Chapter 5
"The Suck, Welcome to it."
Main Human Force
Location - Unknown
Time - 0010
Changing out of his civilian clothes so it took Isaac longer than he would have liked, the other Officers that walked in with him were already standing by Bellman. After changing he donned a Marine Combat Uniform and Modular Tactical Vest, he replaced his M16A3 for the standard A4 with a telescopic sight and forward grip. Grabbing 8 magazines worth of ammunition, two frag grenades, two smoke grenades, and a pair of night vision goggles he rushed out of the tent as it was being emptied and broken down for transport. He didn't expect to stay long, just long enough to retake the radio station, change the broadcast, and leave before enemy reinforcements arrived. Easy right.
As Isaac hurried to the gathering everyone around him started to dismantle the hastily constructed tents and pack them into the growing line of vehicles. Most of them were armed a fifty caliber heavy weapon while others were armed with a Mark-19 grenade launcher. Making his way through the shrinking camp he approached Captain Bellman and the other selected Officers.
"All right, listen up." Bellman shouted to the Officers and NCO's gathered around him. "As most of you know, we have been tasked with retaking the radio station in order to change the broadcast coming out of it. Now, we will be driving near the end of the convoy with the LAV's that have been provided to us. Once we reach the turnoff." He said pointing to a location on the map. "We leave the convoy and head off on our own. Once we reach the station the LAV's will park at this embankment and provide support-by-fire. McKenzie, I need you to take First Platoon to the extreme left flank and make sure none of these guys try to escape to warn their buddies."
"Yes sir."
"Perez, I need you to take Second and a machine gun team to the right and coordinate with the LAV's."
"On it."
"Temple, I need you to cut right down the middle with Third. Once the front door has been softened, you're going to kick it in."
"Aye aye, Sir."
"Good, any questions?"
"Sir, what are the rules for engagement? Are there any civilians trapped inside?" Someone near the back asked.
"As far as we know; all civilians were evacuated when we borrowed it. As for engagement, you're clear on anything that shoots at you. We are weapons free when we reach the A.O. Until then weapons tight, clear?"
"Clear Sir!"
"All right, let's go show them what happens when you piss off Americans."
A resounding collection of oorah's and hooah's responded to him as the Officers and NCO's made their way to their vehicle. As the Company climbed into their respective vehicles Isaac was directed to a HMMWV near the back of the column. Climbing into the passenger seat, the other occupants, a man and woman, responded with a quick nod before returning to staring out the open windows.
"You must be my new LT." A gruff voice said from the driver's seat. The man seemed to be in his late twenties early thirties, but it was hard to tell with the 9 o'clock shadow covering his face.
"Staff Sergeant Arthur Fernando." He greeted, extending his hand.
"Second Lieutenant Isaac Temple, nice to meet you." he said shaking the hand. Turning his head he noticed something that turned him speechless. "...Why are there two civvies in the back of my ride?" He asked turning to face the Sergeant.
"As you can guess we're kinda short on man power; so we're taking anyone that volunteers. Alpha got most of them." There was a slight distaste in the Sergeant's voice as he talked. Isaac only caught it for a moment before his face returned to a neutral, bored expression.
"So, that out of the way, who are you two?" Isaac said turning to face the occupants in the back.
"Audrey Rodriguez." The woman on the left said. She had the shorter version of the M16 family, an M4 with a forward grip and a Holographic sight on the optics rail. Strangely there seemed to be a full-auto choice on the select fire, not unusual for someone in the Midwest, but still an odd choice.
"Tony Hernandez." The one on the right said. His weapon of choice seemed to be a bolt-action Springfield rifle with just the Iron Sights.
"Nice to meet you." Isaac said ignoring the odd weapon choices for the both of them. "Is there anyone else I should know about Sergeant?" He asked turning to the Staff Sergeant.
Before Fernando could answer him the radio in the HMMWV crackled to life with Bellman's voice being the next sound they heard over the instrument. "Alpha Company we're moving out. Get ready for a fight."
