Chp. 9: Chokepoint
November 27, 2015
La Pointe's HQ
The General watched the feed from the Harfang drone while his communications section tried to get back in touch with General de Brigade Guy Sejour. The commander of the 5th Cuirassiers Brigade had reported they'd made a foothold on the far side. A very fragile one, snared up in the eastern outskirts of Misko and beyond. The picture the drone was showing testified to the latest attempt to break out to the north. Most of the force on the other side were positioned in whatever cover they could find amongst the barren farm fields and hedgerows. Bocage, the Emmerians called it. There were twice as many knocked out and burning vehicles, it seemed.
"Move it back towards the position of the marine landing zone." He spoke up.
"Yes sir." The operator replied.
As the drone's camera zoomed out and it banked to the west. It did so just in time to see an Estovakian Frogfoot drop a clutch of bombs onto the riverbank. Even a man of his rank was perturbed by the violence of war. Knowing that those bombs had been meant for his countrymen. He looked down at his maps and rested a finger atop one of the river's fords. He traced a line southwards as one of his subordinates walked over.
"Sir, we've re-established contact with Emerald 6." She whispered.
LaPointe followed her to the radios and accepted a handset.
"Emerald 6 this is Emperor 6, do you read me?" He asked.
"Loud and clear, Emperor! Apologies; the Stovies started dropping artillery on us when we burned through their jamming. Big guns, Pions is my guess." Sejour replied.
"What's the damage?"
"Still getting the full picture, but they worked over my supply trucks real well. Two rounds hit the bridge, too. Can see the smoke from here. Wait…more hit the other; I think the Stovies are gonna bomb it."
The short, barrel-chested Sejour almost sounded like he was commentating for a sports game. LaPointe accepted a group of photos as he looked back at the map table and the image from the UAV.
"I'm going to deploy my engineers to start up another pontoon bridge, but it won't mean much if we can't break out." Sejour added with a bit of frustration.
LaPointe swallowed a sigh and got as close to the map as the handset cord would let him. He fixed his eyes on units yet to be committed to the fight, and the gears started to turn in his head.
"I am afraid I have less fortunate news. Aerial reconnaissance indicates the Estovakians know your position is fragile. They're gathering a large armored force northeast of the city; we estimate at least two battalions in size. Between you and them are the marines that landed earlier. Do you have any contact with those men?"
"Only via radio; the Estovakians occupy a ridge between us and them and it gives them a direct line of sight on our bridgehead. Have you been able to attrit their numbers at all?"
LaPointe didn't like what his response was going to be, but he had to keep an air of leadership about him.
"Our focus has been on their supplies and artillery. As well as keeping closer units from overrunning you."
"So then what do you propose?" Sejour replied with audible restraint.
"I'm going to send the 4th Armored Regiment across a ford in the river to flank around and hit the Estovakian attack. If they overrun the marine unit, your position will be next. I'll get you all the air support I can."
Sejour grunted, then spoke, in acknowledgement. The two said their goodbyes and LaPointe moved back to the map.
"I want to know all available air assets we can move to support the east flank!" He demanded…
Joan listened and watched as the plan LaPointe had formulated was relayed by Pollini. Like they often did, Garuda would be flying with Faucon as an element. Commandant Jarre and Lieutenant Descours would be bringing their aircraft north to assist further. The navy also had Super Etendards and more Rafales that were due to pile on. Behind her, in one of the forward air strip's shelters, crews were working as fast as they could to rearm the Rafales. Pollini looked back as they secured AASM Hammers to Garuda's aircraft. Windhover's birds would be carrying Paveways, and all six aircraft would have a pair of rocket pods.
"Alright, they've just about got us ready to go. Anyone have any questions?" He asked.
Maeva glanced at a few places on the map between all of them, then looked at Pollini.
"Did they send along any reports about enemy air activity in the area?" She replied.
