NORTHERN OUTSKIRTS OF PANDONI
The battalion had moved as ten combines, their vehicles separately. Javelin IFVs and Bushmasters would help to secure Pandoni, transporting and supporting troops in the firefight. Some minor skirmishes between the FSP had taken place, and they were somewhat accurate. They were still put down by the Paras before they got off a worthwhile shot. A fighter jet screamed overhead, on fire. A loyalist AA gun had removed it from service, the MiG-29 falling from the sky. The pilot did not eject, and he had lost control- otherwise he may have plowed into the New Hayesalians.
More MiGs were overhead, launching missiles and allowing cannon bursts. It was a dogfight, and it seemed that the numerically superior insurrectionists may have been winning. The New Hayesalians now moved even faster, covering the three kilometres quickly, sprinting almost. If they could move into the 'safety' of the frontline, the risk of being plowed by a jet was minimal. Radio requests now went over the net: "This is 1 Para, a dogfight of roughly twenty enemy MiG 29 Fulcrums are currently decimating allied air, repeat..." and so forth.
The New Hayesalians moved through the city streets like liquid, dashing to meet their Zellatian comrades. They too were on the radio, calling for immediate support. Some were being hit by Crystal Hider tanks. Another request was added to the radio call..
"This is Hotel Quebec, Para 1, air support can be received, ETA five minutes."
It would take the New Hayesalians six to get to the frontline.
NHS IMON, ACHILLES CLASS AIRCRAFT CARRIER
The ship rocked with the waves. The earliest hours of light began to seep over the horizon, the cool air whipping over the deck of the carrier. Deck crew wore extra layers, and had during the battle been on high alert to launch more aircraft if needed: they weren't. As they reached the final hours of their shift at 5:45pm, their job went on. They were now launching six F-22N Sea Raptors, with the NHS Sendall already launching three more RAH-13 Habu attack helicopters.
Their crews dashed up to the deck from below, affixing helmets and checking packs. They were being scrambled and had to launch quickly. Lieutenant Aaron Fox was one, the 2IC of the Waka Flight. He and five others lined up, and strapped into their ejection seats.
Check flaps, stabs... check initial engines... weapons... instruments...
He went through the checklist quickly and indicated he was good to go. A sailor in a yellow vest marshalled him, and hooked his Sea Raptor to the electromagnetic cannon. He grasped the control column and throttle, and waited. Go. It pushed all the way, propelling him to over 200 knots in a few seconds. The aircraft left the deck and immediately adjusted course for Pandoni. Thanks to the F-22's supercruise capacity, he was going to reach it in around four minutes- a little later than expected. His fellow sailors would catch up to him, as he would catch up to his flight commander.
The F-22Ns roared together over Tigpo, where smoke drifted to the sky lazily. Tanks, soldiers could be seen. Some helicopters too. A C-17 was at the airport, with white froth on the engine. More followed, and they began their flight to Pandoni.
AT PANDONI
The New Hayesalians kept moving, hearing calls that the advancing enemy came closer. The Zellatian front was strong, but weakening. The enemy approached from over the hills, but thankfully without artillery. Almost all of the loyalist force had fallen now, a single MiG now on the run with the enemy facing it. As it popped flares once more, it's pursuers lit up in fire. Six of the enemy fighters took a hit, from a beyond visual range CAAM-77 Anaconda missile each. The remainder broke off, trying to detect their attackers. They then took more evasive action popping flares. To the infantryman on the ground staring up, it looked as if they had simply gone made. Their flares dumped and they tried to evade: but three more were hit. A few had exploded immediately- some had tried to redirect themselves into the ground forces, hitting some Zellatian infantry in the open, buildings in the city and inadvertently an enemy Crystal Hider. As a MiG smashed into what was an apartment, smashing the top of the building to pieces and causing a fireball, soldiers ducked as rubble fell around them. Then loud screams, as the Sea Raptors flew overhead at Mach 2.1. Just a flash, and then they moved back.
As they broke, the remaining MiGs realised that it was a hopeless fight, and attempted their suicide techniques. A Javelin IFV was hit, killing the two crew immediately and destroying both vehicles. The explosion also injured more New Hayesalians, one seriously. A Bushmaster picked him up in a minute and moved him to the field hospital set by the Zellatians.
Now the tide was shifting. The New Hayesalian infantry reached the front, making garisson in buildings and firing. CM-107 Heavy Snipers set up on the tops of buildings- their massive anti-material rounds were now used against known enemy hideyholes, and they exploded as they struck the earth- or an enemy. The infantry began building up on the Zellatian forwards line, firing with Ripper Mk2s and CGPMG machine guns. The tanks still advanced, the Sea Raptors came in again. They dropped 100lbs JDAMS, precision guided bombs. As they struck, they lit the battlefield and set the grass alight.
New Hayesalians had now taken rounds. One soldier was dead, more bleeding. Their mates protected them as medics retrieved them, moving them to the safety of the Bushmasters. Javelins came out to play, also blasting away with .50 calibres and 25mm cannons. There was more and more fire coming against the Zellatians, and they kept coming.
It took three hours, but son it slowed. And stopped.
The line was secure for now.
"Attention all units, we have a large enemy prescence to the south of the city, repeat, a large enemy presence to the south! All units prepare to intercept!"
