Leslie and Fionn
Max's words replayed in Leslie's head as she suited up for combat. She had seen his name before, somewhere in all the meetings and dinners her parents had helped host but he himself drew a blank beyond one of the flashcards that her tutors had used to make sure she knew everyone at a party. But given his vote of confidence, that's what she was going to call it, she was more than mentally ready. Some performance jitters, for sure, but after a year of simulations and drills it was nearly showtime
She splashed down with little incident. Just a bit of kelp covering the windshield that was quickly wiped off. It didn't elude her that she was partnered up with the heavy weapons carrier in the squad, and sent to deal with the biggest threat to their safety.
She had gone over the briefing in her head on the flight over. The sight of the cruise missiles impacting was something to behold, and reminded her of their advantages here. They would be in their GEARS, which was always a big plus. They would have the sensors and such to help them see while also having the biggest guns on the island. Their element of surprise would be backed up by their speed, which would help negate any sort of response the defenders would be able to muster. That speed would be key to keeping the initiative. Ideally, she and Fion would end up securing a garage full of empty vehicles, or even a smoking crater. But, failing that, it sounded like they were facing an organized, if amateur fighting force.
“Sobero, we have limited time before the enemy recovers. I suggest we go through the forest; we can rush through some cover to the hanger before we are forced into the open and take advantage of the chaos they'll be in. From there we can decide how to make the approach depending on what is still standing. If you're ready, let's get a move on, unless you have a better path.”
"I agree, straight through the forest to avoid any potential dug in positions. Come out of the woods and ideally catch them still getting everything moving, She said, raising her rifle, checking it had a bullet chambered, and advanced into the forest with the others.
“Alright, Let’s get a move on while they are still in disarray. I’ll lead the way and watch the front, you keep an eye out for anyone sneaking behind us.”
Fionn replied before breaking into a sprint through the thick vegetation of the forest. The density of the trees was enough to obscure vision from the outside, but not so much as to make travel difficult for the large frames of the GEARS, at least till they got closer to the hanger.
"Somachain, Sobero, me and Sprinstream have overwatch, we are on your right hand side. I can't see any significant thermal signatures from here in the forest in front of you, but that doesn't mean there isn't anyone, or anything waiting for you down there that's hiding. We'll be out of view when we're closer to the comms facility, but we can get back in range when you need fire support and designation from us."
“Copy that," replied Fion. "You stick to your part for the time being, if anyone is dumb enough to get within mauling range of me in the woods, they will get a few seconds to regret it. Outside of the forest I think that, between me and Sobero, we have enough explosives to tell whatever is there to fuck off.”
It was only a few minutes pace in the gradually shrinking forest before they got in sight of their goal. Two hangers stood facing each other before a dirt runway about 300 meters out. The one on the left took the brunt of the missile strike with most of the roof collapsed and a fire raging on the inside, likely whatever was in there is destroyed. The other hanger fared better, however, with the only problem being some debris blocking part of the entrance. Outside the hanger lay flat terrain marred by the metal remains of the first hanger creating cover of debris and deep impacts within the ground. There is a set of three small rectangular buildings behind the hangars that likely are external storage or barracks.
Other than the structures, Fionn counted two light tracked vehicles patrolling the road and a handful of infantry trying to salvage from the devastation. ‘A light defense. They must not have thought it likely to be assaulted so quickly… or the cruise missiles landed in the right spots.’ Fionn thought to himself.
Quickly devising a plan of action, Fionn told it to Leslie.
“Those IFVs are going to be a problem. I don’t think I can kill the crew from this range, but I definitely can ruin those tracks, make it harder for them to go anywhere while you take ‘em out with your rockets. They’ll be faster than my mortars. Then I’m thinking I smoke just in front of where the rest of them are in suppress them with my autocannon while you sneak around and flank the side, we mop up what’s left and figure out and go from there. Sound like a plan?”
"I got the thermal sight which should help with the targeting, and I think if you draw their fire I can get close enough my rifle will be more than enough to get through their armor." Leslie brought her attention back to to the IFV's, bringing her own rifle to the ready. "On you."
“One….Two…Three….Four….Three….Two…Three…Four…” Fionn began counting. Each second up sends a dozen and a half rounds of screaming lead. Each second down gives the barrel time to cool off. For a gun to fire upwards of a thousand rounds a minute, it tends to heat up very fast. If it gets too hot, the barrel tends to break. After enough time spent using the weapon, learning what it can and cannot do, Fionn learned how far he can push his luck.
The downside about the autocannon is the poor accuracy of it. The upside of it is the fire rate…and the poor accuracy of it. With a veil of smoke blocking his vision of the enemy, it can be tricky to aim for them, but with the spread and rate of fire, all he has to do is sweep one area at a time and he will is bound to hit something. If he were to fire 3000 rounds and only have an accuracy of 10%, that is 300 new holes made in something.
Hitting things, however, is not all it is good for. Each burst of fire sends dozens of bullets in a given direction making dozens of impacts. Hearing or seeing it tends to make one panic, and rush to cover. Distracting them, their thoughts preoccupied with not getting hit. It was this purpose he was fulfilling, giving Leslie time to move unimpeded, unnoticed. Time to act, to strike with the surgical precision that is the anti-thesis to his sporadic and indirect fire.
An audible explosion and about 400 rounds later, the firefight came to an end.
Leslie used some trees to take cover from the incoming autocannon, Keeping her shoulder pauldron facing the direction of fire. Thankfully the bear's fire drew enough attention off her The engines of the enemies made them easy targets for her sights, and as she moved from crater to crater only a few of the dismounted soldiers running out of the concealing smoke noticed her. By then it was too late. Her head mounted machine guns made quick work of them, a quick glance was all that was needed to eliminate them.
With the smoke, foxholes, and covering fire, her advance to flank the IFV's went smoothly until the end. The IFV closest to her barely had time to swing its turret in time to get off a shot that whizzed over her head, and a quick burst along the turret hit the ammunition stores, causing the entire thing to go up in smoke. However the second IFV had finally noticed her, and started to limp away from the fight and out of the smoke. "Shit it spotted me," she said to Fion. As the turret swung turret towards her, she put her shield forward just in time to feel the thud as autocannon rounds slammed into her. The short burst was enough to rattle her bones, but with a shout she quickly returned fire, emptying the rest of her clip into the side of the vehicle until it stopped firing. By the time she was done she could see clear through it.
Swearing under her breath, she called back to Fion. "Both IFV's Down, I took a hit but I think I'm alright," she said. Ducking into a deep crater , she took the time to reload a fresh magazine into her rifle. Then she looked around as the smoke cleared up, and brought her rifle up. "Okay, I got you covered, you can move up now."
With the smoke cleared, Fionn took a moment to scan the area before joining Leslie in cover.
“Good to hear, and looks like the shield did it’s job.” Fionn said pointing to the visible dents. “We survived this round, let’s keep that streak going.” Fionn briefly looked out of cover, taking linger after not seeing anyone. “I think that’s everyone out here so I guess we deal with the hanger now. If there is anyone in there, they know we are here now and they might be mad so, if you don’t mind me making the plan again, I say we riddle it with bullets and explosions.”
Leslie nodded. “Sounds like a plan, but I don't have as much heavy weaponry as you do. I can take out individual targets well enough but you're the saturation fire guy.”