self-guided, anti-tank support weapon, it brings precision where its fellow support weapons cannot.
When requisitioned, the Hellpod is equipped with the FAF-14 'Spear' itself, and its support backpack fitted with three additional sixty-six-millimeter 'Fire-and-Forget' missiles.
A side-grade support weapon from its 'dumb-fired' brother variant, the GR-8 Recoilless Rifle, the FAF-14 'Spear' features a Command Launch Module that the Helldiver utilizes to create a lock onto their target. Feeding that information to the guided system integrated to the FAF-sixty-six-millimeter missiles, upon launch, the missile will then utilize that info to self-guide itself into the designated target.
The missile utilizes a High-Explosive-Anti-Tank warhead fitted with an extensive sensor and guiding suite that takes in long-wave Infrared Radiation to maintain a lock onto the chosen target. Designated as 'FAF', or 'Fire-and-Forget', once the lock-on has been created and the missile subsequently launched, it no longer requires any external assistance from the Helldiver, autonomously following its target and adjusting its heading when need be.
Coupled with the angled frame of the launcher, the FAF-missile will propel itself at that same angle, taking a vector to employ a 'top-attack' flight profile. With its guidance system, the missile will then adjust mid-flight and launch itself into the top of the designated target, usually taking the path of least resistance and armor.
Due to the expensive nature of guided missile systems, unlike its brother variant, the GR-8, the FAF-14 is equipped with only three other missiles for use. But due to that same nature, the FAF-14 will rarely, if ever, miss its lock, generally guaranteeing a successful elimination of a priority target.
To further cement the fact of a guaranteed elimination, the payload contained within the warhead utilizes two shaped charges in tandem. The smaller of the two H.E.A.T charges clears the way of any reactive armor or ablative armor paneling with a stream of molten molybdenum before detonating the second, larger H.E.A.T charge, this time sending a jet of molten copper into the target, confirming the kill.
Like most support weapons, the FAF-14 has the ability to be crew-served or solo-operated. But unlike most support weapons, the FAF-14 is not as reliant on being crew-served. In its intended purpose, the Helldiver operating the FAF-14 'Spear' will lock onto high-priority targets while under the protection of their fellow Divers. In thanks to its Command Launch Module, the need to lead or calculate trajectories can be effectively ignored, and by extension, the need to rapidly reload.
This gives much in leeway as to what other support weapons are brought and utilized, allowing the Helldivers to bring Democracy and Peace as they see fit.
When it comes to removing high-priority targets with extreme precision, look no further than the FAF-14 to 'Spear' your targets.
The FAF-14 'Spear'.
"Spearhead the Assault with AD Arms!" - 'Admiral Defense Contracting'.
Within the ?
"H4! GET THOSE GUNS UP! WE HAVE DROPSHIPS!"
Blotting out our skies were dozens of Automaton dropships, deploying their Liberty-forsaken payloads in the form of socialist scrap metal. Beset on all sides with bots, we let our guns roar as we fired magazine after magazine of rounds in the name of Freedom.
The Reclamation.
In the northern sector of our galaxy in the Valdis Sector, the Automatons launched a cowardly flash assault on numerous Super Earth colonies, overwhelming their defenses and slaughtering the innocent citizens. Following their assault, Operation Courageous Defense was green lit and saw the deployment of the Helldiver Corps en masse to repel and destroy the Automaton menace.
In a stroke of unfathomable luck, the Automatons held the line as their socialist hands gripped around our once-beautiful worlds, leaving behind countless innocents killed and votes unmade. This led to Operation Menkent Line, deploying the Helldiver Corps once more to create a defensive posture between the planets Menkent and Lesath in the Hydra sector, blocking their supply lines and halting their advances.
At all costs, the line had to be held.
No.
It must be held.
Around me was a cacophony of gunfire, vast swathes of machine gun fire from our MG-43 emplacements cutting down bots by the dozen. Calculated grenades thrown over our makeshift cover from craters annihilated them by the droves.
