Doug turned to the cheerful smile, blood dripping slowly from the man’s forehead and muck all over the young face. “I hope so, man. Let me hear it.”
Still grinning from ear to ear he shot a glance to the middle of the road between themselves and another group on the far side, the major arc of enemy fire passing between the two, the centre of the firing lane. Dog saw nothing. “What, man, for Christ sake!”
“The sewer, sir. In the middle of the street there. I used to work on them, full of shit and everything, but I guarantee you this; that baby goes right up to and under the floor of that power plant. And even if there’s no natural exit port, we can blast our own.”
It stood a chance. The enemy wasn’t firing down the centre of the road at present, for their live targets were forced to take cover behind street doorways and anything else they could find. They were pressed in tight against the building cavities, grasping their last breath of life before an unrelenting blast of laser could seek them out.
More troops met with death.
The ten men behind him: that would do the trick. Smoke canisters were thrown and the men rolled themselves out into the middle of the street, under the height of fire, and down the manhole; careful to secure it on their way through so as not to give a hint to the enemy as to their intention.
10:40 AM.
Enemy fire continued from the emplacements without remorse, hitting targets in the buildings and along the street. Four men then emerged from the shattered double glass doors behind them. Friendly fire ceased as the group covered off behind the emplacements and shot at point blank range the enemy occupants and took control of the guns. These guns were quickly employed to fire up either side of the junction, towards more gun emplacements that sat less than 100 metres away. The remaining 29 men raced across the open street and into the lobby of the powerhouse, no further resistance being encountered.
The plans of the building stolen by the hands of the implanted spy eleven days before now came into use. They headed down a flight of stairs, six floors, and entered the enormous room.
Forty scientists monitoring instruments quickly dropped whatever they were doing and placed their arms above their heads before being shoved over to a corner and covered by six men.
The satchels of explosive were lined along the generator responsible for the powering of the sphere and the charges set for 11:00 AM. Scientists were then ushered from the room and sealed in another on the ground floor above, away from the effects of the explosions to come.
The men on the emplacements were pulled back and all withdrew through the sewer. A building opposite was soon occupied by Doug’s troops.
The explosion came on time but no cheer of success given. All they could hope for was the complete capture of Nicaragua before they themselves were found and promptly executed. Ammunition and energy levels of all weapons that they carried were extremely low.
All they could do now was sit and wait.
11:01 AM.
“The shield is down, sir.”
“All call signs forward.”
Hover tanks lifted and preceded along the low of creek beds where possible, an advance which was shortly brought to an end as the bends in the line of approach didn’t allow the floating fortresses to engage their top speed of 200 kilometres an hour.
The command was passed and all tanks moved out onto the flat wastelands, a slight gradient to their front, and the view of the mountains was somewhat peaceful at their present distance. Within a few minutes all platoons had formed into a diamond formation and heading at top speed towards the city in Nicaragua. The turrets were open at this point, which allowed for easier visual, and Nicaraguan ground surface radar, that hugged the ground in search of targets, was impossible to rely upon due to the hover tanks counter measures for such: The advance, so far, was undetected. If they did meet with any resistance then the turrets would be closed down and all targeting and steering responsibilities handed over to the on-board computers, it was here that they would become answerable to the ground hugging radar system of the enemy forces.
The weapon systems on the tank were a basic large-scale laser rifle with armour piecing capabilities and a splintex round that could be used very effectively against any ground or soft skinned target. A laser that could come under the effect of gravitational pull – creating itself a trajectory – had not yet been developed; that is to say, with the effectiveness desired for indirect fire to be employed – firing on the enemy without being seen, out of line of sight.
The engines ran on a plutonium gas mixture that spelt disaster if the fuel compartment was hit directly by specific weapons and its core penetrated. It was 30 centimetres cube and positioned under the vehicle to help prevent against being targeted. Many weapons were useless against this compartment.
Three men stationed each tank; a commander, a driver, and computer operator – whose main responsibility was to switch a lever to allow the firing of the round required. Tanks also had the capability of throwing a smoke screen up to 1,000 metres away and a unique anti-aircraft laser. In the case where the laser couldn’t find a point of aim or reference due to cloud cover, then a useful homing device armament was invented, this however was not laser and had to be loaded manually, the barrel for this weapon was situated directly below the two metre long laser barrel and was half its length.
They had travelled just over 170 kilometres when a blinding explosion erupted from the flank and two tanks burst into flame simultaneously, two seconds further on and another; and then again. Within ten seconds they’d lost 15 tanks.
“Mines! Tanks freeze!” They came to an immediate halt on the command being passed but not before another 20 had met with the same fate. They had hovered into a magnetic mine field; mines pulled from the surface of the ground, attracted to the Plutonium based compound within each compartment of fuel; each exploding on contact.
