by Tom Jones
“Vulture 5, fox two,” Vulture 5 announced over his squadron’s radio as he fired an infrared-homing missile at the Su-57 he was targeting. Before Monarch 3 could reply to the AWACS aircraft, his plane was struck in the tail by the missile, and the explosion caused by the missile was large enough to burn enough fuel in the fuselage to create an even larger explosion. The Su-57 burst into flames, and debris flew in all directions. The AWACS aircraft watched one more allied blip disappear from his search screen, but he still could not see the F/A-22As used by Vulture Squadron, “Monarch 3 is down. What happened?” Monarch 1 replied over the radio, “Shot down by one of the black Raptors.” The AWACS aircraft still did not know where the F/A-22As came from, “There isn’t even a USAF base around here. Where did these guys come from?” Monarch 7 flew close enough to one of the Raptors to see the roundel on the left wing, “Hammerhead, this is Monarch 7. They’ve got some kind of different emblem on them. It’s a circle with a bunch of triangles and an omega symbol inside of it. Over.” The AWACS aircraft did not fully grasp the description of the roundel displayed on the F/A-22As, “Monarch 7, this is Hammerhead. Can you say again your last? What’s the emblem? Over.”
As Monarch 7 prepared to reply to the E-767, his plane was struck in the cockpit by one of the railguns which was still operational. The projectile struck his J-20 at such an angle that it longitudinally cut directly through the center of the aircraft. Since the railgun projectile carried such a high velocity, the aircraft burst into flames as it split into two halves. The Firefang exploded, and the pilot’s radio was unable to even output static at this point since the explosion destroyed the radio equipment along with the pilot. The AWACS noticed Monarch 7’s radar blip disappear, but right before he was able to report the loss of yet another CDI aircraft, Monarch 5 had a mid-air collision with Vulture 6, effectively killing both of the pilots instantly in the crash. The AWACS now had to report the loss of two aircraft over the radio, “Monarch 7 and Monarch 5 have been lost from radar.”
Monarch Squadron had already lost half of their aircraft, and the Vulture Squadron had only lost one aircraft. The CDI ground forces were now mere minutes away from the combat zone, and they would be deploying regardless of if the area was sanitized or not. One of the main concerns was whether or not the paratroopers deploying from the CDI C-17s would be able to parachute down to the ground without being killed in the air, but armored vehicles would also be deploying from some of the C-17s before they arrived at the immediate area of the facility. Just as the situation was already not looking too favorable for CDI, multiple C-RAM batteries extended from emplacements around the facility. Immediately upon being deployed, the C-RAM turrets began to spin in order to target the Monarch Squadron, but the operators were hesitant to open fire since they did not want to hit the Vulture Squadron instead. The MAV-29 was still trying to make use of its laser to target the aircraft flying overhead, but it was also trying to make sure that no F/A-22As would fly in the way of the laser. Though the Monarch Squadron was able to destroy a couple more of the railguns with air-to-ground missiles, their efforts at dismantling the anti-air defenses was put to a halt since they now had to avoid attacks carried out by the Vulture Squadron.
Monarch 8 came out of a roll after completing a turn to avoid a missile fired by an MJ12 operative’s FIM-92 Stinger, and he found himself now trailing directly behind one of the F/A-22As. The pilot did not even bother to open up the J-20’s weapons bays to attack the aircraft, so he just held down the trigger to fire the Firefang’s main machine gun at the Raptor. Monarch 8 announced his attack over the radio as he fired upon the aircraft in front of him, “Monarch 8, guns, guns, guns.” After a quick burst of fire from the J-20’s machine gun, the F/A-22A was struck enough that it was put out of service. The Raptor caught fire since the machine gun’s rounds penetrated deep into the fuselage, and a missile fired by Monarch 1 from a different direction effectively blew the aircraft to pieces, quite literally. Monarch 1 was the one to report the kill over the radio, “This is Monarch 1, enemy Raptor out of action.” Vulture 2 had been shot down.