"KEEP THOSE GUNS HOT!" J2 yelled as he switched his M-105 'Stalwart' to its fastest firing setting, sending five-point-five-millimeter FMJ's down range, shredding anything less armored than a 'Devastator', and bouncing off any that are.
"Calling in a resupply!" A1 yelled as he tossed away an empty box magazine to his MG-43 before locking onto my eyes.
"H4! You're up! Keep the lead coming!"
I nodded as I took up his position, loading in another box magazine into the machine gun, the barrel still smoking hot after minutes of unimpeded fire.
Loading the belt into the feed tray, I slammed home the feed cover before pulling back the charging handle. At nine-hundred rounds-per-minute, the MG-43 kicked and bucked in my hands, the recoil of the eight-millimeter FMJ cartridges sending the stock of the gun into my shoulder at a numbing rate.
"MORTARS! GET THE FU-!"
L3's words were cut short as a rocket eviscerated her top half, sending organic shrapnel and viscera all around. There was no time to mourn her heroic sacrifice, as screaming death approached us from above, its parabolic trajectory outlined by its red glare.
"H4! Grab that gun and haul ass!" J2 ordered as he grabbed my collar and tossed me aside.
Support weapon in hand, the three of us retreated towards a more defensible position, the mortars exploding just a few meters away from our position. Bolts of red flew overhead by the hundreds as droves of Troopers, Devastators and Berserkers were hot on our heels. Annihilator and Shredder Tanks filled the air with laser fire, the occasional explosion from their cannon's payload sending sand into the air.
"Calling in an Eagle!" A1 exclaimed as he tossed the beacon behind him, the device sending a red pillar of light into the night sky.
"-ei!"
I shook my head as we ran, the sound of a female's voice seemingly calling out to me somehow piercing through the noises of my breathing, the drumming beat of my heart, the crunching of sand beneath our boots, and the robotic screeching of our enemies behind us.
Risking a glance over my shoulder, the horizon was filled with an angry red haze, the socialist hue filling the dimly lit wasteland in a disgusting red.
I reached around for a stim before jabbing myself in the neck, the solution rapidly dispersing through my body, allowing me to run for longer. Mirroring my actions, A1 and J2 lifted the cylindrical devices to their necks.
More flashes of red passed us as we hit the deck, the rest of my squad following suit. But A1 hit the ground a little harder than normal. Unresponsive at my calls, I scrambled to my feet to pick him up.
A smoldering hole sat where his left eye should have been, with a clean entry wound smoking from the back of his head.
A harsh yank to the back of my collar brought me back down from my thoughts.
"He's gone, H4! Keep going!"
I shook my head, shaking off the loss of my squad mate.
"-nsei!"
There's that voice again, this time louder and more coherent.
A barrage of rockets sent us into the air, the explosions forcing us from our feet. With a grunt, I struggled to my feet as exhaustion clawed at every ounce of my being.
"UP AND AT 'EM!" J2 roared as he grabbed me by the chestplate and tossed me onto the concrete platform.
"Hand me your machine gun!"
Without pause, I loaded another box into the support weapon as fast as my hands would allow. After sending the charging handle home, I hovered the machine gun over his arm.
MG-43 in his left hand, M-105 in his right, J2 positioned himself against a stack of barrels before unleashing a barrage of Freedom from both weapons, mowing down the socialist scum.
Guns still firing, with the muzzle flashes illuminating his scorched and shattered helmet, he turned his head my way before nodding at the extraction terminal.
"Get extraction up and running! I'll cover you!"
"-ensei!"
Ignoring the voice, I hightailed it towards the extraction terminal, subsequently inputting the pattern.
My comms lit up positively as a most welcomed voice emitted from it.
"This is Pelican-One! ETA one minute from LZ!"
I turned my head towards J2. "One minute! We can hold for one minute!"
With an affirming nod, he tossed the MG-43 back towards me.
"Let's show these clankers who the stars belong to!"
With a grin, I tossed away the empty box mag before grabbing another, hastily pulling the belt into the feed tray before locking the feed cover.
