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Chapter 7, Operation Footprint
“Our army is finally ready to conduct a large scale counterattack against Yuktobania. If we succeed, we'll never have
to face the humiliation of those Yukes trampling on our homeland and yet. The goal of this operation is simple. We invade
and occupy the Yuktobanian mainland.”
“We are going to conduct a large-scale amphibious assault against Yuktobania on the Bastoc Peninsula. This mission will
be called "Operation Footprint". The landing force will be selected from the 1st and 2nd Osean army battalions. They will
be divided into four companies, A, B, C, and D and transported to the area by our landing craft. Upon landing, each division
will fan out and destroy the enemy bases scattered throughout the area, then rendezvous and reform into a single large force
unit to assault the final target, the fortress. The Yuktobanian defence positions along the coast are tightly dug in and we
have concluded that the air attacks alone will not be enough to destroy them. Therefore, "Operation Footprint" will be a synchronized
air and ground attack to neutralize these positions. It is critical that you follow the specific targeting instructions of
the ground commander to maximize the effects of your attacks. We are expecting poor weather conditions and fierce resistance
from the Yuktobanian defence forces. Pillboxes and a defensive wall protect the fortress. Provide close air support for the
ground forces and get as many soldiers as possible inside.”
“I wish you the best of luck in battle.” Colonel Perrault concluded the briefing.
We flew over the Bastoc Peninsula, and I started to pick up radio transmissions.
“Hey Terry, got something I need to tell you!”
“The enemy’s right in front of us Scott, save it for later!”
“Yeah, I guess your right. Later then!”
“The Four Companies will now land at their designated beachheads! Commence Close Air Support!” Thunderhead ordered.
“GO! Move forward! That it! ROW! KEEP ROWING!” Chopper said “to hell with this war…”
“THIS IS COMPANY A! LANDING SUCESSFUL! DEPLOYING THE ARMOURED VECHILES NOW!”
“MOVE! MOVE! LAND ALREADY! HIT THAT BEACH AND START RUNNING! THER’S NO TIME TO KISS THE GROUND!” Chopper
yelled.
“This is company B! Our attack’s being held up by fierce fire from the bunkers! Halt the enemy fire with an airstrike,
we’ll charge in at the same time!”
“Hurry to the designated area and provide close air support. Activate your radar map to check location.”
“Is the attack target confirmed kid?” Chopper asked.
I looked, and saw that the bunkers where lit up with a large red box along the outside.
“Looks like,” I said
“Roger, the trick will be to match our timing with the ground forces.”
I shot two missiles at the bunker. They hit, but only stopped fire inside temporarily.
“Blaze, air attacks can only silence air attacks temporarily.” Nagase said, but I sensed that it was more of a
question.
“It looks that way, Edge.”
“Roger, the bunkers are extremely tough. Our weapons alone won’t be enough to destroy them.”
“This operation is pointless...” Chopper complained “These guys are just gonna storm in, head-on, following
orders. That's how war is fought. That's why I hate it. How could the President authorize an escalation of the war like this?
This is insane. We'll get bogged down in this forever. Hey, that Mr. Cargo guy was the President, right? Man... I thought
I could believe in him back then, I had no idea he was such a wuss.”
“No, he’s not.” Nagase countered.
The ground forces where fighting hard as I started picking up transmissions from them.
“First Sergeant, are you familiar with the tactics of capturing fortresses?”
“A fortress? I didn’t learn anything in training about capturing a fortress!”
“What? Break through that line with our current manpower? That's insane!”
“Those are the orders? What, you want me to die?”
“Stupid newbie! This isn't some textbook war game!”
“Yes! This is all according to the textbook. We can do it! Good luck!”
“Yeah, thanks. That was encouragement? I think I'm gonna cry...”
“Just as they believe in me, I will believe in them!”
“If we can get past here, victory's just a hair away!”
“WHAT HAPPENED TO OUR RENFORCEMENTS? OVER!”
”WHAT RENFORCEMENTS? YOU GOUYS ARE THE ENTIRE FORCE!”
Even the Yuktobanians where getting panicked, because I started to pick up transmissions from there side.
“This rain’s torrential! Visibility zero!”
“I'm sending reinforcements now. You've got to hold them off!”
“The pillboxes are getting smashed by those air attacks!”
I kept firing, and demolishing bunkers. The ground forces rushed in at the same time.
“Bunkers captured! Thanks for the air support!”
“Damn! It’s like they’re ploughing the ground with bullets!”
“Don’t get hit Terry! There’s still something I’ve gotta tell you!”
‘I know, I know messenger boy. You hang in there to!”
“They're never gonna call us losers again! Go, go! You too, Mark!”
“He's following the textbooks to a tee. They'll read every move we make!”
“That’s it! I’m taking over command!”
“Insubordination is grounds for a court-martial!”
