BXBX NOVEL Chapter 61: | 061 | Operation Hammer of Dawn: The Cavalry
Charlotte immediately heard of the reconnaissance report from the intelligence officers. She furrowed her eyebrows as she thought about it inside her mind.
The first bombardment was a success, and the second one was ongoing. The designated tango was being continuously shelled at the moment, but it seemed that their firepower was a bit ineffective against the magibeasts.
After all, thousands of these boar-like creatures still managed to escape the kill zone.
But nonetheless, even though thousands of magibeasts managed to flee from the shelling of the UNS Trinity of Solace, it was still within their expectations.
With this in mind, there was no need for the plans to change yet. However, that didn\'t mean that there was no issue. The problem wasn\'t merely large enough to warrant change.
"Is the aerial cavalry ready?" Charlotte stood before the command table with the topographic map of Crescere. Designated tangos were being pinpointed and troop placements were also marked on the map.
The intelligence officer beside the Vice Admiral nodded and calmly responded to her query.
"The aerial cavalry are ready for the operation, Vice Admiral. The task force is composed of 12 MH-6M Little Bird and 6 AH-64E Apaches." The aerial cavalry was amongst the vital task force of Operation Hammer of Dawn.
They were tasked with thinning the herd and guiding it through firepower to the second designated kill zone.
"Good, get them up in the air and have them initiate the next phase of the operation." Charlotte nodded in satisfaction and ordered the aerial cavalry to commence their mission.
"Affirmative, Vice Admiral." The intelligence officer nodded and swiftly relayed the orders of the high command to the aerial cavalry commander.
Meanwhile, in the recently constructed airstrip inside the Forward Operating Base, numerous aviation personnel were preparing for the helicopter\'s flight.
Various Black Birds and Apaches could be seen in the airstrip, concluding their maintenance and arming process.
Beside these helicopters were the troops of the 1st Aerial Cavalry Squadron. They lined together and recently finished their debriefing. In front of them was the squadron leader, Lieutenant Colonel Aquila.
Lieutenant Colonel Aquila resembled a particular soldier from the Vietnam War. He only needed a couple of machine guns in his hands with a cigar in his mouth to be a direct resemblance to that guy.
"Orders have come in from the top. They want us to take care of these monsters running around the island and harassing our construction efforts.
"These bastards are stopping us from acquiring our precious oils and minerals. What do you think should we do to them, men?!"
Lieutenant Colonel Aquila questioned his troops with a stern tone and angry expression. As expected of the man who resembled that guy from a certain movie.
"BURN THEM!"
"LET THEM EAT OUR NAPALM!"
"HOW DARE THEY TAKE OUR OIL!"
"GIVE THEM DEMOCRACY!"
The aerial cavalry troops cried out their war cries and the Lieutenant Colonel grinned in satisfaction. He immediately signaled them to get in their birds and the cavalry was about to start raining democracy from the skies.
Little Birds were the first to fly from the airstrip followed by the Apaches. These helicopters were armed with several rockets and bombs to ensure the success of the mission.
When the helicopters reached the skies, they immediately formed a wing formation and headed towards the areas where thousands of magibeasts roamed about.
As they flew through the air in a formation, a transmission from Lieutenant Colonel Aquila resounded in the aerial cavalry helicopters.
*We have reached our delta site. Prepare for the separation. The left wing will handle the north and the right wing will handle the south. Rendezvous in delta site in an ETA of 10 minutes,*
Upon reaching the delta site or the second designated kill zone, the aerial cavalry separated themselves into two wings. The left and ring wings, which were composed of 3 Apaches and 6 Black Birds each.
Their mission was to force the magibeasts into the delta sight through their given firepower. They mustn\'t let these monsters spread and escape outward to reproduce more of themselves.
Following the orders of the Lieutenant Colonel, the aerial cavalry separated into two wings. One headed north and the other headed south.
Lieutenant Colonel was in the right wing, so he was headed south with his troops. He was inside one of the Black Birds which were armed with rocket pods and machine guns.
He turned his gaze towards the endless evergreen field of tall slick grass. It reminded him that the foreign world was unique yet not so different from the former one.
Perhaps, it was good for it to be not so different.
Five minutes soon passed and the aerial cavalry had arrived at their targets. Below the right-wing task force were hundreds of magibeasts barreling down the plains.
They charged through the grassland with charred skin and broken tusks. Some even had various injuries throughout their bodies, but they continued stampeding nonetheless.
The herd of magibeasts was heading southward, away from the ongoing second bombardment of UNS Trinity of Solace. But obviously, the aerial cavalry would stop them from getting deeper into the south.
"This is Cleaver 1, arms check. Ready to fire." In the comm of the helicopters, the leading Apache began their series of status reports.
*Cleaver 2, ready!*
*Cleaver 3, armed!*
The Apaches were the first to announce their status in the communication line.
"Cleavers, take them out." Inside one of the Little Birds, Aquila ordered the Apaches to start trimming the numbers of the stampeding magibeasts.
*BRRRRTTTTTT!!!* *BRRRRRRTTTTTT!!!* *BBBBRRRTTTTT!!!*
Without hesitation or delay, the chain guns of the Apaches opened fire on the charging herd of magibeasts. Leads rained down from the skies and created a wall of bullets on the left side of the herd.
These forced the magibeasts to turn right, slowly pointing their direction to the west where the delta site resided.
When the chain guns weren\'t becoming as effective as before, the rocket pods strapped onto the Apaches started firing.
*Swoooosshhh!* *Swiiissshhh!* *Swuuuushhh!* *Swiiiiiiissshhh!*
*Swuuushh!* *Swoooosshh!* *Swooooooosshhh!* *Swiiiiisshh!*
Dozens of rockets escaped the confines of their pods and pierced through the air, headed towards the ground. Upon impact, they exploded with a deafening boom.
*BOOM!* *BOOM!* *BOOM!* *BOOM!* *BOOM!*
*BOOM!* *BOOM!* *BOOM!* *BOOM!* *BOOM!*
Explosions resounded one after another as the brave magibeasts who didn\'t adhere to the chain guns exploded into bits of flesh. Corpses soon littered the south, but the herd completely changed their direction and were not stampeding northwest.
They were now headed to the delta site of Operation Hammer of Dawn.
Anyhow, with the success of the Cleavers, it was time for the Little Birds to do their job. The Apaches soon returned to their formation and became passive.
It was now the Little Bird\'s turn to do the guiding.
On the left, right, and rear side of the stampeding herd were the guiding Little Birds. When the herd tried to change directions, the birds would open fire and make sure they were back to their original position.
Of course, this resulted in some corpses being left behind in a charred state.