18: 35 (85 minutes to the next explosion)
Artemis Breifing Room, Over Hachijo Island, Japan
As Sohel finished explaining his plan, he looked at everyone. He thought, "Is it really for the best? All these people, they're going to fight under me with all their faith. Are my shoulders strong enough to carry that faith?"
His thought train broke when he suddenly felt a hand on his shoulder. He looked behind and saw Mitali smiling at him. She said, "What're you facing out for? Let's go; it's time."
Sohel forced a smile on his face and said, "Yeah, let's go."
Lola and Mimi were given extra plate carriers to wear, but they were still unarmed as they didn't have extra weapons.
Naomi went to them and asked, "Which one of you here is the better shooter?"
Lola stepped up and replied, "That'd be me."
Naomi took off her MP5 and handed it to Lola with three extra magazines and said, "Take it. There isn't enough ammo; try not to waste it."
Naomi then unholstered her Beretta 93R pistol and handed it to Mimi. She said, "I don't have spare magazines for it, so 17 rounds is all you get. Use it in a single fire; burst fire would burn through the ammo in a second."
Both of them took the weapons and inspected them. Lola realised Naomi had given both of her firearms away and asked, "Wait, how are you going to fight?"
Naomi unsheathed her Ka-Bar knife and showed it to them. She said, "This blade is enough for me."
Annabelle's voice came through the speakers: "Everyone, hold on, I'm going to start descending. Blast, man the guns."
Jacob ran out of the room as he heard that.
Sohel said, "This is it, guys. Let's get that mental bastard."
Everyone went to the bridge.
In a few seconds, the Artemis descended down to only 5,000 feet. Annabelle said, "Blast, we're in range."
The soldiers on the grounds noticed Artemis as it descended and started firing. Annabelle started rounding the whole island, trying to dodge the bullets. She said, "ARIA, you're my co-pilot. I'm counting on you."
ARIA replied, "Don't worry, Princess. I won't disappoint."
Annabelle said, "Someone, get to the target finder over there and give Blast instructions."
Mitali ran to the target finder console as she said, "I got it."
Mitali said, "Enemy Tangos at 120 degrees north. You're free to use the 25mm cannon."
Jacob switched his console to the 25mm cannon and said, "Spraying in 3, 2, 1."
A spray of 25mm rounds rained upon a group of soldiers firing at the Artemis.
Mitali said, "Good job, Blast. Ten plus tangos KIA."
Annabelle said, "I'm rounding in for round two."
Mitali said, "You heard her, Blast. Get ready for another spray. Multiple tangos spotted, 75 degrees east."
Jacob said, "Target spotted. Spraying in, 3, 2, 1."
Another cluster of 25mm rounds rained upon the Pheonix forces soldiers.
Mitali said, "Good hit, good hit. Multiple tangoes KIA."
Annabelle said, "Rounding in for round three."
Just then ARIA said, "Princess, RPG."
Annabelle got surprised and said, "What?"
Mitali started looking around and found multiple soldiers standing in various locations with RPGs aiming at the Artemis.
Annabelle screamed, "Everybody hold on. ARIA, code 14."
ARIA replied, "Code 14 activated."
Annabelle and ARIA started to fly around the barrage of rockets coming towards the Artemis, swiftly evading them. But they couldn't fully escape as soon, one rocket hit Artemis, followed by a few more.
The whole aircraft shook violently. Annabelle almost fell down; in fact, she would've if not for the seatbelt. Everyone, who wasn't sitting, was almost on the ground.
Annabelle shook her head and fixed her position as she asked, "ARIA, damage report."
ARIA replied, "Hull integrity at 84%. The VToL engine has taken hit; it's advised not to rely on that engine solely as it might fail at any moment."
Annabelle murmured, "Seriously? Mitali, Blast, take care of the RPG dudes fast. Or we'd be meeting our makers way sooner than any of us want."
MItali and Jacob answered in sync, "On it, Princess."
Mitali said, "Marking all of the RPG locations with green markers. Weapons free."
Jacob swiched to the 40mm console as he said, "Thank you, Mitali. Target visual. Firing in 3, 2, 1."
Jacob fired all four 40mm explosive rounds in quick succession, taking out the RPGs.
Sohel said, "I think it's time. Everyone, run a final equipment check. Don't get in tough situations because of something as silly as equipment failure."
Everyone replied in sync, "Yes, Captain."
Everyone checked their weapons and equipment.
Annabelle asked, "How much ammo do we have left, Blast?"
Jacob checked the consoles and replied, "277 rounds of 25mm, two 400 smoke shells, and one 105mm shell."
Annabelle continued, "How many tangos, Mitali?"
Mitali checked and replied, "1,754 in sight. Might be more inside the buildings."
Annabelle clicked her tongue and asked, "Captain, are you going to be okay? Down there still looks like a pit of death."
Sohel replied, uncertainty in his voice, "Don't know, Princess. But now that we've started, we have no other choice but to do it."
Annabelle sighed and said, "Blast, Mitali, it looks like we're going ahead with the plan. I'll run around for another run, Mitali, mark the target, blast, man the 105mm console."
Both of them replied in sync, "On it."
The Artemis roled around the island and started flying with a course over the larger building.
Mitlai said, "Target marked. Gray line"
Jacob said, "Target visual. Firing in 3, 2, 1. Payload away."
The 105mm shell hit the front of the building, taking down the wall and all the Pheonix Company soldiers around there.
Mitali said, "Good hit. Fifty plus tangos KIA."
Jacob then quickly switched to the 40mm console and fired the two 40mm smoke shells, totally covering the area in smoke.
Annebelle lowered the backramp as she landed Artemis. One by one, Naoki, Lola, Mimi, Jacob and Mitali jumped down. Just before Sohel jumped, Annabelle said, "Stay safe, Captain."