”I don’t care! I’m not taking any more orders from that guy!”
“Attention, overhead aircraft, this is the ground force, make sure you don’t drop any bombs on us!”
I checked my inventory; I had 55 Missiles, 600 rounds of machine-gun ammo, and 12 LASM or Long Range Air-to-Surface missiles.
“That’s a roger, ground forces! We don’t even HAVE bombs!”
“Roger that! Good luck to you guys up there!”
“This is Corporal Powers of Company A! Even from above, you can tell we're the best unit, right!”
I was watching them from the beginning. They had the best training as well as the best vehicles, two double-barrelled Apocalypse
tanks.
“Oh yeah,” I said. “Keep going!”
“YEAH! KEEP WATCHING! ‘CUZ WE’RE JUST GETTING STARTED! COMPANY A, FORWARD!”
“Second Lieutenant Rubin of Company B to our allied planes. Will you help us make our Captain's last job one to remember?”
“Sure thing,” I said “hey, everyone! Let’s give them an air show!”
“This is Rubin. We owe you one. Marching to the sound of air support bombings...Pretty fitting for the Captain.”
“Uhh… this is Company D, I have a favour to ask, could you bomb our monster of a captain from the air for us?”
I almost said yes, until I realised what he was saying. “What the hell? Of course not!” I yelled at them.
“Ah, heh, I was just kidding...Psst, Lance, the plan failed. We gotta think of something else.”
“hey Chopper, did you know? My older Brother’s down there.” Grimm said
“WHAT? YOU SHOULD HAVE TOLD ME THAT EARLIER YOU MORON! WHERE IS HE?”
“I don’t know, they all look the same.”
“Fine! Then EVERYONE down there’s your brother!”
“We’ll go out first! Time for “The Usual”. “
“Yeah, “The Usual”.”
“Attack from the center...call it an old man's intuition.”
“This is the Captain's last campaign before he retires. Let's make it a good one!”
“That's our Captain for ya. He ain't old for nothing!”
a few seconds later, I heard the familiar Russian accent.
“Need some help, Comrades?” Supreme Commander Boris Romanov said over the ICS.
“HA! Here comes his highness from Usea now!”
“Hey, commander, we could use some help here. You take down the aircraft, we’ll keep providing Close Air Support!”
“Okay, everyone, you heard him! Let’s go!”
I heard the Yuktobanians again, now they where REALLY panicking.
“ARE THE PILOTS WHO SUNK THE SCINFAXI MIXED IN THERE SOMEWHERE?”
”We can't defend this area any longer!”
“This isn't looking good! Our firepower's deteriorating!”
“They got us again! They're attacking from the air like last time.”
“Lost contact with the left flank. Believed to be overrun!”
“We're getting surrounded! Dammit!”
So there we where, the Commander, Yellow 13, and Ace where engaging the air targets, while Archer, Chopper, Edge and Yours
Truly destroyed the bunkers and other ground targets.
“Come on… just a bit more, you bastard! YES MISSILE LOCKED ON! FOX THREE FOX THREE!”
“So now what are you going to do? Turn right and expose yourself to me, or turn left and give Ace a perfect shot?”
“Target destroyed! Give me the next firing point!”
“I’m on his tail! He’s MINE!”
“This is AWACS Thunderhead, Units A and B are engaging the Fortress. Flow to provide Close Air Support!”
“This is Company C! We’re moving in to attack the last bunkers! Let’s finish this!”
“ENEMY MINEFEILD UP AHEAD! WHERE ARE THE ENGINEERS?”
I moved in, and shot off two of my LASMs, the missiles went right into the bunker. The first explosion wasn’t much,
but the secondary explosion ripped the bunker apart like a flat lab of clay. The Commander fired his laser right into the
second set of bunkers, punching a clean hole right through them, and causing part of them to melt into molten slag. I fired
again, with all my missiles and bullets; it caused a missive explosion that demolished a good part of the defensive wall,
and tearing back the HQ part of the fortress back.
“Attention all forces. All bunkers silenced. We've captured the entire fortress! Did you copy that, Air Force? We really
appreciate all your support.”
“All right, things are a bit calmer now. What's on your mind? Hey, Scott!”
“Well, I got a transfer order. I'm heading back home to our country in four days...”
“Oh...so this will be the last time I'll be fighting with you, huh? I'm gonna miss you, man.”
“Me too, partner. It's been fun.”
I also heard cheering of “OSEA! OSEA! OSEA! OSEA!” and I started giving the best air show of my life.
“GOOD WORK EVERYONE!” I heard Stalin 1 say once we got back to Sand Island. “Now, let’s get this war
over with in a hurry! Mobius 1 is coming back in a few days from “Operation: Katena” and then these guys are REALLY
going to beg for mercy.”
“HERE, HERE!” almost everyone said.
End of chapter 6
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