TFA3 3.1 – Second Wave Rider
From the highest watch tower in Makai Guard HQ, Viscount Oriek, the Commanding Officer of Makai Palace Guard, observed every corner of Makai Royal Palace. Even though this morning he had lost more than half of his men, Viscount Oriek didn’t chicken lose his composure.
Without delay he asked reinforcement from Makai Guard HQ. Then, he strengthened the security at every vital area in Makai Royal Palace. Swordsmen took place in corridors, check points, or used unused hall as additional guard post. Archer took place in rooftop and watch tower, while ballista crew set up their equipment in open field.
“TF Amethyst most likely won’t launch another raid at the palace, but we have to display our strength to raise moral,” Viscount Oriek calmly said.
“Aye, Sir.” Brigadier Ullod, the only Palace Guard brigadier who survive TF Amethyst raid expressed his agreement. Then, he asked, “Sir, may I know the result of the meeting with Grand Commander Migal?”
After turning his gaze to Penna Hill, Viscount Oriek replied, “It takes time to gather and organize huge number of ground force, but Makai Guard HQ will be able to launch ground assault on Penna Hill as soon as sun down in the west.”
“I see.”
“That’s if TF Amethyst element in Penna Hill survive the Rider onslaught.”
Captain Ullod immediately turned his gaze to the sky above Penna Hill. Once glance and he could tell that Makai Riders had not achieved the upper hand yet. Instead, their number was decreasing in steady pace.
“But it looks like our Riders have a hard time over there,” Captain Ullod worriedly said.
“Not for long.” Viscount Oriek then turned to his gaze to the north, and a thin grin bloomed in his lips as countless black dots appeared in the distant sky. “As soon as the second wave Rider joins the fight, it will be game over for TF Amethyst element in Penna Hill.”
“Definitely,” Brigadier Ullod said as cold beam flashed in his eyes.
Then, a long whistle was suddenly echoed through the sky and it was rapidly closing in to Makai Royal Palace.
“What is that?” Viscount Oriek asked as he scanned the sky, but unfortunately he would never get the answer for his curiosity.
BOOOOMM!
The first mortar strike from Penna Hill directly hit the watch tower where Viscount Oriek and Brigadier Ullod stood by, and instantly sent the two to afterlife.
---
As time went on, Jack Sparrow’s circumstances were just getting worse and worse. Especially, after some Riders ordered his Cloud Hawk to peck on Multi-mission 3D AESA Radar until each panel turned into pieces of junk. Now, the Ripper Station lost its ability to perform integrated air defense network, and its effectiveness dropped to the lowest point possible.
Even so, Colonel Meyer didn’t lose his composure. Through the main screen in Command Center, he observed the mortar strike on Makai Royal Palace. It was aerial footage from quad-rotor drone equipped only with medium-power electro optic, so compared to aerial footage from Reaper the field of view was smaller, but at least it could give him minimum situational awareness he needed.
As Colonel Meyer took a sip of his coffee, the mortar squad fired the first round. It was a strike to confirm the atmospheric state in the area. This was vital step when carrying a mortar strike using unguided round because atmospheric condition was constantly changing. Usually, it required 1-2 initial fire before the Fire Direction Center grasped the latest atmospheric update. After that, the real mortar strike would begin.
Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.
Therefore, Colonel Meyer was not expecting a good splash from the first strike, and that’s why he almost got choked by his coffee when it perfectly hit the highest watch tower in Makai Guard HQ.
“Just now, CO of Makai Palace Guard was in this watch tower, wasn’t he?” Colonel Meyer asked as he pointed the coffee cup in his hand at the destroyed watch tower.
“He was,” Major Alfred calmly replied. “Well, today must be not his lucky day.”
“Yeah.” Colonel Meyer casually replied. At the same time the real mortar strike on Makai Royal Palace began with pin point precision. “It seems the FDC have grasped the data they needed.”
“It seems so.”
