Following a good sleep in my own bunk, I awoke for the start of operations. The Vanguard was alive with the scurrying of personnel. The buzz of activity filled the air, a symphony of preparation and urgency. I brushed past soldiers frantically assembling their armors as they rushed towards the bays. Our brigade was stationed at Bay 4. The other forty-one were dedicated to Mission One and cargo transports.
As I approached Bay 4, the familiar sight of my men brought a sense of pride and determination. They moved with purpose, their faces set with resolve. The Centurion HX walkers stood ready, their sleek forms prepared and ready to go cloaked for the mission ahead. The dropships, lined up in perfect order, awaited their precious cargo.
I saluted my men as they loaded into the HX walkers and the dropships. "Stay sharp and stick to the plan," I called out, my voice steady. "We'll bring our brothers home."
They responded with a chorus of affirmations, their voices strong and unwavering. I watched as they completed their final checks, each man focused on his task. The air was thick with anticipation, the weight of the mission hanging over us all.
With the preparations complete, I returned to my quarters, anxious for this to be completed. The room felt both familiar and foreign, a temporary haven in the midst of the storm. I sat at my desk, my thoughts racing. The success of this mission was crucial, and the lives of our comrades depended on our precision and determination.
As I waited, I couldn't help but reflect on the journey that had brought us here. The failures, the losses, and the relentless pursuit of victory. Each experience had shaped us, forging a bond of unity and resolve. We were more than soldiers; we were brothers, bound by a shared purpose.
The clock ticked away, each second a reminder of the imminent battle. My vision and mind blurred together, replaying every detail of the plan. The dropships should be landing soon. Time arrived to convene the officers.
"Men," Phulnos began, his voice steady.
The table produced a spatial display of the operational sector. The convoy's markers had them decelerating in the troposphere. The main force landed as discussed while my men veered off to the prison. Another reason I modified their plan to use REMOS units was to draw all long-range, anti-air systems.
Several surface-to-air warheads flared to life. They arced toward the juggernauts, now visible after dropping from the bays of their invisible carriers. Ineffective against their hulls, but disastrous if they clipped one HX.
"I am sending the drone streams to your HUDs. Please connect to the broadcast system to relay your orders as necessary," Phulnos sternly said.
Several infrared videos opened in my helmet. I patched into long-range comm network and adjusted the videos to my liking.
"Chavez, Anderson, Keppay, Carter, Vimren, Jacobi, Galen, Brooks, Eagraves, Ottman." Phulnos paused.
The markers for the dropships curved to leave atmosphere; the markers for the REMOS and HX slowly crept into their positions.
I immediately said, "All as expected. Units on their marks. Ready for Phase Two."
The other lieutenants sounded off with their own affirmations.
Phulnos declared, "Clear for Phase Two."
"Copy." I replied.
Phase Two was easy for my units: nothing. We laid waiting for the assault on the capitol to draw as many supplementary fighters from this encampment as possible without extending the mission time.
After several minutes, Carter plainly said, "Capitol perimeter breached."
"Good. Phase Three," Phulnos instructed.
"Initiate Phase 2.5" I brazenly said, giving my men my mark.
Phulnos arched a brow and met my gaze but allowed for this departure from tradition.
Hale's and Stone's HX climbed onto their ridges. Marco, Ronald, and Gene crept into the minimum safety distance from impacts. Long ascended his peak, ready to tear through the side of their perimeter.
"Commence Phase 3," Phulnos ordered.
They traded their invisibility for hell unleashed on the defenses of the prison, gradually focusing their barrages to leave a path for the infantry to advance unharmed. Tex's men secured the way with Nunez's laying suppressive fire to cover the advance. Walker's team planted the charges, timing the detonation with the breach of the entrance.
"Riley, Hayes, Paul!" I barked.
BOOM! Bang. The tower collapsed, masking the sound of the breach. Within the instant, Johnson had the door opened. Our extraction squad quickly cleared the corridor, eliminating several enemy combatants.
My men and our progress fully occupied my attention. I could not afford to pay mind to the status of the main offensive.
"Phase 3.5." I authoritatively said.
Hale and Stone turned their HXs around, ready to intercept the portion of the reinforcement contingent that would deviate from supporting the capitol once they received the signal that the encampment was under siege.
I spoke once again, "Bombers, strafe the valley."
Our aerial units delivered heavy ordinance to slow the return of the enemies.
"Incoming, main artery." I saw signatures of hostiles moving through the valley between ridge Alpha and Beta, "Light them up."
Hale and Stone reduced the force considerably, leaving the clean-up to Nunez.
"Walker, decorate the foundation."
His squad began trailing charges along the perimeter of the construction.
Riley had eyes on the POWs. Paul had cloned almost every byte of data within the base. Hayes already left the interior, transmitting the all-clear to me.