"Combat air patrols are trying to form a barrier to the north, but that's full of holes last I checked. Expect the Estovakians to respond the second we start dropping bombs. I don't have any recon photos to share, but expect the Estovakian armor to be accompanied by short-range air defenses."
"Respectfully, sir, we should be smothering these guys with cluster bombs." Marcus couldn't help but remark.
"I felt the same way, but we'll work with what we have. Any further questions?"
No one had anything else to add, so Pollini collected his charts and beckoned his flight to follow him.
Joan stood up and followed the rest of her twoship over to their jets. The ground crew were waiting for them, ready to pull away the wheel blocks once the engines were running. Marcus hurried to his plane, but Maeva stopped the two younger aviators as they started to split off.
"Good luck. You two keep doing your best, okay?" She smiled in a motherly manner.
Erwan nodded and wished her the same. Joan froze up for a second, then nodded when she felt like everyone was staring at her.
"You too!" She simply blurted out.
Maeva's smile remained as she turned and hurried over to her Rafale. Joan donned her helmet so she could feel like she was hiding a little. She saw a flash of white as she went up the ladder; Erwan was smiling from ear to ear.
"Smooth." He commented.
"If we weren't at war I'd punch that smile off your face." She growled.
The takeoff was more akin to a scramble. Pollini and his lot got airborne as fast as they could. The only time Joan slowed was so her payload could be armed. By the time she was rolling down the stretch of highway, her outburst was well in the back of her head. As soon as she was off the runway, she dropped a string of flares and switched to her Magics. Erwan looked in both directions, but didn't see anything coming up after them.
"We're clear, Talisman!" He assured his pilot.
"Copy, alright hang on." Joan replied.
She tensed and nosed up. After a few hundred meters, she leveled out again and swung around as fast as she could. Marcus slid onto her wing like it was nothing and they both hit the gas. From their current position, they would be on station in a matter of minutes…
Commandant Anton Doyle's tank got some brief air as it roared up the northern shore of the crossing. The commander of 4th Armored bared his teeth like a ferocious animal on the hunt. The tank rushed into the open field, demolishing the remains of a stone wall with ease. The rest of his command spilled into the open, forming into squadrons as they spread out to meet the oncoming Estovakian attack. Enemy artillery fell at random near the crossing, but the advancing Emmerians were too determined to be stopped. A platoon of VAB-mounted Crotale NGs settled into position near the banks with the squadron's VBLs. Anton and his XO crested a low berm with 3rd Troop, where they spotted the first signs of the Estovakian battalion. The tanks slowed for less than a second.
"Quox 6 to all Quox elements, we've spotted enemy lead elements. Hydra, flank left while Serpent flanks right. Drake, stay with us." He ordered.
The swagger in his voice was contagious it seemed, as the squadron commanders replied with their acknowledgements. The LeClercs roared forward, turrets swiveling towards their initial targets. The Estovakians were screening with BRMs, which had already begun to retreat in the face of the bigger guns. Anton took over scanning for threats with his thermal viewer in the interim.
"Gunner has a target! IFV, forward quadrant at 300 Meters." Anton's gunner, Brigadier-Chef Prideux, called.
"Engage!" He replied.
"Engaging!"
The main gun rocked back and sent a HEAT round screaming towards the Stovie scout. It hadn't even impacted when Anton spotted another platoon of BRMs rolling towards them. He hit the gun override switch as two fired anti-tank missiles.
"Engaging! IFVs, left quadrant!" He called hurriedly.
His free hand deploy smoke, which his driver plowed right though. Anton told him to slow and ordered the same for his force.
"Drake, Quox 5, multiple IFVs off my left quadrant. Hydra, you should be right on top of them." He reported, allowing his experience to cool him down.
The Stalkers lurched back at a frantic pace, only to get caught up in 2nd Squadron's advance. Anton and his command went slightly right and hooked around the first hill near the river. They thundered into a field dotted with trees and came further right. Now they were firmly between the Estovakian attack and their beleaguered allies.