Without warning the antitank killer teams then leapt from behind small expanses of scrub and mountain hide holes, to let loose a thundering volley and arsenal of 50 percent accurate fire against the now sitting targets. The atmosphere was becoming radioactive, created by the loose plutonium; a factor not taken into consideration by the enemy now firing their weapons, for no soldier of Nicaragua intended to surrender his life willingly.
Computer switches were flung up, targeting procedure commenced, and commanders pulled themselves down into the cupolas for protection from any stray bolt. One man was pulling his hatch down tight when it was struck, lifting the turret clean off, leaving the remaining occupants bleeding from the ears and nose, slumped over their seats, and the waist and legs of the commander dangling from what remained of his console.
Tanks everywhere erupted into flame and smoke, pieces of metal being shot off into the far distance, the contaminated atmosphere growing thick and spreading fast. Barrels turned now as the first of the retaliating shots were fired at detected targets, the splintex round ripping limb and head from that which they targeted. No move was made, the tanks just sat there, taking the beating. “Turn to the metal detecting scanners, move forward at best speed and ensure you stay the distance from those mines. Come on! Get those vehicles moving!”
They rolled off steadily and found to their relief that not one more hit was secured against them. Antitank shots missed one after the other, landing harmlessly in the distance. Turrets continued to turn as more targets were automatically eliminated from monitors.
The long lines of tanks were advancing at a crawl when their entire front lit up by way of bolts of light streaking down upon them. They had hit the first line of 10,000 ground defence troops, all waiting atop the mountain ridge of Sierra de Amerique.
Computers locked onto targets with little effect against the dug in positions. Scanners picked up very little, for all that showed were the head and shoulders of the enemy. The enemy continued with their defence by firing their smaller armour piercing round – the tank buster – at the hover tanks. The effect wasn’t great. 100 metres was a goo
d targeting distance, but a flank shot was required due to the fording plates to the front of each tank.
Commanders withdrew slightly and kept their distance, throwing the odd angry splintex shot down range.
The advance had halted again.
11:30 AM.
100 squadrons of fighters screamed over the boundary into Nicaragua at 600 kilometres an hour, five aircraft per squadron. They took no chances and released the four counter measures of protective against the auto cannons, each of which took up its positions to the front of each aircraft – missile that streaked ahead of each aircraft, protecting it from incoming enemy missiles and laser.
A message was received from the overall tank commander that assistance was required and a line of approach to the dug in targets given. Mission parameters quoted that the auto cannons were the priority, but the tanks were also necessary to aid in the ground troop’s advance towards the locality of El Pasadora. Ten squadrons worth of aircraft would be given a change of orders, orders for the complete annihilation of a large frontage of enemy, forging a gap for penetration along the 40-kilometre front. This would enable the tanks to spearhead through the position and onto the landing grounds of the outer city limits.
The auto cannons of Nicaragua had commenced their barrage of anti-aircraft fire within five minutes and fifty kilometres of the flight. The counter measures leapt into action, confronting the ion cannon fire, and one by one burst into a fragmentation of light.
As an aircraft became more vulnerable it took up a position to the rear of its formation, allowing others to deal with the auto cannon fire. A few aircraft were lost during this manoeuvre as they lifted up and over to allow the others to take the lead. With no defences the cannon’s ion blast completely disintegrated a ship, all within the blink of an eye, each of the hit aircraft turning into a streak of light before dissipating along its projected path of flight.
The squadrons closed in fast and flew over the first of the enemy entrenchments. The squadrons that had headed the initial part of the flight and subsequently ran out of counter measures, now turned to the new task. The weapons they carried were air-to-air missiles and anti-structural bombs, far from the effect of the required weapon that would normally be tasked to the elimination of ground troops.
Five squadrons came in low and let go with their anti-structural bombs shortly followed by the remaining squadrons which fired the air-to-air cargo in the hope of splintering an array of fragmentation into the enemy. The damage was achieved; the mountain range of rock aiding well in the body count, most of which was done by the first salvo of missiles. The tank commanders now made good their approach.
As the aircraft flew overhead they saw the second line of defence. The information was passed back to the hover tanks and the air-to-surface squadrons were given their new targets.
The remainder of the aircraft continued on towards their original task. Counter measures were becoming drastically low when the auto cannons finally came into sight and were targeted with prejudice. Aircraft fired shot after shot, those without counter measures lucky to launch their missiles before disappearing from the face of the earth in disintegrating light.
Bombing runs on the canons continued until the last lay smouldering in flame, and just in time, for the transporters were making their approach, coming down with majestic grace from the tops of the mountains in the distance.
The tanks came upon the aggressive fire of the second defence line of troops, but pushed on as missiles from their aircraft were brought to bear upon the defences. Becoming dangerously close to this barrage, some were lucky to achieve a break, only two platoons being lost to friendly fire. The others continued on to the airfields 20 kilometres ahead, the extent of their travels. At this point in time the overall tank commander knew that the transporters would be commencing their landing procedure just one minute before the tank crews could secure the ground. He was also aware that the landing wasn’t going to be delayed by so much as a second.
11:49 AM.