"H4! Cover the left!"
Maneuvering to his left flank, I set the bipod down onto the barrels before sending hate their way. The satisfying crunch of steel crumbing under the weight of fire filled my ears.
"ETA fifteen seconds!"
I nodded as I patted J2's shoulder. "Extraction'll be here in fifteen! Let's pull back!"
With a nod, he pulled back from his position whilst reloading his 'Stalwart', the shifting of spent cartridges ringing out as they clattered away from his steps.
"This is Pelican-One, approaching pick-up! May Liberty speed your steps, Helldivers, LZ's getting too hot!"
Grunting in response, we picked ourselves up and over the concrete barriers, hightailing it towards the Pelican's boarding ramp.
"For Peace!" Pelican-One exclaimed over the booming report of the shuttle's autocannon.
Another barrage of Liberty-forsaken rockets sent us flying in the opposite direction of the shuttle.
"GRRAAAAHHH! LIBERTY DAMNIT MY LEEEEEEEG!" I screeched as I gripped my limp leg, the extremity bent out of place in three different areas.
Through the mind-numbing pain, I reached into my stim pouch... only to grab at air.
My eyes went wide as my hand returned empty. Biting down onto my tongue to keep my screams down, I hefted the MG-43 back into my arms.
Gunning down a group of bots that made it our way, a yank on my cape brought my head around.
"H4-" J2 began as he grunted on his stomach, his bloodshot eyes piercing through his shattered visor. He then slammed a blinking yellow hexagonal container into my chestplate. "-Take this and go."
Before I could get any words out, he stabbed my arm with a stim, bringing me back to life and repairing my shattered leg.
Scrambling to get to a knee, my face fell into shock as I got a glimpse of J2. He had sustained four laser bolts to the abdomen, the entry wounds still smoking from the extreme heat of the projectiles. His right leg was completely missing from the lower thigh down, a result of the rocket barrage that hit us earlier. But despite it all, his eyes were unwavering, a seething hatred emanated from him as he stared down the direction of the socialist bots.
With a gulp, I patted myself down in a futile effort to produce a stim. Dread came down all around me as I failed to find anything to patch up my fellow Diver.
Another tug to my cape pulled me away from the frantic search.
"H4..." He groaned as he pulled up his 'Stalwart', the full box magazine shifting from the movement. "Hand me your MG-43."
Hesitantly, I placed the support weapon into his arms. As he cradled it, he looked back at me. "Time to go, Diver."
"But-!"
With a slam of the MG-43's feed cover, effectively shutting me up, he locked his eyes onto mine. The same unwavering stare pierced into my soul.
"Lady Liberty deemed it was my time." He panted, struggling for breath.
He jabbed a thumb at the Pelican shuttle.
"Launch countdown complete, we have to leave NOW!" Pelican-One exclaimed from over our comms.
Lifting up his fist, he brought it down, saluting me. "May Liberty guide your steps, Helldiver."
Another barrage of rockets and laser fire came over head, bringing us out of our stupor.
"NOW GO! I'LL HOLD THESE CLANKERS OFF!"
Once more armed with both machine guns, he let them both rip, crushing the bots into scrap metal and slag.
As I strapped into the Pelican, I watched as the lift ramp closed, slowly cutting off my view of J2.
"AHAHAHAHAHAHA! GET SOME! GEEEEEET SOOOOOOOOOOOME!"
Just as the ramp fully sealed off, a final laser bolt was sent through his helmet, and his guns went silent.
"Extraction complete, Pelican-One beginning ascent!"
With the shuttle lifting off, the sounds of laser fire and rockets pinging and bouncing off the Pelican's armor filled up the pod. As we built enough velocity to escape the planet's gravity, I slumped back into my seat, the restraints hugging ever tighter.
As I closed my eyes, I could still hear the thunderous roar of both machine guns firing.
"Sensei!"
A violent shiver is sent down my spine as I awaken from my thoughts.