“Deploy!” One of the CDI operatives shouted from within the Globemaster III as the cargo door opened and the internal lights showed green. The BTR-90 held inside of the cargo bay reversed out of the transport aircraft, and it was not long before the armored vehicle was now hurtling through the air. After only a few seconds of falling, the parachutes attached to the vehicle were able to provide enough lift that the vehicle’s descent was slowed enough to allow for the APC to make a safe landing. Along with the BTR-90, multiple other vehicles had also been deployed from the other transport aircraft that were flying overhead: There were some M1A3 Super Abrams tanks, a couple T-14 Armatas, plenty of BTR-80s, some BTR-90s, ICV Strykers, LAV-25s, and BMP-3s. Even if the Monarch Squadron was unable to take down all of the defenses surrounding the base or at least soften them up to a considerable degree, CDI still brought plenty of ground vehicles that would be able to overwhelm the MAV-29 if they were able to get into the base. The ground vehicles were deployed a fair bit away from the base, for CDI was not going to risk trying to deploy them any closer and risk losing more vehicles in case of heavy resistance by the Majestic 12. Even if the Raptors were to destroy all of the CDI aircraft, they would have a hard time trying to shoot down all of the CDI ground vehicles since they would likely deplete their entire armament before they would be able to destroy all of the aircraft. Even if all of the CDI ground vehicles were also able to be destroyed, the AWACS aircraft was already contacting the nearest CDI airbase to have a flight of Su-34s and Su-25s to come and carpet bomb the base as a last resort. However, CDI was fairly confident that the MAV-29 along with the rest of the base would be destroyed before needing to call such a squadron in the first place.
As the C-17s and C-130s flew closer to the main base, the CDI infantry units now began their mission: Hundreds of operatives leapt from the aircraft flying overhead, and they deployed their parachutes to allow for them to hopefully land safely and not be shot down while they were still in the air. Unfortunately for a good number of the CDI personnel parachuting down, many of the C-RAM turrets along with the standard MJ12 and Templar infantry on the ground began to fire up at the parachuting men. To make matters just a bit more worse, the railguns and the MAV-29 were now firing upon the transport aircraft. For the first time, the MAV-29 operators began to fire the Shipunov 2A42 that was on the prototype’s first compartment. Along with the laser, the high-explosive autocannon was highly effective at crippling the transport aircraft. However, the MAV-29 operators were told to save their 900 rounds of autocannon ammunition for the armored units that were imminently closing in on the facility.
The first live CDI members landed on the ground, and they immediately opened fire on the hostile forces which were already shooting back. Some dead bodies had already landed on the ground from having their parachutes being shot out, but there were still enough CDI contractors on the ground that were able to deal with some of the regular infantrymen as well as the operatives firing the FIM-92s at the Monarch Squadron. A few CDI members were carrying AT4 launchers, and they were trying to fire them at both the MAV-29 as well as the AH-280s that were taking off, but they were unable to fire their launchers since they were gunned down within seconds of landing on the ground. A few contractors did get to fire their AT4s, but their rockets were intercepted by the MAV-29’s trophy system. Luckily for the CDI ground units, the wreckage of Vulture 8, after just being shot down by the Monarch Squadron, landed in one of the areas which the MJ12 and Templar operatives were set up trying to defend their facility.
With plenty of chaos, confusion, and explosives going off across the entire facility, plenty of infantrymen from both sides found themselves gunned down without notice. CDI personnel were trying to form squadrons with the rest of their operatives who were still alive, and the Knights Templar was also trying to regroup with their own men after having an F/A-22A come down and burst into flames on top of their positio
n. Meanwhile, the MAV-29 was finally beginning to use its vertical launching missile system to target the incoming vehicles that were now so close to approaching the facility. Another wave of transport aircraft passed by overhead, and plenty more CDI reinforcements dropped down from the planes. This time, less of them were shot down in mid-air thanks to damage inflicted to the C-RAM, railgun batteries, and even the regular infantry on the ground. The MAV-29 had abandoned its stationary spot, and it was now attempting to run over as many CDI members as it could while also using its laser to fire upon ground targets as well.