"Quox 6 this is Huntsman 3-1, we've made contact with several flights of friendly aircraft tasked to support. ETA is three minutes. Be advised, additional information indicates that the Estovakians have their own aircraft inbound. Contact Swan 2-2 to coordinate" A Forward Air Controller radioed from his position south of the river.
"Copy, break, Swan 2-2 do you have anything to add?"
"Swan 2-2 is observing powder clouds moving towards the hill, some already going up the far side. More vehicles to its west; estimate two companies in strength." The co-pilot of a Gazelle scout helicopter replied.
The few fields were quickly giving way to bigger and bigger groups of trees. A wide, low-standing hill commanded the fields between the two sides. As they drew closer, the Emmerians spotted shapes spilling from the treeline towards the crest: T-84s.
"Gunner, multiple targets off the front quadrant! Engage at will!" He commanded before he switched to the radio.
"Quox 5, concentrate fire on targets along the left side of the hill. Drake, take the right."
The Leclercs spread out a little more as the battle exploded onto a larger scale. Volleys flew back and forth between the sides as the Estovakians committed their first wave against the center of 4th Armored's 's driver moved back and forth while he carefully deployed another pair of smoke grenades. A shot passed overhead; Prideux called out the offending tank and fired back. Anton turned his viewer in that direction as its wingman interjected on the confrontation. The commander clenched his teeth as what must've been a guided round came straight for them. His driver swung the tank towards it and worked the throttle. There was a terrifying clang as the shot skipped off the turret near Prideux's station and exploded a few meters after.
"That almost hit me square in the face, Boulon!" The man snapped.
"It would be an improvement!" The young man howled.
Anton yelled for them to cut the banter, but his yelling was cut off by the main gun's report. He keyed his radio again as the force was closing in on the woods just shy of the hill, ordering them to slow before they charged through the open terrain. The Estovakian attack had slowed and concentrated itself around the treeline above the Emmerians.
"Swan this is Quox, how far off is that air support?" Anton radioed.
"Quox this is Swan, we've got aircraft on standby. Be advised that the valley behind the hill has several Tunguskas and HQ-7s. Until they're knocked out, fast air is gonna have to play it safe." The helicopter replied.
"Understood, ah, okay keep them on standby….Maple 6 this is Quox 6, requesting fire mission…"
As he coordinated with the brigade's artillery, he ordered the regiment to move its tanks back and deploy smoke. The Estovakians took this as an invitation to push the attack. Anton was quietly surprised; the hill was an excellent defensive position. Still, with the river to their backs, it was smart to push on the Emmerians. It netted them their first few kills against the Emmerians, which prompted 2nd Troop and 1st Troop to push back. Anton decided that it was the best option and ordered his tanks forward. The artillery was back on the net to confirm the fire mission; Anton acted quickly.
"All Quox elements, marching pace marching pace! Incoming arty, friendly." He called.
Boulon slowed the tank considerably and Anton fired more smoke. The force came to a slow advance as the first rounds landed further up the hill. Geysers of dirt and snow flew up, carrying parts of the pines with them. Anton would've liked to have the Air Force drop some napalm to thin the trees, but such a weapon wasn't in their arsenal. Instead he peered through his viewer as a platoon of Stovie tanks slowed to oppose his advance. Prideux hit the closest one as it turned its gun to him and Boulon pushed their tank back as the second took a shot. The Stovie weaved wildly as the counterpunches came, then aimed directly at 3rd Troop's command tank and fired. The third tank did the same, even as a hit caused it to throw a track and jerk violently to the left. The second wave of the Stovie attack had been emerging from the woods when the next salvo of shells came in. Anton drew in a breath and straightened his mustache.
"All Quox elements, advance. Maintain road march." He instructed with a deep growl.
The Leclercs marched forward at a deliberate speed, gaining only enough speed to be hard to hit. The first Estovakian wave was caught in the open; the melee exploded for a brief but chaotic minute as Anton and the tanks still rolling overran them. He looked at his battle management system; 2nd and 3rd Troops had bloody noses, but 1st was striking deep and fast.