I dismissed the information flooding into my HUD, focused on the safe conclusion of our operation.
"Men, engage gyros and anchor yourselves." I plainly said.
I transferred communication lines for my next order,
"Attention, orbital strike team. This is Lieutenant Galen. Clearance, VLAGFDF985. Target coordinates are as follows: Latitude 34.751242 degrees North, Longitude 76.458351 degrees East. Confirm and prepare to engage on my mark."
The clearance code was acknowledged, and I watched as the targeting systems aligned with the designated location on Draconis IV. The battery waited for my word.
After all my units prepared for the upcoming tremors, I said, "Fire."
The spatial display captured a barrage of plasma encircling my area of operations. Craters sprouted in a ring, spreading superheated dust into the atmosphere.
"Phase 4." I calmly ordered, "Pilots, get us out."
"All units, prepare for extraction," I ordered through the comms, my voice steady. "Board the HX units and secure yourselves. We're getting out of here."
As the final phase of the operation commenced, my men began boarding the HX units, their movements swift and coordinated. The walkers ready to ferry the troops to safety.
The men moved with precision, climbing into the waiting HX walkers. Each soldier took their position, securing their gear and readying themselves for the journey. The atmosphere was tense but focused, every individual floating on high of adrenaline.
The juggernaut carriers, cloaked and waiting in the upper atmosphere, began their descent. Their massive forms moved with surprising grace, guided by the precise coordinates transmitted from the surface. The air hummed with the energy of their cloaking fields, rendering them nearly invisible to any prying eyes.
"Carriers approaching," I informed my team, watching the displays in my HUD. "Prepare for pickup."
The ground trembled slightly as the juggernaut carriers settled into position above the extraction zone. The cloaking fields shimmered momentarily as the carriers extended their docking clamps, locking onto the HX units with a series of metallic clicks.
"Docking secured," I confirmed. "Begin extraction sequence."
With the HX units securely attached, the juggernaut carriers blended into the air and initiated their ascent. The powerful engines roared to life, lifting the HX walkers and their precious cargo off the ground. The air around us swirled with displaced dust, creating a temporary haze that masked our departure.
The carriers moved with a quiet efficiency, rising through the atmosphere. The display rendered a large explosive yield where the enemy prison once stood.
As the extraction of my men and the HX units completed without a hitch, I finally allowed myself a moment to glance at Mission One's progress. The displays in my HUD shifted as I accessed the live feeds and tactical data streams from the main assault on the capital.
What I saw sent a cold shiver down my spine.
The battlefield was a chaotic inferno, a stark contrast to the meticulous planning we had put in place. The once orderly advance had devolved into a desperate struggle for survival. Smoke and fire billowed from the ruined landscape, casting a hellish glow over the scene.
The first thing that caught my eye was the mounting casualties. Medics were overwhelmed, their triage stations surrounded by the injured and the dying. The digital overlays in my HUD showed casualty reports climbing at an alarming rate. Bodies of our fallen comrades lay scattered, their armor scorched and twisted by enemy fire.
My gaze shifted to the commandeered REMOS units. Originally intended to spearhead our assault, they now stood like abandoned giants amidst the rubble. Enemy forces had overrun several of them, turning our own heavy walkers against us. The REMOS, designed to be our shield and hammer, were now a monument to the chaos that had befallen Mission One.
Through the haze, I could see pockets of our soldiers trapped under relentless enemy fire. They huddled behind makeshift barricades, their movements desperate as they tried to hold their ground. The enemy had dug in, their heavy artillery raining destruction upon our forces. Explosions rocked the battlefield, sending shrapnel and debris flying.
One squad in particular caught my attention. They were pinned down in a narrow alley, unable to advance or retreat. The enemy artillery zeroed in on their position, each shell landing closer and closer. The desperation in their movements was palpable, their communications filled with frantic calls for support.
"Command, this is Alpha Squad! We're pinned down at grid 3-7-Alpha! Requesting immediate assistance, over!" The squad leader's voice crackled through the comms, a mixture of urgency and fear.
I switched to a broader view, seeing other units in similar dire straits. Reinforcements struggled to break through the enemy lines, their progress hampered by well-coordinated defensive positions. The capital's defenses were far more entrenched than we had anticipated, their artillery placements strategically positioned to cover every approach.
The tactical overlays showed a grim picture. Our initial push had been repelled, and the enemy was now pressing their advantage. Key objectives remained out of reach, and the command structure was struggling to maintain cohesion. The battlefield was a maelstrom of chaos, the orderly advance shattered by the ferocity of the enemy's defense.
I clenched my fists, feeling a surge of frustration and anger. We had underestimated the enemy's resolve and capabilities. Mission One was teetering on the brink of disaster, and our soldiers were paying the price.