Meanwhile back in the air, multiple CDI helicopters were approaching the combat site: There were AH-64Ds, Mi-35s, Mi-28s, and Airbus Tigers rapidly approaching the facility following behind the more numerous ground forces. Among the helicopter fleet was a pilot/gunner combo that was now very familiar with engaging entities associated with the Omega Foundation, “This is Rattlesnake. We are approaching the combat zone. It’s pretty wild.” From an aerial perspective, the helicopter flights were able to see explosions, gunfire, and flames erupt into the sky as they loomed over the secret facility. The helicopter flight split apart when a railgun struck one of the Mi-35s and caused the helicopter to explode in the air. The gunner of Rattlesnake spoke to the pilot, “Shit! Divert our course!” The pilot of the Mi-35 Super Hind Mk. VII pulled the stick aft and increased the helicopter’s throttle in order to try and avoid taking a shot from the railgun. A few missiles fired from the MAV-29 struck a couple of the CDI helicopters and ground vehicles, but Rattlesnake was able to successfully evade taking direct fire from both the Arvak as well as the railgun. More rounds fired from multiple sources from both sides flew back and forth as both sides exchanged fire at their various air and ground forces, and the situation showed no sign of dying down anytime soon.
Just as Monarch 2 was able to successfully shoot down Vulture 5 with an air-to-air missile, he immediately activated his aircraft’s afterburners and flew into a roll before pulling the stick aft to make a high-g turn. As the aircraft circled the general vicinity of the combat zone, Monarch 2 noticed that the CDI helicopter and ground forces had just started their main assault on the facility: The helicopters flew in first and began firing their rockets at MJ12 infrastructure, emplacements, vehicles, and the MAV-29 while trying to avoid friendly fire incidents. However, the MJ12 had already deployed helicopters of their own to combat the CDI helicopters, and a few Bell AH-280 Valors were already returning fire at the incoming aircraft. Though the AH-280s were able to shoot down a few of the AH-64Ds, the Mi-28 Havocs and Airbus Tigers soon directed their fire to attack the Valors. When a couple of the AH-280s started trailing smoke and losing altitude, the MAV-29 rotated its laser to fire back at the CDI aircraft. The laser was successfully able to down one of the Eurocopter Tigers by dismantling the aircraft’s engine, but the pilot started to unload the entire armament of the aircraft as a last-ditch effort to do as much damage to the facility as possible before meeting an untimely demise.
One of the unguided rockets fired by the Airbus Tiger struck the MAV-29’s side, but the reactive armor was able to prevent the hull from taking any damage directly since the trophy system had now been depleted after intercepting too many shots. The helicopter impacted the ground, and it turned into a fireball as it rolled towards the MAV-29 it had just fired at. The MJ12 operatives piloting the vehicle increased the throttle of the vehicle, and they were just able to avoid getting hit by the flaming wreckage. The facility’s main yard was now a field of burning wreckage and dead bodies as more and more destruction piled up within the confines of the facility. Rockets and autocannons fired by the passing CDI helicopters destroyed some of the C-RAM and railgun emplacements, but they were still being attacked by the combined efforts of both the MAV-29 as well as the Vulture Squadron. All of this destruction had occurred outside of the facility; CDI personnel themselves had not yet even breached the actual interior of any of the MJ12’s buildings within the facility. However, there was still damage to the infrastructure itself thanks to both wreckage as well as weapon systems fired by the various combatants from both sides.
The AWACS looked at the radar, and he could see plenty of blips. Most of the blips he saw were from CDI aircraft, but a few of the blips were helicopters deployed by the MJ12. The F/A-22As from Vulture Squadron were still invisible to the radar, but the Monarch Squadron made sure to announce whenever they downed a Raptor. A new transmission from one of the Monarch pilots sounded over the AWACS’ radio, “Monarch 8, fox two.” Seconds later, the same pilot reported a successful missile result, “This is Monarch 8, I’ve downed a Raptor.” Vulture 1 had been struck by the air-to-air missile fired by the J-20, and his plane went down just outside of the facility and burst into flames. CDI now took the upper hand in terms of air superiority, for they had one more fighter jet than the Majestic 12 had in the air. However, the playing field was just about to be level once more: Two of the vertically launched missiles fired by the MAV-29 impacted the Firefang flown by Monarch 6, and his aircraft exploded instantaneously. Though the Vulture Squadron had three F/A-22As left in the air, the Monarch Squadron now had two Su-57s and one J-20 still flying.