"I'll fill you in on the trip down to the A.O. Sir." The Sergeant said turning the key, starting the four-wheeled machine.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Soon enough the column of Light Armor was rolling down the pitch black road at a reasonable pace. A sever lack of Night Vision Goggles forced the HMMWV's to follow close behind the LAV's and Bradley's which turned their pace into a slow, painful, crawl. Isaac had given his pair to Fernando so he wouldn't ram the vehicle in front of them.
"Man, how much longer till we reach the radio station?" Hernandez complained from the back seat. The wait starting to take its toll on the group.
"I don't know, maybe if you stopped asking every Fifteen Goddamn minutes we would get there faster!" Fernando said, the irritation raising in his voice. "Just watch your sectors of fire and don't shoot anything without calling it."
"My sectors of what?" Hernandez asked generally confused.
"Just watch your fucking window for anything hostile!"
The brief conversation ended; silence continued until the radio returned to life.
"Alright, we're reaching the turnoff for the station. Weapons free everyone." Bellman's voice ordered over the radio.
"About God-damn time." Rodriguez said from the back, ready to be rid of the cramped vehicle.
The turnoff itself was hidden in a thick cover of trees and other assortments of foliage. The entrance was barely large enough for the LAV's to pass through forcing the column to continue in a straight line.
As they entered the dense forest the darkness consumed them, completely drowning out all visibility. There was no moon to illuminate the road, visibility dropped to zero as the convoy was forced to close the gap to where they were bumper to bumper, not an ideal condition to be in. Without NVG's the darkness spawned the Company's worst nightmares in its depths conjuring images of creatures not of this world.
"Sergeant, you got anything?" Isaac asked in a hushed voice to man on his left.
"Can't see shit Sir." Ferrando whispered back trying to keep his eyes on the vehicle in front of them.
"Why are you guys whispering?" Hernandez asked briefly taking his eyes away from his window.
"Because we don't want something to crawl up our ass and bite it. And keep your eyes back on our window I don't want to have to tell you again." The Sergeant said his irritation making a triumphant return.
"Hey, you can't give me orders, i'm not in the Army." Hernandez retorted to the now fuming Sergeant.
"Okay, first off I'm not Army I'm a Marine. Second, you ever make that mistake again I will beat the ever living crap out-of-you. And thirdly, if you die because you don't follow my orders or the LT's, make sure that Heaven has an area for us when you get there."
"Man, you got a beef with me or something?" Hernandez asked, lowering his rifle in trying to facing the Sergeant.
"Yeah I do; I got a "Problem" with untrained civvies riding around in a tin plated HMMWV wielding a high powered rifle meant for targets farther than a five hundred meters!" Ferrando accused, his irritation raising to shouting levels.
"ENOUGH," Isaac shouted to the arguing individuals. "Once we deal with the station we won't have to suffer each other anymore, so suck it up Hernandez. Same for you Sergeant."
"Yes Sir."
"Ci Sir."
"Lieutenant, who much longer till we reach the radio station?" Rodriguez asked.
"Don't know. Since we took the turnoff five minutes ago I'd assume we have around twenty more to go." Isaac replied looking off in to the darkness surrounding them. "Why?"
"It just seems odd that they didn't have the turnoff guarded is all."
"..."
"..."
"Crap." Isaac said pursing his lips.
"What's up?" Hernandez asked raising a bushy eyebrow.
"First rule of an attack, 'If your attack is going to well, it's probably a ambush'." The Sergeant said reaching for the radio.
"So, what? Just because there weren't any guards at the turnoff you think this is a trap?" He asked unbelievingly.
"Can't be to careful." Isaac replied as the Sergeant handed him the radio. "Uh, Alpha Actual this is Alpha Three Actual, how copy over."
"Go for Three Actual, over." Bellmen's voice came from over the radio.
"Just wanted to know what kind of resistance we're expecting, over."
"Nothing big, probably a hand full of Griffons and Zebras, maybe a Minotaur or two. Most likely with heavy weapons, over."
"Roger, thank you Sir, Three Actual out." Isaac placed the radio back on the receiver and relayed the information to the other passengers.
"Great, so we're just going to charge straight into a gunfight with no idea as to what we are fighting." Hernandez stated, shaking in either anger or fear, Isaac couldn't tell.
