In the Skies of the Central Region of Pangea
**1st Operation Division, 1st Battalion**
In the night sky, hundreds of transport aircraft, escorted by fighter planes, carried a battalion of special forces to be dropped behind enemy lines. Their mission: to locate and destroy enemy manufacturing facilities.
Graves, recently promoted to battalion commander after dozens of covert missions on the Tyrell continent and others, led his squad. Though his team had been promoted to lead squads of their own, they were given an exception for this mission.
Graves was in command of the Overwatch Company, the HQ mobile command. He and a quarter of his company were half asleep until they heard the pilot's voice.
"Attention, approaching drop-off objective," the pilot announced. The soldiers got up, checked their weapons, and woke their sleeping comrades. The crew in the aircraft surveyed their instruments.
"Men, prepare. Make sure you have everything we need. We are going behind enemy lines, and resupply is not always available," Graves loudly spoke as he checked his backpack. An elven female, wearing special forces gear redesigned to suit her form in combat, approached him.
"Graves, everyone's ready. How long?" she asked.
"Closing in on objective in 30 seconds," came the response from the pilot.
The soldiers began standing up as the aircraft shook. When 10 seconds passed, the cargo bay door opened, revealing a dogfight as the fighter planes chased wyverns trying to attack the transport planes.
With 5 seconds left, the soldiers were already lined up.
"5...4...3...2...1..."
A green light signaled the jump, and the soldiers began jumping off. In the sky, they saw wyverns being chased away by fighter jets firing their miniguns. The soldiers, gliding through the wind, tried to gain control and succeeded.
They had trained as paratroopers, a select group skilled in aerial paradrop warfare. After landing, they were trained to survive and be self-sufficient, always surrounded by potential threats.
Graves checked his altitude dial, and at 13,500 ft, he pulled the release string for his parachute. As he slowed down, he saw other soldiers releasing their chutes.
The transport planes turned back after dropping the battalion. Over a dozen planes spread out as a single division was deployed, with the rest spread out through the world. Currently, only 20 divisions were active, while the number of covert operatives remained highly classified, known only to the founding emperor.
**Back to Graves**
Graves landed, activated a self-destruct function to dissolve his parachute, and activated his radio.
"Overwatch Company Helmsman landed, proceeding to Tally Tower," he said, meaning the gathering spot for the company. A few hours later, Graves met up with his soldiers. The company set up camp, with sentries and scouts positioned for security.
**Scouts' POV**
An operator held his rifle, walking cautiously with his battle buddy, who carried a sniper rifle. They traversed the desolate land, noting its barren history and the legends of destroyed archives.
"Hey, look at that mountain over there," the operative said, pointing out a shadow.
The sniper aimed and scanned the area. "None spotted, but should we get closer?"
"Sure, let's go."
They approached the mountain cautiously. Hearing noise, they hid. After a few minutes, they saw a convoy of carriages carrying chained humans and a mix of elves and dwarves, mostly from the western side of Pangea, with some pale-skinned individuals from the eastern side.
The convoy entered a mountain tunnel. The scouts waited, then decided to report their findings to the commander.
Five minutes later, they returned to the camp and reported. Graves planned an attack for the next day.
**Next Day**
Graves, with the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd platoons, approached the mountain. They found tracks leading to a hidden tunnel. Switching on their flashlights, they moved in, hearing faint noises of hammering metal. Following several dead-end trails, they found the right path, feeling the temperature rise.
As the temperature increased, they saw a shadow approaching a turn. One soldier pulled out a knife, approaching the turn while the rest aimed their sights.
"It's better to forge weapons here than out in the open," a dwarf's gruff voice said.
"Those flying birds keep dropping bombs every few hours. I'm tired of this!" another dwarf replied angrily.
"We can't deny a royal decree. We are royal smiths, but here we are just mercenaries. Remember that if we get captured," said a dwarf seriously.
"It's that empire's fault for fighting the Tyrell fighters and supporting those barbaric humans," the angry dwarf said as they approached.
**WOOSH**
The lead dwarf was swiftly slashed in the neck, and the others stood frozen as the operative quickly attacked the remaining three.
**CRACK**
The veteran operative punched one dwarf's jaw, dislocating and killing him. He drew his silenced pistol and fired, hitting another in the chest and head. The remaining two dwarves, armed only with daggers, engaged in a brief fight. One operative grunted in pain from a leg stab, then bashed a dwarf's head against the wall. The last dwarf was knocked unconscious.
"Sir, it's clear," the operative reported. They moved the dead bodies, leaving four soldiers to guard the POW.
Following the sounds, they found boxes filled with armor, ammunition, and weapons. The quality was fit for quick combat and high production speed.
At a large door, they felt a heat wave upon opening it slightly. Inside, they saw humans, demi-humans, and titans, their legs chained, sweating as they hammered iron. They were given water only in the morning and afternoon.
Graves ordered his men to take positions. They saw a dwarf in a leather apron, with goggles and smithing tools.
"Throw the new grenade into the furnace," Graves ordered, referring to the cryo grenade, a creation of wizards and engineers. The grenade contained a spell, triggered by a special mechanism, releasing a shockwave of mana before exploding in a 10-foot radius of ice.
An operative shakily removed the pin and threw it precisely at the furnace. A loud explosion followed, creating an ice mirror and cold wind. They quickly moved in, capturing anyone who didn't resist and freeing the forced laborers.
"Secure the area and call for rescue helicopters!" Graves ordered.
Some shots were fired as armed dwarves resisted, but were soon subdued.
At night, a few hundred transport helicopters, escorted by cobra attack helicopters, patrolled the area, keeping an eye out for attackers. After loading the freed laborers, the company moved to their next objective, reading messages from other companies to their overwatch. Graves walked among his men, ensuring they covered their gear.
As the first phase of the invasion began, operatives behind enemy lines worked to disrupt the enemy's command structure.
to be continued