Monarch 2 released the last of his air-to-air missiles at one of the MJ12 Bell AH-280s, and the Valor’s tilting engine detached from the craft’s wing as the explosion knocked the tiltrotor helicopter off its course. The helicopter was unable to pull up due to the missing engine and substantial damage to its airframe, and it impacted directly into the facility’s infrastructure itself before igniting the rest of the fuel in the aircraft. The resulting explosion rocked the surrounding area, and the numerous infantrymen from both sides of the conflict found themselves dazed and disoriented once again. In a close-quarters engagement, a Knights Templar operative was preparing to fire his XMP-1 at one of the CDI members participating in the assault, but the crash of the AH-280 knocked his aim upwards, and he accidentally fired an airburst projectile which hit a roof rather than his target. By the time the operative could regain his composure, he was already staring down the barrel of an MMR-1. The CDI member pulled the trigger of his unique rifle and gunned down the Knights Templar agent within the next second.
It was mere moments later before the CDI vehicles were able to breach the facility itself: A few of the M1A3 Super Abrams fired their main guns directly at the wall of the facility, and the wall only took a couple shots before it collapsed due to its sustained damage. With the wall now breached, the many CDI ground vehicles began to enter the grounds of the facility itself. Plenty of infantrymen accompanied the vehicles as they entered, and they began to support their fellow CDI operatives who were already engaging the forces of the MJ12 and Templars alike. The MAV-29 pilots saw that several tanks were approaching their location, so they engaged the vehicle’s throttle in order to avoid a direct shot by a Super Abrams. The MAV-29 pilots knew very well that they would definitely not be able to survive a direct hit by the M1A3, so they were not even going to bother trying to take it on in straight combat. Rather, the MAV-29 deployed a smokescreen, and the pilot foolishly tried to fire its laser through the smoke. However, the laser lost too much of its power as it went through the smoke to be effective against anything, so all that ended up occurring was that some power went to waste. By the time that the crew realized that their laser would not fire through the smoke, they started firing their Shipunov 2A42 instead. The 30mm autocannon did impact the tank, but it did not do considerable damage to the vehicle’s hull. The laser was indeed the MAV-29’s best chance of dealing with the Super Abrams, but it would take too long for the laser to burn through the tank. The crew would have to attack the tank such that the tank would be unable to return fire with its main gun. The task would also be substantially easier if there was only one Super Abrams to deal with as well.
As the MAV-29 retreated, having taken minimal damage that was mitigated by the reactive armor, Monarch 8’s aircraft impacted the ground and crashed directly into one of the T-14 Armatas. The combined
explosion was enough to disable the nearest ground vehicles adjacent to the Armata, an LAV-25 and a Stryker. Only two CDI jets remained in the sky now, and they were both Su-57s. The Vulture Squadron still had three of their F/A-22As left flying, but they were running low on their armament. Vulture 4 opened the lower weapons bay of his Raptor, and he launched his air-to-ground missiles at the CDI ground vehicles. Both of the missiles successfully hit their targets, and one Super Abrams was destroyed. The explosion was also large enough that it flipped one of the BTR-80s over on its side. A Templar operative on the ground witnessed the vehicle roll to its side, and he dispatched it by firing a Carl-Gustaf M4 recoilless rifle at the vehicle. The artillery round impacted the BTR-80 directly underneath it, and the armored vehicle exploded as it rolled onto its roof. The Templar operative began the process to reload his recoilless rifle, but one of the CDI Mi-28 Havocs started a strafing run and struck the operative dead in his tracks with its Shipunov 2A42 autocannon.
“Vulture 3, fox two,” one of the three remaining F/A-22A pilots spoke as he fired his last air-to-air missile at the Su-57 he was able to get behind. The Felon’s tail was struck by the infrared-homing missile, and the Su-57’s tail broke apart as it was unable to maintain altitude. Monarch 1 attempted to eject from his aircraft, but he impacted the ground before he was able to pull his ejection lever in time. Some parts of the Felon actually hit the wall of the facility as it was hurtling towards the ground, and it caused just enough damage that the affected region partially collapsed. There was only one more CDI fighter in the air, and it was being hunted down by the last operational railguns that were not up in smoke, the remaining C-RAM batteries that were not attacking the CDI helicopters, and the last F/A-22As which still had armament left to deal with the Felon.