The early morning darkness and rainy weather provided excellent cover, and perhaps luck was on their side, as the helicopter squadron had not been detected by the UDF or attacked by the Mimics since taking off from the forward base.
Inside the UH-53E, which could carry nearly 60 people, there was a mix of engine noise and the metallic clinks of firearms being prepared.
The cabin was filled with mercenaries in black combat uniforms and Level IV body armor, meticulously checking their weapons and equipment. Most of these mercenaries were descendants of the security team formed by Arthur Morgan and others in the late 19th century. They knew the secret of their boss's longevity and had been briefed on the characteristics of the Mimics.
Samuel Young sat near the cockpit, dressed similarly to the mercenaries around him.
Though he could have worn a baseball cap or foregone any headgear to highlight his unique status, he chose not to. The mission itself was already risky, and such distinctiveness could signal to the enemy, "Come kill me." While individual Mimics lacked self-awareness and intelligence, they could still identify who was in command.
Samuel ensured the safety of his personal 1911 pistol was off and returned it to the holster on his right thigh. Then, using a tablet strapped to his forearm, he checked the dynamic map displayed on the screen, confirming the squadron was now five kilometers from the Louvre.
The helicopter gunners, with helmet-mounted HUDs, noted their approach to the target area and increased their vigilance, thumbs ready on the trigger buttons.
"Enemy attack! Be ready!"
"Ri~—bzzz!!!"
The unique, crisp, and "pleasant" sound of the rotary machine guns filled the cabin and the air around them as the AH-1W gunner issued a warning over the comms.
"Everyone," Samuel addressed the personnel involved in the operation through his headset, "You are the core members of ATLAS, the elite. It is an honor to work with you. I have two points: one, we must win this battle, and two, there will be bonuses. Lastly...
Kill all the alien scum except for the Alphas!"
"Hooyah!"
"Attention all personnel!" The UH-53E pilot shouted over the comms, "Landing in 30 seconds!"
Outside, the scene was quite "spectacular," not from celebratory fireworks but from the gunfire and explosions between the helicopter squadron and the ground below. The bright muzzle flashes from their weapons and the energy blasts from the Mimics filled the air.
The AH-1W, equipped with a three-barrel 20mm cannon and four 70mm rocket pods, provided the squadron's primary firepower, blowing away the Mimics and their cover.
The four UH-1s, flanking the UH-53E, had their side doors open, allowing the gunners and mercenaries to lay down suppressive fire with 7.62 or .50cal caliber machine guns.
In the movie, the Omega didn't anticipate humans knowing its location, so Paris's defenses were not particularly dense, allowing William Cage and his team to exploit this. Reality mirrored this, but even "not particularly dense" meant tens of thousands of enemies.
Thirty seconds could feel like an eternity for those in the helicopter squadron under such intense anti-aircraft fire.
Boom!!
Amidst the dense flak, one UH-1 on the right side of the formation failed to evade and was hit in the tail and cockpit by an energy blast, resulting in a catastrophic explosion that sent the wreckage spinning to the ground. The AH-1W, tasked with providing fire support, was similarly targeted by the Mimics and exploded, its wreckage affecting another UH-1H.
However, the glass pyramid of the Louvre had come into view.
The previously damaged and faltering UH-1H managed to make a forced landing near the small Arc de Triomphe on the Louvre's west side, thanks to the pilots' skill.
Several mercenaries scrambled out of the cabin, some staggering to their feet or slapping their helmets to clear their heads.
Within seconds, the crash survivors gathered their wits, using the UH-1H's wreckage and nearby low walls as cover, engaging the approaching Mimics.
The remaining UH-1H and UH-53E successfully landed on the north plaza near the glass pyramid.
"Go, go, go!"
As soon as the helicopters touched down, the mercenaries disembarked.
"Hudson! Hicks! Move your butts! Take your teams twenty meters to the east and north and hold those positions!"
An officer with shoulder patches bearing two red bars, resembling Arthur Morgan, issued orders.
About thirty mercenaries split into two teams, advancing quickly east and north, establishing defensive positions about twenty meters from the landing zone. This positioning, along with the crash site and the landing zone, created a crossfire zone, maximizing their defensive potential.
Meanwhile, the three helicopters, having dropped off their passengers, took to the air again, circling above the Louvre to provide aerial support.
"Pete! Hall! Stay here with your teams; the rest of you, escort the boss to the target location."
Following the officer's orders, the remaining mercenaries divided again, with some staying to secure the landing zone while the others, in three-man teams spaced about six meters apart, escorted the officer and Samuel Young toward the glass pyramid.
—
...
The pyramid, which should have been clean and bright, adorned with art, was now dilapidated due to the war.
Splash! Splash!
Water flowed through broken glass, cascading like waterfalls onto the cracked tiles below, pooling briefly before draining toward a central depression in the hall.
Step! Step!
The heavy tread of military boots echoed.
The mercenaries, still in their three-man teams, entered the pyramid cautiously, their weapons trained in various directions.
Two teams, focusing on the central hall, moved towards the depression, peering down into an underground parking area about twenty meters below.
There, hiding in the shadows, lay the Omega—the Mimics' brain.
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