The landing fields stood heavily guarded by a garrison of 100 men, this number derived from the amount of bunkers that were firing upon the observing squadrons as they commence their retreat from the area.
The cordon created by the metal structures was left unscathed. A thick tree line extended itself along each side of the airfields in which numbered three, and to the outside of these lay flat grasslands and farming paddocks which extended for as far as the eye could see.
Communications were quickly established with the closing transporters and an alternate landing area advised due to the currently viewed predicament. The called stations received an acknowledgment and the big birds turned slightly in flight to head for the open farmlands. Reflections of light from the sun’s rays bounced from the bellies of the transporters, the enemy looking up, a sudden realisation of the tactical move being realised.
Relics of the skies, so they were branded; a tough aircraft without the capabilities to make a vertical landing due to their size and questionable age, a revival from mothballs being taken into hand. Being an old cargo plane gave them little respect but outstanding portage abilities.
Twenty monsters came into clear view, descending slowly as pilots began to sweat over the new approach onto the unpredictable grounds below. 1,000 men sat on the stripped aircraft floors of each aircraft, crammed in tightly to make all space work for them. The chin of one man rubbed the neck of another and as an air pocket forced a shoulder up upon his nose a slow dribble of blood began to flow. All unaware of the landing ahead they rest in the contentment of debussing the beast as soon as possible. Weapons were hugged in tight against their bodies. Few soldiers gave out with a whine of pain or discomfort and tried standing to relieve the cramp, only to bump their heads on the roof of the low compartment above.
The area above them was very spacious indeed but taken up with field ambulances, transmitters, body bags, tents, food, water, shovels, picks, asphalt laying equipment, heavy anti-aircraft guns, military police, concertina, star pickets, and rolls of barbed wire. Tonnes upon tonnes of anything thought to be required for a quick battle and erection of a hasty defence; prisoner compound, segregation areas, and field hospitals (with doctors); even equipment for the likely cleaning up of airborne plutonium radiation had been brought along, and just as well. The looking after of the enemy was going to be a problem, days and possibly weeks, not to mention the sorting of civilians, some of which would have to be imprisoned. Nothing in Nicaragua, by order, was supposed to be touched in the case of booby traps, and water and food poisoning. No chances were entered into, except their 1,000 lives. If the aircraft were to take a hit, or strike the ground in the wrong manner due to numerous reasons, then they would all die. They prayed to their assorted gods, those that held religion or had religious backgrounds forged within their family trees; some prayed to their inner souls for safe keeping of their own sanity and to ward cowardice away from that which neared.
Back in Head Quarters: -
“But, General. What of the loss to life that can be inflicted due to the lack of support and overloaded aircraft?”
“The materials matter little, they’re incapable of outer planet travel and will be left to rust on the earth’s surface on our evacuation from the planet. As to the loss of life – we can’t evacuate everyone, it’s not of any real concerning factor I’m afraid,” said Carramar.
“That’s unbelievably pathetic of you,” ‘what was the reason for the nuclear bombing of the city being overlooked?’
“I’m just being realistic. Why don’t you be?”
11:50 AM.
The first of the aircraft landed and taxi out of the way of others approaching. Men and equipment scattered to an extended perimeter facing out towards the city in the midst of confusion and hope. Congestion reigned throughout the grasslands with no opposing fire being encountered. Another three aircraft came in for a landing when a thunderous bolt of light suddenly shot out from nowhere, striking a plane on the final leg of
its journey. A thousand lives lost, just like that – the second.
Two friendly squadrons with air-to-surface missiles, whose sole task it was to remain behind and await the arrival of the hover tanks, found the target and blew it to smithereens, but not before another transporter met its fate.
11:55 AM.
The first of the troops pushed off with little organisation towards the tall buildings of Nicaragua, and hover tanks pushed their way in amongst the advancing troops, new orders being received by a large majority, to advance with the ground forces. The death defying presence of the tanks boost the morale of those all around and by gesture all weapons were taken a better grip of; the advance quickened.
10,000 troops of the Mildratawa were now proceeding towards the city, an estimated 2,000 for the asphalt landing grounds – to clear them of enemy bunkers – and 6,000 towards the enemy’s depth position in order that a perimeter against any proposed counter attack from the mountains could be placed. The 6,000 would soon receive their necessities, equipment being ferried to their locality and defences erected in earnest. Containment was not far from being secured.
16:15 PM.
The city limits came into view with a reception not expected. Enemy leapt from gun emplacements on seeing the 10,000 men and 300 plus tanks advancing upon them. Arms were flung into the air as pockets of enemy gave to immediate surrender.
Enemy forces numbered 4,000 around the city and spread out so far that any retaliation against the firepower that sat before them would have been futile. Nicaraguans were ferried to the rear of the advance and cleared of all things non-personal. Prisoner compounds had not yet been erected. This was of little concern however as it only required one guard for every ten enemy, and a search party of twenty for every one hundred, in order for security to be maintained.
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