Colonel Meyer and Major Alfred then silently watched the destruction of high value target in Makai Royal Palace. The first victim was Makai Guard HQ. Salvo from eight 120 mortar squads hit it one after another. Mortar round with delayed-fuse hit the building, and exploded only after penetrating its roof and creating huge outward explosion. As for the target in the open, mortar round with proximity-fuse was use and was set to explode at 8 meters above the ground.
In matter of minutes, all building in the Makai Guard HQ turned into rubble, while corridors and open fields around it were littered with dead bodies or pieces of body part. The next victim was Makai Intelligence Service Quarter, followed by Makai Royal Hall, and biggest armory in the royal palace. Each one of those areas was destroyed to its fullest without hesitation.
“I hope this strike kill lot of seasoned military think tank in Makai Guard,” Major Alfred calmly said, “and reduce their combat potential.”
“I’m sure it did.” After a moment of silence Colonel Meyer added, “But this strike would also kill hundreds of palace maid and servant.”
“With all respect, Sir. We are at war, not beauty contest,” Major Alfred firmly replied. “Collateral kill is inevitable, but at least we use far stricter ROE to prevent unnecessary kill, while the opposing force deliberately use collateral kill as part of their tactic.”
“I know.” After heaving a deep sigh Colonel Meyer added, “I also haven’t forgotten the non-combatant KIA we suffered in Levsait and Raisait, and the inhuman treatment they receive even after their death.”
After a moment of silence Major Alfred suggested, “With such high level precision, maybe we can let the mortar squad hit HVT beyond palace’s outer wall. Some that have minimum population around it.”
“No, without guided munitions the risk of collateral kill is too high. Even with ratio one miss out of ten salvos, the collateral kill will amount no less than a few thousands.” Colonel Meyer firmly replied. “I also have made a promised to Petrov. In case we need to neutralize HVT located in the population, he and his element will handle it.”
“Aye Sir,” Major Alfred firmly replied and didn’t argue.
The two then continued supervise the operation. At the same time, the second wave of Makai Rider had arrived and joint the fight right away.
---
One kilometer west of Penna Hill, at the maximum altitude that Cloud Hawk could reach, Count Wolmak supervised the air raid on Penna Hill. It was painful to see the number of his Riders from the first wave was decreasing rapidly. Moreover, from his position he also could clearly witness the result of mortar strike on Makai Royal Palace.
“It seems the defeat of three Battle Groups we sent is a just result. TF Amethyst is truly possessing military might beyond our level.”
Count Wolmak openly admitted that he had underestimated TF Amethyst all this time, but at the same time he gained confidence as Makai Riders steadily destroyed the opposing rapid ballista one by one.
“Well, the most important thing is that we will bag our victory today. We lost lot of Riders but their sacrifice worth the effort.”
Therefore, even though his heart painfully ached every time he saw a Rider and his Cloud Hawk crashed to the ground and met with their end, Count Wolmak didn’t waver in the slightest.
Moreover, even though his Riders failed to tear apart the giant skeletal tower on southern most of Penna Hill, Count Wolmak found out destroying the equipment that being mounted on it was sufficient to create favorable result. For example, after out of frustration some Riders destroyed four big panels that facing to each cardinal direction, the coordination among the rapid ballista dropped significantly.
Previously, it would require six Riders to destroy one rapid ballista, and five Riders would get killed in the process. Now, it only required three Riders to achieve the similar result.
“We will definitely bag our first victory today.”
An ear to ear grin bloomed on Count Wolmak’s lips as the second wave Riders finally arrived. Wasting no time, he issued an order through crystal communicator.
“Destroy every piece of object mounted on the skeletal tower, and work on 3-man team to neutralize the opposing rapid ballista.”
Count Wolmak received no reply for his order, but with ease he could tell that Riders from the second wave carried it out faithfully. They dove determinedly and joint the fight accordingly to his instruction.
*****