"We are soldiers, we go where we're told and hope that the Officers don't give a call that's completely FUBAR." The Sergeant said, his voice far more level than Hernandez.
"How can you just accept that? I mean, I just don't get it."
"We accept it because we can." Isaac replied, keeping a watchful eye on the woods. "We accept it because we have been trained to siege the pits of hell itself and come out with minimal burns and a few missing limbs." Isaac said half serious and half joking.
"Well thats very nice and all, but after everything thats happened today with us being shot at."
"Don't say it." Fernando said from behind the wheel.
"Run off."
"Dooonnn't say it."
"Burnt to a crisp."
"Hernandez, I swear to god, if you finish that statement I will pull this jeep over and beat the shit out of you!" Fernando threatened slowing the HMMWV down a little.
"I mean what else could go wrong? Huh?"
"You said it," Instantly Fernando started to slow the vehicle down and pull off to the side until Isaac grabbed the steering wheel to get them back on the road.
"Hernandez, stop tempting the fates." Isaac said returning his attention to his window.
"Look just because I said a phrase thats supposed to bring 'unfortunate' accidents to people, doesn't mean something will happen to u-."
before the word had even left his mouth the rear vehicle in the column exploded in a deadly ball of blue and orange fire engulfing their only exit route.
"Why do people keep doing this." Isaac complained as arcs of blue fire engulfed the convoy from both sides.
"All Alpha personal, stay in your vehicles and engage!" Bellmen's hurried voice came in over the radio before being drowned out by the automatic fire of the LAV's and the M2's opening fire.
"This is way more than just a handful!" Hernandez shouted, his Springfield firing in to the darkness.
"Lieutenant, I can't see shit!" Audrey shouted from the back, firing her M4 all the while.
"Watch for muzzle flashes and fire in their general direction!" Isaac replied firing in short bursts. "Sergeant, can you grab our Fifty!?"
"Negative Sir, kinda busy." Fernando replied forgoing his rifle in favor of his M9.
"Fine, I'll grab it." Isaac shouted placing his rifle to the side and climbing to the turret.
"Lieutenant, wait oh, GOD DAMN IT."
As Isaac climbed to the Fifty caliber rotating turret he noticed that most of the blue energy was flying off in random directions sometimes completely missing the vehicles. Some lucky shots made contact every other time, but most were missing their mark by feet.
"At least something good came out of this darkness; that or they just suck." Isaac thought, chuckling to himself a little.
Grabbing the handles of the Fifty, he pulled the slide back loading a fresh round into the chamber, as the shield on the turret began to give off the smell of burning paint.
Taking aim at the nearest flashes Isaac fired in shot controlled bursts, taking down flash after flash. Continuing to fire in to the blackness; Isaac noticed the gunners were favoring one side to fire at while completely ignoring the other, making the line uneven.
"Third Platoon, this is Three Actual." Isaac shouted into his radio. "Interchange your turrets starting with the lead, we are facing three o'clock!" Taking the time to change their firing positions the gunners of Third Platoon changed their field of fire with some facing three o'clock and others facing nine o'clock.
As the battle continued the amount of energy being hurtled at the column began to decrease in number. Still, a large amount of the deadly superheated energy remained constant, the smell of ozone beginning to fill the air.
"Sir, the Second are firing off flares!" Fernando shouted from the deck of the HMMWV.
"What?! Tell them to hold that flare, do not let them get that round off!" Isaac shouted as blue energy flew around his head.
"Why stop them? We'll finally be able to see." Hernandez asked from the backseat.
"If they fire off that flare, yes we will be able to see, but so will the guys shooting at us." Fernando answered as he tried to raise Second Platoon.
Too little, too late though as an instant later a bright red ball went into the air only to explode a second later giving off an intense red glare, illuminating the entire area. Everything went dead still, the fifties silenced themselves, the LAV's stopped firing, even the blue energy stopped going over their heads for the briefest of moments. The good thing about an all-encompassing darkness is that both sides can't see the other, the exception being the LAV's with their thermals. Now that someone had decided to fire off a flare, both sides had equal hunting grounds. Unfortunately, the Universe decided in that moment to support the Zebras and Minotaurs in the forest which had a clear target, and nothing messing with their line-of-sight.