"Serpent 6, are you able to take the summit? Forward Air Control reports that enemy anti-aircraft defenses are keeping our aircraft at bay." He radioed.
"Give me another minute and I'll have it, Quox 6!" The Squadron commander replied, brimming with confidence.
"Understood, check your fire off your left quadrant. When we link up, spread out and form a semi-circle. Hydra, position yourself near the treeline on your flank. Watch the road."
"Hydra 6 copies."
"Serpent 6 copies."
Anton and his command rolled past the treeline, crashing through the barren brush and pushing aside smaller trees. He saw the shape of another T-84 ahead and called it out
"Commander has a target! IFV, forward quadrant at 100 Meters. Engage!"
"Engaging!"
There was a small clearing atop the hill that gave a better view. The Estovakians were retreating to some woods on the other side of the highway, but there were still a great number. However, the tanks had gotten their attention and directed it away from the marines. Anton emerged from the turret and put his binoculars to his eyes.
"Swan this is Quox 6, we've taken the hill. Enemy is reorganizing for a counterattack; requesting air support immediately. Tell them we're searching for that AA!" He radioed, trying not to sound like he was pleading.
"Standby, Quox." The Gazelle co-pilot said.
The aviator swiveled the roof-mounted thermals back and forth again as he switched frequencies.
"Dagger, Faucon, this is Swan. Quox says they've secured the hill and are searching for that AA. They're requesting immediate air support." He reported.
"Faucon Lead, we can deal with some ground defenses. We'll clear a path, then you and Dagger can follow." Jarre spoke up.
"Copy…alright, let's do it. Swan, Garuda is committing. Faucon and Dagger will follow up once we have a better idea of where that AA was."
"Copy…make your runs south to north-northeast. Standby for coordinates of Quox's positions. Make all runs WEST of the highway, too."
"Garuda 1, Garuda 3 is requesting permission to make the first run." Joan spoke up.
"Garuda 3, move wide of our first run. Trail and search for that AA." Jarre replied.
Joan acknowledged and selected her AASMs while Jarre and Mylene pushed forward from their station. Joan and Marcus dropped down while the lead jets raced towards the river. The second it appeared, the RWR began to chirp away. Joan leapt at the chance, letting one system feed information to another. The RWR fed it to the GPS, which in turn (with Erwarn's help) fed it to the Hammers. It caused a slight buzz to crawl up the back of her neck. The capability she had at the controls of her Rafale never ceased to elicit such a feeling. She switched one of her displays to see what Erwan did; he'd targeted an HQ-7 near an old barn. The SAM was pointed away, at Garuda's lead element she assumed. Jarre and Mylene's wings were heavy with CBUs and Paveways; the former were the first blow the Estovakians would get.
"Button is hot, Talisman. You've got two HQ-7s." Erwan announced.
"Garuda 4 has two more HQ-7s to the west." Marcus radioed.
"Garuda 3, Rifle Rifle!"
The Hammers rocketed away and climbed while Joan and her wingman broke in different directions. The HQ-7s, despite their imminent demise, still fired back at the offending Rafales. Joan caught sight of the missiles almost immediately and broke towards them. She left a string of flares behind her while the two SAMs were eviscerated. She twisted upwards and scattered more countermeasures before taking the chance to make a second run immediately. For that, she grabbed a thousand or so meters of extra altitude to get time to engage.
"Garuda 4, go high and keep me covered." She breathed.
Marcus grunted out his acknowledgement while she singled out two platoons of T-84s, these ones with Tunguskas in tow. Erwan targeted the lead tanks for another pair of Hammers. This time, the two bombs simply dropped away.
"Garuda 3, Rifle Rifle." Joan grunted.
The Gs piled up second after second, one atop the other. Joan yanked the stick back as hard as she could and deployed flares to keep the Tunguskas at bay. The ground rushed up, but she got the nose up with precious time to spare. Tracers flashed by from behind as she hurried towards the river. She banked to the right, then came back towards the other aircraft that were waiting. Garudas 1 and 2 rejoined a second later.