Scanning my surroundings, I see Shiroko and Hoshino prone on their stomachs, the former firing the M-105 'Stalwart' on its fastest setting, and the latter firing the MG-43 on its fastest setting as well.
Both are shooting at plywood sheets painted as targets a few dozen meters out.
Taking a deep breath in and steadily exhaling, I recollect myself.
Only a daydream... nightmare.
"Are you okay, Sensei?"
I glance to my left to see Ayane with a complicated expression on her face. Her hands were clasped together as she wrung them nervously.
"Ayane?" I questioned, confused at her actions and demeanor.
She exhaled in relief as she placed a hand onto her chest, a comforting gesture to herself. "You're okay! That's good, okay..."
I raised a brow. "Uh, what... what happened?"
She looked into my visor. "After you took us out here and set up those targets-" She waved a hand towards the two prone students. "-You had Shiroko and Hoshino practice using the... support weapons you gave them."
I nodded as I followed along, drowning out the sporadic sound of machine gun fire in the background as I focused on her.
"After they started firing, you... you, uh..." Ayane began glancing around nervously once more.
"I what?"
She gulped. "You began breathing faster, your hands started trembling, and you were unresponsive to my calls."
I scratched the back of my helmet as I internally cursed myself.
'Thought I had that under control.'
"How long ago was that?"
She lifted up her phone and glanced at the clock. "You started showing those symptoms about three minutes ago..." Ayane looked back into my visor. "Sensei, are... are you okay?"
Her eyes were filled with concern, understandably, being the Task Force's resident medic.
I got to a knee and sighed, glancing up, I met her eyes. "Well, no point beating around the bush." I scratched my helmet. "I've got something like PTSD I'm suffering from."
Her face drops as she wrung her hands again. "T-then-" She glanced back at Shiroko and Hoshino, who're none-the-wiser at our conversation as they continued their fire. "-Does that mean they're triggering-!"
Her eyes went wide as she speedily walked off in their direction. But before she could make it far, I grabbed her hand and turned her back my way.
"Hey, no need for that."
She shook her head. "Nononono, that is not okay, Sensei! We can't be doing drills like this if you're suffering!"
I placed both hands onto her shoulders, straightening her out. "I'm not suffering, Ayane."
She adamantly refused my statement. "Of course you are, Sensei! You just exhibited the symptoms of it! Nervous shakes, unstable breathing, unresponsive to external stimulus!" She listed off of her hand as she trembled. "It'll get worse if we let this continue!"
I let my head hand low for a few moments before locking my eyes back onto her.
"Ayane." I began before taking a deep breath and exhaling. "I'm not going to let something like this stop you all from getting a chance at Freedom from your oppressors. Not here. Not now. Not ever."
Her breathing hitches as she took in my words.
"I am a Helldiver, a weapon born and trained to defeat any and all enemies that would dare harm Humanity." I shook my head. "I knew from the beginning what I was going to face when I signed up to become a Helldiver."
"B-but..."
I patted her shoulder. "Plus-" I cut myself off as I got to my feet and watched the two girls lay down some more heat onto the targets. "-I'll be damned before I let something as small as this weigh heavy on anyone's minds."
I glanced back at her. "I know how to keep myself in check, Ayane. If I ever need help-" A full-blown grin crossed my face. "-Like I always say-"
"Helldivers dive together!" I exclaimed as I gave her a thumbs up. "This affliction of mine is nothing if we work together."
Washing away her frown, a smirk took its place as she placed both hands behind her back.
"Well, if you say so, Sensei."
I leaned in closer. "Which I do!" I interjected with a cocky smile.
She glanced back at me, a small smile on her face. "I'll hold you up to that, Sensei, but if you ever need assistance ever-" She emphasized the second ever as she gazed into my visor with unwavering eyes. "-Please, do not hesitate to let us know."
Nodding a few times, she continued. "You've already helped us out plenty, so when the time comes, we'll be ready to help you out too, Sensei."
I nodded at her words. "Spoken like a true Helldiver."