Blue fiery Hell was unleashed on the Humans as superheated energy met with tin plates and bullets met with soft flesh and trees. Vehicle after vehicle soon fell to the continuous hail of energy, while tree after tree started to collapse from the amount of lead being shot down range.
As the last of the flares finally died out the firefight finally started to settle down as the LAV's and those with night vision mopped up the last of the stragglers.
Surveying the damage from the turret Isaac called Bellman from his radio. "Captain, this is Alpha Three Actual, the rear is secure. beginning head count of wounded, over." His only response was silence.
"Captain Bellman, I say again we are beginning a head count, over." Still nothing.
"Well crap, Sergeant I need a head count." Isaac ordered from the mount, his sight readjusting to the darkness.
"Aye Sir."
"Rodriguez, watch my ride, I'm going to check on the Captain. Hernandez, you come with me."
"Aye Sir."
"Yeah yeah, I'm coming."
Walking up the line of vehicles; other NCO's began to check on their wounded as the call for corpsmen and medics began to ring out. As they continued bodies were being covered with tarps while the wounded were pulled to the side to receive add. Isaac could not catch a good look at the ones being covered with the tarps, but the ones he did spy had burns running down their bodies with some missing parts of their face.
Suddenly Isaac's radio crackled to life, the sound of a heavy Northern drawl coming out of the receiving end. "This is Alpha One-One, situation is as follows. Second Lieutenant Perez is dead, also First Lieutenant Makenzie is unconscious along with Captain Bellman. Is the Officer of Third still up?"
Isaac didn't respond immediately, he could not believe his ears. All Officers were down but him? how could that be possible. Sure it was to be expected that someone would be hit in that hail storm of fire, but all Officers? Something like that doesn't happen everyday.
"Sir! your radio." Hernandez said shaking Isaac from his thoughts.
"Thank you, Hernandez." Isaac said with a dull monotone voice as he reached for his radio.
Coughing once to clear his throat Isaac signaled that he was still up and for any commanding NCO's to meet him at the lead HWMMV for an action report. When he and Hernandez finally reached the lead vehicle about ten NCO's were gathered together around the hood of the armored car. "Officer on deck!" someone called and they all snapped to attention.
"At ease good sirs, I'm afraid we don't have the time for pleasantries." Isaac said as he walked up to the older men, almost immediately they relaxed and gather around Isaac for orders.
"First off, I'm I really the only Officer left in the Company?"
"Sir there is you and the commander of our LAV's Second Lieutenant Wilcot. Technically, he should be in command, but Bellmen gave me specific orders to leave you in command. Apparently, he doesn't like the idea of a leader taking cover behind a wall of steel.
"Uh-huh. And you know this because?"
"I was Bellmen's NCO Sir, Gunnery Sergeant Burns. And before you ask, yes Wilcot already knows everything, Sir."
"Alright, well, I know things look bad, but I need all of you; the backbone of the military, to help me make sure no-one else dies tonight. We good?"
"Yes Sir!!"
"Good. Now before we get started, I need to know how many people we still have combat ready."
"Sir, Alpha One has twenty men."
"Alpha Two has thirteen Sir."
"Good, Fernando this is Three Actual, how many guys do we still have." Isaac asked through his radio.
"Sir, we have about ten combat ready. The rest are either dead or wounded, over."
"God Damn it, alright thanks, Three Actual out."
As Isaac counted the total number of combat ready personal he had on him he realized that there was no possible way they could assault the radio station and hold it for an undefined amount of time.
"We can't attack with our current numbers, we'd be slaughtered, but we can't abandon the mission either. I guess we only have one option left to us."
"Sergeant Burns." Isaac said motioning the man next to him. "I need a map of the area and two Humvees stripped of all ammunition and radio equipment."
"Sir!!"
"Fernando, this is the Lieutenant, I want you to grab Rodriguez and two other capable fighters and bring them to the front of the column. Tell them to grab as much ammunition as they can carry." Isaac said as one of the NCO's laid a map down the the hood of a HWMMV.
"On the way Sir."