"Good hits, good hits. Enemy armor is slowing and scattering. Dagger, you're up next. Concentrate on the Stovies' lead elements Garudas 3 and 4, follow up on the AA. Faucon, hit enemy armor closest to the river." Swan radioed, speaking as fast as he could.
From the ground, Anton watched as the Navy jets came roaring in, braving stronger and stronger enemy fire. He directed Prideux to target one of the AA vehicles, even as the tanks came into range.
"Engage!" He added.
"Engaging." Prideux replied.
The gun rocked back as the Etendards made low, high-speed passes with Mk.82s and rockets. Joan and Marcus rolled in with their final Hammers as the Etendards pulled away. She tensed as the Estovakians were determined to get one of the Emmerian jets. They seemed to throw everything they had at the trailing jets. Joan watched as one of them was enveloped in an explosion. She looked as long as she could while coming back around, but was forced to get moving when one of the Tunguskas turned its attention to her. She selected it using the RWR and passed the targeting info along to Pollini's lot.
"Garudas 3 and 4 are winchester on Hammers, switching to SNEBs." She announced.
"Copy that Garuda, how much playtime do you have remaining?" Swan replied.
"Another ten minutes at least."
"Copy, alright need you to-"
"All aircraft be advised, Ghosteye has multiple pop-up contacts. Multiple headings to the north, closest group is 30 Kilometers out at 012. Altitude is below 300 meters." A familiar voice interrupted.
"Those guys, take care of those guys. Swan shifting position." the Gazelle radioed.
The sudden appearance of enemy aircraft saw Dagger still well north of the lines. Joan volunteered herself and Marcus, since they were the ones with the least weight to carry. The two Rafales turned towards the closest contacts and hit the gas.
"Garuda, be advised that we're directions friendly aircraft to assist. Tempest 1 is inbound from Heading 348, three minutes out. Check fire in that direction." The Sentry added.
"Copy." Joan replied quickly.
She switched to her wingtip-mounted Magics and let the OSF get a good look at the skies ahead. She checked the direction that Ghosteye had indicated and saw a pair of Su-22s.
"Tallyho, two bandits low and fast at my eleven. Fitters; Garuda 4, follow me and maintain a three-klick trail." She radioed.
Joan bolted ahead and Marcus did as he was told, looking for other bandits that were approaching. She nosed up and rolled so she came in above and behind the fighter-bombers, causing them to split. She chose the lead jet and let her Magic sniff out an easy quarry. Her thumb had depressed the launch button about halfway when Erwan spoke up.
"Two more Fitters, our four!"
Joan cursed, broke hard left and deployed flares. The missiles flung from the Su-22s, AA-8 Aphids, fell for the modern countermeasures without even thinking. Joan was left feeling deeply offended that a Yuke shitbox from the 70s had tried to sucker punch her. She snapped back, switching to her HMD as she did to get a shot at the first pair of bandits.
"Garuda 3, Fox 2. Garuda, get that other guy." She snarled.
The other two Fitters went after her again; Joan went high and let them pass by before nosing over to pounce on them again. The Estovakian jets seemed to realize that they were getting in too deep, and the jets split and nosed up towards the nearest clouds. Joan nosed up to follow them. As she got a solid lock, it became apparent the Fitters weren't done infuriating her. She saw a flash above at the same time the SPECTRA system called it out. A pair of JF-17s came out of the sun, bound for her. She nosed towards the nearest one, despite the PL-12 coming at her, and lobbed her second Magic at the offending Thunder. She rolled and pulled away, dropping flares. Marcus entered the fight to foil the attack when two more of the type emerged from the clouds in a vicious ambush.
Back near the river, Anton growled as the two Fitters from earlier came over again. This time they dumped a batch of bombs on 2nd Troop. With that, his left flank was now ripe for the picking.