TF Amethyst

TFA2 29.3 – Clearing the Route

From the cabin on the leading UH-1Y Venoms, Captain Mullen observed Makai Royal City. The giant city was divided by Dovar River in the middle. On the east bank, it had commoner district, red light district, and commercial district. This side had no city wall and the main street was wide and had hard surface. Humvee would easily explore it almost into every part of the city. Therefore, if one of the choppers crashed in the east bank, third platoon and their Humvees would easily conducted a quick rescue.

Meanwhile, Makai Royal Palace, military district, and high-class district were located in the west bank. This side had a thick city wall and 20.000 Makai Guard who had been stationed in six military bases. If a chopper crashed on this side, the survivors could only made their escape through the underground sewer.

As long as the survivors followed the current on the underground sewer, they would find the exit to Dovar River. Then, first platoon and some of Major Petrov’s men who had disguised themselves as fisherman and stood by in Dovar River since yesterday would evacuate them.

And if they were lucky, the survivors would meet CQB element on the middle of their way. This black ops squad had silently lived on the underground sewer for the last four weeks, so they would easily took the survivors to the sewer exit.

Then, the flight of choppers from Jack Sparrow passed over the east bank, leaving thousand people who gave them wondering gaze. And just before they completely passed over Dovar River and entered the west bank, the Venom’s pilot informed Captain Mullen.

“Five minutes.”

After a small nod Captain Mullen immediately pressed PTT button, “God Father to all squad, lock and load, five minutes out.”

At the same time, two Vipers in the lead increase its speed. Their first objective was clearing the route for the Venoms. So far, IDG had located six fire spears and two dozens of ballista. They were stationed on top of palace wall and forming a big ring of air defense network. 

Even if fire spear didn’t have explosive on its spearhead, up to 500 meters it could penetrate cockpit of a chopper and killed the crew. Meanwhile, ballista bolt could cause a fatal problem if it entered the air intake. In short, this primitive air defense could still become a threat for the Venoms and had to be destroyed to the last unit.

With ease, the pair of Vipers passed the city wall and flew directly towards Makai Royal Palace in full speed. Before long, palace wall was visible in the distance. Without delay, Captain Russel took his Viper to approach the first fire spear while observing its crew. 

They seemed didn’t know how to respond the incoming Viper. It was natural as Rolling Panda was still jamming crystal communication network around Makai Royal City. Meanwhile, the survivors in supervisor office were still hiding in their holes. In short, Makai Guard didn’t aware that Makai Royal Palace was under imminent attack, so they didn’t issue any warning for Palace Guard.

In a calm tone, Captain Russell radioed his partner in crime. “Black Duck to Red Duck, let’s start the party, follow my lead.”

[Red Duck to Black Duck, receive and understood, we have your six.]

Wasting no time, both Vipers executed a sharp nose dive. Right at a range of 1 km before the fire spear, gunner on first Viper fired one Hydra unguided rocket. Two seconds later, gunner on second Viper also fired another Hydra unguided rocket. 

Blaarr! Blaaaarrr!!

Both Hydra unguided rockets missed a few meters before the fire spear, but it was more than enough to disable the launcher, burned the fuel stock, and killed the crew. Wasting no time, both Vipers then banked hard to the left and approaching the closest ballista.

After seeing how the fire spear and its crew met with their end, the ballista crew immediately fired a ballista bolt to the incoming Vipers, but both Vipers easily avoided it.

Blaarr! Blaaaarrr!!

Just before the ballista crew launched second bolt, two Hydra unguided rockets hit them first. In a blink of one eye, both the crew and the ballista met with their end.

With ease, both Vipers continued their hunter-killer run. They circled palace wall in high speed while neutralizing fire spear and ballista along their way. The crew of fire spears and ballista tried to shoot them down from beyond their effective range, but its futile attempt. 

Even if fire spear was three times faster than ballista bolt, it still had fixed trajectory. Therefore, Vipers could easily avoid it as long as they knew their trajectory. In less than five minutes, all fire spears and ballista on top of palace wall were annihilated to the last unit.

Then, both Vipers proceed with their second objective, suppressing or annihilating opposing ground troops. Coincidently or not, the first barracks of Palace Guard was located only 2 km from their position. Without delay both Vipers approached it.

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In the assembly field in front of a barracks, 600 member of Palace Guard neatly lined up while receiving a brief from their officer. Then, as soon as they saw two flying carriages were approaching theirs position, they immediately formed a tortoise formation. Some of them also prepared their longbow or throwing spear.

It seemed the Palace Guard had heard about the attack on the palace wall. However, they didn’t aware about the nasty capability of the two flying carriage they had to kill. 

With tone of full confident Captain Heriek gave his men an order, “Be ready and do not waver, they fly too low. Our longbow and throwing spear will easily reach them.”

“””SIR YES SIR!!!”””

Captain Heriek’s men firmly replied as their fighting spirit soared to the sky. Then, they calmly waiting for the incoming flying carriages to enter the range of their longbow and throwing spear. 

‘We got you bastards,’ Count Heriek muttered as sadistic grin bloomed at his lips. Then, he ordered his men, ““FIRE!!”

Swish swish swish swi-wi-wi-wissssssh!!

Hundreds of arrows and throwing spears flew directly towards the incoming flying carriages. However, the flying carriages easily avoided it by making a hard bank to the left. Then, they circled the tortoise formation while pointing the triple-rod under their chin to its outer section.

Brrrrrrt Brrrrttt Brrrrrrrrrrtttttttt!!!

Just before Captain Heriek’s men launched the second salvo, a rain of fire arrows hit them first. Each fire arrow easily killed 3-5 men who stood in their trajectory. It penetrated their shield, their armor, and their body like a hot knife cut a block of butter. In an instant, the tortoise formation crumbled.

In reflex the survivors followed their instinct. They were running as fast they could to their barrack to take cover. Theirs barracks was made of thick stone wall and roof that was able withstand Cloud Hawk’s claw and beak. So, they believed it would save them from the nasty fire arrow.

The decision of the survivors turned out was correct. Theirs barracks easily blocked the fire arrow. Relief slowly filled their heart, while color returned to their pale face. Some of them even started to smile.

However, a second later two giant fire spears suddenly entered the barracks from two different windows.

Ka-Booommm!!

The two giant fire spears exploded almost simultaneously. The survivors in the barracks didn’t know the name of the fire spears. However, from the blinding light and explosion they witnessed with their eyes and body, they spontaneously guessed its origin. They believed it must be fire spears from hell, and they were not completely wrong.

Meanwhile, the two flying carriages didn’t bother to check the result of their attack. Two 9-kg high explosive warheads from Hellfire would more than enough to turn a building made of solid stone into a giant furnace, and roasted any living thing inside it into charcoal or ash.

Without delay the two flying carriages continued their hunt. They had to prevent any opposing ground troops from jeopardizing the assault team’s objective. They also had to hurry as the flight of the Venoms had just passed over the palace wall.

*****