"Someone grab Wilcot for me." Isaac asked, a tall slender man with a short blond hair walked to the front of the group. He carried his combat vehicle helmet in his arms as he walked forward and holstered a 9mm on his side.
"Sir, Second Lieutenant Wilcot." The man said extending his hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you sir."
"Likewise." Isaac replied shaking Wilcot's hand. "Lieutenant, I have a problem. With our forces effectively cut-in-half, I've come to the decision that there is no possible way for us to retake the radio station. However, that being said, we can't up and just abandon the mission. So, here is what I need you to do."
Isaac turned to the map laid-out on the HWMMV and pointed to a position on marked with a red "x." "I need you to take your armor up to that hill and provide suppressive fire on the station. Now I know that the cover up there is limited, hell, there is no cover, but it will provide you a clear line of sight to the front of the building where you will then fire every round of ammunition from your main gun until the movement in the area is either dead or dying. Afterwards you are to leave with all-possible-speed to the new location up in the north."
WIlcot could not believe what was being asked of him. No cover from trees and standing out with a silhouette, this rookie was asking him to put his men in front of the firing squad.
"Sir? If you want us to attack the station wouldn't a concealed position be better? I can't put my men in the line of fire just for a better position. Granted from there we could level the front of the building, but we would be to exposed to enemy air. I sorry Sir, but I don't understand what you are thinking."
"My plan is to have a six man team, myself included, to storm the building, make our way to the broadcasting room, deactivate and replace the signal that is calling all forces to Leavenworth. I can't ask everyone here to take on a mission that could end up with all of us dying, but I can't abandon the mission, too many lives are counting on us to make it to the station and warn them. I know that I am asking you to go against your better judgment and I know that I am putting you and your men in harms way. But please do this, if not for me then for the other people still on their way here."
The two men stared at each other for what seemed like hours, nether wanting to back down. Eventually Wilcot conceded to Isaac and returned to the LAV's to ready them up. As he did Fernando walked up to the Lieutenant with Rodriguez and two other men. The man on the left had short cut hair and amber skin that made him stand out from the other more paler man. His slanted eyes showed a slightly older man than what he seemed to be as the night made his eyes seem pitch black. He shouldered a Mossberg shotgun with a black finish, heat guard, and shells attached to the side. Two hand grenades banged against each other from a clasp on his chest and a knife rested itself on his thigh.
The other man was quite possibly the largest human Isaac had ever seen. He easily towered over everyone else in the area, standing easily over 7 feet. He had a buzz cut head that showed very little of his hair with his grey piercing eyes showing little mercy in their gaze as Isaac tried to take the rest of him in. He carried an M240 Bravo with a laser sight attached to the side.
"Nice to meet you gentlemen." Isaac said eying the both of them. "Can you give me your names so we can get started?"
"Sergei Vavilov." The man on the left said, his thick Russian accent only adding to his towering stature.
"Lee Jung Rang." The man on the right said with a Korean accent hiding in his speech.
"Wonderful to have you both here." Isaac said shaking their hands. "Now, it's time to fill you in on what's going to happen."
As Isaac lined out his plan two HWMMV's pulled up to the group stripped of their weapons and radio gear. When he finished open mouths and wide eyes were all that greeted him.
"Sir, all respect implied, but that is the worst plan I have ever heard." Fernando said trying to persuade the Lieutenant from following through on his suicide mission.
"Da." Sergei chimed in with his own disapproval. "All of us against who knows how many of sem. Not se best of odds."
"Now I know the odds are well against us, and that this will be extremely dangerous. But each of you has show you have what it takes to survive, I have complete faith in your ability to followthrough on this mission. I just need you to come with me." Isaac said as he turned and walked over to the HWMMV's. "Oh that reminds me. Everyone, welcome to the suck." Isaac said a grin plastered on his face.
Weighing their options the four men and woman walked towards the stripped HWMMV's and mounted the thin vehicles. As Isaac moved to enter his ride Wilcot walked over to Isaac's window and tapped his helmet. Holding up three fingers, Isaac changed his radio's channel to speak privately to the Lieutenant.
"Sir, you do realize that once you go in there you're on your own, right?"
"We'll manage. I have faith that you can soften them up for us. Just make sure that when we go in you and your people get the hell out of dodge, we can't afford to lose your armor."
"Don't worry, once you go in we are not looking back. Oh, and before I forget, everyone is meeting in Atchison Kansas, there's an underground shelter there that can fit the whole force. I'm sure there will be some sentries posted around the city so keep an eye out for them."
"Thanks. All right, let's make them holler."
As two HWMMV's and five LAV's broke-off of the assault force the remainder of the battered humans turned back towards the main road and drove on to Atchison.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Planet - Terra
Location - Diamond Dog Caves
As Trixie sat at the desk she inherited from Shining Armor, she looked over a report that detailed all of the actions the Shadows had been up to in the last month, give or take a week. Apparently the Federation, the Resistance had taken to calling them that since their real name was near impossible to pronounce, had taken control of the portal and any other item or pony of importance at the site, including Shining Armor.
"At least he is still alive." Trixie said to herself as she continued to peruse the documents in front of her. Apparently the Federation had activated the Devices and were now in the process of using them for some purpose still unknown to the Ponies.
"Well, at least their attention is not focused on us anymore. Though I can't help but feel sorry for the poor souls that have it now."
Finished with the documents she placed them in the secure vault in the floor of the office. As she did a knock at the door drew her attention away from the safe. "Enter."
"Mam, it is time for the next raid." A Solar Guard said as he walked in to the room.
"Right, ready the volunteers and I will be there in a minute."
"Yes Mam."
As the Solar Guard left the room Trixie took one last look at the safe in the floor boards before resealing the boards.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Planet - Terra
Location - Unknown
Somewhere in the mountains of another country on Terra; four creatures sat around a large table, with only candlelight illuminating their presence to each other.
"Are you sure the Ponies won't interfere with the operation? What if they mount a rescue." A monotone voice sounded from the far left, the room bouncing the sound around making it impossible to tell who was speaking directly.
"Quite sure, the Ponies don't have the resources necessary to mount an attack on our inner Fortresses. They would need the power of the Creator to even attack a small Garrison." A deep gruff voice sounded from the right.
"Enough of those arrogant horses, we have bigger worries." A raspy voice sounded from the center of the table. "Now that this other world is in our reach we still have to crush them to show that nothing can stop us."
"I still think we should have reburied the devices instead of drawing in another species in to our conflict. The reports I am receiving are troublesome." A calm controlled voice responded from the far right.
"You worry to much Gallious, I have seen the same reports you have and all they say is that there is no significant military force on that world. The only military they did have fell as soon as the barrier was constructed. If anything they are weaker than the Ponies, al least they put up a fight." The gruff voice said in a condescending tone that irritated Gallious.
"Then you have not yet seen the reports of their weapons I presume. No? Well, they tell of weapons that are of equal power to our own if not more. And the ones that do fight have cut down two Griffons for every one of theirs."
"That is only because you Griffons refuse to wear heavier armor, because you say it interferes with your flying."
"Damn you you bullheaded fool!" Gallious said slamming his talons down on the table. "Can't you see that we have made a grave mistake involving this other world in our affair, if the barrier had not been erected when it was what would have stopped other military forces from coming to their add?"
"...Never call me bullheaded ever again." The giant Minotaur rose from his seat growling. Towering over the Griffon that only came to his waist the two of creatures looked ready to cross weapons at the slightest noise.
"ENOUGH, both of you." The voice from the far left said trying to calm the two combatants. "You both need to calm yourself's, the last thing we need is to have two council members fighting each other." The Zebra turned to face Gallious to remind him of their vote. "Remember Gallious we agreed to send in intelligence officers to figure out what they can about this new world, to see if they could be useful. reports have been varied, but if they are so advanced as you say, why have they not broken through the barrier yet? Surely they could have broken through our lines if they were so mighty. Remember you are not the only one to lose soldiers, my Zebras have also suffered losses, but nothing worth getting carried away over."
Staring at the Minotaur for a minute longer Gallious finally retook his seat, his eyes never leaving the Minotaur's. "Fine Brutus, I still believe we have made a great mistake."